03-14-2019, 01:48 PM
[[i'm so sorry, X. I used the name in my post, didn't I? I'll be more careful!]]
The stranger's speech declared departure, but not before squeezing in one last chance to call him a name. Gruff? What does that even mean? More reason to avoid people. More reason to share the pain that crushed within. Share it with the world. Sea monsters loomed wide shadows. Worms delved into grey flesh. Anger drenched his world until he could see none of it.
Then a hand slipped fearlessly into his own. His palm closed around the bony fingers mindful of their delicacy. He looked at her, crystals sparkled her eyes wet. Shame flooded like a broken sea wall. Asha harbored no intent to harm; she simply lacked the capacity. He squeezed her hand gratefully a moment and looked over his shoulder to see if the stranger lingered.
"Hold on," he called.
Peering deep into Asha's slick eyes, lips drawn to a thin line, "he's really a friend of yours?" he asked with all the willingness of an eel hidden in darkness to probe at wavering sunbeams. A deep breath drew ragged, but a growl of frustration escaped anyway. "Apologies accepted. Can you stay? Asha would like that, I think." He glanced at her seeking confirmation, but held to her hand else the storms on the horizon washed him away again.
The stranger's speech declared departure, but not before squeezing in one last chance to call him a name. Gruff? What does that even mean? More reason to avoid people. More reason to share the pain that crushed within. Share it with the world. Sea monsters loomed wide shadows. Worms delved into grey flesh. Anger drenched his world until he could see none of it.
Then a hand slipped fearlessly into his own. His palm closed around the bony fingers mindful of their delicacy. He looked at her, crystals sparkled her eyes wet. Shame flooded like a broken sea wall. Asha harbored no intent to harm; she simply lacked the capacity. He squeezed her hand gratefully a moment and looked over his shoulder to see if the stranger lingered.
"Hold on," he called.
Peering deep into Asha's slick eyes, lips drawn to a thin line, "he's really a friend of yours?" he asked with all the willingness of an eel hidden in darkness to probe at wavering sunbeams. A deep breath drew ragged, but a growl of frustration escaped anyway. "Apologies accepted. Can you stay? Asha would like that, I think." He glanced at her seeking confirmation, but held to her hand else the storms on the horizon washed him away again.