[Zieg]: Syuveil, I am deeply, deeply sorry.

[Claire]: So you NEVER-

[Zieg]: NO. Well. No. Not- That is- I mean-

[Claire]: ARE YOU SERIOUS.

[Zieg]: It was one time. Understand that I had just hit him in the face. He clearly enjoyed it.

[Claire]: Well yeah, but that’s because you hit like a girl.

[Zieg]: …. Why are all of our friends or friends-of-friends opportunistic alcoholics?

[Claire]: DON’T ASK QUESTIONS JUST GRAB THE BOURBON.

[Zieg]: Stop. Laughing.

[Claire]: It’s so true. I couldn’t even kiss you unless you-

[Zieg]: You’re giving him ammunition.

[Zieg]: It isn’t… that I lack them. Understand that. And it wasn’t that I lacked love for my comrades. The sweetest moments simply cut the deepest.

There was a moment. A night, before the invasion of Aglis. We had few victories to our name. Our seventh member had only just joined us and she- I- we hadn’t…. We hardly knew what to say to each other. We were tongue tied in each others presence.

Our emperor gave us the evening to ourselves. Someone found wine. Others, food. Tensions were not high, and lines that later would come to define us had not yet been drawn. Shirley sat in the corner with her giant guardian. Her hair was down and as red as flame. She had her hand on his wrist; she spoke to him quietly. Syuveil dined with us for once. He sat with Damia. She was learning her letters, and he was a gentle teacher when he put his mind to it. Kanzas kept his teeth from nipping at me for a single evening- I think even he had begun to feel a little hope about our campaign. He spoke to Rose. Whatever it was, it made her laugh. I drank and spent the evening hoping she wouldn’t look at me and hoping she would all at once, and Kanzas, somehow, kept my glass full. He always would, no matter what- no matter what would happen. If I drank, he would always be there to ask me to drink a little more. For his sake.

I did not speak to her. I did not speak to anyone, and mercifully, they let me be. I drank and listened to the soft talk, the laughter, the fire, and watched her, and I would never feel that young and foolish again in my entire life.

It was a moment, that was all. A moment where the world seemed to hold its breath and everything was easier and I never loved them better.

[Zieg]: …. Small. Beautiful, in her way. If you sat very still, she would draw close enough to touch, but would only do so again if you never attempted it. She shrank from me whenever I stood. That troubled me.

I bought her chimes once. Wingly things, meant to catch the light in her tower. She liked them, or pretended to, for my sake. She thanked me, even. I never heard her speak when I was in the room before.

I tried not to frighten her. I knew she had had enough of fear. I don’t… I don’t think I was much good at it in the end.

[Claire]: So you hate Kanzas.

[Zieg]: …

[Claire]: And you wouldn’t piss on Skinny if he was on fire.

[Zieg]: …. I wouldn’t exactly put it that-

[Claire]: And while you’re perfectly friendly towards the big guy, you don’t get all flustered like you do whenever Shirley or the little girl pipe up.

[Zieg]: I fail to see your-

[Claire]: You’re kind of all about the ladies, aren’tcha?

[Claire]: …. Huh. You know this explains a lot. Especially the look on your face whenever he pops his head up. 

[Zieg]: I don’t know what you’re referring-

[Claire]: You’re doing it now. Spill the beans. Why don’t you like Skinny?

[Zieg]: …Syuveil was… educated. It was a rarity in a slave. It made him difficult to approach. He had no patience for those who lacked the opportunity to learn. Or the ability.

[Claire]: ….Well. Shit.

[Zieg]: Pit slaves don’t need their letters. Without letters, that’s all he saw. Pit slaves.

[Claire]: ….

[Zieg]: He also had very strong feelings regarding my relationships with others. When things seemed apt to slip out of his control, he let it be known that the man they were consorting with could not so much as read his own name.

[Claire]: … What the fuck?

[Zieg]: Things became considerably… strained. After that.

[Claire]: Did you scare her…. you know. Back when you used to live with them?

[Zieg]: I don’t believe so. She preferred the women. And Belzac. I brought her things, sometimes. Little things for her tower. Glass and beads. Sea creatures made of stone. They made her smile.

[Claire]: Smiling’s good. You should try it.

[Claire]:  That’s. That ain’t… That’s weird. Usually kids are all over you. …. Hey, hey now. Come here. What’s that face about?

[Zieg]: She’s still alive.

[Claire]: …. Oh. Um. So you. Oh. Sorry.

[Zieg]: I’m sorry Belzac. I don’t have an answer for you.

[Claire]: … m’sorry too.

[Claire]: So…. thunder signs, huh?

[Zieg]: Pardon?

[Claire]: You know. Occasionally shocking. Good with their hands. The fact that you married one.

[Zieg]: …. Your point?

[Claire]: It’s just the more I hear about you and Kanzas the more I get to thinking that you and him must’ve at least-

[Zieg]: No.