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[sunmon]

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alina starkov, 20

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— delivery with a note.

[morozova]

( it's a key: delicately handcrafted, elegant enough to pass for jewelry, with a delicate chain strung through its bow. )

I'm leaving with the expedition. Should things take a turn while I'm gone, my home is open to you and Nikolai.

[sunmon]

[ she thinks of when ianthe had done the same. turned over a key to her home, welcomed alina into her space. this is different, though. it's a fallback. a shelter in emergency. not a gesture of intimacy, but a failsafe. ]

Putting yourself at risk for Zlatka's heart?
That doesn't seem like you. Especially given our conversation at tea.

[morozova]

I'm clearly aiming to win favor with our hostess.

[sunmon]

Nikolai and I aren't your co-conspirators.
I don't believe for a moment that you wouldn't use that same favor against us if it got you what you wanted.
And we don't need your protection.

[morozova]

Alina, rest assured, if I had any intentions of staging a grand conspiracy against the Duchess, you'd be the last to know.

( not least because of outbursts like this. )

And you're not obligated to use the key.

[sunmon]

Then why bother to pretend you have any interest in sheltering us?
Why tell me you're going at all?

[morozova]

Because I would rather not return to either of you in a cage — or worse.

[sunmon]

As if you haven't been uniquely responsible for worse.
We both know that few things would bring you greater joy than a Lantsov's death.

[morozova]

And I'll likely be responsible for far worse.

( he's already tiring of this conversation. for all his sins, he has never put anyone in a cage. )

Even so, you have the key. Whether you choose to use it is entirely up to you. But should you really be passing up the chance to snoop, especially when you're so convinced I'm up to something dubious?

[sunmon]

I'm not the same stupid little girl you manipulated before.
If you're giving me a key, it means there's nothing useful to be found there.
Only what you've already curated to give me the illusion of discovery.

[morozova]

That does sound like an inordinate amount of effort.

[sunmon]

I've learned better than to underestimate you.

[morozova]

Then by all means return the key.

[sunmon]

I will.
The next time I have the misfortune of crossing your path.

[morozova]

In person? My.

I would have suggested you leave it in Mr Price's care. Or perhaps the Praetor, to spare yourself the sight of me altogether.

[sunmon]

I have no interest in Terry Silver's company.
Nor in obligating Wesley to yours.

[morozova]

How considerate. Although, neither have expressed a particular objection to my presence.

[sunmon]

It doesn't surprise me that the praetor wouldn't.
Like calls to like, after all.

[morozova]

That isn't the insult you think it is.

[sunmon]

No, I suppose recognizing the insult would require some measure of shame.
How does it feel to know that if you die out there, no one will mourn you?

[morozova]

They might not mourn me but they certainly won't forget me.

[sunmon]

Is that what you tell yourself to justify it all?

[morozova]

Let's not pretend that you care at all for my reasons, Alina.

[sunmon]

[ if only that were true. if only she didn't still tangle herself in knots, trying to understand, trying to make some version of it that didn't mean she was worthless to him except as a tool. ]

Goodbye, Kirigan.
And good riddance.