// think of the sun that shaped them //
In between tasks, she’d had enough time to extend conversation with Talyson, even if portions were haphazard and mildly distracted. Lots of things had happened, and the Caretaker was content to hear things had gone well for the courier; even after all the mess of the past years and seasons. “Congratulations on everything,” she murmured with an upbeat smile, allowing it to reach her eyes amidst the flourish and flurry of activity. “I’ve been all right. Busy, with the Celestine and everything else,” with a vague hand-gesture, not willing to impart how much she’d been impacted by their subsequent and looming failures.
The brief inquiry about their “management” left her glad they were within Zavien’s house, under some breadth of shelter, and perhaps out of earshot from several. “I …quit the council. I wasn’t willing to work alongside…some.” Not after Sohalia had been ousted and disappeared. Not while Anju bravely forged on and she sunk into terror. Not while Everest was brainwashed or infected. She’d trust Talyson to be capable of reading between the lines, and her gaze skirted around other portions – like the bucket in the corner, flickering upwards and pondering if it was something they could fix while they were here.
Then they were gathered before the threshold of food and company, and Lena unfurled a knot in her chest. She hadn’t expected any grandiose gestures, they’d been there to help after all, but a flush went over her cheeks just the same. “This is wonderful, and you’re very welcome,” to both Sol and Zavien – though she quickly noticed Mittens scowling from above, and she hoped it’d fight itself in the mood to play, rather than pout. Thereafter, she quickly snagged a plate of fruits, vegetables, and cheese, contemplating the popcorn.
The brief inquiry about their “management” left her glad they were within Zavien’s house, under some breadth of shelter, and perhaps out of earshot from several. “I …quit the council. I wasn’t willing to work alongside…some.” Not after Sohalia had been ousted and disappeared. Not while Anju bravely forged on and she sunk into terror. Not while Everest was brainwashed or infected. She’d trust Talyson to be capable of reading between the lines, and her gaze skirted around other portions – like the bucket in the corner, flickering upwards and pondering if it was something they could fix while they were here.
Then they were gathered before the threshold of food and company, and Lena unfurled a knot in her chest. She hadn’t expected any grandiose gestures, they’d been there to help after all, but a flush went over her cheeks just the same. “This is wonderful, and you’re very welcome,” to both Sol and Zavien – though she quickly noticed Mittens scowling from above, and she hoped it’d fight itself in the mood to play, rather than pout. Thereafter, she quickly snagged a plate of fruits, vegetables, and cheese, contemplating the popcorn.
Lena
// the speck of truth that's ours //
