TRAUMA PROM

[takewing]

Comments

[takewing]

[good; don't. she's curling her fingers into his shirt to make sure that he stays.]

Let me the one to risk my life.

[unlocksmith]

[. . . that is what he had been afraid of]

[his expression darkens for a moment; it's probably good that she can't see it, but he's already pushed her this far. . .]

[he'll just have to make sure their sacrifice isn't denied]

All right.

[takewing]

[Thanks are probably the last thing he wants to hear right now, so she simply nods.]

As for the sacrifice . . .

[unlocksmith]

Somethin' we know she'll accept.

. . . which means it has to be somethin' important to us.

[takewing]

[She can already feel her control over her anger slipping again. Why should we have to give up what's ours for the sake of what's ours?!

Sucks in a breath, shoulders trembling faintly.]

There's rather a lot that's important to me, and not much that I'm willing to hand over to the likes of her.

[unlocksmith]

Trust me, I feel the same way.

[. . . in fact now that he thinks about it there is very little important to him he would risk sacrificing]

[takewing]

. . . Well. It's my life. If it's to be paid for, it should be by me.

[unlocksmith]

You're already giving up somethin' important to you, Nalea.

[your principles]

Now it's my turn.

[takewing]

This isn't about turns.

[unlocksmith]

It's about not lettin' you do things alone when you're already sufferin'.

[takewing]

[Frowns up at him.]

I don't want you giving something up for my sake.

[unlocksmith]

You know I would give up anythin' to keep you alive.

[and now that he frames it that way, a few things are starting to come to mind]

[takewing]

There are some things I won't allow you to give up.

[Just. Just so we're clear on that.]

[unlocksmith]

. . .

[the hand that's against hers over his heart twitches]

Fire.

[takewing]

. . . What?

[unlocksmith]

I can give up my fire.

[takewing]

Khoalan I don't know if you noticed but a god gave you that . . .

[unlocksmith]

And?

[man it's not like he wants it anyway]

[takewing]

And that means that giving it up is a terrible idea.

[unlocksmith]

It ain't gonna hurt me that much. How painful could losin' a bit of fire be?

[note how he never calls it magic]

[takewing]

Fire tends to burn.

[Giving him a Look.]

Khoalan, let me do it. I could give up . . . [what do I have that's worth my life, that I'm willing to part with?] . . . My right hand.

[unlocksmith]

You're already givin' up enough.

[said sternly]

I won't sit around and so nothin'.

[takewing]

[Stern tones aren't enough to make her back down.]

My morals won't save my life. If I'm going to live, I'm going to fight for it. ... We can fight for it. Together.

[Though the knowledge that doing so may spell death for some innocent stranger, or a newfound friend . . . Ducks her head, sucking in a sharp breath.]

[unlocksmith]

. . .

[clenches his teeth for a moment, breathing out sharply]

. . . if it really is a matter of how difficult it is for us, then my fire may not be enough.

[takewing]

. . . Khoalan . . .

[Pulling back a little.]