[ when it becomes clear who the victor will be, though the match is not yet over, alina slides her fingers through the darkling's hair. a gentle warning before she leans in over his shoulder, breath against his skin, and asks, ]
Would you like to visit the temples now?
[ she had promised they'd return home, after that. there's something gentler to her tone of voice, as if the stretch of good behavior had softened her. ]
( what does it say about him that so casual a touch does more to him than the match ever did?
he exhales through his nose, feels some of the tautness in his muscles ease. it's uncomfortable, being in this position for any stretch of time. then, nodding. once, twice. a slow and careful motion. )
[ the effect she has on him surprises even her. she plants her palm more solidly against the top of his spine, fingers curling over his shoulder at the slope of his neck. a steady, firm, steering grip. ]
Biom is the closest.
[ the god of war and violence. bloodshed. it seems fitting, too, for the two of them to visit together. ]
Don't be sour. You seemed fond of public humiliation at the car wash.
[ she hasn't forgotten, either. her thumb brushes the leather band of his collar, both idle consideration and a reminder. then she stands and picks up the bundle of his clothes, stacking her shoes on top with his.
she nods for him to lead the way out of the row of seating. she's not so kind as to walk in front of him, either. ]
( the words cling to the air like smoke, curling in his wake. a reminder that while she presently holds the advantage it won't always be so. that the city is as likely to bite her as it is him.
some eyes follow him as he passes. this probably isn't the strangest sight that some have seen, but that doesn't mean he isn't bristling ever so slightly at the scrutiny. watching them without seeming to watch and wondering what, if anything, he can do in response. imagining unleashing a wave of nichevo'ya of the gawking locals helps his temper to recede a fraction. )
[ it won't happen again, she thinks, as with the same overconfidence she lets her gaze drag down across his back, over the curve of pale muscle that's tight at his backside.
something possessive and dark curls in her chest, and alina tries to snuff it out, drawing her eyes back upward, taking her place beside him as they exit the row and make their way out of the arena. but it's too late. she's let it in. it is too easy to let it in when she feels in control of it. ]
( despite alina's assurance, the walk to the temple seems to be without end. and while he's not the only submissive in a state of undress, none seem to be entirely naked.
he wonders, idly, if this is due to the festival itself. it would ironic, wouldn't it, to land themselves with a citation just because alina starkov decided to prove a point?
biom's temple isn't much of a temple at all, it turns out, but more of an open air shrine surrounded by symbols he assumes gives a clue to the god's nature. )
Spears and shields, I understand. Even the boars and the dogs make a measure of sense. But serpents?
Especially curious, given that I haven't seen a snake since arriving here.
[ they aren't terribly common in ravka, but she'd seen her fair share in novyi zem. then again, she hasn't left the city limits except for camp. she carries his clothes and her shoes right up to the front of the temple, where the offering plate rests.
alina produces her coin from inside her bust. it clangs as she tosses it into the plate. then she fishes in the pocket of the darkling's trousers for his. she offers it out to him. ]
But a saint's a saint. What difference does it make what symbols they use?
Or something that a tailor could use to slowly poison a king.
[ she snaps it out because she just can't help herself. despite this, she hands his clothes out to him. she'd gotten what she wanted. proved her point. at least, it feels that way now. ]
( at least he assumes not. her connection to the queen would have allowed genya access to resources that even the little palace couldn't dream of, so perhaps she'd found a way to procure some.
[ she deposits his clothes — and her own shoes — on a pew and turns away from him then and makes the call, standing off to the side of the temple, far enough to avoid intruding upon any of the faithful's visitations. ]
( it's the dismissiveness that really gets under his skin, it turns out. more than the bitterness and the sniping. the ever-present — and entirely juvenile — need to make a point.
the only person alive that has rankled him this much has been malyen oretsev, with his utter determination not to die like he was supposed to. )
I thought people staring was the whole point.
( dressing is not the leisurely, considered affair it generally is. as blasé as he's presently being, he actually has no desire to make the journey back to the house naked. )
[ she hangs up on the driver, narrowing her eyes. he's certainly taking her time. there is still the festival to walk back through to a street where they can be picked up, that hasn't been cordoned off for pedestrians. maybe it'd be appropriate to make him remain naked at least that long. ]
[ for a moment, it tempts her. not for the reasons he'd like. but she can too easily imagine charging over to tear them off, destroying the very clothes she'd bought for him. but he isn't worth it.
so instead, she grits her teeth. ]
Get. Dressed.
[ she turns from him then, taking his compliance for granted, and exits the temple. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Would you like to visit the temples now?
[ she had promised they'd return home, after that. there's something gentler to her tone of voice, as if the stretch of good behavior had softened her. ]
no subject
he exhales through his nose, feels some of the tautness in his muscles ease. it's uncomfortable, being in this position for any stretch of time. then, nodding. once, twice. a slow and careful motion. )
Have you decided on which?
no subject
Biom is the closest.
[ the god of war and violence. bloodshed. it seems fitting, too, for the two of them to visit together. ]
no subject
How generous of you.
( i'll be sure to remember that, he doesn't say. he doesn't need to. he has always had a long, long memory. )
Don't forget my suit.
no subject
[ she hasn't forgotten, either. her thumb brushes the leather band of his collar, both idle consideration and a reminder. then she stands and picks up the bundle of his clothes, stacking her shoes on top with his.
she nods for him to lead the way out of the row of seating. she's not so kind as to walk in front of him, either. ]
no subject
( the words cling to the air like smoke, curling in his wake. a reminder that while she presently holds the advantage it won't always be so. that the city is as likely to bite her as it is him.
some eyes follow him as he passes. this probably isn't the strangest sight that some have seen, but that doesn't mean he isn't bristling ever so slightly at the scrutiny. watching them without seeming to watch and wondering what, if anything, he can do in response. imagining unleashing a wave of nichevo'ya of the gawking locals helps his temper to recede a fraction. )
no subject
[ it won't happen again, she thinks, as with the same overconfidence she lets her gaze drag down across his back, over the curve of pale muscle that's tight at his backside.
something possessive and dark curls in her chest, and alina tries to snuff it out, drawing her eyes back upward, taking her place beside him as they exit the row and make their way out of the arena. but it's too late. she's let it in. it is too easy to let it in when she feels in control of it. ]
no subject
he wonders, idly, if this is due to the festival itself. it would ironic, wouldn't it, to land themselves with a citation just because alina starkov decided to prove a point?
biom's temple isn't much of a temple at all, it turns out, but more of an open air shrine surrounded by symbols he assumes gives a clue to the god's nature. )
Spears and shields, I understand. Even the boars and the dogs make a measure of sense. But serpents?
no subject
[ they aren't terribly common in ravka, but she'd seen her fair share in novyi zem. then again, she hasn't left the city limits except for camp. she carries his clothes and her shoes right up to the front of the temple, where the offering plate rests.
alina produces her coin from inside her bust. it clangs as she tosses it into the plate. then she fishes in the pocket of the darkling's trousers for his. she offers it out to him. ]
But a saint's a saint. What difference does it make what symbols they use?
no subject
( he turns the coin over in his hand, studying it as if it might offer some answer before he finally drops it into the tray. )
Venom, in the right doses, can be a curative.
no subject
[ she snaps it out because she just can't help herself. despite this, she hands his clothes out to him. she'd gotten what she wanted. proved her point. at least, it feels that way now. ]
I'm calling a car.
no subject
( at least he assumes not. her connection to the queen would have allowed genya access to resources that even the little palace couldn't dream of, so perhaps she'd found a way to procure some.
he'd never thought to ask. )
no subject
[ she deposits his clothes — and her own shoes — on a pew and turns away from him then and makes the call, standing off to the side of the temple, far enough to avoid intruding upon any of the faithful's visitations. ]
no subject
the only person alive that has rankled him this much has been malyen oretsev, with his utter determination not to die like he was supposed to. )
I thought people staring was the whole point.
( dressing is not the leisurely, considered affair it generally is. as blasé
as he's presently being, he actually has no desire to make the journey back to the house naked. )
no subject
[ she hangs up on the driver, narrowing her eyes. he's certainly taking her time. there is still the festival to walk back through to a street where they can be picked up, that hasn't been cordoned off for pedestrians. maybe it'd be appropriate to make him remain naked at least that long. ]
no subject
( because that's the only way that will happen, he promises in tone if not word. )
no subject
so instead, she grits her teeth. ]
Get. Dressed.
[ she turns from him then, taking his compliance for granted, and exits the temple. ]