[ Alina listens intently, modest as always, she thinks although she has no real arguments. While she empathizes, she is finding it difficult to understand how she can help. While not anything as formal as the ring she has yet to receive, his proposition was quite clear once his identity was revealed.
She isn't the political mind of this duo. She's not the schemer, and she's about to protest that she's not quite sure what she is supposed to do and the role of Sankta Alina isn't really leveraged here quite as effectively as it was in the fight against the Darkling.
But her argument evaporates as he tugs off his gloves.
She scoots closer to him on the couch, quickly depositing her mug back on the coffee table and spilling a bit of tea in the process. It's not important.
Her hands hover around his, hesitating for just a moment as she looks back up to his eyes. He's as steady as always, country before self. Duty before love. Is it that easy for him or has he simply mastered the art of crushing his temptations to anything else like a snake under his boot? ]
The Darkling. He did this to you.
[ It's not a question. Tenderly, she cups one his hand in both of hers, turning it gingerly and tracing her fingers softly over the lines of one of his scars. ]
it's fine that's why we love him
She isn't the political mind of this duo. She's not the schemer, and she's about to protest that she's not quite sure what she is supposed to do and the role of Sankta Alina isn't really leveraged here quite as effectively as it was in the fight against the Darkling.
But her argument evaporates as he tugs off his gloves.
She scoots closer to him on the couch, quickly depositing her mug back on the coffee table and spilling a bit of tea in the process. It's not important.
Her hands hover around his, hesitating for just a moment as she looks back up to his eyes. He's as steady as always, country before self. Duty before love. Is it that easy for him or has he simply mastered the art of crushing his temptations to anything else like a snake under his boot? ]
The Darkling. He did this to you.
[ It's not a question. Tenderly, she cups one his hand in both of hers, turning it gingerly and tracing her fingers softly over the lines of one of his scars. ]
Oh Nikolai... What did he do to you?