![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
( like the sun peeking out from behind a could, paul smiles, immediately relieved. not that alina doesn't casually say an intensely sad thing — but at least she's talking to him, presumably not too mad to stomach his presence. happily, he offers paulican his marble fingers to peck at. )
It won't go forgotten again.
( paul has a computer for a brain, mostly. it's not just a promise — it's a guarantee.
in any case, he offers her a soft look, leaning in to affectionately butt their foreheads together, a very fremen motion. )
You'll like it. After you get married you're supposed to go on a long vacation called a honeymoon, where you travel around and eat a lot of food, and basically just get spoiled for a few weeks after your wedding. Since we didn't have one, and since I can't take you out of this place, I thought we'd honeymoon in here. Well — ( he clears in throat ) not in here. I thought we could go see the zoo, if you wanted. And after that, we can go pet and ride the horses outside, though we'll need to bundle up for it, since it's cold. Those are just ideas though — really, we can do whatever you like as long as we're together, and are working towards disgusting everyone nearby with our love.
It won't go forgotten again.
( paul has a computer for a brain, mostly. it's not just a promise — it's a guarantee.
in any case, he offers her a soft look, leaning in to affectionately butt their foreheads together, a very fremen motion. )
You'll like it. After you get married you're supposed to go on a long vacation called a honeymoon, where you travel around and eat a lot of food, and basically just get spoiled for a few weeks after your wedding. Since we didn't have one, and since I can't take you out of this place, I thought we'd honeymoon in here. Well — ( he clears in throat ) not in here. I thought we could go see the zoo, if you wanted. And after that, we can go pet and ride the horses outside, though we'll need to bundle up for it, since it's cold. Those are just ideas though — really, we can do whatever you like as long as we're together, and are working towards disgusting everyone nearby with our love.
( she squints a little — which, combined with paul's closeness, only accomplishes alina going ridiculously cross-eyed with skepticism. not even ravka's golden royalty could afford such a luxury, with a war on their soil — and nikolai's father pissing away their coffers, with all the gracelessness of emptying his bladder. her answering twinkle of laughter accordingly says funny joke, i nearly fell for it, half-forgetting the beginnings of paul's life were spent in water-logged luxury, and not the barrenness of arrakis' dunes. )
Weeks? You're pulling my leg. ( punishingly, she nips at his nose. that's the pitfall of paul's presence — for all that her mood has been a rainy cloud in the past week, shifting from depressingly cloudy to ominously stormy again, she can't batter herself against him for long. ) That's better than what I was going to suggest.
( because alina's problem-solving skills and scope of imagination, where celebrations in her honor, are limited to simple comforts and simple solutions no better than slapping a bandaid on an amputated limb. namely: )
I was going to say we could hide in the shelves and kiss for hours. ( mischievously, ) Or run off and build an ugly hut in the forest, where no one can ever bother us. But I think I'd like to see the animals and go riding with you, too. As your wife, you'll have to let me win at racing you.
Weeks? You're pulling my leg. ( punishingly, she nips at his nose. that's the pitfall of paul's presence — for all that her mood has been a rainy cloud in the past week, shifting from depressingly cloudy to ominously stormy again, she can't batter herself against him for long. ) That's better than what I was going to suggest.
( because alina's problem-solving skills and scope of imagination, where celebrations in her honor, are limited to simple comforts and simple solutions no better than slapping a bandaid on an amputated limb. namely: )
I was going to say we could hide in the shelves and kiss for hours. ( mischievously, ) Or run off and build an ugly hut in the forest, where no one can ever bother us. But I think I'd like to see the animals and go riding with you, too. As your wife, you'll have to let me win at racing you.
Edited 2024-12-22 04:37 (UTC)
( weeks, yes, generally as dictated by visiting all the grand houses, to receive their well wishes, and explore their planets. weeks at the minimum, really, though there's no knowing if alina would actually like the pomp and circumstance of it. for paul, it's less about enjoying, and more about the way things have always been — surrounded by the wastefulness of ceremony, a particular thorn in his father's side.
in any case, as ever, alina does actually have the better idea. paul brightens. )
I'm sure there will be a misplaced hour or two. ( he steals quick, tactical kiss ) Or three. ( and kisses her again, longing and lingering, flattening his hand on kettlewing's wide body to make sure he doesn't slip. ) We can make time for it all. Alina's birthday week, I say. And — as my wife, you'll have to prove your ability to ride.
( yes, he'll let her win. though, on that thought — )
Actually, have you ridden a horse before?
in any case, as ever, alina does actually have the better idea. paul brightens. )
I'm sure there will be a misplaced hour or two. ( he steals quick, tactical kiss ) Or three. ( and kisses her again, longing and lingering, flattening his hand on kettlewing's wide body to make sure he doesn't slip. ) We can make time for it all. Alina's birthday week, I say. And — as my wife, you'll have to prove your ability to ride.
( yes, he'll let her win. though, on that thought — )
Actually, have you ridden a horse before?
( her lips stumble, uncharacteristically clumsy. she hasn't forgotten how to love paul — it's as natural a movement as drawing breath into her lungs, as placing one foot in front of the other — but there's a surprise to it, all the same, to find that he still wants to kiss here as she is. thorns and teeth and the jagged edge of a broken glass, compared to the soft delicateness of his mouth.
it leaves her fumble toward him, a sunflower stretched toward the sky, even as he speaks. kettlewing gives a predictable squawk when she has to right herself and resettle, annoyed by all of the jostling movement on the cradle of her hip. )
I — ( a shamed flush flowers across one cheek, then vines to the other, a fertile shade of pink. alina's eyebrows knit together, girlishly embarrassed. it doesn't abate, for good reason — paul was likely born with a mare under him, the well-bred duke — it's only natural to ask the peasant girl if she's ever done more to travel than march around in first army muck. ) A few times. My former teacher at the Little Palace liked to ride. It might've been the only thing he liked.
( aside from power. something shrivels to ash in alina's mouth, trailing off. teacher sounds too illustrious, for all that aleksander had taught her all the wrong lessons. alina clears her throat. )
Unless this an excuse because you want me to hold onto you. Then I've definitely never ridden a day in my life before.
it leaves her fumble toward him, a sunflower stretched toward the sky, even as he speaks. kettlewing gives a predictable squawk when she has to right herself and resettle, annoyed by all of the jostling movement on the cradle of her hip. )
I — ( a shamed flush flowers across one cheek, then vines to the other, a fertile shade of pink. alina's eyebrows knit together, girlishly embarrassed. it doesn't abate, for good reason — paul was likely born with a mare under him, the well-bred duke — it's only natural to ask the peasant girl if she's ever done more to travel than march around in first army muck. ) A few times. My former teacher at the Little Palace liked to ride. It might've been the only thing he liked.
( aside from power. something shrivels to ash in alina's mouth, trailing off. teacher sounds too illustrious, for all that aleksander had taught her all the wrong lessons. alina clears her throat. )
Unless this an excuse because you want me to hold onto you. Then I've definitely never ridden a day in my life before.
( too seriously, she writes it isn't kindness if it has a purpose. the darkling had been a cautionary tale for girls with a sweet tooth — saccharine, until she'd realized it was all artificial affection. alina rapidly deletes the drafted message for how rainy it is, on what should be an otherwise happy day. )
I wouldn't know. I've never had a birthday cake.
You're the professional. I'll defer to your birthday cake expertise.
See you soon. 🌞
I wouldn't know. I've never had a birthday cake.
You're the professional. I'll defer to your birthday cake expertise.
See you soon. 🌞
[ alina gets a string of emojis in response, presumably to represent said birthday, his excitement, her impending excitement (surely coming!), magic, books, christmas, and also inexplicably several of the cuter looking animal ones tossed in there for good measure too. a response isn't necessary and one won't come even if she does have questions, busy with his new task.
hopefully no one was planning on eating that yule log cake laid out beautifully for the manor to enjoy, because nick has repurposed it for his own uses, with the smallest candle he could get his hands on stuck in the top. alina does eventually get another message, once he's arrived near sol + scroll with the promised haul. ]
ok im here you can come out 🎉🎉
hopefully no one was planning on eating that yule log cake laid out beautifully for the manor to enjoy, because nick has repurposed it for his own uses, with the smallest candle he could get his hands on stuck in the top. alina does eventually get another message, once he's arrived near sol + scroll with the promised haul. ]
ok im here you can come out 🎉🎉
( embarrassingly, he doesn't have to wait long. alina flounces out of the entrance like a child sneaking a peek at christmas presents, quick enough that it's obvious she'd been keeping watch beyond the glass. kettlewing is, predictably, fastened to her hip by one bracing hand against his rotund body — a kindness for paul, mostly, who she expects would crack like any teapot, if he has to mop up another of kettlewing's (or her) tantrums. the little bell around his neck twinkles and chimes merrily once alina sets him down, free to waddle over to nibble on nick's pant leg. )
Very festive, thank you. You didn't have to go through all the trouble for me.
( warmly, the corners of her eyes pull tight and crinkle. nick could have brought her someone's leftover cupcake, a bite already taken, and it would still be a more worthy celebration than anything keramzin had bothered with. what reason is there to rejoice in an orphan's birthday in ravka, when another passing year means they've one step in the grave, months closer to the army's draft? she makes a grabby motion, all raccoon-like paws. )
I see you're still in one piece. I'm assuming the kitchen staff didn't throttle you, then.
Very festive, thank you. You didn't have to go through all the trouble for me.
( warmly, the corners of her eyes pull tight and crinkle. nick could have brought her someone's leftover cupcake, a bite already taken, and it would still be a more worthy celebration than anything keramzin had bothered with. what reason is there to rejoice in an orphan's birthday in ravka, when another passing year means they've one step in the grave, months closer to the army's draft? she makes a grabby motion, all raccoon-like paws. )
I see you're still in one piece. I'm assuming the kitchen staff didn't throttle you, then.
I was very quick, I don't think they'd even started yelling before I was out the door.
[ if alina's lingering is embarrassing then it's only offset by the way that nick visibly beams at the presence of the little bell ringing away around kettlewing's neck. there are more important matters at hand though, namely ushering alina's hands away before she can successfully get the cake out of his. there are rituals to uphold, after all. ]
Hang on, look.
[ he hadn't managed to snag a birthday candle exactly, but it's slim enough to pass for one and do the job well enough — and yes, maybe nick could have fished the lighter out of his pocket to light it once it was stuck securely into the middle of the cake, but he opts to touch the tip of his finger to the wick and briefly close his eyes to light it instead.
showing off, maybe, a tiny bit, but only a little. ]
Here, see, you blow it out and make a wish.
[ if alina's lingering is embarrassing then it's only offset by the way that nick visibly beams at the presence of the little bell ringing away around kettlewing's neck. there are more important matters at hand though, namely ushering alina's hands away before she can successfully get the cake out of his. there are rituals to uphold, after all. ]
Hang on, look.
[ he hadn't managed to snag a birthday candle exactly, but it's slim enough to pass for one and do the job well enough — and yes, maybe nick could have fished the lighter out of his pocket to light it once it was stuck securely into the middle of the cake, but he opts to touch the tip of his finger to the wick and briefly close his eyes to light it instead.
showing off, maybe, a tiny bit, but only a little. ]
Here, see, you blow it out and make a wish.
( it's still an odd sight to behold — flame born from nothing but power, putting an inferni's flint to shame. alina's eyes fall to raptly watch it flicker to life, sparking the small wick, with a subtle smile and all the enjoyment of an audience watching a magic trick, without understanding the secrets behind it. )
Mm. It just so happens to be a perfect way to show off, too.
( if there's anything she can clock, it's a man with an impressive set of skills, and an even more impressive need to showcase it. teasingly, alina strikes her hands together in a soft, encouraging clap — then leaves forward without a further need for invitation, ignoring the chocolate that blends into the ends of her already paint-streaked hair.
none of her wishes have ever come true, whether they've been spent on pretty candles or shining stars or soaring comets — but even cosmic intervention can't bring alina starkov impossible miracles, it seems. it's more for nick's sake, and the ever-living childish, naive hope that they may come to fruition this time, that alina closes her lips and blows, letting the flame putter out.
her eyes flick up to his as she hovers, smearing her thumb through frosting to pop it into her mouth. )
I don't have to tell you what I wished for, do I?
Mm. It just so happens to be a perfect way to show off, too.
( if there's anything she can clock, it's a man with an impressive set of skills, and an even more impressive need to showcase it. teasingly, alina strikes her hands together in a soft, encouraging clap — then leaves forward without a further need for invitation, ignoring the chocolate that blends into the ends of her already paint-streaked hair.
none of her wishes have ever come true, whether they've been spent on pretty candles or shining stars or soaring comets — but even cosmic intervention can't bring alina starkov impossible miracles, it seems. it's more for nick's sake, and the ever-living childish, naive hope that they may come to fruition this time, that alina closes her lips and blows, letting the flame putter out.
her eyes flick up to his as she hovers, smearing her thumb through frosting to pop it into her mouth. )
I don't have to tell you what I wished for, do I?
[ neatly wrapped and tied with a wide white satin ribbon, alina has the most boxes in the alina-alia-paul pile.
a jewelry box
some hair clips for her pretty hair
a metric shit tonne of homemade chocolate chip cookies xoxo
a small glass vial and a label tied to it with thread, FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY. it's blood, her blood.
in perfectly neat penmanship, which she got an A for in 3rd grade, the note only reads ]
Love, Caroline
in perfectly neat penmanship, which she got an A for in 3rd grade, the note only reads ]
Love, Caroline
[ busted.
nick doesn't look terribly embarrassed at being so shamelessly called out — he's never been able to manage to figure out how to be subtle in his clawing for attention and he likely isn't going to start now. he'd gotten her tiny suggestion of a smile, and that's enough for nick to give a pleased little shrug to the rest.
at any rate, it's all secondary to the moment in question. alina blows out the candle and nick grins, even calls out a quiet little 'woo' in time with the moment, half an impression of a real birthday party. it's still a celebration, even if nick doesn't want to call the attention of anyone inside the shop. ]
No, you have to keep it a secret, or else it won't come true.
[ parrotted like a fact and not superstition--though honestly, nick is quite a superstitious person. why else would he keep all of his own wishes so close to his chest? but with the birthday ritual complete, he's quick to swipe some frosting for himself, sticking his finger quickly in his mouth before he asks— ]
Am I allowed to ask you how old you are now or is that rude?
nick doesn't look terribly embarrassed at being so shamelessly called out — he's never been able to manage to figure out how to be subtle in his clawing for attention and he likely isn't going to start now. he'd gotten her tiny suggestion of a smile, and that's enough for nick to give a pleased little shrug to the rest.
at any rate, it's all secondary to the moment in question. alina blows out the candle and nick grins, even calls out a quiet little 'woo' in time with the moment, half an impression of a real birthday party. it's still a celebration, even if nick doesn't want to call the attention of anyone inside the shop. ]
No, you have to keep it a secret, or else it won't come true.
[ parrotted like a fact and not superstition--though honestly, nick is quite a superstitious person. why else would he keep all of his own wishes so close to his chest? but with the birthday ritual complete, he's quick to swipe some frosting for himself, sticking his finger quickly in his mouth before he asks— ]
Am I allowed to ask you how old you are now or is that rude?
Edited 2024-12-26 15:08 (UTC)
[ Erik isn't really the Christmas sort, but he has done his best to find some gifts that he thinks would be appreciated and welcomed, so they're left on her doorstep:
🧲 A matching set of jewellery, hand-crafted by Erik himself: necklace, bracelet, earrings, all with a mixture of sun motifs but also flowers covering the suns. The sun is present, but it's not the most important thing about her.There's no note. ]
🧲 Various novels that he had collected that he thought she might enjoy, ranging from true crime, to romantasy to some of the more popular horror tales of his own world.
🧲 Some makeup, of various kinds and colours, that he thought she might like.
🧲 One very handsome dress, delicate but also sparkly.
🧲 Some candelabras, also hand-crafted, in various shapes and delicate, weaving designs.
We're not in the realm of rudeness already?
( faux, unoffended surprise as her eyes flicker to the bounty of the cake, its edges smeared by nick's (and alina's) sticky fingers. an orphan's life in keramzin is too dictated by sharing — the same assigned birthday, worn hand-me-down donations, lumpy cots — for alina to resort back to the instincts she'd had as a child, rusted away by time. or — not time, but maybe the uselessness of trying to protect what's hers with a snap of her teeth, when nothing has ever truly belonged to her to begin with.
she shakes her head, instead, settling for a more attainable form of retribution: the swipe of her fingers to nick's cheekbone, streaking frosting down his cheek like a trail of mud. not quite an excessive waste of food to make her stomach curdle and clench, when it serves a higher (childish) purpose. )
Twenty, I think. ( difficult to say — before saltburn, she's had to count the past year in battles and betrayals and everything in-between, more likely to tally the days without death knocking at her door than the days in a month. her lips roll, banishing the thought. ) But you wouldn't be able to see any difference. Grisha don't age the same as a normal person might.
( alina even less so, but that's the other half of that secret, a burden of immortality she doesn't care to acknowledge — like the weight of it on her chest will ease, if she doesn't have to consider the vast, barren wasteland of eternity. emphatically, she tugs on a strand of hair — streaked a bone-white where the color intertwines through her hair, like sparse snow on damp earth, like light invading shadows. )
It's only the stress that's graying me. ( — she jokes, like a liar. )
( faux, unoffended surprise as her eyes flicker to the bounty of the cake, its edges smeared by nick's (and alina's) sticky fingers. an orphan's life in keramzin is too dictated by sharing — the same assigned birthday, worn hand-me-down donations, lumpy cots — for alina to resort back to the instincts she'd had as a child, rusted away by time. or — not time, but maybe the uselessness of trying to protect what's hers with a snap of her teeth, when nothing has ever truly belonged to her to begin with.
she shakes her head, instead, settling for a more attainable form of retribution: the swipe of her fingers to nick's cheekbone, streaking frosting down his cheek like a trail of mud. not quite an excessive waste of food to make her stomach curdle and clench, when it serves a higher (childish) purpose. )
Twenty, I think. ( difficult to say — before saltburn, she's had to count the past year in battles and betrayals and everything in-between, more likely to tally the days without death knocking at her door than the days in a month. her lips roll, banishing the thought. ) But you wouldn't be able to see any difference. Grisha don't age the same as a normal person might.
( alina even less so, but that's the other half of that secret, a burden of immortality she doesn't care to acknowledge — like the weight of it on her chest will ease, if she doesn't have to consider the vast, barren wasteland of eternity. emphatically, she tugs on a strand of hair — streaked a bone-white where the color intertwines through her hair, like sparse snow on damp earth, like light invading shadows. )
It's only the stress that's graying me. ( — she jokes, like a liar. )
[ this text comes shortly after louis makes a promise to alicent. ]
Maybe I'm not the one with the liberties to ask after everything here, but I need a favor. Between us.
You got a few employees at your shop.
There a boy who works there? Need to check in on one of them.
Maybe I'm not the one with the liberties to ask after everything here, but I need a favor. Between us.
You got a few employees at your shop.
There a boy who works there? Need to check in on one of them.
Edited (context wahoo) 2025-01-04 02:21 (UTC)
She's returned?
( — and made no move to alert alina to the fact, what's more. illogically, it chafes, a small personal betrayal, that alicent deemed her unworthy of that confidence. once in werewolf, now in life and death. so little changes, even when the entire world seems to. )
Only August and Nick.
They're close, so wherever you find one, you're bound to find the other.
( — and made no move to alert alina to the fact, what's more. illogically, it chafes, a small personal betrayal, that alicent deemed her unworthy of that confidence. once in werewolf, now in life and death. so little changes, even when the entire world seems to. )
Only August and Nick.
They're close, so wherever you find one, you're bound to find the other.
[ high on resculpt and feeling chastised by alina, caroline carefully wraps the book alina had so beautifully painted for her. she rips out the page alina had written on, so so carefully so it's barely perceptible. a pink sticky note is in its place, ]
You should give this to Alia instead. She deserves it.
-C
[ she leaves it at the door, labeled with alina's name so alia won't open it by mistake. ]
You should give this to Alia instead. She deserves it.
-C
[ she leaves it at the door, labeled with alina's name so alia won't open it by mistake. ]
( you could kill me, in all of its joking (not-quite-joking) self-pity, is more than likely to get her a look of kicked-puppy concern, true as it is. she's read the network post so many times it's self-inflicted torture, at this point, like reliving a time where you flashed a stranger or tripped over your own feet in front of someone cute, magnified to a thousand.
so, )
please don't talk about food
it's like talking about petting puppies to someone who has no hands in which to pet puppies
:(
so, )
please don't talk about food
it's like talking about petting puppies to someone who has no hands in which to pet puppies
:(
yourself
( is he going to think she's back on her bullshit if she says it. much to overthink, even though it makes her head swim. )
or kettlewing
i need something to cuddle while i plot faking my death
maybe a shovel so i can dig a deeper hole for myself
oh, and a new name to go along with my new identity
( is he going to think she's back on her bullshit if she says it. much to overthink, even though it makes her head swim. )
or kettlewing
i need something to cuddle while i plot faking my death
maybe a shovel so i can dig a deeper hole for myself
oh, and a new name to go along with my new identity
Page 29 of 34