If I can stop one heart from breaking
If I can ease one life the aching
If I can ease one life the aching
Life after becoming Hadama's co-lead hadn't changed as much as Harper had anticipated, even in the early days. While the vote itself had been emotionally exhausting to say the least, the region had yet to burn itself to the ground in protest of Harper's inadequacies, so he would consider it a tentative win.
It does make him far busier than normal though, and for once he is privately grateful that Jude is meant to be in the Greatwood with his mother right now so that he doesn't have to witness his father's nerves and adjustments. Though the house is quiet and lonely as always when Jude is away. It never gets any easier, no matter how old Jude gets or how often he goes away. Harper has always been a family man. A man of connections, closeness, both physical and emotional. Loneliness has never much suited him.
It's the silence that has him heading for the door, needing to get out of his own head and busy himself with the needs of people other than himself. He slips his shoes on and opens the door, and startles hard to find somebody on the other side - "Soh?"
It comes out baffled, but his mind is too well-trained in the art of investigation to not immediately take in the old wound on her face, the thin sheen of sweat that denotes anxiety and fear. Immediately his fatherly tendencies rise to the surface, and he gently coaxes her inside with the most minimal amount of touching. "Hey, it's okay. Come inside." He keeps his voice soft and intimate, free of any worry or aggression.
It does make him far busier than normal though, and for once he is privately grateful that Jude is meant to be in the Greatwood with his mother right now so that he doesn't have to witness his father's nerves and adjustments. Though the house is quiet and lonely as always when Jude is away. It never gets any easier, no matter how old Jude gets or how often he goes away. Harper has always been a family man. A man of connections, closeness, both physical and emotional. Loneliness has never much suited him.
It's the silence that has him heading for the door, needing to get out of his own head and busy himself with the needs of people other than himself. He slips his shoes on and opens the door, and startles hard to find somebody on the other side - "Soh?"
It comes out baffled, but his mind is too well-trained in the art of investigation to not immediately take in the old wound on her face, the thin sheen of sweat that denotes anxiety and fear. Immediately his fatherly tendencies rise to the surface, and he gently coaxes her inside with the most minimal amount of touching. "Hey, it's okay. Come inside." He keeps his voice soft and intimate, free of any worry or aggression.
I shall not live in vain
HARPER
