His laughter surprises her - it’s the second time she’s heard it today. She hadn’t thought him capable of it once but twice is so impossible it feels like a physical blow. Not because it’s cruel, but because it isn’t - it’s hearty and filled with joy and contrasting to everything she believes about him. It’s a good laugh.
And then that joy sours and is gone - and once again Mazikeen feels like she can hear the echo of it in the air around them.
When he replies to her question in a sharp voice she knows she’s struck a nerve. It’s a little satisfying even though she does feel (annoyingly) some sympathy for him. While he knew what lurked beneath her surface, knew what could come pouring out of her if she lost her calm, she does not know what she might discover if she continues to push him. It makes her bold - Mazikeen has known fear, but she does not fear the unknown. Does not fear him. All she’s really expecting, anyway, is for him to turn and run like he had last time.
Firion continues and she thinks she can actually see him trying to pull the mask back over and act like he's not affected by anything. This time, she doesn’t buy it. Maybe she’s projecting, maybe she’s giving him more credit than he deserves. But she has a hard time believing that burst of laughter came from someone completely without a soul.
She sighs in exasperation. “You’re such an idiot, Firion.” Her voice has a bite to it but she does not need to pack the words with any true venom. Instead of pointing out that she would remember him - though currently, not with any fondness - she focuses on his other words. “It is not easier, you're just afraid. And you don’t actually believe that it is, you wouldn’t still be here if you did.” She doesn’t mean in this moment with her and belatedly she realizes it might sound like that's what she meant. “Have you just been wandering around the meadow and forest all this time thinking ‘oh yeah I’m so good at being alone. Look at me!’ when half of Beqanna is living their lives just a step away? When you're hanging out in the place everyone goes to socialize?” She gestures further out to the meadow, where she can see other bodies dappling the plain and moving through the grass.
Being around others did not make you less lonely, but still - it seems illogical to pick this place instead of somewhere remote. Somewhere else.
@[firion]