04-05-2020, 07:29 PM
“Good,” he laughed. He reached a finger to brush at one of the delicate leaves, and did not correct Nox’s answer, though it wasn’t exactly the truth. He’d bought it before he’d read the message that propelled him to the hospital’s reception desk, and for more sentimental reasons than a get-well-soon gift, but Sterling didn’t need to hear about that, and Raffe would spare his own blushes. He chatted with the kid freely as they walked, or interjected into her chattering anyway, with interest or question. Their experiences of care differed vastly, given Raffe had lived his entire childhood inside the poor end of the system, never having adoptive parents at all, but he suddenly understood the stubborn need with which she was curious about Nox. And he was glad enough to fill the silence with her.
They paused on route for food. Raffe didn’t exactly have the coin to spare; he’d barely been able to afford the plant, but he ordered a coffee anyway and paused beside Nox while Sterling decided what she wanted. The offered smile was somehow tired. Raffe wondered if Sterling’s parents would prove the bigger trial in Nox’s eyes, given the oddness of his normal life. And he supposed at least you could kill a monster.
“We should,” he said with half a smile, but concern pinched his brow. He was still sitting patiently on all those questions, and making little effort to hide it. He would wait, but he suddenly wondered if he’d even get the chance if Nox decided the safest thing to do was disappear on his own. It wasn’t what the wistfulness in his voice said he contemplated now; Raffe did not misunderstand that, and Kallisti was not without its own strange shadows. Perhaps he was just accustomed to the anticipation of loss. It wasn’t like Nox hadn’t warned him already. “It’s hurting you,” he murmured. A brief frown knit his brow for the obvious, and he said nothing more, but he thought Carmen would be able to source some sort of pain relief. Enough to take the edge off. Hell he had his own contacts for that sort of thing, if Nox wasn't too scrupulous with the legalities.
They paused on route for food. Raffe didn’t exactly have the coin to spare; he’d barely been able to afford the plant, but he ordered a coffee anyway and paused beside Nox while Sterling decided what she wanted. The offered smile was somehow tired. Raffe wondered if Sterling’s parents would prove the bigger trial in Nox’s eyes, given the oddness of his normal life. And he supposed at least you could kill a monster.
“We should,” he said with half a smile, but concern pinched his brow. He was still sitting patiently on all those questions, and making little effort to hide it. He would wait, but he suddenly wondered if he’d even get the chance if Nox decided the safest thing to do was disappear on his own. It wasn’t what the wistfulness in his voice said he contemplated now; Raffe did not misunderstand that, and Kallisti was not without its own strange shadows. Perhaps he was just accustomed to the anticipation of loss. It wasn’t like Nox hadn’t warned him already. “It’s hurting you,” he murmured. A brief frown knit his brow for the obvious, and he said nothing more, but he thought Carmen would be able to source some sort of pain relief. Enough to take the edge off. Hell he had his own contacts for that sort of thing, if Nox wasn't too scrupulous with the legalities.