I need you. Three simple little words that struck deep and caused his own eyes to widen, some of the darkness recoiling to reveal their more usual blue. How long had it been since he'd heard that? How long since anyone had trusted him enough to need him? For a moment his expression softened and he started to reach out a tentative hand, as if to brush shaking fingers over Kiada's arm.
Ludo needs. Two simple little words that struck deep and froze the expression on his face for a moment before the blackness came rushing back. His lips quirked up in the hint of a humorless smile as he drew his hand back, tucking it back into his lap to hide the way his fingers curled into a fist. The physical pain distracted from the emotional as he forced himself to nod. He had already offered, after all, but that had been his own idea, a desire to help stemming from his own flickering care for the young woman beside him. The blight was making it harder and harder to focus on what the people he loved meant to him, but it hadn't yet overcome him completely. Not all the time, at any rate. He tried to remind himself that the same was true for Kiada, that the reason she wasn't asking for his help - was simply telling him to do so - was because of the Blight. That surely he was more than just a tool for her, a convenient collection of items and knowledge to be used and then discarded with her passage?
Surely...
He focused on her last words as she looked away, drawing a shuddering breath and letting it out slowly as he held Amalia's face steady in his thoughts. Be better, she had said, but gods least fortunate it was so hard to try sometimes...
"Did Ludo give you a way to kill his spirit?" he asked carefully, hoping the pain he felt wasn't too obvious in his voice. "Or... did they expect his body to be walking on Long Night? Like some sort of... of ghoul or zombie?"
Ludo needs. Two simple little words that struck deep and froze the expression on his face for a moment before the blackness came rushing back. His lips quirked up in the hint of a humorless smile as he drew his hand back, tucking it back into his lap to hide the way his fingers curled into a fist. The physical pain distracted from the emotional as he forced himself to nod. He had already offered, after all, but that had been his own idea, a desire to help stemming from his own flickering care for the young woman beside him. The blight was making it harder and harder to focus on what the people he loved meant to him, but it hadn't yet overcome him completely. Not all the time, at any rate. He tried to remind himself that the same was true for Kiada, that the reason she wasn't asking for his help - was simply telling him to do so - was because of the Blight. That surely he was more than just a tool for her, a convenient collection of items and knowledge to be used and then discarded with her passage?
Surely...
He focused on her last words as she looked away, drawing a shuddering breath and letting it out slowly as he held Amalia's face steady in his thoughts. Be better, she had said, but gods least fortunate it was so hard to try sometimes...
"Did Ludo give you a way to kill his spirit?" he asked carefully, hoping the pain he felt wasn't too obvious in his voice. "Or... did they expect his body to be walking on Long Night? Like some sort of... of ghoul or zombie?"
