Anthony would probably take it back as soon as it was convenient for him. Right now, though, he was at a ceasefire. "I guess so," he said. "makes you wonder why some people even have children if they won't treat 'em well." He knew that he himself started this topic, but it still made him very uncomfortable.

"I don't think they intended to have 'em..." Ben muttered. "They were just careless and don't want to take responsibility for it." The Longbottoms. Basically.

Anthony started chewing on the inside of his cheek. "Yeah, I guess," he said. "but...still. It just– it isn't fair how some kids have to...grow up with people who, just..." instead of finishing his sentence, he gestured, even though noone could see it.

Ben nodded, though of course the other man couldn't see it. "Aye, it ain't right at all and I don't like to see it. But there ain't much to be done about it, other than show 'em kindness and feed 'em now and then." Quite a number of Longbottom children had been in his home for dinner. He regretted every single time he had spared food from his mouth to feed Noah Longbottom. Little wretch.

Anthony was obviously happy that people actually cared about and helped those kids, but was also a bit jealous because he never got that kind of treatment from anyone. "I just– I just think that if someone ever hurts their kid, they should be hurt as well," he shared his quite controversial opinion. "that would help." The mental image that he had created, of child abusers getting their asses handed to them, quite pleased him.

Ben remained quiet for a moment. "Aye..." he finally said.

Anthony was glad that didn't spark yet another argument. "It's, just..." he couldn't finish his sentence, because he was crying again — partly because of anger, frustration, and the fact that he was basically forcing himself to think about his trauma again.

Ben listened and frowned. Was the man crying again. "Are... you alright?"

Anthony looked at Ben's direction as he asked that. "I'm– yes, yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Anthony said rather frantically, even though it was very clear that he was not fine. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand to try and muffle his quiet sobbing.

Clearly crying. Ben didn't know what to do. Last time he had tried to be kind, the man had basically told him to go fuck himself. He just sat there awkwardly.