[P] mother courage;

[Galileo]

galileo kodarki

Pausing to absorb what she was saying, he plainly nodded as she spoke of wanting to be liked. If that had not been the dominant feeling of his youth, perhaps he would have been more... emotionally available these days. The girl seemed to be an interesting combination of naivety and yet intelligence, if the two could go together. But there was something about her that made him hang off her every word... If he was honest, he was the opposite to her these days. Generally, if someone didn't like him, he could not care less. There had been a fair few tavern brawls when those tensions had come to a head, but nothing he couldn't hold himself in. After all, he was the trained warrior.

With a grin, he puffed his chest out proudly. "I can assure you that nobody makes more mistakes than myself," he confirmed proudly. His past was probably not something to joke about, but she didn't know anything about it, and he was less than bothered. Maybe it would hurt less if he made light of it? "I'll be honest, you seem pretty confident to me, unless you've managed to have me fooled." 

The path winded upwards now, leading them out towards the dazzling daylight. He realised they were nearing the end of their journey, approaching the borders of the canyons, but he did not want the trip to end. Snorting with a laugh, he shook his head in response to her question. "Nobody seeks me out, Willoughby. At least not in these lands. I am the great unknown ogre who lives under their metaphorical bridge. I can imagine you are in high demand, however. An intelligent young woman like yourself, and all."

He decided he would not mention that there was always the possibility he was being tracked by those from his homeland. But that was far from here, he was sure of it.

"Well, I appreciate you not leaving me, that's for sure." Humble words spilled out of his mouth and he kept his gaze low and respectful. She moved on quickly, speaking of the cold and the loneliness. 


"Honestly," he answered carefully, scoffing and grunting a little. "I like being alone. Tends to be the case that the majority of those I meet don't exactly understand me." He supposed that didn't mean he wasn't lonely, however. "There are things much worse than being alone. Like dead, for example." The final words were said matter of factly, and from anyone else's mouth, it would have been a joke. But Galileo was deadly sincere, for he had been up close and personal with the cold gaze of Death himself many a time.

Death was an old enemy that had sucked the lives from injured soldiers -- his injured soldiers -- on the ruby-stained battlefields with a thirsty glee, his wicked teeth shining from a cavernous grin and eyes as barren as no man's land, where no affection, no care, and no mercy grew. 

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@Willoughby
retrospective socially inept leo at his finest

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