03-15-2021, 06:29 PM
She does not consider it an insult that he recognizes she is more than helpless prey, more work than it’s worth to drag her into the sea. It sounds more like the first intelligent observation he’s made so far, and she can feel a smile sharpening in the corners of her grey silk mouth as she studies him once more. He is correct, of course, it would be far too much work to take her into the sea against her will. She is not something delicate and frightened, not someone easily domineered.
“Did it?” She asks, and the smile on her lips is something sharp and beautiful and as dangerous as broken glass. “I suppose that depends entirely on whether or not you are truly an uncivilized idiot.” She makes no effort to gentle her words, though it no longer comes from a place of total disdain. He does not seem fragile enough to have his feelings wounded by the blade of her tongue. “If you are, then perhaps you are exactly right. It did speed things up. But if you are not, then it would seem you’ve only managed to make a mess of what could have been a nice introduction.”
She resettles herself, the lines of arrogant tension softening along her jaw and her shoulders and the delicate curve of her spine. It is the impression of growing relaxed in his company, though she is not so foolish as to disregard him entirely. She may not be prey, but that does not mean he isn’t a predator. Which is why she is entirely surprised when his body language changes and she can see new signs of weariness in the way he moves to stretch.
How curious.
“Do you find me that exhausting?” She asks, and the smile on her mouth is suddenly less sharp, the shade of her eyes a perfect match to the sky overhead and shining with quiet amusement. “I assure you, it is entirely mutual.” But there is an almost friendliness to her now, though it is something so subtle and still new enough to shatter.
She sighs, and the sound is contemplative as she turns to look out over the ocean again, to trace the shades of blue where they come together in sky and horizon and swirling ocean. “It is entirely impossible to live a life without any mystery. It is too easy to hide things, too easy to pretend. Like you, for example. You act a big brute, but I do believe you might actually have a brain in there.” Her smile deepens past the corners of her mouth as she turns to study him again, eyes warm and flashing with friendly laughter. Then, decisively. “Mystery.”
“Did it?” She asks, and the smile on her lips is something sharp and beautiful and as dangerous as broken glass. “I suppose that depends entirely on whether or not you are truly an uncivilized idiot.” She makes no effort to gentle her words, though it no longer comes from a place of total disdain. He does not seem fragile enough to have his feelings wounded by the blade of her tongue. “If you are, then perhaps you are exactly right. It did speed things up. But if you are not, then it would seem you’ve only managed to make a mess of what could have been a nice introduction.”
She resettles herself, the lines of arrogant tension softening along her jaw and her shoulders and the delicate curve of her spine. It is the impression of growing relaxed in his company, though she is not so foolish as to disregard him entirely. She may not be prey, but that does not mean he isn’t a predator. Which is why she is entirely surprised when his body language changes and she can see new signs of weariness in the way he moves to stretch.
How curious.
“Do you find me that exhausting?” She asks, and the smile on her mouth is suddenly less sharp, the shade of her eyes a perfect match to the sky overhead and shining with quiet amusement. “I assure you, it is entirely mutual.” But there is an almost friendliness to her now, though it is something so subtle and still new enough to shatter.
She sighs, and the sound is contemplative as she turns to look out over the ocean again, to trace the shades of blue where they come together in sky and horizon and swirling ocean. “It is entirely impossible to live a life without any mystery. It is too easy to hide things, too easy to pretend. Like you, for example. You act a big brute, but I do believe you might actually have a brain in there.” Her smile deepens past the corners of her mouth as she turns to study him again, eyes warm and flashing with friendly laughter. Then, decisively. “Mystery.”
alleria
pull me back to shore, i'll never reach my place
@[Cormorant]