socrowdedinhere | (no subject)

Sidon: *smile widens* Thank you, Darnell. It means a lot to hear you say that.

Darnell: *grins* You've always been good to me, and you're good for all of your people. They deserve to know that, and I'm honored to be close enough to you to tell them whenever I can.

Sidon: *His shields are down and so he's highly emotional. Tears touch his eyes and he gives Darnell's shoulder a squeeze* Thank you. I try to be, but it's good to hear.

Darnell: *hesitates an instant, then will pull Sidon into another /hug/ - the man has the weight of the world, or at least the kingdom, on his shoulders every single day, and now he's slowly dying of something no one can even explain to him, let alone treat or cure . . . he /has/ to be scared* You're a /good/ man, Sidon. Don't ever think otherwise or listen to anyone who doesn't know you.

Sidon: *HUGS* Thank you. I don't know if you realize how much a leader needs to hear such things from people who are truly sincere about it.

Darnell: *HUGS tightly, then will shift back enough to face him* I'll be honest, I've not thought about that until just now, but I can believe it. And will certainly keep in mind. Please know that I will /never/ tell you anything insincere. *there's a visible pause in his eyes as something crosses his mind, and then he's got that crooked grin on again* Unless you marry Riju or anyone else and ever ask me if I think your wife is gaining weight, /then/ I'll consider saying something insincere depending on my opinion. *yes, he's saying that to get a laugh from Sidon, poor guy could use it*

Sidon: *it works, even if the laugh degrades into a coughing fit* R-remind me to never ask you if my future wife seems to be gaining weight.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Darnell: *pats his back* I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. *made him laugh...but he made him /smile/ and that was worth it* I'll do that. *remind him . . . once the coughing's subsided* Anyway . . . you've had a long and exhausting journey, and I've kept you long enough. I'm no doctor, but I'm a doctor's son, so . . . good food and then some good rest. Promise me?

Sidon: Soon. I promise. And keep me updated while you’re away.

Darnell: *nods* Yes, of course. And please, you do the same.

Sidon: *nods* I certainly will. *he’ll see Darnell to the door, settling his “I’m fine and happy” mask into place. Usually this isn’t an act, but right now it is.*

Darnell: *will do his best to do the same, though he's making straight for wherever Zerik is at the moment*

Zerik: *in a small office, he looks troubled. He looks up as Darnell steps in.* ...He told you?

Darnell: *doesn't even have to be asked that by the look on his face - nods* I'm moving to Vedenar until I solve this. Sidon's said he'll cover expenses for me to do so.

Zerik: *nods* You want any soldiers to join you?

Darnell: ............ *leans against the wall, running a hand through his hair* I don't know. I don't want to go into potentially hostile territory unprotected, but if whatever befell Sidon turns its sights on me too, I'm not sure that soldiers will help, nor do I want to put targets on backs unnecessarily. Moving into an area with a whole entourage will draw more attention than moving alone . . . but more people in the know mean more eyes to spot and more ears to hear things I might miss.

Zerik: ...I’ll send two men to you. One a day after you arrive and the other a week after. Lopen and Shen, men you know, men you can reasonably approach without drawing suspucion. They’ll help you as best they can.

Darnell: *pulls a deep breath and nods* They /are/ good men. I'll be glad to have them at my back.

Zerik: If you feel that you could meet with more without drawing attention, just let me know; you know I’ll not hesitate to send more to aid you.

Darnell: *nods* Thank you, Zerik. I'll do everything in my power to solve this and save Sidon.

Zerik: I know you will. I know he means a lot to you, just as he does for me. *he wishes he’s have been there and at the same time he knows he couldn’t have stopped what happened.*

Darnell: *nods* I should go home now, let Raida and Alem know, and start mak8ng preparations. Zerik...if it's all right with you and Mara - and if Raida will tolerate it *said with a small grin, knowing he may get a LOT of pushback* - I may leave her here. Again, should anything happen to me, she'll be too far away from people I trust her safely to.

Zerik: *little grin* Only if she’ll tolerate it. /If/ something happens to you Lopen or Shen could being her back here. But let’s not let anything happen to you.