[ her frustration stews over hours. grappling with itself. it feels impossible to tell if she's inventing things to hate about him or if he's deliberately pissing her off by acting so cavalier. but she is tired of being so much more invested in him than he is in her. in some ways, it makes her feel like she is his pet still, whether she's kneeling at his feet or not.
the best revenge would really be not to care at all, but she doesn't know how to do that. despite this, she arrives at the door of his apartment trying very hard to present herself as such. hands tucked in her navy coat's pockets after she's knocked on the door, impatient but not angry. scowling at the squatters in the hall instead of at his door. ]
if pressed, he would insist that it's because he prefers to spend as little time at the apartment as possible. this is the truth, of course, but it's only really part of it. the actual truth is that this is the first time they've been together in person since tumenalia, and while he has no idea how to navigate that he also isn't about to let a little thing like awkwardness and uncertainty keep him from seeing her. )
I think we'd both prefer to simply get this over with.
[ though that doesn't explain the flicker of something conflicted in her mouth, the way her eyebrows briefly knit together before she forces them to relax. he has never been this gracious, certainly not unprompted.
she steps out of the doorway to make room for him to exit. ]
( he inclines his head in acknowledgement, then pulls the door shut behind him and locks it. the key is dropped into his jacket pocket and then he extends a hand, palm up. )
[ she frowns at his hand. then, deciding it will do them more good to look the part of the happy dominant and submissive than not, reluctantly slides her hand into his. she leads the way, though, back to the stairs and out of the building. ]
Sensible. ( his mouth pulls up briefly at the corners, their fingers tangling together, palm to palm. there's something comforting about this, simple as it is. ) Even without the dangers it's hardly picturesque.
But it grows on you eventually. ( like a fungus. )
[ she notices the lack of people watching them. the same group of gang members that had been eyeing her on her way in stay occupied in their card game as she walks with aleksander.
it rankles her a bit. she and jess had cloistered themselves in the delicto office away from this same element, but aleksander has merely made an impression. so it's with a frown on her face that she finishes, ]
But not better than the Up. You obviously just haven't sampled widely.
You've never eaten Fjerdan, clearly. I assure that pickled herring doesn't compare to sour ram's testicles or fermented shark by a considerable margin.
( no wonder the witch hunters are so miserable. )
But, no. I confess sampling the food from the Up wasn't ever a priority.
[ how long had it been since ravka had reasonable access to things like cocoa and sugar in the quantities people used it here? for saint's sake, they put chocolate sauce on their bodies. ]
[ is this a thing they do now? chat about restaurant and bakery recommendations? alina frowns up at him, lapsing into quiet with an affirmative noise as they meander the narrow streets of the down towards riddler's square. ]
( the market is winding down. there's still plenty to see, of course. from the usual staples ㅡ you can find an impressive amount of (mostly) fresh produce ㅡ to the downright strange.
honestly, who knew secondhand sex toys were a thing?
past the market, they take a left turn and then another, which brings them to a row of townhouses in various states of repair. the one in his picture is third down, its bright door a beacon. )
[ alina gawks at the square. submissives on chains being sold into contracts. alina doesn't have to worry for herself, but it does contextualize some of aleksander's comments about conditions for submissives.
he would never wind up in that situation, though. would he?
she stops in front of the townhouse, not far, and surveys it. ]
Is it the whole building? [ she approaches the front gate, where the little atrium has multiple doorbells. she has never seen that in the up. ]
[ she moves in past him, surveying the interior of the narrow hall of the stairwell that branches out to the first floor and spreads upward towards the second. she heads for the stairs, shoulders hunched. ]
When you ask that question, it sounds like you think I'm on loan.
[ like she belongs to him, and he's made the mistake of letting someone else look after her for a time, and he's worried what condition she'll come back in. this isn't fair, of course. it's a neutral enough question. but coming out of him, it seems that way. ]
Reggie's a good man. [ a man. not a boy, anymore, and still he hasn't turned his back on her or changed his mind. ] I like him. And he's never asked for anything from me except my company.
( a little wave at the collar at his throat. the line marking his throat.
it's not a denial, of course, because there's always going to be that part of him ㅡ the lonely, hungry part ㅡ that wants to curl around her like a dragon guarding its hoard.
still, he nods at her description of reggie ㅡ who will always be a boy to him. )
Are you? Do you really have it in you to be happy for other people?
[ she withdraws her hand from his, nervous about the question, frowning. it hasn't escaped her that he told her to keep information about reggie to a minimum. that he knew he couldn't be trusted with it. ]
( there's always the chance that he's too much like baghra, of course. or that he allowed his ambition to utterly swallow his joy.
regardless, it's probably not the sort of conversation outside like this, where anyone could witness. after holding her gaze for a drawn out moment, he breaks the contact, turning his attention back to the hall. )
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the best revenge would really be not to care at all, but she doesn't know how to do that. despite this, she arrives at the door of his apartment trying very hard to present herself as such. hands tucked in her navy coat's pockets after she's knocked on the door, impatient but not angry. scowling at the squatters in the hall instead of at his door. ]
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if pressed, he would insist that it's because he prefers to spend as little time at the apartment as possible. this is the truth, of course, but it's only really part of it. the actual truth is that this is the first time they've been together in person since tumenalia, and while he has no idea how to navigate that he also isn't about to let a little thing like awkwardness and uncertainty keep him from seeing her. )
Thank you for not keeping me waiting.
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[ though that doesn't explain the flicker of something conflicted in her mouth, the way her eyebrows briefly knit together before she forces them to relax. he has never been this gracious, certainly not unprompted.
she steps out of the doorway to make room for him to exit. ]
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Have you ever been to the Square here?
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[ she frowns at his hand. then, deciding it will do them more good to look the part of the happy dominant and submissive than not, reluctantly slides her hand into his. she leads the way, though, back to the stairs and out of the building. ]
Is that where the new place is?
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But it grows on you eventually. ( like a fungus. )
Yes. Near the market.
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[ not the man who would be king. ]
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( and he's made a sufficient impression on the local gangs that he's been largely left unmolested. )
And the food is better.
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[ she notices the lack of people watching them. the same group of gang members that had been eyeing her on her way in stay occupied in their card game as she walks with aleksander.
it rankles her a bit. she and jess had cloistered themselves in the delicto office away from this same element, but aleksander has merely made an impression. so it's with a frown on her face that she finishes, ]
But not better than the Up. You obviously just haven't sampled widely.
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( no wonder the witch hunters are so miserable. )
But, no. I confess sampling the food from the Up wasn't ever a priority.
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[ how long had it been since ravka had reasonable access to things like cocoa and sugar in the quantities people used it here? for saint's sake, they put chocolate sauce on their bodies. ]
Especially if made by experts.
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( the up must be spoiled for choice when it comes to pastry chefs and confectionery. the place trades in decadence and overindulgence. )
I don't suppose you've found somewhere that makes decent honey cake?
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[ she had gone recently, in fact, while gift shopping. it turns out sweets and liquor make excellent presents. ]
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( it's not that far of a walk from venia, after all, and one can hardly accuse him of making mischief if he's following up on a recommendation. )
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honestly, who knew secondhand sex toys were a thing?
past the market, they take a left turn and then another, which brings them to a row of townhouses in various states of repair. the one in his picture is third down, its bright door a beacon. )
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he would never wind up in that situation, though. would he?
she stops in front of the townhouse, not far, and surveys it. ]
Is it the whole building? [ she approaches the front gate, where the little atrium has multiple doorbells. she has never seen that in the up. ]
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he presses the button and a buzzer sounds. moments later the door loosens and he shoulders it open for her. )
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there isn't much distance between them and the door, now, but before they can reach it, he ventures: )
Tell me that he takes care of you, your new friend. That he knows your worth.
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[ like she belongs to him, and he's made the mistake of letting someone else look after her for a time, and he's worried what condition she'll come back in. this isn't fair, of course. it's a neutral enough question. but coming out of him, it seems that way. ]
Reggie's a good man. [ a man. not a boy, anymore, and still he hasn't turned his back on her or changed his mind. ] I like him. And he's never asked for anything from me except my company.
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( a little wave at the collar at his throat. the line marking his throat.
it's not a denial, of course, because there's always going to be that part of him ㅡ the lonely, hungry part ㅡ that wants to curl around her like a dragon guarding its hoard.
still, he nods at her description of reggie ㅡ who will always be a boy to him. )
I'm glad.
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[ she withdraws her hand from his, nervous about the question, frowning. it hasn't escaped her that he told her to keep information about reggie to a minimum. that he knew he couldn't be trusted with it. ]
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( there's always the chance that he's too much like baghra, of course. or that he allowed his ambition to utterly swallow his joy.
regardless, it's probably not the sort of conversation outside like this, where anyone could witness. after holding her gaze for a drawn out moment, he breaks the contact, turning his attention back to the hall. )
The key's meant to be under a mat.
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