I suppose it comes down to a different attitude towards talking. Maybe it's an Icelandic thing, I don't know. But I've always thought... being able to put something in words is useful all on its own. Like, saying 'I'm in a shitty mood because the wind knocked over the new fence that I just fixed' isn't going to repair the fence, but it can be good to... put it into a story like that and name how you feel about it.

[ Reynir trails off, feeling a little silly. Onni will probably discount what he's saying, as softness, or nonsense, or both. And maybe it is. There are better examples, ones that had actually made a difference in his life. Maybe he should have used one of them. Talked about how it helped, in his relationships with his siblings, to actually sit down and just... talk about their origins and his. ]

I mean, you and Lalli, you do your magic using poetry, right? For your gods, and to the moon or whatever? So you know words can be powerful. And- and there's something to be said for... having someone understand what you're feeling, and why you're feeling it. It... makes everything a little less lonely.

[ When Onni says he can't imagine Reynir hiding anything, Reynir smiles, not very wide. Remembers, with nauseating clarity, lying to Onni when Tuuri had been bitten. Remembers other times, too. Now and then, when Onni had done something or said something small, that hurt his feelings, and he'd tucked the feeling away, without showing it. The smile doesn't waver, but Onni isn't likely to miss the sudden flash of sadness. ]

I don't hide much. But that's not the same as nothing.

[ Reynir reaches out, tentative, reaching for Onni's hand. He laces their hands together, tucks Onni's hand between both of his. ]

Is this okay? Someone warned me... told me it's good for Bonded people to - have contact when they can. For the flow of the magic, or whatever.

[ Yes, that's definitely the reason. It isn't just that he wanted to hold Onni's hand... ]