"Averin, I -" he starts, stops, and swallows the rest of his words. The longer they go on like this the worse the tension will grow - Only dreads tension more than his own death - so it is with no further adieu that he decides to really break the ice. "Its not really any of my business to be asking you questions like that I -" Stephan halts him from saying anymore, Only looks to be bothered by something he's thought of mid-thought. The way he redirects his words is unusual but he continues on the only way he knows how, by apologizing.
"I'm sorry. It has been a very difficult transition for me in coming to Novus. I was very worried your keepers might have - "
Say it.
Only ignores Stephan's demand. He brushes it off quickly - too quickly - hasn't he made the poor kid feel bad enough already? Only grimaces inwardly and gives a defeated sigh.
"We'll teach you how to fly - I will find a way. I'll train you and show you all the trails I take to get from one area to another. Right now learning the plants will aid us. We can use it as bargaining powers if we find ourselves in a pinch, not every place is like our new home in Delumine."
At some point Only turns them away from the river and onto a familiar path which leads the way to Delumine...through a spooky fog-filled forest. "I'll escort you through the trees - safely. "I'll lead the way - but you'll have to go on your own at some point. I have some prior engagements I need to see to." Only worries his page won't make it through to the end on his own but he still finds an excuse to tell the poor kid why he has to do it alone - without him.
What a flaky guy - that Only.
What a waste of such lovely black fur.
What rubbish.
He doesn't want to tell Averin about the part where he feels too guilty to go further into the city. There's blood on his hands. He's been looting. He's been scheming. He's been lying. Stephan has been running amok in the hours that Only should be asleep. It is too dangerous to stay - too dangerous to go.
What does a man like Only do in a situation like this?
He doesn't want to remind himself about how much shame he carries for trying to blend in with such honest, good-natured souls. And for Averin that might seem perfectly fitting - all the more reason for Only to escort the winged-wonder. They walk in such sovereign silence as heavier burdens leaden the corners of his already-grim expression down-down-
down until he is nothing but frowns.
"We will be there soon - keep your eyes sharp for signs to the Dawn Court. Learn to recognize them through the fog - lowlands like this will never be clear of it."
.only
@Averin
+
