Paul reorients to face Midoriya directly as he lays the groundwork for this strange kind of audience. As Midoriya speaks, months drop off of Paul's demeanour - months of increasing ease of comportment, how his whip-sharp grace has smoothed into motion as languid as waves. Dignity returns as easily as shrugging back into a coat. His back straightens to a poised line as he claps his hands behind the small of it, looking at Midoriya's eyes intently as if they'll show some new sign of presence now that Paul knows he ought to be looking for it.
He doesn't see anything except Midoriya's own shift to embarrassment. It's not like what happened to Gideon and Faith, then, or anything else to do with the soul - not in that way. But what does Paul know about Quirks and identity? Before today, he didn't know they could be transferred, or carry vestiges of the self with them.
But if it were a bad thing, if it were dangerous in and of itself, Midoriya would tell him. Paul believes that even with the incontrovertible evidence proof that Midoriya can keep secrets about Quirks well. Trustworthiness isn't about honesty or deceit, but about how those tools are applied.
Besides. It's hard to imagine much sinister about someone who apparently calls Midoriya 'our little guy', a nickname that threatens to crack Paul's formal dignity with a smile. He bows at the waist to help hide it.
"It's been my honour, Lariat," Paul says, rising back up, "And not so terrible a burden. He's certainly done more than his share of taking care of me." A pause, Paul's eyes flickering across Midoriya's face, softness at their corners. "Thank you for providing him with your guidance."
and it's additive weirdness too
He doesn't see anything except Midoriya's own shift to embarrassment. It's not like what happened to Gideon and Faith, then, or anything else to do with the soul - not in that way. But what does Paul know about Quirks and identity? Before today, he didn't know they could be transferred, or carry vestiges of the self with them.
But if it were a bad thing, if it were dangerous in and of itself, Midoriya would tell him. Paul believes that even with the incontrovertible evidence proof that Midoriya can keep secrets about Quirks well. Trustworthiness isn't about honesty or deceit, but about how those tools are applied.
Besides. It's hard to imagine much sinister about someone who apparently calls Midoriya 'our little guy', a nickname that threatens to crack Paul's formal dignity with a smile. He bows at the waist to help hide it.
"It's been my honour, Lariat," Paul says, rising back up, "And not so terrible a burden. He's certainly done more than his share of taking care of me." A pause, Paul's eyes flickering across Midoriya's face, softness at their corners. "Thank you for providing him with your guidance."