[ 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

[parce]

( nikolai's found, in the short time that she's been here, that he enjoys getting under her skin. he has a feeling that it doesn't happen often so, when it does, she reacts so vividly that it delights him.

he smirks at her, eyes still on her face. )

I don't know, Zoya, but it feels like you're fishing for more compliments on your face. Am I right?

( he doubts she's going to admit it. )

[erosive]

I don't need your compliments.

[ Although they are nice!

Zoya huffs and looks straight ahead although she surveys the road for a dip or gutter to shove him into. The people of Thorne mill about. Some glance their way, while many don't seem to care. She's still getting used to being so unknown. ]

Watch where you're going. You'll trip if you keep staring. [ She glances at him, lifting her brows to inform him matter-of-factly - ] Which is rude, by the way.

[ Nevermind that she brought this upon herself! ]

[parce]

Just because you don't need my compliments doesn't mean you don't want them.

( he just laughs at her upset, pulling his gaze away from her face before he skims a look down her body. )

Where would you prefer I look, Zoya?

( if not at her face. )

[erosive]

[ She does not flush because of him! Although there's a fluttering in her chest like she's a stupid girl chasing after an even stupider boy again. Except— Zoya isn't chasing Nikolai. She's walking beside him and wants to shove him into the dirt. ]

Look at my ass, and it'll be the last thing you see.

[ Does she want him to look at her again? Saints no. Eyes on the road! ]

[parce]

That might be a very good death.

( but he does refrain from looking at her ass. instead, his eyes come back up to her face, a smirk still firmly entrenched there. )

But, I won't look at your ass until you give me permission.

[erosive]

[ He is so annoying. ]

And if you never receive permission?

[ She cocks her brow and regards him as though they're speaking military strategy. She can't believe they're talking about her ass. She can't believe she's not blasting him into smithereens for entertaining her.

This place has fried her brain. ]

[parce]

Then, I'd look.

( simple as that. he smiles at her, tilting his head slightly. )

So, I will await your permission with bated breath.

[erosive]

[ She rolls her eyes. ]

You're a ridiculous man.

[ (affectionate… maybe)

The streets of Thorne remind her a little of Ravka, although she doesn't recognise any faces. Why would she? She hasn't been here long enough to learn names, let alone navigate the castle in the dark. ]

We're near where she said I could find her. [ She glances at him. ] You don't have to come if you're busy.

[parce]

What would I be busy with?

( he doesn't have the responsibilities that he had in ravka and so he's oftentimes left at loose ends.

he has time. )

I want to come along.

[erosive]

[ Regarding him with suspicious, narrowed eyes, Zoya hums before she nods. There's no point in trying to shove him away; he'll dig his heels in and refuse to budge now that he's said yes. Zoya's grateful he's coming with her. ]

Do you have any friends here? [ What a dumb question to ask Nikolai. ] I'd imagine you're quite popular at the harbour.

[parce]

I have friends.

( of course he has friends, zoya! maybe he's not super popular but he has friends. )

I haven't spent a lot of time down at the harbor, honestly. I've tended to stick close to Thorne to try and get a sense of how it works. But now that's all turned on its head.

[erosive]

[ She cocks her brow - ] You're considering a change of scenery?

[ It'd be smart, considering how Thorne now seems to be upside down and inside out—not that Zoya would have much of an idea of what it usually is like. But with the new heads in charge, she anticipates some unrest and uneasiness as the pieces are shifted and the kingdom settles. She intends to make friends at the harbour.

She smiles. ] Maybe you can become Stormboy—a worthy personal assistant of the Stormwitch.

[parce]

Assistant?

( oh no. no no no, he was not going to be an assistant and he wasn't going to be a boy either. that was just right now. nikolai shakes his head. )

StormMan, first of all. And I assist no one.

[erosive]

[ She snorts. ]

Boy.

[ You can't have it both ways, Nikolai!

Zoya steps closer to him and gently brushes her shoulder against his. The road slopes down on a slight hill. It's not easy to keep her pace as lazy as before. ]

I don't recall you having any experience with storms, so you're to assist me. Is that such a problem, Kolya?

[ This is the dumbest conversation she's had in a while. ]

[parce]

Yes.

( yes, of course it's a problem. he doesn't want to be an assistant. )

I'll have no issue with helping you but you're going to have to come up with a different term for it. Assistant makes me sound so lowly.

[erosive]

[ Wow. Good to see that ego is still there. What he's handed her is bound to be a lot of fun for her, isn't it? Zoya presses her lips together to stop herself from laughing and tries to appear as serious as possible so he doesn't start pouting. It's a horrible sight. ]

Helper.

[parce]

Helper.

( he's the king of ravka, zoya! people help him. he pouts a little before shaking his head. )

Fine, in this, I will be your helper but I am not a permanent helper.

[erosive]

[ She presses her lips together again to stop herself from laughing or smiling outright. Her expression isn't as severe as it often is. He may be able to glean she wishes to laugh. ]

And you'll do as I say?

[ Yes, she's aware she's pushing it. ]

Without question?

[parce]

Absolutely not.

( a little too far there, zoya. )

I didn't even do that when it came to my family.

( always the one walking out of step with the others. )

[erosive]

[ Considering who his family was, that's not a surprise. Zoya doesn't take it as an insult, however. Nikolai's in a good mood, and so is she, so she rolls with it. ]

You could die playing with a storm, Nikolai. Lightning isn't for the faint of heart.

[ Giving him a rather judgemental once-over - ]

Hm. Perhaps you're in over your head. I'll find someone else.

[parce]

Fine, do that.

( he is not going to fall prey to that bait and beg her to stay. nope. he crosses his arms and shrugs. )

There's plenty of talented people here for you to bother.