stillarhino | inbox & overflow

[As soon as he realized that Ori had misunderstood what he meant, he shook his head, still wanting to be absolutely straight with her.]

Sure, that wolf you turned into was really somethin'. But I'm just talkin' 'bout you, yo. You was fire back there.

[While fighting alongside her, he could see what she was able to do. How she was able to move and how she had tried to protect him. More than a couple of times, in fact.]

You did loads to keep Wolfie on ya an' away with. [In spite of her reasoning about the nightmare energy that they all felt back there, she willingly put herself in front of Eustace in the state he was in. That alone stood out to him.] That takes guts. With or without the nightmare energy messin' 'round with everything else.

We ain't seen each other since but lemme leas' say thanks, yo.

[ First “cool,” now “fire…” Is there no end to the madness of his lingo…!

This time, at least, she picks up on how he means the words by context. And ultimately, it’s all less important than the sentiment he’s expressing, that gratitude or what she did when they fought side-by-side. ]

I… Um, you’re welcome.

[ She says it, despite the fact that she doesn’t feel like she deserves that thanks. ]

And thank you, too. You fought so valiantly - and you were so fast, I could hardly keep track of where you were!

Heh, had to keep Wolfie busy, you know?

[Even without his psychic abilities, Beat had always been fast due to his restlessness. He knew that tapping into it here, especially during that fight had given him an extra edge.

But it wasn't enough to get back in time to help everyone. Not fast enough to get away from Eustace that Ori had to get between them. Because of that, he too didn't feel like be should be thanked.

His eyes unconsciously stray to where the bite would've been, had she been in her original form. He'd seen a glimpse of it at her home and he did his best to avert his gaze then. This time, he couldn't help himself.

A crease begins to form on his forehead as a frown pulls on the sides of his lips.]

Kinda wish I coulda done more. So you wouldn'ta gotten hurt. [He pauses.] So y'all wouldn'ta gotten wrecked.

Edited (I wanted to add more) 2022-10-04 20:07 (UTC)

[ That Beat glances over to a very specific spot in Ori’s side doesn’t escape the tiefling. She can hazard a guess as to why it is he’s chosen that particular place to look, and in turn she shifts her weight from one leg to another and folds her arms contemplatively. ]

Looking back at everything now, I think… Getting hurt was unavoidable. I think we dreamwalkers as a whole are still trying to figure out how to deal with noctaere…

[ She closes her eyes, and draws in a deep breath in and out. ]

I think we all fought well that night. We can’t help what we didn’t know. But… We can all promise to do better if this happens again. Hopefully it doesn’t. And if anything… The others and I should have done more. So that you and Susato wouldn’t have had to face such things…

[ They’re so young, after all. She doesn’t know Beat very well, but she can tell from the way he’d handled himself in battle that he’s had some experience. Still, she wishes neither of them would have had to fight, that night. They should be worried about far less dire things in their lives at such an age. ]

[When Ori shifts, Beat notices this and is quick to look elsewhere, hand reaching to rub at his other arm, a little embarrassed to have been caught staring. He doesn't mean to, after all. He hadn't seen her after he had gotten back so it was the injury that she took for him that remained etched in his mind.]

If all a' 'em are like that, sounds like somethin' we all gotta learn to deal with y'know?

[If only it were that simple. Having experienced something like that made him keenly aware of the effects of dealing with a noctaere firsthand now.

He continues to let Ori talk, even if he wants to interrupt her mid-way, but there's a sudden shift in his expression as she finishes. While he is inclined to agree that he should do better, as they all should, to prevent things from happening again, something Ori says sticks out.

The crease on his forehead deepens as his brows knit closer together and the tone of his voice suddenly borders that of a growl.]

Yo, hold up! Why you gotta single out me and Loops? Why's it just me and her who don't gotta deal with that stuff and not all y'all?

[ Once she’s finished her piece, her eyes flutter open once more to find a very different expression across Beat’s features. Her eyebrows hitch up all the more when he responds in a tone that’s just as different; clearly, something she’s said has struck a chord with him, and she draws in a sharp breath in anticipation for… well, for exchanging cross words.

Because what he says pulls her lips into a frown and, mirroring him, her brows knit together as well. Her voice, however, stays surprisingly level, drawing on an endless well of patience that she seems to have. ]

Because you’re both so young. Susato, especially. Don’t mistake me, Beat, I respect and admire that you were able to fight so well and bravely that night, but—

You two shouldn’t have had to… We should have been able to protect you both and keep you safe.

[Unlike Ori, Beat did not have the kind of patience and level-headedness she seemed to have. What she said rubbed him the wrong way and he was sure as hell going to make sure she knew that.]

I ain't mistakin' nothing! It ain't about bein' brave, or how I was fightin', or nothin', yo!

[At this point, Beat's fists clench tightly, and he holds one of them up in the air. He has no intention of hurting Ori, but he takes a step towards her, towering above her as he maintains eye contact between them. He grits his teeth and lets out a sharp breath, seething with anger, the look on his face intensifying as he speaks again.]

It don't matter that we're younger than the rest of you! I went out there 'cause wanted to help Wolfie and Teef out, aight? And I'm sure as hell that Loops wanted to do the same!

We coulda turned tail but we didn't. 'Cause we wanted to be there. For Wolfie, for Teef, and even for all y'all who was out there with us!

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