it's not just deflecting, it's also what ZYL would be thinking to himself even if SW wasn't there.
I'm not sure about that? This is the first time they've seen each other since the failed (humiliating) book con earlier in the day, and my headcanon is that ZYL's gastritis is linked to his having fucked up and SW walking away like that. So to have SW of all people find him in another humiliating position (literally curled up in a gutter) is like heaping coals on his loss of face.
And in the kitchen scene, it's not loss of face, but SW is already weakened and feeling shitting, and he knows ZYL is going to have a lot of ~feelings~ about this, and it's a similar "this is too much ON TOP OF what I'm dealing with, I need to check out" vibe (to me).
no subject
I'm not sure about that? This is the first time they've seen each other since the failed (humiliating) book con earlier in the day, and my headcanon is that ZYL's gastritis is linked to his having fucked up and SW walking away like that. So to have SW of all people find him in another humiliating position (literally curled up in a gutter) is like heaping coals on his loss of face.
And in the kitchen scene, it's not loss of face, but SW is already weakened and feeling shitting, and he knows ZYL is going to have a lot of ~feelings~ about this, and it's a similar "this is too much ON TOP OF what I'm dealing with, I need to check out" vibe (to me).