Ayce nodded slightly. He closed his eyes, whole body going still at the touch of Nolan's hand over his face. "Okay. That sounds…nice." He replied softly, eyes flickering to Nolan, then away again. It was strange, really, to anyone who paid attention, as to why Jalaan wanted him back now, instead of when he had first been captured one hundred years ago. What was so special about now?
Nolan stroked his cheek soothingly. "Yeah it does." After a few minutes of silence he spoke again. "Do you think can sleep again kr do you want to talk some more?" He wasn't sure what Ayce needed but he was prepared to be there for him
(hey idk if you do group RPs or not, but this one is shaping up to be really cool, and needs more people https://www.notebook.ai/forum/roleplaying/the-old-gods-aren-t-dead-very-open-6-13-don-t-be-discouraged-by-the-large-number-of-posts-we-need-more-people )
Ayce shrugged slightly. "I don't know." He said softly. "S-sorry." He stammered, looking down at the floor again. His knees were still tucked to his chest, and his arns wound around them. He bit his lip again, despite knowing that Nolan had told him multiple times not to.
Nolan pulled Ayce's lip out of his mouth once again. "Hey there's no reason to be sorry. You're doing just fine." He sighed quietly. "Do you want to stretch out? Get comfortable?" He asked. "Do you want any more water or skme food?"
Ayce's eyes flickered to Nolan, then away. "Okay." He shook his head, staying curled up in a ball. "Water?" He asked softly, peeking over at Nolan again, then down at the floor. His hair hung down in his face again, the white and black strands ratty and messy.
Nolan brushed Ayce's hair out of his face. He grabbed the canteen of water and brought it to his lips, helping him sip from it. He set it back down on the floor. "You're doing really good." He praised. "Just rest up. You'll feel like yourself again in no time."
Ayce shrugged slightly. "Thank you…" He said softly, looking at Nolan. He almost bit his lip again, then didn't. "Can I-I ask…why does Jalaan want me back?" He whispered, looking away, down at the floor. "Why now? After…after so long in there…" He shook slightly, rocking a little and closing his eyes.
"I don't know. I'm not high enough in ranks to know. They give me orders and I follow them." Nolan said softly. He continued stroking his cheek. "Whatever it is, we'll get through it okay? I'll make sure you'll be just fine. No one is going to hurt you."
Ayce's eyes flickered. "Okay." He said softly, still shaking a little. "Magic's gone." He mumbled to himself. "Magic's gone and my head's gone and Jalaan still holds all the cards and I can't…" He trailed off, rocking again and closing his blue eyes. Some of the things he said were rather nonsensical, and it seemed to be slowly getting worse the more he spoke. It wasn't caused by the speaking directly, but rather as he grew a little more comfortable speaking.
Nolan didn't question the things he said. Ayce had been in hell for iver a hundred years. He would have been surprised if there wasn't anything wrong with him in the head. So he just listened and made soft cooing sounds, to calm Ayce. "I know, I know." He spoke. "I've got you know. Nothing is going to happen to you. I'll protect you." He sat on the vround next to the bed.
Ayce shook his head. "Can't can't can't can't can't other people tried and he got rid of them he doesn't like it when people care he is insane and he says I'm the one whose mind is gone and maybe that's true now but the night is dark without any stars and the moon doesnt shine every night and…" He trailed off, shaking his head quickly. It was hard to tell exactly why the Fae was accentuating the word "he" every time he said it.
"Hey, shhh. I promise you that I'll protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again okay? You're safe with me now." Nolan cooed. "Can you tell me who 'he' is? So I kmow who to keep you from?" Nolan never ceased the calm expression on hia face. Inside, he wasn't sure what to do. He had never been in this sort of situation before. He would just habe to stay calm and reassure Ayce.
Ayce made a soft sound in the back of his throat. "No…" He whispered. "I can't he doesn't want…" He bit his lip. "I-I…he's…" He stammered, not looking at Nolan. He shook his head quickly, dark hair falling into his face yet again. "I can't tell you i told someone else and they died because of me and it's my fault I didn't keep my mouth shut and I…" He kept shaking his head.
"Okay, okay. That's okay." Nolan brushed Ayce's hair out of his face. He ran a finger down his cheek, caressing him. "I'm not going to die on you. I can't. How else will I ever show you my world, hmm? I promise that I'm going to be right here for you."
Ayce closed his eyes. "Okay." He whispered. "Okay." He hesitated, then leaned his head on Nolan's shoulder, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry." He whispered softly, swallowing. "You should've have to put up with me a-and all my problems…"
Nolan just smiled down at him. He was hesitant but he pressed a small kiss to his temple. "Don't apologize. You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm glad I'm here with you. I'm glad I got you out if there. Now I'm going to take care of you."
Ayce looked up at him with wide eyes, still leaning on his shoulder. "Okay." He whispered softly, blue eyes a whirlwind of turbulent, nearly unidentifiable emotions. The tall Fae somehow managed to look small like this, despite the fact that really, he was taller than Nolan.
"Good, good." Nolan cooed. He watched the fragile fae leaning against him. He wanted to kill every last person who had ever harmed Ayce. Slowly and painful. "Do you want me to stay with you while you sleep or do you want me to go?"
Ayce bit his lip again, and shrugged. "I don't know…" He said softly, eyes flickering to the floor again. His body was still shivering and shaking a little, though not as much as he had been. He swallowed, closing his eyes. He ordered this he ordered this but why? Why why why why why why?
Nolan sighed and nodded. "How about I stay here with you to keep the bad dreams away? Do you think I could lie next to you or do you want me in the chair?" He asked.
Ayce opened his eyes, looking at Nolan. "You can be in the bed…" He said softly, swallowing. "I-I don't…mind…" He added quietly, hugging his knees again. He did his best to push away his thoughts and memories but god there was so many of them and he just…it was so hard to think of anything else. He didn't know what else to think of.
Nolan slowly moved Ayce so he could climb into the bed next next to him. He carefulky placed the blankets over the two of them. He turned on his sidd so he coild go back to stroking Ayce's hair. "Look at me okay. Focus on me."
Ayce faced him, blinking. "Okay." He whispered. Why is he helping me I don't understand why I don't understand he doesn't know me doesn't know what I've done doesn't know anything about me i dont… He took a deep breath, biting his lip again out of habit.
"Good." Nolan pulled his lip out of Ayce's teeth. "What have I said about biting your lip?" He grioped his chin gently. "I want you to take deep breathes for me okay? Relax as best as you can. Can you do that for me?"
Ayce swallowed, and closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. "Okay." He whispered again, his breaths slightly shaky. His eyes flickered open, and he looked at Nolan again. Why I don't understand why does he care why is he doing any of this i dont understand.