He'd despise this place, of course. ( he mirrors her, tucking a suit under his arm and heading toward the door of the storage area. ) I'm afraid he's never been particularly patient. Even with me.
( he tilts his head, catching her look, and a small smile warms his lips. she could be forgiven for assuming that he would never suffer such a thing, old as he is. strong as he is.
it was always a risk. )
To have someone that challenges you. I'm not entirely without my flaws. And I'm told it worsens with age.
If you listen to my mother — and you really shouldn't if it could ever be avoided — I've needed an Ivan my entire life.
( he pauses, fishing in the pocket of his jacket for the keys. )
Not that she ever cared for Ivan — or any of his predecessors. She was always of the opinion that we were better served keeping to ourselves. I think to this day she thoroughly resents my ever bringing her to the Little Palace.
It's not so bad to want a quiet life, is it? If she could actually find one ... I mean, she's old enough now, no tester would bother with her. She wouldn't be found.
( he's spared the need to answer immediately. instead, aleksander pulls the key to the door from his pocket, slots it into the lock and twists.
those precious seconds afford him just enough time to gather his thoughts. )
She'd be vulnerable. ( this both is and is not the truth. baghra is old, certainly, but hardly toothless. )
There's still plenty who would kill her for what she was. That we share a connection would only make it that much sweeter. ( he eases the door open, allowing alina to step inside. ) And if ever there was someone that would haunt me for spite, it would be her.
It seems like a shame that you two don't get on better.
[ she shuffles inside, pressing her elbow into the light switch, then turning to look at him over her shoulder as she approaches the cupboard for the bubble suits. ]
[ she puts the suit away and lets the cupboard hang open as she turns around to take the other one from aleksander. his closeness draws her breath up short, and her heel thunks against the bottom ledge of the cupboard as she slides back towards it instinctively at the proximity. ]
What are you doing? [ her voice is quiet. surely, this is the last thing they should be doing here. he'd sounded so serious about the risks, serious enough that she'd feared he was trying to end things. ]
What does it look like I'm doing, Alina? ( mouth pulling into a smile as he approaches, taking his time.
it's a reckless thing, doing this here. particularly after his earlier warning. but there's something in the way her eyes blow wide, doe-like. it kindles something in him, some long-buried predatory instinct. )
[ and yet, her gaze drops to his lips, expectant. she doesn't want to close the distance. she wants to see him choose it, after he'd put this barrier between them. ]
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( ivan, fedyor and so many others. )
He'd despise this place, of course. ( he mirrors her, tucking a suit under his arm and heading toward the door of the storage area. ) I'm afraid he's never been particularly patient. Even with me.
Especially with me.
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[ she sneaks a look up at him as they trudge side-by-side towards the storage closet nestled at the back of the gym, down a utility hallway. ]
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( he tilts his head, catching her look, and a small smile warms his lips. she could be forgiven for assuming that he would never suffer such a thing, old as he is. strong as he is.
it was always a risk. )
To have someone that challenges you. I'm not entirely without my flaws. And I'm told it worsens with age.
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No wonder you're incorrigible.
[ she stops in front of the door of the supply room. ]
Obviously you needed an Ivan — what. Fifty years ago? [ gentle probing, this time. ]
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( he pauses, fishing in the pocket of his jacket for the keys. )
Not that she ever cared for Ivan — or any of his predecessors. She was always of the opinion that we were better served keeping to ourselves. I think to this day she thoroughly resents my ever bringing her to the Little Palace.
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[ alina's nose crinkles. ]
It's not so bad to want a quiet life, is it? If she could actually find one ... I mean, she's old enough now, no tester would bother with her. She wouldn't be found.
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those precious seconds afford him just enough time to gather his thoughts. )
She'd be vulnerable. ( this both is and is not the truth. baghra is old, certainly, but hardly toothless. )
There's still plenty who would kill her for what she was. That we share a connection would only make it that much sweeter. ( he eases the door open, allowing alina to step inside. ) And if ever there was someone that would haunt me for spite, it would be her.
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[ she shuffles inside, pressing her elbow into the light switch, then turning to look at him over her shoulder as she approaches the cupboard for the bubble suits. ]
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aleksander pulls the door shut behind them, locking it. )
We're too alike in many ways.
( and too different in others. he'd wondered, once, what sort of man his father had been. how he and his mother must have met.
advancing on alina slowly: ) But rest assured she was every bit as difficult to me as she ever was with you.
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What are you doing? [ her voice is quiet. surely, this is the last thing they should be doing here. he'd sounded so serious about the risks, serious enough that she'd feared he was trying to end things. ]
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it's a reckless thing, doing this here. particularly after his earlier warning. but there's something in the way her eyes blow wide, doe-like. it kindles something in him, some long-buried predatory instinct. )
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[ and yet, her gaze drops to his lips, expectant. she doesn't want to close the distance. she wants to see him choose it, after he'd put this barrier between them. ]