as above, so below
Empathy was not a strong suit of the Vahl, but she had just been in his shoes with the grit obstruction. It had been a confounding experience, but watching his pitiful reaction elicited a sense of satisfaction she'd yet to feel this round. She allowed herself a momentary twist of her thin lips into an amused line while she righted herself once again after missing the strike to his body.
Slippery little dust-covered worm.
And then, oh no! He was back to talking. At least this time his words could be interpreted as trying to make himself feel better, rather than solely focusing on making Vella feel worse. At least, that's how she chose to selectively hear what he had to say. He'd put himself in a position now, more than once, where he was doling out the credit and compliments -- if she hadn't clicked in earlier, she was now realizing he sought to loft himself so she'd seek validation. Validation in her triumph, for proving herself, or validation in her loss -- as it would be expected for someone as lowly as she in contrast to him to fail.
She remained tight lipped, frowning deeply at this new understanding. Another step forward was taken, and a gesture of her fingers once more. While the shoto was in two pieces, it wasn't entirely useless. Having being cleaved in two while it's kyber crystal was still active, it was still discharging desperate sparks into the sand. With the ethereal toss that lifted it once more, this tossed the fiery iotas as well, sputtering and spitting at the cloth that donned Zachary Ludwig's body. It was a lazy maneuver, but a final boast that she could continue to use the environment.
Meanwhile, another hand lifted above her head. Almost as if reaching backwards. Behind her, the central structure of stone and archways began to quiver and a handful of large bricks (dust and all) came rocketing from behind her silhouette and around, hurtling in Zachary's direction.
Slippery little dust-covered worm.
And then, oh no! He was back to talking. At least this time his words could be interpreted as trying to make himself feel better, rather than solely focusing on making Vella feel worse. At least, that's how she chose to selectively hear what he had to say. He'd put himself in a position now, more than once, where he was doling out the credit and compliments -- if she hadn't clicked in earlier, she was now realizing he sought to loft himself so she'd seek validation. Validation in her triumph, for proving herself, or validation in her loss -- as it would be expected for someone as lowly as she in contrast to him to fail.
She remained tight lipped, frowning deeply at this new understanding. Another step forward was taken, and a gesture of her fingers once more. While the shoto was in two pieces, it wasn't entirely useless. Having being cleaved in two while it's kyber crystal was still active, it was still discharging desperate sparks into the sand. With the ethereal toss that lifted it once more, this tossed the fiery iotas as well, sputtering and spitting at the cloth that donned Zachary Ludwig's body. It was a lazy maneuver, but a final boast that she could continue to use the environment.
Meanwhile, another hand lifted above her head. Almost as if reaching backwards. Behind her, the central structure of stone and archways began to quiver and a handful of large bricks (dust and all) came rocketing from behind her silhouette and around, hurtling in Zachary's direction.