Of Two Minds|Malagard, Khelek

[Darastrix]

"Some mortals wonder even about that," Crawford murmured. He made no move yet to let go. Hugging felt good, even in a mindscape, and he'd missed Filly and their sessions. Being touched.

[Kender Bard]

Filly didn't make any move to pull away from him either. Instead, she moved a hand up and lightly - hesitant and ready to pull away at the first sign of distaste - she stroked his cheek and hair. She felt a strange sort of comfort being fulfilled that she'd not noticed lacking until recently.

"I'm sorry I stopped meeting with you," she told him. "Everything began to get so out of control so suddenly."

Another flower bloomed nearby, but it was not a flower of the world - a little like a fly-trap but with blood oozing like ichor from its jaws. She shot it a quick glance and it withered and died as quick as it had sprung up - a memory choked and pushed away.

"...Perhaps we can begin again?"

[Darastrix]

Crawford tensed for a moment; he hadn't intended for her to catch that. But dammit, he was glad she had. He wanted to go back to that, and now he didn't even have to ask. His mindform flickered again, then he closed his eyes and gave a nod.

"I would like to," he said, his voice quiet.

[Kender Bard]

Filly lowered her hands (slowly, she enjoyed the feel of hair between her fingers), and then even let her head droop on his shoulder a little. It was an affectionate gesture, though mostly borne of fatigue. She was getting mentally drained and emotionally tired too.

"It's better in person," she told him with a flicker of a smile before disappearing from her mindscape as she came back to consciousness. She kept her shielding down, however. To put them back up would be to rudely jettison Crawford from her mind, not to mention that keeping them down - while instilling a sense of vulnerability - was also a little liberating.

"You've been a true friend to me today," she said while reaching for him, to touch or hold or something. "And I'll never forget that."

[Darastrix]

Crawford withdrew into his own mind, and took a moment to reorient himself before coming fully aware again. He didn't reach for Filly to meet her halfway, but neither did he shy away from her touch. He needed more friends.