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[indent][indent][indent][color=gray][sub][right][color=dc143c][b]Location:[/b][/color] City Sewers -- The City-State of Thorinn, Aetheria[/right][/sub][/color]
[hr]To his shame Graves recoiled from her touch. Physical affection was an estranged friend showing up at his front door- not wholly unwelcome, but...

[color=dc143c]"Sorry,"[/color] he muttered, brought low. [color=dc143c]"Its just a lot."[/color]

It was too sudden, all of it. [color=dc143c][i]Too soon? You buried that. Its dealt with.[/i][/color] Or maybe shoving it to the back of the closest and trying to forget its there wasn't the same as dealing with it. New and old problems alike came slamming to the forefront of his mind, fighting and screaming for his attention- a confusing cacophony that kept him from the moment. Pressure built, ready to blow.

She knew how he felt? Had she misinterpreted the words he'd left unsaid for something else? It was impossible for him to look at that woman and imagine someone so full of life- so outgoing and self-assured- feeling that way.

[color=dc143c]"No, you don't- you don't get it."[/color] He looked at her again, intensity gleaming in his eyes. [color=dc143c]"That [i]is[/i] special. Every single one of 'em, even the shitty, obnoxious ones. Sure don't feel like it, I know, but it [i]really[/i] is."[/color] This time he was the one that reached out, squeezing her forearm a little too tight. [color=dc143c]"You won't understand how important they are until they're gone."[/color]

His hand left her. A breath, a pause. Let the heat die from his cheeks and chest. Shift to topic to something easier. [color=dc143c]"Same thing with Leaves. Its scary as all hell admittin' somethin' like that to a friend. You're terrified they'll turn you away n' never look at you the same way again, but ya can't let that stop you. Its better than spendin' the rest of your life never knowin', askin' what if. You'll regret it."[/color]

Regret, regret, regret.

[color=dc143c]"Leaves is wonderful, Kells. It won't be like other people. She ain't gonna throw her drink in her face and call you a-"[/color] Graves caught himself before he turned advice into projecting. [color=dc143c]"She'll get it either way, y'know? What do ya have to lose when you've got everythin' to gain?"[/color]
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