And I might have decided to pack it in and tell them to send me home to marry a sweaty Duchess and never think about this again. Do try to inject a sense of realism, Alina.
And he might make her a very happy saint. [ That maybe means more to her than he would even realize. He doesn't know about his own self saying how they might someday make each other happy. ]
She ought to come out of her room once in a while, then. Just to test that theory.
[ If she does, she'll find him leaning against the wall outside, wearing the white shirt, white pants and boots that Ghost had left. The cape is slung over his arm, unworn but still accessorising. ]
[ When he sends that message, she pulls back her shutter and gets up from her bed. She goes to the door, pausing to adjust her skirt because this dress is a little close to being too short....
But she answers and sees him and she can't help but grin. ]
White. Very short, far from her usual kefta. White tights, white boots. He knew she got the clothes. Pushing off the wall, he reaches to snag her hand and pull her towards him, before pressing a rough kiss against her lips. ]
[ He has her hand before she realizes what's happening. It doesn't take her long to figure it out though. His lips cover hers and she kisses him back with just as much need as she lets herself line up against him. ]
That was a little much for a hello. [ She's still smiling. ]
[ He comes after her, moving easily onto the bed when they reach it. From there, he'll be pulling her back into his arms again. Sorry, but he was comfortable before. ]
Officially. That we're alive now means we passed.
I took the simulation. More than four fifths of my crew died in that test.
[ The mirrored dishes that they'd believed would protect the Palace. If they'd been ready, if Vasily hadn't been so blind a fool, it might have worked. It should have worked.
Now it will. Now the Nichevo'ya won't get past her. ]
We do.
So we must survive, now. We must be the best we can be and fulfil our contracts, or it means nothing. We do that, Alina, and we can stop the Darkling. We can save Ravka, our people.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Maybe I want to hear it from you.
no subject
I met my expectations.
no subject
Could you at least sound more pleased?
no subject
Stop needling and tell me if you found the clothes yet.
no subject
I might have got reassigned. No uniform if I'm not on blue.
no subject
And I might have decided to pack it in and tell them to send me home to marry a sweaty Duchess and never think about this again. Do try to inject a sense of realism, Alina.
no subject
Careful. Sweaty duchesses are in high demand. You might have to settle for an orphaned, sun-summoning saint instead.
no subject
On the up side, she might make me laugh once in a while.
no subject
And he might make her a very happy saint. [ That maybe means more to her than he would even realize. He doesn't know about his own self saying how they might someday make each other happy. ]
no subject
She ought to come out of her room once in a while, then. Just to test that theory.
[ If she does, she'll find him leaning against the wall outside, wearing the white shirt, white pants and boots that Ghost had left. The cape is slung over his arm, unworn but still accessorising. ]
no subject
But she answers and sees him and she can't help but grin. ]
That was a very unsubtle message, by the way.
[ She leans on the door frame and grins at him. ]
Hi.
no subject
[ He looks up, sees her in that dress.
White. Very short, far from her usual kefta. White tights, white boots. He knew she got the clothes. Pushing off the wall, he reaches to snag her hand and pull her towards him, before pressing a rough kiss against her lips. ]
Hello, lovely.
no subject
That was a little much for a hello. [ She's still smiling. ]
You look... very nice.
no subject
That was for the dress.
It suits you, by the way. Ghost has impeccable taste, I have to commend him.
[ He smiles at her, head tilting just a little. ]
So. Pass?
no subject
So my fashion master approves, does he? [ She teases through her blushing.
But she nods her head. ]
Full pass. No training required.
He said he believed in me.
no subject
You have a tendency to leave that impression on people. I'm not surprised.
I was told the same. I'll be training anyway, I expect. He said it was optional.
no subject
[ She's still holding him as she watches him carefully. ] What kind of training?
I want to train more myself, anyway.
no subject
[ He settles back a little, comfortable with her against him. ]
Ghost said things would only get harder after Ajna. I want to be prepared.
That's all.
no subject
He pulls his hand and leads him in, back towards her bed. ]
Ajna was exhausting....
Maybe not easy, but not as hard as I expected either. It makes sense that it only gets harder.
no subject
[ He comes after her, moving easily onto the bed when they reach it. From there, he'll be pulling her back into his arms again. Sorry, but he was comfortable before. ]
Officially. That we're alive now means we passed.
I took the simulation. More than four fifths of my crew died in that test.
I'd like to raise that number.
no subject
We weren't meant to get too high, I think. I couldn't get past a certain point in the tests. The simulation was harder than that, too.
You got us all off Ajna. I think that score is a lot better than a structured simulation with set limitations.
no subject
[ His hand comes up, and his thumb smooths idly across her cheek. It keeps moving, stroking her face lightly. ]
But I take it as a challenge, nonetheless. I can be better. If I am, then I'm better for this crew. That's what I want.
[ A pause. ]
They sent me a video, as well. An army of Grisha, flying the Double Eagle. Waiting for us.
no subject
They showed me a video of mirrors, like the ones you had designed before.
Except these ones didn't break. They tested them to show they couldn't.
We have what we need for home. [ Their Grisha. Their mirrors. Their king. ]
no subject
Now it will. Now the Nichevo'ya won't get past her. ]
We do.
So we must survive, now. We must be the best we can be and fulfil our contracts, or it means nothing. We do that, Alina, and we can stop the Darkling. We can save Ravka, our people.
no subject
[ She pauses, then heistates. ]
I'm going to ask for ability to make my own nichevo'ya for after the next mission.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)