he’s not leaving

The silence that followed was awkward, to say the least. Eirik's usual charm seemed to falter under the weight of Elara's passive rejection, and for a moment, Amara relished in the discomfort. His smooth, arrogant confidence seemed to crack, just a little, as he realized his grand gesture had fallen flat.

But instead of taking the hint and leaving gracefully like a normal person might, Eirik lingered. Like a dog that didn't quite understand the command to "go away," he stuck around, hovering near Elara with the persistence of an unwanted shadow.

Amara groaned inwardly. Of course, he's not leaving. Why would he? He's Eirik, Lord of Bad Decisions and Stubborn Pursuits.

[He's like a cockroach. You think he's gone, but then he just pops right back up again.]

Amara fought back a smile. Accurate.