Chapter 3 [Audio/Commentlog]

[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus had re-awoken in his room two days prior and he hadn't left until now. It had taken time for the memories to begin to surface again and when they had, the faun could only pray that he was mistaken

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[mister_10_below]

[Bobby's memories are pretty much entirely back, now. Some things are still fuzzy or a bit confusing - but he knows who he is, and he knows what happened to him. Kind of. Enough to gather the pieces together, anyway, and he's not sure what he thinks about any of it

[faun_tumnus]

[The faun is lost in his tumultuous and self-deprecation when Bobby begins his approach, staring down at his hands. How could he ..?

He doesn't even hear Bobby as he draws up alongside, only noticing him when he speaks. And when he notices, his ears flicking toward the boy, his gaze follows and widens abruptly and his entire being just .. ceases.]

B-b-bobby!! [The single word is strangled and horrified as Bobby sits next to him. There are any number of things that leap to Tumnus' lips, but what he ends up saying is far simpler.]

I'm s-s-s-so s-s-so-sorry!!

[mister_10_below]

[Bobby tenses slightly at the horror in his name. He can't lose one of his friends over this. He can't. Not over something that didn't even stick. But he forces himself to relax, and turns towards Tumnus.]

You're forgiven.

[Because he is, even though there's really nothing for him to be forgiven for. But Bobby knows sometimes forgiveness is worth more than just dismissing the apology entirely, even though he's not sure this is one of those times. If Tumnus even wants it.]

It's not your fault. That wasn't you.

[faun_tumnus]

[With those first two words, time simply stops and Tumnus stares at the young man siting near him. Was this really something so easily forgiven as that? He searches Bobby's face, his own expression incredulous and disbelieving. It couldn't be this easy .. could it?!]

H-h-how c-can y-you ..? H-how ..? I d-don't .. I ..

[He struggles to pull his thoughts together and manage even one stammering sentence, by fails repeatedly. In the end he looks at the ground, hooves scraping against the dirt and stone beneath them.]

I s-sh-should have c-come f-forward w-w-when I knew I w-was s-s-sick .. The m-matter c-could h-h-have b-been s-s-settled quickly .. b-but I w-was s-s-scared ..

[mister_10_below]

[Bobby's...not entirely sure he knows how he can. He doesn't answer that right away, falling silent as he tries to sort things out, but Tumnus is speaking again before he's managed to do that.]

And I shouldn't have been outside like that. I knew I was drained, I knew this place screws with your powers, I should have gone back inside when I knew I wasn't in any condition to fight.

[He should have been strong enough to stop him, so his friend wouldn't have to be going through this. There's a moment's pause before he speaks again, and his voice is soft.]

I've had friends try to kill me before.

[He remembers fire, burning hot and overwhelming, and sometimes he wonders, if he hadn't been able to ice up in time, if John - Pyro - could have done it, if he would have been able to kill him. Bobby tries to convince himself that, no, John couldn't have, but he's not sure what he believes any more. It hadn't stopped him from being unable to leave John to die.]At least you had no control over it. Didn't know who you were or who I was or any

[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus looks up at Bobby and there is no hiding the shock on his face. Never would he have thought this a possible outcome to encountering the young mutant after their last meeting. How Bobby could not only stand to speak with him, but forgive him was completely overwhelming.

His brows furrow slightly as Bobby continues, telling him that he had friends attempt to harm him before. Tumnus is horrified and yet there is a degree of empathy there too. Tumnus himself had faced death more than once in his many decades of life and it was not a pleasant thing at all. He had been trapped in a shell of stone for months before being freed by Aslan himself.

He would have preferred death to that living shell of stone.

He looks away again, staring at the raindrops as they pelt the stone and falls still as Bobby's hand rests atop his wet furred thigh. The touch is enough to raise the faun's gaze to the boy's face again and he searches his face.

After a moment of silence, he replies in his soft voice.]You are a merit to your people, young Bobby.

[mister_10_below]

People make mistakes. They make bad choices, decisions that end up hurting people, because they can't see another way of doing things or they don't think they have any other options. That doesn't mean you stop caring, that you don't try to understand and give them that understanding.

[The Professor'd taught him that. One of the many things Bobby'd learned that will always stick with him.]

And this wasn't even a choice. This was just something really bad, that happened to both of us.

[He pauses for a moment.]

And I don't know if it's so much me being a merit as it is me being selfish. I...don't have a family.

[The admission is quiet, hesitant. It's more than he's told pretty much anyone else at the keep.]

My friends are pretty much it. I'm not going to lose one over something like this.

[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus silently studies the young man sitting alongside him as he speaks. His own reply is soft..]

Yes, people make mistakes .. but it takes a bigger person to forgive those mistakes. I .. I was not expecting any such forgiveness ..

[A smart man, your professor. Tumnus' brows knit slightly as the young mutant continues, explaining why he was so quick to forgive and let the matter go.]

Friend .. [He actually smiles a bit at that.] I do not have many of those .. even in Narnia .. It is nice to hear you say that ..

[His gaze goes distant for a moment as he stares out inot the rain.] I should like to have friends again .. [He considered then the winged Isabella and young Chloe ..] Friends ..

I would not wish to lose one of the few that I consider such as well .. [His gaze moves back to Bobby, the faintest hint of a smile wavering on his lips.]

[mister_10_below]

[He smiles slightly at that.]

You're right. I guess - I know how hard it can be to get forgiveness, so I don't hold mine back when it's deserved.

[He falls silent, listening to the faun speak of his own thoughts on friends. When Tumnus turns towards him, there's almost a smile there. Which makes Bobby give him a smile back, a full one.]

You have at least one. And you're not going to be losing him any time soon.

[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus cannot possibly describe the relief that he feels after this exchange. He'd have never expected Bobby to be so quick to forgive his offense. He'd have never thought that the boy would want anything to do with him again, much less be a friend.

And yet he was more than willing. Bobby had made the first move to make certain things would be okay and Tumnus was grateful beyond words.]

Thank you, Son of Adam .. I appreciate that more than I can properly convey.

[And the faun smiles .. it's not its full beaming possibility, yet, but it is a very good start.]

[mister_10_below]

[Bobby's pretty damn relieved as well. He still has to talk to Aara (assuming she'll come back, but Bobby is refusing to believe that she won't, because he did, and her not coming back just isn't an option) but at least he won't lose Tumnus's friendship over this.]

Your friendship's appreciation enough. I'm glad you're okay.

[And he's just. Going to lean in and sling his arm over Tumnus's shoulders here, giving him a hug.]

[faun_tumnus]

[Tumnus chuckles at that, the sound still a bit strained.]

Oh, I am not alright .. [He looks a bit sad at that, his gaze distant, but then he focuses on Bobby again and a soft smile lights upon his lips.]

But I shall be.

[The gesture surprises the faun, but he does not lean away from the shoulder hug. Instead he leans back against Bobby, caring not a lick for the downpour still drenching them.

He is not alright .. not yet .. but he will be.]

[mister_10_below]

[Right. Bobby should have expected that, really. He smiles slightly back, because he understands that. And he's glad Tumnus at least will be okay.]

Yeah. I know how that is. Best you can expect out of something like this, really. If you ever need anything, you know, I'm here.

[He's still not letting go, content to just sit out there in the rain, with his friend.]