TP - LILIA

[impacter]

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[impacter]

[His eyes dart to the theatre. The urge to make chase rises, like prey under a predator's eyes.

But he turns, instead, back to the stairwell. Hands still up in mock surrender, though the gesture grows weaker the longer he holds it.]

Don't get any ideas.

[liliaofthevalley]

As long as you keep moving, there won't be any need to.

[Because naturally he's following closely behind all the while.]

For someone so insistent I survive, you don't seem to be interested in taking care of yourself. Should I take that to mean you have no intention of safeguarding my memory?

[impacter]

[He locks up subtly at the mention of the memory, like nails on a chalkboard.]

Don't make such assumptions.

It's not as though I intended for this to happen.

[liliaofthevalley]

Then what, exactly, happened?

[impacter]

A disagreement.

I wouldn't be able to tell you what it was about even if I tried, so do not ask.

[liliaofthevalley]

Because of the magic of this place, or because you don't want to?

[impacter]

Neither. [His tone is starting to fall cold, even as he keeps leading them down the stairs. Oh how he wants to run, he wants to run, he wants to run, he HATES that he wants to run...]

I can't tell you something I don't know.

[liliaofthevalley]

-?

What do you mean?

[impacter]

They didn't tell me why they attacked me, is what I mean.

Called me all sorts of things, yes. Insisted I was playing dumb. But they'd made up their mind on exactly what they wanted of me, so nothing I said would have mattered.

...

It's hardly the first time I've had stones thrown. I'll survive.

[liliaofthevalley]

...

That's all?

[He almost feels let down...]

[impacter]

Yes. That's all.

[Let him wallow a little, very very far away from Lilia.]

[liliaofthevalley]

Am I going to have to start personally guarding you to keep you in tact?

[impacter]

No. [Immediate.]

I'm not some fragile thing to be protected.

[liliaofthevalley]

[Can you feel his gaze burning into your back, Solomon? Can you?]

You could've fooled me. If someone dislikes you enough to leave you in such a state, I can't help but be concerned once the need for murder is on the table once more.

[impacter]

[Like points of fire through his skull, yes.]

I can defend myself.

[So why didn't he? Great question.]

[liliaofthevalley]

[Hm. Let's test that!

Lilia is going to aim a kick at his back - just enough to throw the man off balance. If he can't manage to keep it, he'll scruff Solomon so he doesn't actually fall, but we're just checking reaction speed right now.]

[impacter]

[In the stairwell as they are, he chokes out a breath and stumbles a step or two, but is able to right himself, his hand immediately tucked into his jacket.]

Don't. [Sharper.]

[liliaofthevalley]

...

If you're able to protect yourself, then why didn't you?

[impacter]

[His exhale pushes out through his nose, trembling, as he withdraws his hand and straightens out his coat.]

Here I thought you wanted me to rest.

[liliaofthevalley]

I would have caught you.

You didn't answer my question.

[impacter]

Because I don't want to kill you.

[liliaofthevalley]

You're welcome to try.

[He's quite confident in his own abilities, magic or no.]

But is that why your other assailant was able to reduce you to this state?

[impacter]

Yes. I felt in no danger for my life.

Can we please move on from this?

[liliaofthevalley]

You may just be even more stubborn than Fandaniel.

[(Derogatory, if that weren't already clear.)]

[impacter]

I'd certainly hope so.

[wrong response solomon

He's just

going to start going down the stairs a little

faster than before.



Maybe he just doesn't want to risk another attempt at breaking his neck. He has places to be. They. They have places. Ugh.]