[Onni listens, his expression thoughtful, eyes on Reynir as the Icelander talks about having a different attitude towards talking, how it might be him or it might be an Icelandic thing. Onni isn't sure, either way, but it's something he can't really wrap his head around either way. Saying the things out loud that bothers him has never done much for him, when it comes to making him feel better about it. Maybe naming it would help other people know what's going on with him, but he's never been one to ask other people for help or to understand what he's feeling or thinking either.
It isn't what he's accustomed to, but he finds himself willing to listen to Reynir talk about it. Whether that's because of the new shared pulse of emotion between them or because he's softening toward Reynir a little, he isn't sure. His points about knowing that words can be powerful because of his work as a mage make sense, and Onni finds himself making a soft 'mhm' of acknowledgement. But...the part about being lonely...]
I've never been lonely. There have always been people around, at least until Tuuri and Lalli left. Even then, there were the other mages.
[And of course, he knows that's probably not what Reynir meant. He can feel that much, from the emotion radiating through their bond, which is still a strange thing to think of. But he doesn't know how to express what's going on in his mind, and can't approach the feeling inside of him that feels empty and alone. It's too close to his grief over Tuuri, the grief that keeps hitting him harder and harder now that he's separated even from her soul in that soft, bright bird form.
A moment later, he feels a flash of sadness from Reynir, and he blinks, looking over at him, blinking a little. He isn't sure why that sadness took him so much by surprise, wonders for a moment if it isn't because he's always thought of Reynir as someone who's happy most of the time, or at least optimistic and upbeat. Of course, he's seen him upset, afraid, even in pain, but still he registers in Onni's mind as someone too soft and too happy to have a lot of hidden regrets or worries.
Maybe he was wrong.
For a moment, he just watches Reynir, feeling the little surge of sadness but still smiling just a little, then reaching out to take his hand. There's something very soft about the way he laces their fingers together, and Onni's eyes flick down to look at that, at the way their hands twine together. He feels strange about it, but he doesn't pull away, just lifts his gaze and pins Reynir with it, meeting his eyes.]
It's fine.
[A pause, and then he speaks again, his voice just a hair softer than usual despite how straightforward his question is.]
no subject
It isn't what he's accustomed to, but he finds himself willing to listen to Reynir talk about it. Whether that's because of the new shared pulse of emotion between them or because he's softening toward Reynir a little, he isn't sure. His points about knowing that words can be powerful because of his work as a mage make sense, and Onni finds himself making a soft 'mhm' of acknowledgement. But...the part about being lonely...]
I've never been lonely. There have always been people around, at least until Tuuri and Lalli left. Even then, there were the other mages.
[And of course, he knows that's probably not what Reynir meant. He can feel that much, from the emotion radiating through their bond, which is still a strange thing to think of. But he doesn't know how to express what's going on in his mind, and can't approach the feeling inside of him that feels empty and alone. It's too close to his grief over Tuuri, the grief that keeps hitting him harder and harder now that he's separated even from her soul in that soft, bright bird form.
A moment later, he feels a flash of sadness from Reynir, and he blinks, looking over at him, blinking a little. He isn't sure why that sadness took him so much by surprise, wonders for a moment if it isn't because he's always thought of Reynir as someone who's happy most of the time, or at least optimistic and upbeat. Of course, he's seen him upset, afraid, even in pain, but still he registers in Onni's mind as someone too soft and too happy to have a lot of hidden regrets or worries.
Maybe he was wrong.
For a moment, he just watches Reynir, feeling the little surge of sadness but still smiling just a little, then reaching out to take his hand. There's something very soft about the way he laces their fingers together, and Onni's eyes flick down to look at that, at the way their hands twine together. He feels strange about it, but he doesn't pull away, just lifts his gaze and pins Reynir with it, meeting his eyes.]
It's fine.
[A pause, and then he speaks again, his voice just a hair softer than usual despite how straightforward his question is.]
What do you hide?