There's a split second that Roland could have darted out of Reno's grasp, though he doubts how smoothly he would have executed such a feat. From Irivar, Roland's already undoubtedly sure that the Reno is much faster than he is. That's where he succeeds; in flashes and flurries that can force even Roland's hand to react just as quickly. But this time he doesn't care to do so, won't bother trying to avoid his hand as it grips Roland's collar in a show of unrelenting frustration. The face Reno sees then, even as he attempts to punch him with a raised fist, is more serene than he could have ever expected. Behind young, dark brown eyes is another soul that's felt worse pain than the idea of getting his teeth knocked in.
Not that he would have let that slide, if Reno didn't think to hold himself back. Roland stills himself, becomes a statue that tries to wade through the murky fields in Reno's own hateful gaze against him. He sees tendrils of the familiar though - recognizes that there are more layers to this bully than Roland has ever voiced out. Though that's to be expected, Roland reasons silently; people who are first to meet basic decency with wanton violence are broken souls in their own right. It doesn't make their wrath any less seething, doesn't justify the pain they inflict on others more innocent.
And it's this claim of innocence really, that drives Reno now. Roland doesn't flinch at the accusations, won't show him a crack or slither of emotion. Stone-faced despite the sudden closeness where he has to glance down against the bridge of his nose so he keeps Reno within his line of sight. Listen to him babble on about misplaced fault, that Roland was the one who made it worse. Here he thought Reno couldn't be any funnier about this whole mess; no, this is the cherry on top. He could laugh, if he was the type.
Instead, Roland let's him finish speaking. Let's his venom pass over him, thick and full of spite. Roland allows only a beat and a half to come over them before he cuts through the fog with a low voice, rumbling through his chest and throwing a glare that could stop the time if he so desired it. Such is his determination if he willed it. Takes a step back when Reno lets him go, but doesn't stammer in his stance.
"Don't flatter yourself." Roland says coarsely. "How could you possibly say that when you have no idea who I am? You don't know me." Neither was it Reno's choice to call it as such; that they were even remotely alike in the manner in which they operate.
"You can say all you want about that day, how you think it's all my fault. That I wanted this to happen to the extent that it did. It's all fluff. You don't even believe that, not really." How could it be possible for his voice to drop even lower? Stuck in a world where he's got Reno right in his sights. A leader spurned; a father in absolute defense.
"Don't lecture me about being the bigger man when the burden to rise to the challenge was never ours. It was a call for you and no one else's. You, who cast the first stone, who drew his weapon first. The one who had no intentions of letting Inigo leave peacefully until you made him suffer. And guess what, Reno? You missed the shot. You screwed up. It's about time you owned up to that."
sorry for the lateness, work...@_@
Not that he would have let that slide, if Reno didn't think to hold himself back. Roland stills himself, becomes a statue that tries to wade through the murky fields in Reno's own hateful gaze against him. He sees tendrils of the familiar though - recognizes that there are more layers to this bully than Roland has ever voiced out. Though that's to be expected, Roland reasons silently; people who are first to meet basic decency with wanton violence are broken souls in their own right. It doesn't make their wrath any less seething, doesn't justify the pain they inflict on others more innocent.
And it's this claim of innocence really, that drives Reno now. Roland doesn't flinch at the accusations, won't show him a crack or slither of emotion. Stone-faced despite the sudden closeness where he has to glance down against the bridge of his nose so he keeps Reno within his line of sight. Listen to him babble on about misplaced fault, that Roland was the one who made it worse. Here he thought Reno couldn't be any funnier about this whole mess; no, this is the cherry on top. He could laugh, if he was the type.
Instead, Roland let's him finish speaking. Let's his venom pass over him, thick and full of spite. Roland allows only a beat and a half to come over them before he cuts through the fog with a low voice, rumbling through his chest and throwing a glare that could stop the time if he so desired it. Such is his determination if he willed it. Takes a step back when Reno lets him go, but doesn't stammer in his stance.
"Don't flatter yourself." Roland says coarsely. "How could you possibly say that when you have no idea who I am? You don't know me." Neither was it Reno's choice to call it as such; that they were even remotely alike in the manner in which they operate.
"You can say all you want about that day, how you think it's all my fault. That I wanted this to happen to the extent that it did. It's all fluff. You don't even believe that, not really." How could it be possible for his voice to drop even lower? Stuck in a world where he's got Reno right in his sights. A leader spurned; a father in absolute defense.
"Don't lecture me about being the bigger man when the burden to rise to the challenge was never ours. It was a call for you and no one else's. You, who cast the first stone, who drew his weapon first. The one who had no intentions of letting Inigo leave peacefully until you made him suffer. And guess what, Reno? You missed the shot. You screwed up. It's about time you owned up to that."