[ CLOSED ] - CAN'T I CATCH MY BREATH?

[erosive]

Who: Zoya and her personal assistant, Nikolai.
When: July and August.
Where: Thorne.
What: Stuff! Plotting, politicking, Zoya bossing Nikolai around, Nikolai being a clown.
Warnings: None for now!

Comments

EARLY JULY.

[erosive]

[ They have an unspoken agreement of ignoring the elephant in the room. The elephant? The fact that she wanted to strangle him in the castle's safe room. (What she doesn't acknowledge is why—his stories of the Fold had taken her back to a time she didn't wish to think about, during a moment that reminded her too much of home, with a man who she didn't know how to protect. Zoya doesn't like being reminded of her shortcomings.)

It's good that they're ignoring it. That means that they can walk side by side through the castle to wander into town and, well, gathering some information about the new monarchs in power. They're currently walking one of the hallways leading to the big castle doors. It's Zoya's idea, of course. She cannot stay still.

Zoya tilts her head up and doesn't look at him. She smiles softly, proud. ]

I'm a representative.

[ He would've heard by now, of course. Everyone with a brain should. Zoya lets it sit for a moment before she looks at him with a frown. ]

What did I sign myself up for?

[ She's so funny. ]

[parce]

Congratulations.

( he tries not to sound too amused by that fact but doesn't quite make it. he can't help himself, though. he knows zoya will do a good job even if the ins and outs of thorne are quite messy. )

Why did you sign up if you didn't know what you were getting into?

[erosive]

It sounded important.

[ She can tell him the truth, right? Granted, that's a very, very, very small part of the truth. ]

And it seemed like this territory could use someone who isn't an idiot representing it. [ She glances at him, giving him a disparaging once-over. ] I'm surprised you didn't put yourself forward. You are an idiot.

[ (affectionate) ]

[parce]

I do enough of that at home.

( he waves a hand and shakes his head. )

I really don't want to get too involved in the machinations and inner workings of the Thorne political system. I can do plenty by being Sturmhond again.

[erosive]

[ Really? She does. Though she doubts she needs to tell him why—it gives her a sense of control to continue operating within a realm she knows like the back of her own hand. (And how else will they return to Ravka?)

She rolls her eyes. ]

You can't be a pirate here, Nikolai.

[ Although ??? Maybe he can be ??? ]

[parce]

And why is that?

( he might not be able to be the kind of pirate he was back in ravka but that hardly matters. )

You telling me I can't makes me want to do it even more now.

[erosive]

[ She can't help her (fond) smile. ]

Is that so?

[ Zoya loves to needle him. She won't admit how much she finds comfort in the fact that he lets her here, in this strange world and even stranger castle. ]

I bet you can't find a decent ship. I doubt you can find a crew.

[parce]

Are you challenging me?

( why is he asking that question? this is zoya, of course she's challenging him.

he rolls his eyes. )

I can do anything I want to do, Zoya, including finding a ship and a crew.

( he was very persuasive. )

[erosive]

[ Of course, she is. She wants to see him succeed. Perhaps if he finds a ship, she can board it, and they can sail all the way back to Ravka. It's simple because she's declared it so. ]

Then make it happen.

[ Gauntlet thrown as they turn a corner. ]

You have nothing to show me of your efforts. You've grown lazy.

[parce]

You have no idea what I've done while you've been in Ravka, Zoya.

( don't call him lazy! he's not lazy. he's done a lot of things while he's been stuck here. )

And if I want to put together a ship and a crew, I will. I've already got the ship in my Horizon. What do you have in yours?

[erosive]

It doesn't matter what I've got in mine.

[ Zoya has no desire to inform Nikolai of what she'd seen in her Horizon: her deceased aunt's tea shop, Juris' shadow cast from high in the skies, and the sounds of chickens clucking at her aunt's voice. It doesn't belong in this hallway. Zoya doesn't wish to believe there's an opportunity it isn't real, so she doesn't let herself think about it at all. ]

What is a ship in your Horizon going to do for you?

[ She still can't wrap her head around this Horizon shit. ]

[parce]

It doesn't?

( no, he thinks it does but he also thinks she just doesn't want to tell him. he raises an eyebrow. )

It makes me comfortable, Zoya. I like being able to have familiarity in some place when it comes to Thorne.

( and this entire world. )

[erosive]

[ Because he doesn't press his question, she feels no inclination to answer it. ]

Is it real?

[ She cocks her brow at him before looking straight ahead. Her question hits deeper than she'd like to admit, but thankfully, her expression remains difficult to read.

The staff in the castle are bustling around normally now like the coup never happened at all. Zoya would steer them on a tangential path to see one of the kitchen staff, but she knew from earlier conversations this morning that the person she was seeking wasn't working today.

Make yourself useful and open the castle door, Nikolai. ]

EVENT STUFF.

[parce]

( he's just come from pulling apart two men who were nearly ready to throw each other overboard when he spots her near the front of the ship. she's standing alone, for a moment, he forgets about everything else while he watches her.

but, the noise from behind him breaks him out of the reverie and then he's moving towards her. he hopes she's not looking down at the water, hopes she's not seeing what the other men are seeing.

so, he approaches slowly and, once he's close enough, he puts a hand on the small of her back. )

Zoya?

[erosive]

[ Zoya hasn't moved from the ship's bow, standing straight as she peers at the watery depths. She holds her hand out and gently wiggles her fingers like she's playing with air. The water below swirls in an unnatural direction. What Zoya's trying to see below is a shadowy shape.

The closer Nikolai approaches, the more the wind picks up. It ruffles his hair and sweeps across the shells of his ears. It's salty and cold. It doesn't smack him when he touches her.

She startles, stiffening. Zoya looks at him with a frown, her blue eyes unfocused. ]

What?

[ Her snapping isn't fair. ]

[parce]

( tension is high everywhere so nikolai doesn't take offense. he does remove his hand quickly and arches an eyebrow. )

Problems?

( yes, he knows what they're up against but he's trying to keep it light. )

[erosive]

[ Why did he remove his hand? Why does Zoya care that he did?

The snap from her voice is gone - ]

No.

[ Except…

With one last look at him, she peers down at the water. The dark depths make it impossible to see, but… It's still there. She doesn't take her eyes off the odd shape below. ]

There's something in the water.

[parce]

I know.

( nikolai's definitely seen something down there too and he's had to pull himself bodily away so he doesn't keep looking.

but she's right. there's something down there and that dark, angry side of him wants to look. but, he's, thus far, been strong enough to fight it. )

Don't look. It's not good whatever's down there.

[erosive]

[ If he's not looking, then she shouldn't, either. But the waves catch her eye, and she feels she can… what? That she can feel whatever's down there? Zoya hasn't been a Tidemaker for long. She wishes she were in Ravka where she could ask her friends how they felt when near deep bodies of water.

She intends to glance at the water, but her gaze lingers. ]

Something is down there, Nikolai.

[parce]

I know that, Zoya, but it is not something that we should look too closely at.

( the feeling that he's gotten from looking has made his stomach twist and the anger in him spike.

he doesn't want that to happen to her so he reaches out to her and clasps a hand around her wrist. )

Come away from the edge.

[erosive]

[ She waves her hand weakly, trying to shake him off. ]

There is something down there.

[ She turns her head to look at him, but Zoya doesn't draw her eyes away from the water slapping against the ship's hull.

Slightly exasperated - ]

Will you just look?

[parce]

I have looked, Zoya!

( he pulls at her more sharply, trying to get her to face him. )

And I don't want to look again. There is nothing good down there. It's driving the men mad whatever it is.

[erosive]

Do I look like a man?

[ Her tone is cutting. She tries to shake him off her more violently. The wind in the sails picks up, beating at the fabric violently. Zoya wants to lean toward the water—why won't he let her? It calls for her as the wind does.

Her voice remains controlled, although there's a sharpness to it - ]

There is someone down there.

[parce]

There is nothing down there that you need, Zoya.

( she tries to shake him off but he holds on tighter, knowing that she could easily flick him away if she wanted to. but he can't let her look and be swayed by whatever lurks down there.

he pulls himself closer to her, trying to catch her eyes. )

Zoya, look at me. Come on, look at me. The people on this ship need our help. What's down there is causing this. Look at me, believe me.

[erosive]

[ She turns as if she's about to face him, but Zoya furrows her brows tightly together and purses her lips. The water is smooth and almost as still as a mirror, but the waves lap gently at the hull. She can feel it settle around her; if the water were dangerous, surely it wouldn't feel peaceful?

The gentle breeze sharpens around them, snapping her hair against her neck. No, her power wouldn't lie to her. If there was something down there that was dangerous to her, she'd know.

Her voice snaps - ]

How do you know what it is I need?