He didn’t want to believe it, he couldn’t believe it- that much was clear to anyone who could see as Connor curled into a ball. It was a pathetic sight, but not one uncommon for someone experiencing so much grief, as well as pity. His cousin was in a coma, and he had done nothing to look for her when she had been missing, it was as much his fault as anyone’s. And he couldn’t cope with that- he couldn’t handle knowing he’d done nothing, he needed Marian to be okay. And that’s why he cried and screamed, and denied it over and over again. He thought- if he continued to say it, it would become true.
He felt the arms wrap around him, and he fought them at first- he didn’t need comfort, he didn’t need pity- he needed someone to tell him that they had made a terrible mistake. But that wasn’t going to happen, and the sooner he’d accept it- the better. He felt himself give in to the embrace, relaxing in their arms as the tears continued to stream down her face. “She’s okay,” he whispered over and over, in his best attempt to reassure himself. It wasn’t working.
As Dominique’s words hit his ears, he froze. Dominique. She’d been the one to identify the body, she’d be able to explain this, she’d be able to admit that they’d made a mistake. Taking a few deep breaths he found himself nodding along to her words. But when he tried to speak, he found himself unable to say anything. Instead, he rose to his feet and motioned to the redhead before he turned and made his way out of the great hall. And just like that it was over, the other students would return to their dinner, most of them forgetting what they had just witnessed.
Once he was safely in the entry way, Connor turned towards Dominique. He made no effort to rush towards her, or to say anything. Instead he folded his arms across his chest, as he bit down on his lip. He could tell she was upset, which did nothing to help his current state, but he was trying to ignore that. “Tell me you’re wrong,” he spoke, his words low, slow and choppy. It took an incredibly amount of concentration for him to speak without crying or screaming at her, but he needed her to hear his question.
While she wholeheartedly understood him not wanting to be touched, she resented the fact that he fought her embrace. Still, she said nothing about it and just went on, holding him, waiting for him to calm down just enough to suggest they left. Doing this to himself wouldn’t help Marian wake up. And then, there she was, following after him in complete and solemn silence, ignoring completely what others were whispering, and the little to no tact they had hiding their curiosity over something so grim.
As Connor turned to look at her, Dominique shivered, hands raising as if wanting to protect herself from whatever Connor intended to do. He had all the right in the world to be upset, to be angry too but... he still thought she had made a mistake. She was even afraid of saying it out loud, so she just shook her head when he asked her to tell him she was wrong. “No...” She started. “No, Connor, I wasn’t. I’m not. I’m sorry.” Her voice even quivered, as hard as she was trying to keep it together, if only for Connor’s sake. “I wanted to see if I could identify her. I-I went into the hospital wing almost sure I’d look at her and wouldn’t know who it was... I wasn’t even right next to her when I realized it was Ma-.” She paused herself, covering her face with a hand before she could even say her name.
“I ran to her as soon as I realized. I saw her up close. It IS Marian.” She assured him, sniffling. Dominique extended her arms with the full intention of hugging him, though if he wanted to reject her that was alright too... whatever he needed, she’d try to provide; be it a shoulder to cry on, or someone to take out everything he felt on. “I wish I could tell you otherwise but that serves Marian no purpose. If you’re mad at me, then be mad at me, but that’s not changing anything either.”
