Disclaimer: I do not own Blackbird. Blackbird is (C) by Shilin. Go read it now!

Prompt: Poker face (Ver.1)

Weirin always had stood on the sidelines, watching the ballad of the sorceress and the assassin.

Blackbird never hesitated to tell the sorceress how much she loved her. She lived day by day, never knowing what lies ahead and lived every day to her fullest--in favor of herself of course. The villagers were never too happy to be cleaning up after the assassin's pranks. The sorceress never complains; she goes along with the assassin, and reap havoc that would have made her mother proud.

And yet, Veloce's face remains as stoic as ever.

Not that neither Weirin or Blackbird ever had a problem with the sorceress; She was intelligent, she was an excellent sparring partner and last but not least, she was beautiful.

Of course she would be more beautiful if she smiled more.

...and if she would look more interested during their travels.

Weirin frowned. Veloce was very good at lying. She had eyes would flow, never betraying their master and a convincing face. The same face she uses when she speaks to Iriel and Keritzel, lying about her studies with Vocruen, and...talking to her.

Weirin groaned. She didn't like the sorceress' poker face. The archer thought she had gotten through the ashen-haired woman.*

Veloce Visrin never changes her expression.

Damn her.

It was then Weirin understood, she had done all she could; making the sorceress feel as close to 'home' as possible. She had given Veloce all the support she could ever give, and now--out of all times-- now she understood why the King of Kronzel feared her.

She was too unpredictable.

She involved them.

She was a Visrin.

She had the sorceress' back, but did Veloce have hers?

A pale hand clasps the shoulder of the archer, causing the purple-haired woman to jump. Weirin cursed herself for involuntarily lowering her guard. "Good evening, Veloce. I trust all supplies are ready?" the archer spoke as she stared at Veloce; the same silver hair, the same thin smile, green eyes, ---and the same face.

The same face that said nothing.

Veloce nodded, her thin polite smile in place. "Yes, Keritzel convinced his tutor to lend us his carriage till we get to Shinra."

"Veloce." Weirin began.

The sorceress tilted her head, a questioning look appeared in her eyes. The archer froze, whatever she had eaten had become a lead ball in her stomach.

"Veloce." Weirin took a deep breath. "Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" Veloce asked, her smile disappearing, but her face still had the same mask that covered her emotions.

"The same face, the same fucking face you have all the time." Weirin felt the blood rush to her face, her bottled up fury overwhelming her. The archer didn't ever know what she was saying anymore. It was as if a supernatural being had possessed the shorter woman and made her speak tongues against her will. THe words stumbled over each other in a race to finish so that they would be understood.

Weirin stopped and stared at her feet, her words ringing in her ears.

Veloce didn't respond.

"Am I safe, Veloce?" Weirin whispered. As she looked up, a flicker of hurt crossed the sorceress's pale face. "Can I trust you?"

"No."

Veloce walked away, her mask still in place.

-FIN-

*refer to chapter 3 of Blackbird