Amazing though, don't you think? The Star Whale. All that pain and misery. And loneliness. And it just made it kind. — Doctor Who: The Beast Below

“Well, your gift is beautiful.”

He seems at first to be UNSURE that she'll like what he's got for her . But then he sees the way that her face lights up && HIS expression echoes hers . Lips press into a genuine smile , a dimple in one cheek - his shoulder's DROPPING so that his form seems tenfold more relaxed than before.

❝ I'm glad you like it. ❞ he says quietly. A shiver rolls down his spine at the sensation of the touch of affection from her wing. When was the last time that somebody had been so GENTLE with him ... && when was the last time that he'd been able to feel it ?? The surprise though , is short lived - he supposes that if anybody's touch would surpass the physical it would be the touch of a deity .

He sits, tucks his long legs up underneath himself && balances his palms on his knees . Eyes are big when he looks up at her again .

He can feel the other male looking over at him && for a moment he wonders whether he'll say anything at ALL before he finally speaks . His tone is confused , && Edwin's anxiety levels SHOOT through the roof . He considers moving away immediately , abandoning the attempt at socialisation before things even have the chance to go south . Eyes are fixed on the book in front of him , head tipping to the side EVER so slightly . c o n s i d e r i n g .

A quiet sound of amusement leaves his throat , he narrows one eye && taps his fingers over the cover of the hardback . ❝ you'd be surprised , I've met a FEW guys who'll seemingly do anything to not feel anything . ❞ his voice is low, lips curving at one corner enough that a soft dimple appears in his cheek . ❝ required reading ?? surely you can just BULLSHIT your way through that , right ?? ❞

He shuffles , turns himself to lean his elbow on the side . It takes a moment but his eyes EVENTUALLY flicker up to finally look at the other male . He gives him another once over with his gaze , taking in the lightness of his form - like he's made out of AIR . Edwin feels a pang of something close to admiration .

GREEN HAD EASILY BECOME HIS FAVORITE COLOR, AND CHARLES HADN'T REALIZED FOR A VERY LONG TIME AS TO WHY. Then one day he looks up and it hits him like a truck, it settles somewhere in his ribcage. He'd chalked it up to him being his BEST MATE, the person he owed so much to. The one being, in the entire world, that he would go to any lengths to protect, to help, to save. Because that's what he'd done for him, wasn't it ?

Charles is burning a hole in the gritty material of his bag, fingers even tighter as he shifts it up and onto his lap for a moment. The weight of it is COMFORTING, perhaps one of the only things he can really understand at the moment. There was a lot BUBBLING within him, threatening to escape.

A lot that he thought he'd BEEN through, compartmentalized somewhere out of sight and mind. How long ago had he looked at Edwin the way the other boy was doing to him now?

Charles ? Edwin's voice breaks through his thoughts, snaps him BACK INTO reality. He blinks, and the hands tight around his bag loosen enough where it slips between his knees and falls to the ground. His own leg BUMPS against Edwin's, and if he could breathe, he knew it would be so stuck in his throat he'd blur over his own speech. But he was dead, and there was no need to worry about how his voice sounded, or if the other boy could see the effect he had on him. There's a BLISSFUL ignorance in Edwin's face, when his dark brown eyes wander over his expression again, a smile on his own.

He finds that for a moment he's WORRIED that Charles might snap at him . Not in any way that would be unsettling , but it's enough that he shuffles where he's perched - gaze still FIXED on the other boy's face as though he might discern what's going on inside that head , LEARN something about him that he's been holding back this far .

It always felt like there was something he wasn't AWARE of .

Eyebrows lift , gentle expression as Charle's finally looks at him && their gazes meet . He couldn't hold back the softness in his eyes - that would be LYING && he doesn't have the energy for it right now . So instead he lets his face hold as much of the affection for Charles as it'll hold .

His own smile lifts as it notes it's counterpart . Innocent , happy . Edwin , as usual , was simply ELATED that his friend was here with him && that he seemed content . Even if there was something BUBBLING underneath that smile , at least it was a smile && not a frown . They'd seen enough of that recently.

It's a sort of sinking feeling in Niko's stomach as she watches Edwin take it all in. She's not, like, fantastic at reading people. It's hard to really tell what people think, a lot of the time. Something that seems to come so easily to other people, Niko has had to work at. But she's much better at seeing the signs in those that she knows.

Edwin, for example. Niko is pretty sure she knows him well enough to know that he's not exactly pleased with her decoration decisions. Maybe she should have talked to him about it, first.

Some of the tension that had pushed her shoulders up releases when he offers the compliment, mentions Crystal and Charles. She knows they'll love it ( she's still a bit unsure about Edwin ) . She offers a hesitant smile, head tilted slightly as she lets out a small laugh.

❝ Oh, it was nothing. ❞ Not exactly true, of course. It did take her a long time, but it felt like the blink of an eye.

He adored Niko in a way that he's not sure he'd ever really understand . Just the thought of UPSETTING her was enough to have a mild panic building inside of Edwin's chest . He tries his best to swallow it down , blinking a couple of times && turning as though to examine one of the decorations more closely. He could put up with this for a while , couldn't he ?? If he just told himself that at SOME point , it would all be taken down && his office would go back to normal .

❝ It's really pretty . ❞ soft . Honest . He couldn't deny that she'd done a good job. ❝ you know , we used to have real candles on our christmas trees when I was alive . ❞ He reaches out a hand , touches LIGHTLY at Niko's arm , perhaps to try && comfort her . Reassure her that he wasn't angry . Was he angry ??

Across to his desk , he picks up a piece of paper && folds at the edge half-heartedly . ❝ && we used to make these FOLDED paper doves to put around the school . ❞ smallest of smiles curves at the corner of his lips as the memory . He'd loved making those . Hands work at the paper . Fingers trying to work from a memory SO old that he's sure they'll fail . ❝ I could show you - if you wanted ?? ❞

SHE DOESN'T REALIZE SHE'S SAID SOMETHING that has caused a stir within him, too focused on her own thoughts bubbling in her head. This was magic she hasn't seen before, not to this extent. While LAZY, there was a bit of her that wondered if it was on PURPOSE... if there was more nefarious reasons behind their existence.

Her arms cross over her chest, and the witch studies the way he moves. The particular MOVEMENTS of his hands that are so PRECISE she wonders if he was quite literally DRAWN out of one of Uri's novels... But his words bring her back down to reality, and have her gnawing on her cheek. ❝ If there are souls attached, that will be a problem for YOU, too. ❞ Oh yes, she's aware, Edwin.

He takes a moment , gritting his teeth && watching her as she studies one of the pictures . All of this is a LOT . He'd never give up what he did , he didn't think he'd ever want to . But moments like these - CASES like these , they made him hesitate . It was tough to think about , tough to ACCEPT that things like this were happening on the planet && despite having been around for so long ... he was still only young .

He has that far away look in his eye when she asks him a question && glazed eyes shoot her way . There's a couple of beats before he clears his throat .

❝ there is no plan for if they come to take them . ❞ flat. Matter-of-fact . ❝ If it's death , then I do my best to hide, hope that she's merciful . If the souls are - if they're from somewhere else ?? ❞ He considers how many demons would be coming to reclaim that amount of souls if they'd been taken from Hell . His skin crawls .

Edwin's chin lifts . He fixes the cat king with a look that SPARKLES for just a moment with perhaps a hint of humour before it dulls once more . His jaw works , teeth grinding together as he considers the words. NO , he didn't have to come calling - he knew that . But the pull was strong enough that it FELT like he didn't have a choice .

Niko isn't always great at telling when people are upset. Not until it's obvious, at least, once she's seemed to miss all of the small signs that everyone else finds so easy to spot.

She offers Edwin a small smile, unsure about how what to do now but always steadfast in her want to make things better.

❝ Yeah, of course. Do you- ❞ A small hesitation, hands twisting together with the want to reach out but the unsurety of whether or not it's wanted.

❝ Do you want me to go, or get you anything, or just... Just be here? I can just sit here, with you. If you want. ❞

Sadness , Edwin found , was like being DUNKED in a cold vat of water . It ached && it stung but ultimately just left you feeling numb . That numbness was worse since he died , compounded by the numbness that simply came from being a ghost . Most of the time he was able to hold it down , hide himself away behind the FAÇADE that he managed to keep up most of the time . But sometimes , sometimes even that came crashing down && let him R A W .

❝ No don't - ❞ He swallows , sits himself down && parts his knees so that he can dip his head && arms down between his legs . He looks like he's trying not to get sick . He can't get sick - but he definitely FEELS like he could . ❝ don't go . ❞ said toward the floor .

A couple of tears splatter onto the floorboards .

❝ Niko ?? Niko . Please don't tell Charles about this - I'm alright I am . ❞

"You really think you could help me? I mean, that would be really great!" The half fae seemed relieved by the suggestion, his wings finally losing their tension, now folded a little more neatly against his back, as much as they could be for their large size.

"I don't think rot has ever set in before and I really don't want to find out what happens if it does... Can? Does? I don't know. The riggs is enough to deal with." There was a huff.

"Oh... uh... right! I'm Michael." He wasn't really sure he should be giving out his last name to anyone, but he guessed if this guy was a detective he might need it. "...Er... Michael Conner."

Edwin doesn't feel the need to reply to that question . Instead he stares LONG && hard at the other male . His form is rigid , unsure still . It's been so long since he's begun anything like this by himself && it feels as though SOMEHOW it's going to bounce back && hit him in the face .

He blinks a couple of times , does his best to form some SEMBLANCE of a smile . It fades too quickly to be genuine .

❝ I would do my BEST to help you . ❞ soft . He takes a step back && tucks his hands behind his back . Eyes drift down the alleyway for a moment - perhaps ALREADY trying to decipher what could have happened here . ❝ can't make any guarantees of course , however I do have a PRETTY solid track record . ❞

Michael . He'd known a Michael , he'd been pretty cruel in school . The thought is fleeting , but it makes an IMPACT .