Surprise blunts the bite of her sarcasm — dismissive, reaching for it as a defensive mechanism and nothing else, to grapple with Raven's sincerity. Her compassion, more than that; it's been so long since anyone has shown her human warmth — anything beyond contempt or compliance — that she struggles to reconcile what's bound to happen when Raven steps in.
Octavia's joints lock, freezing, as if preparing for the attack to come — no matter how at odds it would be to Raven's behavior. Violence she knows; bloodshed, she knows. This is something altogether, forgotten to Octavia, when Raven embraces her. Octavia's eyebrows draw together, arms stiff at her sides. ]
I doubt that. [ He left me there, she doesn't say. Looked at her like a monster that needed a lesson in taming itself. His happiness at the sight of her seems unlikely, but admitting as much feels too exposing. She settles a hand on Raven's shoulder, instead, one arm curling halfway around her in a poor reciprocation. When she speaks next, it's hoarse, strained with an emotion she won't put a name to. ] My brother. He's here?
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[ I survived, she thinks. Like I always do.
Surprise blunts the bite of her sarcasm — dismissive, reaching for it as a defensive mechanism and nothing else, to grapple with Raven's sincerity. Her compassion, more than that; it's been so long since anyone has shown her human warmth — anything beyond contempt or compliance — that she struggles to reconcile what's bound to happen when Raven steps in.
Octavia's joints lock, freezing, as if preparing for the attack to come — no matter how at odds it would be to Raven's behavior. Violence she knows; bloodshed, she knows. This is something altogether, forgotten to Octavia, when Raven embraces her. Octavia's eyebrows draw together, arms stiff at her sides. ]
I doubt that. [ He left me there, she doesn't say. Looked at her like a monster that needed a lesson in taming itself. His happiness at the sight of her seems unlikely, but admitting as much feels too exposing. She settles a hand on Raven's shoulder, instead, one arm curling halfway around her in a poor reciprocation. When she speaks next, it's hoarse, strained with an emotion she won't put a name to. ] My brother. He's here?