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. ]
[ He knows what she means, and it makes him quiet for a moment. He tries to think of this place in practical terms, most of the time. But he doesn’t always succeed. ]
There is. It’s a shame we’re not here under better circumstances. I’d rather explore, not destroy.
[ He pauses, and then lets some of the tension out of his face. This puts him in mind of travelling in that carriage with her, as they were being brought to Os Alta. The place where they’d begun to talk, really, and where she’d started to know him as Nikolai and not Sturmhond. This feels similar, to him. ]
I thought I’d given that up. Travelling and exploring. That’s not why I agreed to this, obviously, but I have to admit that it’s not a bonus I dislike.
[ He looks down at her. Something close to a real smile is shadowed on his face. ]
Do you think I’d have done it if I didn’t?
Strange that you found it peaceful. I suppose it was. It wasn’t always like that. I didn’t have a reputation for breaking blockades for no reason. We saw plenty of our share. You know I didn’t come back because I was tired of it.
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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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There is. It’s a shame we’re not here under better circumstances. I’d rather explore, not destroy.
[ He pauses, and then lets some of the tension out of his face. This puts him in mind of travelling in that carriage with her, as they were being brought to Os Alta. The place where they’d begun to talk, really, and where she’d started to know him as Nikolai and not Sturmhond. This feels similar, to him. ]
I thought I’d given that up. Travelling and exploring. That’s not why I agreed to this, obviously, but I have to admit that it’s not a bonus I dislike.
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You must have really liked being Sturmhond. [ She offered. ]
You seemed to have. Everything on the Volkvolny was... different. It was more peaceful and easy.
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Do you think I’d have done it if I didn’t?
Strange that you found it peaceful. I suppose it was. It wasn’t always like that. I didn’t have a reputation for breaking blockades for no reason. We saw plenty of our share. You know I didn’t come back because I was tired of it.