OOM: Aftermath

[gorlim]

Having left Ruin's room and the illusion, he opens his mind to the bond once again, and follows its infallible compass pointing ever towards its other half.

The room he just left.

This time, not an illusion.

The door creaks open, but he does not enter.

"Namo?" A precautionary whisper in case one of their children should be present and

Comments

[halls_of_mandos]

The children are with Eilinel tonight.

Námo doesn't like to have them in his room on the nights Gorlim spends with Ruin.

The Vala looks up, his brow furrowing, and sits up in the bed.

"Dove? Why do you hover in the doorway?"

[gorlim]

He glances around nervously.

His clothes by now are thoroughly soaked, his hair still dripping.

"Can we go somewhere else?"

He'd just been to this room in crueler company. Its walls smothered, and the once-comforting aura of safety had turned, for now, into something bitter and frightening.

[halls_of_mandos]

His frown deepens, but he pulls on his boots.

"Of course. Wherever you like."

When he nears Gorlim, he reaches for him, wanting to comfort him against whatever it was that brought such distress to their bond.

[gorlim]

Gorlim tenses, steps backwards instinctively, and stops himself.

And forces his eyes to look into Namo's.

There is no cruelty there. There is no hunger, no blind need, and none of the closed desperation that had taken him, had taken and used and abandoned. And so easily lied.

And now... now he understands a little of what it had been like for Namo to allow himself to be taken by that creature wearing his face.

He launches himself into Namo's arms and CLINGS. "Outside," he gasps. "Please. Take me somewhere away from here." He burns inside with shame while the cooled indoor air blows like ice against his wet clothing, and the walls feel tight as the cloth clinging to his skin.

[halls_of_mandos]

The backwards step disturbs him, but the clinging desperation frightens him. His arms wrap around him, and he nods.

"Of course, dove. Anywhere."

He think, then decides.

Námo exerts power and moves them from his room to the cairn Gorlim so lovingly cared for.

Someplace Gorlim's, not theirs.

"This all right?" he asks, titling Gorlim's head up.