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So this is really how you want to play it," Morkai tells Daelynn, a statement and not a question.

She lifts her chin defiantly and beckons him closer with a crooked finger. "Give me all you've got, sourpuss," she purrs.

Well. Here it comes. Morkai begins to move forward, his eyes fixed on the unapologetic elf. You consider your escape routes. You don't want to get caught up in whatever this is.

You take a step to the left, then another—and then you collide with a solid chest. You quickly turn your head to see Straasa standing behind you, a peeved expression marring his usually serene features.

"Straasa…," you try to warn him, but he's obviously aware of the situation if the daggers he's glaring at Morkai are anything to go by.

"Morkai," he snaps, his tone reprimanding. His red-haired friend immediately stops his advance and turns around to look at him.

"She started it!" he exclaims like a child that's not getting his way.

"I don't care who started it, Morkai, I'm finishing it."

The two friends enter a staring match, neither willing to back down. After a few seconds, however, Morkai clenches his jaw. With a final huff and a glare Daelynn's way, he crosses his arms in front of himself and says nothing else.

Straasa makes sure to keep him in his sights for a few seconds longer before he turns to Daelynn.

He doesn't immediately smile at her, which in your book counts as the equivalent of Straasa giving someone a slap or something.

You can't help but wonder why this is. He was immediately so friendly with you that you assumed that was his reaction to everyone. Apparently not. There's more to him than meets the eye.

The question remains, though: What made you so different in his eyes from this elf? Why is he more mistrustful of her than he was of you? Does he see something that is not immediately apparent? You'd ask him, but he is a little busy at the moment.