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[sunmon]

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[sunmon]

No. When my power returned it came back fully.

[morozova]

It's been the same for me.

And yet they are able to neutralize us, on a large scale, which means that they do know of our abilities and how to hamper them.
And supposedly can revive us upon death.
That suggests that whatever they get from us requires us to be alive to generate.

[sunmon]

It would be exceedingly difficult to have sex while dead.

They have the other citizens doing it too. It's not just us. It's something about the sex itself. It's the only thing that makes sense.

[morozova]

Yes.
And they're likely using whatever we are generating for them to draw in more people.

[sunmon]

If you're about to use this as an excuse to fail quota so you can get me a citation...

[morozova]

Getting you a citation, for whatever reason, would be self-defeating, don't you think?

No.
I'm trying to understand.

[sunmon]

It would be petty and spiteful and cruel, all of which you are. If you drew the line in harming me at harming yourself, you would not have made even one nichevo'ya.

And our contract does not make us allies, discussing war tactics on the Fjerdan front.

[morozova]

Petty, spiteful and cruel, yes.
Stupid, no.

( he's still feeling out this new dynamic, deciding where and how best to press. getting into trouble deliberately would only end in her ending the contract and him being back at square one. )

Do you want to remain here forever?

( she had assumed, at the start, that he would be looking at ways to upend the system and she hadn't been entirely wrong. )

[sunmon]

Maybe I like not being someone's saint.

[morozova]

I doubt the Saints of old wanted that recognition, either.

[sunmon]

It's not Ravka. But it's not terrible. Not on its own.

[ is she really admitting this? to him of all people? ]

My power doesn't mean anything to anyone here. No one needs me.

[morozova]

The weight of the responsibility would be crushing to anyone. I'm not unaware of that, whatever you might think of me.

( not that it would have kept him from pushing her, from using her. )

You should be able to delight in your gift.
I'm sorry that I made you feel otherwise.

[sunmon]

I can, here.

[ but she also knows that mal would never be able to stand it here any more than at the little palace. she knows that she will always have to choose between her power and him. right now, with no way home, it's not a choice. that's freeing in a way. ]

[morozova]

Then I suppose it is fortunate that we will be going nowhere for some time.

[sunmon]

Good. Then you can be patient.

[ he had scared her, his commentary just this side of revolutionary. but she had agreed to this because he was smart. because he knew as she now did that building power was the first step. ]

If you need something to keep you occupied, go clean the studio.

[morozova]

If I finish early perhaps we can go to whatever festival they're holding in town?
I promise to keep my hands to myself.

[sunmon]

[ it would look good, making an appearance. and alina has a lot of catching up to do with looking like a respectable dominant. damn him. ]

Fine.
Clean yourself up first.

[morozova]

Do you want me in anything particular?

[sunmon]

There's a navy suit for you in the downstairs. And a yellow shirt.

[ he isn't the only petty and spiteful one. alina has been an apt pupil. ]

[morozova]

I'll be ready.

-> action

[sunmon]

[ when he gets home from the studio, the navy suit and gold shirt are gone. in their place, alina lounges in a blue recliner in a white dress, legs crossed beneath it. beside her is a black garment bag. ]

Change of plans. [ she gestures to the bag. ] You'll be wearing white. We all will.

[ this is about city compliance. there will be a time and a place to make him wear her color for a change, but it's not this. the sour expression suggests that she doesn't like that she has missed her chance for this. ]

[morozova]

( dark brows lift, attention shifting quickly to the bag. she must have picked it out herself, then. )

Why white? ( it's not a refusal, not really, but it is definitely curious. her expression suggests that the change of plans wasn't her doing, so either this has something to do with the celebration or she's dragging him to some function where there's a dress code.

his fingers slip to the buttons of his shirt, deciding that the specifics don't really matter. )

[sunmon]

Festival tra—

[ oh. he's. taking his shirt off right here. at first alina straightens, then thinks better of it and tries to somehow undo her startled reaction. to sink back into her seat. to blink away her surprise and pretend she had not averted her eyes for a moment.

she has lost her train of thought. ]

... It's festival tradition. We wouldn't want to insult any locals.

[morozova]

It's not really my colour.

( it's idly said. he's much too pale, as it is. the white will probably wash him out, make him seem even less human than he already does.

still: tradition is tradition. )

Though you do look ravishing. ( a sweeping look, taking her in from head to toe. )

Is there anything else I should know?

[sunmon]

[ she opens her mouth, not quite mustering response right away. once he has stripped off his shirt, she is left only to stare, a long-dead ember burning a little brighter in her chest, as if breathed back to life with careful fanning in the form of one simple compliment.

she shuts her mouth, swallows, and tries again. this is going to be a more difficult three months than she had realized. ]

Don't eat anything. We can order dinner later, but I won't have you losing control of yourself while we're out.