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[nilhilistic]

[ there is a man with very pale hair and red eyes, addressing the network stiffly. ]

Greetings. I am a new arrival to this world. I will assist to the best of my ability.

However, I must ask . . . is it true that we must be . . . touching? What does that mean? What level of touch is acceptable?

Are there tiers of touch? Surely, someone must have worked out a system.

Comments

[tireurdelite]

The Divine One would would hold your hand. Probably even if it wasn't to keep you from turning into a statue.

[nilhilistic]

I have no right to ask any favors from the Divine Dragon. If that is their choice, I will not fight it but I will not ask.

[tireurdelite]

...I'm not exactly in a position to criticize you for that...

[Since he almost turned to stone rather than ask for help.]

But I think it would distress him to see an ally turned into a statue.

[nilhilistic]

[ he sighs. ]

You have a point. I will be more . . . amendable to this physical touch.

[tireurdelite]

-I know I'm not anyone's first choice for anything, but, I wouldn't mind helping...?

[nilhilistic]

[ huh. ]

You would choose to help me?

[tireurdelite]

Yes?

[Is there a reason he shouldn't, other than the Fell Dragon thing.]

[nilhilistic]

[ plenty of reasons, alcryst!! very valid ones!! ]

Why?

[tireurdelite]

You're an ally. And - I almost turned into stone myself, and it was awful, so I don't want that to happen to you.

[nilhilistic]

[ that makes logical sense. he can lean on it. ]

. . . Very well. I accept your assistance.

[tireurdelite]

I'm happy to help. [Genuinely, he is.] Would you like me to come to your apartment, or would you rather meet somewhere else?

[nilhilistic]

Pick a location. I shall meet you there promptly.

[tireurdelite]

The park in Sunwaning?

[It's a beautiful place, and doesn't have the hustle and bustle of the city center. You might as well be surrounded by nature while holding hands.]

[nilhilistic]

Very well. Do not dawdle.

[ with that, he closes the connection and makes his way to the park in sunwaning. he still seems a bit out of sorts over the idea of holding hands. as if there's something more that's bothering him. ]

[tireurdelite]

[Alcryst has many self-described flaws, but tardiness is not one of them - he's there before Rafal is, sitting on a park bench.]

Hello, Rafal.

[nilhilistic]

Prince Alcryst.

[ he nods, almost polite. ]

You are quite prompt.

[tireurdelite]

Keeping you waiting would be rude.

[And princes aren't supposed to be rude, especially to their allies.]

[nilhilistic]

Is that so.

[ personally, rafal wouldn't have minded some rudeness. everyone is so nice sometimes it sets his teeth on edge. ]

Well, no matter. Shall we?

[tireurdelite]

Of course.

[Alcryst offers his hand to Nil, but lets him be the one to make the initial connection. It might be easier if he's prepared for it, though Alcryst certainly has no room to talk about what touch feels like after a thousand years of being alone.]

[nilhilistic]

[ he stares at it for a long time before reaching out to press his fingers against alcryst's hand. it's warm. warmer than nel's. ]

. . . I was not being entirely truthful earlier.

[tireurdelite]

[Alcryst gently closes his hand around Nil's fingers. It's not exactly the normal way to hold hands, but it'll do.]

About what?

[nilhilistic]

About . . . hand holding.

I held Nel's hand. It was . . . so cold. Every day, for a thousand years. I would wake, reach for her hand and pray. If not today, then tomorrow, I told myself. She would wake. When she did, I let go.

I couldn't bear it, to wonder if her hands were still cold.

[tireurdelite]

-I'm so sorry.

[His first impulse is that Nil needs a hug but that would possibly be the opposite of helpful right now.]

I wouldn't want to hold anyone's hand either, after that.

[nilhilistic]

Perhaps it's only fitting that I suffer the consequences of it. Nel is alive. That is enough. Anything more is pure hubris on my part.

[tireurdelite]

[Well, that just makes Alcryst squeeze his fingers a little.]

She's alive now. You can move forward.