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Everyone tries to use everyone. [ Maybe he’s a cynic.
Or maybe he’s just used to manipulating people, but it’s a fine line. Still, he settles his arm around her shoulders. ]
You just weren’t accustomed to it before. It comes hand in hand with power. When you’re powerless people ignore you, but when you have something important, or you become someone important, you’ll find that everyone wants a stake. It’s not always dishonest, it just comes with the territory. That’s part of who you are now, Alina. You can’t just not be what you are.
[ A pauses, and then smiles down at her. ]
Well, you could. You could steal a ship or two and live at sea under a false name. But that would get very tedious after a while, I can’t imagine who would do that.
Or maybe he’s just used to manipulating people, but it’s a fine line. Still, he settles his arm around her shoulders. ]
You just weren’t accustomed to it before. It comes hand in hand with power. When you’re powerless people ignore you, but when you have something important, or you become someone important, you’ll find that everyone wants a stake. It’s not always dishonest, it just comes with the territory. That’s part of who you are now, Alina. You can’t just not be what you are.
[ A pauses, and then smiles down at her. ]
Well, you could. You could steal a ship or two and live at sea under a false name. But that would get very tedious after a while, I can’t imagine who would do that.
[ Technically he said that was the quickest way to anger any woman. Which it is, and she’s a prime example.
Still, navigating the more complex range of emotions is not something he’ll shy from. ]
I like to think you’re a work in progress. Don’t worry, I’ll finish on a high.
[ She can take that in whatever way she likes. ]
Still, navigating the more complex range of emotions is not something he’ll shy from. ]
I like to think you’re a work in progress. Don’t worry, I’ll finish on a high.
[ She can take that in whatever way she likes. ]
[ That was her point. She used to be nobody. People didn't need her for anything so no one tried to use her. Now everyone needed her for something and everyone was trying to use her just because she had some power she had never asked for.
Not that she'd give it up now.
He smiles at her, though, and she smiles back at that. ] A too-clever fox, I think. [ She answers him. ] Someone almost as insane as me.
Not that she'd give it up now.
He smiles at her, though, and she smiles back at that. ] A too-clever fox, I think. [ She answers him. ] Someone almost as insane as me.
[ His smile widens. It’s not the first time she’s compared him to that. He’s not sure it’s a flattering reference, given how that story goes, but he’ll like it better if he can change the ending. Leaning in, he tilts her head up. ]
What does that make you, a little vixen? If you’re not careful I’ll start calling you that.
[ Then he kisses her again. Very gently, but he likes it all the same.
[ It's early in the morning before Nikolai finally makes his way back to the workshop. He finds Alina on her mattress, already sleeping, and he sighs. He locks the door behind himself, and then comes to sit next to her, back against the wall. It had been a busy week. For now, he's content to sit in silence. For once, Nikolai feels genuinely tired. ]
[ The door closing stirred her, him sitting on her bed finally woke her. She sat with a jolt, realizing someone was in the workshop and casting her light through the entire room, trying to blind whoever it was.
Until she realized who it was.
She let her light go out, relaxing again as she took deep breaths. ]
Saints, Nikolai. Warn me next time.
Until she realized who it was.
She let her light go out, relaxing again as she took deep breaths. ]
Saints, Nikolai. Warn me next time.
[ Suddenly the dark room is filled with the light of the sun. Nikolai winces, bringing his hand up to shield his eyes, and then looking sardonically at Alina when the light dims down. ]
I thought you were sleeping. Who did you think it was? There's only one other person who knows how to take off my lock, and she's across campus at the moment.
Jumpy, aren't you?
I thought you were sleeping. Who did you think it was? There's only one other person who knows how to take off my lock, and she's across campus at the moment.
Jumpy, aren't you?
Mmm.
[ Nikolai nods, and then decides he's done with the wall. He stretches out on the mattress instead, shutting his eyes briefly and then looking up at her with something akin to a smile. ]
For now. I got rather more than I bargained for. But I ought to be here much more from now on.
[ Nikolai nods, and then decides he's done with the wall. He stretches out on the mattress instead, shutting his eyes briefly and then looking up at her with something akin to a smile. ]
For now. I got rather more than I bargained for. But I ought to be here much more from now on.
Nothing I ought to, until the others are ready.
[ Which won't remotely stop him at all. He looks up at her, musing over where he should start.
With the most shocking fact, clearly. ]
There's something worse than COMPASS here. Something much worse, and we are all in danger from it. We have always been in danger from it.
[ Which won't remotely stop him at all. He looks up at her, musing over where he should start.
With the most shocking fact, clearly. ]
There's something worse than COMPASS here. Something much worse, and we are all in danger from it. We have always been in danger from it.
Clary told me the same thing not two weeks ago. At least I'm consistent.
[ He looks up at her, smiling faintly, and then shrugs. ]
Something I can't pronounce. Apparently, COMPASS made a deal with it, to house their experiment here. This world doesn't belong to COMPASS, it belongs to that other thing.
The informant expired before we could get much more than that. Everything we got will be collated, and shared. Honestly, I didn't think we'd get as much as we did.
[ He looks up at her, smiling faintly, and then shrugs. ]
Something I can't pronounce. Apparently, COMPASS made a deal with it, to house their experiment here. This world doesn't belong to COMPASS, it belongs to that other thing.
The informant expired before we could get much more than that. Everything we got will be collated, and shared. Honestly, I didn't think we'd get as much as we did.
[ Expired. He says it so easily. She knows it's a must. All of this has been made necessary. But it sends a chill through her all the same. ]
At least it's something. [ But should they fear this other thing more? Or try to make an ally of it? ]
Was that all you found out?
At least it's something. [ But should they fear this other thing more? Or try to make an ally of it? ]
Was that all you found out?
[ A brief little shake of his head. ]
Apparently, whatever bargain COMPASS made with these entities was dependent on their having a representative here on campus.
[ A beat. ]
The representative we currently have incarcerated, in point of fact. I'm somewhat glad we didn't kill him, now.
Apparently, whatever bargain COMPASS made with these entities was dependent on their having a representative here on campus.
[ A beat. ]
The representative we currently have incarcerated, in point of fact. I'm somewhat glad we didn't kill him, now.
From what I understand, it means he's COMPASS' representative here, in charge of the day to day management of their experiment on us.
Though, in truth, once we had him, he seemed afraid of us. [ Possibly because Nikolai kept threatening to torture him, even though they had no intention of that. Still. ] I don't think previous Project Heads were anything like that fearful. The last one was killed in battle.
At any rate, that's what he represents. He's no ally of ours. He's been working for them.
Though, in truth, once we had him, he seemed afraid of us. [ Possibly because Nikolai kept threatening to torture him, even though they had no intention of that. Still. ] I don't think previous Project Heads were anything like that fearful. The last one was killed in battle.
At any rate, that's what he represents. He's no ally of ours. He's been working for them.
Yes.
[ He props himself up on his elbows. Sleep isn't going to come yet, no matter how much he wants it. His mind is far too active, going over everything he's seen and heard. ]
So it is in most walks of life. But there's a delicate balance here. The cultist we took prisoner spoke of a veil, protecting us from his masters. He implied they'd been able to break through it, and spirit us away.
When we leave this place, Alina, I'm not sure that's the doing of COMPASS at all.
[ He props himself up on his elbows. Sleep isn't going to come yet, no matter how much he wants it. His mind is far too active, going over everything he's seen and heard. ]
So it is in most walks of life. But there's a delicate balance here. The cultist we took prisoner spoke of a veil, protecting us from his masters. He implied they'd been able to break through it, and spirit us away.
When we leave this place, Alina, I'm not sure that's the doing of COMPASS at all.
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