( the matter of gwen's smart mouth is a not uncomplicated one; as much to do with less of a self-preservation instinct than her concerns suggest and the fact she's never been forced to rely on her own ability to protect herself before as it is because she's capable of doing so.
she's capable of a lot of things she's never had to do; she's equally uncertain about actually doing them. the prey instinct that says be careful too often kicks in too late, if at all, and there have never been real consequences.
or not fatal ones, in any case. she hasn't led a life entirely without pushback. )
Maybe not entirely, ( she concedes. ) But nobody thinks the scariest thing in the room is the debutante.
no subject
she's capable of a lot of things she's never had to do; she's equally uncertain about actually doing them. the prey instinct that says be careful too often kicks in too late, if at all, and there have never been real consequences.
or not fatal ones, in any case. she hasn't led a life entirely without pushback. )
Maybe not entirely, ( she concedes. ) But nobody thinks the scariest thing in the room is the debutante.