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"What are you doing here."
Bdubs tries his hardest not to look offended by Etho's words, he really does. It would be stupid to ruin the fun so soon; not when the stage has already been set for him to prance and flaunt a facade of innocence whilst he leans into the dappled sunlight from the birch leaves above.
It's drawn the shadows of Etho's face sharp. Bdubs doesn't need a mirror to know it's done the same for himself.
The only difference is that the glint in Bdubs' eyes isn't just from the afternoon sun. It's a twist of excitement and thrill, raw and mean in a silent dare for Etho to take the first strike.
Because it doesn't matter that Etho's question is as pointed as the iron sword hilted at his belt. It doesn't matter that Bdubs can feel the jagged edges those five words have carved into the veil of his own composure.
He's determined to play this game. Not King of the Ladder, but this odd game of chicken Etho had decided upon the moment his eyes had caught and pinned Bdubs in place.
Bdubs grabs onto the ends of his headband, loosening the red fabric just to retie it again. It's a decent enough excuse to keep his hands occupied, and he plays it off as nothing more than further proof of his nonchalance. It isn't like Etho will see it as an attempt to soothe the rising urge to jab a finger square in his chest anyway.
His grin sharpens and it's enough to keep it from snapping open to prattle on about how Etho should be grateful Bdubs is willing to waste his time here.
He won't make a scene. Not yet, at least.
Still, it's hard. Sharp words and explosive reactions might as well be his mother tongue, English a language he'd learned for the sake of others. His mind screams for him to fall into the embrace of instinct; lashing out will earn him the reaction he'd come here for in the first place.
Etho leans just the slightest bit into his space and Bdubs swallows back a snarl. Those mismatched eyes are narrowed, pointed and a clear push for Bdubs to break their standoff of silence with a familiar flood of anger.
But Bdubs holds firm. He won't break when he can tell Etho's feigning neutrality for the gaze of curious onlookers.
Only, it isn't anger that Etho's trying to sweep beneath the rug, is it?
No, beyond how picturesque Etho looks with his hands slipped deep into his pockets and chin lilted toward the sky as he invades Bdubs' space without an apology, Bdubs can see the thin strings that keep Etho's limbs from looking as tense as he sounds.
Bdubs has half a mind to cut them himself.
But he'll play nice. He'll feed into Etho's attempts to act as though nothing's amiss and as though Etho hadn't asked Bdubs to not attend when the rest of the server stands behind them.
"I got free will, don't I?" Bdubs asks, leaning forward too. Their foreheads nearly knock before Etho relents and takes a slight step back. "This 'Etho Property' I wasn't aware of?"
It should be shameful how greedily Bdubs drinks in the way Etho's mask suddenly sharpens against his jawline. Oh, he could practically swoon at the sight—at the subtle twitch of his brow that paints irritation over Etho's face in brilliant shades of color.
It's so terribly obvious that Etho's patience is at its limit. What's strange is that Bdubs can't pinpoint why.
He's only just gotten here. Bdubs might pride himself on being able to squirm beneath Etho's nerves unlike any other, but it takes time to scratch a scab into Etho's temper. Time that Bdubs hasn't been able to spend—not for a lack of trying.
It can't be over the game's prize, can it? Sure, the idea of losing nine diamonds is nothing to scoff at, and it certainly isn't when the ore's generation rates have been so low this past week.
Still, it isn't like all hope would be lost if Etho doesn't win his game. It was practically written in the stars that should Etho give the word, Bdubs would have that diamond block tucked snug beneath Etho's covers the very next day.
And yet it looks painful the way Etho's gaze tears itself from Bdubs to stare just beyond Bdubs' right ear. "No."
"Oh good," Bdubs says, voice sickly sweet. "I didn't wanna have to draw another property line. That stuff's just the worst, you gotta get the blocks and spend the time building it and don't get me started on bringing surveyors out here. Those guys are the leeches of society, y'know?"