[IC] Day 37, very late evening

[thexfactor]

[ knocking on Epona's door ]

Comments

[grandstanding]

No, they're asleep.

...wait here a moment.

[thexfactor]

All right.

[grandstanding]

[heads back inside to the kitchen, before coming back with a bag. it's clinking a bit.

puts his free hand on Charles's shoulder and turns him around, back out the door.]

Come with me.

[thexfactor]

[ blinks ]

Where are we going?

[grandstanding]

Outside.

[thexfactor]

Are you sure? You shouldn't be away from them, should you?

[grandstanding]

I told them I'd go out later. Besides, by that logic you shouldn't be out either.

[thexfactor]

[ shrugs, uncomfortable ]

I talked to them for a while but it was just . . .

[ everything was bleeding all over and I couldn't tell where it stopped or began, who I was, who I was meant to be ]

[grandstanding]

That's why we're going outside.

[thexfactor]

[ . . . nods ]

[grandstanding]

[walking them to the courtyard, then]

[thexfactor]

[ just kind of quiet ]

[grandstanding]

[so is he. when they get there, he leads them to an out of the way spot, where some blocks are lined up in a row. he sits down on them.]

How's your head?

[thexfactor]

Better. It'll . . . take some time getting used to.

[grandstanding]

[exhales quietly]

And today was something else.

[thexfactor]

Yes. . . . It certainly was. I guess we got overly confident after our last victory. We'll have to rethink our strategy.

[grandstanding]

...

[he turns to Charles and wraps his arms around him, silent.]

[thexfactor]

I should have never encouraged the wolves to confess. I'm sorry. I know it's not . . . my fault or anyone's but I should have been more careful.

[grandstanding]

Charles, do you honestly think your speech was the thing that drove Star to what she did?

[thexfactor]

No, of course not. She never would have hurt anyone. She doesn't have it in her.

[grandstanding]

None of them wanted to. I was the one making the decisions.

But as soon as that Echo forced me to choose your team, I was done. If Star hadn't done that, I would have.

[thexfactor]

[ sucks in a shaky breath ]

[grandstanding]

So don't apologise for what my team felt.

[thexfactor]

[ . . . leaning against him ]

[grandstanding]

[kisses his temple lightly]