C4 Episode 31's Loaded Pause Explored (original)
“Then why do you need me?” Occtis spins around, feeling small pops in the synovial fluid of his shoulders as he throws his arms out wide, “Why do you care?”
Julien’s initial thought springs to mind immediately. He does not care about the person standing before him. He has not actively spent the last week and a half focusing on keeping the wizard alive for anything other than thwarting the Tachonis’ plans. He was not highly encouraged to ‘play nice’ by his liege lady, a druid of the Old Path, and an ancient warrior of a long-dead god. He has not kept this fragile dead boy conscious from the Endless Night and back to draw out and execute his horrific family to be accused of caring. Eyes hardening, Julien opens his mouth to respond, only to close it with such force that both men hear his teeth clack together.
Occtis’s arms slowly descend, protectively wrapping around himself. Even in his post-mortem state, there is a twinge of wrong as the skin around his left forearm pulls away from the gash he carved into his own flesh in hopes of saving one of his comrades on this fool-hearty errand. He is unable to hide the way his eyes furrow and the small reflexive exhale his body has not completely forgotten. Occtis curses softly to himself when he notices Julien’s eyes flick between his furrowed brow and gentle hold on his own arm. Julien takes a half-step forward before he is aware, demi-gauntleted hand reaching for . . . what?
Sickly bright green eyes go wide with fear, and Occtis takes two steps back, cradling his injured arm to his chest, turning away partially. Why was Julien coming toward him? Did he mean him harm? Was Julien about to forcibly pick him up again? That moment, draped across the knight’s shoulders, had been humiliating and deeply uncomfortable. The metal holding his chest together was not meant to make contact with his useless organs, and that cold was not a sensation he’d soon forget. Whatever it was, it was not worth staying within an arm's reach of the most temperamental man either had ever known.
Falling back on his planted foot, Julien raises both hands in front of himself, pleading with Occtis to see that he means no harm. Scanning the boy’s face, hoping the look of a cornered prey animal would soon be gone, Julien does not let himself linger on the scratches adorning Occtis’s cheek. Julien does not take in the way the others’ shoulders relax now that he is no longer advancing. It definitely does not feel like he is physically struck with guilt at realizing he put that fear in Occtis.
Worth it to keep going? Thoughts?
