Wren Evenfall

“I think you already owe me something from the last time you defiled my garden. So I would tread carefully.” Wren responded playfully, the pun intended. “Honestly, I just find myself too busy, or rather distracted, with the park.” Wren admitted, “I’m guilty of losing track of time out there, by the time I get home, it’s a little late for gardening.” He laughed faintly. “Besides, my help is limited at home, at the park I have my groundskeepers to help most of the time.”

“Still salty about that, hm?” Augustine grinned, although he did feel a bit bad. “Anything I can do to make it up to you? Another drink perhaps?”

“Mm. I think I’ve had enough to drink for one night,” Wren said, he could tell that from the faint blur to everything around him, “But…” Wren paused, glancing down to Augustine’s arms, “I could perhaps use a hand with some gardening. There are some trees I’ve been meaning to put in, but they’re quite large.”

The wolf smirked, one eyebrow quirking curiously. “Is this you asking for my help then?”

“Think of it as me claiming my compensation for the damages.” Wren replied with a playful smile. Perhaps he wouldn’t have been quite as forward without the wine in his system, sometimes he thought he had left that particular personality trait somewhere in the middle of his life span. “But, yes… some help would be nice.” The elf conceded, tilting his head. “What do you think?”

“I’m sorry,” Wren replied as Kass jerked his face out of his hands, but the elf cautiously guided him back into his hold to gently press his fingers to either side of his nose, effectively soothing the pain that radiated beneath them. “It’s quicker than a healing potion.” He tried to assure him, before his hands dropped away. “Do you always get in this much trouble when you’re out on your own?” Wren asked.

He didn’t want to look at him, to see the pain in his expression, but he didn’t resist his touch or the way he lifted his head until their eyes met. “Take all the time you need. And if you have more questions, I’ll answer them.” Artus knew he wasn’t even close to half the man Xander had been and didn’t think he’d ever be good enough for Wren, but that didn’t change his feelings. At this point, the younger elf felt exhausted from all of the emotions and he took a small step forward, head dropping forward until his forehead was resting on Wren’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, for getting angry at you and bringing up your clan. I’m not good with dealing with emotions.” 

Wren nodded, motionless for a few seconds before both arms moved around Artus’ back to envelop him. “It’s okay.” He quietly replied, not knowing what else he could say. “I’m sorry… for everything, Artus.” Wren swallowed around the lump in his throat. I’m sorry I’m not in love with you? I’m sorry that I don’t know if I ever will be? I’m sorry that you’ve wasted so much time on me? I’m sorry that I’ve put you through this. His fingers pressed against his back, hoping the tiny movement of fingertips back and forth would somehow soothe everything.

“Fine,” Wren decided, it was Artus’ fathers clan and he needed to let him take the ropes, however much it pained him to do so on this one occasion. He had no evidence. “We shall see what comes of it.” He nodded, his head snapping up at the other mans statement. “Is that what this is? This is about us? You cannot throw something like that at me Artus and just expect me to feel the same way! I feel like you’ve lived an entire lifetime that I wasn’t even involved in, now you come here, expecting me to what? Declare my love to you? I can’t. You haven’t even given me the chance to know you in that way.” Wren swallowed. Artus didn’t look at him the same way now, he looked at him like he was some heartless thing. Maybe he was. But he couldn’t lie to somebody he cared so much about. “You can call me heartless, you can call me whatever you want, but you don’t get to pressure me into feeling what you want me to feel! I care for you, more than anyone in my life, but you don’t get to do this and have it be my fault!” Wren was getting upset now, so far off topic they might as well not even be having a meeting. “Fine. Do as you please.” His jaw was stiff as he averted his eyes downwards. “I only want to protect you, Artus.”

For someone who he had looked up to and considered wise, it felt so odd to think that Wren wasn’t grasping why Artus was hurt by what had happened between them. “Why don’t you stop acting like it can’t possibly be true, that I’m lying to myself and I don’t know what love is? I never thought you would have any feelings for me, but now you’re cutting me out of your life like I mean nothing to you!” It was hard for him to process everything that was going on, instead stuck in the feeling of hurt and rejection that was permeating every corner of his life and making him feel like a failure in everything he did. As much as he might have hoped and dreamed that Wren could have felt something for him, it had become clear to him that would never happen. “You’re the one who has spent so much of my life as my close friend, and yet still somehow don’t know me. But if you agree with my father, that I should focus on marrying some elf girl and continuing the family, then fine. That’s what I’ll do.” Artus rose from his chair, his chest aching unbearably and he was doing his best to hold on to his anger for a few moments more, so he didn’t break down crying in front of him. “I’m old enough to protect myself,” he huffed in response. 

Wren could understand Chris’ need to get straight into things, because he felt much the same himself. “I have not spoken to your sire myself, but from what I understand she’s concerned about what happened the other evening and there are rumours beginning to circulate. I was wondering if you might be able to tell me what happened yourself? You know how the rumour mill works in this city.” Wren asked. The elf knew Chris was likely to be defensive, or perhaps worried that Wren was out to claim he was a liar, but he hoped the vampire would speak candidly with him. “This is not an interrogation, please be sure of that. But for both our sides I think it’s in our best interests to be honest with one another.”

“I think you already owe me something from the last time you defiled my garden. So I would tread carefully.” Wren responded playfully, the pun intended. “Honestly, I just find myself too busy, or rather distracted, with the park.” Wren admitted, “I’m guilty of losing track of time out there, by the time I get home, it’s a little late for gardening.” He laughed faintly. “Besides, my help is limited at home, at the park I have my groundskeepers to help most of the time.”

“Still salty about that, hm?” Augustine grinned, although he did feel a bit bad. “Anything I can do to make it up to you? Another drink perhaps?”

“Mm. I think I’ve had enough to drink for one night,” Wren said, he could tell that from the faint blur to everything around him, “But…” Wren paused, glancing down to Augustine’s arms, “I could perhaps use a hand with some gardening. There are some trees I’ve been meaning to put in, but they’re quite large.”

"Am I?" Elio grinned and gave a weak shrug, adding, "Guess I am, huh? Haven't been too good at keeping an eye on time lately, but better early than late at least." The deity slid into his usual seat across from the elf elder, relaxing at the familiarity of the situation. "So. How have you been as of late? Take any breaks.. perhaps some vacation after such a busy spring?"

“Oh, it’s going well. We’ll have lots of work to do in the upcoming months for our Earth Day celebrations, so I think I’ll be putting in some extra hours for that,” Wren explained with a soft exhale, though he didn’t seem entirely unhappy about the situation. “My own garden at home suffers for it, but I suppose that’s always the way.” He offered a smile, “Do you do much gardening or do you prefer trampling?” He teased.

“Trampling. Most definitely,” he answered with a rather playful nod. “Can’t say I have much hands on experience with them otherwise.” He took another sip of his drink before suggesting, “Too busy for leisure activities? Or did your hobby becoming your job kill the interest?”

“I think you already owe me something from the last time you defiled my garden. So I would tread carefully.” Wren responded playfully, the pun intended. “Honestly, I just find myself too busy, or rather distracted, with the park.” Wren admitted, “I’m guilty of losing track of time out there, by the time I get home, it’s a little late for gardening.” He laughed faintly. “Besides, my help is limited at home, at the park I have my groundskeepers to help most of the time.”

“That doesn’t sound like very much fun for you.” Wren responded with a somewhat mischievous smile, before covering it by taking a bite out of his wrap. Perhaps he was being a little nosey, but that was what old people were known for, right?prying into the love lives of others. “That’s something I would like to see.” Wren laughed. “And… you have no desire to find a mate for yourself?” Wren asked.