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 Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 12:25 pm
Stand By YouFinally recovered from her cold, Ethiriel makes an errand to go see Cesc and clear the air.
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Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 2:51 pm
The Secret GardenGetting together for a fun time, Claire brings Aaron and a young Lorin to meet with Ethiriel.
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:33 pm
Silver LiningZul drops by to surprise Ethiriel and they get to play catch-up.
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:38 pm
May 3rd, 2016
Report 002 – Ethiriel
It has been roughly a year since my last report on Ethiriel, and I hope to remedy this negligence on my part as a guardian immediately. Quite a bit has happened since then.
After improving from her initial depression, things had seemed to be looking up. She was socializing, eating, drinking and coming out of the house more often to run errands with me. It was good to see her opening up. I also believe that her befriending my brother has helped both the two of them, but this report is about Ethiriel.
Many accommodations had been made for her throughout her stay – one of which being the addition of a sun room to the back of our house. Ethiriel is there daily, tending to plants and enjoying the Sun whenever possible. I believe that getting closer to her “roots” and becoming more familiar with nature has definitely improved her mood and outlook, giving her something to look forward to each day. She has been quite proud of it, having shown many friends and curious others whenever visited. She seems to enjoy outings to nurseries to find more plants whenever possible.
Ethiriel has also gotten close to several of the other Raevans, one in particular being the young Miss Aina – Floating Rain. For several months of 2015, Ethiriel had even taken to babysitting Aina on a regular basis. I believe the bond they have formed has also been helping her. There has been an interruption in their plans – to be discussed later in this report – but from discussions with Duncan, Aina's guardian, it seems like those plans are to be continued shortly.
With a suggestion from my brother, Ethiriel taught herself how to read Braille. While she still listens to audio books more often than reading, it has opened up a whole new world for her. I was very impressed with her tenacity and strong will to learn on her own – she would sometimes come for help, but for the most part she was able to work alone.
Ethiriel's tendency to use titles and full names has shifted, as well. While she used to use “sir” or “lady” when referring to others, she seems to have dropped unnecessary formalities with those that are close enough to be considered friends or family. She finally has taken to calling me by my first name rather than last, as well as becoming more comfortable with shortening others. I believe that while she is still very respectful and careful about how she treats others, it is a sign that she is trying to relax.
There had also been an attempt to improve her vision. The Optometrist mentioned was able to perform surgery and remove Ethiriel's cataracts – for a time. Adjustment to sight was long and difficult, but as always she persevered and pulled through. Her mood had lifted considerably and she was able to enjoy herself more freely. However, as time went on it was noticeable that her eyes were bothering her more often. After some time, her vision failed her completely. She described to me that, at one point, she had been able to faintly see vague shapes and light colors, but since the failure of her sight she has lost all ability altogether.
–This threw her into a whole new depression; possibly worse than the one she had endured upon first arriving. Once again, she wouldn't eat or drink, wouldn't socialize, and had at one point lashed out at a close friend, my brother and myself, included. My brother reported her mentioning that her lack of feeding “didn't matter because she wasn't dead, yet.” She suffered like this for months.
After some time, Ethiriel began understanding and expressing her feelings on how she had been behaving, saying that she was being “childish.” With my own urging and the help of a friend, we convinced Ethiriel to continue her hikes with the friend's school class. A trip was planned to go camping with my friend and her students. During the trip, one of the students Ethiriel felt closest to – a young, blind girl – had managed to get lost in the woods in the middle of the night. Worried, she had been one of those to volunteer looking. It took all night but she managed to find the girl and bring her back to the camp grounds, and once safely there... Ethiriel grew into a Sigel. I imagine the sense of self accomplishment, the overwhelming relief and the sense of safety, as well as the personal growth she experienced, triggered this change.
Since then, Ethiriel has been back home and recuperating. Again, her outlook and demeanor have greatly changed, and she seems to be much, much happier. She has been making an effort to patch things with the others that she had affected and all seems to be well.
I will continue to keep an eye on her progress, but she is improving daily.
End of report.
-Henry Knight
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Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:39 pm
It had been so long since it happened; Ethiriel almost forgot. Plans had been made, plans had clearly been forgotten, and it seemed like friendships weren't as strong as the Sigel had thought. Back as a Frei, the tea Raevan had made plans with a certain satyr that fell through without explanation. Even texts had become "ignored," and Ethiriel began to figure that maybe Luka didn't care anymore.
Ethiriel had been upset for a time, but as said time moved on, the more she came to terms with it. Perhaps she had done something to upset Luka without realizing, originally turning the blame onto herself, but as she matured she realized that whatever the reason was, she shouldn't dwell on it for much longer.
Until today.
Phone ringing, Ethiriel muttered a quick "Answer," before hearing the number or name given. Then, she said, "Hello?"
Luka fumbled with the phone. His hands were shaking so badly that he could barely enter in the phone number. In a way, he was afraid of how the conversation might go through. Only this morning did he remember that he was supposed to see Ethiriel that day.
It took a bit of digging, but he had found it. And true to his fears, once the phone was on, it vibrated for minutes with countless notifications ranging from text messages to missed phone calls. Not just Eth, but others had been worried about him as well.
As he heard the dial tone, he found himself holding his breath. Would Ethiriel even answer his phone call? From what he’d seen, there were 5 missed called, and countless text messages from her. The last one, a few months ago…
When he heard her voice, he immediately felt himself relaxing. He had forgotten how soothing her presence and voice were. ”Hi Ethiriel, it’s me. Sorry I missed your calls… Something happened, but I’m here now.” Luka found himself flounder for words. How do you tell someone you went into hibernation without making it sound like a horrible excuse?
There was a pause after Luka spoke where Ethiriel tried to find her words. "Luka?" she asked, clearly dumbfounded. On the other end, the satyr could hear the phone fumbling from being on the table to being scooped up with both hands and her voice coming closer. "Luka! Goodness! Are you okay? What happened?"
Luka found himself letting out a sigh of relief as he heard the tone of the other Raevan’s voice. It was almost as if he had worried for no reason. ”To be honest, I don’t know what happened either. Elai thinks I went into hibernation, but we’re both not sure what caused it or why.”
”But enough about me, how have you been? It’s been too long since we last spoke.”
"Hibernation..." Ethiriel repeated, her voice seeming to relax. Her tone had changed since the last they had spoken; her mannerisms softer and far less restricted -- like she had taken a step down from her refined youth. She seemed so much more at ease and friendly.
"Well... I mean, a lot has happened! You've missed out on so much!" she said, nearly breathless with a hint of a laugh. "I'm no longer a Frei would probably be the biggest thing that has happened in your absence..."
As he heard her voice and tone relax, he couldn’t help but smile. ”Yes, so I’ve been told by Elai. I have missed a lot.”
When Eth mentioned her change from a Frei, Luka let out a shout. ”WHAT? When? How? You need to tell me everything. I really have missed so much in the past 9 months… At this rate, I will be the only left as a Frei. But still, does it feel different?” He was ecstatic for her, and quite frankly, at this point, he just wanted to see how she looked now.
With a light and airy laugh, Ethiriel couldn't help but smile at Luka's pressings. "Hold on, hold on..." she cooed softly. "We should meet. It has been too long and you owe me," the Sigel joked, holding the phone close. She didn't realize just how much she missed Luka, and knowing that he wasn't upset at her comforted her that much more.
”Of course, I definitely owe you one. If you give me a day and time, we can call it a date.” Luka smiled. It would be nice to leave the house and get a breath of fresh air. ”I missed talking to you.”
"As soon as possible would be preferred. Today, even, if you're available," Ethiriel nodded, squeezing the phone lightly. There was hardly a beat missed before she answered Luka's sentiments with her own.
"I've missed talking to you, too."
”I can’t do today, I’ll need to give Elai more notice than that. I can do tomorrow though. He’s just anxious that it’ll happen again, but once I let him know that I’ll be with you, he should ease up.” After all, even his guardian had once commented about how mature Ethiriel was.
Ethiriel had matured in a different way since the last time she and Luka had met, but matured nonetheless. "That sounds fine to me," she said.
"Has..." Ethiriel paused, her voice hesitant. "Has Elai... heard from Leonard...?" she asked, clearly uncomfortable. She had thought of him once or twice since the incident, but it had been a while since she had heard news of him.
As much as he hurt her, Ethiriel hoped he was okay.
Luka paused when Ethiriel mentioned her old guardian. ”No, I’m sorry. He has not reached out to Elai at all. Even Elai is worried, but he wants to be respectful to his privacy at the same time.” It was probably not the best answer, but Elai’s relationship with the rest of his family was a complex and difficult one. ”I’m sure he’s doing good though, is he still kind to you?” Luka asked, trying to change the topic to her new guardian.
"He...? Oh, yes; Henry. Yes, he is beyond kind," she said, her voice deflating for just a moment before changing the topic altogether. "I look forward to tomorrow. I can't believe you slept for nine months! I do hope you're okay!"
”Yes, it’ll be nice to be out in the fresh air and feel the sun on my skin again. I can’t wait for tomorrow, it was nice talking to you again Ethiriel.” Luka heard the change in her voice, but there was no point in bring it up. Even he could tell that the subject of Leonard was a difficult one not just for Elai but for Ethiriel as well. ”This time, I promise not to stand you up.” He chuckled.
Ethiriel chuckled as well, her tone back to its airy lilt from before. "You'd better not," she quipped playfully. There was another brief pause between them before she spoke up again. "Let's go to the park tomorrow."
”Of course, anything you want. It’s the least I can do. I’ll see you tomorrow.” The Satyr found himself hesitating to press the end call button. ”I feel like, if i say bye, I may end up not seeing you tomorrow.” he said with a weak laugh. He knew it was ridiculous, but given the sudden onset of his hibernation last time, he felt weak.
There was a hesitance in Ethiriel's breath, unsure of how to continue with Luka's comment. To be honest, she felt about the same way and didn't want to end the call, herself.
"Yeah..." she said, trying to laugh. "If it happens again, I'll come wake you up."
”Thanks, I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Taking a deep breath, Luka pressed the red end call button.
Now that he was awake, he suddenly felt as though there were a giant hourglass sitting on his chest counting down his every waking moment.
At the sound of the call being disconnected, Ethiriel allowed her arms to fall to her sides, phone in hand. It had been so long... She was beyond relieved to hear that Luka was alright, but she was in dire need to know exactly what had happened.
Hopefully soon she would know.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 4:15 pm
Welcome BackWith a surprise, Ethiriel continues her babysitting with Aina.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 4:16 pm
Tea for Three, cha cha cha.While out at a cafe, Ethiriel is approached by another Raevan -- a young Frei named Vesna -- and her "grandmother" for a friendly conversation.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 4:22 pm
This was it.
Held delicately in Henry's hand was a small box as he stepped out from the jewelry store. This was it. He was finally going to do it – he and Candice had been together for at least two years now, and the nurse was confident that things were going to stay steady, happy and healhty. A large grin spread on his face as he excitedly pocketed the case, leaving the one hand curled tightly around it as the other swung at his sides.
It wasn't time yet, but soon. Very soon.
He'd put a lot of thought into this decision – he'd yet to talk in length with Ethiriel about it, having mentioned in passing that it was a potentiality, but now it was time to sit down and explain everything. The Sigel deserved to know, and even though she didn't seem to have much of a grasp on the concept of family, it was important for her to know that this was going to be a big change and, potentially, have a new member in the house. Gabe had been talking about moving out once he found a steady job, and while Henry enjoyed having his brother around it was probably for the best that everyone moved on to new things.
The trip to the jewelers was made shortly after his shift had ended, showered in praises and good vibes from the children he cared for – as well as the other nurses on staff who were within earshot as Henry gushed about what he was about to do.
It wasn't a long drive between the jewelers and home, and Henry was sure to get there in time to stash his gift. Candice would be coming over later, and even though today wasn't the day, he didn't want her stumbling upon it quite yet. He had a plan; something he had been working on for what felt like months now, and he certainly didn't want it ruined. The nurse giggled to himself, completely giddy.
”Ethiriel?” Henry called out, leaving his room. He closed the distance between his and the Raevan's rooms in a few quick strides. Knocking on the door, he called her name again.
There was a brief pause and a soft click – the sound of Ethiriel's walkman being turned off. ”Yes, Henry?” she asked after a moment, her bed lightly creaking from her adjustment. Surprisingly, when Ethiriel wasn't hovering she was rather heavy... or, perhaps, with her bones being solid, unbreakable silver, it wasn't surprising at all.
She had already crossed half the room by the time the nurse opened the door.
”Oh!” Henry exclaimed, reaching his arms out to gently touch Ethiriel's – she took them without question. There was a hint of confusion on the Sigel's face, having not expected an interruption by her guardian. With a laugh, the nurse led her back to the bed to sit. ”I have something I wanna talk to you about.”
Expectantly, Ethiriel hovered lower onto the bed until she felt her ribbon bunch up beneath her, her brows raised in anticipation. Giving a silent nod for him to continue, she listened.
Henry had a hard time biting down his excitement after having kept this secret for so long – he was sure that Ethiriel would be receptive of the idea as she and Candice had become rather close in the last year, but excitement and anxiety gnawed at his stomach. Heart thrumming almost painfully in his chest, the nurse finally continued.
”You know how I talked to you about asking Candice to live with us...?” he asked, barely waiting for an answer before continuing – which was fine, as Ethiriel only gave a simple nod. ”Well... I'm gonna do it. I bought her ring today – I'm gonna propose to her! I want her to marry me!”
Eyes widening, Ethiriel stared off into the distance with a quizzical look on her face. Yes, she quite liked Candice now that she was used to the woman, but... this certainly wasn't something the Raevan expected. She, herself, now had a pit in her stomach – ever since Cesc had turned her down, as much as she had always adored the idea of relationships and romance, it left a strange taste in her mouth. Sure, she was happy for Henry and that he was excited about it, but...
No, she needed to be happy for Henry. She couldn't allow herself to wallow when it was his time to shine.
”That's... that's wonderful news...!” Ethiriel said rather quickly as she tried to fix her faltered expression. She offered him as gentle a smile as she could muster, though her brows remained knit lightly above her eyes. ”I do hope she says yes; you have been wonderful for one another.”
Why did she feel so bitter?
Henry had caught the expression, but given the situation he took it as shock – he had absolutely no idea about Ethiriel's confession and Rhedefre's dismissal. Had he known, well... he might not have been so giddy and excitable explaining to the Sigel.
”It's not going to happen quite yet; I have a plan, but hopefully it can happen soon!”
He didn't quite know how to tell Ethiriel that it involved being alone with Candice for it to work – the Raevan was always invited to spend time with the two of them, but there were definitely times where it needed to be just Henry and his lady friend; this being one of those times. He knew Gabe would want to be out of the picture, having never been a fan of Candice without hiding it. Then again, he didn't hide his dislike for many people to begin with.
As Henry thought over his next response, Ethiriel had distracted herself with her own thoughts. Yes, she was happy for him... and this definitely was the next step in their relationship and she should be happy for the both of them, but a familiar envy passed through her core. It bothered her – she thought she had grown from these kinds of feelings after becoming a Sigel; that she had matured and moved past all of these negative emotions, and even though Cesc's rejection had happened some time ago, it still hurt. It hurt to think about, and even still thinking about him and Zurine together... She loved them both dearly, but the jealousy overshadowed those feelings at times.
Then her mind idly wandered towards Zul... a welcomed reprieve for that moment, even though she wasn't exactly sure how she felt quite yet.
”...”
”...Ethiriel?”
Snapping out of it, Ethiriel's milky eyes widened once more as she returned her attention back to Henry. ”I... I apologize; I had something on my mind. Continue?” she said, taking a quick and shallow breath.
She needed to fix this, even if just for herself.
”I was wondering if you had any friends you could potentially visit on that day? Maybe Cruz? Cesc?”
Hearing his name made Ethiriel's heart thump uncomfortably. ”I, uh...” she faltered, glancing away from the direction Henry sat in. She hadn't gotten to see Cesc much outside of communicating through text and calls since the confession despite how clear the air had seemed at the time – perhaps this was why it hurt. She never initiated any hangouts anymore... was this her fault? Was she letting her negative emotions interrupt their friendship? They had been “just friends” for so long, so why did she let this change anything? She still wanted to see shows and operas with him, she had no doubt, but after Vesna's teasing not long ago... Were they too romantic now? Was there a tension she added by allowing her crush to take over everything? Perhaps she never should have confessed her feelings and let the stag remain blissfully unaware.
It was too late now...
”Ah, maybe... I'll have to ask around. I'm sure we can find a way to get me out of the house...” Ethiriel thought about a walk; that would give her some alone time to think properly without a doubt, but more than likely Henry wanted to do this at night in a romantic setting – even though with her dog and GPS the Sigel had little to worry about, but surely it wasn't a good idea to go out alone after dusk. If anyone, maybe Cruz... Though... if her emotions were still toying with her, perhaps another discussion with Cesc was in order, but she also wondered if that would just make things worse. He had made himself clear.
He wasn't interested in a relationship. Not with her... at least, not right now. She wasn't sure if it was the uncertainty that bothered her more than anything.
While it certainly wasn't the reaction Henry had been expecting, he figured that maybe Ethiriel was tired or something. He didn't want to push any more of this on her, especially in her state, so he moved on. ”Any word on more hikes? Candice said some were coming up before the weather starts changing again. Think you'll wanna go?”
Hikes, Ethiriel chuckled. It wasn't too long ago that she learned that Hyunae's parents forbade her from camping or participating in outside-class activities after the fiasco on the trail. The Sigel was understandably upset, but it tore a bit of a rift in her excitement for the trips. Candice had been understanding, at least, but the whole thing left a bitter taste in Ethiriel's mouth. Everything had come out fine, hadn't it?
Hadn't it?
”Probably not,” she said bluntly, letting out a heavy sigh. ”I don't really want to talk about that, though.”
Aah... Henry immediately understood – Candice had already confided in him just what had happened with Hyunae's parents' and their decision; he couldn't blame them – he would have been extremely concerned with his child's safety if the situation had happened to him. It was just a huge bummer that it affected the Raevan's interest in participating. Maybe they could find something else for her to do.
Gently touching Ethiriel's shoulder, Henry came to a stand as the bed groaned under the shift in weight. ”I just really wanted to let you know what was happening since it could mean a lot of big changes. There really isn't much else to it, so I'll let you get back to your book. Do you need anything?”
”Not really. Thank you, though.”
Henry's expression faltered this time. Was she okay...? He shrugged lightly, squeezing Ethiriel's shoulder before turning away and walking toward the door. Maybe something had happened that she didn't want to talk about...
Right on the head.
Once the door clicked shut, Ethiriel remained stationary where she was, lost in thought again. Perhaps she needed to talk to Cruz or Zul again... The thought of talking to Zurine had also crossed her mind, but... given she and Cesc's interesting relationship, the Sigel wasn't sure if that was such a good idea – she didn't want to comprimise their friendship. However... perhaps even mentioning anything to Cesc had damaged things. As a friend, it wasn't right to yearn after the other's ex, was it...? Retracting her silver, Ethiriel allowed herself to flop back against her bed silently.
She really needed to figure this stuff out... It was becoming too much.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 4:24 pm
FlawlessAnother young Frei, Eden, approaches Ethiriel while she's out shopping.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 4:25 pm
What`s Burning?While walking Nedhudir, Ethiriel stumbles upon a very disturbing and distressing scent -- which turns out to be another young Raevan.
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Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2016 4:26 pm
Feed the WolvesAfter hearing nothing but good things about his restaurant -- and the fact that he has an upcoming Raevan -- Henry takes Ethiriel out to Ambrosia to meet with Phoenix.
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Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2016 2:30 am
Revisiting the ParkQuite a bit of time had passed since Ethiriel had a chance to meet with Lazarus, and the Sigel accepted the Valsaros' invitation to meet without hesitation.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2016 3:40 pm
Pinball WizardWith Ethiriel into a new book, Henry decides to give her some alone time while he meets with Phoenix for a movie and some discussions about Raevans.
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2016 10:15 pm
Today was the day, Henry decided. Ethiriel had managed to find something to keep herself entertained and out of the common area while Gabe was out doing... Gabe things (Henry didn't like the connotations of that, but he knew he couldn't stop the younger Knight from doing what he wanted), leaving most of the house to Candice and himself.
He hadn't been waiting long -- just enough to finish preparing a very familiar meal for the two of them: spaghetti and garlic bread with wine, just like their first proper date.
With a bouquet of red roses nestled in the crook of his arm, Henry rested his rear against the armrest of the couch, facing the hallway. With a quick glance to his watch, he knew Candice would show up any minute.
Today was the day, Candice decided. It was one of the only days in the month where Henry and her seemed to have the day off together, and it seemed like an appropriate time to visit. A talk with her mother and father had reaffirmed her decisions, but her heart was racing the whole drive through Gambino to Henry's house.
It's now or never was the mantra that ran through Candice's head. It was the words that her mother had said a month ago, but Candice had denied it back then. One step at a time. She brought dessert, a blueberry cobbler, reminiscent of the one she had made on their first date.
Perhaps that was a clumsy choice in dessert, but it was too late to turn back now. Candice stared up at the front door of Henry's house, and took in a deep breath. She put on a trained smile and stepped forward, knocking on the door.
Already on edge from nerves and excitement, Henry bounded from the couch and scurried to the front door, sliding half way from his socks. He was dressed similarly to how he had on their first date, as well.
"Candice!" Henry called, throwing open his arms as the doors parted. The nurse held them there rather than pulling his girlfriend close, allowing her to make the move. "It's about time we finally managed to have a day off together!"
Candice stepped back in surprise at how quickly Henry answered the door, arms hugging her still-warm dessert tightly to her chest. She let out an awkward laugh at Henry's greeting; he was always so bright and eager to see her. From behind him wafted the warm and homey smells of garlic and spaghetti, which only made her heart race all the more.
"H-henry," Candice stuttered after a too-long pause, moving her dessert under one arm to give him a hug. She stayed against his chest a moment, staring at the ground, and stepped back with a doleful smile. "It's been too long, hasn't it?" she asked, laughing despite the fluttering in her chest. She stepped inside the home and, pausing at the foyer, extended the cobbler out to him.
"I made some more cobbler," she smiled, a bit flush. "I hope you aren't getting sick of it by now..."
Candice's toned down greeting didn't go past the nurse, his brows raising in response, but his smile remained the same as he hugged her deeply. Much like any time they embraced, he didn't want to let go.
"I could never get sick of your cobbler!" he said with as much exuberance as he usually did. Once Candice was far enough into the house, Henry shut the door. "I hope you're in the mood for pasta!"
Candice hummed against Henry's chest, giving him a short squeeze around the waist before leaning back. She tucked her bangs shyly behind her ears, laughing, and smoothed out her blouse, eyes still trained on the floor even as Henry spoke. It was chilly outside, and she relished the warmth from inside the home as soon as Henry had shut the door. She pulled awkwardly at her scarf at first, then pulled it off gently to put on the coat rack.
"I'm always in the mood for pasta," she smiled, glancing back at Henry as soon as her jacket and scarf were off. She glanced at the kitchen, weary to enter the dining room. "I feel bad... you didn't have to cook on your day off," she offered, brows curling sympathetically.
Shaking his head, Henry walked a few paces ahead of Candice -- unaware of her hesitance -- through the living room; the table was already set with plates, wine and a lidded pot of spaghetti beside some garlic bread. "It's really nothing!" he cheered, his hands against his hips. "I went all-out and made the sauce a little different tonight! Hopefully you like it!"
With Henry already heading into the kitchen, Candice stepped quietly behind him with a small laughing. Proceeding into the dining table, Candice held her hand over her heart at the sight of a fully prepared dinner in front of her - the late nights and many projects she'd been occupied with as of late had forced her into the habit of primarily eating instant meals or nothing at all. She knew Henry was just as busy as her, if not moreso - she looked up at Henry with a sweet smile, clearly guilty about the efforts he had gone through to make the dinner possible.
"Henry," Candice spoke quietly, fondly. Her cheeks were flush and tears were threatening to fall, but she managed to hold fast. "This is so far from nothing... seriously, thank you for making this. You're the sweetest thing," Candice said, pausing in her step behind a chair at the dining table. It was where she usually sat, whether it be with Henry or with company, and she'd grown fond of the many meals she'd shared with him here.
The nostalgia certainly didn't help Candice maintain her strength. With her hands pressed against the head of the chair, she bowed her head down, not wanting to sit. After wiping a few stray tears with her wrist, she smiled meekly at Henry. "Sorry," she said, breathing in and pulling the chair back. She sat primly across the dinner table from him and let out a soft breath. "Um..."
As soon as Candice's tone had shifted, Henry was all ears with his attention fully on the councilor. While his brows knit upward, he kept his smile on as strongly as possible.
There was a touch of hesitance, unsure of where this emotion suddenly came from, and Henry took a step around the table to be just a little closer. "Candice, are you okay...?" he asked, a hint of worry in his voice. Once she sat, the nurse stood dumbly for a second.
Though he wasn't going to ask just yet, Henry did kneel down on one knee once the distance was closed. He reached for a hand to hold, to lovingly pet, anything to comfort his lady.
With Henry at her side, she turned to him, hands pushing back the bangs that hid her face. She smiled the best she could and shook her head, hand reaching out to touch Henry's cheek. "I'm okay, honey," Candice replied, fingers brushing into Henry's hair; despite how flushed she seemed, her tone was composed. She breathed in and straightened her stance, her other hand meeting his.
She kissed his palm, and she breathed out, smile soft. "I'm okay."
Relief washed over Henry at Candice's reassurances, leaning into her hand as it ran through his hair. He swore he could be at peace here, with Candice in this house -- home.
Swallowing hard, the nurse flashed his teeth in a surprisingly bashful grin. "Candice, listen..." he started, reaching toward the back pocket of his jeans. "I've been doing a lot of thinking, and... I've got something to ask you."
Candice grinned at Henry as he stayed there, her hand pressed against his cheek and hair, but the moment didn't last long. With a wobbling smile, she wiped at her eyes again, brows curled up in apology. Her smile was a bleak one as Henry spoke, and for a moment, Candice didn't pay much mind to the situation at hand, with Henry on one knee in front of her.
When she came to a realization, Candice felt something jolt in her chest. Her eyes widened with Henry's grin, and she only watched for a second as he reached into his pocket, fingers curling against his cheek. As gently as she could, she pulled her hands away from him, resting them complacently on her lap. She had to fight the urge to look away for too long, or issue an apology - in quiet horror, she covered her mouth.
No, that can't be it. "No, honey," she started, hastily at first to catch his attention. "I-- I've been doing a lot of thinking, too... and..."
She let in a breath, covering her eyes. "W-we really need to talk, Henry," she said, voice wavering.
At her 'no,' Henry froze in place, hand still reaching for his pocket. His smile remained but his eyes reflected his confusion as Candice continued.
No...
"W-wait... We...?" he stammered, horror suddenly settling in. The nurse couldn't fix his expression, completely in shock as his smile contradicted everything in the situation.
Candice's eyes were glued to Henry's as she studied his smile, the hint of confusion gleaning in his eyes. She nodded, tears trailing from her eyes. "Y-yes, Henry, we need to talk," she said, muffled by the hand coverig her mouth. "We haven't been able to do that much lately," she amended, forcing her hand back down onto her lap, as she stared bleakly at the floor. "We've just... been so busy, I couldn't find a time to just talk with you. And just you... I'm so sorry..."
Suddenly, Henry couldn't think. Everything Candice said swam in his head in ways he couldn't understand as emotions began to fire off inside him. Finally, his smile began to falter as reality set in and he slid down onto his bottom against the floor. He couldn't bring himself to pry his eyes away from Candice, as much as it hurt to look, but he was just so dumbfounded that he couldn't do anything else.
"Candice...?"
Her smile was hard-pressed and forced as Henry slid completely to the floor, and she stared, cheeks red and hot with tears. She shook her head. "Henry... I'm... I'm so sorry, but I can't do this anymore," she continued, pressing her hands together so hard her knuckles were white. "I-i don't even know how to say this... but we barely even see each other, we're so wrapped up in our own little lives. I wanted us to have something together... but I feel like that just isn't-- it isn't possible. We both tried, I know that, but..."
She wiped her eyes and stared at her lap, voice shaky. Her feet curled against the security of the chair legs, and she scratched her thumbs against her fingers, her tears hitching her breath. "I just need to move on, Henry. I'm so sorry. I just can't find any happiness here, and I feel like... I can't take care of you the way I want to, the way you deserve to be cared for. Henry," she glanced meekly up at him, "We both... just... have to move on."
So... that was it.
After what felt like an eternity of not breathing, Henry let out a shaky, weak exhale as he finally glanced away. While it was a shadow of what it was just a few minutes before, his smile remained in a painful way that he couldn't get rid of, twitching at the corners. Tears immediately streamed down his face as a scoff escaped his chest.
This was it...
Pulling his hand away from his pocket, he laid it lazily on his lap, staring at the floor. The nurse couldn't process this. It was so sudden and god did it hurt.
"I-I..." he stammered, trying to compose himself. Shaky hand reaching up to lightly run through his bun, Henry cleared his throat. "H-heh, yeah, I... if... if that's... what you th-think is best..." Unable to bring himself to look at her, he kept his eyes on the floor with his torn expression in place.
Candice looked up at Henry as he pulled his hand away from his back pocket. Her hands fidgeted over her lap, and for a moment she wanted to take it all back; but she knew she couldn't. Despite the hurt clear in Henry's expression, Candice knew this was the right decision to make, though it didn't sting any less. She wiped more tears from her eyes, clearly shaken, and nodded.
Henry was the quietest that Candice had ever heard him. The silence between them both was enveloping and discomforting, and Candice sniffed. She stared wanly off to the side, toward the kitchen, and nodded. "I think so... I think... I think this is for the best," she said, gathering the strength to slide her seat back. "I'm sorry, Henry... I-- I hope we can still be friends," she continued, "But... but it can't be anything more than that. If Ethiriel or you need any help, with anything," she said, then let in a rattled breath.
Henry was in complete shock -- what had sprung this? Had he done something wrong? Candice mentioned that they hardly got to spend time together but... was this his fault? Smile finally dissipating, he brought a hand up to smooth his hair back, still not looking to Candice.
Even when her chair slid.
"Y-yeah..." he said shakily, but that was the only response he could muster at the moment.
Candice hadn't expected Henry to be stationary, to remain slumped on the floor. When she stood, the sight of him made something lump up in her throat, and she stared breathlessly down at him. She felt weak, and the urge to cry had returned, but she steeled herself and knelt in front of the brunette.
"Honey-- Henry," she said, softly, hands extended to the brunette. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry. None of this is your fault," Candice whispered, brows upturned, "You're one of the sweetest, kindest people I know. We just have... different paths... such different lives. If you can't forgive me for this, I-- I'd understand," halfheartedly, sadly, Candice let out a small laugh. She glanced at the floor between them. "But... if you can, I hope we can still be friends."
Henry's brow twitched -- he heard her words but it still made no sense. Finally looking up, he could barely meet Candice's eyes as she tried to reassure him.
Friends...
Hesitantly, he nodded, swallowing a lump in his own throat. "Y-yeah, friends..." he said, coming to a stand. With his hand resting on the table, he opted to look at the food he had prepared -- hopefully Gabe would be hungry when he came home, Henry thought with a scoff.
Awkwardly, he shuffled. "This... this is it, then...?"
The scoff from Henry had wiped any semblance of a smile from Candice's face, but she remained composed, standing as Henry did. She awkwardly folded her hands over each other, uncertain of her gesture to extend her hands to him. Perhaps the gesture of friendship had been too soon, as well, and she stared at their feet, frowning.
At his question, she nodded quietly. "This... is it," she said, grimacing at him. "I'm sorry, Henry," Candice continued, pushing the chair properly back into its place at the table. Stepping back and away from Henry, she turned and moved back to the foyer.
Her heels clacked and echoed against the otherwise empty home. Every step felt heavy and forced. She stared at her coat and scarf for a moment before collecting them into her arms, gently and slowly. With as quiet as Henry was - with his reaction - Candice thought it was best to leave the man alone.
She turned back to Henry one last time. "Good night, Henry," Candice said, pushing open the front door. She hesitated a moment, one foot across the threshold. Breathing in, she quietly saw herself the rest of the way out.
Candice closed the door softly behind her.
Every little thing she just did, every touch and coo, every attempt at easing Henry's spirits... How could she have done that knowing what she was about to do? All of this false hope dug the nurse into a pit – one where he couldn't see the sky or even begin to crawl out of. What had just happened? His hand clenched against the wooden table as tears continued to crawl down his cheeks with nothing to stop them.
This was it...
With a deep breath, Henry composed himself just enough to put the food away for later as he was nowhere near hungry anymore, but as soon as he was finished he went straight to his room.
Through bleary eyes, he texted to Aaron Holmes: "Are you free?".
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