Chapter 4 [Audio] Tea time

[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus has been doing a fair job in keeping himself from hiding in his room all the time. He met Samantha recently and bumped into Odette .. both options were better than simply hiding and avoiding everyone altogether, right

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[PING - Commentlog]

[ghostly_stutter]

Hearing Tumnus's voice--having been unable to find hide nor hair of him--Chloe decides it might be best to simply show up and see him for herself, rather than possibly scare the poor faun away. She heads to the Great Hall, stops for a moment to simply look at him, then walks in and hopes to not give away her presence until she's a bit closer.]

Hey. May I join you?

[She smiles, then, calmly and pleasantly. Her expression is open as her fingers brush a nearby chair.]

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[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus isn't sure what he'd have done if he'd been given the chance to make a choice, but as it is, he lets out a slightly startled sound as Chloe appears behind him. One might even call that sound a 'bleet'.

He spins around on his hooves, which click almost nervously on the tiling beneath him. His wide blue eyes settle on the young woman and after a moment his heart begins to beat again, profund relief weakening his knees.

She might be the faintest bit surprised when he clips right over to her and engulfs her in his arms, hugging her tightly and close to his chest.]

Oh .. Oh, t-th-thank Heaven .. Y-yuh-you're alright.

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[ghostly_stutter]

[She is surprised by the hug, but smiles and returns it none-the-less. She almost laughs.]

I'm all right. I'm glad you're all right.

[She's not about to pull away until he does.]

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[faun_tumnus]

[He makes no move to release her immediately, stepping back only after a few moments and giving her a very thorough appraisal.]

Heavens. I had not seen or heard from you since-

Not since you could not remember... I was uncertain you'd speak with or share my company again.

[His smile is tremulous, but it's a smile.]

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[ghostly_stutter]

[She smiles, holding onto Tumnus' forearms when he pulls away to look at her.]

Of course I would. I've been looking for you all this time. Have you been hiding, Tumnus?

[She scrutinizes his features--looks for circles under his eyes.]

How have you been?

[She hadn't wanted to call him out over the journals. Then Derek would have known, and they agreed he shouldn't know who it was that killed her, so she discreetly looked for him the old-fashioned way.]

[faun_tumnus]

[He makes now attempt to pull away from her entirely, glad she has chosen to seek him out where he had been to cowardly to do the same.]

Ahh, p-perhaps a bit. F-f-foolish, I know, b-but I've never b-been a t-terribly b-brave f-faun...

[Only cowards gave into the White Witch without a fight, after all. :(

If she's looking for circles, she'll undoubtedly find them; especially this close to him where it's much harder to hide. He offers Chloe a tremulous smile at best, looking down toward his hooves.]

I have b-been f-fair, young C-cl-Chloe... I d-do the b-best I c-c-can m-manage, at any rate.

[ghostly_stutter]

[A soft sigh and head shake.]

Not foolish at all, Tumnus. And talking with me now proves you are very brave.

[Shaking her head slightly, Chloe raises a hand to Tumnus's cheek, fingers seeking out those circles--if Tumnus does not pull away. She frowns with concern.]

You have not been sleeping well? Tumnus. Please don't lose sleep over me. I understand what happened. It wasn't you. You--you are still my friend.

[Tilting her head to one side in considered thought.]

Aren't you?

[faun_tumnus]

[His smile does not quite reach his eyes as he shakes his head.]

I thank y-you for s-saying such, dearest Chloe, b-but I do not think I am. This is none-different than I ever f-felt, however, s-so pay it no m-mind.

[He protests fall silent as she moves to touch his face, his blue gaze rising to settle on her own. Those eyes of his, already old and weary, look haunted and shadowed. He offers a faint smile and lifts a hand to cup hers before squeezing it and drawing it away from his cheek.]

The fault is not your own, Daughter of Eve, but mine... the weigh of not just my current misdeeds weigh heavily on my heart at times.

[At her last question his eyes widen and he moves to hold both of her hands in his.]

Child, I would not fault you in the slightest for feeling the complete opposite of that, but yes... I would still very much like to call myself your friend.

[ghostly_stutter]

We all make mistakes, Tumnus. It's those who are able to learn from them so they do not repeat them again that makes us strong.

[She gives an odd sort of smile when he pulls her hand away. Her heart tugs at her.]

You are my friend.

[She smiles at him, happy he wasn't pulling away from her entirely. She could make a joke--say he wasn't the first of her friends to have left her for dead--but she didn't think he'd appreciate that very much.]

And I am yours, Tumnus. That hasn't changed.

[faun_tumnus]

[He smiles and there's a hint of his old self in it, a lightness to his gaze that hadn't been there for days; though he still looks quite tired.]

Aye, that we seem to, child; that we seem to. But you are correct in that should we learn from these mistakes that things will be better for it.

[A smile again.]

And you are mine, young Chloe.

[A good thing to leave that as it lays, Chloe. He'd probably not find too much humor in it. :(]

[ghostly_stutter]

So. Am I invited to stay for tea, then?

[Chloe grins, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.]

[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus blinks and then clips back a few steps, smiling warmly as he gestures to an open seat.]

I would be honored, young Chloe, if you would join me for tea.

[He pulls out a chair for her.]

[ghostly_stutter]

[Dipping into a small curtsy, Chloe smiles as she moves to accept the proffered chair, taking a seat.]

Thank you. I am honored to be here.

[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus smiles at her curtsy, tucking her chair in as she sits.]

You honor me in kind, dear Chloe.

[He moves to prepare her a cup of tea and some biscuits, looking at her curiously.]

Do you take cream or sugar?

[ghostly_stutter]

[A light laugh.]

I'm not doing anything I wouldn't normally do.

[Then she turns somewhat serious.]

Thank you, though, Tumnus. For not running away.

[Settling down, Chloe looks out over the pretty assortment, biting her lip as she decides.]

Both, please. It's rare treats like these where one must indulge.