[21][written/action]

[offallingsnow]

[first of all, there are several inconsequential doodles. This should be concerning because Nephry just doesn't doodle. Next there are several sentences that are so well crossed out they are unreadable. An ink spot where the pen rested too long on the page. A few more doodles.]

I...think I should go for a walk. I will take my journal with me just in

Comments

Peony totally gave the revenge journal back to Dist already |D

[enrappigtured]

[Peony's on his way back from patrolling the perimeters for New Feathers. He stops walking when he sees Nephry. It takes a few moments before he makes his way to her side. He doesn't speak.]

He darn well better have. Dare he risk falling even lower?

[offallingsnow]

[well. Neither is she. In fact she probably doesn't notice him, she's so caught up in trying to sort things out for herself. She's leaning on the bridge rail, her hands in front of her over the water; they're trembling]

Can he even sink any lower?

[enrappigtured]

[And when he sees that, concern immediately takes over anything he may have been feeling before.

He takes one of her hands.]

You're shaking.

Oh yes. She has yet to be openly angry with him. She could always YELL.

[offallingsnow]

[that train of thought just derailed right off a cliff. She actually gasps a little when someone reaches for her hand out of nowhere. And when she turns and sees that it's Peony, well...the source of half of her turmoil is holding her hand.]

I...

Peony will remember that.:|

[enrappigtured]

[He doesn't let go.]

What's wrong, Nephry?

[offallingsnow]

I'm just tired, Your Majesty.

[that moment of vulnerability is almost gone. Her hand is cold, but no longer shaking]

[enrappigtured]

[He happens to glance at her journal.]

You're doodling.

[offallingsnow]

[well, she wasn't doodling while on the bridge. She's been staring at the river and thinking a lot. But she uses the glance as an excuse to glance at it herself and quickly rub one eye]

I suppose that means I've completely lost my mind.

[enrappigtured]

[Is using sarcasm as a fallback a Balfour trait?]

[Peony lets go of her hand, only to transfer his attention to her face. He gently tilts her chin so that the moonlight illuminates her features.]

You haven't been sleeping.

[offallingsnow]

[he is breaking so many personal space rules right now. If Jade found them there would be an epic misunderstanding and one of them would be dead. ...Not sure which one]

Your Majesty. Please. [she's whispering, and blinking a little quickly so he thinks it's only exhaustion he's seeing. There's no sense of lecture in her voice, is what's important here]

[enrappigtured]

[He doesn't even notice, but at her tone, he quickly drops his hand, awkwardly standing a distance from Nephry. This time, his tone is pleading.]

Please tell me what happened.

[offallingsnow]

There's nothing to tell.

[because the door was open right there for a minute but somehow when he stepped away it closed again. And anyway how can she possibly tell him that he is about 4/7 of the problem? And the rest of it only exists because of part of that problem? So it doesn't sound like she's hiding what there is from him; more like there's a lot there but she's just at a loss for saying it]

[enrappigtured]

There's obviously something bothering you.

[He's going to unconsciously take a step forward. You're going to drive him mad with worry.]

[offallingsnow]

...

[she folds her hands together in an effort to keep them still. She isn't used to this. It feels like she's not in control of whatever it is and control is just so much easier. And so she clears her throat but still manages only a whisper as she turns to look at the water again, instead of at him]

Why, Peony?

[enrappigtured]

[He thinks for a moment that this is about what happened with Saphir, but it seems much, much bigger than that.]

... I'm the reason why you're like this.

[offallingsnow]

I...I don't know why I'm like this. If I did...

[well, then it wouldn't be happening. She would have dealt with it already and filed it away somewhere in the back of her mind. One hand covers her mouth and she grabs that elbow with her other hand, again to keep from trembling. ...It all feels very undignified and silly]