He stares at her, watching as the thoughts swim across her features like a drive-in theater. Despite this, he still can't fathom exactly what she might be thinking. The words that leave her lips are angry, and perhaps once upon a time they would have been justifiably so. Not anymore.

Dominic doesn't feel once ounce of pity for her. Or empathy.

She's has effectively crushed that part of him. Perhaps it was for the better, she might say. He could imagine it.

How stupid.

"You know what, Melusina. I did, for a long time. I felt bitter and guilty about a lot. After awhile though, it becomes less about being bitter and more about your own selfish wants." He knew all too well. Ultimately his desire to protect her and follow her around hadn't been about her. It had been about proving himself. Dominic had spent a long time hating himself for failing her that fateful day.

But it got exhausting trying to prove his worth to her.
Especially when she didn't seem to notice or care.

She's closing the distance between them before he can stop her or back up. The next words that slip from her lips are akin to the ones he'd just been thinking,

A heavy sigh escapes him, the weight of her presence lingering there - on his shoulders. When did it get this way? When had being around her become a burden more than a pleasantry? Melusina had changed so much in such a short time. For what? For Cassius? To prove to him, to others she was worth it?

"You could try to be a supportive friend, though, I can't recall when you ever have been." He retorts, unable to help himself. When had she done anything but help herself? God, Dominic wanted to keep seeing the good in her, to have faith that this was some stupid, juvenile phase that she would wake up from some day. Like a bad nightmare...

With each passing day, however, it became more and more obvious that the influence of others was far too strong and the girl he'd loved had become a manipulated, selfish woman. "Perhaps you should re-evaluate why you feel the need to constantly prove yourself. The ones who love you, Melusina...already know your worth, and it doesn't look like this." He motions to her with a soft grunt, nose wrinkling as he turns to leave.

Unlike before, Dominic didn't turn to look back at her over his shoulder.

---

— Exit Dominic —

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She isn't sure if she enjoys seeing this side of him or dreads it. Regardless of what she's feeling, her expression is twisted into one of faltering indifference. Her lips are trembling, and there's a glazed look in her eyes that threatens tears. But she's wearing a scowl, and her ears are pinned back to the sides of her head as if she was mid-argument. Which she was, in a way.

Arguing with @Dominic felt far better than watching him far the distance, waiting and worrying about the girl he could not save.

After awhile though, it becomes less about being bitter and more about your own selfish wants.

Selfish wants? she scoffs, offended. What I want is justice.

Justice against the men who had done this to her, shooting to shit the little girl and leaving behind her blighted, angry remains. They were who what morphed Melusina into this monster—she could not fathom the idea that she could simply choose to walk away. She had spent her entire life running, and it had not saved her.

You could try to be a supportive friend, though, he retorts, and the breadth of his sigh warms her face, a feeling she once loved. I can't recall when you ever have been.

By lying to you? her voice lowers; Melusina had genuinely been trying to help him, in her own uncouth way.

But she knew, deep down, she was jealous. Jealous that he got to choose. Bitter that he chose this.

Perhaps you should re-evaluate why you feel the need to constantly prove yourself.

She opens her mouth to protest, but he beats her.

The ones who love you, Melusina...already know your worth, and it doesn't look like this.

Alaric loves me! she snaps, tears prickling in the corners of her eyes. Do you think he felt I was worth anything when he dragged me to the Summit!?

But he's walking away, and he's not looking back, and Melusina feels the urge to sob building and building. It threatens to burst through, but at the last minute she keens, and yells into the forest, and lets the meadow suffer her anger and her anguish.

---

Exit Melusina.