Do it when I've slept in, two birds with one stone.
[Murmured equally soft, before he flops to lay back - before pushing himself up on an elbow once the bottle's offered, to reach for it and take a sip.]
It was enlightening. I don't know that I really left an impression so far as the Duchess may be concerned, but it was - interesting to see Dragana's interest in something. Seeing a view they haven't been able to in a while, or can't? Do you think it's because they can't leave the castle?
[ Because he's suggested it, she's most certainly not going to do it when he's sleeping in.
Zoya furrows her brows at his question, genuinely intrigued by it. She's been looking at it all through the lens of a soldier, but the way he sees it is so simple. It makes sense. It takes her a few moments before she sits on the edge of his bed and another one before she's lying on her back and peering up at the bland ceiling. ]
Maybe that's so.
[ It sounds silly, though. But why hadn't the Duchess or Dragana come to the town themselves? Why send a messenger? Is that why it took two months to notice the void-touched? ]
It'd explain the nostalgia behind your task. I'm used to rulers walking among their people, and going wherever they want, mostly whenever they want. [ She could never see Nikolai staying snug in the Grand Palace, even by choice. ]
Perhaps she's afraid. Recruiting strangers to find something so important to you in a thing no one knows anything about is… [ She sucks on her teeth before sighing loudly. ]
It could be a binding of duty, unable to leave the castle because it'd leave it defenseless - in a way.
[Maybe there's no actual physical limitation, but Dragana just can't leave of their own volition. Maybe the Duchess would know if her servants wandered askew, would see something of the gap in the armor that might leave. Or maybe there are reasons they can't leave themselves - it's a question that'll have to sit in their minds, because answers might not come quick.]
When I return the drawing, maybe I can ask. If I can find a way to ask it that's not so obvious.
[ Zoya takes a moment to think. He has a point. When she'd been in the castle, it had no signs of an active military. It was defenceless, like it existed in some story where no conflict existed at all. ]
You could always offer to take them to the spot. It's an innocent enough suggestion without being overly suspicious.
[ It's a delicate approach that doesn't suit Zoya at all. ]
[He'll have to consider his options closer to the date - when he figures out how to return the drawing itself. In person or by messenger, there'll have to be a way to include a message. But that's for Later Wesley to ponder. He sets the bottle aside, and then regards Zoya - tempted to lay aside her, yet holding off.]
Got time to think about it. I don't think I can go wrong, considering it's a favor.
[Little does he know that repayment's going to be better than he could imagine.]
[ Zoya doesn't answer immediately, taking his question seriously. From what she gathered at the party, the Duchess seemed amicable (except when disrespected, which was fair enough in her books). She seemed to treat her staff with kindness. ]
I think the Duchess has great respect for Dragana, and would've disapproved of her being approached or speaking to anyone if she didn't think requests like this would be asked.
[ She ensures to say with the utmost confidence: ] I doubt you'll get into trouble.
[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
[Murmured equally soft, before he flops to lay back - before pushing himself up on an elbow once the bottle's offered, to reach for it and take a sip.]
It was enlightening. I don't know that I really left an impression so far as the Duchess may be concerned, but it was - interesting to see Dragana's interest in something. Seeing a view they haven't been able to in a while, or can't? Do you think it's because they can't leave the castle?
no subject
Zoya furrows her brows at his question, genuinely intrigued by it. She's been looking at it all through the lens of a soldier, but the way he sees it is so simple. It makes sense. It takes her a few moments before she sits on the edge of his bed and another one before she's lying on her back and peering up at the bland ceiling. ]
Maybe that's so.
[ It sounds silly, though. But why hadn't the Duchess or Dragana come to the town themselves? Why send a messenger? Is that why it took two months to notice the void-touched? ]
It'd explain the nostalgia behind your task. I'm used to rulers walking among their people, and going wherever they want, mostly whenever they want. [ She could never see Nikolai staying snug in the Grand Palace, even by choice. ]
Perhaps she's afraid. Recruiting strangers to find something so important to you in a thing no one knows anything about is… [ She sucks on her teeth before sighing loudly. ]
I don't know what to make of any of this.
no subject
[Maybe there's no actual physical limitation, but Dragana just can't leave of their own volition. Maybe the Duchess would know if her servants wandered askew, would see something of the gap in the armor that might leave. Or maybe there are reasons they can't leave themselves - it's a question that'll have to sit in their minds, because answers might not come quick.]
When I return the drawing, maybe I can ask. If I can find a way to ask it that's not so obvious.
no subject
[ Zoya takes a moment to think. He has a point. When she'd been in the castle, it had no signs of an active military. It was defenceless, like it existed in some story where no conflict existed at all. ]
You could always offer to take them to the spot. It's an innocent enough suggestion without being overly suspicious.
[ It's a delicate approach that doesn't suit Zoya at all. ]
no subject
[He'll have to consider his options closer to the date - when he figures out how to return the drawing itself. In person or by messenger, there'll have to be a way to include a message. But that's for Later Wesley to ponder. He sets the bottle aside, and then regards Zoya - tempted to lay aside her, yet holding off.]
Got time to think about it. I don't think I can go wrong, considering it's a favor.
[Little does he know that repayment's going to be better than he could imagine.]
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[ She says that to the ceiling. Does she mean to be a Debbie Downer? No. But Zoya likes to deal with fact, not fiction.
She threads her fingers together and rests them against her belly. She turns her head toward him. ]
Did Dragana tell you when the Duchess expected this favour to be fulfilled?
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[He probably should've clarified. It changes a few things? Like, for instance, his quiet musing of:]
You don't think the Duchess would disapprove of it, do you?
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I think the Duchess has great respect for Dragana, and would've disapproved of her being approached or speaking to anyone if she didn't think requests like this would be asked.
[ She ensures to say with the utmost confidence: ] I doubt you'll get into trouble.
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?
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[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.
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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. ]
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[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.
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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.
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[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.
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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. ]
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[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.
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[ 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.
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[He says, before taking another sip and slumping his shoulders. Then he offers her the bottle, gently tipping it her way.]