crushing

She had a point. Again. While he loved his family and he wouldn't trade Aerie for the world, perhaps they simply couldn't help him because they were too close. Those he trusted the most shared a father with him; they shared the very foundation of his hurt. How could he speak of the depth of his pain when doing so put him in line for a one to one comparison with how they were coping? Doing so would set him up for shame one way or another; either because he found out he didn't have it so bad or because he found out he was handling it the worst.

The deal Riva offered was a good one. Though he wouldn't say it out loud, he did muse about how easy it would be to cart her off and hide her away like he had Erystotle. He was not so selfish and superior as to consider killing her to ensure the safety of his secret, but he wasn't above holding her captive. But that was not on the menu for the time being. She was so kind, her expression so open, that he believed her when she said she wouldn't tell a soul what he told her.

Pyrrhic nodded to himself as he made up his mind. He briefly placed his other forepaw over top of the one she rested on his grounded paw and gave it a squeeze. "Alright, you're hired. Where do we go from here?" She hadn't answered his question about loneliness but considering their exchange so far he believed if anyone could solve his problem and answer that question it was her.