Hushed Willows you're gonna be a long time

brilliance probably knows @Mali better than he does at this point. in a selfish weird way he's glad they have each other at least, because lord knows he's not been much to either of them. they've struggled to adapt to all the change he's subjected them to and he doesn't feel like its his place to force them to accept his friends or to get them to behave a certain way. even if it'd make things easier for him. delight follows her easily, trying not to give in to the urge to make himself as small and sad as possible. brilliance is a child, she doesn't need to manage her father's guilt on top of it all.

"listen, brill," he starts as they walk, "i want to apologise -- to you and to mali, when we find him. um," he breathes, "how are you? how have you been?" are you eating, he nearly asks but stops, worried that's too tactless of a question.