Day 63: Morris Park (Noon)

[purgatio]

There were many and myriad places wild for a small child to hide within when given half-free rein. It was more than what was given at their previous home, and so even in a town considered small, it was large enough for Albedo to wander for a quiet spot, secluded and nearly obsolete in its obscurity. The park he found, far from the one they had entered next to, was overgrown, foliage patchy and dead not from the cold. He stared as someone crossed the park, in a heavy parka and ski-cap, a swaying, sauntering walk to their name. Trash littered the dead grass, but water was heard somewhere in the distance, and Albedo found he didn't mind either as there were so many trees close together to forget any chance of wide open spaces.

There was something of remembrance in this, dark alcoves and dirt mounds before a tree, and Albedo was comforted, deeply and fiercely, as he hadn't been for months by that. His fingers clenched unconsciously, and he eyed a gnarled tree nearby, a dead space around its roots. The ground was frozen--he knew that rationally, but he didn't stop himself from dropping in front of it, didn't stop himself and tearing his fingers until they bled by digging at the earth.

It affected, still. Even now. Even here. The thought of death and all its trimmings, another's corpse falling down, and the same adage rolled within his mind. The same line of reasoning, held and kept and not as outgrown as he thought-- I'm digging graves... So when they die, I won't cry.

Had he broken that already? Had he? He couldn't remember. He couldn't--

[ brofriend. ]

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[atrabilis]

There was something to consider in this. When a loved one would reach for him without question, when he would convey a need with intent, Nigredo had to think on the reasoning. He did not here. Here, there existed no need. The child bent down and took Albedo into his arms, wrapping him tightly enough to leave no room for questions.

Nigredo kept to the tune of silence, allowing no meaningless comfort to grace between them. One did not speak for speech alone. One spoke to communicate, to share secrets, and with everything as they were, they needn't say a word.

No, they needn't say anything at all.