But in the end, he'd prioritised his family's safety. The King and Queen had to be protected. He'd only been able to risk so much.
He's not immune to the guilt of that. ]
An old glass building I had renovated, and turned into a hangar bay. It's quite well concealed, just past the Fjerdan border. I can mount attacks from there. Give him a run for his money.
[ Oh, well. At this, he rolls his eyes, and lifts a particularly annoyed little eyebrow at her. Good. They'd needed to lighten the tone; that was in danger of getting serious. ]
Yes, thank you for that. You might have warned me about her. You get attached to the strangest of people, Alina.
Well, if you had taken a moment to look at the others.
[ He untangles one arm from her to reach to the bottom of the pile, and pick up the kefta - one made for cold weather, and lined with fox fur. He lifts his eyebrows at her. ]
Verdict? Granted it won't show quite the same amount of cleavage, but...
He's so used to her being right here, where he can protect her. Where she's within reach, and he knows what's happening. It had been entirely different at home. He hasn't even had confirmation she was alive.
Saints know, he's not telling her that. ]
By all accounts, you'd run to Novyi Zim and work on staining your fingers orange. Let's try to avoid that, shall we?
[ He doesn't have to say. His lack of confirmation and dodging is enough. She's likely dead. If she were in the darkling's hands he'd no. And the darkling wouldn't let her out alive either.
She shakes her head though. ]
No. I'm not running anymore. I'm not that girl anymore, Nikolai.
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[ He'd meant for her to go there with him.
But in the end, he'd prioritised his family's safety. The King and Queen had to be protected. He'd only been able to risk so much.
He's not immune to the guilt of that. ]
An old glass building I had renovated, and turned into a hangar bay. It's quite well concealed, just past the Fjerdan border. I can mount attacks from there. Give him a run for his money.
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Baghra?
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Yes, thank you for that. You might have warned me about her. You get attached to the strangest of people, Alina.
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Then a slight wince. ]
sorry. I forgot to warn you to guard your knees.
Thank you for risking her wrath for me.
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I'm not sure she was aiming at my knees. For a blind woman, she's remarkably accurate.
[ He raises his hand, lightly touching her cheek. ]
Find your way to me, Alina. I have a whole chest of these dresses waiting for you. I'd hate for them to go to waste.
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But it does bring her out of her sudden melancholy a bit. ]
They better not all look like that black one or it'll be my aim you need to worry about next .
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[ He untangles one arm from her to reach to the bottom of the pile, and pick up the kefta - one made for cold weather, and lined with fox fur. He lifts his eyebrows at her. ]
Verdict? Granted it won't show quite the same amount of cleavage, but...
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she grabs at it and buries her face against the fur. ]
this one can stay. It's perfect for Ajna.
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I thought you'd approve. The Fjerdan mountains are covered in snow. I had it in my mind you'd be difficult about that.
Apparently, I wasn't wrong.
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[ She eyes last one suspiciously. ]
And that one?
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[ He glances at the lace again. ]
Or so I thought.
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He's so used to her being right here, where he can protect her. Where she's within reach, and he knows what's happening. It had been entirely different at home. He hasn't even had confirmation she was alive.
Saints know, he's not telling her that. ]
By all accounts, you'd run to Novyi Zim and work on staining your fingers orange. Let's try to avoid that, shall we?
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She shakes her head though. ]
No. I'm not running anymore. I'm not that girl anymore, Nikolai.
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Do you know, I believe that's the first time you've sounded certain of that. I'll have to keep a record, for posterity.
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Lightly though. ]
I'm really glad you're alive... [ even if she had to die to save him. ]
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I will find you, Alina. This is not going to be our end.
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Fine he gets a hug instead. ]
I never doubted you would, nikolai.
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Well, that's a relief. I must have made some kind of impression.
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Did you think I'd expect you to abandon us?
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I wondered. It wouldn't be the first time you've been suspicious of my motives.
Or my caring, for you.
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Nikolai was one of the best men she'd ever known.
Although his caring wasn't entirely above suspect, still. But she'd never really believe someone like him could really love someone like her. ]
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So you say. I'm glad you do. You're one of the few people who actually sounds like she means it.
Thank you. [ His arm tightens around her a little. ] It means more than you know.