[ he remembers more than he wants to, and that particular tether already feels like a thorn in his side. it's not the sort of connection he wants with her — it feels like the creeping darkness that fills his rib cage and coats his insides until he doesn't recognize himself anymore. it's not like what they had before. it feels tantalizingly wrong. it feels like something he wants to pull on despite knowing he shouldn't. it feels like begging her to stop but being grateful when she doesn't.
but that's a different conversation for a different day. he needs at least a few sleepless nights to pore over everything that's happened and equip himself with some sort of defense against the temptation that rocks him each time he looks at her. it's especially sharp when she finally allows him her hand, the contact igniting something inside of him that he struggles to ignore. ]
You think our holy matrimony will lure the Darkling out? Perhaps he'll make the guest list. [ his expression is too sharp to be overly humorous, though he does find the joke funny despite the very real possibility that the darkling will string him up by his intestines for taking alina away from him. ] Drastic measures have to be taken. The people are scared. They need to believe that there are heroes and saints out there who will protect them. I need the people on my side. On our side. An alliance with the Sun Summoner was always in the plan. We just need to move up the date a bit.
[ the blood staining her arms slowly disappears as nikolai uses the wet towel to gently clean it away, trying not to look at his own hands. the gouges are a bit more than superficial and will need time to heal properly. he can still feel his talons sinking into her skin and the slickness of her blood at his fingertips when it was over. ]
I'm sorry. Perhaps Genya can do something about the scarring.
[ he dabs a bit of the salve on her wounds, then begins wrapping the bandages around them. even after he's done securing them, he lingers still, clasping their hands together briefly and feeling the physical ache in his chest to be with her. he pulls away, rubbing a hand over his chin, his eyes troubled. ]
How long? [ he looks at her, a crease appearing between his brows. ] The Darkling left his impression on me, but it seems he's done the same to you.
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but that's a different conversation for a different day. he needs at least a few sleepless nights to pore over everything that's happened and equip himself with some sort of defense against the temptation that rocks him each time he looks at her. it's especially sharp when she finally allows him her hand, the contact igniting something inside of him that he struggles to ignore. ]
You think our holy matrimony will lure the Darkling out? Perhaps he'll make the guest list. [ his expression is too sharp to be overly humorous, though he does find the joke funny despite the very real possibility that the darkling will string him up by his intestines for taking alina away from him. ] Drastic measures have to be taken. The people are scared. They need to believe that there are heroes and saints out there who will protect them. I need the people on my side. On our side. An alliance with the Sun Summoner was always in the plan. We just need to move up the date a bit.
[ the blood staining her arms slowly disappears as nikolai uses the wet towel to gently clean it away, trying not to look at his own hands. the gouges are a bit more than superficial and will need time to heal properly. he can still feel his talons sinking into her skin and the slickness of her blood at his fingertips when it was over. ]
I'm sorry. Perhaps Genya can do something about the scarring.
[ he dabs a bit of the salve on her wounds, then begins wrapping the bandages around them. even after he's done securing them, he lingers still, clasping their hands together briefly and feeling the physical ache in his chest to be with her. he pulls away, rubbing a hand over his chin, his eyes troubled. ]
How long? [ he looks at her, a crease appearing between his brows. ] The Darkling left his impression on me, but it seems he's done the same to you.