(SE) an open book with a torn out page

// and if i was the only thing you couldn't bear to lose,
i'd set fire to the wood, just so you wouldn't have to bury me too //

“It was the first.” He hums in agreement, latching onto her offer of others willing to help, of the Grounds getting more visitors and he wonders if that’s coincidence or if there’s a reason, but he doesn’t know enough yet to connect the dots – too caught up in his own storm, as per usual, to see what was all changing around them. “I’m sure the expansion should be easy. Could convert the basement from the Guild I had into more rooms, too.” A multilevel complex of food and drink and bed that should do wonders for the Grounds.

But she gets him joking, and despite the terrible things that have happened, it feels both good and makes him feel guilty for cracking a smile at her answer. He follows through, though, lowering that raised scarred eyebrow of his, straightens his back, makes a show of looking at his clothes. “What’s wrong with my clothes?” He asks with the hint of a pout, before he’s following her as she turns down the way toward the Infirmary. “You know... I won’t be offended if you fire me for doing a piss-poor job, Isla.” He informs her with a small snort, giving into it because it was easy and she made it so infectious.

SUNJATA