Private Life & Death Spoken By the Fire

Isstar himself huffed as he crossed his arms. “I don’t need to get smart with you. I just am.” The smuggest grin appeared on his face along with a slight incline of his head. A brief surprise flitted in his mind at the realisation he felt relief at Ava calming down. With a sigh, Isstar scratched at his cheek. He really had started to care about other people more than purely himself...

Although he promised he would try to find a way to live, it was something that Isstar constantly thought about the logistics. There were some options, but held a high level of risk, not to mention costed. Although being a Rukt’In gave him the privilege of the family’s wealth, he had a stubbornness about using it for that. Isstar was barely a Rukt’In, and he would not use their riches for himself to survive.
Still, he was limited on known options...

He tried to smile casually though, to be more calm and cheerful. For his own sake if not for Ava’s. “I don’t understand what warranted me being called a dork by such a hothead...” Isstar grumbled while he looked away from Ava, the hint of a pout on his lips. He noticed the slight tension Ava had still, and motioned over to the fire. “Maybe we should sit back down? Would be a shame if we came out here and the meat became charcoal because you were busy destroying poor trees.” Isstar shook his head in a gesture of ‘what can you do’.

After a moment of silence, Isstar inhaled. “And, Ava... Thanks. I have every intention of finding a way around this, but, I never really thought someone would be... is concerned the term? I never thought someone would be concerned about it.” Aside from the brief frown that crossed his face, Isstar had a sincere expression upon his. It could even be passed as embarrassed as he avoided looking the redhead in the eye.

With a blink then a pout, Isstar grumbled at Ava's suggestion. "Grump? How am I grump..." He looked away from her and inadvertently proved his friend's point. Isstar immediately realised this, making the dragon groan in despair. "That proves nothing." Isstar shot Ava a small glare as he walked back over to the fire.
"The tree had it coming? I thought you were all about nature." He tilted his head, but the smirk on his face implied he was teasing. Sometimes his nature as being a blunt and crass individual did shine through, but Isstar was a lot better at socialising than he used to be. Isstar stood next to Ava when he noted she wasn't sitting down, his hand slipped into his pocket while his other arm hung limp at his side.

"You see me as a friend, huh?" Isstar mumbled in an echo before he shook his head. "Thanks. I know was an ass, probably still am, so... it means a lot that someone resonates with that." He let out a light hearten laugh. With his eyes to the fire, Isstar hadn't seen her blush or soften up, assuming Ava had kept her usual expression.
But at her next words, Isstar looked at Ava with surprise, then confusion. "Hah?" Isstar tilted his head. "Like hell I'm gonna rely on people!" He growled under his breath. "This is my issue. Just like I wouldn't get involved with other people's, they ain't gonna get involved with mine." Isstar stubbornly stated, his arms crossed while his foot tapped against the ground, his eyes narrowed at Ava.