It's wildness, not panic, that is written across Darras' face when he whips his gaze over to Yseult. He doesn't panic easily. In a fight, in a tight spot, he knows what he will do, what he will have to do, what he is willing to do and what he can forgive himself for doing after it's done. What Yseult will forgive him for is a much shorter list, and as to what she would do--
Well, once Darras could have said, with reasonable authority, what Yseult would do. Now he doesn't know. Like that sinking pitch, when you step forward thinking there's a step there and your foot comes down on only air.
What he would say, if it were only the two of them, is that she had better help him, and not make this worse. Darras can make it perfectly worse all on his own, with no help from anyone. Case and point, he turns that look on Beleth instead.
"Maybe you didn't hear her. I wasn't attempting to steal." Not strictly a lie: he was getting away with it, so it was better than an attempt. "And I'm not here to be conscripted by any of you, for any reason. Not here to join up, not here for anything, other than--"
What exactly was Yseult's lie? Besides stupid, made-up, transparent--but when he looks back at her again, that's where he sees his first reason to stay. Soft, sentimental, foolish, when she's made clear how she feels about him and his kind. He can't help it.
"It was a test," Darras finishes. It's somewhat delayed, as he was busy sorting through Yseult a little. And what would she say, if she were talking now? She'd lie. She'd buy time. All right. "Now, if you want to be discussing this in the morning, after everyone's had a bit more rest, feeling a bit more reasonable, thinking sensibly--I'd be amendable."
Amendable, and gone. Yseult will surely know that. The rest of them won't, and he'll be well gone before they've worked him out.
"Put guards on me if you like. Your commander can spare the one half-asleep back there, yeah? He doesn't look like he's doing much."
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Well, once Darras could have said, with reasonable authority, what Yseult would do. Now he doesn't know. Like that sinking pitch, when you step forward thinking there's a step there and your foot comes down on only air.
What he would say, if it were only the two of them, is that she had better help him, and not make this worse. Darras can make it perfectly worse all on his own, with no help from anyone. Case and point, he turns that look on Beleth instead.
"Maybe you didn't hear her. I wasn't attempting to steal." Not strictly a lie: he was getting away with it, so it was better than an attempt. "And I'm not here to be conscripted by any of you, for any reason. Not here to join up, not here for anything, other than--"
What exactly was Yseult's lie? Besides stupid, made-up, transparent--but when he looks back at her again, that's where he sees his first reason to stay. Soft, sentimental, foolish, when she's made clear how she feels about him and his kind. He can't help it.
"It was a test," Darras finishes. It's somewhat delayed, as he was busy sorting through Yseult a little. And what would she say, if she were talking now? She'd lie. She'd buy time. All right. "Now, if you want to be discussing this in the morning, after everyone's had a bit more rest, feeling a bit more reasonable, thinking sensibly--I'd be amendable."
Amendable, and gone. Yseult will surely know that. The rest of them won't, and he'll be well gone before they've worked him out.
"Put guards on me if you like. Your commander can spare the one half-asleep back there, yeah? He doesn't look like he's doing much."