[ someone with a hair less self-control than cassian might have accidentally given away the location of his shard right about now. he consciously doesn't move either of his hands, giving away the reason for his fingerless gloves, but he is abruptly very aware of the gemstone sunk into his skin. he's heard things about what it's like for someone else to handle your shard, and it's not an experience he's eager to have — to least of all with a woman who could probably crush it in her fist if she wanted to. who he doesn't know or trust not to do that. ]
I don't mind going back.
[ he says, carefully, watching her face. watching the arrow she's freed from her quiver. there's no way to interpret that motion, as far as he's concerned, besides as a threat. and he isn't unarmed, though it doesn't show, but he certainly doesn't have anything he could use to deflect an arrow. ]
But I understood that Alenroux wasn't closed off from anyone. Was I wrong?
[ there's good tactical reason to keep strays, even (especially?) stray shard-bearers away from encampments. he's pushing deliberately; how welcome, really, is anyone who isn't meridian? how far are they willing to go to hold this place? ]
no subject
I don't mind going back.
[ he says, carefully, watching her face. watching the arrow she's freed from her quiver. there's no way to interpret that motion, as far as he's concerned, besides as a threat. and he isn't unarmed, though it doesn't show, but he certainly doesn't have anything he could use to deflect an arrow. ]
But I understood that Alenroux wasn't closed off from anyone. Was I wrong?
[ there's good tactical reason to keep strays, even (especially?) stray shard-bearers away from encampments. he's pushing deliberately; how welcome, really, is anyone who isn't meridian? how far are they willing to go to hold this place? ]