[ He doesn't answer. He just pockets his blackglass, and then makes his way back there. Five or six minutes later, the door will open and d'Artagnan will appear, leaning against the frame. ]
[ D'Artagnan smiles down at her. His arm settles around her waist. It's very easy to hold Alina like this. He never thinks anything of it, and she seems as comfortable with it as he is. ]
You don't have to do that, you know. He can buy his own. Trust me, he'll have bought plenty.
We have enough to last us for a while now, anyway.
[ It's hard not to be comfortable where d'Artagnan is concerned. She pulls up her legs and curls against his side, burrowing against him. She takes a deep breath and sighs.
And thinks about how she might be moving soon. It's hard to imagine not having d'Artagnan every morning. Every evening. Not having this anymore. And a lump forms in her chest at the thought and she burrows against him further. ]
What else am I going to spend all these credits on, anyway? [ She shrugs and holds the bottle up for him in case he wants more. ]
Did I ever tell you thank you? For saving me?
[ She looks up at him, eyes meeting his. ] Because thank you, d'Artagnan.
[ She seems almost upset. It's strange, feeling her press so tightly against him like that. It's as though she's seeking comfort, but he doesn't know why. Unless what had happened to her is still pressing on her mind.
Assuming that it's that, he rubs her arm, and lets his lips flicker into a smile. ]
I could never have let them hurt you, Alina.
You all right? It's over now. You're safe here, I swear it.
[ She can hear the distance in his voice as surely as she can feel the hand on her side stop. She freezes up herself. She can't look at him right now. ]
I haven't asked the Instructors yet if I can but... if they allow me to. [ she nods her head. ]
He doesn't want her to go. Aside from Athos, Alina is, and has been, his best and most consistent friend since he's been here. She's been reliable, strong, and so brave.
He knows she's engaged. He knows that, he just thought things wouldn't change until she married.
He swallows that. He has to. ]
That...that's good. I'm happy for you. [ He smiles, and rubs her arm again. ] That's nothing to be sad about.
[ There's a lump in her chest that just won't go away. It's not that she wants to leave d'Artagnan. That's the last thing she wants. Especially right now. Especially as he talks so kindly and rubs her arm and smiles despite it all.
Why does she always do this to herself? To those she loves?
She turns her face against his shoulder. ]
I love you. You're my best friend, d'Artagnan. In any world.
[ He just hugs her now. He pulls her in against his chest and sets his chin on the top of her head.
He hates the thought of Alina moving out. Now she and Athos will live together, and neither one of them will be with him. After everything that's happened recently with Hanna, and with Jack, this is the last thing he wants.
He can't tell her that, though. ]
I'll miss you. [ He can say that much, can't he? He moves his hand to curl around her wrist, and he holds it. ] I love you too. You know I do.
[ He pulls her close, hugging her, and then makes himself smile. ]
But you'll always be my friend. That's not going to change. I promise you, I'll always be here for you.
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That's ridiculous. You haven't heard me attempt it yet. In fact you'll probably laugh at how terrible my accent is, alone.
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Yes. Because your beautiful french accent speaking my ravkan words is going to sound horribly terrible.
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It might. You won't know until you try me.
FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
Come on. You can start me off simply. How do I say 'your majesty' in Ravkan?
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'Kiss my ass.' That's how.
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FROM: dartagnan@cdc.org
I'll try to master it. Teach me to say something you like, then.
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Well come find me so I can teach you! I'm in the rover.
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You wanted to see me, Mademoiselle.
What can I do for you?
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She hands him the bottle of kvas. ]
Kvas.
Said just like that, too. Try it.
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Lifting an eyebrow, he tries the word. ]
K-vas. [ His accept is terrible. Another attempt: ] Kih-vahs.
[ He clears his throat, and then tastes it, holding it in his mouth for a moment before swallowing. ]
Actually, it's not bad. Easier to swallow than say.
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It used to be harder for me to swallow when I was younger.
Be careful, though. A little goes a long way with it.
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[ This time he says it faster, and harder. It's so different from French, which is a softer tongue by comparison.
His accent is better this time, though. ]
The taste reminds me of beer. Is it stronger than that?
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[ She goes over to sit at the edge of the bed, smiling up at him. She pats the seat next to her. Come sit with her. ]
It is. This is what the soldiers drink. And they like it strong.
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And your soldiers don't drink wine? That's the choice of the day in France.
Is this what Henri's victory brought you?
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She leans on him easily, as though it's second nature honestly. ]
And it is. Which I think makes up for all the wine he's begged off of me.
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[ He smiles at Alina, and then as she leans on him he leans back into her. He lets her rest against his chest, and settles his arm behind her. ]
I'm sorry he's difficult. I never actually meant to do that.
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Then he wraps an arm around him and she wiggles closer to him as she sips the kvas. ]
I was only teasing. Henri's never really a problem. It's not that I actually need this much alcohol anyway...
Plus I do buy extra for Athos.
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You don't have to do that, you know. He can buy his own. Trust me, he'll have bought plenty.
We have enough to last us for a while now, anyway.
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And thinks about how she might be moving soon. It's hard to imagine not having d'Artagnan every morning. Every evening. Not having this anymore. And a lump forms in her chest at the thought and she burrows against him further. ]
What else am I going to spend all these credits on, anyway? [ She shrugs and holds the bottle up for him in case he wants more. ]
Did I ever tell you thank you? For saving me?
[ She looks up at him, eyes meeting his. ] Because thank you, d'Artagnan.
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Assuming that it's that, he rubs her arm, and lets his lips flicker into a smile. ]
I could never have let them hurt you, Alina.
You all right? It's over now. You're safe here, I swear it.
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She drops her eyes, playing with a string on her uniform. ]
That's not it... Though I know I can always trust you.
It's... [ She grips the edge of her uniform. ]
Sturmhond asked me to move into his rover with him. I told him I would....
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He blinks, and then frowns, and his head tilts. But that means - ]
You're leaving?
[ Suddenly he feels cold. She's leaving. ]
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I haven't asked the Instructors yet if I can but... if they allow me to. [ she nods her head. ]
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He doesn't want her to go. Aside from Athos, Alina is, and has been, his best and most consistent friend since he's been here. She's been reliable, strong, and so brave.
He knows she's engaged. He knows that, he just thought things wouldn't change until she married.
He swallows that. He has to. ]
That...that's good. I'm happy for you. [ He smiles, and rubs her arm again. ] That's nothing to be sad about.
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Why does she always do this to herself? To those she loves?
She turns her face against his shoulder. ]
I love you. You're my best friend, d'Artagnan. In any world.
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He hates the thought of Alina moving out. Now she and Athos will live together, and neither one of them will be with him. After everything that's happened recently with Hanna, and with Jack, this is the last thing he wants.
He can't tell her that, though. ]
I'll miss you. [ He can say that much, can't he? He moves his hand to curl around her wrist, and he holds it. ] I love you too. You know I do.
[ He pulls her close, hugging her, and then makes himself smile. ]
But you'll always be my friend. That's not going to change. I promise you, I'll always be here for you.
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