[ there are certain reactions anyone would expect from Rudbeckia. she's built a character for herself: the gentle Lark of Sistine, sweet but sheltered. beneath the stress of this situation, she should fracture, break down crying; or else wail about the unfairness of it all, from a more uncharitable perspective. she does neither. for the entire time Dimitri has been in here with her, Ruby has been silent. her hands tremble with fear, and her expression is blank.
the brand hurt. it wasn't any worse than being whipped by her brother. more than anything, she's shaken by the despair.
Dimitri's presence had slipped her mind entirely for a time, and his cough startles her back into awareness. her response is automatic, half-hearted: ] It's fine—
[ then she actually looks at him, and sees the petals falling from his hand. ]
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the brand hurt. it wasn't any worse than being whipped by her brother. more than anything, she's shaken by the despair.
Dimitri's presence had slipped her mind entirely for a time, and his cough startles her back into awareness. her response is automatic, half-hearted: ] It's fine—
[ then she actually looks at him, and sees the petals falling from his hand. ]
Dimitri?!