[He's reminded of it now - the toast at the tail end of dinner, when everything felt balanced on an edge and she asked them all to do her a favor. He'd tentatively agreed (with no good excuse not to at hand,) and now he wonders about it again. He'd much rather fulfill Dragana's request. Maybe he can find a way to make that his excuse should timelines overlap.]
[ Granted, Zoya doesn't like much. But what is the void? Why hadn't she been able to find a book on it? Hadn't a handful of people died?
Despite her history of following orders without question, Zoya learned the value of questioning them over the last few years. She's unsure if all the void-touched need to go to the void to assist. ]
I don't know what it is, and I don't make it a point of going into something blind if I can help it. A venture like this would typically leave the town vulnerable to attack.
[ But there are no signs of war. No one seems bothered by this. War is all Zoya knows. She deflates somewhat, even though she still keeps her chin jutted stubbornly to give off the air that she at least knows something. ]
[Maybe if Wesley had something to offer in defense, his excuse of staying behind would stick. Alas, he's still stitched into the middle of this. He is a little curious about what's beyond the veil, but also... doesn't want to die? It feels like death is imminent in a voyage of this caliber. He's going to be conflicted up until the point people start taking off.]
Farther than that, what do you think about returning to the Duchess what she wants?
[It's one thing to do her a favor and go out there... but is it wise to give her back her all-sight and trust it's in everyone's best interests?]
I can see why she wouldn't give us any further information about it. It's a test in trust. Why should she divulge her greatest secrets to a group of strangers? We invaded her home.
[ It makes Zoya uncomfortable to admit as much, but they did invade her home. Even if the townspeople have greeted them with open arms and warm words, it's not as though the Duchess was prepared for them. It's the little things that give Zoya pause. It creates a whole picture she doesn't think many others are seeing. ]
If it can get us home, then I want her to have it. [ Zoya wants to go home, back to her people, back to her friends who remember her wholly.
But… ]
I still don't like it. [ She cocks her brow at him. ] Does it make you feel uneasy?
She's trusting us to trust her to trust us not to do her wrong.
[Say that five times fast. He thoughtfully chews on his lip.]
I trusted someone once and got burned by it, and... I think it's in my nature to keep trusting but I guess I am uneasy. I don't want a repeat performance.
[ Saints alive. What the fuck did he just say? She can't help but be amused by the riddle-sounding words.
But that amusement is short-lived. What he describes is how she feels regarding a couple of important people who once bruised her life. ]
You're a better person than I am. [ Which isn't hard, really. ] I haven't been able to trust since being burned. [ Is she speaking of her mother? Of Morozova? Zoya isn't quite sure.
But the idea of Wesley being crippled by cynicism doesn't sit well with her. ]
I think most people deserve a chance. If you want to try trusting the Duchess, then I don't see the harm in it. [ She shrugs against the bed, staring up at the ceiling. ] Your uneasiness may not be warranted at all.
[ Despite her words, Zoya won't be heeding her own advice when it comes to Morozova. ]
If I let myself, I wouldn't trust anyone just to avoid the hurt. But that'd only be hurting myself.
[Or so he wants to believe, in that stupidly poetic way he phrases it. Wesley lives his life through the lens of someone brought up in a gritty reality, framing it with the naivety of someone who only knew stories for too long. Now he has his own experiences, a taste of the reality of the world, and he's at a point where he could go either way. Keep on believing in the good, or accept the bad will always follow him.]
I hope trusting her isn't a mistake. She can hopefully keep us safe. Safer? Than if we were on our own.
[ Oh, how he sounds like Juris right now, except politer and much, much gentler. ]
She can with what she knows.
[ It's not hope, but facts. The Duchess knows more than them, therefore, if she's willing to work with them, she can keep them safe. It's one plus one. ]
It's convenient none of the books are readable to any of the Void-touched, while possibly being so to her. It means we're dependent on her for information.
[ And it's brilliant, really. Give them access to information while making it inaccessible at the same time.
Oh, I could read a few of those. But apparently that's not common.
[He says it with a pique of interest, remembering quite fondly his run in with Alina - not every day you get to read smut to someone else for fun. His smile lingers in the corners of his lips after a beat, but dissipates. There is an abysmal lack of literature and maybe it is partially on purpose.]
I suppose we'll see. Now to just get up there and draw.
[ Her interest is piqued. Zoya couldn't read a word—but Wesley can? If only she had dragged him to the library and found this out the night of the party! He could've identified some of the books for her, possibly read them out in a ridiculous voice. ]
You'll get up there and draw. You won't want me to. [ Even lying down, she cockily tilts her chin up. ] I'd outdraw you.
[ She's pathetic at drawing. Zoya knows this. Wesley doesn't yet. Despite feeling him out, she has an inkling Wesley will only find the gauntlet she's thrown and pick it up because he's a little shit like that.
Sometimes, she thinks he's a softer mirror of her. ]
Another thing to best me at, you're really unbeatable you know.
[Said in a fun and teasing way, and for a moment he casts a glance her way and has the most fleeting desire to put a kiss to her temple. Instead he sits forward, and takes a swig from their shared bottle.]
More things to contest later, when this is over. I'll draw you, you draw me. We can compete to see who captures whose essence better.
[ With a heavy sigh as though they're speaking of water being wet, ] You'll admit that it's me.
[ It won't be. Saints, it won't be. Unless Wesley truly is a poor artist, Zoya will win this one by losing.
But she continues being haughty. It's fun playing up her arrogance with someone who won't bristle at it and either start quivering in their insecurity or grow petulantly angry. ]
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no subject
[He's reminded of it now - the toast at the tail end of dinner, when everything felt balanced on an edge and she asked them all to do her a favor. He'd tentatively agreed (with no good excuse not to at hand,) and now he wonders about it again. He'd much rather fulfill Dragana's request. Maybe he can find a way to make that his excuse should timelines overlap.]
The - The venturing into the void.
no subject
[ Granted, Zoya doesn't like much. But what is the void? Why hadn't she been able to find a book on it? Hadn't a handful of people died?
Despite her history of following orders without question, Zoya learned the value of questioning them over the last few years. She's unsure if all the void-touched need to go to the void to assist. ]
I don't know what it is, and I don't make it a point of going into something blind if I can help it. A venture like this would typically leave the town vulnerable to attack.
[ But there are no signs of war. No one seems bothered by this. War is all Zoya knows. She deflates somewhat, even though she still keeps her chin jutted stubbornly to give off the air that she at least knows something. ]
no subject
Farther than that, what do you think about returning to the Duchess what she wants?
[It's one thing to do her a favor and go out there... but is it wise to give her back her all-sight and trust it's in everyone's best interests?]
no subject
[ It makes Zoya uncomfortable to admit as much, but they did invade her home. Even if the townspeople have greeted them with open arms and warm words, it's not as though the Duchess was prepared for them. It's the little things that give Zoya pause. It creates a whole picture she doesn't think many others are seeing. ]
If it can get us home, then I want her to have it. [ Zoya wants to go home, back to her people, back to her friends who remember her wholly.
But… ]
I still don't like it. [ She cocks her brow at him. ] Does it make you feel uneasy?
no subject
[Say that five times fast. He thoughtfully chews on his lip.]
I trusted someone once and got burned by it, and... I think it's in my nature to keep trusting but I guess I am uneasy. I don't want a repeat performance.
no subject
But that amusement is short-lived. What he describes is how she feels regarding a couple of important people who once bruised her life. ]
You're a better person than I am. [ Which isn't hard, really. ] I haven't been able to trust since being burned. [ Is she speaking of her mother? Of Morozova? Zoya isn't quite sure.
But the idea of Wesley being crippled by cynicism doesn't sit well with her. ]
I think most people deserve a chance. If you want to try trusting the Duchess, then I don't see the harm in it. [ She shrugs against the bed, staring up at the ceiling. ] Your uneasiness may not be warranted at all.
[ Despite her words, Zoya won't be heeding her own advice when it comes to Morozova. ]
no subject
[Or so he wants to believe, in that stupidly poetic way he phrases it. Wesley lives his life through the lens of someone brought up in a gritty reality, framing it with the naivety of someone who only knew stories for too long. Now he has his own experiences, a taste of the reality of the world, and he's at a point where he could go either way. Keep on believing in the good, or accept the bad will always follow him.]
I hope trusting her isn't a mistake. She can hopefully keep us safe. Safer? Than if we were on our own.
no subject
She can with what she knows.
[ It's not hope, but facts. The Duchess knows more than them, therefore, if she's willing to work with them, she can keep them safe. It's one plus one. ]
It's convenient none of the books are readable to any of the Void-touched, while possibly being so to her. It means we're dependent on her for information.
[ And it's brilliant, really. Give them access to information while making it inaccessible at the same time.
She turns her head to face him. ]
You doing this for Dragana might be favourable.
no subject
[He says it with a pique of interest, remembering quite fondly his run in with Alina - not every day you get to read smut to someone else for fun. His smile lingers in the corners of his lips after a beat, but dissipates. There is an abysmal lack of literature and maybe it is partially on purpose.]
I suppose we'll see. Now to just get up there and draw.
no subject
You'll get up there and draw. You won't want me to. [ Even lying down, she cockily tilts her chin up. ] I'd outdraw you.
[ She's pathetic at drawing. Zoya knows this. Wesley doesn't yet. Despite feeling him out, she has an inkling Wesley will only find the gauntlet she's thrown and pick it up because he's a little shit like that.
Sometimes, she thinks he's a softer mirror of her. ]
no subject
[Said in a fun and teasing way, and for a moment he casts a glance her way and has the most fleeting desire to put a kiss to her temple. Instead he sits forward, and takes a swig from their shared bottle.]
More things to contest later, when this is over. I'll draw you, you draw me. We can compete to see who captures whose essence better.
no subject
[ It won't be. Saints, it won't be. Unless Wesley truly is a poor artist, Zoya will win this one by losing.
But she continues being haughty. It's fun playing up her arrogance with someone who won't bristle at it and either start quivering in their insecurity or grow petulantly angry. ]
I can't wait to claim my prize from you.
no subject
[He says, before taking another sip and slumping his shoulders. Then he offers her the bottle, gently tipping it her way.]