I don't expect you to understand, but don't mistake my devotion to my king and my duty as idiocy.
[He's angry. It doesn't show in his voice - calm, level, as always - but rather in the subtle tension along the line of his jaw and in the smallest muscles around his eyes. Very few things can rile him up so quickly.]
If I truly intended to be in the water we would not be having this conversation. I trust that satisfies you?
( It takes a great deal of self-control, not to mention a stark awareness that this isn't a conversation she wants to be having via the phone, in the office of the clinic. The doors are locked but that doesn't make it any more private. Her eyes leave the screen, glancing over to some vague point in the office for no reason other than she needs to look at something that isn't Ignis for a moment. Needs to collect her thoughts as her tongue runs over her teeth and she bites back several responses in favour of silence. )
[He gives her the chance to take her eyes off him unintentionally as he lowers the phone, giving and upside-down view of some rough grass and a cliff edge. The noise of the breeze across the receiver almost covers the sound of a slow breath draw in, briefly held, then let out.
When he brings the phone back up his entire demeanour has shifted. Calmer, quieter, without that diamond-sharp edge that had begun to form along the edge of his every word.]
( The irritation in her gut doesn't disappear, and some petulant part of her is a little frustrated that he had to apologise rather than give her an excuse to hang the phone up bitterly, but the tension in her shoulders and face dissolves slowly at those words.
[And he truly doesn't. It doesn't come as a surprise to him that he wouldn't wish that upon her - he loves her - but the fierce wash of it breaking of him is a little more unexpected.
The angle of the camera drops as he sits down, exhaling a soft breath through his nose. This is difficult, and he can't find the words to explain to her how difficult it is when his life has been spent keeping his own troubles at bay for the sake of others.]
( Her eyes narrow in concern rather than anger, the irritation all but gone now through muttered admissions and his soft exhale. They're stuck on different islands until who knows when, and she wishes they were face to face. This is so lacking in so many ways.
She turns in the chair, raising the angle of her phone just a little with the movement. )
[He doesn't doubt that at some point he is going to have to explain why he lashed out so abruptly. It isn't the usual behaviour he displays to her, but right now is not the time and like this is not the way to do it.
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( Asshole to English translation: Stop worrying her, please. )
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[He's angry. It doesn't show in his voice - calm, level, as always - but rather in the subtle tension along the line of his jaw and in the smallest muscles around his eyes. Very few things can rile him up so quickly.]
If I truly intended to be in the water we would not be having this conversation. I trust that satisfies you?
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Fine.
( That satisfies her. )
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When he brings the phone back up his entire demeanour has shifted. Calmer, quieter, without that diamond-sharp edge that had begun to form along the edge of his every word.]
I'm sorry.
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Right. This is a stupid argument to be having. )
I don't-- want to see you hurt.
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[And he truly doesn't. It doesn't come as a surprise to him that he wouldn't wish that upon her - he loves her - but the fierce wash of it breaking of him is a little more unexpected.
The angle of the camera drops as he sits down, exhaling a soft breath through his nose. This is difficult, and he can't find the words to explain to her how difficult it is when his life has been spent keeping his own troubles at bay for the sake of others.]
I don't want you to have to see that, either.
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She turns in the chair, raising the angle of her phone just a little with the movement. )
... See you soon, aye?
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Ignis nods slightly to her question.]
I sincerely hope so.