[but that's so...............................reasonable! what the fuck is wrong with this guy!
she pauses in her foraging to squint his way, as if she'd fucking get anything from the stick bug-lookin' lizard. Knife's got an okay way of insighting humanoid faces, not...that.]
Youuuu...worry. [...] Because youuuuu...give a shit.
[ He says as much lightly, with an air of humor. It's fine by him that she doesn't know how she wants to regard his care. To him, it's enough that she understands it. ]
[Great. Now I get to feel GUILTY about doing this? Scarlet's nose crinkles at the notion. Why do I have to feel BAD about doing something to MYSELF just because SOMEONE ELSE feels bad about it! He's not even--
she grumbles to audibly drown out her own grumpy thoughts, finding her pocket starting to be to packed to really retain many more leaves.]
Guess that's why you're out here doing this instead of virtually anything else.
[she tenses briefly, surprised she said that aloud.
then, dryly:] Besides everything I've already been bitching about, you mean? [she rolls a shoulder, looking away.] It's whatever. We can go back, I guess.
[the issue is.......what, exactly? Knife isn't sure. it's...hard to explain. they've already shown too much of themself to this man. lizard. lizardman. damn, a shapeshifter who is unbothered to share their other form... it's hard to wrestle with, given it'd seem to invalidate all the fear and anguish Knife's lived with in hiding, even if the circumstances are utterly incomparable.
the quiet forest is such a temptation to bare more of that true skin, but the threat of fae has been so rapidly conflated to take the shape of every nebulous fear they have that the prospect feels akin to simply walking off a cliff.
Dion has no reason to dangle their changelinghood over their head, but the chance is there. the forest doesn't need to have any interest in Knife whatsoever, but there's always a chance. the fae here may be simple, frivolous, self-absorbed cunts...or there may be a few in there not unlike the witch that wormed her way into Knife's head.
the more Knife wants to be seen and validated, the more the threat looms. the threat of attachment. the fear that it invalidates their feelings for Soliton. the danger of validating some bullshit outcome.
things could be easier, but...was that really right?
Scarlet stops shy of the pathway back into the castle, eyeing the glow of the wall sconces and the glow in the dark.]
...Don't die. Or give your real name. Or say anything with, like. "I swear" or "I promise."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 02:57 am (UTC)From:she pauses in her foraging to squint his way, as if she'd fucking get anything from the stick bug-lookin' lizard. Knife's got an okay way of insighting humanoid faces, not...that.]
Youuuu...worry. [...] Because youuuuu...give a shit.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:00 am (UTC)From:I may not phrase it that way, but yes.
[ It's only natural that he care, isn't it? They've known one another for quite some time. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:03 am (UTC)From:Scarlet squints. Maybe you SHOULD fuckin' phrase it that way sometime and I'll believe it.
one ear twitches in an echo of a very Antigone tic before she clicks her tongue and turns back to her work, face feeling hot.]
I dunno what to fuckin' do with you, man... [You, Long-term...]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:11 am (UTC)From:[ He says as much lightly, with an air of humor. It's fine by him that she doesn't know how she wants to regard his care. To him, it's enough that she understands it. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:14 am (UTC)From:she grumbles to audibly drown out her own grumpy thoughts, finding her pocket starting to be to packed to really retain many more leaves.]
Guess that's why you're out here doing this instead of virtually anything else.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:18 am (UTC)From:[ This, coming from a diminuitive dragon. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:20 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:25 am (UTC)From:[ That comes as a surprise to him. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:27 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:29 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:31 am (UTC)From:[she looks at the fistful of leaves remaining, wondering where to put them. I shoulda brought a bag. Or...something...
can't just...stuff them down her shirt; this outfit isn't laden with secret pockets the way Knife likes!
sigh.]
I guess...I make do with this. [But that means...going back... Eughhhhhhhhhhhhh.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:37 am (UTC)From:Is something amiss?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:39 am (UTC)From:then, dryly:] Besides everything I've already been bitching about, you mean? [she rolls a shoulder, looking away.] It's whatever. We can go back, I guess.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 04:02 am (UTC)From:[ He sees no issue with her airing her feelings. ]
But if you are ready. I'm in no rush.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-10 03:31 pm (UTC)From:the quiet forest is such a temptation to bare more of that true skin, but the threat of fae has been so rapidly conflated to take the shape of every nebulous fear they have that the prospect feels akin to simply walking off a cliff.
Dion has no reason to dangle their changelinghood over their head, but the chance is there. the forest doesn't need to have any interest in Knife whatsoever, but there's always a chance. the fae here may be simple, frivolous, self-absorbed cunts...or there may be a few in there not unlike the witch that wormed her way into Knife's head.
the more Knife wants to be seen and validated, the more the threat looms. the threat of attachment. the fear that it invalidates their feelings for Soliton. the danger of validating some bullshit outcome.
things could be easier, but...was that really right?
Scarlet stops shy of the pathway back into the castle, eyeing the glow of the wall sconces and the glow in the dark.]
...Don't die. Or give your real name. Or say anything with, like. "I swear" or "I promise."
no subject
Date: 2026-01-13 11:13 am (UTC)From:[ That someone was Antigone, as they both surely know.
His strong little legs kick off and his overlarge wings carry him up, taking to the air with the ease of one born to it. ]
I shall be careful.