03.Sep.12, 02:39 AM
Valerian let the silence go on, content to let it go until morning if need be. Talian liked to process and over-analyse things and the Harper wasn’t going to rush this conversation anymore than he already had by jumping right to the issue that weighed so heavily between them. He said nothing nor did he even move, thinking anything he did while Talian was lost to his thoughts might startle his friend and have him believe he was going to be attacked again. Valerian really didn’t think he was threatening in any way outside of a good lashing when something idiotic warranted it and perhaps he would have been amused if someone actually did find him scary or intimidating. But not now.
When Talian crumpled to the floor, Valerian finally made a move, consumed by an unfamiliar desire to comfort a friend by holding him close. He stopped himself, however, before he had done more than push off from the wall. His touch wouldn’t be welcomed and it’d be foolish to think it would be even in such an instance.
Unfortunately for Talian, Valerian had better hearing than he or the floor expected and he caught the whispered confession. His heart broke at the anguish heard as much as it did to have confirmation that one of his closest friends that had already been through so much now had to deal with being violated with at least once by a friend. “I know, Tal. I assumed, anyway, but I didn’t want to be right.” He was glad Talian told him but Valerian didn’t know what else to say. How did one handle this conversation? It was surprisingly easier to lay blame on himself than to figure out how to comfort his friend, especially when he still didn’t know if anything he said or did would help at all.
Valerian moved forward, only a few inches, scooting across the floor before stopping. He didn’t like being so uncertain! “Talian… I have this strange desire to hug you right now but I’m afraid to. I don’t want to scare you again.” At least the idea of the gesture he wanted to make was given voice?
When Talian crumpled to the floor, Valerian finally made a move, consumed by an unfamiliar desire to comfort a friend by holding him close. He stopped himself, however, before he had done more than push off from the wall. His touch wouldn’t be welcomed and it’d be foolish to think it would be even in such an instance.
Unfortunately for Talian, Valerian had better hearing than he or the floor expected and he caught the whispered confession. His heart broke at the anguish heard as much as it did to have confirmation that one of his closest friends that had already been through so much now had to deal with being violated with at least once by a friend. “I know, Tal. I assumed, anyway, but I didn’t want to be right.” He was glad Talian told him but Valerian didn’t know what else to say. How did one handle this conversation? It was surprisingly easier to lay blame on himself than to figure out how to comfort his friend, especially when he still didn’t know if anything he said or did would help at all.
Valerian moved forward, only a few inches, scooting across the floor before stopping. He didn’t like being so uncertain! “Talian… I have this strange desire to hug you right now but I’m afraid to. I don’t want to scare you again.” At least the idea of the gesture he wanted to make was given voice?