[ that bunched fabric snaps back to the base of her throat, once her fingers have loosened — satisfied that she's made her point, and unexpectedly unnerved by kovac's lingering gaze. most would turn away from the gory necklace it creates, permanently decorating her skin, but he doesn't so much as flinch. doesn't so much as dart his gaze away, sickened by the sight of it, uncomfortable with the evidence of what monsters can truly do once they've sunk their claws into you.
what's more curious, what feels more precarious, is the softness there once the cloudy smoke around him clears, eroding the hard angles of his stoic expression. it's alina, in the end, who breaks eye contact first, uncomfortable at the idea of being anyone's target for pity. why should she deserve that sympathy, anyway, when she's done this to herself? it would be easier if he poured salt into that wound, called her foolish like she'd expected, to reaffirm the terrible guilt churning in her stomach.
a shadow of hurt crosses over her mouth, wilting, before she presses her lips together and tamps it down, skittish and guarded. it's as mal had always said: save your emotional breakdowns for private. ]
No, [ she says quieter, some of the fierceness drained from her bones. like just the act of showing him such an intimate thing has sapped her. ] I really don't.
[ her hands curl tight around her knees, that distant stare finally honing in on the unoccupied bed in the room. ]
It's not me that needs to be careful when they're consorting with monsters. But I suppose I shouldn't be telling you what you already know, should I?
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what's more curious, what feels more precarious, is the softness there once the cloudy smoke around him clears, eroding the hard angles of his stoic expression. it's alina, in the end, who breaks eye contact first, uncomfortable at the idea of being anyone's target for pity. why should she deserve that sympathy, anyway, when she's done this to herself? it would be easier if he poured salt into that wound, called her foolish like she'd expected, to reaffirm the terrible guilt churning in her stomach.
a shadow of hurt crosses over her mouth, wilting, before she presses her lips together and tamps it down, skittish and guarded. it's as mal had always said: save your emotional breakdowns for private. ]
No, [ she says quieter, some of the fierceness drained from her bones. like just the act of showing him such an intimate thing has sapped her. ] I really don't.
[ her hands curl tight around her knees, that distant stare finally honing in on the unoccupied bed in the room. ]
It's not me that needs to be careful when they're consorting with monsters. But I suppose I shouldn't be telling you what you already know, should I?