413: Wednesday afternoon

[vkandis_son]

The window was open to let in the surprisingly warm breeze, and Altra was lying on Karal's bed, watching him out of half slitted eyes while he moved around the room.

Karal was putting away everything he'd taken from Molly's room - books and papers, and odds and ends - carefully finding a space for it here.

[ooc: door and the post are both open!]

Comments

[notqueenyet]

"I'm no longer pregnant," Aravis said, leaning in the doorway and watching him.

[vkandis_son]

Karal, slightly startled because he'd been paying no attention to anything but the books in his hand, turned to look at her. "I can see that," he said, smiling a little. "It's very good to have you returned to normal, Aravis."

[notqueenyet]

"How are you?" she asked, looking him over. She'd heard radio.

[vkandis_son]

He studied her for a moment, then ducked his head, turning away to tuck a book onto a shelf which really had no room for it. "I'm all right."

[notqueenyet]

"Are you certain?" she asked quietly. "I don't actually know what he meant, but Seely seemed upset by what he read last night, and I can surmise from that."

[vkandis_son]

He winced. "I had forgotten it would be on the radio," he said quietly, setting the other books down.

[notqueenyet]

"You're not all right," Aravis observed quietly, not pushing.

[vkandis_son]

"I wager I'm better than Molly." He sighed and sat down at his desk. "I never wanted to hurt her, but...it was the right thing to do."

[notqueenyet]

Aravis nodded, going to sit on her bed, petting Ata as she went. "Did she take it very badly?"

[vkandis_son]

"I hurt her," he said, looking down at his hands. "There was no way for her take it well."

[notqueenyet]

"It isn't your fault, Karal," she said quietly. "If it was right, she's just going to have to get used to it. You cannot be blamed for her hurt feelings."

[vkandis_son]

"I know." He smiled a little. "Though it still hurts to have done so. But it was right. It would have been dishonest to have continued when my feelings had changed."

[notqueenyet]

She nodded. "She will survive, and so will you. And I can't imagine anyone staying angry with you for very long."

[vkandis_son]

Karal laughed softly, glancing up at her. "No?"

[notqueenyet]

"And if she does anything to slander you, or hurt you in return," Aravis said coolly, "I will have a few words to toss back on your behalf."

[vkandis_son]

"Aravis..." He blinked at her for a moment, deeply touched, then shook his head. "I cannot, and I would not, tell you what you should and should not do. But I would ask that you remember Molly is young, and she's hurt, and bear that in mind should anything be said."