and every broken heart will mend

[scourgingstars]

[Not too long after the trial, a note found its way under everyone's doors, all of them written in the same neat handwriting that had been asking after a ring not that long ago.]

If any of you would prefer not to be left alone after all of that, I propose we meet in the dining hall. Nari has taken up cooking at the moment, and should anyone wish to talk I will be present regardless of whether or not the group at large should choose to join us.

-Ardyn

[True to his word, Ardyn was at a smaller table in the dining hall with an untouched cup of coffee in front of him; lost in thought leaning his head on one hand as the other turned a silver coin over between his fingers.]

[King in an empty hall, and savior of nothing. All that effort to prevent bloodshed, and it had come down to a situation designed to force their hand from the beginning.]

Comments

[brokencode]

I... think you are doing just fine, Rhys. [She hesitated a moment, then reached out and took his (flesh) hand into her own. After a moment, she gave it a squeeze.]

Really, you are a good friend.

[plugout]

... Haha. You're not just saying that to be nice, right? [ He gives a wry smile; he doesn't mean it, not really, but part of him dreads the idea that she's just being nice to him because, well... she's nice to pretty much everyone. ]

Hey, I just try as much as I can. And... you deserve friends. Good friends.

[brokencode]

No, not at all. I mean it, promise. [The sweet, genuine smile would hopefully be evidence enough of her honesty.]

It's... funny, actually. This is the first time I've really felt like I could have good friends.

[plugout]

[ Oh, he can tell this is going to be an important conversation. Rhys looks a little bit more alert, even. ]

Yeah? Why is that, anyway?

[brokencode]

[Important conversation, yes. One that she has the courage to have right now? No. Her gaze flicked to the side and she shifted uneasily.]

Sheltered upbringing. That's all.

[plugout]

[ Rhys can tell when he's gonna hit a wall, so... ]

Haha, so... this whole [ gestures vaguely ] is way different than you're used to.

[brokencode]

Fresh air and friends? [The bitterness was plain to hear in her voice.] Oh, absolutely.

[plugout]

Fresh air's a little... [ ehhh. debatable. ]

But you have a lot of people who care about you. I, uh... don't think they'd want you to go back to a place with no friends.

[ ... ]

I don't, anyway.

[brokencode]

I... hope I won't have to. I don't want to lose the people I've met here. [She met his eyes, hoping that he might pick up on what she couldn't bring herself to say. That she really didn't want to leave him behind either.]

[plugout]

... Yeah. Me either.

[ It's like something unsaid passes between them; even though he's kind of a dumbass sometimes (a lot of the time) when it comes down to it, Rhys is smart. Especially where people he cares about are concerned. ]

... Hey, do you want to take a walk or something?

[ He's... feeling incredibly restless, Angel. ]

[brokencode]

[She... couldn't really think of anywhere to go, especially after what they saw in the garden. But she understood that restlessness, and she certainly didn't want to go back to being alone. A walk, especially a walk with a friend, sounded pleasant and distracting enough.]

Sure, that... that sounds great.

[plugout]

Yeah. Not-- not anywhere in particular, just. Around.

[ Definitely not the garden, is what he's saying. He gets up and holds out a hand for Angel. ]

[brokencode]

That... that sounds great.

[ His hand was accepted rather gingerly, trying to avoid coming off as too eager or over enthusiastic. Not that it would have mattered -- they were just friends holding hands, after all. ]

Lead the way?