The Fool is not certain when Fitz vanished from Aifaran--only that he has, and that the last words they exchanged together were hostile, unpleasant. A discreet visit to Fitz's former lodgings in the Dreaming Bridge only confirm the Fool's unhappy conclusion. When he takes his leave of it, he brings a small memento with him: a carved bit of memory stone he'd gifted to Fitz after their last parting. If Fitz would not be here to reclaim it, then the Fool could not bear to think of it falling into other hands.
He has placed it on one of the windowsills in his apartment, tucked neatly between two potted plants, and has not touched it since--at least, not until this particular morning. He stands by the window with a cup of tea in one hand and his numb, despondent gaze fixed somewhere beyond the limits of the city. For a time, he leaves two fingers silvered by Skill magic resting against the stone, until he apparently cannot bear to look upon what he sees anymore.
It's then that there is a knock upon his apartment door, and that in and of itself is enough of a rare occurrence for him to startle. "A moment," he calls out, gathering his composure, and detours by a mirror in his bedroom just to make sure he doesn't look as though he's been on the cusp of weeping. (Eh. Good enough.)
But any thoughts he has regarding his own appearance are firmly put to bed when he opens his door and sees--
"Devin..!" It's the dramatic bruising that demands his attention first, and he can't mask his dismay. Quickly, he takes a step back and motions his friend into his apartment.
set sometime shortly after the park 'party';
He has placed it on one of the windowsills in his apartment, tucked neatly between two potted plants, and has not touched it since--at least, not until this particular morning. He stands by the window with a cup of tea in one hand and his numb, despondent gaze fixed somewhere beyond the limits of the city. For a time, he leaves two fingers silvered by Skill magic resting against the stone, until he apparently cannot bear to look upon what he sees anymore.
It's then that there is a knock upon his apartment door, and that in and of itself is enough of a rare occurrence for him to startle. "A moment," he calls out, gathering his composure, and detours by a mirror in his bedroom just to make sure he doesn't look as though he's been on the cusp of weeping. (Eh. Good enough.)
But any thoughts he has regarding his own appearance are firmly put to bed when he opens his door and sees--
"Devin..!" It's the dramatic bruising that demands his attention first, and he can't mask his dismay. Quickly, he takes a step back and motions his friend into his apartment.