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[princess_of_ida]

Three for the gleam of a jewel or a smile.



text/audio/video/passive aggressive notes

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[rezni]

Would a ghost not echo more when they spoke?

[princess_of_ida]

I'm too drunk to do that. What do you want?

[rezni]

Your company.

[ this is apparently sufficient, because he goes on— ]

You didn't tell me when you returned.

[princess_of_ida]

Had more important things to do.

[rezni]

Such as?

[princess_of_ida]

[Get drunk.]

Catch up on corpses. Avoid everyone. That shit.

[rezni]

Avoid me?

[princess_of_ida]

Don't take it personally.

[rezni]

I'll try. I'm known to be such a delight that it's disorienting to hear this.

[ ha ha. ]

Would you see me now?

[princess_of_ida]

What's the point? I'm drunk and going to stay drunk. Better this way.

[rezni]

Does it help?

[princess_of_ida]

Yes.

[No. She can't get drunk enough.]

[rezni]

Yes?

[ to the tune of:

[ doubt ] ]

[princess_of_ida]

[Fuck you.]






Why do you even want to see me?

[rezni]

Because I like you. I've missed your company.

[princess_of_ida]

I'm not going to sober up for you.

[rezni]

That's alright, as long as you don't mind that I don't intend to try catching up to you.

[princess_of_ida]

I don't care what you do. Drink, don't drink, bring me more drink, whatever.
In theory I won't be passed by the time you show up. No promises.

[rezni]

Leave space for me alongside you. I'll be there presently.

[princess_of_ida]

[Lucky for Nikolai, Ianthe was not passed out, just huddled in her robe on a pile of furs and pillows in front of the fire. One of the skeletons would let him inside, a touch of blood on his skin to bypass the ward.

Try not to trip on the empty bottles. She clearly hadn't cleaned or picked anything up in days.]

[rezni]

[ Newly bloodied, hair fallen to curls at the end of the day, Nikolai shrugs off his heavy coat as he comes to settle beside her. Nudges a few empty bottles aside. They clink together, rolling further from Ianthe's nest. ]

I'm glad to see you, [ Nikolai tells her. ] Thank you for letting me come.

[princess_of_ida]

[There was a moment after Nikolai settled down where Ianthe debated what she wanted to do. Pick up the half-finished bottle of wine on her other side or lean against Nikolai.

She took a swig then leaned against him.]

I'm shitty company.

[rezni]

[ Nikolai's hand comes up, threads fingers into her hair. Settles heavy at the nape of her neck. ]

No, [ he tells her, a solid, sturdy presence for her to lean into as he asks: ] What do you need?

cw: suicidal ideation

[princess_of_ida]

[To die. To feel absolutely nothing for a bit. For Alina to walk through her door and apologize. To be loved.]

Bad poetry. Spin me something, sailor.

[rezni]

Bad poetry, [ Nikolai repeats, thoughtful. ] Let me think.

[ But Nikolai had been a sailor and he had been a soldier. He had collected a number of questionable fragments in the course of his travels. ]

Here's one, [ he tells her, before he recites: ]

The wife of Sea Captain O'Shea
Missed his dick while he was aweigh,
found a dildo of wood,
that was almost as good,
now she's happily pining away.