Even the frigid touch of the snow below his griping paws and taut body couldn't chill out the turmoil of emotions that burned so rapidly within the giant's soul. They twisted and turned like an anxious serpent as @Nephthys' face expressed emotions that Bhaskar never imagined would be directed towards him. The nagging voices within his head began to softly whisper insults to him, his insecurities feeding off the doubts that began to circle his mind. He wasn't right? And yet, he had done all of this for her. He is right, there is no other way about this. Yes. The peach paladin shut off the voices with the snap of a finger, remaining firm in his belief that he did well. And he would do it again.

The maroon Tollaire stepped back from him. He felt the sudden gap between them pain him so but made no move to close it. Iron-clad gaze watched her intensely as she began to explain that it was not his decision, that all of this could've ended badly if it was real. When she expressed her confusion as to why it bothered him so much, he felt his irritation rise. It was the same question that Drakon had asked, the same thing that he had to explain not once but twice, and the Tollaire man had laughed at his face. Did he not explain that to Nephthys once already? Did she not understand too? He was ready to support her in all decisions she made, but that... that did not seem like something she wanted to do. You say you want it, but you don't. I don't think you understand that it won't make you happy. The red-haired man continued to try and take the reigns, to tell her what would truly make her happy. You think being an unloved trophy wife will be easier. You clearly haven't thought this through, Nephthys. Bhaskar declared with a serious baritone voice. "Why does it bother you so much?" He growled. God! This question was like maggots crawling under his skin. It irritated him so! I told you! I told him too. Why do you never listen? Because you deserve someone who will love you and not treat you like a fucking item, Neph! The giant's heart began to skip wildly within his chest, his mind going crazy as he stood up, taking a few steps to approach the red lioness.

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Nephthys fed off his upset, his anger. It stoked the fire in her belly, sending the flames erupting higher and hotter than before. How dare he toy with her life in such a manner! To undermine what she had been working towards, to annihilate a non-existent betrothal as though it was in her best interest. At what point had he decided he was the only one capable of making such drastic life decisions for her? She couldn't understand, didn't know if she wanted to. It was one thing to have protective brothers and a protective father, but this? How could she untangle herself from the web she had found herself in.. and did she even want to?

It won't make you happy.

She saw red flash before her eyes. You make me happy, asshat! she snapped, bristling at the mere thought he would consider telling her what would and wouldn't work for her. Yet she still offered the right morsel up, a way to soothe his bruised ego even if she hadn't intended to wound it. He approached her swiftly and she refused to budge, her green eyes narrowing as she stared him defiantly in the face. There isn't even a betrothal to call off, so fuckin' calm down. This is stupid. The last was mumbled under her breath as her cheeks flashed burning hot. I'm not engaged to my dad, so problem solved. Could they move on from it now? Just.. go back to normalcy?

They stood face to face, his steel gaze stuck on the burning green flames of her eyes. So fierce, so intense. He felt like a single iron-clad soldier walking in the jaws of a dragon, her flames threatening to devour him whole, and yet somehow the fear was nonexistent. Instead, it was replaced by a burning need to shield the rare ruby from the cruelty that this world offered, from a terrible fate that she was so willingly ready to step in. The colossal cat braced to face her wrath.

"You make me happy, asshat!"


He felt the weight drop off his shoulders, a surprising sense of joy washing over him, accompanied by relief that she was not going to try and end what they had. And what did they have? In his mind, a friendship that he has never had with anyone else, one that he was willing to go to such extents to protect that nobody would. You make me happy, too. The intensity in his voice and gaze remained, but instead, it took a much softer, affectionate shape. She wanted him to calm down, but her previous words were enough to make him the happiest man on this earth. I know there isn't. I want you to understand. Understand that what he was saying was real and genuine and he would fight anyone that tried to dispute it. "I'm not engaged to my dad, so problem solved." I get it. Now he does. It's always gotta be after the mess. If you were engaged to him, though, I'm sure you wouldn't be anymore. Throwing a joke here would hopefully lower the tension that he could feel hang in the air.

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Had she been a better woman, Nephthys may have kept her calm throughout the entire situation. She would have understood he had her best interest at heart and was passionate about preventing her from making a mistake.

Too bad she was garbage and was fueled daily by untempered rage and fire.

You're still lucky he didn't eat your face. He must have liked you, she snorted, shaking her head. Her anger fell away like a wave as his did, content to return back to the humor of the situation instead. And I mean that, too. With what you called him and he didn't attack? He likes you. Nephthys heaved a sigh, deflating onto her haunches. She lifted a paw to rub gently at her temple. Psh, yeah, I'd say that engagement would certainly be off. Dad will be devastated, I'm sure, she said with a roll of her eyes. What else did you talk about? She was curious now. You know, if they hadn't only just slung insults at each other.

The behemoth's actions were half done with Neph's best interest in mind and half with his own selfish best interest in mind. He liked to stroke his ego and think it was all for her. The thought that he was jealous or being selfish never occurs in his mind. In fact, when Drakon had mentioned that, Bhaskar had felt insulted. After all, he was fighting to protect his best friend! He would make sure to reach his ultimate goal (even if she didn't realize that it was in her best interest in the long term), no matter what methods he used.

Lucky? Pft, as if Bhas would fall to a grandpa! Liked me? Didn't seem so, He shrugged with a neutral expression. It didn't matter to him if Drakon liked him or not, only Neph's opinion mattered. The older Tollaire was calm back then, even laughing awhile trying to say that Bhaskar was in love with Nephthys. The colossal reflected on that out-of-place statement but didn't mention it to the red dragoness on purpose. It was a stupid idea that held no logic. His friend seemed curious to learn more about his profound conversation with her father and he wondered how to maneuver around the true nature of his conversation with Drakon. Eh, not much, The colossal shrugged awkwardly, avoiding eye contact. He wasn't a very good liar. I insulted him, he insulted me a bit, then he left. Although his shit-talking had really been worse than Drakon's.

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Nephthys had a sinking feeling, confirmed by his abrupt inability to hold eye contact, that he wasn't being entirely truthful about the situation. Staring daggers at him wasn't effective when he didn't look at her, unfortunately, but she didn't know if it was worth prying. And then, an idea! Guess I'll just ask my dad when I see him next. We're overdue for a visit, I could probably go right now. He'll definitely give it to me straight. Nephthys smirked up at him, her tail curling at the tip mischievously. One way or the other, she would learn what else was discussed between them outside of childish insults. It was probably a nightmare situation for Bhaskar, but it only made her deviously excited to find out what she could. The scarlet yearling rose to her paws, claws drumming against the ground. Should I go now? Or wait until it stewed with him a bit more? See if he would be willing to cough up the information?

Either way, Nephthys knew she needed to find her father.

Drawing circles in the snow with an extended talon was a fun pastime, especially when there was an intense stare thrown his way. Too bad he was busy, right? The silence settled in and for a bit, Bhas thought that Neph had gobbled up the lie and wouldn't pry anymore. However, her next words made his eyes shoot up to her face immediately. He sighed deeply, figuring that she had seen through him. Oh, Drakon will for sure tell it as it is. He will not forget to include any detail. The colossal lifted a paw to rub his eyes with an exhausted look, trying to figure out a way to get out of this situation.

There was a reason why he chose to withhold the conversation he had with Drakon. If Neph heard that stupid assumption, Bhas will have to explain to her that he is definitely not in love with her. It sounded painful for a multitude of reasons. First, it made him uncomfortable. Second, he didn't want to insult her. Third, it was awkward as fuck. "Should I go now?" He peeked at her sly smirk, realizing that he was trapped. Bhaskar preferred she heard it first from him than from Drakon. Who knows how that old man will twist the peach paladin's words? Ugh, fine. He groaned, his brows furrowing in annoyance. I'll tell you. So stay here and don't you dare move. I was tryin' to explain to him my reasons for... y'know, calling him a rotting fossil. Now or never. He called them bullshit. Bhas wanted to spit at the insult. Instead, he continued while diligently avoiding eye contact. Said I was in love with you or something. He says quickly, shoulders rolling forward in an indifferent shrug. Jealous, he had called Bhas. He was getting riled up just thinking about it.

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In the grand scheme of things, Nephthys knew whatever Bhaskar was about to say would be uncomfortable. For him, for her, for whoever --- if he'd insulted her father further, brought her mum into it, maybe.. her grandparents or something. She didn't want to hear what else had been discussed to some extent, but her curiosity was far too rampant. She had to know and fortunately, she'd pressed all the right buttons to coax it out of him. The satisfaction caused her smirk to spread and a low, contented purr to reverberate in her throat. Sweet, sweet victory.

But then he confessed what was said and promptly took the wind out of her sails, sending her reeling in surprise. Her dad had said what? Embarrassment flooded her cheeks as she willed herself into a puddle on the ground that could sink directly into the earth. Ugh, Dad, why?

Well, we know I don't believe in love anyway, so I'll set him straight. I'm sorry he said that, it must have made you uncomfortable. Not that there wasn't a tiny part that deflated at how ridiculous he made it sound. Nephthys stood strongly in her belief that love was nothing, however -- or at least not meant for her. It just seemed too messy.

And that was, again, why she would have preferred to seek out a betrothal. Feelings were gross and she was happy to continuously beat hers down whenever they reared their ugly heads

There, that's what she wanted, right? By the surprised look on her face, she hadn't expected it to come back and bite her in the ass. He watched her with a dull expression lacking any emotion, revelling in the quick-serve of karma. Not so smug now, are we? Neph promptly announces that she will set Drakon straight and that makes him choke out a snort. The mental image of the red Tollaire sitting and lecturing the older man was somehow hilarious. Just don't call him a fossil, might hit a nerve. Hint: call him a fossil. That's what he deserves for calling out Bhas. Uncomfortable? Nah. Not at all. What made him uncomfortable was the moment he had to tell Neph what her father had said. However, Drakon's words had certainly made him angry for other reasons. I was more pissed he disregarded my words as a lie. I didn't lie. The gruff lion said with a firm tone. It was not a conscious lie, anyways.

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Nephthys was struggling to maintain control of the flood. She may have been experienced at wrangling in her emotions, but part of her couldn't help but feel a twinge of.. grief? It was indescribable, actually, and that frustrated her. Being unable to identify what she was feeling made her feel out of control, a sensation she genuinely did not enjoy. Was she so unlikable? Unlovable? Yeah, okay, Bhaskar didn't love her and that was fine -- it just drove her point home even more that love was fucking stupid. She wasn't going to sit there and sift through all the drama that came along with it, she was going to find herself a man who would marry her for the sake of his family. No love. Nothing. Nephthys didn't care what her friend thought of it; it only meant she would need to keep quiet until things came to fruition. Once the deal was signed, she'd be locked in and would inform the man then. It would spare him for a while longer and remove any possibility of sabotage, two birds with one stone. Well, I think I should go talk to him regardless, she finally said, shifting her weight to leave. Bhaskar didn't need to know what about, nooooope. I'll see you later. Do you have any other insults you want me to give him. Going once..