[She drops her gaze back to Peace, because she feels as though she should give Stanley some privacy for... whatever this is, the painful drag of breath, the way he talks about himself. It's too familiar, and she thinks about herself, if her father's violence hadn't made her hard, before the rest of the world could wear her down.
She rubs her hand along Peace's back, getting her attention, and Steph's tone is gentle, light, but she means every word. And for all that she's smiling for Peace, there's something fragile and sad in the expression.]
Hey, sweetheart, you and Stanley have to take care of each other, okay? Do you think you can do that for him?
[She knows Peace won't really understand her, but the words are for Stanely, not the little girl.]
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She rubs her hand along Peace's back, getting her attention, and Steph's tone is gentle, light, but she means every word. And for all that she's smiling for Peace, there's something fragile and sad in the expression.]
Hey, sweetheart, you and Stanley have to take care of each other, okay? Do you think you can do that for him?
[She knows Peace won't really understand her, but the words are for Stanely, not the little girl.]