Luthien bounded after the ball, but stopped halfway in what might have been confusion that Anani hadn't been chasing it himself. As long as they weren't fighting, Devin didn't really care what they got up to.
His smile was resigned but genuine at her observation. He knew his own answer to that question, though some parts would be easier to admit than others. "It's like I told you when we first arrived: I've no intention of giving up on you," Devin said lowly and drained his glass. The liquor burned the back of his throat. "Even if you are exceptionally gifted at pissing me off."
She was not what he would describe as 'safe', but she knew him better than most. Valdis had insight into Devin's life that empathy alone did not account for, and experience that he could relate to without having to explain. He needed someone who challenged him as she did but didn't throw him to the wolves. True, there had been some missteps on both their parts. Their natural reaction to adversity was to fight, because there had been no other option in the worlds they came from.
"We're both used to prodding where it hurts," he acknowledged, going to refill the tumbler before taking a seat. "But I think we know by now that it is not an effective strategy when it comes to dealing with each other. Regardless of the intention, insults and callousness are not the way to motivate me to do anything of use."
no subject
His smile was resigned but genuine at her observation. He knew his own answer to that question, though some parts would be easier to admit than others. "It's like I told you when we first arrived: I've no intention of giving up on you," Devin said lowly and drained his glass. The liquor burned the back of his throat. "Even if you are exceptionally gifted at pissing me off."
She was not what he would describe as 'safe', but she knew him better than most. Valdis had insight into Devin's life that empathy alone did not account for, and experience that he could relate to without having to explain. He needed someone who challenged him as she did but didn't throw him to the wolves. True, there had been some missteps on both their parts. Their natural reaction to adversity was to fight, because there had been no other option in the worlds they came from.
"We're both used to prodding where it hurts," he acknowledged, going to refill the tumbler before taking a seat. "But I think we know by now that it is not an effective strategy when it comes to dealing with each other. Regardless of the intention, insults and callousness are not the way to motivate me to do anything of use."