Welcome to Gaia! ::

Her words stung like ice chips in the winter, Lex refusing to show the pain on his face through his body. He knew she'd conscripted her life just to follow him, he knew he'd been making light of that stupid, stupid sacrifice. Lex knew she had the agency to do whatever she wanted, it was her life to waste.

"You're my baby sister, Claudia." Lex drawled, managing just to keep the pathetic whine out of his voice. The older sibling carried the wine glasses to the coffee table, setting one glass in front of her before seating himself on the couch with his own, taking a deep sip and a sigh.

"If I can't keep the real demons away from you, I can at least keep you from mine."

Lex took a sip of the wine, rolling his eyes at Claude as he did so. Stubborn, stubborn girl. He'd have to throw her a line at some point, if he ever wanted this conversation to go anywhere.

But he didn't. Lex didn't want to talk about his uselessness, the nothing he felt every time he forced himself out of bed. She wasn't going to hear about how Lex just existed these days, hardly scraping by on puppet shows of social interaction and lashing out with frustration at himself and everything else.

Instead, she got a fake smirk and a gentle chuckle. "Then, dear Claudia, you're not piss poor at all. Your concern is enough."

lucyal

Lex stared over the wine glass, grim scowl set on his face. Heavy brows and pursed lips. "You wouldn't."

Lucyal

The older sibling considered his options for a few moments, scowl receding to his well-practiced poker face. Option one was to give in, and lay bare his demons to Claude.

That was no option.

Option two was to let her just spill the wine on Ami's armchair; that would be disastrous, but he could recover from it. Hell, he could probably get the wine stains out before Ami got home from the labs.

Option three was to feed her some bullshit about how he just needed to get out more, maybe blow off some steam and have a bit of sex. Would she believe that? Only if he pitched it well enough. There was a precedent for it - Claude had seen him after a week of no sex back in Vegas, the way he'd get melancholy and mopey.

<< You would lie to your own kin? I should be so proud. >> The griffon cooed in his head, a rare purr rumbling from Regal's throat. << I like option three. >>

Lex steeled his face, putting the wine glass on the coffee table.

"Fine. Ask what you want, and I'll answer honestly."

lucyalx

He hated this. She wanted honesty, something so simple and effortless, but he couldn't give it to her. Grey eyes met their matching set, and Lex breathed a heavy sigh,

"I'm just so tired, Claude." He moaned, leaning back into his seat with a loud frown. "Tired of being here, y'knkw? The threat of death always loomi g over my head, the lack of anything to do other than missions and chores."

It was at least a partial truth. Being stuck at the Intermediate level for so long had restricted what Lex could do.

"I just need to blow off steam, I guess? But Ami won't reciperocate, and I'm not gunna go off cheating on her." Lex smiled somberly, twisting the green studded ring around his finger. "Havin' you here is good, you know? I can talk to ya about this sorta stuff without worryin' about backlash."

Lex was relieved to see Claude was buying it, even if there was a dagger twisting itself into his heart. He couldn't help but not see Claudia Morgan, Sun Hunter, but Claudia Anne, the little girl with brown hair and big grey eyes in a frilly dress.

"I've been here for three years already, Claude. 'M a bit more tenured than you." He cracked a grin, but it immediately fell. She'd been hunting him down for three years...

And he was still evading her.

"Maybe if I was less of a gnarly old troll, I'd have more friends and get out more."

It would probably be prudent to throw Claude a bone, let her in on just a little bit more than what she'd already figured out.

But when did he ever do anything good for himself? Two years ago, to be exact. But that wasn't important at the moment.

"Feeling isolated from the community has made me weary." He continued with a shrug, taking a rather small sip of wine. If he got too tipsy, the beans would be spilt. "Doesn't help that Ami is so busy most nights."

[qupte="Lucyal"]