Don't Touch Me

Villains will kill your character.

Villains are there as antagonists, either to the greater good or themselves or whatever they desire. They will kill your character if they have to.

Villains are powerful, and messing with them should be approached with extreme caution. They can, and will, kill your character.

The old phrase ‘mistake not my kindness for weakness’ holds true, and sadly this is something I’ve seen through several fandoms. If your character goes after a character who is a known villain, and that character has already been proven to be unable to stand up to that villain? Your character’s life can be in jeopardy, because  they will kill your character.

I will not change my character to suit the narrative of yours. I will not warp my character’s personality to save your character. I will do what is within the bounds of my character’s abilities and universe to play them how they are to be played. Whether a character is canon divergent or canon compliant does not matter.

...

mannerlycannibal‌:

Ah. Bjorn looks like he’s doubled down on his nerves. “Right, I’m going to make a point not to touch a damn thing in this house besides what you offer me. A Red; Aether, just draw and quarter me and spare me the inferno. Of course you’d pair off with the angriest, most possessive Chromatic you could.” 

Bjorn is astonished that Jean would try to get away with anything under the nose of an ever-watchful Red. Either he’s got balls of steel, or he’s an idiot. 

Or he’s an idiot with balls of steel.

“You’ve got more nerves than I would, then. If one of my close companions was a Red dragon- not sure how you even managed that one- I wouldn’t do anything that I thought they had even the slightest chance of disapproving of when they found out.” 

A very marked use of when.

“I don’t like humanity, but I find their cultures interesting. Very colorful. Still exploitative as hell, but I can admire an abomination or two.”

[ Oh. So red isn’t usually the best of colours, then. Come to think of it, every terrible, greedy, city-razing fictional dragon he can think of is red, but he’d assumed that it had just been coincidence. Or because fantasy writers just like the colour red. But as much as he knows Bjorn’s fear is probably coming from a very healthy, sensible place… ]

He’s not angry. He’s…I mean, I guess he’s kind of possessive of me, but in a not-fucked-up way. Like I said, he hasn’t always been a dragon. There’s instinct there, certainly, [ of which he’s heard plenty in the last week, ] but he’s not ruled by it.

[ Most of the time. ]

Oh, I’ve already been on the receiving end of his draconic ire. I told a pretty terrible lie, but I lived to tell the tale, so I’m not worried about him turning on me. I’m just worried about hurting his feelings.

[ He crosses one leg over the other. ]

It’s possible to prune back the bramble without destroying all the berries. But nobody’s ready to listen to my Ted Talk on the subject, because Murder Is Wrong.

“I’m having a hard time believing that. Of course he’d treat you well, you’re his. I’m not his, so I might be treated differently. He might so much as smell me here and go ballistic. I don’t trust a strange dragon any closer than just out of immolation range.”

And for a Red? That was very far away. 

“Always a dragon or not, those instincts are nigh-irrepressible, from what I’ve seen.” 

Still, he stops mid-sip when Jean tells him he’s already made his dragon angry, and sets his tea down to fold his paws together, fixing Jean with a very pointed look. “You made your dragon angry and lived to tell about it? That’s one for the books. Either he is as kind as you say, or you’ve got him- somehow- on owe.” 

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“Unfounded? I beg to differ, unless…does your dragon happen to be a Silver?” An interesting question, and one apparently founded on nothing, but a very important one nevertheless. A Silver would be wary of him, but welcoming so long as he didn’t make himself a nuisance. 

And he has no intention of making himself a nuisance in a dragon’s den. 

“Come, now, Wolf, even after you’ve found a mate, you still deign to cause trouble? Could be problematic.” Mug clutched in both paws, he looks down into it as if his reflection holds answers, then back up at Jean as he speaks, smiling grimly. 

“I used to think that way. Then I actually started talking to the ones I ran into, those who didn’t immediately piss themselves and turn tail. Reading, what have you. Your fellows still disgust and annoy me, don’t get me wrong, but I’m starting to see why our Springtime cousins are so curious about you. That, and the human tendency to throw caution to the wayside in the name of a potentially lethal thrill is amusing.” 

Red.

[ It’s shot back quickly, with the tone of someone who knows absolutely nothing about dragons. And he does know absolutely nothing about dragons. He’s only ever come face-to-face with two - one red, one green; one friendly, one very much not friendly - if he doesn’t count those strangely vivid dreams he’s had on a few occasions, of giant, undead lizards, and crystalline beasts the size of an entire mountain range… ]

[ …that’s not important, he seems to realise, and returns his attention fully to Bjorn, his eyes half-hazy and half-mischievous. ]

He can do his best to keep me in line, and I’m not going to do anything to purposefully upset him, but…well. What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him.

[ Not that he takes Teddy for a fool  - the very opposite. He might have to be more careful than he had been with Leonard, if he does decide to raise any hell. And the hell will be careful, and it will be occasional, and he will not have half the hubris he used to have - but that doesn’t mean he won’t have any hubris at all. ]

Don’t tell me you’re going to end up liking humanity more than I do. You’re one of the few sensible friends I have left.

Ah. Bjorn looks like he’s doubled down on his nerves. “Right, I’m going to make a point not to touch a damn thing in this house besides what you offer me. A Red; Aether, just draw and quarter me and spare me the inferno. Of course you’d pair off with the angriest, most possessive Chromatic you could.” 

Bjorn is astonished that Jean would try to get away with anything under the nose of an ever-watchful Red. Either he’s got balls of steel, or he’s an idiot. 

Or he’s an idiot with balls of steel.

“You’ve got more nerves than I would, then. If one of my close companions was a Red dragon- not sure how you even managed that one- I wouldn’t do anything that I thought they had even the slightest chance of disapproving of when they found out.” 

A very marked use of when.

mannerlycannibal‌:

“I’ve given you a reason to be relaxed around me. Namely, I enjoy your company, and you’re more valuable to me in one piece than several. Your…dragon has done no such thing. I’ve gotten all of two testimonials that he’s nice, but presumably, he’s laid claim to you. Of course he would be nice to you. There’s no telling how he’d react to me.” 

No reaction to the implication that Jean’s bedding the dragon. Either Bjorn suspected as much and doesn’t care, or he didn’t suspect it, and he still doesn’t care. 

“Judging by the way you were raring to go cause mayhem, I’d say so.” Sip. “Amazing what a little impromptu surgery can do, isn’t it? Or just being able to breathe, in your case.” 

He smirks behind his mug as Jean agrees with him that humanity is a lot of pricks, and chuckles softly. “No, I’ve met plenty of humans who agree that their species is a horrific cesspit of consumption and inflated self-importance. And not just because they were agreeing with me to get me off their case. Seems there’s a particular lot who are considerably worse in their despotic tendencies than the group who drove my people to near-extinction in the first place.” 

You make a good point, though I have no doubt that your fears are unfounded. 

[ He takes a thoughtful drink, the frankly awful grin fading away until there’s not much in his expression at all. Lidded eyes take in the irregular pattern of the counter, one finger tracing across it as though he’s expecting to feel any texture that isn’t smooth. For a moment, he’s taken in by it, losing some of his focus. ]

Amazing. Though, considering how the last month’s gone, I’m beginning to think I should be out of action like that more often. Being able to breathe rarely inspires good things in me.

[ The energising nature of Bjorn’s presence can only sap away so much guilt. At the same time, that guilt can only linger for so long before it’s swept away by something arguably worse - ]

Let a plant grow too wild, and it has to be cut back. Humanity’s like a bramble. Good for the fruit, but leave it untended, and it’ll become more thorn than berry.

[ - that. Jean finishes his tea, as though he didn’t just say the exact kind of shit he used to say to himself in order to morally vindicate his murder sprees. Maybe it’s Bjorn’s company, maybe it’s how not used to this tranquillity he is; maybe it’s just because he feels like he has the physical capability to take a life again. ]

[ Whatever it is, it’s probably not…good. ]

“Unfounded? I beg to differ, unless...does your dragon happen to be a Silver?” An interesting question, and one apparently founded on nothing, but a very important one nevertheless. A Silver would be wary of him, but welcoming so long as he didn’t make himself a nuisance. 

And he has no intention of making himself a nuisance in a dragon’s den. 

“Come, now, Wolf, even after you’ve found a mate, you still deign to cause trouble? Could be problematic.” Mug clutched in both paws, he looks down into it as if his reflection holds answers, then back up at Jean as he speaks, smiling grimly. 

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“I would rather not come face-to-face with a creature big enough, powerful enough, and high enough on the rungs that if it chose, could eat me, if it’s all the same to you. I’m very much the kind of individual who likes having all his pieces attached. Born of scales and infinite potential or not, I have a very healthy respect for dragonkind, of the same healthy respect your smarter fellows regard a tiger with.”

So, mild fear. Maybe a little more than mild. 

He scoffs at Jean’s observation, and pins him with narrowed eyes. “No, I’m definitely worse. You haven’t lost your teeth, but there’s a wag in your tail that wasn’t there when we spoke last. Not that that’s a bad thing. It’s good to see you in better and more positive spirits. We can’t be bitter bastards our whole lives.” 

He takes another sip of his tea, and sighs, eyes drifting over Jean’s shoulder to stare at nothing. “What, you think we’re all just awful things that delight in our villainy and general hatred of humanity? …Now that I say it aloud, it is a bit like that, isn’t it…”

[ Jean props one elbow on the counter, and rests his chin on the back of his hand, watching Bjorn with narrowed eyes. It’s not an overly threatening expression, especially with the way he’s still smiling, but it’s still a frankly unwavering stare. ]

And to me, you’re that tiger. Teddy’s a few rungs above that, and yet here I am, in his home, and in his bed. [ Stop. Stop that. Jean’s grin widens. ] Fear can be healthy, but honestly, if I’m relaxed in your presence, death wish or none, you can afford to loosen up a little.

My tail wasn’t wagging when we spoke last because it was broken. I have to admit - that visit put me in a pretty good fucking mood. [ And gave him a positive enough outlook to go rushing into that alleyway without a care in the world, half-convinced he was going to win, and look where that got him. Dead. But Bjorn doesn’t have to know that, because Jean’s hubris isn’t on his shoulders. ] 

It is, but I’m not going to judge you for it. Humanity sucks. If I were a little more outside of the circle, I’d feel exactly the same. As things are now, it seems a little hypocritical to vocally shit on a species that I’m still technically a part of.

“I’ve given you a reason to be relaxed around me. Namely, I enjoy your company, and you’re more valuable to me in one piece than several. Your...dragon has done no such thing. I’ve gotten all of two testimonials that he’s nice, but presumably, he’s laid claim to you. Of course he would be nice to you. There’s no telling how he’d react to me.” 

No reaction to the implication that Jean’s bedding the dragon. Either Bjorn suspected as much and doesn’t care, or he didn’t suspect it, and he still doesn’t care. 

“Judging by the way you were raring to go cause mayhem, I’d say so.” Sip. “Amazing what a little impromptu surgery can do, isn’t it? Or just being able to breathe, in your case.” 

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“ …What.” 

Bjorn stares at Jean as if he’d just spouted utter nonsense. Certainly, he works in a body shop, but they didn’t do anything that drastic, at least, not on such a scale and not so convincingly. Brain and Body just simply does not do things of that caliber.

“Never mind, I’m going to give myself a migraine if I ponder on it too hard. As for you, YES, I can absolutely blame you! Awful little ferret. Just- take it as it is and don’t draw attention to it.” He works his jaw, now, and the tips of his ears are blue with how flustered he’s gotten. 

But, Jean proceeds to be as blunt and crass as ever, and it catches Bjorn so off his game that he goes wide eyed, blinks, and then starts laughing, hoarse and rough as his laughter usually is when he’s been tickled by something. “I suppose it can. I haven’t been cast out or branded as a traitor or a softy yet, so I suppose I’m still vicious enough to make up for my own social shortcomings.”

I don’t understand the ins-and-outs of it. If you want to know more, you can ask him yourself. [ He says this with a smile, as though it’s a challenge - because it is. Want to satisfy your curiosity? Come face-to-face with the wolves that own the den, little coyote. Jean’s not sure if he counts himself as one of the wolves, still, but he’s certainly in good keeping with them. ]

If I weren’t awful, you wouldn’t like me so much, because you’re just as bad. 

[ Again, his mug doesn’t do much to disguise his grin, especially when some of that mock-cruelty reaches his eyes, but it’s doing its best. And it only gets worse when Bjorn laughs - because on some level Jean had expected him to take offence to the statement. You seem in higher spirits, Jean, he imagines the potential exchange when Teddy gets back. What happened? ]

[ Oh, I spoke to the asshole who mauled my daughter. It’s just the effect he has on me. ]

Just stick to the underside of human society, and I’m sure nobody could fault you.

“I would rather not come face-to-face with a creature big enough, powerful enough, and high enough on the rungs that if it chose, could eat me, if it’s all the same to you. I’m very much the kind of individual who likes having all his pieces attached. Born of scales and infinite potential or not, I have a very healthy respect for dragonkind, of the same healthy respect your smarter fellows regard a tiger with.”

So, mild fear. Maybe a little more than mild. 

He scoffs at Jean’s observation, and pins him with narrowed eyes. “No, I’m definitely worse. You haven’t lost your teeth, but there’s a wag in your tail that wasn’t there when we spoke last. Not that that’s a bad thing. It’s good to see you in better and more positive spirits. We can’t be bitter bastards our whole lives.” 

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He, notably, has not, indeed, he has refused to draw attention to the fact her arm has been replaced. It’s none of his business. He was the culprit for its loss in the first place, but it’s not his business how or why she had it replaced. He merely watches her, as he always has, with the distant interest of a well-fed cat. 

“I suppose, then, you’ll need your own time to decide what you want to do, if you aren’t taking the opportunity now. Either you’re once again second-guessing your emotions, or you haven’t figured out how best to start the conversation.”

And the smile he wears now is oddly…soft. Not any less toothy or dangerous, but rather than grim pleasure, it seems to be an alien smile of attempted understanding. 

It doesn’t fit on his face. 

“I have no desire to take anything else from you.” 

That’s as much of an I’m sorry as she’s going to get, and he seems puzzled at her own befuddlement that yes, he would place a dragon above himself. “Height isn’t what matters, dear pup. It’s ferocity. Conquest. Power. It could be a dragon the size of a horse and I would respect it. It’s a dragon. They are the Kings and Queens of this world, Emperors and Empresses. No less.” And yet, this dragon is named Teddy. It’s not exactly inspirational of any fear or respect, but he presumes, like any dragon, they have a presence. 

“It’s of little consequence how sweet a dragon might be, Victoria, or how little I have to be worried about. I’m still going into the den of something, should it choose too, is fully capable of and well within its right to eat me.” 

He holds a respect for predators higher than himself that seems effortless and common sense to him. No wonder Victoria’s antics annoyed him so much. 

“…Ah. Well, I’ll make my visit short.” No thank you, either, but that’s less a Bjorn thing and more a Fae thing. 

Not second-guessing anything. No more ambivalence, Bjorn. I promise. [She reinforces it with a small smile, although it becomes unsettled as she carries on.] I just don’t want to overstep any boundaries. I… I know that I find it really hard to open up about my feelings, even with a trained therapist. Maybe it’s difficult for you as well. And if that’s the case, I-

[Her sentence trails off the second she’s drawn away from her thought process by his smile. It’s strange, oddly charming in a way, but it’s not unfamiliar. No, she could swear that she’s seen that soft expression on his face before. Or at least, she’s experienced these nervous flutters before. She promptly closes her mouth, lest she accidentally asks him if what she remembers actually happened, or if it had been a dream. She could do without the embarrassment of it being the latter and having to admit it.]

…but if you’re ready to tell me what’s been on your mind over the past few months, then I’m ready to listen. [She almost adds vent as much as you like, as honestly as you like, but she knows Bjorn will do that without encouragement. He’s always honest.]

Could’ve done with that kind of common sense before I pestered you. [And Teddy, but Bjorn doesn’t need to hear about that. He probably already suspects it.]

“Mhm. I’ll believe that when I have it in legally-binding writing.” She starts on about it being difficult to talk about feelings, and he growls, losing that soft smile as quickly as it had appeared. “It seems everyone finds it difficult to talk about their feelings, except me. I have a hard time tackling them, and figuring out what in the Nine they even are.” 

She offers, and he just waves his paw dismissively. “After I’m done with the Wolf, I’ll come and find you again. I need to talk to him to sort myself out before I go diving into the shit.” 

Victoria says, then, something he’s been waiting to hear out of her for five years, and he gives her a downright incredulous look. “Oh! NOW you’re realizing it! After I’ve given you two dozen mental scars and rather a few physical ones, now, only now, are you realizing you should have had some common sense and listened to your fucking instincts. What am I to expect from a being so ingrained in the tendencies of the faceless ones to bother people they really shouldn’t be bothering?”

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“One of those, then. It’s not often I see a dragon whose temper is only roused by direct harm. Sometimes all it takes is overstaying your welcome.” That’s two people who’ve told him, now, that this particular dragon was a delight, slow to anger, and generally all-around a decent fellow. How strange. Well, not too strange, if he was a Silver; Silvers loved people, and often spent the majority of their existences in human guise and holding high-standing public offices. 

Jean’s laughter doesn’t help, and his grimace only deepens, but only for a moment. “Maybe. I’m just so used to my own fucking culture saying that fraternizing with humans is a sign of weakness and impotence. I was lucky to find a mate who doesn’t think such a thing so to-the-bone.” Vadis is a lot like him in many respects. He grows a little softer when he talks about her, but it doesn’t last. 

“…It’s nice to say it. I feel like a weight’s off my chest.”

[ Jean says nothing about Bjorn overstaying his welcome, on purpose. As sweet and accommodating as Teddy is, he has no idea what kind of history anyone has with anyone anymore - especially with Teddy’s time on the force, and Bjorn being…well, Bjorn. Who’s to say they haven’t crossed paths before? ]

He hasn’t always been a dragon. That might explain it.

[ And as though he’d just stated something menial like the colour of Teddy’s eyes, he takes a sip of his tea, not addressing it further. ]

I don’t mean to mock you for it. Well, I do, but after all these years of you being frankly stingy with the terms of our relationship, can you blame me? I don’t think I’d expected you to say the f word for another while yet. [ He stares down into his drink, at the leaves inside the bag - still in the cup; he likes it strong - gently shifting in the water’s movement. Little things catch his attention more than they should nowadays. ] 

I barely qualify as human anymore, by most people’s metric. So - and I mean this with as much respect as is possible - your culture can stuff it on this one.

“ ...What.” 

Bjorn stares at Jean as if he’d just spouted utter nonsense. Certainly, he works in a body shop, but they didn’t do anything that drastic, at least, not on such a scale and not so convincingly. Brain and Body just simply does not do things of that caliber.

“Never mind, I’m going to give myself a migraine if I ponder on it too hard. As for you, YES, I can absolutely blame you! Awful little ferret. Just- take it as it is and don’t draw attention to it.” He works his jaw, now, and the tips of his ears are blue with how flustered he’s gotten. 

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“I don’t spare you just for his sake. I spare you because whether I like it or not, I find myself realizing time and again that my life, long as it’ll be, would not be so interesting without you in it.” About as nice as she’s going to get from him. “If I barely tolerated you, I wouldn’t bother myself with these emotions. Wouldn’t talk to you, and wouldn’t try to sort myself out. I’m trying to sort out what are my feelings, versus what’s just a grudge I need to let go of.”

Rather than taken aback, he’s amused by her admission. “I can’t imagine why. I’m a right bastard.” He’s grinning, though, in that terrible way he does. “I’m willing to move past neutrality, but you’re just making it harder by assuming things that aren’t true, and working yourself up into a frenzy of anxiety and ambivalence. I think this is the year that we end this silly game, if only because I’m fucking sick of playing it.” 

A dragon. Yes, he’d gathered that much. It’s not that he hates dragons- rather the opposite- but they strike a very specific chord of respectful fear in him when they’re large enough, and that’s an emotion he could go without experiencing too often. “I’m not going to puff up at a dragon. They’re one of the few creatures I’d consider above myself on the rungs. I’d rather like not being eaten myself, if I can help it.”

[He’s right. He’d been trying to sort things out and she’d overlooked his efforts until now. She had been so absorbed in her own emotions that she hadn’t fully acknowledged that he had spent three months chewing on the shit feelings that she had caused. Would he have done the same for someone else so irritatingly persistent, so confusing, so fickle? Would she? No. She’d take that kind of grudge to the grave.]

[Her expression softens, prosthetic hand meeting its living counterpart behind her back to run a cool metal thumb over the scar that he had left. Despite everything she had thrown at him, he’d been patient with her.]

…then I’ll wait for you to sort those feelings out. And my offer to talk about it is still there.

[Surprisingly, she doesn’t chide him for wearing that terrible grin of his. In fact, she returns it with her own, nose crinkling gently as her tongue briefly dips out between her teeth.] As long as we don’t have to make another deal.

[A small, but sure sign of moving forward.]

You’d put yourself below a dragon? But you’re taller than - [that fuck-off massive reptile that scared the shit out of you and your dad?] - uh. I guess that’s not all that counts. Anyway, Teddy’s sweeter than cherry pie, you’ve got nothing to worry about.

[Her eyes move over past Bjorn’s left and she nods pointedly in that direction.] See that path? Go down it for ten minutes and you’ll see a sign for Princes Way on the left. Can’t remember the number, but I think you’ll know which house it is. Nicest garden on the street by far. I’d take you myself, but-

[I can’t bring myself to look dad in the eye right now.]

I don’t want to intrude.

He, notably, has not, indeed, he has refused to draw attention to the fact her arm has been replaced. It’s none of his business. He was the culprit for its loss in the first place, but it’s not his business how or why she had it replaced. He merely watches her, as he always has, with the distant interest of a well-fed cat. 

“I suppose, then, you’ll need your own time to decide what you want to do, if you aren’t taking the opportunity now. Either you’re once again second-guessing your emotions, or you haven’t figured out how best to start the conversation.”

And the smile he wears now is oddly...soft. Not any less toothy or dangerous, but rather than grim pleasure, it seems to be an alien smile of attempted understanding. 

It doesn't fit on his face. 

“I have no desire to take anything else from you.” 

That’s as much of an I’m sorry as she’s going to get, and he seems puzzled at her own befuddlement that yes, he would place a dragon above himself. “Height isn’t what matters, dear pup. It’s ferocity. Conquest. Power. It could be a dragon the size of a horse and I would respect it. It’s a dragon. They are the Kings and Queens of this world, Emperors and Empresses. No less.” And yet, this dragon is named Teddy. It’s not exactly inspirational of any fear or respect, but he presumes, like any dragon, they have a presence. 

“It’s of little consequence how sweet a dragon might be, Victoria, or how little I have to be worried about. I’m still going into the den of something, should it choose too, is fully capable of and well within its right to eat me.” 

He holds a respect for predators higher than himself that seems effortless and common sense to him. No wonder Victoria’s antics annoyed him so much. 

Justice

What would you do to ensure justice? You know full well I don’t speak of lofty ideals and courts and magistrates, dearest. What would you do to those that hurt you? If I dropped them in your lap, what would you do? What kind of pain could you possibly inflict upon them? You are right to do so. You are right to want to do so. Ignore the screaming, dearest, you are the hand of justice now, and they hurt you. Do not look too closely at their faces, dearest. You are within your rights. You spell out your own rights, now. Are you happy about it? Are you certain that this is the right person you hold by the hair? Does your anger hurt less now?

Tagged by; swiped from @verduresapiens

mannerlycannibal‌:

Bjorn bares his teeth with a stuck-out tongue, nose wrinkling in a profound grimace at the cocky smirk on Jean’s face, but he can’t deny that it’s nice to be in the man’s presence again. Much like how Bjorn himself is refreshing to Jean, Jean is refreshing to Bjorn. 

“In comparison,” Bjorn clarifies, as he takes another sip. Well-made, as most of the tea he’s had has been. “To a dragon’s wolf, I am a coyote. I’m not going to sit here and say I even hold a candle to the unshakable throne dragonkind has situated on top of the tree of Life. It matters little how friendly that metaphorical wolf is, it’s still a predator, it’s still higher than me, and it is still more than capable of eliminating me should it so choose. Better that I not give it a reason to.” 

Bjorn grumbles at Jean’s emphasis on the word friend, fixing him with a venomous stare. “Rub it in, why don’t you? Maybe I’m learning to unclench. I can just as easily tighten back up, if it would end your teasing.”

[ Offering to share details of sexual escapades is slotted right beside offering to kiss him into Jean’s little folder of things that get under Bjorn’s skin - he’s got one of those for everyone, just as he assumes everyone’s got one for him. Or, well, at least the greyfaces seem to have one for him, with how accurately they manage to hit his buttons every time. ]

Short of killing me or anyone else he cares about, I’m not sure there’s much you could do to earn his ire. He may dislike you, but it takes a lot for him to want to hunt you down. [ He drums his fingers on the counter a few times, trying to mask just how taken aback he is by Bjorn’s uncertainty. It almost makes him want to take advantage of this strange vulnerability and ask about Victoria, but he’ll exercise some patience. ]

[ Bjorn’s disgruntled response hits something in Jean, and he laughs, loud and caught slightly by surprise - he has to put down his tea for fear of spilling some - but he forces it to peter out quicker than it would like to as his chest complains. Ah, the wonderful limits of being made of torn flesh and broken bone. ]

I’m not rubbing it in, Bear. If you take it that way, then that’s a reflection of you, not me. Maybe one day you’ll learn that having friends, and not just allies, isn’t such a terrible thing. [ His smile softens, eventually, into something less derisive, as he leans both forearms on the counter. ] It’s nice to hear you finally say it.

“One of those, then. It’s not often I see a dragon whose temper is only roused by direct harm. Sometimes all it takes is overstaying your welcome.” That’s two people who’ve told him, now, that this particular dragon was a delight, slow to anger, and generally all-around a decent fellow. How strange. Well, not too strange, if he was a Silver; Silvers loved people, and often spent the majority of their existences in human guise and holding high-standing public offices. 

Jean’s laughter doesn’t help, and his grimace only deepens, but only for a moment. “Maybe. I’m just so used to my own fucking culture saying that fraternizing with humans is a sign of weakness and impotence. I was lucky to find a mate who doesn’t think such a thing so to-the-bone.” Vadis is a lot like him in many respects. He grows a little softer when he talks about her, but it doesn’t last.