I'm searching for the word that describes the look you give someone to warn them without using words. Like when you hold one person back and give the other person the look to back off or apologize. A bit like the following I'm trying to write: “Mom! You’re not helping!” She pushed Rosalie back. “Scar’s just been hanging around Dad too much to know when to shut up.” She shot Scar a quick, cautionary look. “Right?” Cautionary doesn't taste right. Doesn't feel like normal-people English to me. If it is, then... thanks, I guess? Kayleigh (she, in this bit) gives him the look so he'll know now is the best time to apologize for saying the stupidly offensive thing he said just before this and hope that will keep her mother from ripping him in to ironically cheerful goth confetti. Ah. I think the term "cautionary tale" is getting in my way. It just doesn't sound like it would work for "cautionary look."
If it's what I'm thinking of, that looks is very similar to a glare, but it's not meant to show contempt. Not sure if there is a specific word for it in the English language and if so, you may just have to be creative to describe it without sounding like you are describing it. Is it similar to this look at about 3:00? Fox says something that is supposed to be flattering but everyone can see it so Swan gives Fox a look that's like "cool it down": Anyways, that part cracks me up.
'Mom! You're not helping!" She pushed Rosalie back. "Scar's just been hanging around Dad too much to know when to shut up." She glanced at Scar with narrowed eyes that said 'beware.' "Right?"
Simple is what I'm aiming for, but could you elaborate? Which vibe? And let context do the work? As in "Right?" should explain the look?
Mom broke three ice slabs karate kid style with a hammer fist and then looked at him. "You wanna die?" she asked.
I still need to see The Warriors, so I'm not sure who the characters are, but Swan's look isn't it, I think. Or at least, Kayleigh's look is more outspoken. She's between the two, and looking away from her mother at Scar, so she's got more opportunity to really emote "say something apology-like because I can't hold her back and you kinda deserve it, to be honest." Either way, Rosalie would know he's only apologizing because of the imminent threat, but the situation needs diffusing. There are more important matters to deal with, like the Devil blocking the way out of the office.
While I would abso-fuckin-lutely love to wedge a Karate Kid reference in my story, this is not necessarily the moment. At this point, readers will know Rosalie well enough to determine that Scar is in Karate Kid Ice Slab trouble.
