[ It's not that Ragna didn't know what to do— or at least, he had an approximation... The man has eyes and ears, even with the life he leads as a wandering destroyer with a bounty high enough that one could buy an island with his worth. What modicum of privacy he finds for himself in fleeting instances (that aren't interrupted by the Rabbit or something or another) grants him time to be alone with his thoughts, varying as they were. He's heard things— read things even. But Ragna has never given himself the time, it's something he's never been allotted...nor did he find himself pining for it either. How could he when he didn't even know what it felt like to touch someone without risking hurting them? He talks a big talk, and walks it well when it pertains to the perceived view everyone has of him. But the cold hard fact was that he'd already thought he made peace with saying goodbye to anything like intimacy.
And then he woke up here.
Weiss' words cut through to him, and how she can relate to him and what he's going through. It must have been the same way for so many other people here. ]
This place sure knows how to pick 'em, don't they?
[ They can go back to bickering, bantering, taunting and teasing...whatever the beginning of this was. A beginning that Ragna never would have thought of, let alone entertained with the life that he lead— or what little of it he's probably got left. Right now, she smiles up at him and flat-out disarms him in an entirely different way; the Teasing Trio would be treated to a first out of their rougher guest as his cheeks are gently dusted rose. But it's her next words that, unknowingly, challenge his own thoughts. And his inexperience shows once more, his throat clearing as he attempts to...
Protest? Bark? Clear the air? What was he even thinking? Well...if he was, his words are faster than his brain is as she moves to stand on his right side while he pipes up: ]
Hey, I didn't say I didn't like you I just—! [ He catches himself. Shit. His cheeks fluster further. Careful, Ragna. Temper temper. He's about to rant... ] What I meant was— I get what you meant, it's not like that but first anythings in a goddamn place like thi—
[ She takes hold of his right hand. ]
[ And his breath silently catches, the whole length of his arm visibly tensing as he braces himself... But the Azure Grimoire doesn't respond. It doesn't throb with waves of chronic pain. Nor does it latch onto Weiss' soul. It's just. Silent. And what looked like an initial bracing for pain and panic on his expression as he looks down at Weiss at his side...ebbs away as his gaze drifts down at their hands connected. She's holding the Azure Grimoire without consequence. No one has responded to it negatively since he got here. And without that power taking anything away from her, even through his glove, it almost feels like direct contact.
Her hand feels so small...
Ragna doesn't jerk his hand away. Instead, he reciprocates, squeezing it back before his hold settles on something firm yet...surprisingly gentle. ]
no subject
And then he woke up here.
Weiss' words cut through to him, and how she can relate to him and what he's going through. It must have been the same way for so many other people here. ]
This place sure knows how to pick 'em, don't they?
[ They can go back to bickering, bantering, taunting and teasing...whatever the beginning of this was. A beginning that Ragna never would have thought of, let alone entertained with the life that he lead— or what little of it he's probably got left. Right now, she smiles up at him and flat-out disarms him in an entirely different way; the Teasing Trio would be treated to a first out of their rougher guest as his cheeks are gently dusted rose. But it's her next words that, unknowingly, challenge his own thoughts. And his inexperience shows once more, his throat clearing as he attempts to...
Protest? Bark? Clear the air? What was he even thinking? Well...if he was, his words are faster than his brain is as she moves to stand on his right side while he pipes up: ]
Hey, I didn't say I didn't like you I just—! [ He catches himself. Shit. His cheeks fluster further. Careful, Ragna. Temper temper. He's about to rant... ] What I meant was— I get what you meant, it's not like that but first anythings in a goddamn place like thi—
[ She takes hold of his right hand. ]
[ And his breath silently catches, the whole length of his arm visibly tensing as he braces himself... But the Azure Grimoire doesn't respond. It doesn't throb with waves of chronic pain. Nor does it latch onto Weiss' soul. It's just. Silent. And what looked like an initial bracing for pain and panic on his expression as he looks down at Weiss at his side...ebbs away as his gaze drifts down at their hands connected. She's holding the Azure Grimoire without consequence. No one has responded to it negatively since he got here. And without that power taking anything away from her, even through his glove, it almost feels like direct contact.
Her hand feels so small...
Ragna doesn't jerk his hand away. Instead, he reciprocates, squeezing it back before his hold settles on something firm yet...surprisingly gentle. ]