[ Warriorhead's movement is not particularly quick, but it's so unexpected that he finds no time to pull back before that hand clamps around his neck.
It doesn't hurt, Warriorhead is not poised to attack, but his heart rate still rises, hands reflexively closing around the offending arm. When he'd met Warriorhead in his rover, weeks ago, the thought had occured to him that he'd be a smear as soon as Warriorhead considered it a good idea, and now there are several outcomes to this exchange running through Noh-Varr's mind, none of them pleasant. But seconds pass and the sword doesn't drop, and just as his instructor isn't applying pressure, neither is Noh-Varr. The quick surge of panic eases as quickly as it came into a hyper-aware state. Warriorhead is arriving on the tail end of several difficult conversations he's had today, with people in various states of emotional upset, and equally varied capacity for dealing with it. And that question, while casual, forces him to think on all of them. 'Many noticed your loss', he said--Noh-Varr has noticed. Around his left temple are the yellowed remains of that morning's bruises, courtesy of Annie. That they have stayed this long means Noh-Varr wanted to keep them, maybe as a reminder to himself. He doesn't quite make the connection between Warrior's comment and the imposition, but he understands the important message: his instructor is displeased.
All the reasons that had led to that choice seem fleeting now. Just a few days ago he'd told Warriorhead that rationality and feelings went poorly together. Vriska is a cause of protectiveness in him: she reminds him of himself. And he'd let her bear the weight of his death, set her up to fail, and she had. For what? He'd hurt the closest friends he'd made here. Failed his team. For what he can see now was his own ego, fueled by emotion. He hasn't really learned anything since Oubliette, and that, above the rest, frustrates him.
Moments pass in silence before he is put down, gently. There will be no marks at his jaw in a manner of minutes, as he diverts nanites to the area. ]
Yes.
[ His voice is rough from being suspended, but loud enough, and unwavering. He's uncertain what response his answer will get him, but is willing to meet it. ]
no subject
It doesn't hurt, Warriorhead is not poised to attack, but his heart rate still rises, hands reflexively closing around the offending arm. When he'd met Warriorhead in his rover, weeks ago, the thought had occured to him that he'd be a smear as soon as Warriorhead considered it a good idea, and now there are several outcomes to this exchange running through Noh-Varr's mind, none of them pleasant. But seconds pass and the sword doesn't drop, and just as his instructor isn't applying pressure, neither is Noh-Varr. The quick surge of panic eases as quickly as it came into a hyper-aware state. Warriorhead is arriving on the tail end of several difficult conversations he's had today, with people in various states of emotional upset, and equally varied capacity for dealing with it. And that question, while casual, forces him to think on all of them. 'Many noticed your loss', he said--Noh-Varr has noticed. Around his left temple are the yellowed remains of that morning's bruises, courtesy of Annie. That they have stayed this long means Noh-Varr wanted to keep them, maybe as a reminder to himself. He doesn't quite make the connection between Warrior's comment and the imposition, but he understands the important message: his instructor is displeased.
All the reasons that had led to that choice seem fleeting now. Just a few days ago he'd told Warriorhead that rationality and feelings went poorly together. Vriska is a cause of protectiveness in him: she reminds him of himself. And he'd let her bear the weight of his death, set her up to fail, and she had. For what? He'd hurt the closest friends he'd made here. Failed his team. For what he can see now was his own ego, fueled by emotion. He hasn't really learned anything since Oubliette, and that, above the rest, frustrates him.
Moments pass in silence before he is put down, gently. There will be no marks at his jaw in a manner of minutes, as he diverts nanites to the area. ]
Yes.
[ His voice is rough from being suspended, but loud enough, and unwavering. He's uncertain what response his answer will get him, but is willing to meet it. ]