#m1tx writes

She could feel her patience slipping away at that one remark. It was almost laughable, really-- PrinceZam, of all people, insinuating that Evbo's family didn't care about her.

"Yeah, you'd like me to think that," she replies, smothering the urge to rip Zam's throat out right there. "You really think I'll just come crawling back to you, after everything you did--"

"What makes them any better?"

...What?

"Seriously, think about it for a second." Zam moves closer, apparently mistaking Evbo's shock for vulnerability. "I know that's a lot to ask, but--"

"do you trust me?"

tabi's face falls at the question, hands stilling where they were tending to clown's wounds. "...what kind of question is that?"

"you've been acting... off ever since you left the sword civilization. it's... worrying." it couldn't afford for her to lose faith in the plan. not yet. not before everything finally fell into place.

it had sacrificed far too much to fail here.

its protege curls into themself. "what are you implying, clown?" she asks, voice taking on a hard edge.

"what do you think?"

"...i told you to stop the head games," they sigh, returning to their ministrations. "of course i still believe in you. we've been together for years, clown, a few months among murderers isn't going to change that."

if she wants it to stop playing mind games, maybe she should stop falling for them. and calling the swords murderers was rich, considering what the two of them had just done to the bows. still.

"i'm glad," clown murmurs, with all the sincerity it's still capable of. if tabi's cooperation was driven more by personal loyalty than zealous conviction... well, that was perfect for clown's purposes. they would keep following its lead. and when the time came - when it was dead and gone - by then, she would be ready to join her own mentee among the swords.

perhaps clown would even be remembered fondly, in spite of everything. the mere possibility was more than it deserved, but... it was a nice thought.