LOREN
As Peter sank down so he could look into Loren’s eyes, the summoner found himself wondering what it was the other man was hoping to get out of this conversation. If it was hope, well, Loren was fresh out of that. If it was to provide comfort to him, well, the other man would find that most of the time, the summoner was inconsolable, wrapped up as he often was in his own mind. And if Peter was hoping for some insights into how to be a true Launceleyn, well, Loren had always been the worst at acting like his family—and pretty much everyone else—thought he should.
There had to be something on the other man’s mind, however, if the way he struggled to get out a full sentence or thought was any indication. When Peter finally finished (or at least Loren assumed the other man was finished) the summoner remained quiet for a while. He agreed: better was still bad in far too many cases. However, what the summoner really struggled with was whether better would ever be good enough.
However, there was a tone in Peter’s voice that called to something deep within Loren. The summoner’s eyes softened, and if the other man hadn’t retreated from Loren’s touch earlier, he would’ve reached out. ”I would appreciate your help. And I think this is better too. Maybe...maybe together we can keep making it better?” He wasn't able to promise more than that.
For once, Loren allowed himself to believe that with another at his side, he could stop getting lost in the darkness his family had drilled into him, until he didn’t know where it stopped and he started. He knew that there was light somewhere in there. It was just buried so deep he kept thinking it went out.
There had to be something on the other man’s mind, however, if the way he struggled to get out a full sentence or thought was any indication. When Peter finally finished (or at least Loren assumed the other man was finished) the summoner remained quiet for a while. He agreed: better was still bad in far too many cases. However, what the summoner really struggled with was whether better would ever be good enough.
However, there was a tone in Peter’s voice that called to something deep within Loren. The summoner’s eyes softened, and if the other man hadn’t retreated from Loren’s touch earlier, he would’ve reached out. ”I would appreciate your help. And I think this is better too. Maybe...maybe together we can keep making it better?” He wasn't able to promise more than that.
For once, Loren allowed himself to believe that with another at his side, he could stop getting lost in the darkness his family had drilled into him, until he didn’t know where it stopped and he started. He knew that there was light somewhere in there. It was just buried so deep he kept thinking it went out.
But don’t be weary if it’s broken
Families are like that—
they’re split up and always torn.
