[For one of the first times in his life, Giorno feels the same level of uncomfortable scrutiny that most feel under his stare. Fugo's attention is precise and intent. It's attention he asked for, but nonetheless uncomfortable. For a few moments he wrestles with this, unsure why it feels so strange — but in the end, it's not so complicated. He doesn't feel that canniness taking him apart; he feels Riley being dismantled, examined, and put back together again, and that's what's uncomfortable. He is supposed to protect her. And Fugo won't hurt her, but this is . . .]
[He knows she'd hate this. That's what it is. Just as he expected, he feels guilty. But even now, he doesn't know what other choice he could possibly have.]
[The question makes him wince. It's the right question to ask. He just hates the answer he has to give.]
. . . I can't give an objective answer on that. The biased answer I have to give is that she isn't as out of touch with reality as you might expect. Riley . . . snaps. This isn't snapping. She made a plan that she thought was sufficient to protect the children she is trying to save. If she were truly delusional, she would have killed the parents and left, or perhaps killed the parents and spoken to the children at a stretch. She wouldn't have taken them anywhere. She wouldn't have even considered the immediate consequences.
[It's . . . unkind, what he's about to say. It is. He knows that. But he's also becoming increasingly sure that it's true. Lifting his gaze to meet Fugo's, his discomfort and frustration are equally palpable.]
I don't think it's entirely a matter of lucidity, Fugo. I think she has simply never been in a position of experiencing a lack of physical resources. She thinks by solving the problem of emotional neglect, she has removed the greatest threat, and doesn't have the personal experience or . . . perspective to understand the very real physical threats she may be creating for these children's future.
She was surprised when I brought up what might happen in the next six months. She was shocked. I really . . . didn't expect that from her. But in hindsight, it makes a certain kind of sense.
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[He knows she'd hate this. That's what it is. Just as he expected, he feels guilty. But even now, he doesn't know what other choice he could possibly have.]
[The question makes him wince. It's the right question to ask. He just hates the answer he has to give.]
. . . I can't give an objective answer on that. The biased answer I have to give is that she isn't as out of touch with reality as you might expect. Riley . . . snaps. This isn't snapping. She made a plan that she thought was sufficient to protect the children she is trying to save. If she were truly delusional, she would have killed the parents and left, or perhaps killed the parents and spoken to the children at a stretch. She wouldn't have taken them anywhere. She wouldn't have even considered the immediate consequences.
[It's . . . unkind, what he's about to say. It is. He knows that. But he's also becoming increasingly sure that it's true. Lifting his gaze to meet Fugo's, his discomfort and frustration are equally palpable.]
I don't think it's entirely a matter of lucidity, Fugo. I think she has simply never been in a position of experiencing a lack of physical resources. She thinks by solving the problem of emotional neglect, she has removed the greatest threat, and doesn't have the personal experience or . . . perspective to understand the very real physical threats she may be creating for these children's future.
She was surprised when I brought up what might happen in the next six months. She was shocked. I really . . . didn't expect that from her. But in hindsight, it makes a certain kind of sense.