22.Feb.12, 03:36 AM
Talian continued to kneel, clutching the plant's tender stalks in his fist as he listened to Erisi's words. He could hear the edge of frustration in Eri's voice. It stung like a white-hot blade. Normally quite able to endure all sorts of snarking and verbal assaults, at that very vulnerable moment the healer couldn't stand the idea of Erisi being mad at him.
In a fit of sudden emotion, Talian shoved the herbs in his pockets and stood up. He carefully and thoroughly wiped his hands off on his sleeves as he walked over, his eyes locked firmly on his friend's face. Tal's expression was twisted in sudden remorse and almost longing. "I'm sorry, Eri..." he said, coming within two steps of the other man and frowning. He almost looked older than he should have, his eyes were so lifeless and his frown lines so needlessly exaggerated.
He held one hand out nervously. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to just start...bitching like that," he said, unable to think of another word to describe his little fit. He was suddenly ashamed of himself. His eyed widened in a moment of profound realization before he lowered them, almost submissively, and heaved a weary sigh. "...I like you," he said at length, tone muted and defeated. He wanted to rub an itch in his left eye and moved to do just that with his free hand, but he stopped himself short. He rigidly dropped his hand back to his side. "...I don't mean in a...tie-you-down sort of way. I mean you're the best friend I've ever had." Well, aside from Fiora...but Talian found it easier nowadays to pretend she'd never existed.
Besides, in some ways Erisi had already helped him far more than she ever had.
In a fit of sudden emotion, Talian shoved the herbs in his pockets and stood up. He carefully and thoroughly wiped his hands off on his sleeves as he walked over, his eyes locked firmly on his friend's face. Tal's expression was twisted in sudden remorse and almost longing. "I'm sorry, Eri..." he said, coming within two steps of the other man and frowning. He almost looked older than he should have, his eyes were so lifeless and his frown lines so needlessly exaggerated.
He held one hand out nervously. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to just start...bitching like that," he said, unable to think of another word to describe his little fit. He was suddenly ashamed of himself. His eyed widened in a moment of profound realization before he lowered them, almost submissively, and heaved a weary sigh. "...I like you," he said at length, tone muted and defeated. He wanted to rub an itch in his left eye and moved to do just that with his free hand, but he stopped himself short. He rigidly dropped his hand back to his side. "...I don't mean in a...tie-you-down sort of way. I mean you're the best friend I've ever had." Well, aside from Fiora...but Talian found it easier nowadays to pretend she'd never existed.
Besides, in some ways Erisi had already helped him far more than she ever had.