Every whiskey that you're drinking
Charlie beams at that, genuine approval lighting her features as though Thal has just said something quietly profound. "A lot of people only ever look at outcomes," she says gently, her shoulders lifting in a small shrug that doesn’t dismiss the idea so much as soften it. "And I get why. There’s nothing worse than trying your heart out, failing anyway, and realizing no one cared that you tried in the first place." Her smile turns sympathetic rather than saccharine. "Focusing on results can be a way to protect yourself from that kind of hurt."
Her blue eyes lift then, bright and sure, and she flashes Thal a small fanged smile. "Luckily, Dygra isn’t that black and white. She sees all the little things in between. The effort, the hesitation, the choices you make when no one’s watching. That stuff matters to her, because that's how entropy works."
She waits as Thal continues, listening with a quiet, intent focus that never crowds the moment, her hands steady as she accepts the next bone when it’s finally offered. And when Thal scowls and dismisses her own words, Charlie laughs outright, shaking her head with warmth and conviction. "That doesn’t sound stupid at all," she says brightly. "Being in Dygra’s physical presence is the best."
As she takes the tibia, setting it carefully into place, her tone shifts just enough to be honest without cutting. "Dygra’s a bit above the kind of want you’re talking about," she adds softly, clearly not trying to dim the feeling behind it. "And I know that can be frustrating, especially with how all the other gods around here act." She tilts her head, considering her words, knowing that because Dygra doesn’t micromanage, she doesn’t really form those close, personal dependencies where she needs someone around or involved in what she’s doing.
Charlie smiles again, thoughtful rather than dismissive. "It’s a little like being a fish and wanting the ocean to want you in its waters. The ocean is still the ocean without the fish, and it’s definitely better with healthy ones, but it doesn’t single any one out or ask it to be somewhere specific. Thinking about it that way just...almost doesn't make sense." Her gaze lifts to Thal then, warm and steady. "That kind of connection you’re looking for doesn’t start with her wanting you. It starts inside. When you’re aligned with who you are and what you’re doing, you’re already exactly where you’re meant to be with Dygra."
Her blue eyes lift then, bright and sure, and she flashes Thal a small fanged smile. "Luckily, Dygra isn’t that black and white. She sees all the little things in between. The effort, the hesitation, the choices you make when no one’s watching. That stuff matters to her, because that's how entropy works."
She waits as Thal continues, listening with a quiet, intent focus that never crowds the moment, her hands steady as she accepts the next bone when it’s finally offered. And when Thal scowls and dismisses her own words, Charlie laughs outright, shaking her head with warmth and conviction. "That doesn’t sound stupid at all," she says brightly. "Being in Dygra’s physical presence is the best."
As she takes the tibia, setting it carefully into place, her tone shifts just enough to be honest without cutting. "Dygra’s a bit above the kind of want you’re talking about," she adds softly, clearly not trying to dim the feeling behind it. "And I know that can be frustrating, especially with how all the other gods around here act." She tilts her head, considering her words, knowing that because Dygra doesn’t micromanage, she doesn’t really form those close, personal dependencies where she needs someone around or involved in what she’s doing.
Charlie smiles again, thoughtful rather than dismissive. "It’s a little like being a fish and wanting the ocean to want you in its waters. The ocean is still the ocean without the fish, and it’s definitely better with healthy ones, but it doesn’t single any one out or ask it to be somewhere specific. Thinking about it that way just...almost doesn't make sense." Her gaze lifts to Thal then, warm and steady. "That kind of connection you’re looking for doesn’t start with her wanting you. It starts inside. When you’re aligned with who you are and what you’re doing, you’re already exactly where you’re meant to be with Dygra."
Charlie
You'll be thinking how I burn like that
Hella golden retriever energy. Small unrefined horns made of ruby. Regular spade-shaped tail.
