[ he shakes his head. sorry, the meta text is law. ]

It's better this way.

[ it's better that it's me, and not you he wants to say. ]

I've already accepted this. I can only learn from here on. It's fine.

[ the carriage shakes, suddenly. crimson begins to pool at their feet, a thin laying forming underneath their heels. it's sticky, unbearably wet, and doesn't seem to be coming off. percival visibly swallows and heaves a breath. ]

You should...you should...

[ he's blanking. this doesn't happen often, but is right now, and he hates it. ]

Cover your ears.

[ because if he doesn't, he's about to hear a child wailing very, very loudly despite being nowhere within sight. ]