[private] all the blank spots left a mark

[Nemeon]

The softness of Allaire’s voice draws Nemeon’s thoughts out of their sullen pit, if only temporarily. His golden eyes flash with genuine delight at seeing her again, matching her quiet voice - finding the whisper-volume appropriate as he takes the small joy in saying her name out loud in greeting. “Allaire.”

Her question, though absolutely not out of the ordinary whatsoever, causes him trouble. “I’m...” Nemeon’s ever-present desire to be polite so as to not chase away potential conversations wrestles with the reality of the mood that is wrapped around his throat. His hesitation stretches briefly before he answers. “I have had happier nights.” It’s acknowledging the truth without digging too far down into it. His smile is grim for an instant and then lightens as that good nature of his momentarily lands on top of sullenness. As he ignores the fact that the number of happier nights are actually, laughably, few.

“But it is a little brighter now that you are here.” A truth that is both literal and figurative. To him, the novelty of the trail of light that follows her makes it outshine the stars above.

And the novelty of not being alone? Allaire is an acquaintance, someone who knows the half-truth of the things that curse him, and it is too much for his heart to place so much hope and need on her presence but it is too late to try to backpeddle on that now. The weight of his loneliness drags at him, far heavier than the leathery wings at his side or the horns that grew with age to crown his face.

For just a few moments, he decides to grant himself grace from that deep rooted worry that he will cause pain and sickness on someone else and allow himself to be anchored in the present.

Right now, that means transferring his attention to his lovely companion - as he wonders whether the years have been any kinder to her than to him. “And you, Allaire? How are you?”

NEMEON

@Allaire