_{^{“You coward.”}}

_{^{{ superiorxty }}}

     S_{^{eething sensibilities cloud better judgement ‘pon hearing the vexing words slither from tiers unbidden for polite chatter. He means to rile, to cut beneath the stoney surfaced facade constructed over the years. This raw hide to lay barren to quips and wretched pillaging. There is no victory betwixt the ireful dance they attempt, this gnarled relationship over grown with rotted roots and decaying flora.}}

     _{^{Flesh stretches over knuckles, drawn in putrid shade of ivory set, and devoid of the blood that tangs delicately in sweet murmur along a tongue belonging to a base carnivore. A gnashing jawline flexes, shoulders bristling and upper lip curling fiercely – she will not take that treatment, especially from him. No family of hers, no matter how debauched and far gone wouldst make a craven from her name.}} 

                    _{^{❝Shut your goddamn mouth. ❞}}

     _{^{It comes as a whispers, belittling and harsh though no foothold would it take in echoes. Knuckles crack faintly, neck craning ever so to catch of the glimpse of the boy she once affectionately termed ’brother’.}} 

                    _{^{❝                       The only real coward is you.
                    Running away from everything.      Everything
                    Father tried to teach you,     wanted you to be.
                    Turning your back on the only family you have
                     left… And you call me a coward?          Tch. ❞}}

     _{^{Exhale, inhale, and how a pulse drops to mere patter. What fury doth rage within a beast so wrought with own self-terror. She cannot quiet herself for the sake of propriety but instead stills the hand that would lash out. Something lingers. Something always lingers – harsher memories of no. And the girl simply recalls,}} 

                                         _{^{Anger is the first sign of defeat.}}