[ He leans toward her, incredulous eyebrows pushing up before he settles back again, grinning out at the continent spread dark and shattered before them. ]
And here I thought your favorite thing was trying to beat me in a duel.
[A girl can have many, no? She laughs, knowing he doesn't take offense to her teasing. There's too much love here. Her ease around him and the warmth in her eyes when she looks at him gives her away. Maelle adores Gustave, but that doesn't mean she can't bully him a little bit. It's fun.]
And excuse you, what do you mean trying? I've beaten you plenty of times.
[Just maybe not that last time before they departed to the continent.]
Okay, you've beaten me sometimes. Don't get cocky, Maelle.
[ It's light and teasing but there's a level of seriousness to it all the same: he has nightmares about Maelle leaping to an attack, giving him that brilliant, mischievous smile of hers, and then—
There's so much here that could hurt her. Kill her. His worry is a constant low-level hum under every thought and action. He's stopped noticing the times when he's stepped in front of her, a protective hand reaching out to push her back. If anything tries to get to her, it'll have to go through him, first, but... she's quick, and he's not sure he can always reach her in time. ]
Maybe your memory needs a refresher. I've been slacking on making you train while we've been here, but you could always use a real challenge, make sure you're not losing your edge.
Training is a little pointless when this is what we've trained for, isn't it? The Paintress awaits, but the Nevrons, too. I'm getting plenty of practice.
[And she keeps an eye on him. The others, too, but it's Gustave she looks to first of all. He's smart and strong but she worries that may not be enough. The beach was--bad. She thought she lost him, there, and ever since she's been determined to make sure that never happens again. She stays near. Fights harder. Right for the kill, no playing around, no theatrics. The less time something is alive, the less time Gustave is in danger. She worries less for herself.
The worst thing that could happen here is that she loses him. Really loses him.]
... but if you'd like to get revenge for my intrusive question, I'll allow a duel.
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no subject
[ He leans toward her, incredulous eyebrows pushing up before he settles back again, grinning out at the continent spread dark and shattered before them. ]
And here I thought your favorite thing was trying to beat me in a duel.
no subject
[A girl can have many, no? She laughs, knowing he doesn't take offense to her teasing. There's too much love here. Her ease around him and the warmth in her eyes when she looks at him gives her away. Maelle adores Gustave, but that doesn't mean she can't bully him a little bit. It's fun.]
And excuse you, what do you mean trying? I've beaten you plenty of times.
[Just maybe not that last time before they departed to the continent.]
Perhaps your memory is going, old man.
no subject
[ It's light and teasing but there's a level of seriousness to it all the same: he has nightmares about Maelle leaping to an attack, giving him that brilliant, mischievous smile of hers, and then—
There's so much here that could hurt her. Kill her. His worry is a constant low-level hum under every thought and action. He's stopped noticing the times when he's stepped in front of her, a protective hand reaching out to push her back. If anything tries to get to her, it'll have to go through him, first, but... she's quick, and he's not sure he can always reach her in time. ]
Maybe your memory needs a refresher. I've been slacking on making you train while we've been here, but you could always use a real challenge, make sure you're not losing your edge.
no subject
[And she keeps an eye on him. The others, too, but it's Gustave she looks to first of all. He's smart and strong but she worries that may not be enough. The beach was--bad. She thought she lost him, there, and ever since she's been determined to make sure that never happens again. She stays near. Fights harder. Right for the kill, no playing around, no theatrics. The less time something is alive, the less time Gustave is in danger. She worries less for herself.
The worst thing that could happen here is that she loses him. Really loses him.]
... but if you'd like to get revenge for my intrusive question, I'll allow a duel.
[She smiles at him, sweet as honey.]