Vaight Cottage ~June 13, 2025~

A rather depressing day starting off with rain.

Darien opened his eyes, and gazed at the ceiling.

The same ceiling. It never changed. Always the same old ceiling...Why did he feel like something had changed?!

Today, he was the thing that was different.

His heart...was heavy. Like lead.

Or dread.
Or fear.
Or both.

So heavy, he could not quite bring himself to sigh.

A glance out of the window completed his spiral into the onset of depression. The cold, unforgiving, wet weather reflected the unforgiving Purgers, the cold hearts of those maimed, or those who did the maiming. The onslaught of water, reflected the tears that had fallen...and the clouds overhead symbolised tears that had yet to fall.

Diana slept on, none the wiser of what her husband was musing, still in the land of dreams.

In her dream she dreamed of her favorite green scarf and how it was blowing away in the wind. She was running after it, and everytime she'd try and grab it, it'd slip through her fingers.

((lol nice))

Darien lifted his head, sitting on the side of the bed.

As soon as he did so, he wished he hadn't. He wished he could've kept on dreaming...So he wouldn't have to do anything.

So nothing would have to change.

In dream land...

Diana finally hand the scarf in her grasp, however, a particularly strong gust of wind blew it away, far away, far from her reach...

Diana woke up and remembered that she was sad but couldn't remember why. She opened her eyes and turned to face her husband, wondering if he was already awake.

He was. Odd really. Usually she awoke before him.

"Good Morning." She greeted him.

"Morning." Darien tore his gaze from the window, and his distracted thoughts, and turned to smile at Diana.

A tired smile.

Diana wasn't fully awake to notice how particular Darien was being.

She rolled off the bed and hugged her husband. "I have to go to work today." She sighed. "I'd rather stay here with you."

Darien hugged her back.

"But they need the best healer ever to go round healing all the sick people who can't sort themselves out." He smiled, his eyes still cold.

"Your sweet." Diana beamed at him. But she noticed there was something off in his smiled. "Are you alright?"

Darien shook his head.

"Nah, I'm just tired...This weather's depressing me." He smiled more broadly. "I love you." He whispered, hugging Diana close. "You know that, right?"

"Yes, I know," Diana smiled somewhat reassured. She hugged him back, caressing his back. The weather was depressing. "I love you too." She frowned slightly though, it was a rather odd thing to say wasn't it? But she pushed it away.

Darien smiled.

He glanced across at a clock. "You'd better hurry-don't want to be late to work now..."

Diana glanced at the clock too. "Yes you're right. I can't be late."

She gave him a quick kiss and headed to the bathroom.

Darien smiled, and stayed where he was.

He sighed, glancing out the window distractedly.

A while later, she came back out. Refreshed and ready for work. She smiled at him and then headed to her wardrobe to dress.

"Do you want to eat breakfast with me?"

Darien shook his head. "Not today-I'm not that hungry right now."

"Oh..." Diana said a little hurt. It was just odd, he was usually hungry in the morning. She forced herself to think nothing of it and continued to dress. "All right then, if you're sure."

When she finished, she turned to face him.

"What would you like to have for dinner tonight?"

Darien shrugged. "Whatever you want to have. I think you should get to choose tonight." He smiled.

"Hmmm... Alright." Diana said. She went up to him and kissed him.

Darien kissed Diana back.

"Have a good day at work." He smiled, eyes strangely distant...and sad.

Diana opened her eyes and frowned at Darien. "Are you feeling alright, love?" He touched his cheek. "Your acting odd."

Darien smiled. "Yeah, just feeling a bit under the weather, that's all. I'll probably just sleep it off later."

"Alright," Diana said kissing him on the cheek. "I'll see you after work."

She turned to leave.

"Wait!" Darien leapt up and ran in front of his wife.

He held out his arms. "Hug!" He grinned, disguising the sadness in his eyes and heart.

Diana giggled, slightly relieved to have the old Darien back. And let herself to be hugged by him.