Not supposed to let it get to you

[floreatnoctem]

Characters: Chidori and Dualscar
Setting: The Library
Format: Action
Summary: HIC knows, and Dualscar thinks he's going to convince Chidori to pretend they're no longer moirails.
Warning: Dualscar's overdramatic tendencies, Chidori giving fewer fucks than usual



[It's unusual for Dualscar to actually request for her to be somewhere. Usually, she just finds him when she feels it's been far too long since she's seen him. Sometimes, she wonders if she shouldn't mind him a little more closely, considering what she's meant to do- but there's only so much she can do, between keeping track of him and the rest of Strega. Maybe she'll dedicate a little more time to keeping him out of trouble though- just in case he's been feeling neglected.]

Dualscar?

Comments

[floreatnoctem]

In? There?

[She goes, though not without hesitation, peering over her shoulder at him. She doesn't like this- isn't sure where this is going- but she's going with it for his sake if nothing else. It's dark, and there's not much in the way of light- but she's never been afraid of the dark, and she's never much needed much in the way of light.

She turns to face him as he enters the small space behind her, and if he looks closely, he might notice the odd, dim glow in her pale, golden eyes.]

Dualscar, what in the world is going on?

sorry smut icon uhh

[orphans]

[dualscar closes the door, causing the area to darken further. and yes, as one who has excellent night vision, the glow of her eyes won't go unnoticed for long; as that is something his countless biology books haven't told him to be exactly a usual phenomenon.

but that's after he gets over himself. marginally. once inside, he leans against the wall heavily, horns scraping against it as he slides downs to a sitting position. with his head bowed he keeps his eyes fixated upon the floor, a hand clutching at his side.]

Her Imperious Condescension... does not approve 'a our relationship.

w e l p

[floreatnoctem]

...your Empress.

[It takes some doing, but she manages to rearrange her skirts so that she can kneel in front of him, though she does wind up leaning forward over him a little. She doesn't miss the way his hand is clutching his side, and makes a note to heal that as well as his face before their conversation is over. She hesitates only momentarily before raising a hand from her skirts to settle on the uninjured side of his face, expression more somber than usual.]

So she does not.

[And if that has anything to do with the injuries on him, she will not be pleased to hear it.]

What does that matter? Whom you choose to quadrant is hardly something that affects her.

[orphans]

[dualscar meets her gaze, his rather forlorn, when she rests a hand at the side of his face. he neither tenses nor flinches at the touch, and would meet it with his own if he had one to spare. but it's only a moment held before he looks to the side-- to the minimal amount of light filtering through the door's threshold.

perhaps she wouldn't understand. perhaps she couldn't understand, as they were too different. he'd rather not think that at all, with how dismal that path would surely prove itself to be. dualscar already had his mind made up. and he planned to stick with it, no matter how selfish the means.]

It embarrasses her.

[which is more than enough of a reason for the empress to kill; a right of hers. and he'd been spared as his punishment.]

[floreatnoctem]

Why? What effect does it really have on her?

[She doesn't understand, because she's never been one much for authority to begin with, and much less for letting the opinions of others affect her. She doesn't see why the Empress is so invested in this- or why Dualscar seems to be taking her opinion so hard. Perhaps they are too different for her to understand, but that doesn't mean that wherever it is this is heading is justified.]

It really should not bother her unless she wants it to.

[After all, it's supposed to be a good thing, isn't it? This whole 'moirallegiance' thing? It's supposed to help him, keep him safe, keep him out of trouble. If she's managing, then what's the problem?]

[orphans]

She expects what a troll's blood denotes 'a them.

[and a perfectly reasonable expectation that is, he thinks. it's unfortunate how ridiculous it must sound to someone not as entrenched in their society as he is. or rather, was. the grip he has on his side increases, claws beginning to mar the fabric.

the fact that his empress isn't so far removed from him does give him a fleeting sense of hope, however; one that is perhaps cruel in itself. she does care, if only in the most selfish of ways. and that is exactly how he does, too.]

I have failed her.

[floreatnoctem]

[Her other hand moves to the wrist of the hand at his side and she squeezes gently, prompting him to let go, even as her face goes very, very still. She's already doll-like, but the way her face seems to just freeze, completely expressionless, only makes that more prominent.]

So because she does not approve, I am no longer good enough?

[If there is one thing Chidori will not do- and she is certain he's realized this by now- it's sugarcoat things. If something needs to be said, then she will say it, no matter how it comes out sounding or who it ends up hurting. Her hand on his face shifts down, fingers curling beneath his chin, and she pushes up gently so that he can meet her eyes.

She will not let him run away from this. He's going to face her if he's going to try and do this after the effort she's put into this for him.]

Or am I misunderstanding what it is you're trying to imply?

[orphans]

[he does, albeit slowly. and the last person that had wanted eye contact with him as such, had been the condesce herself. this detail is already well-ingrained into his thinkpan as he does as bid. it's then that he makes note of the faint glow of her eyes, how unnatural that appeared to be for her kind-- and in fact, was.

but he refrains from comment, as he is floored by hers.]

You are always good enough.

[if only by the earnestness in his voice, it's sincerity. she's too good for him, just as her imperious condescension is and always will be. and still, he wants them both, and then he'd rather keep what he has-- even if it means defiance.]

But I do not wish to upset her further, either.

[floreatnoctem]

So then what, Dualscar?

[Her fingers slip away from his chin, moving upward to his forehead, gently brushing his hair back. She had an inkling of where he was going- there were really only two choices- and she didn't want to believe he'd honestly try and be so selfish.]

Will you be rid of me and abide by her wishes? Or will you disobey and remain my moirail?

[She doesn't want to say it, but sometimes with Dualscar it was necessary to lay out things most people would not think to go attempt.]

You realize that you cannot have both?