[center][img] https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210131/53a200cc81a754fbfea32363291eca9d.png [/img][/center]
[indent][indent][indent][color=gray][sub][right][color=92278f][b]Location:[/b][/color] The Laughing Worg -- The City-State of Thorinn, Aetheria[/right][/sub][/color]
[hr]Seele wasn’t silly, she could take a hint well enough. It was clear their conversation was nearing its close, and that perhaps now it was best that she give Rael some space, either to be alone, or to seek solace in someone else’s company. Whatever worked for her, whatever she needed to do to…be alright, that’s what Seele wanted for her. 

[color=92278f]“Well, I’d never want you to lie; might as well be building your bridges out of paper, in that case. It isn’t a matter of self-preservation, I just meant that, if you—oh, I’m starting again, aren’t I? Anyway, I’ll get out of your hair now. It was nice getting to talk to you, Rael. I hope we can do it again, maybe under happier circumstances next time.”[/color] She smiled again, stood up from the table, and gave the girl a wink. [color=92278f]“Oh, and, I’m always going to worry, just a little. I’m your support after all, that’s my job.”[/color]

Someone shouted below. [color=92278f]“Excuse me,”[/color] she said.

And with that, she left the second floor behind. It would have been a lie to say it had gone perfectly, but then again, in Seele’s mind perfectly would have been Rael and Alja and Kalie all hugging out their differences over a pop and some grilled cheese. Lofty expectations, sure, but she put a pin in them anyway and filed them away under: [i]“one day.”[/i] For what it was though, it was enough. 

Now all she needed to do was—

[color=#98A9B1]“Hey!”[/color]
[color=#2E2C2C][i]…[/i][/color]
[color=plum]"It is my fault."[/color]
[color=#2E2C2C][i]…[/i][/color]
[color=dc143c]"Don't you throw that in my face!"[/color]
[color=#2E2C2C][i]…[/i][/color]
Seele stood three or four steps up from the ground floor, blinking, a bit dumbstruck. It couldn’t have been more than a couple of minutes, right? She was absolutely certain that when she’d left, the lot of them, Alja and Rael aside, had been getting on just splendidly. Had time slipped her again? Had there been another glitch? What—and this could not be emphasized enough—the [i]frick[/i]?

The matron from earlier with the exceptional de-escalation skills had made her way over to the group, which could have meant only bad things. They were about to get themselves thrown out onto the street in what was undoubtedly the most tumultuous time in any of their lives. Over what? [i]What had happened?[/i]

Seele pinched the bridge of her nose, took a deep breath. 
[color=#2E2C2C][i]…[/i][/color]
It didn’t matter. Whatever it was, they could move past it—they would have to. And if they couldn’t, then group or not, Seele had made the choice to stick by these people. They had survived something awful together, and not words, not even fists, was going to change that. She was not going to abandon them. Any of them. 

Graves’s shouting brought her back. She watched him storm out of the tavern. His words were clear, disconcerting, but a challenge was a challenge. Shortly after, Kazuki and Benkei followed suit looking about as dejected as Graves was grumpy. Fine. She hurried outside, giving Alex a sympathetic nod for the effort he’d put into defusing the situation. He really was such a nice boy, even if he was also a little sloshed.

To her surprise, Rael had already caught up to Graves. Fair enough, the girl was perhaps not so great with softer emotions, but something told Seele she was well-equipped to handle shouting and anger. So she turned her attentions to the other two. Benkei had vanished into the streets, but Kazuki was taller and tall people tended to lope when they were sad—much easier to spot. She broke into a jog and, eventually, caught up to him. 

[color=92278f]“Kazu—ooph,”[/color] she hunched, took a few breaths. She should have buffed herself first. [color=92278f]“I know what you said, and I’ll go if you really, [i]really[/i] want to be alone, but I really, really, [i]really[/i]-er think that maybe being alone right now isn’t a great idea. You can still walk around and think and I’ll be extra quiet if that’s what you want, but I would also love some help looking for Benkei. We should all at least be,”[/color] she made a vague, gathering gesture, finally regaining her wind. [color=92278f]“Oh, you get it.”[/color][/indent][/indent][/indent]