#//Playing this as between SotD and SotW

[mantleoflight]

"You can't lie to my face like that." ~ Fastion

Darius looked aghast. "Me? What? Lie?" he held his hands out, his golden hues trying to look as innocent as they could before the raven-haired man changed tactics.

He looked up at the ship he had eying, his hand resting on the side of its nose. If he tried to jump into the cockpit now, Fastion would have him in a vice grip before he could blink. The Black Shield was no joke and he doubted Branson would be willing to talk Fastion down from folding him in half and sitting on him until he talked.

Better play it safe.

"Alright, alright, yeah I can't lie to you. But let's be honest, that doesn't mean I have to tell you everything either. But before you ask, no it's not about Xivu Arath. Well, maybe a bit but I'm really just taking this for a fly around to get my head clear. It's bad enough I get Mathafew in my head when I have... dreams about her and what happened. I just need some sky time to breathe, okay?"

He hoped that would explain it, his need to get away, to distance himself from what he was afraid to grasp. Fear was driving him nuts... and he knew Xivu was feeding on it, ready to pounce and prey on him through it.