caughtinanetwork | (no subject)

Dualscar and Mindfang are seated across from each other in a room lit by candles, wood panelled and close - a ship's cabin. A crystal decanter of a deep red wine open between them, mostly empty. Their glasses are also mostly empty, but neither of them seem inclined to refill them.

Mindfang is rather distracted, you see. A troll in a slave's tunic kneels on the floor between her legs, her hands reaching up to undo the ties on Mindfang's shirt. Her hands are shaking visibly, but she doesn't hesitate in her obedience to Mindfang's will. Though the slave's face is hidden, her horns match Dolorosa's. Mindfang strokes the slave's hair, watching Dualscar under heavily-lidded eyes.

Dualscar is watching the goings-on with eyes narrowed, his fists clenching and unclenching in frustration. "I'm done wwith this, Spinneret! I'm not goin' to sit here an let you wwalk all ovver me. If you're not interested in wwhat I havve to offer, then I'll just fuckin' leavve, understand? You'vve plied the seas at my sufferance all a this time. You can't just treat me like this!"

Mindfang flicks her free hand carelessly. Though her words are muffled, it's clear that she's inviting him to leave. Dualscar leaps to his feet, knocking over his chair. With a snarl, he strides from the room, cape rippling, and slams the door behind himself.

[OOC: Interactive or not is fine!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That she was using you, as she used everyone.

[There's no bitterness there, only a quiet acceptance of what she knows to be true. It would be a lie to say she's come to terms with it.. but she's getting there.]

[He sniffs and tugs the blankets further up] Wwell, wwe did hate each other. I wwasn't surprised at that. Only it seemed she lost interest in me. You wwere the bystandin' vvictim in that.

Mm..

[She glances away, sighs a little bit.]

I apologise, it was not my place to make comment.

It's all right. [He sighs a bit, too] You aren't my slavve any longer, an you can comment on wwhatevver you feel movved to. It ain't as though anyone else holds off.

[There's a little smile at that, and she settles, watching him.]

I have no reason to speak unkindly of you regarding that particular instance. I.. believe that I remember it, though only vaguely.

[He frowns, though it's probably hard to see it on the video feed.]

I don't feel as though I distinguished myself in any wway wwell, on a lot a levvels. I ovverreacted so Spinneret's rightly contemptuous a me, an I certainly didn't help you in any wway, so Signless is angry wwith me.

You did not.. but it was a long time ago.

[She pauses then, tucks a wisp of hair behind her ear, and sighs.]

I would not have expected your help at that point in time.. and I do not think I would have been aware of it even if you had been moved to aid me. ... Should I speak with him on your behalf?

[He hesitates. Having her talk to his moirail on his behalf is probably a sign of weakness, but he's truly afraid to lose Signless.]

Wwell, there's no need, but if you happen to wwant to talk to him about me, an howw you feel about me noww, I wwouldn't havve anythin' to say against that.

[A nod, and another of those little, knowing smiles.]

I will, and he will know that I harbour no ill will towards you, but you should have been honest with him from the beginning, no matter what the difficulty of it.

[He gives a little growl of irritation at the mild rebuke]

It wwasn't that I meant to be dishonest. I meant to tell him! An then wwhen things wwere good I didn't wwant to make him upset for no reason.

I hope, for your sake and for his, that he can understand that.

[A frown.]

But I would not be so dismissive. It is not for 'no reason' that this discovery upsets him.

No, it's--! [He struggles to contain his frustration] I thought there wwas no real reason at the time, an I acknowwledge that I should a told him. I... I just didn't wwant to upset him.

[For a long few moments, she regards him silently, as if appraising him. In life, even with her beliefs in equality, it was not a look she would have directed at a highblood, much less a seadweller.. but here? She has no such fears. When she speaks her voice is soft, measured.]

... For his sake, or for your own?

[His silence probably speaks more than any words could. He burrows deeper into his blankets, rumbling a little with stubborn discontent. Signless definitely has his hands full with this troll as his moirail.]

I meant to tell him. Fuck, for the first wwhile I did evverythin' I could to showw him wwhat a fool he wwas to be tryin' to be kind to me.

[Signless does, indeed, and she sees that. She will have to congratulate her little one on his endless patience, one of these days.]

Perhaps he was not as foolish as you thought.. but tell me one thing, and if there is only one truly honest answer that you give me over the rest of our time here, let it be this. Do you care for him?

[He grimaces. Admitting such things is difficult, so difficult for him. To admit that he cares means he has a weakness that can be exploited, and when he's already feeling defensive, it's even harder.]

He's my fuckin' moirail an I feel genuine about that. There's no need to be questionin' my devvotion.

It is not your devotion that I question.

[Her voice is strangely hard as she says that, and she looks at him with a sharp expression that's almost challenging. Her urge to watch out for her child's wellbeing did not end when he became too old to need it.]

But I will accept your assurances, and I will speak to him for you, but I suggest that you do not put off telling him the truth any longer.

You ought not question wwhether I care for him, either! [His tone is defensive and sulky, but firm, his eyes gleaming irritably in the darkness] I wwon't put it off. I'll tell him noww.

I will question as I wish when it comes to him.

[Sulk all you like seadweller, there's no changing her mind on that one.]

Good, then. I will speak with him when you are done, if it is needed.

Only there's no need on account a the levvel a my carin' and devvotion is obvvious to any to see.

...All right.