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[massrez]

☙INBOX text ♔ audio ♙ video ♔ action Kindly leave your missives and they will be responded to with utmost haste. May you walk in the Light.

Done this day by my hand, King Anduin Llane Wrynn

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[alwayskayaking]

Could have fooled me. [But he won't deny that Anduin looks perfectly safe so perhaps he hadn't ever been in danger. Not that it looked that way at the time to Tim.]

And did you?

[massrez]

Nothing burnt to the ground, thankfully.

[ There's a pause, before he reaches out. Touches a hand to Tim's shoulder. ]

It took courage for you to come after me, like that.

[ He'd seen the fear in his eyes. Knew he had more than enough reason to want to keep his distance entirely.

But he hadn't. On the off-chance that Anduin might wind up hurt as a result. ]

[alwayskayaking]

[Tim let's the hand on his shoulder remain, but looks down towards the floor.] I shouldn't have left you there. Not alone like that.

[massrez]

I asked you to. And for good reason.

[alwayskayaking]

[He opens his mouth to argue that reason. That he didn't think the reason was good at all. Then he shuts his mouth once again.] I'm just glad you're alright. [In that end that's all that really matters.]

[massrez]

And I'm glad you weren't hurt.

[ His hand falls away, absently worrying the leather band on his wrist. ]

I've never seen him in quite that state before. I wasn't sure what he might do, if anyone got too close.

[alwayskayaking]

From what I saw and experienced? Set them on fire is my best guess.

[Tim sees the way Anduin touches his leather band.] Are you sure you're alright? And I don't just mean physically.

[massrez]

...it was hard. Seeing him like that.

Though I suppose none of us are immune to what this city can do to us, if it wants.

[alwayskayaking]

No, I suppose not. [But we're all not also dragons. Tim manges to bite on his tongue and not speak his mind about that.]

Did something happen between the two? Did you want to talk about it? Even if it's not to me?

[massrez]

It's not all entirely to do with him. Or his fault.

[ The blond sighs quietly, his shoulders sinking. ]

It...simply brought up some bad memories.

[alwayskayaking]

I'm sorry. Bad memories can be hard to shake. [He should know. He let's his rule his life.] Did you want to talk about it? [A willing ear to listen is all he can offer.]

That was sort of my job before. Taking statments and writing down the bad memories people had. A lot of the people who came to us said it felt kind of cathartic to say what happened to them out loud to someone even if we were strangers.

[massrez]

[ Anduin smiles somewhat wryly at that. ]

We're hardly strangers, at this point.

[alwayskayaking]

Exactly. So you should feel comfortable with talking to me now, right?

[massrez]

Then I feel I should offer you a drink. A seat, at the very least.

[ He gestures towards the sofa, before moving towards the kitchen. It'll give him time to collect his thoughts, at the very least. ]

[alwayskayaking]

I think tea is traditional if you have any? But personally when discussing bad memories I find beer works better.

[massrez]

Fortunately, I have both.

[ Two bottles are collected from the fridge in short order and a soft clinking sound, before he makes his way back over, offering one to Tim with that same wry look.

Then he settles onto the couch, observing his own bottle for a moment or two, thumb tapping gently against the neck. ]

Did I tell you about the first time I was named king? I can't recall.

[alwayskayaking]

[Taking the offered bottle Tim gives a soft thanks. Taking a spot on the couch with his friend while trying to give him a little bit of space.]

You mentioned that it was because of the loss of your father.

[massrez]

Both times, yes. Though not in the same fashion.

[ One, after all, had been far more permanent. ]

When I first became king, it was because my father had gone missing. I was ten, at the time.

[alwayskayaking]

[Oh... Tim leans forward, resting his arms on his knees as he listens.] How long was he missing for? I take it he eventually returned?

[massrez]

Eventually, yes. Though we didn't know it at the time, his abduction was orchestrated by someone in our midst. A figure who'd stood as advisor to Stormwind's king for years, sowing discord and chaos.

[ He finally takes a measured drink from the bottle. ]

A black dragon, disguised as a human.

[alwayskayaking]

A black dragon? Like the one who kidnapped you?

[massrez]

[ He nods. ]

Eventually my father returned and retook the throne, which we were all more than glad for, but he was a different man. He only seemed interested in whatever she had to say, ignoring the suffering of our people and our allies in favor of whatever indulgence she'd talked him into next.

It wasn't like him. Even then, I knew something was wrong...and I knew she was involved, though I could prove nothing.

[alwayskayaking]

I am not surprised that even so young you were wise even then. [Tim nods in encouragement for his friend to continue. Although he doesn't like where this is going to end.]

[massrez]

I like to think I'm a reasonable judge of character.

[ His lips quirk upwards slightly as he takes another sip. ]

I did finally manage to convince enough people to investigate, and her plot was discovered. When cornered, she sought to lure my father and others to their deaths in the depths of her lair. So she revealed herself in her true form, and took the one thing she knew they would pursue without hesitation or question.

[alwayskayaking]

[Tim swirls the drink in his bottle.] My best guess? That was you?