leicesters | IC INBOX: isleofavalon

[Claude touches his hand and Lorenz takes it as some small indication that... maybe he is alright with a little contact. He steps up closer behind the other man so he can drape his arms over Claude's shoulders, crossing them over his chest and putting his face in those dark curls. Just squeezing him gently for a moment to reassure himself they at least still have each other.]

Are you? [A gentle retort. No, neither of them are okay. Nor are they going to be okay. Not if what they fear is true.

Oh and he doesn't want to admit it, doesn't want to say what they both know. But after a moment he lifts one hand to gesture vaguely at the phone Claude has been fussing over just as much as he's been fussing over the room.]

Anything?

[Claude relaxes a little when he feels Lorenz's arms around him, some of the tension easing out of his shoulders.] Nothing. Pretty rude of her to bail on us, but it is what it is.

[He almost sounds convincing at being lighthearted, except for the way he just drops the phone on the table, next to the empty teacup, his frustration leaking out into the gesture instead. He may have accepted the situation, but it doesn't mean he likes it.]

I'm guessing you haven't heard anything either? About Ferdinand...

[Lorenz frowns but, conveniently, Claude will not be able to see it. He knows it's a defense mechanism and he's probably not even consciously doing it but he does hate that Claude even feels he has to make that vague attempt at something lighthearted and careless. He tips his head, pressing a kiss to Claude's temple, something meant to be soothing when he has no words that can help.]

No, I- [A brief hesitation, trying to keep his voice steady.] I'm afraid it's... much clearer what happened with him. Without anyone else sharing the space with him it's just.....

empty.

Lorenz...

[He takes one of Lorenz's hands wrapped around him, brings it to his lips to brush a gentle kiss against his knuckles. He might force out a careless remark when it comes to his own feelings, but he won't dismiss Lorenz's in the same way.]

I know it's not much consolation now, but he might come back, you know? [He looks over his shoulder, then.] Dimitri did.

[Lorenz squeezes him a little tighter in response to the kiss to his knuckles.]

Perhaps they both will. [His smile is an attempt at encouraging though he is concerned, of course, that Claude will dismiss it as much as he usually does.]

That's all we can hope for.

Yeah. And in the meantime, we'll just have to keep trying our hardest to hold down the fort without them.

[They've got a world to save, after all. Many worlds, even. He moves out of Lorenz's arms; no matter how much the lead weight in his chest wants him to stay there all day and be comforted, those old leadership habits won't let him indulge them. He should rally the metaphorical troops in times like this.]

We should finish getting ready and hit the road, I think. Are you okay with that?

[It's obvious that Claude is pushing himself but it's also... not anything Lorenz doesn't expect or agree with. They can't just stay here moping all day, they need to move forward and at least once they get back to Camelot they can maybe take things a little easier.

So as much as he wants to pull Claude back into his arms as well... he just nods, trying to offer him a weak smile with marginal success.]

Of course... travelling through Elphame at night would be a terrible idea. Best if we get going soon.

IC INBOX: isleofavalon

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