The pressure on his fingers was as welcome as the warmth against his side, living and solid and real. Both were charms against the memories they were facing together, of nightmares that had, in the moment, felt far too convincing. Even now, knowing they were only illusions, the fear of what they'd each seen remained.
The manner of the deaths had been different, but the similarities were enough to send a shiver down Tal's spine even as he awkwardly squeezed Alys's shoulder tighter for a moment. "No," he agreed, voice rough and quiet as Alys put into words part of what was bothering him so much. "An' it wasn't just any nightmare they put us through. It was like... like they pulled out the worst thing. The thing we're most afraid of." He started to turn his head to look at her and then hesitated, ducking it instead to clear his throat. "Can't figure out if I'm surprised or not. That we're afraid o'th'same thing," he admitted. "Give or take th'drownin' part. But I don't ever want t'feel that helpless again. Not when you an' Boreal need me."
The manner of the deaths had been different, but the similarities were enough to send a shiver down Tal's spine even as he awkwardly squeezed Alys's shoulder tighter for a moment. "No," he agreed, voice rough and quiet as Alys put into words part of what was bothering him so much. "An' it wasn't just any nightmare they put us through. It was like... like they pulled out the worst thing. The thing we're most afraid of." He started to turn his head to look at her and then hesitated, ducking it instead to clear his throat. "Can't figure out if I'm surprised or not. That we're afraid o'th'same thing," he admitted. "Give or take th'drownin' part. But I don't ever want t'feel that helpless again. Not when you an' Boreal need me."
