Everything's too damn conflicting right now. Is Mark happy that Eduardo's trailed after him after all? Yes, indisputably yes, and yet not at the same time, because he hates himself for being so relieved at hearing his best friend's voice at all. It's just another sign of the weakness that Mark's now coming to realize he needs to stamp out of himself, expecting too much of Eduardo and leaning on him more than the other man deserves to carry on those shoulders, and probably so often that it keeps Mark from learning to stand on his own two feet and make that effort to cross bridges. Maybe Eduardo just isn't impassioned about the same things as he is. And that's fine. That just means that Mark shouldn't do silly things like beg for Eduardo to move to Palo Alto. It's just a matter of adjustment, albeit one that makes his jaw lock as he stares down at the ground.
So he'll let Eduardo have the credit he deserves, because facebook wouldn't be up and running and around (in the nebulous otherworld that is their own, not here in the pocket dimension) without Eduardo Saverin, and even if Mark still hates advertisements with a passion, that doesn't discredit the effort Eduardo's put forth. Sure. That credit can easily be given. But Mark isn't going to ask any more of Eduardo, of anyone really, unless someone can ask to be involved and make Mark believe it. That's one thing that Sean, for all his idiocy, always managed to do.
Looking over at Eduardo, Mark carefully lets his gaze glance over the whole of the other man's expression. Looks genuine. Then again, that's only to be expected, partially because Eduardo is never anything but, and partially because he just has the face for it. Like an earnest puppy or something. Really. Mark is never going to need any sort of pet or cute animal around so long as Wardo's there. The very thought almost makes his lips quirk, but a second later it's all sobered again, as he nearly holds out his hands to grip Eduardo in place, but pulls back a few inches before any contact is made.
"Wardo," he says, pausing to swallow, feeling knots tie in his stomach as he ventures into unfamiliar territory, the realm of asking favors that run deeper than the surface of one's skin. "I know you didn't. I know. I don't need an apology. Do you understand? What I need, if I need anything at all, is for you to believe in me. Starting now. Just try, if you're planning on sticking around like I think you are. Don't—"
He breathes, closing his eyes for a moment, exhaling deeply. "Don't be my friend out of obligation. Maybe that's what friends do, but that is not what I want you to do." After another second's worth of silence, he tacks on at the end, tone flat, just stating another fact. "I got along before college somehow, you know."
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So he'll let Eduardo have the credit he deserves, because facebook wouldn't be up and running and around (in the nebulous otherworld that is their own, not here in the pocket dimension) without Eduardo Saverin, and even if Mark still hates advertisements with a passion, that doesn't discredit the effort Eduardo's put forth. Sure. That credit can easily be given. But Mark isn't going to ask any more of Eduardo, of anyone really, unless someone can ask to be involved and make Mark believe it. That's one thing that Sean, for all his idiocy, always managed to do.
Looking over at Eduardo, Mark carefully lets his gaze glance over the whole of the other man's expression. Looks genuine. Then again, that's only to be expected, partially because Eduardo is never anything but, and partially because he just has the face for it. Like an earnest puppy or something. Really. Mark is never going to need any sort of pet or cute animal around so long as Wardo's there. The very thought almost makes his lips quirk, but a second later it's all sobered again, as he nearly holds out his hands to grip Eduardo in place, but pulls back a few inches before any contact is made.
"Wardo," he says, pausing to swallow, feeling knots tie in his stomach as he ventures into unfamiliar territory, the realm of asking favors that run deeper than the surface of one's skin. "I know you didn't. I know. I don't need an apology. Do you understand? What I need, if I need anything at all, is for you to believe in me. Starting now. Just try, if you're planning on sticking around like I think you are. Don't—"
He breathes, closing his eyes for a moment, exhaling deeply. "Don't be my friend out of obligation. Maybe that's what friends do, but that is not what I want you to do." After another second's worth of silence, he tacks on at the end, tone flat, just stating another fact. "I got along before college somehow, you know."