SIR JULIEN DAVINOS

vaelus will make no promises of interceding should they begin to suspect all has not gone well. she makes no promises either that she will not. perhaps it will be up to circumstance, or to whim. regardless, they will all of them be better off for knowing. ❛ at the very least, we will know when to wait for you. or when it is not worth the bother. ❜

he doesn't need to be seen to hear the shit-eating grin in his words. a smudge on a wall that has the power to annoy the shit out of you. at julien's latter words, he lets out a scoff of his own – where the soldier was hysterical, thjazi was angry, no doubt about it. again, sir julien – don't flatter yourself. if i had a choice, there's no goddamn way i would be here. i'd be with her in a heartbeat. the words come out as a near-growl. sure, julien found a button to push. but thjazi's a shadow. he's allowed to be a little petty.

" Will I have to worry about you interfering, hmm? "

occtis   rubs   the   bridge   of   his   nose,   frustrated.   he   doesn't   want   to   burden   the   group,   but   this   problem   isn't going to   just   vanish.        ❝    i   could get   most of what i need   at   any   mortuary,    ❞        he   says,   plainly.

" Make a shopping list. I'll see what I can do. "

he sighs. no. see, you're right, but frankly – something this clever? he gestures to the wall the shadow appears on; an odd feat. way out of my range, i'm afraid. this one's not on me. much as you'd like to try and blame it. a shrug. that's the best i can come up with. but, hey – if you've got a better idea, i'm all ears. he cackles at his own pun, laugh echoing dully. julien's threats roll right off, and he imperceptibly rolls his eyes. for the moment? yeah, seems like it. trust me, not exactly my idea of fun. he snorts. if i'd done this? i'd be able to actually move around. instead, i just have to annoy you like this. how boring.

But Occtis is right. He still needs his rest, something that has come far and few between since Dol'Makjar. " I don't know if I'll be able to. After... " He trails off. Then shakes his head like it doesn't matter. He lays back down suddenly. Turning his back to Occtis and pulling the thin excuse for a blanket over himself. A mess of uncombed wavy brown hair the only remaining visible thing.

he doesn't react to the barb. doesn't have the energy to raise his hackles. his fight isn't with julien. not anymore. his head inclines back in a half-nod; "no distress caused. fear not." eventually, the numbness would subside, and hal would have very different conversations with many. but for now, the weight remains stuck in his chest, and he remains staring blankly at the tabletop between them. "i intend to – so when you see her again, please, send her my way. i'm sure there is...much to discuss." a small, half-smile touches his lips, even as he gets to his own feet. "thank you for the talk, sir julien."

As it is he only gives him a non-committed bow as he is about to leave. " I shall let her know you wish to speak with her. " He says. " I am certain we will run into each other again, Fang. " He turns to leave, crossing the room to rejoin his lady.

❝    i'm   sorry.   i   should've   told   you.    ❞        but   he's   only   apologizing   to   quell   the   knight's   anger.   he   doubts   the   others   would've   let   him   do   this   if   they'd   known.

" Yes, you should have. " He says. His voice sounds calmer than before, but not by much. Anger is much easier than any of the other thoughts floating around his head. He finally tears his eyes away from the wounds with a sigh. " There has to be more efficient ways of doing this, no? You can't just keep cutting yourself open until there is nothing left. " He says. Because let me help sounds too friendly for his liking.

“Quite the group you got yourself stuck with sit knight” he chuckles head tilting at him curiously.

" Stuck with is perhaps more accurate than you know, stranger. " He answers. Distrust fresh on his tongue. " Announce yourself, who are you? How do you know of us? "

"Clearly state your intentions, or I shall cast poison spray directly into your eyes, Sir Davinos," she demanded, attempting to sound intimidating. It only came out pissy and pitiful. "Is it by happenstance of by design that you have found me?"

Her immediate aggression confirms she at least knows of the massacre. To him, that is already highly suspect. His voice drops an octave lower. Aware but uncaring of how they have already attracted the attention of the few bar patrons. " Whether this must end in the death of one of us will depend on your answer to this question: Did you have a hand in it? "

❝    i-   i   don't   know.   i   was   just   walking   to   walk,   but   then   .   .   .    someone   saw   me.   just   for   a   moment.   i   was   worried   they   might   see   my-   my   eyes,   so   i   turned   back.   i   was   coming   back!    ❞        the   last   sentence   is   quickly   added.   i   was   doing   the   right   thing.   please,   don't   be   mad.   gods,   when   he'd   denied   everything   after   his   resurrection,   he'd   had   some   ground   to   stand   on.   he'd   done   nothing   and   been   an   active   victim   of   his   family   as   well.   but   now   he's   lying   to   julien's   face   and   hiding   his   dealings   in   the   dark.

He steps forward to grab him by the arm. His grip tight enough to bruise. " Don't make me play babysitter for you. We are going back now before you screw anything else up. "

Julien can't help but scoff. He has never met this man, but he's family of Thjazi and that is reason enough for him to dislike him. He can still hear lady Aranessa's quiet sobs where she's seated close to the body. It makes Julien feels nothing but disdain for the man and all of his. " Oh, were my condolences insincere? What a shame! " He says. the sarcastic tone of his voice and the smile on his face edging on ridiculousness. He seems to get great pleasure out of this. " I am so sorry, Fang. I shall do everything in my power to make it up to you. Because I care oh so much. "

hal grits his teeth, knowing that none of the knight's words are worth arguing with, but still finds himself saying, ❛ I am not asking for you to care, merely to show some respect — for the living, if not for the dead. why are you here? you did not have to come. ❜

" Don't get me wrong. I don't wish any harm upon you or yours. Not now that he's dealt with, at least. I respect the little life you've carved out for yourself. But let's not kid ourselves, hmm? "