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[Even if Rue can pick up that something is off, their greeting is as warm as ever, reaching gently for the man's hand in their paw and pecking a kiss to his cheek.]

My friend - [The rest of the world might be suffering from another one of Thirteen's less than pleasant trials, but Rue and Hob are blessedly still in high spirits from the wedding. No rainclouds trailing into their home today!] Seeing you always makes my heart so happy. Would you like to come inside? Or take a walk through the garden?

[Their greeting is both a balm and a knife. Few others have ever treated him with as much kindness as Rue has, despite knowing his faults, but the topic he's come to discuss isn't a pleasant one. He hates knowing that the news he brings won't leave them happy for long.]

The garden, I think. [He brings his other hand about to clasp their paw lightly, but doesn't quite meet their eyes.] Your roses must be in full bloom by now.

[He'd noticed they were just coming in at Hunter's party a couple of weeks ago, the petals open but not yet unfurled. But more than appreciating their lovely color and aroma, he doesn't want to bring a storm and rain into Rue and Hob's home.]

The garden it is.

[Rue takes his arm and is happy to chatter idly while they take a lazy stroll through all of the flowering blooms the owlbear has been cultivating around their cottage. The roses are indeed looking gorgeous, full and fragrant and in every color imaginable, as Rue leads Draxum out to their favorite bench to settle upon.]

Something heavy is weighing upon your heart, yes? Tell me, darling.

[The walk doesn't pull back the dread, but it does soothe it. Rue may note Draxum is moving slower than usual—more stiffly—but their garden is beautiful, and the owlbear's chatter gives him something else to think on for a little while. Much of the tension has bled out of him by the time Rue leads him to the bench, leaving only a deep weariness as he sinks heavily into his seat.

He nods, quiet for a long moment as he gathers his words.]

Do you recall the time we realized what connection there was between us? Not the first time we met, but after.

[Not when they traded flowers at the station, or when he briefly passed through Rue's dreamscape, but after that. At Satori Hills.]

[This is more serious than they thought.]

I do. I remember it perfectly. That terrible fire bringing the both of us together, while the children were utterly unfazed.

[Spoken all fondly, of course. It had been such a relief they were fine, even if they'd been terrified at first.]

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