Um. 

Sorry, I don’t mean to contradict, but. That’s not what happens?

No, I’m serious. That’s not how it goes.

Yes, Negodincia grabbed him by the wrist. Yes, she dragged him away. Far enough away so that Olesya couldn’t reach him, at least. But not much farther than that.

Why not? 

I mean. This is a BLADE! DANCE! This isn’t getting chased through Crevas, this isn’t getting pounced on as he dodges a forest dragon. He’s on alert. His heartblade is in his hand. He just spent many, many days getting clipped by foxgirl heartblades on the arms, legs, back, belly, and suspiciously often his rear. And. Well. Look, don’t spread it around, but he really, really isn’t very fond of Negodincia. Really really isn’t very fond of her at all.

So he’s surprised when she grabs him by the wrist, but not stunned. He’s got his blade drawn, but she’s no defenseless, defeated plantgirl. He’s hesitant to stab her through the chest, but not slash her across the arm.

Did you, think he wouldn’t do that? Did you think he was so, so [i]useless[/i] that he would do nothing but helplessly squirm as Negodincia - of all people - dragged him off? Carried him away from Olesya, who he promised to help? Refused to see him as a duelist worth dancing with? Made out with him on the floor?

That’s

He’s not stupid, you know.

[Rolling to Defy Disaster with Daring. Hazel is willing to sacrifice his image of sheer defenselessness: 5 + 4 + 0 = [b]9[/b]]

Now, the rest of it? That does happen. Sort of.

Hazel doesn’t make out with any foxboys, because he’s not making out with any wolfgirls. But he does get scooped up, he does get abducted straight skyward, and he does nearly jump out of his skin as the explosive flask sounds off behind him and the Dark Dragon roars off beneath him.

Does he learn anything about himself in this moment? He does, actually. A few somethings, actually.

“Is there a Kidnapping Queue that nobody told me about?!”

Thing the first: He’s perfectly capable of babbling sensibly in a crisis.

“This is! Hrk! Not! Ngh! A good time!”

Thing the second: He’s completely incapable of slashing at someone when they’ve got him swept off his feet and flying through the air.

[i]-ding!-[/i]

The light of Civilization shines from the charm around his neck.

The eyes of his kidnapper shut in a narcoleptic power nap.

The yelp of a Fawn rises as he falls.

Thing the third: He forgot to specify what, precisely, would happen to anyone who broke the rules.

It is a very educational moment.

[For getting under a deerboy’s skin in a stressful situation, the handmaidens take a string on him.]