Must have been, [ he says, and offers a widened smile, and pats mithrun's forearm with his palm, as if involving him in the joke. ] I don't mind telling you what you missed. You took time by yourself often enough, too. The prisoners left, and you went off, hunting monsters.

[ he remembers the point at which this mithrun and himself left off. there aren't two mithruns, of course, but still— mithrun can't remember, he has to consider the difference in knowledge. also, there's this: he hasn't been that drunk at the harvest festival; just drunk enough to have leaned a shoulder into the captain's, and silver hair had brushed his cheek, and— well. there were times like this, after. people whose love can fill the hole the demon left. he hadn't mentioned that marcille told him that.

idly, he draws a line down mithrun's arm, as if counting out the missed days. ] I was very busy at the palace, studying, mostly. But advising when I had time. It was difficult, because we were often separate. I think I got used to being around you in the dungeon, so. I didn't have time to discuss a solution with you.

[ his smile is unchanged, even talking about this— a life that he no longer has. kabru's eyes raise, meeting mithrun's. ]

Guess we found a solution. [ well— were given one. being here.

his smile has faded by now, and there's a long look, for mithrun. ] I'm supposed to remind you to eat, aren't I?