[ Self-obsessed Mark, though, is thinking of himself. Only really truly of himself. He sees that memory of Miles' pain, and he thinks of his own pain, the pain that had to match Miles' - physical therapy to bring up his progenitor's competence simply mirrored darkly in some sickening drug or bone-twisting brace to bring down Mark's. How can I feel sorry for him? He had doctors trying their best for him. Parents to comfort him. All I had was blank-faced handlers and my creche-mates waiting for death...
He tries to press that down - not out of concern for Gregor and his feelings, but purely because he wants to deny access to that vulnerability. Though that's not to say that he's not completely without sympathy. Certainly not. Because there are things that Mark recognizes - fear, uncertainty. Yeah. And...And to a certain extent...understanding and compassion, because that's something he's been feeling so consistently from Gregor, that he can recognize it when it comes from Lady Vorkosigan...
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He tries to press that down - not out of concern for Gregor and his feelings, but purely because he wants to deny access to that vulnerability. Though that's not to say that he's not completely without sympathy. Certainly not. Because there are things that Mark recognizes - fear, uncertainty. Yeah. And...And to a certain extent...understanding and compassion, because that's something he's been feeling so consistently from Gregor, that he can recognize it when it comes from Lady Vorkosigan...
He swallows hard.
How can you tell when something is enough? ]