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"Obvious? Perhaps. But only to those watching for it." When the final splinter was removed, he traced a finger around her palm in what was meant to be a soothing gesture. His hands were smoother than his arms, closer to dry skin than anything else.

Owain followed her gaze out and smiled to himself. Jack wasn't watching them anymore. He was facing the direction from where they had come from, fixed on some point in the distance. "You would be surprised what affects him," the giant whispered like they were conspiring. "He purchased the entire Twilight series shortly after he spent the night. Tore its writing to shreds while we read--ah, metaphorically speaking. I would never abide by something as horrible as the destruction of books."

Think of the paper and the trees they once were.

"But yes, I do think this particular rampage is at an end. He may very well be using the hour to decipher for himself what to do. Nevertheless, I worry..."

He beamed at the compliment and let her hand go, the examination finished. "Is it luck or fate? I can never tell. Perhaps what drew me to him is the same force that brought you and yours together," Owain mused, considering Chel. "A silence can speak just as loudly as words can, after all. It is possible that you can glean more from it than someone else might have. Or perhaps you must find silence as well to understand what lies beyond the noise of life. My opinion as a third party, however, is that he guides as he feels necessary but trusts you to make your own decisions, as must all weapons.

"I have watched you through his eyes, Chelsea Craft." He folded his hands in his lap and gave her an amused look over his spectacles. "I do not believe you would enjoy bonding with someone who speaks up loudly and often about your every action."

He paused, then chuckled. "Ah! I do not have gas, but I certainly am long-winded. You have earned your question and more, my sweet: ask away."

He tapped his glasses into place. "Ah..." Owain didn't look surprised that she had asked, but the giant had to mull over how best to word things. His toes wiggled in the dirt like worms for a while as he studied the forest around them and thought.

When he came to a conclusion, his smile was more a grimace. "What you ask is difficult to answer, not simply because of Jack's nature, but because I cannot speak for him and I tread dangerously close to betraying his trust." It was obvious he would rather be direct, but his lips clacked together with sympathy and frustration. "I can repeat to you the words he told the little one with fiery hair, Abigail: anything is possible as long as you work for it."

His ears twitched as frowned at himself, inwardly debating over something. "Mm...I can also tell you that I have a feeling what he has with the Hanna girl will not last very long," he said after a moment, feeling guilty for believing so, for hoping they separated. "There is only so long he can handle looking in a mirror before envy or loathing takes him. But even if they fall apart, why would you wish to be there in her stead?"

Owain held his hand out, a dirt clod in his palm. "You are no mistake, sweet child; the fact that he treated you as you did was." For the first time since they started talking, he had the beginnings of a growl to his tone. "I will defend my dear one and say he is a man more confused by his emotions than anyone else can be, that he reacts in regards to self-interest because he is frightened of what trusting someone means, that he sees that night in and of itself as the real mistake, not because of you but because he compromised his own moral code by taking from you what he knew he had no right to and giving away what he knew he was not prepared for. But he was, to use your word, an a*****e about it, and that is no excuse," the giant harumphed.

"What I mean to say," he continued more calmly, clearing his throat with a hint of self-consciousness about the rant, "is that I do not know how long his period of stability will last. If you, the blackbird with the sweetest of voices in spring, were to keep presenting yourself," his fingers closed over one another, pressing tighter and tighter until the clod broke apart into dirt between them, "I fear he would cage you one day and keep that voice only for himself, or otherwise silence it in jealousy."

He dusted his hands off and eyed Chel with a small, apologetic smile. "And yet in spite of all of that, I find myself hoping you never stop trying."

There was a sound like wind through the trees even though there was no breeze at the time. Owain lifted his arm and carefully draped it over her, turning his hand so that his fingers could lightly tease her hair. The noise occurred again, and it became more obvious that it was the giant gently shushing her.

"This hour is for whatever you wish to do. I am deeply sorry if my answer wasn't enough," he said. "Truly I am. But what kindness you've shown him has made him smile, even if all he will show are his frowns." He smiled a little himself. "The coffee machine was a thoughtful gift. Thank you. He is beginning to remember again that actual people exist beyond himself. I believe that is why he asked you to fetch things for him last time: to test whether or not he was still worthy enough of such attention from the one he has wronged."

He hummed softly and it reverberated through his body. "A moment of peace," Owain replied after a moment, cradling her head. "Something I believe we all need."

He stared out into the forest, past Jack's still form, and smiled. "He would hate for me to say it aloud, but he does care what happens to you. There are times he considered what might have happened if he hadn't put you under observation."

"It isn't," he agreed. "But seeds never look impressive at first. They require time and patience to become something more." He knew it wasn't something Chel wanted to hear again, but there it was.

There was a twinkle in his eyes when Owain glanced at her. "That is not to say that a little chaos now and then is unwelcome, however. Matters of the heart are never cut and dry, my sweet. I do not know what the future holds therein, but I can pray that what you find is happiness in the end. You deserve nothing less, whatever you might think of yourself."

The giant was quiet and pressed his lips together. When he eventually sighed, it was the sound of the wind through the leaves again. "I do not think that the courage to be honest is embarrassing at all," he said. "It is a breath of fresh air. I can hope one day Jack will follow your example rather than remain so tight-lipped. As for Hanna..."

He paused, considering the trees some more. "I do not think you should have concerns about her. He is not a person that is taken so much as he, ah...takes." His toes fidgeted in the ground uneasily. "And, ah...No, I suppose this is a bit much...But..." The giant muttered to himself for a few seconds more, scratching his chin.

"Ah, nevermind me." He met Chel's mischievous look with a smile. "I do not think he would appreciate knowing you prefer me over him, but you flatter me so! I in turn am quite fond of you. I am not aware of how much time is left, but is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"

Owain laughed and attempted to pinch one of her cheeks in turn, though it was more pokes than anything. "That, we cannot allow indeed!" he chuckled.

Her question had him tilting his head in thought. "I would be happy to help! Hmm...I do not remember much, nor do I believe there is much chance you will find more of my kind..." He sounded wistful, then blinked it away to something more jovial. "But fire is always a cause for concern for any forest creature! Though I suppose that much is obvious...Ah..." He scratched his cheek and searched through what few inklings he had.

"...Axes too." He made it sound like a joke, but the idea of having his legs chopped off for firewood was mildly distressing. "In spite of my form, I am also not a fan of metal. It smells too...foreign."