A friend in need -- a dream (closed to Stildyne)

[loves_lasses]

Sometimes the pain was a calm quiet thing, like an overcast day, making all joys bittersweet. He felt alone, despite the presence and support of his friends -- grief was a rocky valley not wide enough to admit the fulfilled and happy

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[stildyne]

"You look a misery, mister. It's an affront to the general universe, you not to be smiling."

It was Stildyne as he'd last seen him only not-- out of uniform, his hair not so strictly short, and that made the spattering of gray stand out all the more. One or two new scars, perhaps.

Stildyne was moderately sure he was dreaming, but he wasn't asking questions. The years had been too long. Only it seemed to be Haurvatat, coming into focus around him-- the beach, at least.

[loves_lasses]

Robert found himself on the beach, talking to Stildyne, with the easy acceptance of the dreamer.

"Ah, but Mister Stildyne, might not a man be forgiven for looking less than eight in eight when he's been cut right in two? Not in half, exactly, for she was such a little thing, Bracchi." It was if he were on Andrej's truth serum, the given name escaping his lips bothering him not at all.

"But the most vital part of me, something bound to the heart, and she's gone."

[stildyne]

"Who's gone?" it was a gruff sounding question-- unless you happened to know Stildyne, in which case you'd recognize it was about as kind as an embrace. "Rebecca's asleep back in her room. I checked in on her not half an hour before I went to bed."

What was this dream questioning his security for. As if he wasn't aware there was an even chance that she'd be sneaking out to see that hills boy one of these nights. He was hurt, really.

[loves_lasses]

"Is she?" Robert took a step toward Stildyne, his face showing longing.

"And her little sister is asleep in her crib at the hotel. But Ruby, Hannah's mother, my wife, she is gone. She was sleeping, resting after the birth, and she disappeared." Robert was still wearing the ring on his left hand, not being able to bear the thought of taking it off.