Emrys grimaced slightly at the acknowledgement of 'how unpleasant this was. Fortunately, he had his back to her still, so didn't have to worry about her observing his expression. She might have noted extra tension in his shoulders, or that he dropped the ice into his glass more clumsily than he usually did, but there was nothing to be done about that. This conversation was bound to be unpleasant, that was true, but it didn't have to be. It didn't have to happen at all. If she was uncomfortable with what he'd revealed, she could have just left. He'd been expecting her to leave.
He finished making his drink and turned to face her, leaning against the sideboard. He offered a half-shrug. He'd been musing over the same problem half a moment ago, so he understood what she meant, but it was impossible to conjure up a response. What was he supposed to do, encourage her to use all the same terms of endearment they were used to? He couldn't do that unless he knew she still meant them, which was far from guaranteed, given what he'd told her.
"I can't advise you there," he said simply.
He finished making his drink and turned to face her, leaning against the sideboard. He offered a half-shrug. He'd been musing over the same problem half a moment ago, so he understood what she meant, but it was impossible to conjure up a response. What was he supposed to do, encourage her to use all the same terms of endearment they were used to? He couldn't do that unless he knew she still meant them, which was far from guaranteed, given what he'd told her.
"I can't advise you there," he said simply.
Lou made this! <3