Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:37 pm
- Link
Dunsmith watched as the tears started actually falling from Quentin's eyes. Was the heat truly that bad that they were crying, or were they just being forced out by its intensity? Quentin's face looked like it was turning red, and they were coughing, but they did not seem to be willing to stop. Stubborn, this one. Seeing that Quentin was rapidly getting low on milk, Dunsmith got up and went and got a few more glasses, hurrying so as not to miss anything interesting, like Quentin finding the right combination or else passing out.
Dunsmith was well versed in being placated, in someone nodding along without really listening. It never stopped him from talking, of course, but he knew it when he saw it, and right now Quentin had the look of someone who wasn't listening. They were staring at the peppers, and Dunsmith wondered if they were thinking of stopping, feeling a mixture of disappointment and relief at the thought, but then the kid grabbed two peppers. "Well," Dunsmith said with a laugh. "Never let it be said that you lack in courage, my friend. Or perhaps it's simply stubbornness, but oftentimes the two are indistinguishable after a point. Frankly, I'm surprised you're still sitting here and haven't gone to dunk your head in the lake. That truly must hurt something awful."
He watched as Quentin grasped the edge of the table, saw as sweat started appearing on their forehead. A responsible adult would at this point have likely taken the peppers away, would've told Quentin that they'd proven whatever point they'd set out to make. Dunsmith, however, just continued watching. After all, Quentin knew their limits better than he did, and if they wanted to destroy their tastebuds and quite possibly their bowels going through this ordeal, who was he to stop them? The beauty of living so far out from society was getting to make truly terrible choices.
When Quentin started pounding on the table, though, Dunsk had had enough. He'd gradually been growing more and more uneasy at this little demonstration, as well as at Dunsmith's lack of concern about it. Is enough, he told Quentin. Should stop before you hurt self. Dunsk's voice was gentle but firm. He wanted Quentin to stop.
Dunsmith sighed, recognizing that tone of voice in the wher. "Well, that was fun while it lasted," he said, disappointed and not bothering to hide it. "And at least we learned a few fruits that don't work on it, eh?"