* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 !

indolence breeds madness.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

https://t.co/yhHl3aqgFL

[ꨄ @lostaffections]

it’s so hot, so hard to breathe, there’s no solace for my heart.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

which i would happily take. "

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

lae'zel is walking by. simply walking. she had barely noticed shadowheart, especially not from her tent while sharpening her own blade. especially not how horrid her form was. especially not.

her arms crossed over her chest, a distinctively-judgemental grimace on her face. +

[𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱. @umbraldeceit]

trying to brush up on her sword forms at camp. it's not her weapon of choice, but she likes to be prepared for anything.

the minutiae of the techniques are lost on her, yet her pride won't allow her to ask for help - so here she is, making little progress.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚�� ! @GITHBORN]

" a child could have better technique than you, shadowheart, " she finally says, cutting through the silence, as she approaches. " your grip is weak. you swing with hesitation. that gets you killed in battle. you must shield your center, unless you're giving me a free kill. +

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

talk? about her feelings? no.

[—THE BEAR ʕ⁠·⁠ᴥ⁠·⁠ʔ @cavebeardruid]

most unfortunate . would she like to talk about them ?

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

bristling near her tent. feeling things.

how irritating.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

breath. perhaps you'll suffocate while waiting.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, yes, i'm sure.

( she wants to wipe the smug grin right off the half-elf's face, her nose upturns, a huff of anger from her nostrils. out of everyone in this camp, shadowheart - somehow, her harshest words were always saved for her. )

keep holding your +

[𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱. @umbraldeceit]

( seeing Lae'zel all worked up does have some entertainment value, evident in the grin creeping onto the cleric's lips. )

i love our chats Lae'zel. so. . . stimulating.

when you've calmed down, you can come and apologise to me. i'll be waiting.

[𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽. @ofsapientiae]

underneath lae'zel's tough exterior . . . several layers underneath . . . deep, deep down - i know there beats a soft heart.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

( her eyes narrow. clearly unimpressed. )

don't push your luck.

[𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽. @ofsapientiae]

not even a smidge ?

( holding up his fingers in a pinching gesture, a tiny gap between the pads. )

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

𝘤𝘩𝘬! as if any passersby wouldn't mistake you for one.

[𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱. @umbraldeceit]

you compare an impenetrable pod to a wooden trap meant for animals.

it's no wonder you were caught by it.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

your mistake was putting yourself willingly within my line of sight, and then complaining about it.

( raising her brows, there's a smirk. )

as if you weren't in an equally-compromising position on the nautiloid. who was the one screaming for rescue, again? was that me? no.

[𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱. @umbraldeceit]

so it's my mistake for looking at you? it won't happen again, if i'm lucky.

all this big talk from the one we found trapped in a cage.

( a pointed scoff. )

freeing you was a mistake.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

"most tolerated".

( it makes her grimace, but she falls silent. for now. )

i make no promises if she initiates.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

your reciprocation was far from necessary. you went out of your way to do it. clearly, it bothered you enough.

trust me, i would not be the one embarrassing myself.

[𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱. @umbraldeceit]

i merely reciprocated that disgusting look on your face.

try such a thing, and you'll only embarrass yourself.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

( her nose scrunches. he is irritatingly thoughtful, especially when met with lae'zel's vitriol.

still, she huffs. )

it wouldn't make you any more or less tolerable. do so, or don't.

[𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽. @ofsapientiae]

well, yes, your disposition is notably . . . more muted than my own and, pondering on it, more than many others at this camp. but i had just considered that to be a part of your character.

if it should suit you, i shall make a note of it somewhere : "be less pleased to see +

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

i detest the very notion. if a throat is going to be slit, i only hope it's hers.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

you responded to me. are *you* finished? i'll gladly shut your mouth forcibly if need be.

[𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱. @umbraldeceit]

are you finished?

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

i have never met your enthusiasm with any of my own. that is the misplacement.

[𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽. @ofsapientiae]

grating ? perhaps. but misplaced ? i don't see how !

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

shadowheart, naturally, does that before even speaking. waking up every morning is a nightmare in itself.

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

as usual, your enthusiasm is grating and misplaced.

[𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽. @ofsapientiae]

ah, good afternoon, lae'zel !

[* 𝙡𝙖𝙚'𝙯𝙚𝙡 ! @GITHBORN]

://

[𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔡𝔬𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱. @umbraldeceit]

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