Wendel felt small as he sat in the wicker chair that rested across from Cecillia. He felt quiet, not like a mouse, or like a scolded child, but like someone whose mouth had been glued shut. Not a word left Cecillia’s lips either as she gently lifted her cup for a sip, and so the gentle breeze took up the task to break the silence between them. She had taken him to a modest place, a small garden where a tea shop sat between large hedges, with wicker tables spread amongst roses and lavender. It was a peaceful place, and the longer he glanced around and felt the wind caress his hair, the less he trembled with his cup. He glanced back to Cecillia, who seemed perfectly content to relax with her tea, and he let out a sigh as he set down his own.

“Alright...” he took a deep breath, bracing himself, “So... Umm...” he twiddled with his thumbs, glancing up to her as she focused her attention on him, “Did you... want to talk?”

“Do you?” she pressed.

“Well...” he rubbed the back of his head as he looked away for a moment.

“I saw what happened,” she revealed quietly, and his eyes flew back to her, “You didn’t deserve it... what they said to you.”

“I-... no,” Wendel slowly set his head in his hand, “They’re right. If I can’t man up and brood like the rest of them...” he bit his lip as he choked back a tear, “I-”

“Why do you feel the need to man up?” Cecillia pressed, cutting him off.

“I-... Well... I’m supposed to, aren’t I?” he asked.

“You’re not supposed to do anything,” Cecillia shook her head, “It’s your life. Other people don’t have the right to tell you how to live it.”

“I... I never thought of it that way...” Wendel mumbled.

“Can I ask why you wanted to be a brooder?” she questioned, and he gently nodded.

“I... wanted to find myself,” he answered quietly, “I... I feel like a bit of an egg, you know? Like I’m ready to hatch, and I’m just... looking for the right chicken to sit under...” he admitted, and Cecillia nearly spat out her tea as she laughed, “I- What’s so funny?!”

“I’m sorry!” she snickered, squeaking a bit as she covered her mouth, “I just- I wasn’t expecting the chicken part, but...” she took a breath to calm herself, “but yes... I do understand. Does it help?”

“Well... I’ve only just started...” Wendel mumbled, “But... I met a nice boy- er... I made a good friend,” he rubbed the back of his head, and Cecillia smiled sweetly, “and... I like the darkness bit of it.”

“There’s a lot of beauty in the darkness, isn’t there?” Cecillia pressed, and Wendel nodded again a bit shyly, “but is it the broody kind of darkness that speaks to you?”

“Well...” he paused, “Not... really... I suppose it's more of the calming type of darkness, you know?” he asked, and Cecillia nodded, “Like nighttime, or the darkness under your covers... or... or the color purple...” he looked away for a moment, “Actually... it reminds me a lot of what you have... going on.”

“You think so?” she toyed with her hair with a playful smirk, “I could always... teach you my ways.”

“I- what, like putting on black lipstick and... whatever that stuff is beneath your eyes?” Wendel pressed, and she nodded, “Wouldn’t that make me look a bit... weird?”

“Do I look weird?” she pressed calmly.

“I-... no...” Wendel mumbled.

“Then I suppose it isn’t weird, now is it?” Cecillia smiled.

“I suppose not,” he rubbed the back of his head, “Actually... I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought of it before.”

“How about it then? Maybe after our tea?”

“I guess it’s worth a try,” he supposed.

“Wonderful!” she chimed, “I’ll have you radiating with darkness by the end of the day!”

“You really think so?” he pressed, a fearful hope growing within him.

“Well of course,” she let out an amused huff, “You’ll look wonderful, and so very dangerous!” she let out a playful growl while stretching her hands like claws, and Wendel let out a soft laugh.

“Alright...” he couldn’t help the growing smile that crept on his lips as he raised his cup, “To new beginnings, then?”

“To new beginnings,” Cecillia smiled, and the two clinked their glasses before enjoying what would become a lovely tea party.