[He mulls that over with dawning horror as he realises. Hadn't Howl disappeared for a while, back when he was the only Kenoma who didn't attend the welcoming party? And Xishen's worried behaviour then, though he hadn't understood it at the time...
He runs a hand through his hair, agitated, looking away with a wide-eyed expression as if staring at something only he can see. It hits too close to home, is far too close to what he'd endured back in his own world. He can't--
He has to close his eyes and take a deep breath, stave off a panic attack before it happens. He's fine; he's still here.]
I had no idea. [He says quietly, after that too-long delay. No one had mentioned it, and Howl had seemed fine whenever they spoke in passing, which is just a testament to how effective it had been.]
no subject
[He mulls that over with dawning horror as he realises. Hadn't Howl disappeared for a while, back when he was the only Kenoma who didn't attend the welcoming party? And Xishen's worried behaviour then, though he hadn't understood it at the time...
He runs a hand through his hair, agitated, looking away with a wide-eyed expression as if staring at something only he can see. It hits too close to home, is far too close to what he'd endured back in his own world. He can't--
He has to close his eyes and take a deep breath, stave off a panic attack before it happens. He's fine; he's still here.]
I had no idea. [He says quietly, after that too-long delay. No one had mentioned it, and Howl had seemed fine whenever they spoke in passing, which is just a testament to how effective it had been.]