Reacclimating (Kallisti House of Burlesque)

[Raffe]

[[No worries. Carmen would want to interview Elyse in the same way as Anna, but I don't see any need to rp that out. If you go ahead with the try-out with the other girls, I may have Ori crash instead]]

He tasted salt, and was both surprised and alarmed by the frantic emotion. Nox’s tears had always pulled at something in him, and it felt like bleeding out to be unable to do anything about it. Raffe placed his hands either side of Nox’s face, and hoped they didn’t feel too stupidly hot from the fading fever. His thumbs wiped gently at the fallen trails. Nox’s arm strung about his waist, anchoring him close, and he was mindful not to tumble them both down the stairs. Fortunately relief strengthened him with enough calm to hold them both up. He rested his forehead close again, barely noticed as Elyse squeezed passed them on the stairs.

“People are safe,” he said. “There’s some displacement, but we’re used to it in the undercity you know? I couldn’t just sit about, so I asked a favour from someone. I know there would have been casualties in a task like that too, but it’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have put that on you. You didn’t fuck up.” He pulled back enough for them to meet eyes, and hazarded a half-grin, hoping to dispel Nox’s fears. You’re safe. You’re home. It was all that mattered. “I mean, unless you’re about to tell me you accidentally got the Ascendancy killed down there. Then we might have a small problem.”

But the smile only faded as, like a setting sun, he began to realise something was really wrong.