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« solntse »
TEXT β§ AUDIO β§ VIDEO β§ ACTION
ALINA STARKOV β¦ GRISHAVERSERESIDENCE β¦ Emerald District
GEMBOND β¦ RUBY like calls to like INFO β§ PERMISSIONS
« solntse »
TEXT β§ AUDIO β§ VIDEO β§ ACTION
ALINA STARKOV β¦ GRISHAVERSERESIDENCE β¦ Emerald District
GEMBOND β¦ RUBY like calls to like INFO β§ PERMISSIONS
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[ Nikolai strikes him as a romantic sort. And though he knows Alina less well, she always seemed the more pragmatic of the two of them.
But the other piece of news-- Hm. ]
Only if the thing you return to is better than the thing you have now, no?
Did someone new arrive to tell you?
[ He's not apprised on the details of the breakup, but... surely that must be it? The alternative -- that someone already here just didn't see fit to tell her all this time -- seems more than a little cruel. ]
no subject
Nikolai told me half a story.
And others filled in blank spaces.
Then he told me the ending.
Turns out, faking your death can cause some confusion.
this is so late i'm so sorry
In many ways, it's a very familiar thing to do -- half truths, lies by omission. Is this not what he and Jude have done to each other so often?
But love built on deceit is a fragile, uncertain thing. ]
He knew you had not died, then?
[ That's a blunt thing to ask someone, but he's trying to figure out how much judgment to levy Nikolai's way. ]
I could put a curse on him, you know. Something devastating, like perpetually wrinkled trousers.
shhh don't worry about it
[ It's a??? Joke??? But it was his pride and the sting of rejection that led to many months of misunderstanding. ]
Yes and maybe a small stain that he never notices until after he's left the house. I think that might be against some international treaties though.
[ Now that's an actual joke. ]
no subject
[ Look, Nikolai may be his closest competition where impeccable dress sense is concerned. Itβs only natural to want to sabotage him. Just a little. ]
Are condolences or congratulations in order?
[ Re: her marriage, of course. ]
no subject
Saints, that sounds so bad.
There was a time when it was all I would have wanted.
And it's not that I don't want it now. I still want it.
[ She loves Mal in the way she always has, now with a better word for it. One she's still afraid to say, still not sure she deserves in return. But... ]
Things are different now. Here. They're different here.
no subject
This sounds a little familiar. ]
Because you're not a saint here?
Or because he doesn't have to be a king?
[ ...he has to phrase that last one carefully, because he imagines they both know that Nikolai is a king wherever and whenever he is. ]
no subject
It shouldn't matter.
And it doesn't. The fact that he is not a king did not stop him from wearing a mask or playing games because of a wounded ego.
no subject
[ He's curious about this, given how much of his relationship is built on deception. ]
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[ Pot, kettle. Alina is hardly one to talk with the many secrets she keeps hidden in the dark. But that is different! ]
Not about that.
He should know better.
I've been tricked before by men telling me half a story.
Maybe I only have myself to blame.
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Though I confess I do not know what it is like for mortals. Many of you are much worse at lying than I expected you to be. [ Looking at you, Matt and Konoha... ]
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no subject
Have I not told you? Royals make terrible spouses.