( there we go. a pleased smile curls on arbor’s lips, watching the older man laugh against the tree. )
fuck no. just a big, dumb crow. nothing brave about it. just stupidity. i’m just glad he didn’t kill me.
[ within seconds, the tension is melted away. he's laughing-- damn hard, too. he has to brace himself against a tree. ]
Makers breath, that's a new one. I commend your bravery. And here I was worried you were a templar.
and i’ve bit the highest ranking member in the crows. why’d you blow it up?
( arbor’s had too many second chances in his life to deny anyone their own. )
‘s fine. i didn’t care how it happened. just that i could help. be useful. it got taken from me, anyways.
( he hands anders the herbs he collected. his demeanor hasn’t changed. )
i did. but for different reasons. that’s where i went. after i left my home. was there for a few years. helped rebuild.
( he watches which herbs and bends down to collect some himself. )
( he’s crying now, and he knows she’ll hate it, but he can’t help it. his lip wobbles and he wipes at his face furiously. stupid. dumb. why can’t he be more like aura? why can’t he feel less? )
give up then! go on! give up like
I'm trying to help you!
I tried to be there for you after the fucked up Stannard games, I tried to be there for you with the weird thing about his and Aerin's past, I tried to be there on days you miss your mother, but you always dismiss me!
You only banter back, so yeah, —