The first pink tear was shed. Quickly wiped with his shoulder. Despite his involuntary breathing, shivering, those tears gave away the truth, and always would. More obvious than the blood on his already ruined shirt.
"She's not dead." He shook his head. "She's not. She's not. I can't stay here. I won't. You can't take more of me."
MJ had finally been given his attention. He knew that last sentence was for him, and wordlessly got to his feet to excuse himself. Rohan would make better headway alone.
“No one will take more of you, Holden.” He couldn’t—and wouldn’t—make assertions about Sona. He assumed Simon would hurt her for making Holden or punish her in some other way but he wasn’t certain. If and until he was, he wouldn’t say a word about her.
But he could say that Holden wouldn’t have any more of him taken away. Rohan simply wouldn’t allow it.
“I’m sorry, Holden, but you have to stay here. Simon thinks you’re already dead and as long as he does, and as long as you stay here, you’ll be safe. I’ll make sure you have whatever you need.”
Not a Sunburn || Holden, Rohan, & MJ || December, 2021
Holden: Hours after Xavier's departure, sun just squinting through the curtain of trees behind the cabin, Rohan would be awakened by vigorous shaking. There was panic in that singular hand.
"Mr. Dalca! Mist - Dalca! Dalca!"
Rohan: One moment Rohan had been in a dead sleep and the next he was being forced into rejoining the world. At least that’s how it felt to his desperately groggy brain.
“Ce? Ce este?” he slurred in Romanian, peering up at a panicking Holden. “Ce s-a întâmplat?”
Holden: His mother's family was Romanian, but that didn't mean he spoke a lick of it. Maybe it would have been helpful, but that wasn't his frame of mind right now. The covers were yanked in attempt to wake him.
"My skin's on fire! What's happening to me?!"
Rohan: The rush of chilly air on warm skin had him hissing out a breath but it did help clear his mind a bit more.
“Ce—“ English, not Romanian. Had to switch to English.
Rohan sat up and rubbed his eyes, reaching for Holden’s arm. “Calm, just be calm. We’ll figure it out. Let me see where it hurts.”
Holden: Frustration and fear dominated Holden's mind. He shook his head. Flinched at Rohan's touch. What was felt was not neutral, youthful skin, but hot to the touch.
"Don't tell me to calm!" he shrieked. "I'm on fuckin' fire! Did he do this? What did I do?!"
Rohan: Damn it all, Holden was in a full panic and Rohan wasn’t awake enough to think properly. He rubbed his eyes again and turned on his lamp.
There was a problem and seeing it was the only way to fix it. He needed to know why skin that should be cold felt hot and the first thing that came to mind was a burn.
“Did you close the shutters and draw your curtains before you slept? Was any light hitting your body at all?
Holden: "My room's - It's black." On such a precarious edge, even the click of the lamp caused a jump. From head to toe the fledgling was pink. Breathing sharp and deep.
"Am I dyin'?"
Rohan: “Black, okay.” So it hadn’t been accidental exposure to sunlight. That could be eliminated from the list of potential concerns.
“Come with me to the bathroom.”
He needed to make Holden feel more comfortable so the panic could begin to fade. A cool bath probably wasn’t the solution but it would help.
He hoped.
“I don’t know what’s wrong yet but we’ll figure it out, okay?” Rough as it was from sleep, his voice was soft. Gentle. “I need you to try to take even breaths while I fill the bath. In through your nose and out through your mouth.”
Holden: Breathing only ceased when he slept. Lying in bed like a perfectly preserved corpse. Right now, his breathing had yet to calm, and even breaths took willpower. But he tried. The burns had yet to worsen, but in proper light, that was exactly what they were. Reminded him of when he'd slept on his mother's towel as a child. Oblivious to the world and his brothers playing football. Oblivious of the damage he had caused. The hisses and whimpers from raising his arms above his head. It was the same, but he would swear on his life the window was closed. Just another night.
"You really dunno what's happenin'?"
Rohan: What else would help Holden’s skin? Aloe.
Rohan turned on the bath and went into the kitchen to cut a couple of stalks off his plant. He wasn’t certain it would do anything but it couldn’t hurt.
He shook his head as he returned to the bathroom. “I don’t know, Holden. I don’t know.” He needed to be more awake. He needed to think.
“Strip off so I can put this on you.”
Holden: He was already down to his underwear by the time Rohan returned. He was pretty reluctant to strip further. Maybe he didn't have to. His burns were extensive. Literally head to toe, and that confused him just as much as everything else. Had it been an open window, wouldn't it have just been his arms? His face?
"What's that?"
Rohan: “Aloe Vera. It’s what you put on a sunburn to soothe it. I don’t know if this will work the same way but I’m trying it.”
For now, Rohan intended to only put the aloe on the parts of Holden’s body that would stick out of the tub. His face, his neck, the tops of his shoulders.
Their varying degrees of nudity weren’t even a blip on his mental radar. He would work quickly and carefully, concerned only with the problem immediately in front of him. Everything else could wait until later.
“In the bath.”
Holden: In the bath with underwear on. If Rohan wasn't going to say anything, the better. All the way down he hissed, refusing to do more than remain stiff and straight.
"Can vampires, like... curse people?"
Rohan: Underwear, no underwear, it made no never mind to Rohan. His only interest lay in making sure as much of Holden's skin as possible was in the cool water.
"Anyone can curse anyone given the right circumstances," said the witch, brow furrowing as he smeared aloe on every bit of skin that wasn't wet. "But that doesn't make any sense." He frowned.
"If you're going to go to the trouble of cursing someone why stop there? A mild inconvenience isn't really worth it, is it? I suppose it could be a faerie but... no, it couldn't be. No one can get into the estate to wreak havoc. No one even knows you're here except me and Xavier... And the room was dark..."
He was muttering to himself now.
Holden: Holden would be lying if he said he hated the mumbling. Talking to himself meant he was actively invested, or so it seemed. Could have all been an act, but he doubted as much. Not Rohan.
The aloe did little to soothe the sting. As with the water, these were only temporary reliefs.
"My head's burnin', too. Like, my scalp."
Rohan: Rohan's frown was even deeper and his expression even more bewildered when he lifted his head. "What?" He set the aloe aside.
Sure enough. A cursory examination was all it took to confirm that Holden's scalp was just as red as all the rest of him. There wasn't a single part of him that had been spared from whatever the hell was happening.
Rohan rested his forehead on the side of the tub, swearing softly in Romanian as he tried again to think of a solution or better yet, what the actual problem was. There hadn't been anything amiss for days. Xavier hadn't come by again, no curses or bonds had been added that he was aware of, no new magical items had been brought into the house.
The only thing that had changed in a mile radius was--
His head jerked up.
"Dry yourself off and get dressed."
Holden: "But I just got in!" Holden blurted. Yes, he trusted this man, but his skin was burned and the only relief came from a cool bath. Now that he was in, he was a wet cat, refusing yet another change to his environment.
"What are you thinkin'?" he asked, in search of a towel - in his panicked mind, blind of the one just within arm's reach.
Rohan: "I'm thinking that we need to go for a car ride."
Rohan handed Holden a towel but he didn't do anything to make him get out of the tub. Instead he got to his feet and hurried out of the bathroom.
If his hunch was correct--and he was almost certain it was--they were going to need some supplies. A tent first and foremost, and anything he could possibly think of to make that tent as dark as possible. A more permanent solution could wait until later; they needed to get the more pressing issue of the burn taken care of first.
"Are you dressed yet?" he called from somewhere in the cabin.
Holden: Holden wasn't thinking straight to ask questions or snide. Only squeeze his eyes shut and force himself out of the water. There wouldn't be much drying. Air hitting wet skin was the only thing keeping him sane. Dressing would go only as far as loose-fitting sweatpants and sandals.
"Where are we going?" he finally managed to ask.
Rohan: “The creek.” Rohan hauled his camping gear from the back of his closet and carried it out to the living room. “You can have a swim. The water’s cold, it’ll help your skin.”
Plus, it was far enough away from the cabin to potentially prove him right.
“We’ll camp on the bank. Is there anything you want to bring?”
Holden: The bug-out bag was stared at incredulously, "We're - We're goin' campin'? Right now? How's that supposed to help me?" If there was method to the madness, he wasn't seeing it yet.
Rohan: “MJ told me once that he had to sleep in a new place every few days. Something to do with his clan. Since you’re part of the same clan, I’m willing to bet that that’s why your skin is all red and burning even though there wasn’t any sunlight shining into your bedroom. If I’m right, you’ll feel better. If I’m not you can swim in the creek and feel better that way until I find another answer.”
Holden: One thing cut through the discomfort where clarity was concerned. Through gritted teeth and tight eyes came, "He didn't bother to mention that?"
Rohan: There was no answer to that question that wouldn’t make matters worse so Rohan opted for silence instead.
Although he doubted the omission had been intentional or malicious. It had probably been just that: an omission.
“Get in the truck. The drive won’t be long. Oh, was that a yes or no to bringing something with you?”
Holden: Holden's brain seemed to reset with the question. A fog and only a hint of understanding as his fingers came to rest on his forehead.
"Uh, not - not really, no." He said that, but he'd be making a grab for a knife and his pillow. In the heat of the moment, those made the most sense. Rohan had the tent. That would have to be enough. Trust was happening whether he wanted it or not. He was heading for the truck.
Rohan: In the end, it really didn’t matter. A trip back could always be made.
Even so, Rohan figured he should at least put on a shirt and some shoes if they were going to be camping. Anything else could wait.
Like asking Xavier to give this road some maintenance, for instance.
It would’ve been simpler to walk but driving was faster, and Rohan was anxious to see whether gaining distance from the cabin would actually help. He couldn’t remember whether MJ had told him how much distance was required so he gave them a mile and a half and hoped it was enough.
The burbling of the creek was audible the moment he cut the engine.
“You go on ahead, the creek is just through those trees. I’ll grab the tent.”
Holden: Leaning back was an option Holden refused to take. Leather would have felt nice for a full sixty seconds before the excruciating pain of pulling back. He opted to lean forward and take every bump as it came, settling to rest his arms on his knees until the moment the truck came to a halt.
What he hadn't expected was any result at all. Somewhere along the drive, the pain had eased. Not gone, but not worse. Just his imagination, he assumed, and made a beeline to the water, stripping down to his underwear along the way. The kiss of cold water caused a very enthusiastic moan.
Rohan: Rohan took that as a good sign. As he’d told Holden, if this worked then great. If not, at least there was plenty of cold water.
While the fledging had his soak, Rohan began setting up the tent in a spot that would be nice and shady come daylight. Some tarps and heavy blankets over the top would add some peace of mind and enough darkness for comfort. It would do.
“How’s your skin feel?”
Holden: It was Rohan's voice and nothing else that pulled him from his bliss. Somewhere between shocked and embarrassed by his own behavior, however warranted.
He dipped deeper into the water, hiding his body as much as he could and still allowed to speak.
"Better. Like, sunburned but it ain't worse."
Rohan: Holden had nothing to be embarrassed about; relief was an excruciatingly human emotion and sometimes it came out in ways one didn't expect. Rohan had heard far worse.
"Good, good. That's progress then." Building a fire for light wasn't really an option but luckily there was an electric lantern in Rohan's pack. He set it beside the tent.
"I'll need to get more camping supplies. Might as well be as comfortable as possible since this is going to be a regular occurence." And he could hardly ask Xavier to have more cabins built.
Holden: Regular occurrence made as much sense as everything else, but still Holden was startled.
"Wait. How long I gotta be out here? Would I'a burst into flames if I stayed? How is this normal?"
Rohan: “I think—if I’m right—that you only need to sleep here for at least a night. I’m not banishing you out here or anything but I need to look into this more.”
Which meant he needed to give MJ a call.
Holden: Right. Rohan didn't have all the answers. He just expected him to. Cold wet hands pressed into his face. Nothing doing but wait for answers. The story of his life. He slipped beneath the surface.
Rohan: Fortunately for them both, Rohan had managed to remember his phone when he’d rushed them out of the house.
{Text to MJ} Are you busy? I want to talk to you about something and it’s a little urgent
MJ: {Text} Like pull over off the side of the road urgent
Rohan: {Text} Not quite that urgent
MJ: {Text} Tex minutes
{Text} Ten
Rohan: {Text} I’ll wait for your call
In the meantime they could see if the distance from the cabin was having the effect Rohan hoped it would.
“How are you feeling?” he called to Holden.
Holden: Bubbles floated to the top, before auburn hair followed. Water and hair were moved from his eyes.
"You said something?"
Rohan: “I just asked how you were feeling. Any improvement or still the same?”
Holden: "It ain't worse." For some reason he felt compelled to ask, "You okay?"
Rohan: Rohan smiled softly and nodded. “Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. You’re what’s important.”
Holden: "Uh, sure." If there was a blush he wasn't about to feel it. Just... dip beneath the calming waters to hide.
Rohan: Not worse would have to be enough, at least until MJ called. Then they could take more concrete steps to ensure Holden would never have to go through this again.
Rohan looked at his phone. Had it been ten minutes yet?
MJ: When ten minutes did come around, MJ was faithful to his word. Pulled over at a rest stop somewhere in Arizona.
"What's the urgent urgency?"
Rohan: Rohan breathed a sigh of relief.
“Hey. Holden woke up tonight looking like his whole body got sunburned. It’s because he needs to sleep in a new place, right?”
MJ: "Yeah, b - boy, uh, happened that fast, huh?"
Rohan: “Is it fast? How often does it happen?”
MJ: "Like every seven days for me. Gets better when ya get older. Guess ya got him 'bout a mile or two away? Make him heal himself." If Rohan was so worried about it.
Rohan: Every seven days. So they would have to camp about once a week.
“How does that work?”
MJ: "How's what work?"
Rohan: “Healing yourself.”
MJ: "He's been doin' that with the stake and shit. Just gotta concentrate on the idea of healin'."
There was a pause, then a sigh.
"Can't go back t'the cabin for a week. Week on, week off. Why ya think I left so much."
Rohan: That was simple enough. Holden already had a frame of reference so it wouldn’t be—
“The whole week? No less?”
MJ: "No less, or I'd be 'round more often."
Rohan: A whole week. That threw a bit of a wrench into things.
The simplest and most obvious solution would of course be for Holden to alternate between his cabin and the main house but Rohan doubted very, very sincerely that Xavier would allow that. It had been a battle just to get him to remove the tethering spell he’d put on Holden.
The only options were to camp every other week or build another cabin from scratch…
“Okay,” he sighed. “I’ll figure something out. How far does the distance have to be, just a mile?”
Holden: "I mean, s'two-ish for me. Never really counted my steps. Simon moves from town t'town. He's alright now, then ya got his distance."
Rohan: “He says it isn’t worse, so we’re probably on the right track. I guess we’ll see once he heals himself. Is there anything else I should know?”
Holden: "Nah. Not really. That all?"
Rohan: Rohan nodded to himself. “Yes, that was all I wanted to ask. What about you, are you well?”
Holden: "Yeah. Peachy. You take care now, 'kay?"
Rohan: “You, too. Drive safely.”
Holden: MJ was quick to hang up, and Holden would be found floating face up near the shore, eyes closed, seemingly asleep if one didn't know any better.
Rohan: Rohan slowly lowered his phone, frowning at it for a moment. Well that was…abrupt. Perhaps it was his imagination but it felt like MJ was a little short with him.
Rohan shook his head. It was probably nothing. He’d probably just been in the middle of a job.
“Holden?”
Holden: The water gave a slosh.
"Yes, sir?"
Rohan: “It looks like we’re going to be out here for a while. It would seem that you have to alternate sleeping places every week.”
Holden: "I gotta what?" His lithe figure sank, sitting on his knees as he rubbed beads of water from his lashes.
Rohan: “You won’t be able to sleep in the same place for two consecutive weeks. We’ll camp this week, then you can go back to sleeping at the cabin. I’ll find a better solution though, I promise.”
Holden: "Why - Why is this happenin'?"
Rohan: “From what I understand, this is just a part of your clan. It isn’t anything you’ve done, it happens to all other vampires like you. But, the good news is that you can heal yourself of that sunburn.”
Holden: That had him on his feet. "Like my arm?"
Rohan: Rohan nodded. “Yes, exactly like your arm. All you have to do is concentrate on healing yourself. Are you hungry? Eating might help it along.”
Holden: For a moment he stared, because for that moment he thought Rohan was offering his own neck.
He almost said yes. He thanked God for sunburn.
"A uh... bag?"
Rohan: That Holden might take his question that way never even occurred to Rohan. He was far too distracted.
He nodded. “I can get one for you when I go back to the cabin to get us more supplies.”
Holden: "I'll... I'll work on healin' while you do that?"
Rohan: “Sounds good to me.” He got to his feet. “Is there anything you’d like me to bring you besides a change of clothes?”
Holden: "I don't got anything else."
Rohan: “Don’t want a book or anything?”
Holden: "Can I have a, like, phone or iPad?"
Rohan: Rohan smiled. “Let me see what I can do. Just don’t tell Xavier,” he added conspiratorially.
Holden: "Just wanna watch a movie."
Rohan: It was so little to ask, how could Rohan possibly say no?
“You work on healing your skin, I’ll be back in a bit.”
A full haul of supplies could wait until tomorrow. For tonight, some sustenance, warm clothes, and entertainment would do.
Maybe he could also think of a way to approach Xavier about building a new cabin somewhere in there.
Holden: Holden didn't understand what he was feeling. First the offer of neck, now the churning feeling that he was going to be left behind. This was the one man, so far, he could rely on, and he felt himself dangling on a thread.
He would keep to the water while waiting, staring at the pink of his forearms as he tried to will the pain away.
Rohan: Rohan drove back to the cabin as quickly as he could, making a mental list of everything he wanted to bring along the way so he wouldn’t waste any time.
Holden wasn’t exactly going anywhere but he’d woken to a shock and was bound to be feeling a thousand different emotions, and that was on top of him still getting used to being a vampire.
Even though there was nothing he could do for the fledgling, Rohan felt that he could at least be there for him.
It wouldn’t be long before Rohan returned with bedding, clothing, basic grooming items, a meal for them both, a fresh set of clothes, and his old phone.
Holden: Holden had spent the majority of the time staring at his skin. Just as before, he told himself, but this wasn't a lost arm. The nuance was lost on him, and he managed only a margin of success before hunger began to plague his forward thinking.
Rohan would find him much as he had left him, only now waist-deep in water with a sour disposition.
Rohan: Oh, dear. That face certainly didn't bode well.
"I'm back," Rohan announced, setting down everything he was carrying beside the tent. "I got you a towel and some blood bags. Do you feel okay to come out of the water?" A gentle way of asking if Holden had been successful in healing himself.
Holden: Holden's answer came in silence, coming to shore in a huff. Skin only marginally lighter, still very much damaged.
"I dunno what I'm doing wrong. Like, I got my arm back. Why can't I do this?"
Rohan: "It may just be hunger." Rohan handed Holden the towel and went to retrieve one of the blood bags from his pack.
He hoped that was it. MJ had said the process was similar to what Holden had done to regrow his arm and in that instance, Rohan had made sure that the fledgling had eaten as much as possible to help.
"Here you are." He offered the blood bag.
Holden: The towel was used only on his face. The chill of March air felt too good on his skin.
His attempts at healing had roused his hunger, but he didn't want to bite into the bag as he normally would. Months of living with this man, he wanted to show some iota of maturity.
"You don't have to stay here," he muttered, holding a blood bag in both hands.
Rohan: “I don’t mind staying,” Rohan said as he continued to unpack and set up the camp. “But if my being here makes you uncomfortable or you just want to be alone, I can leave.”
He didn’t want to, but he would if that was what Holden wanted.
Holden: "Just because I gotta be out here don't mean you gotta sleep without a bed. Ain't right." But maybe it was because of who and what he was. Rohan was like Xavier, and wanted to keep an eye on him.
Rohan: “I have been camping before, you know. Sleeping in a sleeping bag won’t hurt me.” Although, it was starting to sound like Holden would in fact prefer some time to himself. Not surprising considering the situation he’d been thrust into.
“I’ll just double check the tent and make sure the coverings are thick enough to stop the sunlight.” Then he’d head back to the cabin.
Holden: "Well yeah, you own the stuff."
Holden took to crouching down as he sipped. Not the best feeling to stretch the skin of his legs, but he wanted to make himself smaller.
"Y'all think I'll run away still?"
Rohan: Rohan wouldn't say it, but at the end of the day, it didn't really matter if either he or Xavier were worried about Holden running away. He couldn't even if he wanted to.
What did matter was, "I can only speak for myself and no. I don't think you'll run away. That isn't why I came with you and why I thought of staying. But I won't force my company on you."
Holden: "Then why you wanna stay? I'm such good company?" A scoff at his own expense, nearly causing a cough. See? See how delightful his company?
Rohan: Because I don't want you to be alone. Because I want to take care of you.
"You are good company," he said, half-deflecting the question as he busied himself with the tent. "Just in case you needed anything but like I said, I don't mind if you want to be alone."
Holden: He gave it a think. He was feeling a certain way, but he didn't want that to cloud the bigger picture.
"Just tonight?"
Rohan: Rohan nodded. "Just tonight. I want to make sure you'll be safe sleeping here." Not quite a lie, not quite the truth, but it was a viable excuse. And since it was the only one he had, he held it fast.
Holden: "Do you, um, wanna watch a movie?" Wait a minute. "Oh, hey, you gotta go to bed soon."
Rohan: "I'm not tired." Adrenaline had chased any trace of tiredness away. He'd crash from it eventually, but for now, he was wide awake.
"So yes, I'd love to."
Holden: "What you got on the thing?" The iPad.
Rohan: "A lot of old movies and some classics. The Shining, The Godfather, that sort of thing."
Holden: "I haven't seen any of that."
Rohan: "Really, not even The Shining?"
Holden: "Heard about it. I think everyone's done seen the twins. 'Come play with us!'" followed spooky fingers.
Rohan: "Would you like to see it? It's not full on horror but it's also not...not horror."
Holden: "Tell me again... You gotta work in the mornin'?"
Rohan: Rohan shook his head. "Nope, no work tomorrow."
Holden: "Ok... Ok. Ok! Let's watch." He'd be arguing with the sleeping bag only to lay on his belly on top.
Rohan: "All right." Rohan pulled up the movie and turned the volume all the way up before propping the tablet up on its stand.
After Holden White chose to meet the sun and end his life early in the spring of 2023, Rohan Dalca created a memorial for him.
He chose a beautiful spot near his parents’ property in Washington state and planted a flowering dogwood tree for him, far far away from the Atlas estate that had served as his cage. Holden’s most personal items were placed in a carved wooden box and buried at its base.
Although there were no remains to bury and no real tomb, Rohan wanted to honor the memory of the young man he’d come to care for, and to tell the universe that Holden and his death had mattered to someone.
"Washington like, DC or the state?" Why name them the same thing. He'd always thought that was stupid. "We should do it. You know, fishin'. Like, right before the sun."
"The state." Holden's agreement made Rohan smile. It was possible he was only agreeing to indulge the witch but Rohan was grateful regardless. He didn't want Holden's life on the estate to be an endless wait until the day Xavier finally let him travel about freely.
"Deal. Do you want to do it tonight or--"
Rohan cut himself off abruptly and turned towards the trees. He could have sworn he heard something moving about in the underbrush. A raccoon perhaps? A deer?
No. A Jack Russell terrier running toward them at full speed.
Holden wasn't sure either, now that there was a breath of silence between them. Wasn't sure if he wanted to stay on that subject, either, and decided to drop it completely. For his own sanity.
"You actually do any fishin', or you just sayin' you can fish?" His tone was a little too gentle for his intention, but he couldn't take it back. Too damn tired to correct himself.
Rohan laughed softly. "Now why would I say that I can when I can't? I don't do it often but yes, I fish. I find it very calming." When he went alone, that is.
The handful of times Ramsay had insisted on coming along it hadn't been very calm at all.
"There was a creek behind the house where I grew up in Washington. I'd spend a lot of time playing there and catching fish. Good entertainment for an only child."
Rohan studied the wall for a moment and nodded. "I think we should, yes. We could probably do without it but Halloween only comes a year. Might as well make things as good as we can, right?"
He offered Holden another smile. While he might not have felt that the fledgling was talking too much or talking out of turn, Rohan knew he had to be patient. Holden was still adjusting, still testing his limits. Fumbles were going to happen, it was inevitable. But that didn't mean they'd be held against him.
"All right." He nodded. "I'll the bring the pumpkin things out here. It's a nice night."
Holden swayed on his heels. Still riding that fine line between being enamored with the witch and wanting to retreat to his room. Just hide within four walls until his sentence was carried out. Because that's exactly what this was, and Rohan was his kindhearted jailer.
But it was Halloween. This was supposed to be fun. He just had to get back into that mindset. Nothing wrong with forgetting the inevitable for a few hours. No one here would fault him.
So, Holden slipped away long enough to grab his hoodie, and rejoined Rohan outside for a few hours of mindful forgetting.
Even though he was confused about the why of this line of questioning, Rohan still managed to smile at that.
"If I was interested in living like a king, I'd live at the main house. Cabin life suits me better and even so, you could argue that I do live like a king. Or a prince." Or a demonic viscount.
Rohan couldn't be sure, but he was almost certain that whatever question Holden had stopped himself from asking was better left unasked. There were some things that... it didn't matter. He hadn't asked and Rohan wasn't going to make him.
"Weren't you going to help me choose a projection wall for our Addams Family marathon?"
"Uh..." Holden hesitated mid-step. Only a moment looking at the house, he waved his hand at his bedroom wall. Easier to switch subjects than where it might have gone, and how grateful he was Rohan hadn't lingered on his fumble.
"S'only got my window. We doin', like... a sheet over it or somethin'? That how it works? Only ever seen a projector on a wall. It was all flat, so..." God, he felt like he was talking too much.
