neversmall | IC Inbox

[ She blinks a little at that, because... well, because they hated her so much. She was a Heartrender. She Knew. And it would tear something out of Matthias' heart to have had to stand in front of that and defend her. Even when she went in front of Kirigan, it hadn't been as bad. It was still personal for them, but it wasn't.. foundational, philosophical, as it was for the drüskelle.

A little quietly, round notes of something like surprise in her tone: ] Thank you.

Edited 2021-06-26 03:22 (UTC)

[ They hated each other. ]

[ But it would be dishonourable, and it would not be right, and though it would hurt it would be necessary; he's never shied away from pain or necessity. They are the waters that have fed his being. ]

[ Killing Nina is not necessary. Heartrender or not - she is dangerous but not dangerous to them. Not to him, when she could have used her power on him or escaped at any time. ]

Of course. We are friends.

[ Whatever else happens, they are friends. ]

Edited 2021-06-26 13:33 (UTC)

[ Nina does not want to just be Matthias' friend. But he is still holding her hand and she is a Heartrender, and one of the things she can not ignore is the way he feels when he says that word: like it is a thing of wonder.

Which, honestly, it is.

She bites her lip and then steps closer, looking up at him with a soft smile. ]

All right. [ And then the softness breaks into something wry and her gaze sparks, and she does not step back. ] But let's be glad only one of us had to do this -- it could be worse. They could have both shown up.

[ Imagine how horrible that would have been - completely beyond their control. She could convince the general not to go after an unbearded druskelle; she could never convince him not to go after Brum. She's not even sure she'd want to. ]

Edited 2021-06-26 13:53 (UTC)

[ She always goes for the wicked ones, the smirk, the invitations, the theatrical displays he doesn't take to so well. Matthias likes best when she just smiles at him honestly, because something is wonderful. He wants to touch her cheek, but it fades, Matthias' own expression turns wry as well. ]

I'm not sure I could have convinced Commander Brum not to go after you.

[ Even if he is the best, the clear favourite, his word is different from the word of other boys. Other boys weren't chosen to go along with the officers to capture Nina. And as it strikes him, he adds, ]

— or the other way around.

[ He has ways of stopping her, and all involve harm to her person. Strange, that the thought should now engender such revulsion. Not a month ago he might have felt nothing at all. ]

[ The weight of her rediscovered locket was heavy on her neck; burning. Nina had friends among the other Corporalki; she was useful, and her value was determined by her use. It was expedient to be her friend. She'd had one friend. Could she have suffered Brum to live, after what he'd done to others, what he'd done to her? ]

I'd have reserved the right to defend myself, as you did, [ quietly. ] It would have been hard. But this is not the place to carry on a war. And I have other priorities now.

[ Simple, heartrending, but true. Some things will never change, and Matthias has taken his place with them. ]

[ Matthias doesn't want to expend a great deal of creativity imagining a scenario that isn't likely to happen — as far as they know, everyone who could have arrived from their world is already here, and there are more pressing problems. The matter of survival still hangs over them, and in this, Nina is not only useful, she is needed. ]

Yes.

[ And this is a good opening. He takes his shot. Gently, ]

Such as breakfast.

[ Nina still hasn't moved back; she smiles up at him. ]

Are you hungry, Matthias Helvar?

[ — for many, many things, that burn in his eyes for a moment. He blinks, then smiles softly. ]

Let us break bread together.

[ Nina shifts her grip to twine her fingers through his in response to that look in his eye that, yes, she had been hoping to induce. It's a bold move that hides the fragile, yet overwhelming happiness she feels at seeing it. ]

Let us hope there's bread! [ A quick grin. ] If not, I'll settle for sharing whatever they have with you.

IC Inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject