*

@ofrisks    if you don’t have many people to talk to, you might as well make a decent examiner, [ she mused, her voice carrying a quiet sort of amusement as she shrugged, her expression unreadable yet easygoing.]

stalking me now, are we, love ?? ( he teased,, raising a brow at how she had managed to sum up his daily routine as it was— disorganized. he was everywhere. ) tsk tsk,, ( he shook his head in faux disappointment,, as if he couldn't believe it. everything of his had to be dramatic, something would have to be very wrong if it wasn't. ) and here i thought i could trust you,,

@ofrisks    one minute you’re in your room, then you’re training, and the next… who knows where you vanish to, [ she said, drawing out her words with deliberate exaggeration. her head tilted slightly, her brows lifting as if she were genuinely puzzling over his movements. there was a spark of curiosity in her eyes, like she was waiting for him to slip up and reveal something. ]

it had better be the truth, ( he started, his tone not only stern but edged with a dire warning, ) or else one of us will be behind bars, ( he paused, letting the implication settle, ) while the others are buried deep.

@targetpython    nothing happened between us! have you lost your damn mind, vince? [ she roared, her words sharp, each one laced with disbelief and a touch of venom. her posture was aggressive, leaning towards him as if to challenge his very sanity. her expression was a mix of shock and hurt, the accusation striking at the core of her honor. her voice didn't just defend- it demanded he see reason, her shout a clarion call for him to understand the folly of his accusations, her tone rising to match the peak of her exasperation. ]

what achievements? ( he scoffed, his tone dripping with incredulity, as if the very idea was preposterous. his arms folded over his chest, a gesture of both defiance and doubt, his stance one of someone who was not about to be swayed by her claims. ) you think a few casual outings and chats are what you call achievements? ( he arched an eyebrow, his words a direct challenge, casting a shadow over what she considered her accomplishments, his tone making it clear he saw nothing of note in her actions. )

you think my experience is a joke? ( he snapped, his tone harsh, laced with disdain. ) you'll learn, or you'll suffer for your ignorance. my way isn't up for debate. ( his posture was rigid, his words a stark reminder of who held the power here, driven by a harsh belief in his own methods over her youthful defiance. )

@targetpython    oh, your experiences, [ she echoed, her tone dripping with irony. ] because you've got all the answers, right? must be nice living in a world where your experiences are the law everyone else has to follow. [ her words were a subtle jab, questioning the universality of his lessons, suggesting that his protective shield might also blind him to other ways of navigating their world. ]

living isn't just about doing what you want, seraphina, ( he said, his tone sharp yet sincere. ) it's about understanding the consequences. i'm not trying to lock you away; i want to keep you from making mistakes that could cost you everything. we'll figure this out together, but you need to learn from my experiences, not just your courage. ( his posture was firm, his words a blend of caution and mentorship, emphasizing that his strictness was born from a place of wanting her to truly live, not just exist in this harsh world. )

@ofrisks    maybe you fit in more than just one place, [ she mused, her voice casual, almost absentminded. but the weight behind her words was impossible to miss.
            she didn’t explain, didn’t press for an answer. instead, she kept close behind him, her steps smooth and deliberate, matching his pace without effort. ]

dauntless,, always,, ( fiercely loyal towards his own faction, he couldn't be seen anywhere else, with his penchant for trouble and always getting into some odds of sorts... except perhaps abnegation— those who truly knew him knew that he would risk it all for someone else. ) can't imagine myself anywhere else,, ( he murmured under his breath, in a tone far too low for her to hear. )

@ofrisks    there’s no turning back, i already made my choice. [ she followed him through the dim corridor, her steps light but purposeful, eyes flickering to the shadows stretching along the walls. the distant hum of voices and footsteps echoed somewhere far off, but here, in this narrow space, it was just the two of them. her gaze drifted, taking in every detail—the way the overhead lights buzzed faintly, the rough texture of the walls beneath her fingertips as she brushed past. ] what about you? dauntless from the start, or did you come from another faction?

( vincent's eyes followed seraphina's every move as she rose, his gaze unyielding, his body tense like a coiled spring. his hands were clenched, the veins on the back standing out, his knuckles almost white from the pressure. his feet were firmly planted on the ground, boots slightly apart, giving him a wide, commanding stance. his shoulders were squared, chest out, the very picture of dauntless leadership. ) training, not bullying, ( he cut in, his voice sharp, slicing through the tension. his head didn't move, eyes locked on hers, no sign of softening or yielding. he gave a single, sharp nod, his jaw set hard, acknowledging her complaints with the barest of gestures. ) adapt or fail, ( he barked out, his words clipped and harsh, his body language screaming authority, demanding resilience without a hint of concession. )

@targetpython   [ her fingers dug into the cold floor as she pushed herself up, her body protesting with every movement. she ignored the pain, her eyes locked on vincent with a fierce intensity. her movements were slow, deliberate, as she rose to her feet, each action punctuated by her rising anger.
            with a sharp exhale, she dusted off her hands, the gesture almost dismissive of the fall she'd just taken. she straightened, her posture now one of defiance, her back still aching but her resolve stronger. stepping closer to him, her voice was low, almost a growl. ] oh, so now it's about caring, huh? funny how that sounds like an excuse when you're the one who's supposed to lead, not just bully your own blood. [ she spat the words out, her breath still ragged from the effort, but her spirit unbroken. ] you think you're making me unbreakable? you're just showing me how to resent the very faction we're supposed to die for. maybe you should start by listening rather than just shouting orders. [ her voice was low, the anger now a cold fire, but her words were clear, each one laced with the truth of their strained relationship. ]

( vincent felt the sting of her words like a physical blow, his usual mask of stoicism cracking under the weight of her accusation. his sister's anger was palpable, filling the space between them with a tension that seemed to vibrate through the air. he took a step forward, his own fists clenching at his sides, not out of rage but from the fight against the urge to apologize. ) seraphina, ( he began, his voice lower now, the authority drained from it by her fierce confrontation. ) this isn't about playing favorites or being merciful. it's about survival. in dauntless, you either push past your limits or you fall. i'm not trying to break you; i'm trying to make you unbreakable. ( he looked away for a moment, the weight of his position as both her brother and her leader pressing down on him. when he met her gaze again, there was a hint of vulnerability there, something he rarely allowed anyone to see. ) i know it's harsh, and i know it feels unfair. but i can't afford to go easy on you just because you're my sister. if you fail, it's not just you who suffers; it's all of us who care about you.