[Thamuris has found a nice wide area in the garden, and laid out a blanket and some sitting cushions along with the plates of food and the tea. It's a refreshing change to be somewhere open and sunny and calm. He's brought along a book to read, but he looks up at the sound of footsteps]
...Chell!
[His expression passes somewhat obviously through 'surprised', 'worried', and, not knowing what to say that isn't meaningless platitudes, he finally settles into a small smile that's a little worried around the edges, but he's trying]
It's good to see you again.
[She slowly eases herself onto a cushion next to him, and smiles back, as best she can. It's a little wan around the edges, that smile.]
Glad to see you too.
[She means it too. He's a calming presence on her frayed nerves, and he'd been a comfort to her when everything had started to go wrong. Taking some food and a cup of tea for herself, she just enjoys the sun on her hair, the sounds of birdsong, the companionship, and tries to remind herself that the Event Horizon is behind her. Presently, she looks over at Thamuris.]
Thank you... Back there... You were a huge comfort.
[So is she. Admitting this sort of stuff is hard for her.]
You did what you needed to. I wouldn't have wanted you to be stuck in that madhouse.
[And tentatively, she wraps her good arm around his shoulders, giving him a gentle hug. Those work better for her in showing gratitude than words anyhow.]
[It does come as a surprise - but Thamuris spends enough time with Duke that he manages to cover it up pretty quick, and he's not about to comment on it because that would be Rude]
...I know. I wish I had been able to do more to help, but my magic wasn't working - nobody's was, I think.
[It's easy to see how worn Felix is, even if he can only guess at the reasons. But he's alive and whole and right now, that counts for an awful lot. He returns the attempt at a smile with a small, careful one of his own]
It's good to see you awake.
[That really catches him by surprise, and he almost pulls away in instinct - but manages to rein himself in in time. Suffice to say most of his friends here - cough Felix cough - are awkward about displaying affection in touch.
He shifts a little, so he can return the hug, very carefully. He's got a few bruises here and there from the hard landing, but he's physical fine - she, however, isn't, and he does what he can to hold her without aggravating any injuries]
I didn't want you - or anyone else, really - stuck there. It sounded awful.
[She's usually as awkward as Felix. Heh. But right now, she'd just needed to hug someone, to reassure herself the world's still spinning on.]
It was awful. I was telling people they should give up and die. That's not like me. I looked back through the journal. Saw my own words. And it looked like they were written by someone else. I don't know how to deal with that.
[It's an awkward hug-slash-cuddle, then, but he's not going to be the one to break it. It's... comforting. Nice.]
Maybe that's the best way to think of it - that it wasn't you. Maybe a you-that-could-have-been, in a different world or a different life - but not you, here.
[She mulls over his words. The solidity of leaning against someone else is definitely a comfort. Thamuris is real. He's not a hallucination. He's real and she's real, and there's a garden around them with pretty flowers.]
I think you're very wise, and that you're right.
The power of some of the mages here, though... well, you know Felix. He's not the strongest in his little group, whereas at home, he'd be at least at my level. Even combined, I'm not sure we'd do anything here.
I'd like to learn more, really - but I've heard it can be dangerous.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Page 1 of 4