12.Apr.12, 06:33 AM
A few seconds passed, and by then Kerrin was fairly certain that the attack some part of him had been expecting wasn't going to come. After all, Indivara's reactions to things - physical or otherwise - were very rarely tempered by such notions as hesitation or respect for her older peers, and therefore the boy felt fairly confident once he'd already brushed several tangles from the long, wet hair that if he had overstepped his boundaries boldly enough to set himself up for a kick in the shins or a punch to the gut, it would have already been delivered. That hunch was answered when he glanced back into the mirror to see the proud upward tilt of Indivara's head, a sure sign that she would deign to tolerate his meddling in her affairs - this time. Only an idiot would miss the clear warning in the narrowing of her eyes, though Kerrin was familiar enough with that look and the girl who delivered it to answer her with little more than an affable smirk.
Faranth help him, but for all the abuse he took from Indivara on a regular basis there was just something about that defiant attitude of hers that he could appreciate. Sure, with both of them so headstrong they naturally bickered often, particularly now that the girl had seemingly matured out of her babyhood idolization of him and grown instead into something of a respectable accomplice and rival. But no matter what happened between them, at least Kerrin would always know when he was crossing a line with Indivara. She wasn't the hypersensitive sort of child who would hold a grudge or silently stew in her offense over some stupid thing he'd said or done - and he'd said and done plenty that might've ruined his standing with a less presumptuous girl. Nor was she the type to hide her displeasure with him behind fake smiles and little white lies while the problem grew worse and worse. No, Indivara always lashed out immediately, venting her rage in terms that anyone could understand: a scream, a punch, a curse, a kick. She never held back.
But then she would forgive him. She even called him a friend.
Indeed, Kerrin was quick to decide that it was good to see a little bit of that same relentless spirit returning to bright blue eyes. Somehow that dangerous glare of warning being narrowed on him made him feel inexplicably relaxed about the whole thing. If Indivara could survive such a brutal mauling and still be Indivara, then surely he could survive the brief humiliation of not Impressing and still be Kerrin. Shells, he was sure the adults probably had something or other to say about coming out of their respective ordeals stronger for it, or whatever.
"Indivara," he said, in a rare but smoothly delivered use of her full name as he tossed her a confident grin via the mirror's reflection. It was a look that had been too long absent from his features, but the boy didn't seem to notice the ease with which it had come out of hiding when presented with an opportunity to tease his dear friend. "You see me braid leather all the time. How different can it be?" Dutifully, Kerrin began to divide the length her hair into sections as he brushed it smooth. Just a simple braid? No problem. He could do fancier work in his sleep.
Faranth help him, but for all the abuse he took from Indivara on a regular basis there was just something about that defiant attitude of hers that he could appreciate. Sure, with both of them so headstrong they naturally bickered often, particularly now that the girl had seemingly matured out of her babyhood idolization of him and grown instead into something of a respectable accomplice and rival. But no matter what happened between them, at least Kerrin would always know when he was crossing a line with Indivara. She wasn't the hypersensitive sort of child who would hold a grudge or silently stew in her offense over some stupid thing he'd said or done - and he'd said and done plenty that might've ruined his standing with a less presumptuous girl. Nor was she the type to hide her displeasure with him behind fake smiles and little white lies while the problem grew worse and worse. No, Indivara always lashed out immediately, venting her rage in terms that anyone could understand: a scream, a punch, a curse, a kick. She never held back.
But then she would forgive him. She even called him a friend.
Indeed, Kerrin was quick to decide that it was good to see a little bit of that same relentless spirit returning to bright blue eyes. Somehow that dangerous glare of warning being narrowed on him made him feel inexplicably relaxed about the whole thing. If Indivara could survive such a brutal mauling and still be Indivara, then surely he could survive the brief humiliation of not Impressing and still be Kerrin. Shells, he was sure the adults probably had something or other to say about coming out of their respective ordeals stronger for it, or whatever.
"Indivara," he said, in a rare but smoothly delivered use of her full name as he tossed her a confident grin via the mirror's reflection. It was a look that had been too long absent from his features, but the boy didn't seem to notice the ease with which it had come out of hiding when presented with an opportunity to tease his dear friend. "You see me braid leather all the time. How different can it be?" Dutifully, Kerrin began to divide the length her hair into sections as he brushed it smooth. Just a simple braid? No problem. He could do fancier work in his sleep.