This is the long forgotten light at the end of the world
She made a vague attempt at resisting the embrace at first. Unaccustomed to such intimacy from strangers - from men in particular - and reluctant to accept that he apparently saw something that needed comforting. That was supposed to be her job. But Harper was warm and his arms wouldn't let go, so with a sigh she relented and allowed herself to be held. Her own hands didn't quite know where to go, and settled timidly against his back, light, light and afraid to touch.
It wasn't fair that all it took were a few kind words to make her defenses crumble. They hadn't been tall, and she was not one to bottle up her emotions or wallow - as Harper so rightly had guessed - but it still vexed the starchild when tears began to burn in her eyes. Silly, was she?
Well, he wasn't wrong.
"Mhm," she agreed, words something clumsy and unformed on a swollen tongue. "But... if they find out I'm not strong like I say, they won't tell me any more. And then I'll be left out..." Cut off, left to wonder and guess and tiptoe around unspoken secrets. How was she supposed to understand everything that transpired - burning buildings, dead animals, children and fear and lost titles - if she couldn't bring the ones in the know to talk. Seren had to be strong. Stronger than this, at any rate - she didn't know anything yet.
It wasn't fair that all it took were a few kind words to make her defenses crumble. They hadn't been tall, and she was not one to bottle up her emotions or wallow - as Harper so rightly had guessed - but it still vexed the starchild when tears began to burn in her eyes. Silly, was she?
Well, he wasn't wrong.
"Mhm," she agreed, words something clumsy and unformed on a swollen tongue. "But... if they find out I'm not strong like I say, they won't tell me any more. And then I'll be left out..." Cut off, left to wonder and guess and tiptoe around unspoken secrets. How was she supposed to understand everything that transpired - burning buildings, dead animals, children and fear and lost titles - if she couldn't bring the ones in the know to talk. Seren had to be strong. Stronger than this, at any rate - she didn't know anything yet.
Seren
