[Hershel probably didn't see Alfendi leave, but it didn't take long to figure out he was gone given how many times Hershel checked up on him throughout the day. Harassing Zero about it likely got him all the answers he needed on that front, and all he could really think to say was 'oh.'
Maybe it was horrible of him to push it aside and go on with his day but that's what he did. He didn't think about it, he checked on everyone, he did all the little things he did daily that were now a weird but sometimes comforting routine. He remembered once Kuzuryuu remarked on how strange it was no one really talked about the people how were taken away, and Hershel hadn't known how to tell him it was because facing the fact they were all probably dead was just too much on top of everything else. It was easier to live on hope that maybe one day they'd be back out of the blue, to keep moving forward and silently pretend that one aspect of this would be alright.
It was sometime in the middle of doing his little routine that he couldn't help but stop long enough to consider it. He was sitting in the garden, too exhausted at the moment to keep his emotions in better check, and it hit him that maybe Alfendi leaving was his fault, because he had gotten hurt in the maze for Hershel and never really recovered. It struck him he never got a real memory back about Alfendi, that when he did Alfendi wouldn't be around for him to tell him, that it was entirely possible he'd be going home to his family to tell them that they had lost someone in this mess afterall.
More than anything he just missed having Alfendi around, he was- when he was acting normally- a bright, bizarre spot in this dreary place. All his nonsense was endearing to Hershel, it made things feel... better, somehow. He swallowed at a lump in his throat as he thought of it, too distracted to really notice Clive coming in. When the squeaking finally caught his attention he didn't glance to it but away, trying to clear his expression somewhat. No use bringing Clive down when he had enough on his plate, he was just... tired. That was all.
But then Clive was sitting beside him, leaning against him, and he turned to stare a moment before it clicked. The look on Clive's face gave it away well enough, and after a moment he felt his shoulders slumping because there was no reason to pretend everything was just fine right now. Hershel swallowed at that pesky lump again before putting an arm around Clive, his other gripping the grass a little too hard. No use making stupid comments Clive probably couldn't even hear, so instead he just quietly stayed there for as long as Clive was willing to spend.]
excellent excellent also sorry this got so long shit...
Maybe it was horrible of him to push it aside and go on with his day but that's what he did. He didn't think about it, he checked on everyone, he did all the little things he did daily that were now a weird but sometimes comforting routine. He remembered once Kuzuryuu remarked on how strange it was no one really talked about the people how were taken away, and Hershel hadn't known how to tell him it was because facing the fact they were all probably dead was just too much on top of everything else. It was easier to live on hope that maybe one day they'd be back out of the blue, to keep moving forward and silently pretend that one aspect of this would be alright.
It was sometime in the middle of doing his little routine that he couldn't help but stop long enough to consider it. He was sitting in the garden, too exhausted at the moment to keep his emotions in better check, and it hit him that maybe Alfendi leaving was his fault, because he had gotten hurt in the maze for Hershel and never really recovered. It struck him he never got a real memory back about Alfendi, that when he did Alfendi wouldn't be around for him to tell him, that it was entirely possible he'd be going home to his family to tell them that they had lost someone in this mess afterall.
More than anything he just missed having Alfendi around, he was- when he was acting normally- a bright, bizarre spot in this dreary place. All his nonsense was endearing to Hershel, it made things feel... better, somehow. He swallowed at a lump in his throat as he thought of it, too distracted to really notice Clive coming in. When the squeaking finally caught his attention he didn't glance to it but away, trying to clear his expression somewhat. No use bringing Clive down when he had enough on his plate, he was just... tired. That was all.
But then Clive was sitting beside him, leaning against him, and he turned to stare a moment before it clicked. The look on Clive's face gave it away well enough, and after a moment he felt his shoulders slumping because there was no reason to pretend everything was just fine right now. Hershel swallowed at that pesky lump again before putting an arm around Clive, his other gripping the grass a little too hard. No use making stupid comments Clive probably couldn't even hear, so instead he just quietly stayed there for as long as Clive was willing to spend.]