brood games

“Don’t let them tell you how to think.”

I love Elouisa. Her boundless curiosity. Her mind so open. Her dogged commitment to finding the Truth. What a joy it is to see you again!

——

In this chapter, Hassian models for Tish so she can practice drawing portraits.

Hassian had never been the type of Majiri who struggled with silence or stillness. Though he preferred stalk hunting, he’d spent many hours sitting without stirring while he waited for prey. The quiet calmed him. It put him at ease.

But under the weight of Tish’s gaze, he couldn’t stop fidgeting.

He crossed and uncrossed his legs. He leaned left and right. He moved his hands to his lap– and then to his sides– and then just to one side– and then back to his lap– and then one in his lap and one to his side. He straightened his back and then worried that he might look stiff or uncomfortable.

He could practically feel her eyes tracing each line of his face as she diligently sketched. Hassian was hyper-aware of every microexpression that flitted across his countenance. He focused on keeping his brow relaxed and his eyes soft… but not so soft that it would seem like he was regarding Tish with anything other than platonic admiration. He kept forcing down the corners of his lips to fight the telling smile that spread across his face every time he thought too much about her.

The Mariner: What? That's the Red Death?

I imagine with a Sole who's physically affectionate—ruffling his hair, greeting him with a hug, holding his arm—he would be incredibly awkward at first. Not necessarily out of discomfort, more just that he's never really had anyone be that close and casual with him, he doesn't know how to react. It also makes his prior isolation and loneliness more noticable by contrast. He's surrounded by people in the brotherhood, sure, but there's so much distance between everyone that he's practically alone regardless, and he didn't fully realise that before.

"let's give it a minute."