Bastien’s eyes narrowed slightly at Maika’s response, the subtle defiance in her words piquing his interest. Most people would have been tripping over themselves to please him, especially when they saw how quickly he could turn a pleasant exchange into something much darker. But Maika... she was different. Unyielding. And that made the game all the more enjoyable.
He leaned forward, placing his hands on the bar and fixing her with an intense, predatory stare.
He watched her carefully, gauging her reaction, though he suspected she would maintain that same cool indifference. That was fine. He could work with indifference. In fact, he preferred it—it gave him more to push against, more to break down.
Bastien took another slow sip of the whiskey, savoring the burn as it went down.
He straightened up, his expression shifting from one of casual disdain to something colder, more calculating.
Bastien’s gaze didn’t waver as he studied her, waiting for any sign of weakness, any crack in that carefully constructed facade. He thrived on it, on the little moments where he could twist the knife and watch someone squirm. But Maika wasn’t giving him what he wanted—not yet, anyway. And that made her more interesting than most.
@Maika Arainai
He leaned forward, placing his hands on the bar and fixing her with an intense, predatory stare.
Loyalty, is it?he mused, his voice a low purr that carried just enough menace to unsettle.
How quaint. You must know, loyalty can be such a fleeting thing—easily bought, easily broken. But I suppose your kind have to cling to something, don't you?
He watched her carefully, gauging her reaction, though he suspected she would maintain that same cool indifference. That was fine. He could work with indifference. In fact, he preferred it—it gave him more to push against, more to break down.
Bastien took another slow sip of the whiskey, savoring the burn as it went down.
Tell me, Maika,he continued, using her name deliberately, as if trying to remind her that he had the power to make things very personal,
what do you think your loyalty will get you in the end? A pat on the head? A meager wage? Or perhaps something a little more... lasting?
He straightened up, his expression shifting from one of casual disdain to something colder, more calculating.
You see, people like you are always so eager to play the loyal servant, believing it will protect you from the wolves at the door. But I’ve found that loyalty is often just another word for fear. And fear...He paused, letting the word hang in the air like a noose.
Fear is something I understand very well.
Bastien’s gaze didn’t waver as he studied her, waiting for any sign of weakness, any crack in that carefully constructed facade. He thrived on it, on the little moments where he could twist the knife and watch someone squirm. But Maika wasn’t giving him what he wanted—not yet, anyway. And that made her more interesting than most.
@Maika Arainai
09-03-2024, 08:58 AM
