"Excuse me? Do you really, I mean completely honestly think that I'm not TRYING TO UNDERSTAND? I'm trying VERY HARD to understand. I'm not a 6 year old, you see. I don't make odd faces or announce loudly to the world when I'm trying to understand something. What I announce is when I don't understand. Because in England, I'm not required to understand. I'm not expected to understand." She took a shaky breath. "Can you please just stop?"
Aster shook his head. "Just get in the carriage." He replied, walking away. He spoke to Quinn for a moment, and Quinn headed to the carriage.
Charlotte ran to the carriage and slammed the door behind her before putting her hands over her face and sobbing, curling into a small ball. You are an actual child. Why are they even trying to help?
Quinn came into the carriage, and froze, closing the door quietly. He hesitated for a moment, then sat down beside her, lightly putting a hand on her back. "Charlotte? What's the matter?" He asked softly.
Charlotte froze for several moments before answering. "I'm just being stupid. But I - I really, really don't like being yelled at," she said quietly.
Quinn nodded. "And i don't likr being touched." He shrugged slightly. "I don't think Aster meant to hurt you, he just…" He shrugged again.
Charlotte shook her head. "I'm not hurt," she mumbled. "It's- I'm fine."
"I didn't mean physically. He wouldn't do that, love. I meant that I don't think he meant to make you cry." Quinn's face twisted an an almost sardonic smile.
"No, I know what you meant. It isn't his fault, it's mine. Because I'm a stupid child. But I'm also not happy enough to be a child, which means I'm a disappointment. And not just to my aunt this time!" She said with false cheeriness before stopping. "Sorry, it's - er - sorry."
He shook his head, the strange smile vanishing. "Try not insulting yourself. It makes the world of difference in how people see you. And sometimes how you see yourself."
"If I don't insult myself, others will do it for me, and it hurts more when they do it," Charlotte answered quietly.
He shrugged. "That's why you do it. Because if i jokingly or not so jokingly say that since i sleep with so many people, i must need someone else to warm my bed every night, i hurts less if someone else says something similar. You just phrase it as a joke or whatever, not an insult."
Charlotte nodded numbly. "Sure, that's - alright, I'll - I'll try that… I guess. Not sure how that's any different, but alright," she mumbled blankly.
He shrugged. "It has to do with your outlook. Trick yourself into thinking it, and eventually it becomes true."
Charlotte unfurled slightly and propped herself up on her elbow. "That's really not - I mean yes, that's- excellent idea, er, good advice," she said with an unusually high-pitched laugh.
He shrugged. "It's worked so far." He replied, stretching slightly.
Charlotte nodded quickly. "Right. Yes. Well, er, thank you for your advice," she said politely.
He shrugged. "You're welcome. I know you probably won't take it. But thats what works for me."
"Of course I'll take it. You probably know better than me, anyway," Charlotte said softly.
He shrugged. "I suppose." He replied with a soft sigh.
Charlotte nodded and looked out the window, only to sharply look away again.
The carriage lurched into motion. Quinn sighed softly, leaning his head on the wall.
Charlotte tapped her finger agitatedly and looked in her bag, hoping for some reason that she'd find something interesting.
Quinn sighed softly, and shifted so his shoulder was leaning against the carriage, facing away from her.
(Timeskip maybe?)