[Now, it isn't as though he's forgotten what she's like. Anyone expecting to talk to Alina Starkov without receiving a bit of lip in return mustn't know her very well at all. It's one of the things he first liked about her, in fact—her ferocious honesty, her lack of fear in speaking it. Even to him.
Perhaps reminding himself of that will help unclench his jaw.]
no subject
Perhaps reminding himself of that will help unclench his jaw.]
We all do what we must to survive.