( this would, of course, be the ideal moment to gloat in victory, show him how he's stepped into her snare — but giving away her triumph means giving away knowledge she's kept close to the chest. her own power. the ageless eternity ahead of her, if martyrdom doesn't see her crucified first.
she savors her own trick privately, instead, like sipping a fine vintage in a bubble bath. intimate, all the sweeter when indulged alone. )
No one offers power unless they stand to gain from it. There's something you aren't telling me.
were i a lesser vampire, there would be the chance of an unexpected bond with your sire - me. but i am not a lesser vampire. i can control whether or not i pass the bond.
and trust me. nothing could tempt me to bond myself eternally to you with that bond :)
so aside from that risk, there's nothing i'm hiding. nothing i seek to gain. i'm just curious what you would do with the offer.( text isn't easy for reading tones, and maybe that's part of the game for him. keeping her paranoid and uncertain of him. it is kind of fun. but in all honesty, he's not not hiding anything else from her beyond that. if she asks, he'll give it to her. if not, well he wonders if the thought will sit with her late at night.
either way, he has nothing to gain. and nothing to lose, really. )
Why am I not shocked you would take any opportunity to brag? I hardly believe you wouldn't be tempted to bind us out of petty spite.
As I remember it, it wasn't that long ago you were jumping down my throat over your own assumptions. You didn't have the restraint to "wonder" about my feelings then.
( says the suspiciously cagey little freak. survival tactic #1: make yourself as uninteresting as possible, or risk men like alexei taking dangerous interest. the benefits to being a plain, scurrying mouse, rather than an eye-catching peacock. )
( she lets that sarcasm sit suspensefully, like dangling a treat above an untrained puppy's head. then, after she's made him wait: )
When no one's watching, I steal apple tarts from the kitchen. I left a soggy worm in my friend's pillowcase after she ate the last cinnamon roll at breakfast. And sometimes, when I feel particularly daring, I eat chocolate in the bath so no one will ask me to share.
would you believe that's not the first time i've been called that? :)( of course she would. )
but frankly, i am a bit starving. don't give me wrong, the staff do feed me well. but... it would be like eating only bread and water for you. it will sustain you well for a long time, but from the source is going to last longer and do more for me.
you're very good at deflection, you know? i've no ulterior motives, i'm not digging for secrets, i'm simply interested in knowing you better. though i am coming to regret that :) my offer is simply what it is. an offer.
( narrator voice: she was not, in fact, shocked. )
I've sustained myself on worse than bread and water. It must be new for you. A prince, starving like a lowborn commoner. I doubt you'll have much trouble finding volunteers for meals here. Some of us have unique tastes.
And your brilliant idea of getting to know me was to start by poking fun? For a prince, you've the worst manners I've ever had the misfortune of witnessing.
i can't help myself. you're pretty funny when you're mad :)
and i'm aware my manners are what they are. yet you keep responding to me anyway. i think you like my manners. i think you like the challenge. and i think you like to win.
( as underhanded as it is, often, as sharply delivered as a bite. still, it's a disruption to one truth she can be certain of, where it involves lexi: )
You don't like me. Stop acting like there's any part of me you find praiseworthy.
because i don't treat you to flowery words and kindness i don't like you? i thought i was nice enough when i explained knotting with only slight judgment.( although tbf, he has wondered that too. he doesn't know a person who hasn't.
back on point. )believe it or not, i didn't hate you off our first interaction. or dislike you. i found you quite intelligent with a lot of bold thoughts. absolutely vexing delivery of those thoughts. and positively feral. but the point remains.
and ultimately, you were kind to Dani. that means something to me.
( the things she does for love. 😔 which calls into question lexi's own soft underbelly — of whether he realizes he's rolled over and shown it to her, like a disarmed cat. )
He didn't give me reason to be anything else. You, on the other hand, like to stick your hand in a wolf's mouth and then complain once you're bitten. This has to be a game to you.
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she savors her own trick privately, instead, like sipping a fine vintage in a bubble bath. intimate, all the sweeter when indulged alone. )
No one offers power unless they stand to gain from it. There's something you aren't telling me.
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were i a lesser vampire, there would be the chance of an unexpected bond with your sire - me. but i am not a lesser vampire. i can control whether or not i pass the bond.
and trust me. nothing could tempt me to bond myself eternally to you with that bond :)
so aside from that risk, there's nothing i'm hiding. nothing i seek to gain. i'm just curious what you would do with the offer. ( text isn't easy for reading tones, and maybe that's part of the game for him. keeping her paranoid and uncertain of him. it is kind of fun. but in all honesty, he's not not hiding anything else from her beyond that. if she asks, he'll give it to her. if not, well he wonders if the thought will sit with her late at night.
either way, he has nothing to gain. and nothing to lose, really. )
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I hardly believe you wouldn't be tempted to bind us out of petty spite.
As I remember it, it wasn't that long ago you were jumping down my throat over your own assumptions.
You didn't have the restraint to "wonder" about my feelings then.
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and now i do. i am a man of multitudes.
i apologized for the mistake. i've moved on. now i'm curious about you.
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( says the suspiciously cagey little freak. survival tactic #1: make yourself as uninteresting as possible, or risk men like alexei taking dangerous interest. the benefits to being a plain, scurrying mouse, rather than an eye-catching peacock. )
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Does flattery usually help you weasel out people's secrets?
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( she lets that sarcasm sit suspensefully, like dangling a treat above an untrained puppy's head. then, after she's made him wait: )
When no one's watching, I steal apple tarts from the kitchen.
I left a soggy worm in my friend's pillowcase after she ate the last cinnamon roll at breakfast.
And sometimes, when I feel particularly daring, I eat chocolate in the bath so no one will ask me to share.
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It's getting a bit desperate, your royal annoyance.
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but frankly, i am a bit starving. don't give me wrong, the staff do feed me well. but... it would be like eating only bread and water for you. it will sustain you well for a long time, but from the source is going to last longer and do more for me.
you're very good at deflection, you know? i've no ulterior motives, i'm not digging for secrets, i'm simply interested in knowing you better. though i am coming to regret that :) my offer is simply what it is. an offer.
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( narrator voice: she was not, in fact, shocked. )
I've sustained myself on worse than bread and water.
It must be new for you. A prince, starving like a lowborn commoner.
I doubt you'll have much trouble finding volunteers for meals here. Some of us have unique tastes.
And your brilliant idea of getting to know me was to start by poking fun?
For a prince, you've the worst manners I've ever had the misfortune of witnessing.
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and i'm aware my manners are what they are. yet you keep responding to me anyway. i think you like my manners. i think you like the challenge. and i think you like to win.
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Since you're so convinced you know me already.
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it's irritating.
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I like him, too. He's sweet.
Unlike some people.
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You don't have to be shy. It's your achievement to claim, not mine.
Unless you're hurt I like him more than I'll ever like you?
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you're not a fool.
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( as underhanded as it is, often, as sharply delivered as a bite. still, it's a disruption to one truth she can be certain of, where it involves lexi: )
You don't like me.
Stop acting like there's any part of me you find praiseworthy.
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back on point. ) believe it or not, i didn't hate you off our first interaction. or dislike you. i found you quite intelligent with a lot of bold thoughts. absolutely vexing delivery of those thoughts. and positively feral. but the point remains.
and ultimately, you were kind to Dani. that means something to me.
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( the things she does for love. 😔 which calls into question lexi's own soft underbelly — of whether he realizes he's rolled over and shown it to her, like a disarmed cat. )
He didn't give me reason to be anything else.
You, on the other hand, like to stick your hand in a wolf's mouth and then complain once you're bitten.
This has to be a game to you.
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