A thoughtful look crossed Roland's face at the dark mare's question and he nodded in response, a movement barely perceptible in the dim light. Her gaze had seemed dull and distracted when he had first arrived, shaking the accumulated snow from his tangled mane. There were no lighthearted musings occurring behind her curious guise. "You do," he murmured in response, not unkindly. He did not pursue the matter though, for she was a stranger and he wouldn't expect her to divulge her troubles to an unfamiliar face.

He had the decency to appear embarrassed when she introduced herself after his forward entrance, dipping his head as if in apology. "A pleasure to meet you. My name is Roland," he responded with a kind smile. There was once a time when he was not so careless with his name, when it was once a secret among so many others he kept behind lock and key, for the betrayal of his title was a threat to his own safety. It was liberating, in a way, to be able to speak it so freely now rather than parading around wrapped in a false identity. Upon entering Helovia, it had taken some time adjusting to the fact that he was able to use it as he pleased, as long as it was not tarnished once again with unjust behavior. Roland hadn’t left behind his talent for lying, nor his willingness to utilize it, but he chose each step carefully now lest he lose the new home he had worked so hard to find.

He was grateful for the distraction from his previous thoughts, for he didn’t wish to be weighted down with the anticipation of a possible war. Perhaps he was overreacting, for he had a bothersome tendency to blow things out of proportion when there was no necessity to do so, or perhaps he was right to worry. Sighing quietly, he lifted his head and glanced up at the ice that arched above them, coloured deep blue in the growing darkness that followed the storm. There was a certain calm that lingered about the place, where the thick frosted walls muted the howl of wind outside their icy sanctuary, and though the snow floated into the entrance with every draft of wind, it was comfortable.

The Phantom’s eyes flicked back down to meet Chernobyl’s dark gaze with hesitance, head tilting to the side. If he had the ability to read thoughts, he would do so now, regardless of how impolite the gesture might be. Beneath his kind exterior he rarely made a habit of being polite or innocent, though he was not cruel by nature. Doing what was right had never been in his job description, and he tried not to feel guilt as a result of his dishonesty; but as time passed he found it easier and easier to dismiss his wrongdoings as things that simply needed to be done.

“Is this unpleasant weather taking its toll on you as much as it is me?” He turned his sapphire gaze upon the mare’s ashen face, laughing humorlessly. He wasn’t going to prod her about whatever had held her attention so strongly, but perhaps she would open up to him, if just the slightest amount. It felt awkward, attempting to sympathize with someone he barely knew. Months spent in solitude had made his social interactions difficult, but he hoped she didn’t find him strange. Perhaps they would find companionship amidst the raging storm and icy walls.

(Bleh. Next post will be better.)

walk walk walk
"talk talk talk"