He had his own place now, with just him and Boreal in it (when they were in Halo, at least) but it still didn't have the same feeling of home that the Seawright household had, or that Ru's house had developed over the last couple of years. The blanket - soft wool with a geometric pattern in pale blue and grey - brought a quirk of a smile to the corner of his mouth as he straightened and padded in on stocking feet.
"Yeah," he spoke with gruff affection, rubbing his nose to obscure his expression. "Well. Just keep bein' happy, okay? An if he ever lets you down, I'll help y'set fire t'that brothel." Which was what best friends were for, when it all came right down to it. Property damage, alibis, and petty revenge.
He took his teacup as the drink was served, inhaling the steeping aroma with pleasure and offering his own laundry list of plans for the near future to pass the time as he waited for it cool enough to drink. He ducked his head at the unexpected compliment, ears turning pink as he instinctively tried to hide the glow of pride that lit up his craggy face like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. "...s'well, is'not 'zactly, y'know, that--" he mumbled before realizing what he was doing and catching himself, clearing his throat and taking a gulp of scalding tea that wrinkled his nose with a wince.
His question wasn't meant to shift the mood; between Sah and Alys and his sister Dierdre he had more than a passing interest in the Academy, and he liked hearing about Ru's plans for it, even if he didn't understand all the magical jargon. It was something that had anchored her in the months after the War; given her purpose and direction, and he did all he could to support her in it, even though he didn't have a drop of his sister's magic in his own blood.
But this time something was different. He could see it in her smile and the way she folded down into herself even as she sat. He didn't hesitate to set himself down next to her, but he was too confused to be wary until the words dropped into the silence. At first he assumed he'd misheard her, giving a slight shake of his head as if to clear a ringing from his ears, but she continued on and there was no mistaking it then. He froze, the blood first draining away from his sun-browned face and then rushing back until he flushed dark, eyes wide with shock.
"But... Halo's your home..." was all he could manage, the words slipping out unfiltered and a little plaintive as his fingers tightened around his cup until his knuckles were as white as the porcelain.
"Yeah," he spoke with gruff affection, rubbing his nose to obscure his expression. "Well. Just keep bein' happy, okay? An if he ever lets you down, I'll help y'set fire t'that brothel." Which was what best friends were for, when it all came right down to it. Property damage, alibis, and petty revenge.
He took his teacup as the drink was served, inhaling the steeping aroma with pleasure and offering his own laundry list of plans for the near future to pass the time as he waited for it cool enough to drink. He ducked his head at the unexpected compliment, ears turning pink as he instinctively tried to hide the glow of pride that lit up his craggy face like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. "...s'well, is'not 'zactly, y'know, that--" he mumbled before realizing what he was doing and catching himself, clearing his throat and taking a gulp of scalding tea that wrinkled his nose with a wince.
His question wasn't meant to shift the mood; between Sah and Alys and his sister Dierdre he had more than a passing interest in the Academy, and he liked hearing about Ru's plans for it, even if he didn't understand all the magical jargon. It was something that had anchored her in the months after the War; given her purpose and direction, and he did all he could to support her in it, even though he didn't have a drop of his sister's magic in his own blood.
But this time something was different. He could see it in her smile and the way she folded down into herself even as she sat. He didn't hesitate to set himself down next to her, but he was too confused to be wary until the words dropped into the silence. At first he assumed he'd misheard her, giving a slight shake of his head as if to clear a ringing from his ears, but she continued on and there was no mistaking it then. He froze, the blood first draining away from his sun-browned face and then rushing back until he flushed dark, eyes wide with shock.
"But... Halo's your home..." was all he could manage, the words slipping out unfiltered and a little plaintive as his fingers tightened around his cup until his knuckles were as white as the porcelain.
