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12/28
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9/27
Grand Opening! Welcome to the Site!
Harry Potter:"Do you really think there's going to be a war, Sirius?"
Sirius Black: "It… feels like it did before."
TURN ON THE LIGHT is a Post- Potter roleplay that takes place twenty-five years after the Second Wizarding War.
We welcome canon and original characters in this (currently) sandbox style roleplay.
There was something about the way he gently, yet firmly, held her and the way that his breathing matched her own (now) much slower breaths that relaxed her whole body. It was better than any drug (not that she had ever taken those - not even an Advil!). As much as she somehow magically provided comfort and safety for him, he did the same for her. He was the only one. If he said she would be okay surely she would be - because Allen Watts knew these things! Allen Watts made her these things.
She appreciated his smile greatly, even if she couldn't make herself smile back. The promise of never leaving her again resulted in ehr squeezing him in another hug. "Thank you." She murmured into his shoulder actually using the phrase properly. He will be here. With me. Nothing bad can happen with Allen Watts with me. This she knew to be true just like the facts that she recited. Allen Watts was reliable, and safe, and a hero. Her hero.
"If I rest when I open my eyes you will not be here anymore." She confided, still holding onto him she sat up in his lap looking into his eyes. This was a serious subject for her. In some ways it mirrored one of their first interactions the night that he had found her only to, in her opinion, give her back. "Like at the house." Her childhood home. Going back to that day in her head her fingers clutched and unclenched over and over on the fabric of his shirt. "I went to sleep like you said, napped like you said, when I opened my eyes you were not there anymore." One could count on two hands how many times in her life Krys Robin was able to maintain eye contact (as it had been beaten out of her at a very young age). Now was one of those times and never once did her gaze waiver from Allen's speaking to him with full sincerity. "You will not trick me this time." Maybe the alcohol was helping. Words that could have been angry were tired and matter-of-fact. "If I keep my eyes open you can not go anywhere." Her reasoning disintegrated into a murmur of someone who had alcohol coursing through their veins making words difficult and she finally broke eye contact pouting, not at all enjoying how she felt.
"Why do people do this?" She whimpered pathetically out of frustration. How come her brain, which knew so much, didn't know how to will this out of her system? "It feels awful." Her brow wrinkled with alarm and she let out a soft huff like someone who was forced to wait in line for a ride far too long. "When will it be done?" If only it was that easy. She was getting worked up again and luckily Allen clocked this immediately and prevented it like the pro he was.
His voice was low and tired, the results of the alcohol and the day's events no doubt, like gravel. It wasn't unpleasant. It was him so nothing could be. His pleas for him to look at her garnered what he requested as her eyes once again locked on his as she once again sat up in his lap, legs resting on either side of his hips. Their koala cling, even sitting. Look at him. Look at him. Look at him. Once she managed it she couldn't pull her gaze away. His blue eyes. Eyes that seemed so serious all of the time yet every once in a while could provide her with light. His face, weathered by years, yet nice to look at. I think that I very much like his nose. She decided in that moment, her hands loosened their grip on his back as he lavished her with gentle praise and affirmations. These were things she never heard as a child and definitely very rarely as an adult. Coming from him though they meant everything.
He cared about her. A part of her wanted to point out why biologically that was the case or how mama bears took care of cubs but instead she just nodded, eyes never once leaving his even as she did so. The circles on her back had her muscles relaxing little by little. "I am not beautiful Allen Watts." She told him quietly as he was rocking. "I am unfortunate looking. I am unfortunate in general. I am an odd bird. Remember?" Tears began to form in her eyes at the words and her hands now lightly trailed their fingertips against the back of his neck playing with his hair then with air. "It is very kind to say even if a lie." Her voice cracked as a tear ran down her cheek. "I am not cross with you for lying this time."
Every time she said it, it hurt. Every statement was like a kick, a slap, a punch to his spirit. He was sure she didn’t mean for it to be painful for him. But that’s just how it was. All those years ago.. He was gone. She was right. She had woken up and was probably so confused wondering where in the world her savior had gone. After he told her ‘it would all be okay’. And to ‘trust him’. “Krys, I-” He felt a lump in his throat. Still drunk, he would surely lose his composure and break down if he wasn’t careful. So he treaded lightly with himself. “-I never wanted to leave you.” He had never really told her the logistics of what happened that night, or any day after. How he had no choice. How he wished to end her parents’ lives as a last resort himself. How it all sparked his alcoholism. He would start slow. He didn’t want to overwhelm her. As that seemed like a legitimate possibility.
“When I came to you that first night.. it was against protocol. Against the rules. Burke told me to wait until we could get the necessary evidence before we could go and get you. It would’ve taken months, years maybe.” He bit his lip, shaking his head. “And so when you woke up, it wasn’t because I wanted to leave.. I never wanted to leave. It was because I had to face the consequences of my actions.” He paid dearly for what he had done in a plethora of ways. But he never regretted it. Not even for a second. “There will be no tricks. Whether your eyes are open, or they are closed, I will never leave you again. I promise you, Krys Robin. I will protect you until I die.” A bit dramatic sure. But he was drunk. And he still certainly meant every word. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead. He didn’t mean to. He had half a mind to apologize but it had felt so.. right.
Why do people drink? There were a million reasons. Allen had his own, separate and unique to the next person. “Well, it depends. Some people like the taste funnily enough. Some people drink because they like that feeling. Some people drink to forget things.” He was in that last category. He didn’t need to draw the line for her at that moment. “I know it doesn’t feel good. But thankfully, it follows a general formula. Considering your size, and what you drank.. It will likely take 2-3 hours for you to feel relatively normal. 6 hours to completely flush out of your system. But it’s okay. I promise you, it will be okay.” He stroked her hair. She looked so precious. He was making a lot of promises.
She had shut him down. Drunk words were sober thoughts. And she had never expressed that to him. Was it.. an insecurity? Savior mode: activated. He knew how to be firm with her. How to get his point across without being demeaning. Without being anything like her monster-like parents. “Krys Robin-” Soft. Non-threatening. But with intent. “-don’t ever say those things again. Here is a fact for you.” He cleared his throat. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my entire life.” He stared at her. Tears welled in the corners of his eyes. He took his thumb and wiped her running tear. “I mean it. From top to bottom, I think you’re perfect exactly as you are. Your eyes, your nose, ears, lips, skin hair.. everything.”Do not cry. Do not cry.“I can legitimately think of no human being that is more beautiful than you in my eyes. So please-” His voice gave out on the ‘please’. “Don’t ever say that again. Please. And you are not an odd bird. You’re my-”Don’t say it.“-not an odd bird. That is also a fact.” His goals were shifting. Did he now have to protect her from herself? He knew she was drunk. But she had to be thinking these sorts of things while she was sober. It broke his heart. “I will remind you every day if I have to. Krys Robin. Because this is the one thing you are wrong about.”
He had not wanted to leave her? But what about... everything? It had all been a lie. One that her parents had told her and one that she continued to tell herself. He didn't abandon her. He was forced to, just like she was forced to return to that horrible place.
Her eyes wandered to his bottom lip that he was biting. Why was he doing that? Something was different. His eyes looked... what was the emotion when tears came and lips quivered? Sad. That's the one! Oh no. He was sad. Krys tried to think of something to make him feel better. "They... they said that you dumped me because I didn't need saving... That there was nothing to be saved from and if there was that I didn't deserve it." Yeah. That probably wasn't it. Oh well. She would do better next time. "But... you didn't want to leave me there?" As she sat in his lap facing him her words hung in the air as Allen's story settled upon her.
At his promise she drew a quick inhale. She believed him. More than anything else in the world. He would protect her. "But then who will protect you, Allen Watts?" She questioned innocently before answering it herself. "I will do it. That will be my job... Other than Head of Magical Technology of course. I will be Head of Magical Technology and also Protector of Allen Watts. Is that alright?" Too bad. She would be doing it anyways.
The soft kiss on her forehead somehow felt cooler than her skin. She quite liked the sensation and a light tickle hurried through her chest. "I have never been kissed before." She noted strangely chipper. Sex yes. Kisses? No. Kisses involved affection which wasn't something she was used to. She even began to smile a little bit until she took in his appearance. "But for now Allen Watts is drunk with Krys Robin. We cannot protect either of us." Except that was exactly what they were doing even now in their own little bubble especially with how he lectured her about her self-depreciation in his usual Allen way tailored just for her digestion.
His words were clearly heartfelt, even she could sense that, which caused her different colored eyes to water with tears she didn't even mentally process. When his voice cracked instinctively her protective hands moved to his cheeks as if to wipe away tears like he had done for her, but instead they just laid flat against flesh once, twice, three times, like she couldn't get it quite right. "My mother said that I am a hideous reminder of a mistake. My father says I am a grotesque monster who is only capable of messing things up. I am an eye sore. A blister. A pimple. A welt. A speck." She listed everything as though she was reciting literature, probably because she had been made to repeat it during punishments when she was little. "I am a waste of space who does not deserve the time of day. I am trash. I am lower than trash." Speaking to him she insisted on holding his face in her hands. Why she didn't have the faintest idea. Releasing his face she rested her hands in front of her. Maybe he had heard her this time. "But that is ok." A weird thing to say but she had made herself believe it after years of torment. "But I am still Krys Robin and that's alright." Now it was her turn to bite her own lip. There was no hiding the dismay in her eyes. "I do not want to remind you of that every day if we can help it..."
Krys reached out again and tilted his face so that she could get a better look and frowned. "Are you alright?"
He froze. The only movements his body could perform were autonomous. The rise and fall of his chest, but he couldn’t tell if he was breathing. His eyes blinking, but he couldn’t see. They.. lied to her. Of course, they lied to her. They were evil. They were some of the worst human beings that Allen had ever had the displeasure of knowing existed. And he had met a ton of shitty people. At this news, they didn’t just take the cake - they took the whole damn bakery. “That is absolutely untrue. Every word they told you. I never wanted to leave you there. Not for a single second. I didn’t even want you breathing the same air as those people. Hell, I would’ve put you in the southern hemisphere if I could. Just to get you away.” Just to save you. “I never ever wanted to leave you there. You’ve got to believe me Krys. I tried so hard.” But not hard enough. His voice was getting raspy. Breath hitching.
Allen nodded at the younger woman. “Yes, that is alright. We’ll protect each other Krys Robin. I trust you with my protection.” He trusted her with so many things. His life, happiness.. maybe even his heart. “Oh I-” He shook his head, looking off to the side of them in shame. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, I don’t.. I’m sorry.” A kiss was not the best look. But at least he was genuinely apologetic in the moment. “You’re right. Once we sober up.. The protection begins.” He looked up at her, mustering what smile he could. It was twisted. His mind was racing, and he couldn’t stop it. His emotional resiliency was breaking down. Wasting away at everything she said. And it would only get worse.
When she started, he didn’t quite know what was happening. It was like she was off to the races, and he never heard the starting shot. And the race was long. Not a sprint. The things she said. That her parents said to her. He paired it with the things they did to her in his mind. Her hands felt like life itself on his face. Like she was transferring some sort of unknown energies directly into his now tattered soul. A soul that had just been splintered. Absolutely battered and beaten beyond belief by no more than a few sentences, and a soft voice.
Am I okay? No. No, I am not. The tears streamed freely. Down his cheeks, they raced one another. He hadn’t cried in a long time. It was pent-up. And the dam didn’t just break - it had been absolutely destroyed. He intook a shaky breath, and on the exhale, let it all go. He sobbed deeply. So deeply. He hadn’t cried like that since the night he had failed her. And this was a product of that. What was he thinking? He didn’t deserve to live in the same plane of existence as her, let alone deserve the opportunity to try and convince her that she was a beautiful human being. Because her father and mother didn’t do that to her. He did, by proxy. He didn’t just fail her. He had actively harmed her. Slain her hopes and dreams of freedom. Her parents didn’t make her feel like trash. Allen did. Allen did all of this. Allen was evil. Allen was the scourge of the Earth. How could he do that to her? The sobs continued, and he buried his face in his hands. It muffled the sound some. But arguably made it sound worse. He couldn’t face her though. “K-Krys..” He muttered in between sobs, straining so hard his ears began to ring. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry that I did this. I’m sorry I couldn’t get you out. I’m sorry you believe those things.” He sobbed again. And again. And again. He was inconsolable. He whispered, his voice barely audible. “I don’t deserve you.” Sob. Sob. Sob. Sob. Sob.
I failed her. And because of that, no matter what I do, I will always fail her.
“So Allen, is it death that you’re seeking?” “No I..I don’t think so.”
He spoke his truth like it was gospel because apparently it was. While she wasn't an expert at picking up emotions, even not so subtle ones, from others there was no denying the anger that showed in his gaze before he pushed it back and tried to replace it with tenacity. While she knew that it was not aimed at her (and somehow she did) it still made her nervous so she knew she should do her best to get him back to a better place if there was such a thing anymore.
"I believe you." She told him sincerely. Concerned over the hoarseness of his breath and the quickness of his heart rate that she could feel against her, her brow wrinkled in worry. Was he the one having a panic attack now? "I know that you did. I know. It is not your fault." She tried to backpedal regretting getting him into this head space. She would have to be more aware in the future though she wasn't sure that she could even be a little aware as is. Something to work on for Allen's benefit. "Do not worry. It is the past now. We will worry about the future." And that future involved the both of them protecting each other like they said. Like a small child might she reached out to fix the collar of his button-up shirt and patted his chest approvingly. He must feel better now, right? Wrong.
His eyes darted away from her with a look that she recognized: nervousness. But how was that possible? Allen Watts did not get nervous did he? "It is quite alright. I did not dislike it immensely." She actually didn't mind it at all. Maybe it was the liquor? She was beginning to understand why some folks took to the beverage though she still wasn't a fan herself. Trying to make him feel better she quickly leaned forward delivering a much shorter peck to his forehead doing her best to mirror what he had done. Now it was her turn to shyly look away inwardly wrestling with disbelief at what she had just managed to pull off. She had never kissed anyone ever forehead or otherwise. "You can do that whenever you feel like it. I will try to be better at receiving them." Actually quite pleased with herself she smiled even as her eyes aimlessly scanned the floorboards and rug.
After he ramble she was left to look at him with a frown not really realizing what she had unleashed. It was like pulling the pin out of a grenade and where she had somehow expected Allen to respond with 'yeah sure, you're right' instead tears began to slide down his cheeks. "You are leaking. Did you know that?" She pointed out innocently, not realizing the gravity of what was taking place until it all unraveled. Blinking in confusion she watched as he choked on a sob and hid his face from her which was probably a good thing cause worry was etched all over it. "Oh no." Slowly she was beginning to piece it together. "Oh no, no, no, no, no." She shook her head worried and reached out for Allen's hands that were covering his face. "You are upset. Allen Watts you must not cry." She chided him quietly and lightly tried to pull his hands away. "Please no... Thank you no? Just do not, okay?" She shifted in his lap trying to get a better look so he could see her.
"Did I do that?" She asked, her own voice cracking out of fear. "I did not mean to make you upset." And yet somehow she had managed to do just that. Now it was her turn to cry again as her face tensed and bottom lip quivered, eyes still glued on him. "You must look at Krys Robin now, okay?" Her hands found his finally prying them away from his face and replacing them with her own on either side of his cheeks. "It is not Allen Watts' fault. Allen Watts is not a bad person. Krys' mother and father are. Not Allen. Not ever Allen. Allen is the best person Krys has ever met. He is kind, and caring, and smart, and patient, and strong. It is impossible for him to be bad because those are all good things. Alright?" He had to hear her and agree right? "And I am right because I am smart. Understand?" Her voice hitched in her throat now as tears began to fall. "Krys is here and okay because of you not in spite of it." And she was right about that too.
Releasing his face from her grasp she held her hands in front of her chest nervously wringing them together. "Does Allen Watts want Krys to go home?" Maybe she had overstayed her welcome. Eyes sadly looked down, mulling over a thought for a moment, before darting back up and finding his. "She does not want to..."
She didn’t dislike it. Well, that was unexpected, to be sure. The liquor was making Allen do silly things. Normally he didn’t think much of it. But whenever Krys was involved he got scared. Scared of doing silly things as he had just done. Though apparently, she was going to work on receiving them. Whenever I want? I want to do that a lot Krys. Careful what you wish for. Kissing her, even on the forehead felt like zen. Like he had achieved everything he had ever wanted to. Chalk that up as another Krys Robin superpower. She didn’t even know she had that one.
As he sat in his void, he could hear her calling him. His first instinct was to immediately oblige, and do whatever she asked. Because he feared her reaction. But he physically couldn’t do that. Years of restraint pinned him in place, and he could not do anything about it. He wanted to stop crying, but he couldn’t He wanted to look at Krys, and tell her he’d be okay. But even she could sniff out that lie if he told it. He felt her shift in his lap. He could feel her eyes gaze through his hands. He heard her voice crack and shift under the weight of her own sorrow. That made him feel worse. Now he was making her cry AGAIN. Because of course he was. “No Krys Robin. You did not do this, I promise. You did not make me upset.” His voice sounded froglike. A low croak, so different from his usual silky deep tonality. You must look at Krys Robin now, okay? Okay.
And he did. His hands fell away as hers replaced their position. He looked up at his little Robin. She was angelic. Now she was his savior. I feel like I let you down all those years ago. Like I didn’t do enough. Like I left something to be desired. And I’m sorry.” He hung his head, but only for a moment. Krys didn’t lie. So what she was saying must have been true. “Yes.” He sniffed. “You are very smart. So you must be correct. You’re usually never wrong.” Part of that was reassurance for her. And part of that was for him. His face was hot. It was impossible to tell whether that was a product of his current actions or his prior actions. But he supposed it didn’t matter much. “I’m so glad you’re here Krys. And not just here like, in my home. But here in general. I love it. I love knowing you exist.” He wiped her tears away again with both thumbs this time, smiling weakly at her. And then he embraced her. It was his turn to squeeze tight. To feel his muse. Then he let her go.
He looked down at her fidgeting hands, and then up at her face. “Do I want you to leave?” He almost couldn’t believe she asked. “Krys I do not want you to leave. I want you to stay. I want you to stay so I can cook you dinner, and we can watch Jeopardy, play board games, and do whatever else we want. Hell, I’ll sit here like this forever if I you want. But please.. don’t go. I need you Krys Robin.” He looked around the room, and then at the bed. It was small. But she could have it. He knew she said it wasn’t a big deal earlier, but she was drunk. It could very well be a big deal later tonight. “You can have the bed and I can.. sleep on the floor. Next to you. As long as I’m close.” Now, who was the one who needed the other close? His fingers gripped her again. She felt good in his arms.
He was saying that she didn't make him upset yet clearly he was upset. She was the only person in his room to her knowledge unless there was someone hiding in some nook or cranny somewhere. So who else could be the culprit? Allen did not lie but maybe this was one of those 'white lies' he tried to explain to her a few years ago. The kind of lies you told so not to hurt someone's feelings or make them feel better. Though Allen had told her those kind of lies were ok to do she wasn't so sure of it herself. It was still not being honest and right now it sure wasn't helping either of them feel better. They were both crying! What was better about that?
"You could never let me down. Not ever. Not even today." And today would have had some good reasons to be disappointed. Krys could be a lot of things including and not limited to: a nervous wreck, a ball of anxiety, confusion, and obliviousness. Disappointment wasn't really in her orbit. That involved her feeling negative toward someone. The only person the techie felt low about was herself. So it was impossible. If only Allen understood that. "You do not leave anything to be desired because I do not desire anything from you other than for you, Allen Watts, to be yourself. And you are just that." Fingers copied his actions and wiped at the tears on his face. She was learning. "I like Allen Watts very much and Allen Watts seems to be misled and likes Krys Robin a bit so there is nothing to be upset about, alright?" If only it was that easy.
He loved knowing that she existed? That was a nice thought because some days she wished that she did not. But she probably shouldn't tell him that. She didn't need to key him into that though. Something told her that might make things worse. "I do not know how else to be." She admitted returning his weak smile with her own before being taken into a tight hug. She didn't fight it, she didn't tense, she just allowed it to happen. It felt like he had needed it. They both did. When he finally let go she looked down at her fidgeting hands. This was a long time to maintain eye contact when you weren't used to it. Breaks were necessary. Besides, she was also scared he might order her to leave which she found was something she absolutely did not wish to do.
When he confirmed she did not have to she looked back up at him shyly, a glint of hope in her eyes but it was kind of a pathetic scared hope. Like the rug could be pulled out from under her the moment she became excited. "Then I will stay then." The brunette confirmed. "I will stay with Allen Watts tonight and we will have dinner, and watch Jeopardy, and play board games, and do things." More than likely today would be spent in bed chatting, crying, and maybe even cuddling if she could muster it but perhaps the stay could be extended tomorrow if he would allow it. She would get clarification then.
Her eyes followed his to the bed as he offered some suggestions. Her brow furrowing in thought. "But this is Allen Watts' bed. Not Krys Robin's. That hardly seems fair." Surely there was another option. She was intelligent. She could figure one out. "Perhaps... You could lay on the left and I can lay on the right? Does that seem like a satisfactory solution?" She wasn't sure if it was but gosh she hoped so. She found his gaze back again nervously awaiting his answer. In an effort to relieve anxiety her fingertips lightly clutched at the fabric of his shirt at his wrists pinching, pulling, and releasing. Her hands wished to hold him even if her mind was unable to register it. "Then we will be close and we can protect each other." Surely she had sold it well enough!
Drunk, at least for her she smiled at him a lopsided smile, cheeks red. Fingers reached up and began to trace his cheeks, his brow bone, his nose. A weird bit of exploration of untouched lands for her. "Allen Watts has kind eyes. Sad... but kind." She felt his fingers grip at her and once again did not mind. "What he must have seen and done over the years to cause such sadness." She spoke quietly as she traced his features. "Maybe someday he will allow himself to let go and be happy. Then he can tell Krys what it is like."
Composure was an Allen Watts specialty. It took quite a bit for it to shake, rattle, or roll. And losing it? He didn’t think it possible. But hearing Krys Robin say that he could never let her down? For a man with a savior complex, it was gospel-esque. But he should’ve known it wasn’t so straightforward. It wasn’t so easy. As nice as it was to hear, and as soothing as it was to be assured, it felt like a concession from Krys Robin. She deserved so much, and expected so little. Or as she was saying in that moment, nothing at all. A cruel side effect of her history. He scoffed, and shook his head gently, eyes finding purchase in her own. “Misled? Ha. Evidently, you are correct. There is.. Nothing to be upset about. But there is no misleading here.” But he was still upset. Still felt inferior. Like he couldn’t protect his own. He could dispel nearly any threat that could walk through that door. But what happens when the call comes from inside the house?
The embrace was love. If he were asked to define love, that’s how he would do so. A hospitable place of belonging. “There are some things that you simply do not need to know. How to be anything else, is one of those things.” His eyes were squeezed tightly shut - a tinge of fear eeking its way into his head that this whole thing may be a fever dream. But that was just fear. He knew she was here, she was warm, and she was lovely. The machinations of what could possibly be had no place there. They were in that moment. He released her. He knew Krys Robin. That was likely not a wholly pleasurable experience being touched. But he had needed it. “It just.. It just brings me joy that you’re here. And around. And kind to me.”
She will stay. His heart felt like it stalled out. He immediately wanted to go run to clean up his apartment. To make it satisfactory for her. To do something. To make her stay a pleasant one. However long she had wanted to. “Oh - that is good. That is very good. Yes. I have a feeling you will do very well at Jeopardy. Because I do well at Jeopardy, and you are much smarter than I am, Krys Robin.” He chuckled. A real one.
He was almost ready to rise when she had presented him with another proposition, regarding sleeping arrangements. “Oh.” He wanted to say no, speaking for her own comfortability level. But Allen knew he couldn’t speak for her in this moment, and be a good human being. She was more than capable of making her own decisions. And this is what she had proposed. He wasn’t a creep - so what was there to be worried about? “I think that sounds like a fair compromise. Yes.. so that way we can protect each other.” A hint of a smile. Protect each other from what exactly? Who knew? Perhaps, from themselves. But in actuality, the proximity was the prize. He could feel her fidgeting in his clothing. It felt right. Her hands touching and pulling. He thought he was becoming her safe place. He would need to become more predictable. He could do that. He could do it for her.
She traced his face with drunken intention. Her words echoed how he often felt. He did have sad eyes. He had seen terrible, terrible things. Krys’ situation wasn’t even the worst of it all. It was the one in which he could affect actual. He’s seen the dead and dying, of all ages. He’s seen sick and twisted wizards and witches, cackling away in the darkest corners of the earth. He’s seen horrors. He never had a lightning rod before. Someone that he could lean on. Someone that could make him happy, when everything else was weighing on his shoulders and mind. Krys Robin was that person. Just being in her orbit alone was magical. He needed her. He was learning that quickly. She wasn’t just nice to have around. He needed her around him to make it all better, all the time. She didn’t need to know that. Not yet. He didn’t need to scare her with that information. Overload was a very real thing. “I need not tell you anything, because we will both be happy, I will have you know. You will see Krys Robin. Life is going to change for us both. For the better. You don’t have to believe me right this second. But promise me you will observe, and be patient.” He would not, could not, let this woman down. To forgive him after what had transpired? Failure was simply not an option. He didn’t quite know what it would look like. But he knew he could deliver.
Finally, he rose. He still donned that smile. His drunkenness was wearing off. He offered a hand downwards to Krys Robin. “Come on. I think I can scrounge some things together to make a delectable soup.”