12/11/2025, 6:36 AM
Skill : 「 None */5 」
For the first time since the start of their interaction, Alaric’s expression failed to sharpen. His lips did not pull into a devious grin and there was no mischief dancing behind his molten-colored gaze, instead his features seemed to still. Phia had touched down upon something she was never meant to be aware of, at least that was how Ric felt.
His ear twitched faintly, a subconscious cue he had heard the words she’d spoken. His face was cold and unreadable, and she had no idea it was a sign to be fearful of—the calm before the storm, so to speak.
He looked at her then, his level of focus heightened and direct. Alaric felt his body shift, adjusting to carefully watch her. There was a subtle intensity there, as if Phia had asked him something forbidden, but he wasn’t going to let her simply walk away from such a topic. The claws of his own reality had already sunk into him, anchoring him there and now she would be anchored, too.
Alaric drew in a small breath through his nose, the tension in his shoulders ebbing away slightly.
His shoulders lifted into a shrug, but it was different this time. Earlier it had been loose and nonchalant, but this time the stiffness of the motion didn’t suit him and his care-free mask.
Sharply, Alaric’s teeth clicked shut, stopping himself from saying anymore. The action was quick and almost frantic, like he’d revealed things he shouldn’t have. The Crane allowed his attention to shift toward the open plains, settling on the empty horizon.
He cleared his throat and shrugged once more, this time a bit more convincingly, as if he reminded himself who he was playing as.
Alaric growled quietly to himself, visions of Mauve flashing in his mind.
With an irritated huff, Alaric shot a glance towards Phia, wondering how the girl might handle it all.
For the first time since the start of their interaction, Alaric’s expression failed to sharpen. His lips did not pull into a devious grin and there was no mischief dancing behind his molten-colored gaze, instead his features seemed to still. Phia had touched down upon something she was never meant to be aware of, at least that was how Ric felt.
His ear twitched faintly, a subconscious cue he had heard the words she’d spoken. His face was cold and unreadable, and she had no idea it was a sign to be fearful of—the calm before the storm, so to speak.
Loved?a one-word question, a simple repeat of the word she’d used. It tasted rotten on his tongue, but his voice was not mocking nor aggravated. If anything, Ric’s tone was frightfully hollow.
He looked at her then, his level of focus heightened and direct. Alaric felt his body shift, adjusting to carefully watch her. There was a subtle intensity there, as if Phia had asked him something forbidden, but he wasn’t going to let her simply walk away from such a topic. The claws of his own reality had already sunk into him, anchoring him there and now she would be anchored, too.
Alaric drew in a small breath through his nose, the tension in his shoulders ebbing away slightly.
Love doesn’t mean much. She made me feel like a fool.his jaw clenched after the words escaped his mouth. The tension that riddled his body was evident, even his toes curled until his nails dug into the earth.
His shoulders lifted into a shrug, but it was different this time. Earlier it had been loose and nonchalant, but this time the stiffness of the motion didn’t suit him and his care-free mask.
When someone makes you feel small… when they make you feel like you’re not enough—
Sharply, Alaric’s teeth clicked shut, stopping himself from saying anymore. The action was quick and almost frantic, like he’d revealed things he shouldn’t have. The Crane allowed his attention to shift toward the open plains, settling on the empty horizon.
He cleared his throat and shrugged once more, this time a bit more convincingly, as if he reminded himself who he was playing as.
Point is… Ya lash out, or at least, I do. I don’t do the whole beggin’, pleadin’, mournin’, “why don’t you love me” bullshit. I get angry. I get stupid. I yell. I bite before I think,What was the point in needing to beg someone to love you? Alaric knew by now that love wasn’t for everyone, especially him.
Alaric growled quietly to himself, visions of Mauve flashing in his mind.
She stood in my way, tried stoppin’ me after she broke me. After she said my name like it meant somethin’ and then went off to moan some asshole’s name in her dreams…a single cackle left him, but fury was burning in his gaze. He was still so fucking pissed.
I shoved her, and she shoved back. I snarled, I snapped, I wanted to get the fuck away from her. But she wouldn’t let me, so she learned the hard way,Alaric fucking hate that day, it did nothing but annoy him to recall it all.
With an irritated huff, Alaric shot a glance towards Phia, wondering how the girl might handle it all.
Well, now you know what you’re dealin’ with, plant girl. Whatcha think?
