Honey, er, Friend, er...Bah! I'm Home

[Devon]

Ryuk returned to Clan Char with the rest of the warriors who had gone to handle the Linnond situation. While none of them were seriously injured, Ryuk managed to bring back a few fresh wounds. While it was nothing serious enough to threaten his life, if left unattended for a while it could cause problems. Pushing aside the flap to his hut, he looked inside to see if there were any signs of Allura.

[Kender Bard]

Allura was there, wrapping up bandages and sorting herbs. Medic had already left to go take care of other affairs, leaving Allura to tend to anyone wanting help with more minor problems. Glancing over, she smiled brightly at the sight of Ryuk. "Oh, you're home!" Her smile dimmed. "And hurt. Oh my, please sit."

[Devon]

Ryuk sat down as he was told and yawned out a greeting,"Yup I'm back and awww boy am I tired, but thankfully the situation in Linnod has been taken care of. We don't have to worry about anything spilling over to Clan Char." Ryuk glanced over his shoulder at Allura, "How were things here?"

[Kender Bard]

"Tense," Allura admitted as she began to clean out his wounds carefully. "Everyone was very worried. Wives for their husbands and sons, sisters for their brothers, elders for their children. You know, whenever something like this happens, there's so many people that have the job of simply praying and worrying." She smiled and ran her fingers lightly through his hair in a playful gesture. "I prayed for you, as well as for everyone else. I am glad Efil heard my prayers and carried you safely."

[Devon]

"Thank you Allura, that means a lot," he replied. "You look like you're doing fine in Clan Char nowadays. I barely have to look out for you anymore do I? Heh even Medic likes you and I bet you're going to make a great replacement for him."

[Kender Bard]

"I don't look forward to the day I must," Allura sighed, moving to his side to bind the wounds now in a soft cloth. "But yes, I do seem to be fitting in don't I? I see now that one earns their place and that actions speak louder than words. I'd like to think people enjoy my presence for the priestly aspect, but I am not so naive to know it's the work I do as a healer that has eased me into this clan so smoothly."

[Devon]

"I put in a good word for you too," Ryuk commented with a smirk. Shifting a bit so she could better bind his wounds, he began to relax more. "Its good you decided to stay here, I think the fresh start has really helped you out. You seem happier than when we first met."

[Kender Bard]

Allura grinned at his words. "Really? Well, you had a lot to do with that." She finished tying off his hurts and simply knelt next to him, her hand lightly resting on his. "Not only did you bring me here, but you helped me to let go of some of my guilt. That helped the most I think."

[Devon]

"Hey hey, don't get too mushy," Ryuk jokingly replied. Turning to face Allura he rested his other hand on top of hers. "I was glad to have helped you, and don't forget you were pretty helpful too. It's just nice ya know? That you decided to stay here in Char, I don't think it'd be the same for me now if you left."

[Kender Bard]

"What do you mean?" Allura inquired, her fingertips idly stroking his hand in an unconscious gesture.

[Devon]

"Well, um," Ryuk murmured. "You do mean a lot to me," he replied glancing away for a moment.

[Kender Bard]

Allura paused before raising herself up a little and putting her arms slowly around Ryuk. "Really?" she asked, voice small and hesitant. Somehow, she felt he meant beyond mere friendship.

[Devon]

Ryuk nodded slowly. Gulping down his nervousness he started to speak," Look I don't want to make any of this awkward between us. You do mean a lot to me, but I'm afraid of losing your friendship."

[Kender Bard]

"Oh Ryuk," Allura sighed, actually smiling a little. "You will never need to worry about that. I like you very much, and I don't know what I would do without your friendship. But this is an issue we must confront, for too long have we skirted around it." Letting go, she looked at him more steadily, staring into his eyes for a minute or so.

Finally, she spoke, "I don't think I can ever love a man again the way I loved my Seron. But... I can't live forever loving a dead man. I am at an impasse." She reached for his hand while continuing to speak. "If you and I had met at a different time - earlier in my youth perhaps - we might have had a different sort of relationship. As it stands, I would like to share something more with you. But only if you understand and agree that I can't love you like a husband. Only as something.. more than a friend."

[Devon]

Ryuk quietly looked into her eyes and listened to Allura explain herself to him. Nodding here and there he waited until she was done talking before preparing himself to respond. He didn't seem to be upset when she said she couldn't love him like a husband, he was just happy to know that he was loved at all. "I-I agree," Ryuk replied slowly. "I think I understand what you mean by all of that." He never actually told anyone he loved them before, in any kind of way so he'd try his best not to stutter and fumble through this.

Sitting up he gave her hand a small squeeze and said, "I love you as something more than a friend, but less than a wife too." Ryuk smiled after that, for his first love confession it seemed to be pretty easy.