Tal had never met a scone he disliked, and these were no exception. Soh had been right about how delicious they were, and now that he knew she wasn't infected he could relax and actually enjoy them. It was a relief to be able to pass along the good news about having healing options, too, though his friend's reaction was more subdued than he'd expected. His brow wrinkled in fresh concern, but before he could figure out how to phrase his question the right way all those thoughts were swept aside by the unexpected gratitude.
He ducked his head, the tips of his ears and the back of his neck heating up with pleasure as his efforts were recognized, but before he could bask for more than a few seconds his friend's trauma had resurfaced and he was looking up quickly with a sharp shake of his head. "You didn't make the mess," he protested fiercely. "None of it was your fault! It was th'Family that kidnapped you! Just one o' them that sent Remi an' Ronin - two whole-ass demigods - runnin' with their tails atween their legs!" He poked his tea spoon towards her from across the table to emphasize his point, breaking at least four rules of teahouse etiquette in the process. "There was nothin' y'could've done once they set their sights on Stormbreak. I blame them, not you!" He scowled, angry as a fluffed-up puppy that had been denied naptime, but he took a big breath - more of a huff, really - and jammed his spoon down into a fresh scone. "Can't change th'past anyways, but what d'you want to do now, goin' forward?"
He ducked his head, the tips of his ears and the back of his neck heating up with pleasure as his efforts were recognized, but before he could bask for more than a few seconds his friend's trauma had resurfaced and he was looking up quickly with a sharp shake of his head. "You didn't make the mess," he protested fiercely. "None of it was your fault! It was th'Family that kidnapped you! Just one o' them that sent Remi an' Ronin - two whole-ass demigods - runnin' with their tails atween their legs!" He poked his tea spoon towards her from across the table to emphasize his point, breaking at least four rules of teahouse etiquette in the process. "There was nothin' y'could've done once they set their sights on Stormbreak. I blame them, not you!" He scowled, angry as a fluffed-up puppy that had been denied naptime, but he took a big breath - more of a huff, really - and jammed his spoon down into a fresh scone. "Can't change th'past anyways, but what d'you want to do now, goin' forward?"
