02.Sep.12, 09:46 PM
I am alone Talian. Sorry to burst your illusions of camaraderie...
It had been a while since Talian had been so gravely offended. He inhaled sharply and narrowed his eyes in the subtlest of ways, far more subtle than his typical expressions, and simply glared back at Sanderon as he continued. Talian was no fool; he knew how unrestrained emotions could be. He knew what it felt like to say something out of frustration or to lash out at someone who was trying to help. That didn't mean he was happy to hear that argument, the melodramatic comparison of bad experiences as if it were some sort of contest. The dragonriders were good at that themselves, whining constantly about their plague and berating northerners for complaining about their kidnapping all in the same breath. No one had a right to claim their own pain as the worst.
Besides, Talian had his own question in response. Have they molested you yet? It lurked behind his stare, expressing itself only as a darkening cloud on his face, but he dared not speak the words. He refused to weaponize it. That wasn't something to throw in someone's face. Besides, it sound like this kid was too caught up in his own problems. He needed to go on thinking he was the center of the universe. That's what Tal had needed at one point, too.
Besides, he didn't want to tell anyone.
It didn't mean he wasn't still offended, but Talian had a way of ignoring abuse and making friends with people who treated him poorly. He instead just listened, though his pity didn't stop his next response.
"Running away? That's incredibly stupid," he said curtly. He didn't intend it rude nor did his tone even hint at rudeness, but rather just a cold, hard fact. "There are large felines out there who move in packs of six to fifteen and are quite capable of killing even large dragons."
He realized he was being too technical. He scolded himself, then backed off. He sighed and went back to wringing his hands, his old nervous habit. "You want to stay on the island?" he inquired. "I didn't expect that, but I don't see why they wouldn't allow it. I can't SPEAK for them, though.."
It had been a while since Talian had been so gravely offended. He inhaled sharply and narrowed his eyes in the subtlest of ways, far more subtle than his typical expressions, and simply glared back at Sanderon as he continued. Talian was no fool; he knew how unrestrained emotions could be. He knew what it felt like to say something out of frustration or to lash out at someone who was trying to help. That didn't mean he was happy to hear that argument, the melodramatic comparison of bad experiences as if it were some sort of contest. The dragonriders were good at that themselves, whining constantly about their plague and berating northerners for complaining about their kidnapping all in the same breath. No one had a right to claim their own pain as the worst.
Besides, Talian had his own question in response. Have they molested you yet? It lurked behind his stare, expressing itself only as a darkening cloud on his face, but he dared not speak the words. He refused to weaponize it. That wasn't something to throw in someone's face. Besides, it sound like this kid was too caught up in his own problems. He needed to go on thinking he was the center of the universe. That's what Tal had needed at one point, too.
Besides, he didn't want to tell anyone.
It didn't mean he wasn't still offended, but Talian had a way of ignoring abuse and making friends with people who treated him poorly. He instead just listened, though his pity didn't stop his next response.
"Running away? That's incredibly stupid," he said curtly. He didn't intend it rude nor did his tone even hint at rudeness, but rather just a cold, hard fact. "There are large felines out there who move in packs of six to fifteen and are quite capable of killing even large dragons."
He realized he was being too technical. He scolded himself, then backed off. He sighed and went back to wringing his hands, his old nervous habit. "You want to stay on the island?" he inquired. "I didn't expect that, but I don't see why they wouldn't allow it. I can't SPEAK for them, though.."