the venomless snake

While he sat before her, allowing his attention to wander the surroundings- save for an ear tilted in her direction- her own sapphire gaze remained fixed in place. Glaring at the back of his head as he spoke. If you’re more than a plaything, start acting like it. “And how would you have it that I act?” She immediately fired back. She had a good idea as to what the ideal would be. But she’d like to have an idea as to how far off reality Rhazien was before she answered.

As he suddenly turned to face her, it seemed he seemed to study her expression much like she had tried to do with his. But the more he tried to lead her to a more comfortable resignation. The more she began to simmer on the inside. Even more so she couldn’t really begin to comprehend the logic in his words. “What I’m hearing is that they can be more than just a toy. But they are a toy no less, just a toy with other uses. So you’re whole … attempt … at achieving compliance via motivational speech lacks the draw you seem to think is there” His denial at her accusation of the manipulation was frustratingly hilarious, but there was no laughter from her. Not this time. As he tried to provoke her into considering playing along, she couldn’t get past her own ingrained aversion to do much critical thinking on the matter. “Why be prey when you can stand alongside the predator and be domesticated prey,” She echoed, trying to mock the tone of his voice in an exaggerated way. “Is that what you’re asking? To me that just seems to be the insurance of prey when the hunt is unsuccessful. But what do I know … ?” I’m just a Sidi. She almost finished, but refused to identify herself as such, even if it was meant to be a barb at Rhazien’s expense.

She was acutely aware of his expression staggering as he adopted a more serious note. But as he had managed to disrupt her peace and worked her into an annoyed frustration, she couldn’t hold herself back. She was reactionary after all. “Sephiran has already professed his love for me- actually at the thought I might have been- as he said ‘tainted’- by you amidst a psychiatric break at the very idea, and it does me absolutely no good. In fact, the only thing that has been semi useful is his possession because it seems that he has all the likes of you and your relatives convinced he is something worth respect- or fear. I can’t tell which.” Aurelia seethed, her anger bubbling to the surface once again as she searched for any hint that a mark had been made.

"Aurelia Veratti"