when rome's in ruins, we are the lions
Vesper’s grin returns, sharp-edged and dry, as Nova names Jack. "Yeah," he says, dragging the cloth in slow, idle circles along the bar again. "Like Jack." The name settles between them like something unspoken, familiar and flammable. "Our dear old dad is the king of keepin’ his cards close. Could win a war without showin’ a thing but a smirk." His fingers flick, silver rings catching the light. It was a skill they could both take as a lesson and a warning, though. Never showing emotion was the captain's strength as much as his most recent weakness.
There’s something almost rueful in the admission, a ghost of admiration tucked under his voice, though it doesn’t last long. Because Nova is still playing coy, twirling information like ribbon through her fingers, and Vesper—never one for patience—doesn’t bother waiting. His mind stretches with the smoothness of silk turned blade, sliding past the surface glitter of her thoughts and into the vivid recall she practically invites: warm air and too-bright lights, dancing with the dragoon like the night would never end, the pearl of snapdragon passed into her hand like a gift. No hesitation. No real thought. Just Koa’s easy grin and a whispered assurance that Safrin’s name was enough.
Vesper’s expression doesn’t change much—but the air around him cools, shadows coiling a little tighter around his ankles.
"Nova," he says mildly. His voice stays soft, but there’s steel behind it now. "You know how easy it’d be to lace a drug like that? Knock you out, fry your magic, kill you? All he had to do was hand it over and you took it like it was candy just cause he said he'd do whatever because of Safrin?" He meets her eyes, calm and piercing. "You think a man’ll tell you the truth just ‘cause he says he worships your mother? Nova. They lie. All of ‘em. Especially when you’re pretty."
The cloth stills in his hand. "You didn't know what was in it. You didn't know what it did. You just trusted him." His voice is colder now—not cruel, but cutting. And before she says that she'd met him before, and so on, he adds, "and what happens when it’s not Koa next time? What happens when it’s someone smarter? Someone worse?"
Even Jeff inches away from the edge of the bar, sensing the weight behind the warning.
There’s something almost rueful in the admission, a ghost of admiration tucked under his voice, though it doesn’t last long. Because Nova is still playing coy, twirling information like ribbon through her fingers, and Vesper—never one for patience—doesn’t bother waiting. His mind stretches with the smoothness of silk turned blade, sliding past the surface glitter of her thoughts and into the vivid recall she practically invites: warm air and too-bright lights, dancing with the dragoon like the night would never end, the pearl of snapdragon passed into her hand like a gift. No hesitation. No real thought. Just Koa’s easy grin and a whispered assurance that Safrin’s name was enough.
Vesper’s expression doesn’t change much—but the air around him cools, shadows coiling a little tighter around his ankles.
"Nova," he says mildly. His voice stays soft, but there’s steel behind it now. "You know how easy it’d be to lace a drug like that? Knock you out, fry your magic, kill you? All he had to do was hand it over and you took it like it was candy just cause he said he'd do whatever because of Safrin?" He meets her eyes, calm and piercing. "You think a man’ll tell you the truth just ‘cause he says he worships your mother? Nova. They lie. All of ‘em. Especially when you’re pretty."
The cloth stills in his hand. "You didn't know what was in it. You didn't know what it did. You just trusted him." His voice is colder now—not cruel, but cutting. And before she says that she'd met him before, and so on, he adds, "and what happens when it’s not Koa next time? What happens when it’s someone smarter? Someone worse?"
Even Jeff inches away from the edge of the bar, sensing the weight behind the warning.
free of the colosseums
☆ has a pale star tattoo beneath his left eye, and freckle-sized constellations move across his skin
☽ hair changes from bleached blonde to brown
☆ telepathic: Sunlit Shadows | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 60ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
☽ hair changes from bleached blonde to brown
☆ telepathic: Sunlit Shadows | The user can read the surface thoughts and emotions of those within a 60ft radius. Control is excellent. Note: "Thoughts and emotions" include anything written in a character's narration in a post.
