Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 17)

(Haha not a critique just an observation lol like “aw buddy no your family won’t abandon you— you son of a bitch stop being a cheater” same breath lol)

Should she go find him? Or would that be throwing fuel on the fire? But if she didn’t, was he having to self-soothe? He didn’t seem good at that. But she also wasn’t sure she’d be able to stay nice if he kept making excuses for himself and she went back. She couldn’t tell him it was okay because it wasn’t. Nothing about what he had done was okay. And it never would be.

But should she go make sure he wasn’t alone? Or should she let them both sleep this off? Maybe she should go find Gaius? But then that involves having to interact with Gaius herself, and she wasn’t in the mood for that, either.

Maybe she should just stay here.

Or go down to the kitchen for alcohol.

Hm.

(I don't have anything to add; Tomhas will be doing more of the same unless she goes up to him)

(Okay I’m waffling hardcore here. I asked the internet whether she should or not and the website gave me a ‘yes’ but I keep going back and forth on it. What do you think? On one hand I think it’d be good for them to begin the process of reconciliation tonight since they’re both bad at being alone lol but at the same time it seems like a high probability of this going badly lol)

Ky gasped and jerked her head up as she realized she dozed off. She blinked stupidly, trying to make sense of the world. Gods, she was tired. She slowly pushed herself to her feet with a heavy sigh, body cracking, and shuffled towards the door. She needed to… stop. Make a decision.

Should she go to Tomhas, bed, or the liquor cabinet?

Probably Tomhas. She shouldn’t leave him alone. She’d never forgive herself if he did something stupid because of her upsetting him and then abandoning him. He deserved an apology.

Ky stepped into the hall and took a hesitant step down the hall, not really wanting to go back. Maybe she’d change her mind as she walked. Just go straight past the parlor, get some mead, then retire up to her bedroom. No one would know if she got drunk in her room alone — not even the ghosts. What was stopping her? Nothing.

(I think you should do what she would do, simple as that.)

(Mrghhhhh I don’t knowwwww)
(Fuck it)

Ky walked extremely slowly and meandering, arguing with herself every single step of the way about what she should do and where she should go. Eventually her guilt won out and she made it up to the door of the parlor, heart thudding in her gut, and knocked on the door.

Tomhas made no response; he curled up even tighter.

Had he left, then? She supposed that made sense. Maybe he went to find Gaius.

She hesitated. Or maybe he had done something stupid. Maybe he was inside and needed help and couldn’t say so.

He hasn’t told her not to come in, if he was in there. Hadn’t said anything. It wasn’t rude to walk into a room that you could plausibly deny that you thought was empty, since no one answered the door.

So she cracked the door open and stuck her head inside to look.

He was where she'd left him, albeit in a fetal position now. He tensed at the sound of the opening door but didn't look up.

She hesitated.

Fuck.

She’d hoped he’d gone to find Gaius or someone.

What did she do now? What could she do? She hadn’t left herself with a lot of options. She took a deep breath and stepped into the room, closing the door behind herself gently.

Still nothing from him. Whoever it was probably wanted to talk to him specifically. It wasn't Gaius; he'd have said something by now. So would Sera and Sara. So that left one of the children, who were the last people he wanted to see right now. They were probably here to scold him and curse him more.

Ky didn’t know what to say. She hesitantly strode forward, trying to tell if he was awake or not. It was hard to say since he wasn't responding. She didn’t want to wake him up on the off chance he was resting. But she didn’t think that was the case. But if not, why didn’t he at least glance at her?

His eyes were open; he hadn't stopped looking at the carpet. He could see her now--it was Ky, probably back with more reasons to hate him. He'd let her say her piece.

“…hi.” She dawdled a few steps away at an awkward angle from how he laid now.

He gave a tiny nod of acknowledgement.

He looked pitiful. She needed to be gentle.

And yet she didn’t have the foggiest idea what to say to this… this… unclean man.

She was quiet for an awkwardly long time, anxiety building in her gut. Finally, “…Are you okay?”