[ He plays the role. Always playing the role. Even with Wash apparently looking away, Byerly keeps playing, on the off-chance that he's still being observed. The expression that flashes across his face is just a little strained - not quite a wince, not quite a flinch, just a little tension and stress that speak to a mild sort of hurt. It's the face of a useless man who's accustomed to being thought of as useless, but who wants to be a little more. Someone who maintains a posture of ironic distance but craves a little glimmer of recognition and appreciation. It's a painful expression. It is pure manipulation. And all of that performed when Wash might not even be looking at him.
It is...exhausting, this job. He works damned hard at seeming shiftless. But he really is very good.
His voice maintains that prior lightness - because that's the voice that this character he plays would maintain. This character would allow a little bit of a flinch when he's not being looked at, but he'd ensure that his voice didn't waver a bit. ]
See? As I suspected. Sweet of you to attempt to be nice, though less sweet to confess to it so quickly. So as you can see - No. I haven't any real place in this war.
no subject
[ He plays the role. Always playing the role. Even with Wash apparently looking away, Byerly keeps playing, on the off-chance that he's still being observed. The expression that flashes across his face is just a little strained - not quite a wince, not quite a flinch, just a little tension and stress that speak to a mild sort of hurt. It's the face of a useless man who's accustomed to being thought of as useless, but who wants to be a little more. Someone who maintains a posture of ironic distance but craves a little glimmer of recognition and appreciation. It's a painful expression. It is pure manipulation. And all of that performed when Wash might not even be looking at him.
It is...exhausting, this job. He works damned hard at seeming shiftless. But he really is very good.
His voice maintains that prior lightness - because that's the voice that this character he plays would maintain. This character would allow a little bit of a flinch when he's not being looked at, but he'd ensure that his voice didn't waver a bit. ]
See? As I suspected. Sweet of you to attempt to be nice, though less sweet to confess to it so quickly. So as you can see - No. I haven't any real place in this war.