09-08-2019, 10:08 PM
Worm was almost startled by the simplicity of the boy's answer to his question, and the hellhound blinked in faint surprise for a moment before his brain began to work again, processing the next thing that Roy had said. Immediately the canine felt his ears pin down against his neck, a sense of sorrow washing over him as he quickly shook his head from side to side. It almost startled him how much Roy reminded him of himself when he was younger, and not in ways that made him very excited. The boy was just as traumatized and desensitized as he had been, having simple expectations that anybody who cared about him or represented even the faintest bit of powers over him was going to hurt him. Wormwood knew he was a hypocrite for thinking that was wrong, considering the fact that he was unable to even think faintly of love these days thanks to those that had hurt him in the past. Still, he didn't want such a young child suffering like he was now, especially when he was in a place that could be as kind as Tanglewood. Roy deserved to feel loved and protected, safe from the harshness of the world as long as he was within the swamp that the group called home, and this being his first thought after Worm adopting him only confirmed that further with the hellhound.
He knows the boy doesn't truly see himself as a member of Tanglewood yet, thanks to the limitations of his pelt and because of the mistakes he had committed oh so recently, but Wormwood hoped desperately that he could turn that perception around. Even if he could never help Roy take his fire once and for all – even though he wanted to help, the best that he truly could – he still wanted Roy to feel like a member of the family even when he was on the outside looking in. So, after a long moment of contemplation, Worm once again wrapped a paw around Roy, bending the flames that covered the other away from him and touching his nose gently to the boy's head, a sign of love and respect to the large feline. He then barked softly, giving another short shake of his fluffy head and trying not to sound too utterly pissed at whoever had made Roy feel he needed to be locked away, kept under supervision and viewed as less than a person, "I would never lock you away, Roy. You... you're my son now, and I'd never do anything to hurt you or make you feel that you deserve to be locked away, because you don't. Instead all I want to do is guide you, and nurture you, and make you feel like you have a family here. A family not only with me, but with everyone else here, because so many of the people here are so wonderful." He gave Roy a soft smile, his gaze full of mirth and warmth as he watched the boy – his son – hoping that he had gotten the point across as much as he could. He had no intention of controlling Roy or making him go against what he truly wanted, instead just wanting him to have the support he had obviously so desperately been lacking since he had first joined.
A small part of Wormwood was filled with another emotion, and that was of fury. He was angry because it was obvious that Roy hadn't just been born thinking he was subpar, or that he was just a tool to be used by others. Someone had taught him that from the very day he had been brought into the world, and had manipulated him so that he wouldn't ever think to question it until he was out from under that someone's grasp. Wormwood wasn't sure if that person was gone now – he only assumed that it was this "doctor" that Roy occasionally spoke about – but if they weren't then Worm was never going to let them near Roy again. He wouldn't pry about it now, not wanting to upset the young tiger during what was supposed to he a happy occasion that involved him being with people who truly saw him as equal, but he was sure that one day he would need to. Especially if whoever that doctor fellow was is still around, since Wormwood needed to make sure he could protect his son. It felt the slightest bit odd to call the other that in his head... his son. His son. But somehow it felt right, him having Roy as his adopted son. It felt as though fate had brought them together – a damaged boy looking for a way to trust again, and a damaged man looking for someone to love again.
He knows the boy doesn't truly see himself as a member of Tanglewood yet, thanks to the limitations of his pelt and because of the mistakes he had committed oh so recently, but Wormwood hoped desperately that he could turn that perception around. Even if he could never help Roy take his fire once and for all – even though he wanted to help, the best that he truly could – he still wanted Roy to feel like a member of the family even when he was on the outside looking in. So, after a long moment of contemplation, Worm once again wrapped a paw around Roy, bending the flames that covered the other away from him and touching his nose gently to the boy's head, a sign of love and respect to the large feline. He then barked softly, giving another short shake of his fluffy head and trying not to sound too utterly pissed at whoever had made Roy feel he needed to be locked away, kept under supervision and viewed as less than a person, "I would never lock you away, Roy. You... you're my son now, and I'd never do anything to hurt you or make you feel that you deserve to be locked away, because you don't. Instead all I want to do is guide you, and nurture you, and make you feel like you have a family here. A family not only with me, but with everyone else here, because so many of the people here are so wonderful." He gave Roy a soft smile, his gaze full of mirth and warmth as he watched the boy – his son – hoping that he had gotten the point across as much as he could. He had no intention of controlling Roy or making him go against what he truly wanted, instead just wanting him to have the support he had obviously so desperately been lacking since he had first joined.
A small part of Wormwood was filled with another emotion, and that was of fury. He was angry because it was obvious that Roy hadn't just been born thinking he was subpar, or that he was just a tool to be used by others. Someone had taught him that from the very day he had been brought into the world, and had manipulated him so that he wouldn't ever think to question it until he was out from under that someone's grasp. Wormwood wasn't sure if that person was gone now – he only assumed that it was this "doctor" that Roy occasionally spoke about – but if they weren't then Worm was never going to let them near Roy again. He wouldn't pry about it now, not wanting to upset the young tiger during what was supposed to he a happy occasion that involved him being with people who truly saw him as equal, but he was sure that one day he would need to. Especially if whoever that doctor fellow was is still around, since Wormwood needed to make sure he could protect his son. It felt the slightest bit odd to call the other that in his head... his son. His son. But somehow it felt right, him having Roy as his adopted son. It felt as though fate had brought them together – a damaged boy looking for a way to trust again, and a damaged man looking for someone to love again.
[glow=black,2,300]YOUR CHANNEL IS UNREACHABLE[/glow]
— Reggan