>>5384736“…but if you think I’ve forgotten about you getting some rest, you’ve got another thing coming—which is sleep.” You playfully add, chuckling when Iris’ crystal spheres roll their translucent forms. “You can’t blame me for trying, right? Third time’s the charm, after all.”
“God, you’re relentless.” The younger girl sighs…but it’s not an outright ‘no’, a fact that gives you a glimmer of hope.
“Please tell me you’re reasonable than a teenaged girl, Iris.” You press, earning an irked twitch of the girl’s stern brow. “I’ve already had one friend nearly fall out on me by not respecting their own mental health. I’d like to avoid a trend.”
“Ha, ‘friend’? You like to throw that word around, from what I’ve heard...” Iris smirks, the edge to her words straddling the line between true contempt and reluctant affection. “…almost as much as Captain.”
"Well, if you won’t let me keep watch, would it be amenable if the Captain kept an eye out while you sleep?”
Iris’ breath hitches, a fact she tries to cover up by rattling off a hasty dismissal. “Waking her up now would be…unwise. I’m afraid that’s not on the table.”
"Regardless, there's no safer place than here if you wished to get some well-deserved rest. I’m a woman of my word, so…okay.” You relent when Iris fixes you with a sightless glower. “Well, if you won’t accept charity, how about if you hired me?”
The other girl’s glower transforms into an expression of what can only be described as ‘impressed incredulity’ at your continued insistence, before transforming one final time into an amused grin when you add; “I can assure you my hourly rates are only exorbitant as it takes to make you feel reassured.”
“…Fine. But I’ll not be indebted to you, Defiant.” Iris groans, rising to her feet and glancing back towards the newly-restored lodge. “The others are waking up anyway so I’ll take my turn now, if it’s all the same to you.”
“By all means.” You say, and at that Iris takes her leave, pausing at the edge of the obsidian vessel and saying over her shoulder-
“Oh, and Defiant? For what it’s worth…”
The hint of hope, hidden in a voice fraught with exhaustion.
“…good luck.”
(Continued)
