[He narrowed his eyes and shot the ball, bouncing it off one of the walls before it made contact. It got close to a pocket, but didn't land, and Polnareff huffed in annoyance.]
I would never have--
[The words trailed off. Polnareff's eyes were trained on something behind Kakyoin, nestled in a shadowy corner on the other side of the Den.
They could come into houses now, of course. He'd known that. He'd woken up to one at the foot of his bed yesterday. But there was something terrifying about the way the Strangers could suddenly appear, there with no noise or warning. He'd been certain they were alone, and he'd let his guard down, and now--
It wasn't even doing anything. Just standing there, head tucked down, face blank. It didn't seem to notice the lapse in conversation, nor the way Polnareff stared. He couldn't hear it breathing, not this far, but he could well imagine that ragged wheeze.
Did it know he'd seen it? Maybe. But maybe not. Chariot appeared behind his user, blade drawn, as Polnareff said slowly:]
--cheated. With you. Not you.
[It was an attempt at casual conversation. If they could attack it without it knowing they knew, maybe this could be over before it began. Those things could move lightning fast, darting around in the blink of an eye. It would be too easy for it to get close if they just charged forward.]
no subject
[He narrowed his eyes and shot the ball, bouncing it off one of the walls before it made contact. It got close to a pocket, but didn't land, and Polnareff huffed in annoyance.]
I would never have--
[The words trailed off. Polnareff's eyes were trained on something behind Kakyoin, nestled in a shadowy corner on the other side of the Den.
They could come into houses now, of course. He'd known that. He'd woken up to one at the foot of his bed yesterday. But there was something terrifying about the way the Strangers could suddenly appear, there with no noise or warning. He'd been certain they were alone, and he'd let his guard down, and now--
It wasn't even doing anything. Just standing there, head tucked down, face blank. It didn't seem to notice the lapse in conversation, nor the way Polnareff stared. He couldn't hear it breathing, not this far, but he could well imagine that ragged wheeze.
Did it know he'd seen it? Maybe. But maybe not. Chariot appeared behind his user, blade drawn, as Polnareff said slowly:]
--cheated. With you. Not you.
[It was an attempt at casual conversation. If they could attack it without it knowing they knew, maybe this could be over before it began. Those things could move lightning fast, darting around in the blink of an eye. It would be too easy for it to get close if they just charged forward.]