[Another of those pauses, lining up the events of the past few days, the brittle sharpness of Alina's retort, putting them in their places and seeing them all at once, all together.]
It's not shocking. You're probably right. Paul is caring and thoughtful that way. He thinks of your comfort above all.
[The implication: Alia does not. Alia is careless and brute force and thoughtless hands. Alia grew in the same womb, but fed on conniving and cunning and backhanded words instead of love and kindness and gentleness.]
( a pointed correction: that includes alia as much, if not more, than alina herself. )
okay. paul can let you know when i'm accepting visitors. and if it's all the same to you, i'd rather not hear about tim unless you do want me to get nauseous.
( she won't begrudge alia teaching a defenseless man to sharpen himself, won't wish ill upon him, after all that he'd equally suffered — but for the role he played in paul's death, for the secret he'd kept at the risk of her own life, she has no love or mercy or trust left to spare. )
He does. [Before his own, at any rate, bleeding-heart, open-soul, soft-smiling Paul. All things good and bright, all things sweet and temperate. Alia cannot hate him, but she can envy, now as from within Jessica's womb, envy and love and grieve her brother, her father, her mother, her god.]
All things are the same to me. I will make a nuisance of myself to Paul, and to Gale and to Nick and to Hyunsu, until you have recovered. Rest well, Alina.
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no subject
It's not shocking. You're probably right. Paul is caring and thoughtful that way.
He thinks of your comfort above all.
[The implication: Alia does not. Alia is careless and brute force and thoughtless hands. Alia grew in the same womb, but fed on conniving and cunning and backhanded words instead of love and kindness and gentleness.]
As you wish it.
no subject
( a pointed correction: that includes alia as much, if not more, than alina herself. )
okay.
paul can let you know when i'm accepting visitors.
and if it's all the same to you, i'd rather not hear about tim unless you do want me to get nauseous.
( she won't begrudge alia teaching a defenseless man to sharpen himself, won't wish ill upon him, after all that he'd equally suffered — but for the role he played in paul's death, for the secret he'd kept at the risk of her own life, she has no love or mercy or trust left to spare. )
no subject
All things are the same to me.
I will make a nuisance of myself to Paul, and to Gale and to Nick and to Hyunsu, until you have recovered.
Rest well, Alina.
[Then, after a beat:] ♥
no subject
or at least the kind of trouble that doesn't make for a fun story afterward
goodnight alia