make up for lost time

Her features were softened with fondness, and warmth radiated in an aura around her smaller form. She was the kind of woman he would have wished to have raised him, he imagined she was nurturing and kind. She wouldn't have hurt him, beaten him, like his masters. In another life, he would have liked to have been raised by a woman like Rhythm. To grow up fearless and loved, full of curiosity. What a life that would have been.

”Gathering a few herbs. Too many years ago now I lived here in Abaven, I’d like to see if my old herb patches are still around.” she offered in reply, her voice soft and soothing. A spark of surprise bloomed in him, unaware that she had been living here at one point. Curiosity glimmered in his verdant, violet tinted gaze. Not only had she been living here, but had been tending herbs? ”Do you practice any healing, Epitaph?” she asked next, and he could sense the genuine interest in her tone.

He hesitated. Did he? What he had been doing thus far could hardly be considered healing. "I'm trying to learn," he offered hesitantly, rasping vocals bogged down by uncertainty. "Hemlock only taught me poisons, but I want to help instead of hurt. I've been trying to replenish the herbs that have been used on me by Miss Shaye and the others, to pay them back." he added. All he wanted was to repay their kindness, and do something useful with his newly obtained freedom. He took another hesitant step forward, looking to close some of the distance still between them. "May I help you search?" he asked softly, brows furrowed and posture tense.