[It's the sort of thing he'd always say with confidence, but it rings hollow and without conviction. Truthfully, Quark's worried about himself. Maybe not in a way that he's aware, that sort of self-awareness is too far beyond his years no matter how clever he is for his age. But worried about how different this makes him feel, how hopeless. He feels like he's not quite himself anymore, like he knows things he never should have been allowed to know, and that changes who he is.
There's a long, tense silence. Quark knows he should say something more, but nothing comes to him for a long time.]
I have to... [He struggles on the thought.] ...I have to learn how to take care of myself, even if I'm really scared.
[But he doesn't want to. God, he's never wanted to depend on an adult more than he does right now.]
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[It's the sort of thing he'd always say with confidence, but it rings hollow and without conviction. Truthfully, Quark's worried about himself. Maybe not in a way that he's aware, that sort of self-awareness is too far beyond his years no matter how clever he is for his age. But worried about how different this makes him feel, how hopeless. He feels like he's not quite himself anymore, like he knows things he never should have been allowed to know, and that changes who he is.
There's a long, tense silence. Quark knows he should say something more, but nothing comes to him for a long time.]
I have to... [He struggles on the thought.] ...I have to learn how to take care of myself, even if I'm really scared.
[But he doesn't want to. God, he's never wanted to depend on an adult more than he does right now.]