@feuglaceā asked: It was rare for Stephanivien to step from the safety of Ishgard for little reason at all, yet swift did he rush through the gate as though desperate to away. He was entirely unprepared, ill dressed for the cold and completely forgetting to simply arm himself for the excursion; he just wanted to get away. He needed to get away.
By the time he pushed open the ill familiar door, he was shivering terribly. Blue eyes had since dulled, his brows furrowed and upset evident upon the tense poise of his body. He cared not if others saw him in such a state, it was not a secret the things he dealt with. He hurriedly crossed the room, stepping around the table in the center and standing on the other side of Haurchefant's desk.
"I-I knew not who else to go to..." he whispered, his head bowed a moment. Heavily silence followed as Stephanivien attempted to recollect himself, though his voice still quivered with distress even when he finally spoke, "Its getting worse. I can't... I can't take it anymore-"
His voice cracked and upon looking back up to meet Haurchefant's gaze would he notice the hints of a bruise hastily hidden beneath layers of make-up. Nothing truly hid the black eye he carried, and even the endless snow had managed to wash away some to better expose the wound.
to say he is surprised at stephanivienās unannounced visit is to put it lightly. though they have set up an agreement for supplies of weaponry between camp dragonhead and the machinistās guild, most of them arrive in bulk shipments from the city proper, along with other provisions needed to bolster their defense and keep his men fed and clothed. to have the guild master himself arriveĀ āpon his doorstep, without nary a cloak to his person nor the customary carbine attached to his hip, haurchefant could not help to be seized with worry. if aught has happened to the guild ---
ā my friend,Ā ā his words come out a question, brow furrowed in consternation as his eyes search the otherās face for a hint of what could be the matter.Ā he can practically feel the distress radiating off the other man only adding to the growing concern in his breast.Ā
of course, the actual reason, once it becomes clear, somehow feels even worse.Ā ātis no secret that the de haillenarte patriarch holds no love for his eldest sonās endeavors, ever poised against the guild and its goals.Ā ātis no secret that the man would even get physical; for as oft as heād needed to leave the manor in his youth to seek out francel, his friend had sometimes seen fit to do the same in reverse, a haunted look in his eye that had pained him each time he spotted it. but to actually see it to this extent?Ā though physical punishment for misdeed is not unheard of, this goes well beyond that. it makes haurchefantās lips thin, anger worming its way through his gut, eyes flashing with it.Ā anger is not what stephan needs now, however.
he gets up and rounds the table, fingers gently touching his friendās cheek, tilting it to get a better look at the bruise forming around his eye, before he locks his gaze with stephanivienās, red-rimmed and hurting. his hand alights on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. ā you are welcome here for as long as you wish. heāll not be informed you are here, i promise you that. come. let us get you somewhere more private, so i can have your eye looked at.Ā would you like me to make you tea? hot chocolate, mayhap?Ā āĀ