LION.

       “And what’s so bad about cities, then?”

        If there was one thing he didn’t quite understand, it was sibling affection —— how could he, after all? His mother had never been inclined to have another child outside of him, and has father had never shown any sort of desire to have another child, either. The only child. He had never minded. Figured that he PREFERRED IT, actually. And he still felt that way. Not quite understanding Edythe’s bond with her family wasn’t something that bothered him, per say. Logic stated that it was love that fueled affection for family, love that was deserved in one way or another. Maybe that was why Royal’s approval MATTERED TO HIM.

                                       It was exhausting. In part.

              ❝ Well —— it’s not like he can resent me forever, right? ❞ A beat, and he laughed, wry and feeling drawn and hating every moment of it. ❝ Never mind, I wouldn’t put it past HIM to hold a grudge against me for the rest of my life. ❞ Assumption that he would live as long as a vampire was made and he did not REGRET IT. She knew. She knew, just as he knew, what he wanted. He wouldn’t relent. He couldn’t.

         Beau had given her world light --- that much is true.  Before him, the world had seemed muted and grey; something to be resigned to rather than something to embrace.  But even then her love for her siblings had been one of PRECIOUS FEW things to keep an ancient soul from falling apart in the face of forever.  Regardless --- rather than become ANNOYED at the implication, as one might expect of a perpetually moody ninety - year old immortal, she instead laughs, melodic.  And takes a step or two nearer, grinning all the while, so she may wind her arms about the other’s shoulders, holding him close atop the tips of her toes.  A shake of her head, large eyes TEASING.  As though in on a joke that her beloved is not.

                        It isn’t a joke, but she feels like, at this moment, she would rather make it one than admit that she is as unsure and UNHAPPY about Royal’s behavior as { she imagines } Beau is.