Fallacy of Many Questions

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"You know, so... so it could be... so we could share a laugh, over my, uh, past embarrassments."

[Qingying]

His expression grew sterner.
“There is no need to laugh over embarrassments. Embarrassments should not be laughed at.” He paused briefly, and then his tone softened. “I didn’t know it was embarrassing for you.”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"It was just. That was personal. You offered me care, without wanting anything in return. It freaked me out."

[Qingying]

He tilted his head, and then he held up a hand, fingers leaning towards Laurie (although he probably couldn’t see it). “This… is an actual question, and I don’t mean to offend or joke with it – and it’s probably my fault if you find it strange.
But… if it was something good… although it was personal… it cannot be joked about?”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"I don't know. I don't like being teased about personal stuff. I'm embarrassed about it."

[Qingying]

“You were embarrassed… because of the way you reacted, when someone displayed a different kind of care?” There was no judgement in his tone; he spoke slowly, seeking clarification.

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"Yeah."

[Qingying]

He broke into a smile – not teasing or amused; warm.
“You reacted perfectly reasonably. You’re not at fault. I’m sorry; I didn’t know you felt embarrassed about it. Also, if you feel embarrassed about something, you can tell me – thank you for telling me. I do not want to ‘laugh’ at something you find uncomfortable; neither do I find it funny. I’m sorry if I hurt you; for hurting you, and for making you uncomfortable. Please don’t feel like we – or you – ever need to laugh at something you find uncomfortable just… just because someone is trying to make a joke. You never have to do that. You have a right to that; you don’t need to be apologetic. You’re not at fault; I am the one who joked about something I was not clear about and was inconsiderate. I’m sorry.”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

Laurie blinked at this, completely dumbfounded. As the elder spoke, his demeanor transformed and all the hurt melted away into his typical gruff presentation, every minute expression on his features fully conformed. "Uh, yeah, it's OK. Look, I joke about everything anyway. How would you know? It's fine." He patted Qingying's leg, fully intending to forget about it.

[Qingying]

He wrinkled his nose.
“Speaking of jokes, I noticed, in the first week, when someone brings up something a bit more awkward or something you’re unwilling to talk about, you make a ‘joke’. Is this a fully conscious action?”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"I... don't... know?" Laurie looked up at him, shrugging. "Jokes ease the tension, I guess."

[Qingying]

“So, did you understand what I said just now?”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"Yeah," he nodded. "I just, I don't think it's necessary to lament on it. It happened, you apologized, it's over now."

[Qingying]

He tilted his head. “I’m not lamenting. I do think, though, that you don’t need to be apologetic about not being able to laugh – that’s the part I was referring to when I asked whether you understood.”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"I don't know," he mumbled again. "It was stupid. I just didn't, I didn't realize you found it funny." Fuck, he sounded like a fucking little girl. Boo, hoo, Princess. "Forget about this, it's over, it's fine."

[Qingying]

“It’s not stupid, Laurie,” his voice softened a little. “It’s not stupid, because it involves your feelings – both of ours. And, I didn’t find it funny.”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"Maybe I should be the one in here," Laurie laughed suddenly. "Mahra, you know, he gets shit. I'm just this, this... me." He flung his hands at himself.

[Qingying]

He wanted to take hold of those wrists, so they wouldn't be flung at Laurie anymore, but he didn’t.
“And I’m just… me. We’re all ‘ourselves’, ‘myself’, ‘little old me’. Everyone gets different things.”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"I don't want to be this ball of existential boo-hoo," Laurie snorted. "I'm sorry that I'm, I'm difficult."

[Qingying]

“I don’t think you’re difficult.” It was spoken gently, not with the softness of comfort, but the clarity of sincerity.

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

Laurie's eyebrows shot up, clearly disbelieving. "Well, uh, well, that's good," he decided.

[Qingying]

He smiled softly. “I didn’t find it funny, Laurie – but I was joking about it. I suppose that sounds weird, huh? I guess… I thought it could be funny, now – not by making fun of you; no, I didn’t intend that. I thought my actions and flailing could be funny. I’m sorry if the subject was not a pleasant one for you. But, I definitely didn’t find it funny at the time; neither did I think you did anything embarrassing or shameful, or that you were at fault.
Also, it’s okay to talk about something if it makes you uncomfortable – to tell people. You do not sound whiny, and it is never stupid. You don’t have to pretend it didn’t happen or just forget about it, because it’s important, and likely something similar will come up in the future. So, it’s okay.”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"Thanks," Laurie said after a moment, looking up to smile slightly. "I really appreciate that. I'm sorry I overreacted."

[Qingying]

He shook his head with a smile. “You’re fine; you’re alright. Remember what I said about not lying to each other? If you’re uncomfortable, you can say so. It’s never stupid – I’d never see it as stupid. People who care about you will respect that. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable… and never be able to prevent it next time.”

[Young Lawrence Keelan]

"It seems like we're always here, huh? I guess I'm not a very comfortable person."