[h3][color=#166FC2]Cloven Brevis[/color][/h3]
[@Spectral] | [@Sanguine Rose] | [@Endeavor] | [@TheHangedMan][hr]
[indent][indent]Cloven, at times, had a offhand way of shutting out all but what he deemed important. He supposed most people did. If his insights had bore any fruit at all, it would be that the mind shut-away or superimposed whatever it deemed necessary. At that moment, Cloven had shut away a few things. Mostly Asher’s response, which turned into a long, sluggish insult that phased straight into where most his hurt went; to the numb place. Gwen’s words however, were completely muted; her lips moved but intelligible words failed to spill out. 

Instead, it was her actions that dealt the heaviest blow.

He observed them distantly but felt the jarring bang tremble his core; shaking loose some of that glacier that he had meticulously cared for. [color=#166FC2][i]A repeat of Syra,[/i][/color] he heard echo inside. [color=#166FC2]Just [i]like, Syra. You best watch out for the first, searing cut of that dagger. It’ll sneak up on you if you’re not careful, ‘Little Devil’.[/i][/color]  

Outwardly he lowered his arms, concealed them and himself in his cloak again, and pulled his lips into a small smile, one that failed to reach his auric eyes. And so, he had ignored the back-and-forth between Gwen and the reporters, and the beginning of the braggart's spiel. A flash of something being thrown towards him, which once caught with a swift hand turned out to be her clothes, jolted him back. [color=#166FC2][i]That fragile space is always strange,[/i][/color] he thought, dropping the outer and underwear to the ground. 

He eyed Astoria with some form of guilt, [color=#166FC2][i]Should’ve stayed quiet. She must feel terribly awkward.[/i][/color] Then he felt a hollow pang somewhere inside, surrounded by a deep darkness he imagined.

[color=#166FC2]“Sorry, Astoria,”[/color] he said in his wintry monotone. [color=#166FC2]“Forget the questions. Just get better I guess."[/color] Then a pause later. [color=#166FC2]"I’d hate for that mask to melt.”[/color]

With a near-silent leap, he escaped from the crowd of reporters, guildmates, and most-importantly, dead and foolish intentions. There was a genius in knowing when to speak and what to say; Cloven wasn’t privy to that knowledge. So he’d remain quiet, he believed. At least for a long time to come. 
   
[center][i][b]~* ~* ~*[/b][/i][/center]
Sitting on a roof, out of sight, with his legs dangling absently, Cloven listened to Marduk’s speech and was somewhat inspired. It moved him to the point that he reconsidered his opinion of the old man. [color=#166FC2]Quite the talker aren’t we old man. Interesting, perhaps… Maybe you can help me someday.[/color][/indent][/indent]