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[synthedick]

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[synthedick]

[The corner of Nick's mouth crooks upward.]

We'll see if I can't do better next time you and Maketh go MIA.

[Though he's hoping that doesn't happen. Speaking of MIA people...]

By the way, you spoken to Shadow lately?

[hotspurred]

[Henry shifts his weight and runs a hand through his hair.]

No.

[The letters don't really count, given how one-sided the exchange is. And it seems pointless to continue them while this crisis is going on: he doesn't have the time to spare as he is devoting all of his energy to Guard work and keeping his dark mood at bay.]

Shadow still insists on avoiding me.

[synthedick]

[He had a feeling that might be the case.]

I was wondering about that. Anything I can do?

[hotspurred]

No. I am working on it.

[Or rather, he was, and he will continue to do so when his hurts are less fresh.]

Intervention would but worsen matters.

[synthedick]

[He thought as much, but it was worth asking anyway.]

What is his beef with you, anyway?

[hotspurred]

[In the wake of the desire demon's illusion, a thread of weariness weaves into Henry's obvious puzzlement at Nick's choice of phrase. The occurrence is nothing new -- familiar words used in an unfamiliar arrangement to imply God knows what -- but he's tired of the constant distance after such a vivid reminder of home.

Right now he lacks the patience to try and parse the subtleties of meaning from the question's context.]

What mean you?

[But then he seems to think twice about their conversation, and suddenly suspicious, interjects with:]

Have you spoken with Shadow of late?

[synthedick]

A time or two.

[Not that he'll be telling Shadow that he told Henry this, but Henry ought to know.]

I keep hoping he'll come back to us.

[hotspurred]

[That's something, at least. Henry only sighs.]

As do I.