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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]

It appears that your spite kept you alive that day.

[massrez]

Hardly the first time. [ He huffs, almost a laugh. But the expression grows solemn after a moment. ]

...I had nightmares of that cave for years after. The thought of ever being that close to a black dragon again was terrifying.

[alwayskayaking]

I shouldn't have left you there. I should have come back with more help. Made the cops believe me or something.

[massrez]

Tim, that's not...

[ Another sigh escapes him, this time more frustrated, one hand lifting to pinch at the bridge of his nose.

Maybe this was a mistake. ]

[alwayskayaking]

You shouldn't have had to go through that a second time. I'm sorry that it happened. [Yeaaaahhhhh, Tim is taking away the wrong lesson from this. Thinking that the only reason Anduin acted like he and that dragon were friends was to protect him. What a noble friend. Putting himself through such a horrible situation and memory just to keep Tim safe. That is the message Tim is taking away from this.]

[massrez]

I told you, he wasn't going to hurt me.

[alwayskayaking]

How can you be so sure? The last one wanted to kill you.

[massrez]

Yes, she did.

As I said, the memories of what happened clung to me for years. I was afraid of them. I certainly didn't trust them. I had good reason not to.

[ All this to lend weight to the next statement: ]

I trust Wrathion.

[alwayskayaking]

[Tim can only think of one question to follow that bold a statement.] Why?

[massrez]

Because as long as I've known him he has tried, with everything that he is, to be better than that.

Not for the sake of my approval. Light knows he's never needed it before.

[alwayskayaking]

Has he? [Tim sounds skeptical.] I'm sure it doesn't hurt to be a friend of a king in your world. [It's always something with monsters in Tim's mind.]

[massrez]

No, but even my word could not remove the tarnish his bloodline carries. Too many remember what the black dragons who came before him were like.

If you asked him what our friendship has earned him, I'm fairly certain 'a headache' would top the list, if anything.

[alwayskayaking]

[It is out of the greatest respect for Anduin and what he's recently been through that keeps Tim from snorting and rolling his eyes. Instead he takes a sip of his beer and counts slowly to five.]

I'm sure he would probably say that. [The prick. He thinks to himself.] I hope he at least apologized to you.

[massrez]

[ There's an unintentional snort of laughter, before Anduin shakes his head. ]

No. And I don't expect one.

[alwayskayaking]

What a great friend. [Said with classic dry British sarcasm.] Even if it was the city messing with his head he still kidnapped you. Regardless of if he was aware of the way it made you think of your past you would think he would still offer you some sort of apology.

[massrez]

Yes, reminding someone of a potentially traumatic event in their past should warrant an apology, shouldn't it.

[ Stare. Sip. ]

[alwayskayaking]

[Yeah. Tim knows what that stare is for. He coughs and shifts uncomfortably on the couch.] Ah... yes. [He takes a second to try and look Anduin in the eye.] I am sorry for what I said. [Kind of.] It's just-- when you said this was something the city had done-- [He wets his lips and shakes his head. No, excuses and his reasoning why is not what Anduin needs right now.] Doesn't matter anymore. I'm sorry. [Only kind of.]

[massrez]

You thought I was about to let the same thing happen again.

[ He lowers the bottle, straightening as he sits, and looking a little more composed than before. ]

[alwayskayaking]

I was concerned you hadn't considered that possibility before sending your only help away. If the city had changed the way a friend of mine acts I'm not sure I would be thinking about that. I would be too focused on them.

[massrez]

If I needed to fight him, I could.

[ Whether he would or not...he's not sure he wants to know the answer to that. ]

Thankfully it didn't come to that. Some core part of him was still in there to be reached. It wasn't like...

[ He pauses, recollecting himself. ]

It wasn't the same.

[alwayskayaking]

I'm glad my warning in the end was unnecessary. And I'm sorry for feeling the need to give you a warning like that.

[massrez]

...I'm not unaware of when things are dangerous.

I've known danger most of my life, prince or no.

[alwayskayaking]

I didn't say you were unaware that the situation was dangerous. [He just didn't think his friend had considered all of the options in terms of the type of danger he was facing.]

[massrez]

It did feel a little implied.

As it is, part of the reason I told you that story was so that you'd understand that...well. I know a little of what it's like to have a fear of something monstrous in the back of your mind. Not being able to trust because of it.

[alwayskayaking]

That wasn't my intention so I'm sorry that it felt that way.

[Wait... was this becoming about him? Tim had come here to make sure his friend was okay so it's stunned for a second or two. Unsure what to say next as he certainly wasn't expecting things to start turning towards him.] Ah.

[What should he say? He should say something.] I'm sorry you feel that way. [It rings hollow. Not that Tim didn't feel bad that his friend shared in this awful feeling, but more that he clearly doesn't know what to say.]