The biggest grin grew in her face as she complied with her request, and she didnât waste a second to show her absolute excitement about that.
âI knew it! I definitely knew it. Oh, you just donât know how much Iâve needed you here, Ryn. I have way too many things to say about some people around here and- you know how many times Iâve been able to bitch about them? NONE.â She linked her arm with hers as she spoke and used her free hand to make broad gestures in the air. If anything that place had only made her habit to speak with her hands way worse, and the whole stillness of the world inside those walls have had their effect in the rest of her movements as well. She seemed more quick, a lot more prone to keep herself busy in those spaces where her companion talked to others, inspecting her hands and moving her feet impatiently as if there wasnât enough time to resume their conversation, and making her almost thank the skies when the servants finally decided to leave.
âWait⌠he is gone again? For fuckâs sake, Ryn. He got here like- what? Four days ago? Ugh, I donât know about you, but Iâm this close to change the locks of every door and let him get the message. That shop was supposed to be a shared responsibility after all.â And all those years, or as long as she could remember at least, the job was always shared between the two of them. All the selling and preparations and keeping the records of what they had and lacked were tasks they split and sometimes shared with Asra whenever he was around, with âwheneverâ becoming an âalmost neverâ with the years that passed by.
âTell me again, was he like that before I had the accident? Or have we been talking about this for over a decade now, I need to know.â For she had relied on the idea that Asra had come back and stayed after the message she sent him the other day. A rushed thing of course, but she had trusted that Asra would know that she really didnât want to leave Ryn on her own. It was the first time she left their home like this, but it all seemed to indicate that either the message never found him, or he was way too entertained with whatever he was visiting this time.
One way or another, it only added to the things she had been holding against him for a time now.
âOh, here it is! Room sweet room, please go ahead miss.â She insisted with a playful bow, a short gesture that she promptly followed with the closing of a door and the revealing of things that shouldnât be heard by the Countess herself. Namely, the one thing Ryn had just mentioned and that she completely lacked in her hands.
âI want you to turn your attention to this fine space that includes, but is not limited to, the nicest bed you will ever see, two windows with curtains way more expensive than our entire place, and this beautiful pile of notes that I definitely wrote myself.â She said signaling to an empty desk. A very beautiful, but also very empty surface that she had never used.
Outrageous, yeah, but- she could finally take that weight off of her shoulders now that her beautiful friend had come to help her, right? I mean, that was what friends were for, isnât it?
 âInspiring, I know. But what can I say? Nothing but the best service for our nation, that for sure.â
She was needed, huh? That was a nice change, for once. âTalking shit? Fuck, Iâd love to. Especially about nobles - they donât all have to be nobles, but like... you know.â Then she brought up Asra, and Ryn stiffened. âEven if I changed the locks, he could magic his way inside. Or maybe he wouldnât because... respect I guess? I donât know, Iâm so tired of him pulling this shit. If heâs depressed, he should take a page out of my book and just stay in one place - and that place is our room.â
She bit her lip at Nishâs question. It was a sore subject for everyone, but Ryn especially didnât like drudging up the pain of it all. âHe left - just not nearly as much.â She rose her free hand to her forehead. âIt just really sucks, and he doesnât seem to notice how upset itâs making me.â Maybe because she hadnât told him, and played the part of someone who needed her space. But how could she tell him without revealing too much, or going through the same heart-wrenching song and dance sheâd gone through on her own one too many times? âWell, I hope heâs having a whole lot of fun over there, because whenever he comes home, he can just go fuck himself for all I care.â She cared a lot.
She, thankfully, had something else to focus on when they reached Nishâs room, her bowing getting her to laugh again. âDonât mind if I do.â She was practically slapped in the face with the opulence of it all, not to mention the space. âNish, this is bigger than our fucking apartment, I-- wow. I hate you so much right now.â More like she hated herself to not come along when the opportunity was there.Â
She looked around for the notes, surely just oblivious in the moment and not seeing-- oh, she was joking. âOh, so you have nothing? Or is it, like, just in your head. I can try to be a sounding board, but I interrupt too much to be much good, honestly.â She shrugged, before all but diving onto the bed. âOhhh, Iâm gonna die here. I mean that in a good way.â