(There has frankly been enough tea spilt in this wagon already that one more stain on the wood will hardly make a difference. But there is some small distracted part of Tuo's mind that is grateful that the spices haven't been wasted.)
When the door opens, he turns a look of both immense relief and worry towards Dain, but before he can open his mouth to speak, Vervain goes first. And at his words Tuo's heart sinks, and he closes his eyes, his hands dropping into his lap.
It's likely that only Dain will notice the markers of fury in his body language, in how tautly he holds himself still, but their source shouldn't be a mystery. Tuo cares for Vervain a great deal, and to hear how deeply church indoctrination has convinced him that the only path forward for him now is death, well--
"Let me take your coat, Shepherd." Tuo abruptly unfolds himself from where he's seated and walks over to Dain--and very discreetly takes hold of his hand, squeezing once. He lowers his voice to a whisper so soft it's hardly audible at all: "Do something, anything. Please."
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When the door opens, he turns a look of both immense relief and worry towards Dain, but before he can open his mouth to speak, Vervain goes first. And at his words Tuo's heart sinks, and he closes his eyes, his hands dropping into his lap.
It's likely that only Dain will notice the markers of fury in his body language, in how tautly he holds himself still, but their source shouldn't be a mystery. Tuo cares for Vervain a great deal, and to hear how deeply church indoctrination has convinced him that the only path forward for him now is death, well--
"Let me take your coat, Shepherd." Tuo abruptly unfolds himself from where he's seated and walks over to Dain--and very discreetly takes hold of his hand, squeezing once. He lowers his voice to a whisper so soft it's hardly audible at all: "Do something, anything. Please."