Rasmus was looking rather... morose today. He had his straight, wine-red hair pulled up into a ponytail that didn't really hang at the base of his neck, but hair sort of jutted out of the ponytail. His red bangs fell into his silver-colored eyes, over his silver-rimmed glasses, and on either side of his face. His babyish looking face was set into a blank expression, and he looked down at his glasses, which were perched on the edge of his petite-looking button nose. He didn't bother pushing them back up to his eyes where they belonged.

Freckles were more visible on his youthful, pale face now that the sun came out and brought them there. His silver eyes looked rathe dull, and they were rather unfocused as he pushed his food around on his plate.

He was alone, slouched over a table that could fit about three more people, sitting on the left side of the diner.

He had a white long-sleeved shirt on (it was rather chilly this evening) and overtop it a green t-shirt that had the name of the place he worked written in white letters on the front of it. He was wearing black jeans that were too baggy for him, and just barely clung to his hips, courtesy of a black leather belt.

A necklace hung loosely from his neck, which was really just a black piece of rubber something, with a pendant he'd made himself with his name on it attached to it.

It was late at night, he'd finished his shift at work, and was exhausted, among other things.

He stared down at the food still, unaware that he was still pushing it around carelessly, like he'd done that night with Victoria. Gods, he missed her...

And he hadn't even touched his food yet.

Victoria was rather put off, not really in a good mood. She'd just recently come from the Nature conservatory's island and met a rude character. The result had left her in a sour mood because she'd liked that shirt and now it was ruined. She, of course, went back to her home to change but still.

In any case, it had become her habit to eat at Monroe's just in the off chance that Rasmus might be there. She wasn't obsessive but she didn't know how to contact him otherwise. It wasn't as if his mom was any help. The woman didn't really seem to care where her son was or what he was doing. Not to say that she should keep tabs on him, he's a grown man, but it didn't seem like his mother cared much about him.

She walked into the store and waited for a table but caught sight of one she'd rather sit at. She waved aside the hostess and went to where she thought she'd be welcome. She hoped she'd be welcome.

She'd changed her shirt to a blue baby-T and her hair was down in a number of braids, they were pulled back into a low tail. She cautiously slid into the booth and gave a soft 'hey'. Her mood had much improved from earlier.

Rasmus, so intent on pushing his food around and staring off into space, hadn't seen her enter Monroe's. After his episode in the woods, near the banks of the LaCroix, he'd pretty much given up on seeing her again. What was the point of empty wishes, anyway? If wishes were fishes, we'd all walk on the sea.

Nevertheless, as another person slid into the booth he was sitting at, he had to look up and drop his fork to be polite. It was only in his nature, after all. But the face he saw... wasn't one he expected to see, as earlier mentioned, ever again.

He offered a 'hey' back, but his voice was weak and slightly shaky, as if he hadn't spoken in a while. He had spoken, though... all day, in fact, with customers, asking how they were, stating prices, and thinks like 'have a good day', but he hadn't actually spoken a word of conversation to anyone else aside from that. He was actually a very shy kind of person, and didn't talk a lot.

"I missed you..."

After she sat down, her fingers crept unsuredly across the table and her knuckles brushed his. It took her a moment or two to actually decide to slip her fingers underneath his and take hold of his hand while her thumb caressed the top of it. She observed his plate and was not surprised by what she'd found.

Her tone was soft but she managed to keep the sadness out of it. She didn't like that Rasmus was hurting himself, even if it was unintentional.

"You're still not eating?"

"I..." He looked down at her hand, and a very vague hint of some positive emotion wanted to crawl onto his face. But it didn't, for some reason.

"I hadn't realized." That obviously meant yes, even if it was completely unintentional.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. Yes, she was fine when it boiled right down to it. Physically at least, she was perfectly healthy. She still thought about Rasmus every day, wondering if he was alright and if there was any possible way that she could find out if he was and how she could help. Obviously, his mother wasn't any help, so she had to worry and didn't do much other than work and revisit the places they'd been.

If she knew any more about Verkur other than the fact that he'd named Rasmus 'Velvilje' she would have gone looking there, too. The only reason she'd gone to do something at the conservatory that didn't entail searching for Rasmus was because her coworkers and friends said she needed to get out and relax. They hadn't left her alone about it. So she obeyed their orders while still feeling like she was doing something to help her silver-eyed friend.

She looked in his eyes, "Have you been ok?" That wasn't the only question she was asking. Have you slept? Have you been terrorized by this demon anymore? What could she do to help?

"Yeah." Well, he was as okay as Rasmus could get with a shitty job, a mother who didn't even care where he was or if he was dead or not, no friends left and only a grave that he found himself guilty for to remember them, and a demon that could show up at any time and terrorize the hell out of him. Yeah, he was just peachy, really. Never better.

"I've been all right." It wasn't a lie, really. He didn't drown his guilt in alcohol or drugs, even though he didn't try to sort it out logically. Because, really, sorting out emotions logically just isn't... well, logical. He worked another shift at work to try and forget, but really, so what? It wasn't a big deal.

"How've you been?"

"..worrying about you..."

She'd really rather not be here, to tell the truth. There were children coming in from soccer games and weirdly dressed men and she wanted whatever needed to be said to be able to be said. If that makes any sense at all. She wanted what needed to be done done. If Rasmus needed to borrow her shoulder again for a cry, she wanted more than anything for him to be comfortable with that. She wanted to be there for him.

She squeazed his hand and, with a sigh, looked around at Monroe's patrons for the evening.

"Hey," she said again, her voice quiet and soothing, "You want to get out of here?"

Rasmus was slightly distracted by the people entering Monroe's, and gave them a sideways glance, but really nothing more. He ignored them, really, and looked down at his hands again. He was remembering the night he'd first met her. How fun that was...

"Yeah, sure.."

She slid back out of the booth, but had to let go of Rasmus's hand in order to pull fifteen dollars out of her wallet and leave it on the table so they could leave. Once that was done, her hand went to his shoulder and back while she waited for him to stand up too so they could leave.

He was going to say that she didn't have to. And, trying not to be rude, he said that as he stood up. His voice was something of a small, feathery whisper... small and tiny, and if you weren't listening for it, you would've missed it altogether.

As he stood, he resisted the urge to slide an arm around her and walk out, like everything was going to be all right.

But everything was going to be all right... wasn't it?

She would have liked that. Rasmus's arm around her would have made her believe everything would be alright as well. Victoria would have loved for it to turn out that way. Here's to hoping, yes?

She had her own small and quiet reply to his very tiny protest. She wanted to. She didn't have to, but she wanted to. It made her feel...better. It made her feel like she was taking a small step of progress towards a goal. This goal might be very far away or it may be closer than one might think. Either way it isn't unatainable.

When they stepped out of the restaurant, her hand slipped from his upper back, down his arm and to his hand. Hopefully, he'd be willing to let her hold it.

"So where do we head from here, hmm?" Once again, quiet and soothing.

He was okay, though. Really, he was okay... if only a bit down. But who could blame him? He'd all but got ran over by a truck... and seriously, it'd been an emotional rollercoaster ever since he'd met Verkur, with low lows being Verkur, and highs meeting Tori, and more lows after his friends died. But... it wasn't so bad, right?

He was willing to let her hold his hand, yes, and he almost smiled a bit.

"Wherever it is you want to go, I guess."

"I want to go where you will be.." happy wasn't the word... "comfortable. So where would you be comfortable?"

Her feet were already taking them somewhere, unbeknownst to either Tori or Rasmus. There was a little path towards a little school with a playground fit for two.

"I'm fine anywhere..." aside from very public places, because crowds got him very scared for some reason.. "..with you."

And really, anywhere where she'd be with him was fine with him.

That was sweet...very very sweet. In fact it was so sweet, it made a little smile appear on her blushing face and her thumb rub a little circle on his hand. It made her feel very close to him, as closed as he may be to anyone other than himself.

She looked around and then recognized where they were. They hadn't quite made it to the park, but the light was beginning to fade and the she recognized the way. There was not a falter in her step, but rather a lightening of it. It didn't change but the air around her gave off a slightly happier aura, you could say.

Rasmus, just then, couldn't help slipping his other arm around her now, perhaps wanting to be closer to her, just to know everything would be all right, and she wouldn't disappear on him, or go away, or die...

"I'm sorry, for all of this.." he murmured, softly.

She was almost overwhelmed with the different feelings flashing through her brain. Concern for him, elation at being held so closely. Tori's arm went around his back so that she could hold him close as well. He made her feel so..content.

"You shouldn't have to feel sorry, Rasmus. The stuff happening to you isn't your fault."

They walked around the foliage and they came closer to the park. There was the small merry-go-round and the swings and the see-saws. Come to think of it, she hadn't been here since the night with Rasmus.

Rasmus was a bit... saddened at this time, but somehow, Tori made him feel content as well. He was content because he had someone to hold, and someone to care for. Someone who wouldn't judge him (too much) if he did something stupid.

"Just sorry because you..." he sighed. He was such a shy little boy in a grown man's body. "you deserve better, 's all."

She hit him lightly when he said that. Nothing to hurt at all, just a small thud in the middle of his stomach. Obviously, there was some distaste on her part with that statement. Afterwards, though, her head leaned some on Rasmus's shoulder as they walked and she gave his side a gentle hug.

"What if I don't want what I deserve? What if I'd rather stick with someone like you?"

"Well, then you'd be settling for less." He said, rather softer than everything else he'd said before. He blinked, and he let his eyes close for just a minute, but shortly after they flickered open again.

"But even if you do deserve beter, I love you... 'kay?"

"I'm not settling for anything, that would imply that I'm not happy."

She began leading them over to the swings so they could sit down while they talked. The swing sets always made her feel like such a little girl. Things always seemed simpler when you're little.

"..I love you... 'kay?"

No one had ever said those words to her with such sincerity or with the same heart and meaning as Rasmus. Words used to be how they got her--hook, line and sinker. She was wiser now, but with Rasmus she couldn't be suspicious.

She held onto him a little tighter, not wanting to let go. Her sight misted over and the prickling sensation at the corner of her eyes gave way that she wanted to cry. Tori didn't cry, but she was somewhat overcome with emotion.

"I love you too.."

She'd never said those words back with such feeling, either.

It's because things were simpler, for the most part.. things were sometimes harder, because little minds couldn't grasp bigger concepts.

When she held on a little tighter, he did the same, but gentle... so as not to squish her (even though he probably wasn't capable of doing that). "Even if you don't, I do... but I believe you." He believed that she loved him, was what he was saying.

"I never want to have to lose you again.."

The sad part of the situation was that he'd never lost her. All they'd had was a brief time together and suddenly it was as if they'd known each other forever.

Then very suddenly, she wanted a hug. So she wrapped her other arm around him and tried to bury herself in his chest. Strange, first it was her who was comforting Rasmus and now she was looking for it in turn. Maybe her day was just catching up to her.

Sure, he'd never really lost her, he'd only thought he did. It was all in his mind, like most of the weird crap was. Well, aside from Verkur, anyway...

She hugged him, really, but he needed it too. But no, he wasn't selfish.. He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back, sighing ever so gently. He wanted to be comforting, but he wasn't sure how to be that way, oddly.

It was really very nice. The best part was that Rasmus didn't need to know anything special to comfort her, he was doing a great job already. So great, in fact, that she didn't want to let go for anything. She felt safe and calm in those arms, she felt loved. Her heart was filled with a lazy joy and she tried to hold him just a bit closer.

The swings' metal chains clinked and squeaked in the wind that brought a cold chill. On second thought, the swings didn't look so tempting. Now what were they to do?

For once, Rasmus was almost... reassured, in the way that he could stay content right now. It's like what they say... life is what you make it. And Rasmus, at this point, wanted to make it happy. He wanted to make Tori happy, too.

So he held her, rocking ever so slightly on his feet and smiling very gently, holding her like she was a fragile porcelain doll and would break at any moment. Holding her like... she was the most precious thing in the world.

And she was.

As much as she enjoyed standing there, they couldn't actually stay there forever. In fact, it was starting to drizzle. They didn't want to be caught out in the rain, did they? Well..maybe not now.

She looked up into the rain and back at Rasmus with an ironic smile.

"Guess we should be going, huh?"

He sighed, but it wasn't a sulky, sort of sad sigh. It was more of a relaxed one, then he smiled a rather lazy smile.

"Yeah, I guess so. Want me to bring you back home, or something?"

Rasmus wanted to stay in the rain a little longer, afterward.

He looked good with a smile. She reminded herself to tell him that when he felt particularly down. When she smiled back, it was just as lazy and just as happy.

"I don't know if I want to go just yet.."

She might want to get out of the rain, but what she meant was that she didn't want to leave him quite so soon. No, she wanted to stay with her Rasmus.

"Then what do you want to do, hm?" He asked, pulling out of the hug just a little bit so he could see her face more clearly.

Then he smiled a bit more.

"You're beautiful, you know that?"

She'd never been given a complement that made her blush quite so much. The way he talked to her was different. It was like any words he said about and to her were safe in his mouth.

"You're a flatterer.." though she knew he was being truthful, "And I love it when you smile. You don't look right when you're upset..."

"I only speak the truth." His smile dissipated, but then was put back on his face only a moment later.

"Mm, you're too kind. It's a pity you don't know just how kind."

He shook his head, grinning.

"Now let's get out of this rain, before we both catch a cold."

"I'm not too kind...

The rain was really beginning to come down, and the trees around them didn't help any. She moved out of the hug, but still stayed very close to him, and her hands once again glowed with their blue light. She conjured a make-shift cover for them and held it up.

"Ok..where do you propose we go?"

"You're too humble, too. You should notice your talents more often."

He cocked his head to the side, blinking for a short time.

"I really don't know."

"Well.." she looked out into the rain, "We started from Monroe's, why don't we go back? Are you hungry now?"

"Yeah, we could do that." He said with a nod. "Not really, but I don't know. Sometimes I don't feel hungry, but I really am, if that make sense..?"

"Of course it makes sense..We just need to get some food in you and you'll be fine!"

She guided them back to the way they came and they walked back arm-in-arm to the diner. Was it too late?

"Yeah, I agree."

He walked happily back with her in (not uncomfortable) silence. Of course it wasn't too late, for Monroe's was open until... well, latest Rasmus knew was two in the morning.

It wasn't hard to get a table at Monroe's. The usual dinner goers had since filtered out leaving the place relatively deserted. Once they entered, the hostess showed them directly to a seat and sent someone along to take their drink orders.

Tori looked at Rasmus with a devious smile on her face. Was she planning something?

"I don't know...d'you think I should get another milkshake?"

So that's what she was thinking about.