Caleb went to the dresser to pull the clothes out, dropping the towel unceremoniously and keeping this attention away while Essek spoke. This felt unexpectedly like they were having an argument and he wasn't sure what to do about that or how to fix it.
So, instead, he pulled the pajamas on with rigid, stiff, pained movements and listened. He just listened. It was good that Essek had a focus outside of everything, something to study.
He said nothing about the shadows themselves, that if his plan worked in some substantial way, that Caleb would be able to make fine use of it because he still had the Somnovem's boon of dark vision. That felt like a different argument than whatever one they were having right now.
He didn't know why this felt like an argument, but it did. Like everything since Essek had found him in the lobby was a false step and was just getting more and more out of his control. Maybe that was just the pain talking. He would be better tomorrow, after a bit of rest. He would be better with Essek staying by his side.
There was something in the way Essek said those last words that, especially, made it feel like they were having an argument. Caleb lingered facing away for a moment.
When he came back to the bed, it was almost hesitant. He reached for Essek's hand, for those long, graceful fingers to draw him onto the bed with him.
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So, instead, he pulled the pajamas on with rigid, stiff, pained movements and listened. He just listened. It was good that Essek had a focus outside of everything, something to study.
He said nothing about the shadows themselves, that if his plan worked in some substantial way, that Caleb would be able to make fine use of it because he still had the Somnovem's boon of dark vision. That felt like a different argument than whatever one they were having right now.
He didn't know why this felt like an argument, but it did. Like everything since Essek had found him in the lobby was a false step and was just getting more and more out of his control. Maybe that was just the pain talking. He would be better tomorrow, after a bit of rest. He would be better with Essek staying by his side.
There was something in the way Essek said those last words that, especially, made it feel like they were having an argument. Caleb lingered facing away for a moment.
When he came back to the bed, it was almost hesitant. He reached for Essek's hand, for those long, graceful fingers to draw him onto the bed with him.