[Ohhhh god dammit. It would be something like that, wouldn't it? Bulba had never known the sting of a permanent rejection, like Aiden or Green's parents had once handed out; Char doubted that someone as thin-skinned as Bulba had built up any sort of armor against a blow like this. He didn't even have the luxury of blaming Kirby for it -- knowing the kid, he'd be more likely to have blamed himself than blame anyone else, but still, it was far more stinging to be wronged and to be unable to assign responsibility or meaning to it. This had just... happened without reason.

So how are you gonna make this better, Char? Kicking the crap out of Kirby won't fix it, and let's not kid ourselves: all you're really capable of doing is handing out the hurt.

For lack of a better idea... one of his wings flared out, curving slightly in a silent, roundabout invitation for a hug. Yes, affection is still apparently the hardest thing in the world, but you really look like you need it, Bulba.]