NOT WHAT HE'S MADE FOR.

he   should   give   ehrendil   his   privacy   at   least,   but   something   in   his   voice   prompts   him   to   stay   a   little   longer. "    i'm   sorry,   sir.   i   don't   mean   to   intrude.   p-   perhaps   i   could   escort   you   to   your   rooms?   i   could   bring   your   meal   up   after.    " the elf would probably   feel   better   crying   there.   he   must   feel   starkly   alone   here.   the   whole   household   had   seen   that   abuse,   and   no   one   had   seemed   to   care.

" you . . . " he begins, but stops himself short. this man seems to have little regard for the consequences helping him has had in the past. perhaps it's that he's unaware; or perhaps it's that he's not there in service of his father. the latter is highly unlikely, but ren clings onto whatever hope he can find with a white knuckled grip. " i . . . please. i would appreciate that. " the elf glances to the food; grimacing. he doesn't have much of an appetite. standing, ren looks to the door and sighs; arms wrapping about himself now that the sting is fading. " you. . .you're new. i apologise, you shouldn't have to witness that. "

he's   found   employment   as   a   servant   in   the   cragdew   household.   honestly,   it's   not   a   smart   hiding   place.   he   should   get   as   far   away   from   nobility   as   possible.   but   right   now,   the   choice   is   this,   or   starving   on   the   streets.

seeing   how   terribly   ehrendil's   treated   makes   him   nauseous.   like this morning-   he   waits   to   pour   the   drinks as   ehrendil's   father   berates   his son   across   the   breakfast   table.   said   father   storms   out,   and   the   other   servants   follow.   wylan   lingers,   wanting   to   do   something,   anything,   to   alleviate   what   the other   must   be   feeling   right   now.

he feels himself trembling, closes his eyes. he's alone, he can have this moment. tears gather in the corners of his eyes, his throat and chest tighten and--- he's not alone. there's a voice speaking to him. he hurries to push it all away. straightens. he looks up, golden eyes finding wylan. he's new. he doesn't know who this boy reports to-- so his guards are a little raised.

𝙳𝙴𝚂𝙿𝙸𝚃𝙴 𝚃𝙰𝚉'𝚂 𝚃𝙴𝙰𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶 , he lets astarion know that he trusts him , a privilege that the vampire spawn doesn't take lightly . trust means the world to astarion , both giving and receiving , after being unable to for centuries . taz invites him in , saying he knows that astarion won't hurt him , and a flicker of a smile appears on lips in response . ❝ your trust is a gift . . . one that i cherish , more than most . ❞ taz matters to him more than the others ; this much is obvious in both words and actions .