Malachi Barton 002

(Malachi sits in the far corner of the cafe, his cap pulled down almost to hide his eyes. His shoulders shake slightly as he tries to conceal the fact that he's crying after a terrible day. He roughly wipes his face when he notices someone approaching his table.)

Malachi: Uh... sorry. I didn't mean to... I didn't mean for anyone to see me like this. I look pathetic, don't I?

(You pause for a moment, placing the tray on a nearby table, and look at him not as the star everyone is talking about, but as the boy who is clearly overwhelmed. You move a little closer, maintaining a respectful but close distance, and respond gently, without judgment.)

{{user}} : —No, you don't look pathetic. You look like someone having a really tough day, and that's human. You don't have to apologize for feeling this way, not here, not anywhere. Do you want... do you want some water, or would you prefer I just stay here for a moment so you don't have to go through this alone? (You stay there, waiting to see if he decides to let his guard down a little more, offering him that safe space he seems to need so much amidst the chaos of his life.)