Private The Line Between Order and Trust

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace | Cross Guard Broadsaber

He thought back to that moment the water had surrounded him, that first sense of dread that his feet no longer touched the ground, but also how that dread was stashed aside. Replaced with drive and urgency.

“I had always heard that experience was the best teacher, even believed it. Now after that evidence, I can certainly see that it truly is the greatest teacher.”

He looked from the food and back to her.

“Especially when circumstances call for action. Though, it did take me a moment to get my bearings.”

A small smile curved the corner of his mouth as he flipped the meat once more.

When she spoke of clarification his attention pulled back to her as she spoke. When she mentioned how she would just never let him hear the end of it a laugh left him before he spoke.

“Ah, your cruelty knows no bounds, my Lady.”

He pulled the meat off the heat, checking its color.

“Well, we are about to find out if it's either case. It looks like it is done.”

He pulled the metallic icebox over towards her, sitting beside her and gently laid the plate on its surface.

“Truth be told, I could probably eat anything at this moment.”

He passed her a small fork, looking her in the eyes.

“It's funny.”

He took a small breath before he continued, his voice quieted down just a bit, turning soft.

“Every time I look into those eyes, it's like I am ensnared. Only the trap is absolutely pleasant.”

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren listened as he spoke about the water, her glowing amber eyes resting on him with quiet attentiveness while the scent of cooked fish and salt air drifted between them. There was a thoughtful softness in her expression now whenever she looked at him, as though each new moment added to something already carefully taking shape within her.

"You adapted quickly," she said softly after a moment, her tone calm but sincere. "Fear tends to reveal what matters most to a person, and you chose action over panic."

Her gaze lingered on him a moment longer before dropping briefly to the food as he finished preparing it. The warmth from the fire and the quiet intimacy of the evening had settled into something comfortable now, something that no longer felt fragile or uncertain.

When he laughed about her cruelty, the faintest smile curved at her lips.

"You say that as though I did not warn you," she replied with gentle dry humor. "A truly poor meal would simply become part of our shared history."

She accepted the fork from him when he handed it over, her fingers brushing his lightly in the exchange before her attention lifted again at the softness in his voice.

Then came the comment about her eyes.

For perhaps the first time all evening, Seren looked momentarily caught off guard by the directness of the affection behind it. Not uncomfortable. Simply affected.

Her gaze held his steadily, though the warmth there deepened unmistakably.

"…That is a dangerous thing to admit to someone," she murmured, her voice low and smooth, touched now with unmistakable fondness. "Especially when that someone already knows how willingly you follow them into questionable situations involving deep water."

A soft breath of amusement escaped her before she shifted slightly closer beside him, the cloak brushing against his arm.

"Though if it eases your concern," she continued more quietly, her glowing eyes never leaving his, "the feeling is not entirely one-sided."

Her fingers lifted then, brushing lightly along his jaw in a gesture that had become increasingly natural between them.

"I find myself distracted rather easily when you look at me that way."

The confession came calmly, but there was enough warmth behind it to make clear how honest it was.

Then, with the faintest trace of returning humor:

"Which means we should probably eat before the fish grows cold and your hard-earned responsibility becomes entirely symbolic."

Varin Mortifer

 

[Varin Mortifer]

VARIN MORTIFER

Equipment: Durum Mantle | Black Blade of Chandrila | Eye of The Dragon | Heavy Sith Mace | Cross Guard Broadsaber

A small hum left him when he thought of the entire event that had happened earlier.

“I have never let fear dictate what I do.”

He looked back at her with a smile.

“Perhaps we still have time tonight for me to make you that poor meal.”

His arm gently wrapped around her as she sat closer to him, his hand gently rubbing her upper back, warming the fabric and loosening some muscles.

A small exhale left him when her fingers ran along his jaw, his eyes never leaving hers.

“Even though one of my eyes is not really mine? Most people are uncomfortable with seeing it. I notice those things.”

He looked back down at the food before scooping up some of the meat on his fork to take a bite.

Hopefully it still tasted fine, he did not bring his normal spices with him, but he was sure he would at least enjoy it.

The first bite made it seem like the meat melted within his mouth as natural sea salt seemed to enhance the flavor, he chewed slowly as if savoring the taste, studying to see what he could use to improve it.

“It would seem we stun each other quite easily.”

He chuckled softly to himself, the dim firelight giving them just enough light to see while they ate.

He could not help but think on what she said about looking into his eyes as well. Usually people see a destructive force, but she saw…something else.

That stuck with him.

Seren Gwyn​

 

[Seren Gwyn]

Seren leaned slightly into the warmth of his arm as he wrapped it around her, the slow motion of his hand along her back easing tension she had not fully realized she was still carrying. The fire crackled softly beside them while the scent of the food drifted through the cool night air, grounding the intimacy of the moment in something simple and real.

When he spoke about his eye, her expression softened immediately, not with pity, but with a kind of quiet certainty that seemed almost instinctive.

Her glowing amber eyes held his steadily as she answered.

"I knew you before you lost your eye to that Sithspawn," she said softly, her voice calm and unwavering. "And I know you now."

Her fingers brushed lightly against the side of his face again, lingering there for a moment before falling away.

"It is a simple aspect of you, nothing more," she continued, her tone thoughtful, warm. "You are more than an eye, love."

The word came naturally now, without surprise or hesitation, settling easily between them as though it had already found its place.

She glanced down toward the food at last, allowing a small smile to touch her lips as she lifted her fork.

"And before your responsibility becomes entirely theoretical…" she murmured with gentle dry humor, "we should probably eat this while it is still warm."

She took a bite, then paused as the flavor settled. The lack of heavy seasoning did not seem to bother her in the slightest; if anything, the simplicity suited the evening.

A faint hum of approval followed before she looked back toward him.

"…You were worried unnecessarily," she informed him softly. "It is actually very good."

There was warmth in the compliment, but something deeper as well, something that had little to do with the food itself and everything to do with the man sitting beside her beneath the stars.

Varin Mortifer