Hushed Willows east of the sun

After the exchanging of rabbits - and Day hopping onto his, which was super cute, even though the white wolf might not be aware of that - the younger asked about the Consortium.

How would someone describe the Consortium, he wondered. Was he even really allowed to discuss much of it? Or did it matter anymore?

Ale took a bite of the rabbit offered, but not before a gracious "thank you," was offered to the boy. He chewed and swallowed before he spoke again. "It is full of liars, but it is a beautiful place," he explained slowly. "You must earn your place, and your methods are not questioned. Only the results." And my results were always good, he wanted to say, but refrained. "It was not a bad place, per say, but it was... difficult. Sometimes I wish I had been able to live among the willows instead." Huh. That was a surprisingly true and heartfelt statement, which felt weird as hell.

"Anyway," he drawled, turning glacial eyes Day's direction. "Can I ask why you keep staring at me?" He already knew, for the most part, but he wanted to hear it. After all, it'd been quite some time since he'd heard that he was beautiful.