[ he prefers it if this gives alina more reason to be cautious of him, if he's seen more as threat than console, because he knows that he carries danger where he goes, that good intentions always lead to someone getting hurt. it's for the best for everyone here to be on their guard, because it's not some welcoming family, not when everyone is here for something they want, something they've already made a point in proving they'd do anything to get once they made that deal.
this isn't the envoys, this isn't a family — (and even if it were, if he let himself get close, he knows the broken person he can become if he loses them, never again —)
but he doesn't anticipate the sudden yank of her collar, the way she drags the fabric down to reveal the trapped bone within, almost as if surgically implanted somehow. by her words, however they were placed there, it clearly hadn't been by choice, and for a moment, he's caught silent without words, eyes peering across the scarred map of her collar.
his hand drops lower, the smoke wisping away from his face, hardened look softening against his own will. he swallows subtly, trying to retain it back, this appearance of selfish interest, to curse away any innate inkling for concern. ] Then you don't need me telling you what you already know.
no subject
this isn't the envoys, this isn't a family — (and even if it were, if he let himself get close, he knows the broken person he can become if he loses them, never again —)
but he doesn't anticipate the sudden yank of her collar, the way she drags the fabric down to reveal the trapped bone within, almost as if surgically implanted somehow. by her words, however they were placed there, it clearly hadn't been by choice, and for a moment, he's caught silent without words, eyes peering across the scarred map of her collar.
his hand drops lower, the smoke wisping away from his face, hardened look softening against his own will. he swallows subtly, trying to retain it back, this appearance of selfish interest, to curse away any innate inkling for concern. ] Then you don't need me telling you what you already know.