onuscientia:
the audacity of him, to play the shocked fool, as she finally emerges from her place of observation. he even goes so far as to toss in a sharp double take, for added emphasis, matching her jovial approach with a faux stretch of his own lips thereafter, as if to WELCOME her to their humble camp. to welcome… and to warn, that she treads upon very thin ice, in wandering into their territory, INTRUDING on the peace and tranquility that already evaded them, cursed as they were.
“ master scientia? please - call me ignis. such formalities give off the wrong impression, “ he suggests lightheartedly, turning his back to her briefly, to return to his still warm beverage, though making sure to keep his free hand close to the concealed dagger at his hip. tapping… ready, and all too willing. “ your invitation is a peculiar one, admittedly ;; surely, you did not come here to enlist me as your battle partner? “ ——– though, her claim was not in error. they were heavily outnumbered, no matter how many troops they managed to dispose of ;; and, while more would surely be lying in wait not too far from the ones they’d just taken down, every little bit count. especially if it meant noctis, and the others, would be even the slightest bit safer. “ … ah, but it would be harebrained of me to neglect acceptance. first, however— “ he pauses, to gesture with a gloved hand towards an arrangement of ingredients, “ would you care to have a meal, before we toss ourselves further into the throes of battle? if it is an ambush, as you claim, i’m sure they shan’t be venturing too far. “
Oh, his reactions are something like gold to her.
Homme confidant, to act as such when he has clearly spotted her from afar, though she supposes this is all part of this game they still aim to play, still dangle twixt their words and weave ‘tween their actions. Que les dieux pardonnent, she harbours too much joy from this sort of sport, and certainly she’ll not abandon it for the knowledge of what is truly at work here---la tromperie, la lourdeur de la guerre, she knows---even if she must keep a wary gaze ‘pon the uncertainty of their pretence.
Still, she spills no lies from her lips, even if she does so wear them ‘cross flaxen brows.
“If you so insist, Sir Ignis.” Truly, she is one made and born into formalité, and so ‘tis a second later that she bequeaths him with a gracious, quick curtsy in response to the utter tension permeating the air, to the way he turns away despite her status. She approaches slowly; yes, she wishes to confirm, she did indeed come solely for such intention. Well, perhaps the idea of enlisting the prince’s aid came to mind first though she certainly cannot complain at the compliance she’s managed to secure from his retainer. Such luck she’s stumbled onto.
“Comme c'est gentil deta part,” she murmurs, a genuinely benign smile gracing roseate lips now; ‘tis quite possible the man wishes to poison her to whittle down his opposition but, still, it’s a touch kinder than what she expected. “Smart man,” comes the smooth utterance as she takes a few steps further into their camp---tension hugs her shoulders momentarily, certain the other has not taken to her so graciously as he appears to have ( elle comprendrait s'il la trahissait en tant que telle, would in fact do so herself if it benefitted her in turn ) but it bleeds out within but a second---and eyes the array of items he proffers.
“You are quite right; they are not entirely… shy but neither are they so bold as to take action so recklessly.” A pause; perchance the situation is serious but she has always been one to aim for levity wherever possible, even if such… jests test at the trust placed in her. “Sometimes they send scouts first to ascertain positions of their adversaries before deciding to visit ‘pon them their fury,” she says, offering a quietly sly look in accompaniment. Let him believe her or not, she does not care. She’s certain such suspicions have already crossed his mind. “But I’ve not seen any as of late. Perhaps they’re staying their hand. ‘Tis good intuition you have to take strength when opportunity is offered.”
