27.Jan.12, 03:19 AM
As Talian gazed back at B'jin, his tawny eyes still bright and moist with unfallen tears, something inside him clicked. His features visibly softened and he finally looked away. He'd seen something shift in B'jin the moment he flinched from a hypothesized blow. The greenrider looked horrified, even offended that Talian had cringed from him.
Why did it matter? To Talian, that was the first shred of sincerity he'd seen in the man. It was the first involuntary indication B'jin had given that he wasn't some sort of filthy liar. Talian briefly entertained the idea that B'jn wasn't there to taunt him or manipulate him after all. A man could fake pity or apologies, but it was hard to fake that kind of surprise. Talian's eyelids drooped half-shut and he wrung his hands in his lap, trying to make sense of the development as he listened to B'jin continue to speak.
I do what I am required by my superiors, just as I am sure you did growing up
That line evoked the first new reaction from Talian. His eyes widened and his lip quivered momentarily. It struck far too close to home. He'd spent his entire life doing just that. His father, the master crafter...they were all the same. The dragonriders would ultimately be no different, of that he was sure. The proof was right in front of him.
He tentatively looked to B'jin again. His favorite food? What a random question. "...Eh..." he squeaked, clearly taken off guard by the question. Off-guard was good, though. It lowered his defenses. He almost seemed physically larger as he relaxed from his cowering posture and 'unfolded' himself a bit. Heh, his favorite food. Did stimulants count?
"I've...never really thought of it. I like sweet things, though," he said. "I...well, and klah. I used to get scolded for drinking too much of it," he added, testing the waters of elaboration. He refused to look B'jin in the eyes anymore; strange behavior from a boy who almost always insisted on eye contact.
Why did it matter? To Talian, that was the first shred of sincerity he'd seen in the man. It was the first involuntary indication B'jin had given that he wasn't some sort of filthy liar. Talian briefly entertained the idea that B'jn wasn't there to taunt him or manipulate him after all. A man could fake pity or apologies, but it was hard to fake that kind of surprise. Talian's eyelids drooped half-shut and he wrung his hands in his lap, trying to make sense of the development as he listened to B'jin continue to speak.
I do what I am required by my superiors, just as I am sure you did growing up
That line evoked the first new reaction from Talian. His eyes widened and his lip quivered momentarily. It struck far too close to home. He'd spent his entire life doing just that. His father, the master crafter...they were all the same. The dragonriders would ultimately be no different, of that he was sure. The proof was right in front of him.
He tentatively looked to B'jin again. His favorite food? What a random question. "...Eh..." he squeaked, clearly taken off guard by the question. Off-guard was good, though. It lowered his defenses. He almost seemed physically larger as he relaxed from his cowering posture and 'unfolded' himself a bit. Heh, his favorite food. Did stimulants count?
"I've...never really thought of it. I like sweet things, though," he said. "I...well, and klah. I used to get scolded for drinking too much of it," he added, testing the waters of elaboration. He refused to look B'jin in the eyes anymore; strange behavior from a boy who almost always insisted on eye contact.