#interlude ;

  ❝ ——— something tells me you’re a troublemaker. ❞ don’t take it personally; she had the same knee-jerk reaction to prompto. must be something about the body language.

  ❝ how badly are you injured? ❞  the fiends are particularly vicious today, and even she bears the marks of their assault. magic is not her specialty, unfortunately, so though she’d rather heal the gash along her forehead, stella is forced to keep her battle scars.

  ❝ ——— i’m afraid i didn’t catch that. ❞

    ❝ forgive my intrusion, ❞  she says, voice soft, body language softer. stella is a master of her own bones, and she channels her energy into appearing gentle.   ❝ but i am in need of some assistance. 

 ❝ my car has a flat tire, and i’m afraid i don’t know quite what to do. ❞  a lie that falls easily from her lips. though she is a child of wealth— her attire bleeds money from the diamonds in her ears to the silk of her dress— she is not a soft-handed damsel. she wears both callouses and scars like badges of honour. she finds pride in her resourcefulness. but—— but tonight she is to meet some very important people. dirt on her attire would not be overlooked. 

   next time, perhaps she will not deny the driver’s services.

  ❝ would you like to try ? ❞  she pauses to wipe sweat from brow, pulling at the collar of her shirt, and shifting from foot to foot to find her balance again. 

          even without her fencing attire, stella is consumed by the heat.