thunderproof | 𝒊𝒏𝒃𝒐𝒙.

Not you in specific, particularly, ❰ adalia allows, slowly. perhaps that amount of candow was a misstep? ❱

It's... There are people I wouldn't expect that of, probably. Myrobalan, maybe. But you, I can't read at all. So it's safer to assume, than to invest and turn out to be wrong.

❰ because she's experienced that, she's had a crush on someone who considered her a project and the realization that he thought she needed fixing somehow was devastating. ❱

I'm... afraid.

❰ and apparently she hurt gwenaëlle because of it. what was it she was just saying... ❱

( up until those very last words, gwenaëlle is still prepared to put her crystal down and write this whole thing off for a lost cause—

and the small noise of frustration she makes suggests that would be so much fucking easier. but she says, not entirely mollified, )

You'd have an easier time if you stopped trying to invent a mystery and just listened to what I say. There's nothing to parse. If I was at all difficult to read, I'd still be in fucking Orlais, but I'm not. The only person I find easy to manipulate is my husband, and only because I can get him hard.

Edited 2018-05-09 08:55 (UTC)

❰ and here adalia was all ready to continue attempting to smooth ruffled feathers, and then gwenaëlle drops that in her lap and ignoring it is almost physically painful. but she apparently did gwenaëlle a disservice, and she's not going to be distracted from her apology by new information. ❱

At the risk of sounding like a melodramatic infant, ❰ there is no risk, she is painfully aware, ❱ I'm not quite used to people who mean what they say. I'm... You may have noticed, I'm sort of difficult. I'm too brash, or I'm too loud, or I'm too irreverent. But I have useful skills, and I want to be cared for. People take advantage.

❰ which all sounds grossly stupid and insignificant when said out loud, but — if not forgiveness, then understanding, please, just that — ❱

I'm sorry to have hurt you. I've never met someone like you before, and I'm applying all the wrong rules.

You have,

( after a moment, a little tight still but more wry, some of those feathers willing to be unruffled— )

Maker. Yourself.

( too much, too direct, too irreverent, too desperate for approval—yes, that's all rather familiar. )

I don't keep anyone around me for any reason other than I want them around me. I haven't the patience or the fortitude for bullshit to pretend I like someone I don't—you will always know exactly where you stand with me. Because I will tell you. Whether you like it or not.

❰ certainly you are confused, friend, adalia couldn't possibly be anything like gwenaëlle — for one thing gwenaëlle apparently has her shit together enough to have a husband, where adalia has to scramble and fight her own crushing inadequacies in order to keep one single friend.

for another gwen dresses so much nicer. ❱

I think if I treated you like I want to be treated you might hate that even more than this, probably, ❰ is easier to say than anything that would be remotely close to how adalia is actually feeling, which is strangely close to tears??? this has been a difficult time. straightforward people are strange. ❱

But I'll remember that.

Good.

( a that's that, then heavily implied, and she breezes right by it all (ugh, feelings, even her own; especially her own)— )

I treated Pietro badly and I shouldn't have and he's every right to feel and say what he likes on the matter. That's all.

I'll remember that too.

❰ but it's by far the least important thing that's happened in this conversation. ❱

I'd ask who your husband could possibly be, buuuuut...

( ugh fuck she's getting sloppy )

I married Thor of Asgard and we're keeping it a secret because Loki would lose his mind.

( utterly deadpan )

I'll have to let his mgisterialness know that you spend so much of your time in the Provost's office, then, I'm sure he'd have opinions.

❰ adalia sounds a bit too delighted by this, sorry. ❱

The Provost and I have been friends for more than two years, it's not remarkable.

( what's remarkable is how no one has fucking remarked on it, honestly. )

I mean the friendship probably was, at one point.

❰ if gwen's initial snippiness about elven things was anything to go by, anyway. ❱

I'm sorry I was shittalking your husband, earlier. In my defense I didn't know he was your husband at the time.

I've said worse about him to his—

I don't know what you're talking about.

❰ gwen ur cute ❱

I'd ask if I have to pretend to be married to him as well, same as I pretend I need the witherstalk tea, but —

Thank you for reminding me that you can keep a secret.

I am better at secrets than you'd think, probably.

❰ considering no one knows she's a soulless minion of an ancient dragon god of undeath — ❱

I won't tell anyone about you two. I don't see how it's anyone's business, for one thing, and for another... well, what I just said, mostly.

I appreciate it.

( it's quiet, but she means it. )

It isn't anyone's business. It won't matter, forever, but—for now.

It's not. Anyone's business, that is.

❰ said with all the genuine gentility adalia can muster, trying to sound sincere...

however. ❱

Him, though? "I'm older than you and you're insignificant so shut up and do as I say", him, really?

( gwenaëlle could wax poetic on thranduil's virtues if she were so inclined—but she wouldn't offer them up as counterweight to his flaws. many of the virtues would grate, probably, if he weren't such an arsehole into the bargain. )

Yes,

( eventually, decisively, )

him.

( she is quite satisfied with her choice. )

Well, so long as he makes you happy and treats you well.

❰ which it sounds like he does, at least. ...but. adalia is realizing something. ❱

Oh, gods, I know too much about the kind of sex the Provost enjoys. I'll never be able to not remember any of that.

𝒊𝒏𝒃𝒐𝒙.

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