flare-chan

this is PROBABLY the first thing i have ever drawn that I didn’t do color corrections on?  nice.  i’m getting there.

When Olai isn’t home…

you never got to bloom

they cut you from the stem

you’re innocent at birth

bleeding, is what he was going to say, but he trails off when he hears that, handkerchief still extended. he’s a little— well. clearly groping for words. to put it mildly— he really does feel like a romance movie heroine right now. he’s the romance movie heroine, crying and running after you, and you’re the gruff injured hero telling him to stay away for his own safety.]

[there is a distinct pause while he contemplates this. checking in with himself. no, he feels no urging towards tears. at least.] I. No.

[looks mildly surprised at that, even.] Uhm, I mean. [puffing out his cheeks a little, apparently deciding he can’t manage to hold on to any kind of sorrowful dignity whatsoever.] Hang on a second. [going to dab at your face, gingerly. he really does go through handkerchiefs like paper.]

[speaking as he works. you’re not looking at him, and he’s looking very firmly at your wound, not at you. you two have possibly unlocked an entirely new level of Teenage Awkward Feelings.] You’re not a bad person. I— there’s.

This isn't what she imagined. She'd thought that he'd just leave, like everyone else- but then again, that wasn't really in Io's character. Yes, he was the kind of guy who'd sit by your side and talk things out with you, even if it was raining and cold.

But he would still leave, eventually. Eventually he just wouldn't be able to take her anymore- he wouldn't be able to take the abuse, verbally and physically. Sure, he could probably fight her off, but she knew, knew that the longer he stayed, the more likely it was for her demon to attempt something more drastic.

If he stayed he could literally end up dead.