[ He knows he shouldn't — he knows he really shouldn't — but Aether can't help himself.
...Through his drunkenness, and through his tears, the traveler actually laughs.
It's just — he knows that Clive meant it sincerely, with all gravitas and poetry attached, but there is just something about such a silly play-pretend proposition coming out of that intimidating, dust-streaked face that takes the guarded young man completely off-guard. Where did this man come from, and what is his story, to say such absurd and earnest things...?
It's not too long a laugh, at least, or too mocking. Just a bit of a startled, disbelieving sound, and when next Aether wipes his tears, his eyes come away clean. ]
You're already the size of a wall, so that's not hard to imagine —
[ A slightly choked sound, like another suppressed sob, and then Aether takes a deeper breath, trying to steady himself and sober up a little. It's very hard. His head is pounding and the room is spinning, but he's still mostly aware of himself. He's fairly sure he'd still be able to be a threat in a fight, if he can just figure out where his sword is. ]
Sorry. I shouldn't tease. We've just met. [ He shakes his head again, pursing his small lips. ] I'm a bad drunk.
Edited (i return from november with 42 edits) 2025-12-01 04:03 (UTC)
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...Through his drunkenness, and through his tears, the traveler actually laughs.
It's just — he knows that Clive meant it sincerely, with all gravitas and poetry attached, but there is just something about such a silly play-pretend proposition coming out of that intimidating, dust-streaked face that takes the guarded young man completely off-guard. Where did this man come from, and what is his story, to say such absurd and earnest things...?
It's not too long a laugh, at least, or too mocking. Just a bit of a startled, disbelieving sound, and when next Aether wipes his tears, his eyes come away clean. ]
You're already the size of a wall, so that's not hard to imagine —
[ A slightly choked sound, like another suppressed sob, and then Aether takes a deeper breath, trying to steady himself and sober up a little. It's very hard. His head is pounding and the room is spinning, but he's still mostly aware of himself. He's fairly sure he'd still be able to be a threat in a fight, if he can just figure out where his sword is. ]
Sorry. I shouldn't tease. We've just met. [ He shakes his head again, pursing his small lips. ] I'm a bad drunk.