[ an amused laugh chokes off in her throat. alright. so he doesn't concede easily, then. she shouldn't entertain any note of surprise that blooms inside of her upon learning such a fact — there is a distinctly shameless aura that surrounds him, at times. an independent air that reeks of self-satisfaction, like the cat who ate the cream.

that (incorrigible) refusal to have his bluff called is doubtlessly an improvement on that figment of a man she'd witnessed, so eager to surrender to the whims of deadly games. ]

I'm a quick study. And you seem to fancy yourself something of a master of knowledge.

[ her only tell is in the twitch of her lips. she's not so grand an actress as to be aware of every revealing tic in her expression, but playing a role has had time to come troublingly easier to her. in this particular case, her natural countenance works in her favor — no widening of her eyes necessary to give credence to an air of innocence when she cants her head back into his stroking fingertips. the amber, doe-eyed eyes she had been born with effortlessly do that trick for her. ]

Shall I fetch my notebook, then? I wouldn't want to forget any part of your lesson.