— THE RAVEN'S WARD.

       The moment he clarifies, there is a part of her – a large part – that wilts at the assumption of ill intention she’d jumped to. But there is also a part of her that, well it doesn’t tremble but it’s alive with a kind of quivering that races with the force of change that is her life. That worries at the carefully hidden worry that this new life, this new chance, might just be nothing but borrowed time. 

       ( except, focus on the good. focus on the next step. ) 

       ❛ Oh – ! Right, ah, yeah – that definitely makes sense. ❜ Well, regardless – if she ever has to fight for her life again, she’ll worry about when the time comes. It’s no reason to not take the moment for what it is, right ? With a concerted effort, some of the woodenness of her hand gives way to flesh and the tension bleeds from her expression, replaced by a careful, but warm, grin. ❛ Alright, message away – or, uh, feel free to sit down first. You want anything to eat or drink ? ❜ 

        kravitz watches her expressions change slowly and the smile he gives is warm, soft. he much preferred watching people live second lives now instead of the threat of imminent death and nothing but. so he takes a seat, a careful movement before he lets himself drop the last few inches into the chair and relax.

    “You got your work face on.”

Dodger notes, not looking at the bloke as he eyes his own body with a detached interest only because he’d spent the last several minutes before consumed in something more like attached interest. And his heart still flutters in his chest, only he knows he doesn’t have a heart to flutter.

‘Cause as much as he wanted to face death standing proud, he can’t lift himself off the ground. He ain’t brave like some folks, naw, he ain’t made of such stuff as that. He’s terrified, wild eyes finally lifting to look at the reaper.

    “Not yet. I ain’t–I don’t wanna go.”

        its a slow inhale and exhale from the reaper, an action he hasn’t needed to take in centuries since his own death. but he’s learnt that sometimes even death needs to take a breather and relax. kravitz hates watching people struggle, and this wasn’t a fight, this was no broken rules. he wants to make a deal, to barter something with the queen -- but thats not on him. that was more on dodger and his souls will to live.

     Her quizzical look still ghosted on her features, and her eyes betrayed how tired she was, but she stood tall as she sighed in something of defeat. She couldn’t– wouldn’t tell him anything he didn’t need to know. She’d been keeping this secret for going on 12 years now, and she wasn’t about the break that streak now, but Kravtiz was only doing his job… not to mention it wouldn’t do to piss off the Raven Queen.

     “What exactly do you want me to say, Kravitz?” Lucretia asked. “You know more about collecting souls than I would. If I died, I don’t remember it. Can you take the soul of someone who, for all they know, hasn’t died?”

       he can tell theres something she is refusing to tell him, something that hes learnt to read off of people in the centuries that the reaper has been dead, has been doing his job and taking the soul of those who deserved death or who cheated it time and time again. but today, where he usually wouldn’t care, where he would reap and leave for dead -- he doesn’t. he can’t. fingers curl into a fist briefly before he looks away and takes a moment to collect his thoughts.