sankta | IC Contact

Two things. The first being rather pertinent.

[ He sighs. ]

The veil they've been breaking through. It seems they don't just want to take us to other worlds, though when they do that, it increases their power.

They want to destroy the veil completely, and with enough time and effort, they believe they can do it. We need to be ready for that, Alina. We need to be ready to fight them.

The sacrifices. [ She nods her head. ] When we first got here, they sacrificed a bunch of us in fire.

I always thought they were working with COMPASS to terrorize us.

No, it would seem not. They and COMPASS seem to be rivals, though they hold a tenuous agreement as to our staying here. But this is their world, Alina. To be frank, it seems that COMPASS are the only thing preventing them from damaging us even more.

[ The strange part about this is, it implies to him that COMPASS, in truth, are the lesser of two evils. But given that COMPASS are his actual kidnappers, that's more than a little difficult to stomach. ]

I wonder if we could pit them against each other... [ She frowns slightly. ] That would be betting that we're that valuable to COMPASS, though.

Let them destroy each other, while we somehow avoid being caught in the middle?

[ He looks up at her with a suspiciously pleased smile. ]

That's a terrible idea. Highly dangerous. But then, you know what I think about bad ideas.

Anything worth doing... [ She smiles slightly. It's a really terrible idea, but what's not terrible here anyway? ]

It was just thoughtless wondering.

[ He reaches his hand up, touching the corner of that smile with the tip of his thumb. ]

No, it wasn't. You're thinking like a strategist, Alina. Like we're back in the war room, planning an impossible war.

[ Making plans that never got fully utilised, thanks to Vasily. Nikolai's smile falters a little, but then he sighs. ]

There's one more thing. The Void that everyone talks about. It's not what we thought. It's part of the planet itself. It's the planet's own atmosphere.

[ She paused briefly as he touched her smile like that. Then her own smile disappeared as she frowned again, thinking about what he said. ]

I thought the Void was around before we came to this city? At least, people talk about it like it was.

I know, I've heard the same.

Or at least I've heard that it was on the ship they used before. Perhaps that ship sailed the oceans of this world. We've never really been clear on that.

The ship was here once. As a casino with games where you could win things. [ She winces. She forgot about that. That was how she got tortured that one time. ]

Maybe it was on this world before. Wherever we are.

You all right?

[ He noticed that wincing, and he studies her face carefully. ]

I was tortured when the ship was here. I just forgot they happened at the same time. [ She's already told him about what happened. It was shortly before he got there, actually. ]

The team game, you mean?

[ His hand comes up to her arm all the same, resting it against her arm. ]

We don't have answers for every question, but we have more than we did before. It's something to work with, at least.

[ She nods her head, resting her hand on his. ]

Maybe we can do something with the information.

[ He gives her a gentle little squeeze. ]

The better informed we are, the better chance we'll have. Even though our enemies just doubled.

I do better against harder odds, anyway.

That's because you lost your mind years ago and you have a loose grip on your remaining sanity. [ She's just saying. You're legit crazy Nikolai. ]

[ Nikolai laughs, and then looks up at her with enduring fondness. Notably, he doesn't deny that. ]

I always love the way you flatter me, Alina. I'm glad to see I rise so high in your estimation.

[ Because she's right. Not to mention he would worry if she was nice to him.

She smiles slightly and squeezes his hand. ]

I missed you.

[ Nikolai pushes up a little, against her, and moves to smooth her hair back from her face. He smiles back, and lets himself concentrate on her instead of on everything he's been doing for the past week. ]

Did you?

Come here then. I missed you too.

[ He kisses her gently, chastely on her lips, and sighs. He's glad to be back here. Very glad. ]

[ She wraps her arms around him as he moves closer to her, leaning into his hand. He's told her a lot tonight. But it's late and she's not in a mind to process it all, even if it is still on her mind. She needs time to think about it to start thinking of what to do with it.

Besides, she really did miss him. And it feels like a weight off her shoulders to have him back with her.

She leans up into that kiss, closing her eyes and sighing as she kissed him back just as chastely. Just enjoying how good it feels to have him back. ]

[ Nikolai moves his arms around her and holds her, pulling her very gently against him.

He has an awareness of everything about her. The softness of her skin, the way her hair brushes against his hand, the precise curve of her lips, the scent clinging to her that reminds him of the flowers outside, the pressure of her body against his.

It's nice. Probably too nice, but he won't worry about that now. ]

I'm not sorry I woke you. I take that back. This is better than simply falling asleep.

I'm glad you woke me.

[ She curls in against him as he pulls her closer to him, tucking her head under his chin and listening to the sound of his breathing in the silence. This last week the forge was too silent. She was so used to the sound of him working long after she'd fall asleep.

But now she has the sounds of him back. ]

I wanted to see you.

[ She does.

Though it'll be a while before he warms up the forge again. At least six hours, without a doubt.

Resting back, he settles his chin on top of her head, and curls his arm around her waist. ]

I know.

For once I don't think I'll have any argument about sleeping.

I'd hope not since I'm not letting you go right now.

[ She nuzzles in against him, getting more comfortable in his arms as he holds her against him. ]

[ His hand moves up, smoothing idly through her hair. This is comfortable, and pleasant. ]

No, well. As far as I'm concerned, you can stay right there. You won't even have to worry about me building anything explosive, for once.

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