[ He thinks at first that Dextera is giving in, that he's steeling himself to throw away whatever it is that's inside that sack. And while some small part of him does wonder if perhaps Dextera faces the same consequences that he might from the Regent for failure -- the way Dextera had described his state of affairs previously hadn't indicated as such. So it should be fine, right? As long as he can force Dextera to relinquish whatever secret weapon he's hiding so he can turn the other way under the pretense of having done his duty it should be fine, right?
Then Dextera tries to yank that bag out of his grip. ]
-- you little ... !
[ There's the heavy stomp of his boot as he crowds a half-step further into Dextera's personal space, looming directly over him, so close they're almost chest to chest. And the only reason he doesn't immediately sock Dextera in the face is because he feels that pang of concern gnawing at the edges of his thoughts.
Conflict etches itself clear on his features even as he tightens his grip on the bag, forbidding Dextera from fleeing. But at least that desperate pulse of fear and guilt does its job -- Gen looks displeased, but when he gives a violent huff and speaks again after a long moment of tense consideration, just a fraction of the hostility's been shaved off his words. ]
... are you really that afraid? [ He still sounds dubious. How can he not? He doesn't have enough information to connect the dots of why Dextera seems so genuinely concerned about revealing the contents of some bag to him. But he can't fully deny the possibility that Dextera's concern for him might be sincere. (Maybe a small part of him even wants to believe it.) His grip on the bag loosens ever so slightly even as he grits, ] We're all out here stuck in this big mess, and you really want me to believe you're that scared for -- [ me ] ... whatever you're hiding?
[ He's doubtful. Of course he is. But the fact that he's asking Dextera for confirmation says something, doesn't he? Maybe some part of him wants to be swayed into believing Dextera. ]
no subject
Then Dextera tries to yank that bag out of his grip. ]
-- you little ... !
[ There's the heavy stomp of his boot as he crowds a half-step further into Dextera's personal space, looming directly over him, so close they're almost chest to chest. And the only reason he doesn't immediately sock Dextera in the face is because he feels that pang of concern gnawing at the edges of his thoughts.
Conflict etches itself clear on his features even as he tightens his grip on the bag, forbidding Dextera from fleeing. But at least that desperate pulse of fear and guilt does its job -- Gen looks displeased, but when he gives a violent huff and speaks again after a long moment of tense consideration, just a fraction of the hostility's been shaved off his words. ]
... are you really that afraid? [ He still sounds dubious. How can he not? He doesn't have enough information to connect the dots of why Dextera seems so genuinely concerned about revealing the contents of some bag to him. But he can't fully deny the possibility that Dextera's concern for him might be sincere. (Maybe a small part of him even wants to believe it.) His grip on the bag loosens ever so slightly even as he grits, ] We're all out here stuck in this big mess, and you really want me to believe you're that scared for -- [ me ] ... whatever you're hiding?
[ He's doubtful. Of course he is. But the fact that he's asking Dextera for confirmation says something, doesn't he? Maybe some part of him wants to be swayed into believing Dextera. ]