Into the Stygian depths of murky resentment and dire delinquency plunged a glimmering beacon of light.  Its radiance pierced the abyss's unnameable bed, dredging from the black mire a creature long since resigned to the deepest dark.

Stirring, Elliot glanced up to see that a gorgeous face well suited the melodic voice that disturbed his sullen reprieve.  It was all the more attractive for the fact that he did not recognize it, which meant that someone stood before him that he might yet mystify and amaze.  Her question set the gears spinning in his head, and the lone prodigy's unsung genius went to work.

Leaning back, he held one arm across his middle for the elbow of his other to rest on, and having held that couched limb skyward, he flicked his hand in an offhanded [i]what-can-you-do[/i] gesture.  [color=8F9779]“More like 'long life', unfortunately,”[/color] he conceded, his tone brimming with casual confidence tinged by weary determination.  [color=8F9779]“But no matter how hard it is to get up in the morning, we are heroes because we answer the call, right?  Your concern is, of course, appreciated, not to mention rather touching from someone so fetching.”[/color]  He became aware of a troubling presence now dominating his left peripheral—Alessa.  [i]Of course.[/i]  Here to rain on his parade, just as his luck was turning around.  Her words, which practically trumped his own, confirmed his apprehension that she was inserting herself unnecessarily and shamelessly into this situation to put him down.  Even worse, those words held the suggestion of something venomous: pity.  Elliot's  right eyebrow twitched, the only fault in his masking of inner frustration.  [i]How dare this insipid peabrain have pity on me?  What have I done to deserve such condescension?  Could it be that someone who broke down like a preschooler during the warehouse incident has the audacity to feel sorry for me in front of someone who chose to interact with me out of her own free will?  Her delusions run deeper than imagined righteousness and heroism.[/i]  

But after a moment of making sure his mild indignation was visible, all Elliot said was, [color=8F9779]“Hmm...I'm afraid you have me mistaken.  If I seem out-of-sorts, it is merely the byproduct of some rogue stress or another.”[/color]  He turned a pointed smile Alessa's way. [color=8F9779]“And if I seem distant, it is merely because I wished to avoid needless conversations at inopportune moments.  Us Wards do, after all, have the opportunity to interact any time outside of this event.”[/color]  Interlacing his fingers, he placed his hands on the desk before him.  After looking between both young women, he said, [color=8F9779]“Of course, this is the first advent of the illustrious Margrave at a public event—the first glance into the hidden secrets of the Wards' Sixth Ranger.  So I can't blame you for being...interested, Messiah.  If there's anything I can do for you -either of you- please don't hesitate to ask.”[/color]