[ excuse that it's the middle of the night, his shit-talk-o-meter just inexplicably went off and he can't stop sneezing. amaryllis grove is a hellscape, truly. ]
oretsev. say you pissed someone off by doing something they told you not to do, and now they will hardly spare a glance in your direction. what would you do to get back into their good graces? say it's a friend that grew up similar to how you did, eating moldy cheeses or whatnot. i don't know if grand gestures will work.
( he jumps when that one comes through. does nikolai have a 6th sense for him? how does this happen. )
depends on what you did.
( there's a threat in that text and hopefully it's read with an edge. he and alina may be in a strange place themselves, but he finds himself unable to squash the protective urge even though he knows she can stand find without him at her side.
he knows he won't resist the urge to reach out, to check in. )
grand gestures look empty if there's nothing personal about them.
i made a deal with the darkling. we have some kind of tenuous alliance wherein he attempts to help me control my shadow. i can't really remember my end of the bargain. should've written up a contract.
[ something about answers he doesn't intend on giving. two people can play this duplicitous game.
he doesn't know why he gave that information to mal so freely. maybe because he trusts him to be honest, and not to use it against him. ]
is scheming with the darkling unforgivable to her? i had reasons. desperate ones. i wouldn't have turned to him if i felt i had anywhere else to go. but i think that's the part she's most angry about.
pardon?????? YOU DID WHAT( there is silence for a long time as he takes a deep breath. there is another big worry here that hits him in the chest )what shadow?
has she not told you of what happened between them? and that part is part of it.
[ pls process this information faster, mal, it is very uncomfortable for him to be vulnerable like this. ]
the darkling infected me with merzost. there's a pesky little monster trying to take over my mind and body.
ah, which parts? their great love? the betrayal? the enslavement? the mass murder of the ravkan people? we all seem to remember things a little differently. i don't begrudge her her reasons to despise the man. if i could act on my feelings alone, i'd put a bullet between his eyes. but i can't. i'm a king now. and she's to be queen, so neither can she. i don't actually know how to explain to someone outside of the monarchy how much a title is going to cost them.
yes, well, maybe next time we all can pitch in and kill him a little better.
i know i'm being a fool. i'm a fool backed into a corner. it's easier for me to keep an eye on him this way, you know. being king isn't just about attending champagne parties, even if i'm exceedingly good at them.
betrothed. the monster is vicious. i won't put her in that kind of danger.
[ a lie; he would, and she'd been the one to refuse without explanation. ]
the way i remember him, he's dead. there's a movement to have him sainted. a movement i won't give credence to. imagine if he found out? saints, the ego on the man.
mal. you two have been terrorized by the darkness enough. i wouldn't want to ask that of you, either. you deserve an ending to that chapter.
she hasn't asked, no we aren't... on the best of terms righ tnow. you know that ( but he wants to make sure he doesn't have a second reason to punch you for, nikolai )
i can when they affect people i care about you're good at that don't let it get you killed
well. [ neither are he and alina, but he doesn't have to admit to it just yet. ] have you tried talking to her? she might be amenable to it. i'm not much of a distraction right now, since i'm preoccupied with other matters.
are you saying you care about me? i'm touched. come now, oretsev, you know how hard i am to kill. do you know how many people have tried? it's embarrassing at this point.
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text — un: SOBACHKA
oretsev.
say you pissed someone off by doing something they told you not to do, and now they will hardly spare a glance in your direction. what would you do to get back into their good graces? say it's a friend that grew up similar to how you did, eating moldy cheeses or whatnot. i don't know if grand gestures will work.
no subject
depends on what you did.
( there's a threat in that text and hopefully it's read with an edge. he and alina may be in a strange place themselves, but he finds himself unable to squash the protective urge even though he knows she can stand find without him at her side.
he knows he won't resist the urge to reach out, to check in. )
grand gestures look empty if there's nothing personal about them.
no subject
i can't really remember my end of the bargain. should've written up a contract.
[ something about answers he doesn't intend on giving. two people can play this duplicitous game.
he doesn't know why he gave that information to mal so freely. maybe because he trusts him to be honest, and not to use it against him. ]
is scheming with the darkling unforgivable to her?
i had reasons. desperate ones. i wouldn't have turned to him if i felt i had anywhere else to go.
but i think that's the part she's most angry about.
no subject
has she not told you of what happened between them? and that part is part of it.
no subject
the darkling infected me with merzost.
there's a pesky little monster trying to take over my mind and body.
ah, which parts? their great love? the betrayal? the enslavement? the mass murder of the ravkan people? we all seem to remember things a little differently.
i don't begrudge her her reasons to despise the man. if i could act on my feelings alone, i'd put a bullet between his eyes.
but i can't. i'm a king now. and she's to be queen, so neither can she.
i don't actually know how to explain to someone outside of the monarchy how much a title is going to cost them.
tell me i'm doing this all wrong.
no subject
lantsov, you know better
she's already killed him, you know that right?
you're doing this wrong
and you know it
you don't need me to tell you you're being a fool
no subject
[ that is. exactly as bad as it sounds. ]
yes, well, maybe next time we all can pitch in and kill him a little better.
i know i'm being a fool. i'm a fool backed into a corner.
it's easier for me to keep an eye on him this way, you know. being king isn't just about attending champagne parties, even if i'm exceedingly good at them.
no subject
your wife?
it's... it happens later back home
than when he's from
you could have told her or me
we could have helped somehow instead of you making a deal with a demon
no subject
the monster is vicious. i won't put her in that kind of danger.
[ a lie; he would, and she'd been the one to refuse without explanation. ]
the way i remember him, he's dead.
there's a movement to have him sainted. a movement i won't give credence to. imagine if he found out? saints, the ego on the man.
mal. you two have been terrorized by the darkness enough.
i wouldn't want to ask that of you, either. you deserve an ending to that chapter.
no subject
don't tell him that
we'd never survive that
isn't that what friends do though, lantsov?
help one another
the secrets are the things that tear us apart
no subject
why? has she asked?
[ long pause. ]
you can't begrudge a man his secrets.
a king doesn't really have friends. i find it's much easier and more entertaining to make enemies.
no subject
we aren't... on the best of terms righ tnow. you know that ( but he wants to make sure he doesn't have a second reason to punch you for, nikolai )
i can when they affect people i care about
you're good at that
don't let it get you killed
no subject
are you saying you care about me? i'm touched.
come now, oretsev, you know how hard i am to kill. do you know how many people have tried? it's embarrassing at this point.