"Don’t you dare speak to me like that. "
DEATHLESS | accepting !
❛ then do not behave so atrociously, sir! ❜ the moment ofanger is entirely uncharacteristic – even she is shocked, the words escapingher before she can cage them up again. heads turn towards them at the sound ofher outburst, though blue meets no eyes but gaston’s. her own burn withdistaste, & she is very conscious of the space she has put between them,having taken steps backwards even as she turned to chastise him. around herwrist, kai’s fingers close, & he leans low to murmur cautious words intohis sister’s ear, but she finds herself wrenching her hand from his grip,ignoring the tone of worry in his voice. she knows that they are nobodies inthis new town, arriving in disgrace; she knows that gaston is beloved by thepeople in this town, & should it come to it, no-one will defend her againsthim, but – despite her brave face – she is tired.
this town is not yet a home to her, though she is trying tomake it one, & these people are not her friends, though she gives them thebenefit of the doubt, assuming that, when her family is no longer a curiosity,the gossip will stop. all of that, she is happy to take on the chin, but tofind kai slipping into old vices in the company of this man, slipping into debtto him, as if they do not already suffer under the crushing weight of it,hearing how he speaks of them, of those who surround him, of the other women ofthe village…
no. that is where blue draws the line.
❛ i will thank you to return my brother to my company. ❜ hervoice is quiet now, her tone ( barely ) civil, though bile burns in the back ofher throat, stomach twisting into hard knots as regret hits her in full force –what has she done? ❛ & i will thank you to speak like a gentleman the nexttime we meet. if you find my language so shameful, i would advise you not touse it yourself. ❜
