#radiant/venli is a unique pairing i love it!

[truthwatcherblog]

For the kiss game, #46 with Radiant/Venli?

#46: out of envy/jealousy

At first, Venli thought the Lightweaver woman could somehow change forms like a Singer. She shifted the color of her hair, the shape of her body, even the tone of her skin, to match different purposes. It was only later that she learned that Shallan Davar had three distinct identities: Veil, Radiant, and Shallan.

Radiant was at first akin to warform in Venli’s mind, but upon further inspection, she was much more than that. She was strong, yes, but she was also put-together and intelligent. She was no-nonsense, undistracted, and adept with a shardblade.

Venli could not help but stare hungrily at Radiant’s dual shards. Every morning, she was in the chamber that had been set aside for Radiants to train in, going through the elegant movements of a kata. Her blade was impressive, but Venli found her shard-shield even more mesmerizing.

Even with her newly earned blade, Venli would not have the shield that Radiant wielded. It was beautiful. She looked like a legendary warrior, someone out of myth. A heroine from an ancient story.

Once, Venli had scorned the battlefield heroics of her sister, believing that her scholarly work towards progress would be more valuable. But now she saw that Eshonai had always been more of a hero than she was. Their shardbearer, their first Knight, even if she hadn’t known it. She wished she could have been a hero like her. A hero like Radiant.

“Who’s there?” a regal voice echoed through the hallway, and Venli realized that she’d been caught staring. She reluctantly stepped into the chamber.

Radiant gave her a dark glare. “Are you spying on me?”

“I was admiring your skill,” Venli replied, though that wasn’t all of it.

Radiant didn’t seem to believe her, but held her tongue. She was always so composed.

“Would you like to spar? I heard that you recently earned your blade,” Radiant said.

Venli knew she would be no match for Radiant, but she summoned Timbre as a blade anyway.

The duel went even worse than she had expected. Radiant’s shield kept Venli from landing hits on her, and the other woman pressed her advantage, knocking Timbre from her hand. She flowed from stance to stance with an ease and elegance that Venli couldn’t emulate.

Her jealousy of Radiant’s abilities grew as they went round after round, neither of them speaking much. Radiant was so damned respectful, never taunting or teasing Venli, only precisely disarming her every time.

Venli stood back, panting, after maybe the fourth or fifth bout in which she had been defeated. Radiant remained unshaken, having barely broken a sweat.

“How do you remain so calm?” Venli said, frustration bubbling to the surface.

“I am trained in battle,” Radiant replied. “It is alright that you have less skill than I do. You are new to this.”

Venli wished she could have Radiant’s composure. She wished she could have her skill in battle. Most of all, she wished she could project the air of heroism that Radiant did. This woman reminded her of everything she wasn’t.

She wanted to do something to sway Radiant, to drive her to expression. So she confidently leaned in close to the other woman, shoving aside doubts. Surely Radiant had weaknesses. Surely she was not as perfect as she seemed to be.

Venli kissed Radiant, hard, against the wall of the training room. She felt the initial shock in the other woman before a hand grabbed her, pulling her closer. Radiant kissed her back, somehow unfazed by Venli’s behavior.

Venli pulled away, glaring. “How did you expect that?” she asked.

Radiant gave a small smile. “I always expect the unexpected.”

Impossible woman. Somehow, on top of everything else, she was also a good kisser. Venli turned and stormed out of the room.