someone to talk to
sunsinger:
∘₊✧── talking with him doesn’t ease things, not really. if anything it only serves to make her think harder, to make her dwell for longer. tailtiu frowns, dragging her finger lazily in the dirt.
azelle’s kindness had never been a blessing that she shared in, nor his optimism. teeth sink into the skin of her cheek. he had always been the better of the two of them – never cruel, never jealous. not like her.
she doesn’t know who to expect at the sound of footsteps and doesn’t bother looking up to find out. knees draw up closer to her chest and she wills herself to go unnoticed by the passerby, making herself smaller as though it will help her any to blend in to the greenery around her.
it doesn’t, of course. they approach regardless. tailtiu looks up finally, easing her face into a smile. she’s surprised to see azelle, but her features are careful not to show it.
“to you too!” she chirps, lowering her knees and dusting off her hands. she doesn’t miss a beat. “i’d say so, yeah. thanks again, it means a lot ‘nd all.”
lavender head tilts just so as she peers up at him. “need me for something? or just lookin’ for company? you’re welcome to sit, y’know, if you wanna.”
He doesn’t miss the way she tries to make herself smaller. How her knees draw up to her chest, how her head dips. He feel guilty, suddenly, for interrupting her solitude.
Then again, if she really wanted him gone, she’d have no problem telling him. Azelle hesitates another moment before taking her invitation and sitting down with his legs crossed, uncaring of the dirt stains forming on his white pants. “Of course. I’m always happy to listen to you.”
He shakes his head. “Just company. I’ve been staring at maps all day. My eyes need a break.” They fall shut just then, Azelle taking a moment to simply breathe.
Slowly, they reopen, crimson gaze landing on her. “Do you remember how we’d play soldiers, as kids? I think we underestimated how much walking such a life entails.” Recounting childhood memories straddles the line between bittersweet and outright painful. Their make believe games offered a reprieve from shouldering burdens they shouldn’t have had to carry so young.
It’s a gentle effort to offer her another sort of reprieve, recounting their escapades. She still looks unhappy, body coiled tightly despite her easy smile. Azelle says nothing more in the silence that falls between them. She’ll speak when she’s ready; maybe she wanted a little quiet company, too.














