[ the tension doesn't leave her until he finally walks away. up until that moment, Ruby doesn't dare lift her head, still anticipating violence: waiting for the moment he kicks her in the ribs, or bears down on her with his heel digging into her spine until she buckles and lies flat—or maybe at best, he'll plant his foot on her side just to shove her over. none of it is new to Rudbeckia. whether it's to cause pain or humiliation, she's been through all of it.
far more surprising is that he doesn't do anything. Gen stalks off without so much as touching her, and Ruby is left trembling, unable to feel any sort of anger or indignation in the aftermath. she does spare a bitter thought: he'd bitched about her pathetic display, but it worked, didn't it? she played dead, and he treated her like roadkill. this is the only way she can survive.
as much as she would like to run and hide elsewhere, the library is the safest place in the castle. there's nowhere to go. she returns to her books, curled up in a corner like a wounded animal. thank god that's over! this counts as a success because clearly he won't speak to her anymore! ]
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far more surprising is that he doesn't do anything. Gen stalks off without so much as touching her, and Ruby is left trembling, unable to feel any sort of anger or indignation in the aftermath. she does spare a bitter thought: he'd bitched about her pathetic display, but it worked, didn't it? she played dead, and he treated her like roadkill. this is the only way she can survive.
as much as she would like to run and hide elsewhere, the library is the safest place in the castle. there's nowhere to go. she returns to her books, curled up in a corner like a wounded animal. thank god that's over! this counts as a success because clearly he won't speak to her anymore! ]