Tahi-shei wavered, and then looked away. "The mold will help it heal," he said quietly, and closed his eyes for a moment. It was comforting to be able to see James, even with his eyes closed. It was easy to ping the mold on his periphery and watch it.

His eyes opened again, and he tried not to flinch as James hugged him. He felt dwarfed next to the other Gembound, and his heart leapt up into his throat. Nothing did ever go right. But that wasn't exactly what he got caught up in. "Maybe you should," he rasped, his voice sort of distant and hollow. It was all he could really think to say. He didn't want to drag James down -- he didn't want to drag him into this.

@james

James shook his head, "Maybe I should, but I've never really been one to make smart decisions."

He pulled away and wiped his tears as daintily as a fair lady with her handkerchief, his eyes down on the ground.

"... I have something terribly selfish to ask of you," he said softly, "I-I... Do you remember when you came to my house? And we talked and it was nice? And how you promised to visit?"

James looked away and ruffled his feathers, wincing as the ones on his chest and shoulders ached, "... Could you? Visit, I mean."

He didn't meet Tahi's eyes, his cheeks burning.

Exit
@Tahi-shei

Tahi-shei felt like a string drawn taught, wound around two fingers and being pulled tightly. He felt like he was uncertain and about to snap -- he didn't know what to do, especially as James smiled, turned away, and invited him over. Tahi-shei felt... appalled, in some ways, and grateful in others. The Crown weighed on him, heavier than it really was, but James was nearly asking him as a personal favor.

He sighed and gave a small shrug. "I suppose it wouldn't kill me to leave Canis for a spell." And then, he was trailing after him.


/exit tahi-shei
@james visibility