[She didn't respond right away, knew that what she'd said was just a modified summary. Ianthe had no idea what a false Aleksander would say. Alina never told her what all happened between them, what he really did to her. She's been pulling from context, from things Nikolai has said, from her own knowledge of what people like him were... what things she, herself, could do if this were different.
Her hands shook as she lifted them before immediately dropping them back down to Alina's legs. It felt like something was trying to crawl out of her throat, to stop her from doing what she decided was necessary. It might not help, it might not work, but it was something.
Fear. That's what it was trying to strangle her, to paralyze her decision. She'd just got it back. But right now, Alina needed it more than she did.
Golden phalanges tapped briefly against Alina's leg before Ianthe swiftly took off her pendant and reached up to clasp it about Alina's neck. Ripping the protective cloak of its magic from herself to drape about Alina. Maybe she'd even feel the sensation as it settled.]
It's magic. I don't know if it will help you, but it helped me.
cw: ref to abuse, anxiety
Her hands shook as she lifted them before immediately dropping them back down to Alina's legs. It felt like something was trying to crawl out of her throat, to stop her from doing what she decided was necessary. It might not help, it might not work, but it was something.
Fear. That's what it was trying to strangle her, to paralyze her decision. She'd just got it back. But right now, Alina needed it more than she did.
Golden phalanges tapped briefly against Alina's leg before Ianthe swiftly took off her pendant and reached up to clasp it about Alina's neck. Ripping the protective cloak of its magic from herself to drape about Alina. Maybe she'd even feel the sensation as it settled.]
It's magic. I don't know if it will help you, but it helped me.