[ He lets out a thoughtful little hum, and then shakes his head. ]
If I were, I wouldn't ask it so coldly. [ A slight smile. ] There's some lessons I'm capable of learning.
Realistically though, if you give me orders I'll obey them. [ A smile twitches at his lips. ] The CDC are serious, Alina. Neither of us ought to take them lightly.
Perhaps if I escort you, you'll make less of a habit of vanishing on me.
[ This time he says it playfully, and his arm hooks up to hold hers. When he starts to walk, he whistles for Korol, whose head shoots up. The bahari nips Koroleva playfully, and then rushes to take point ahead of Nikolai and Alina. As if the cat is the true escort. ]
Is that the exchange now? You'll escort me around so I can't disappear?
[ Despite what almost sounds like complaining, she's smiling still and holding his arm like they did back at the palace. Koroleva comes running with Korol, following Nikolai almost as easily as she follows alina and running out ahead of Korol to show she's the Queen. ]
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Hey, maybe if I really mess up I can embarrass you by saying you trained me.
Maybe then I could finally see you embarrassed.
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And of course, I'm proud of you already. Deflecting a serious situation and turning it into humour? A classic move.
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I rank higher than you now. I could boss you around.
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I should probably worry about the amount of pleasure you sound like you'd take in that.
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What are your orders, then, Moi Soverenyi? Ask, and I shall gladly obey.
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She doesn't hesitate to punch him in the arm. ]
Not fair. [ She crosses her arms and looks away from him now. ]
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[ He makes a show of rubbing his arm, as if he's offended. In truth he's grinning. ]
You can make sport of us, but I can't? That's not how it works, Alina my dear.
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Just... not Soverenyi. Please.
That was his name.
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That's what they call you now, lovely. Don't think I haven't heard it.
And besides, if you'd like to change it to Tsaritsa, we need to have a whole other conversation.
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Are you proposing? Again?
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If I were, I wouldn't ask it so coldly. [ A slight smile. ] There's some lessons I'm capable of learning.
Realistically though, if you give me orders I'll obey them. [ A smile twitches at his lips. ] The CDC are serious, Alina. Neither of us ought to take them lightly.
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Good thing I'm not power-hungry, then. [ She thinks. Actually..... ]
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Are we still talking about the CDC?
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Yes.
[ Pause. ]
I don't know.
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You confuse me, sometimes.
Let's walk for a while. The camp makes me unsociable. We can pretend we're in the gardens again.
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It's been awhile since you escorted me anywhere.
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Perhaps if I escort you, you'll make less of a habit of vanishing on me.
[ This time he says it playfully, and his arm hooks up to hold hers. When he starts to walk, he whistles for Korol, whose head shoots up. The bahari nips Koroleva playfully, and then rushes to take point ahead of Nikolai and Alina. As if the cat is the true escort. ]
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[ Despite what almost sounds like complaining, she's smiling still and holding his arm like they did back at the palace. Koroleva comes running with Korol, following Nikolai almost as easily as she follows alina and running out ahead of Korol to show she's the Queen. ]
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[ Korol makes a soft, rumbling sound when Koroleva rushes ahead of him, but if anything it's affectionate. Nikolai rolls his eyes. ]
Who's protecting who, I wonder. [ Eyeing Alina. ] She's fiesty. Picking up bad habits from you, I'm sure.
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She knows she's a queen.
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And that’s a good habit she got from you, is it? Queen Alina?
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She hadn't thought that through. And her cheeks burn. ]
I meant not letting herself be pushed around by Korol.
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Of course. My mistake.
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There's a lot more out there than we ever imagined... [ Changing topic now. ]
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