blink !

“Dio,” there was a weary strain in his voice. It isn’t the latest he’s stayed awake in an office, working after-hours on business. Still, with his growing political disillusionment, every hour yawned an eternity that cavitates through skin and muscle and bone. He spared a long look down the hall that lead to the door before his gaze returned to Sasha in question. He wouldn’t turn away his family, he just expected them to show up with a different conversation topic in mind. Less accusatory. Funny how quickly it went from plural to singular. He’d have to see if Barbara and Javier had the same stance. “I don’t find retribution in a mans untimely death when I didn’t sanction it.” If… no. Nothing he could’ve done would alter the outcome, it’s fate. “San Marino isn’t my country to rule. What do you suppose I do? Travel down there? Give a speech? Ease embargoes? Then the crown princes death will be in vain.” 

she smiled despite herself as sasha sounded out the name, and then she shrugged. “i only know richmond. it’s the capital.” and she only knew that because parker had told her. her eyebrows rose. “jet skiing? i was thinking, like… lunch. and maybe some shopping.”

“ i tried. ” she really had. the line was drawn at her ex-boyfriend being murdered by riots for information that wasn’t even accurate. “ he’s fully convinced romolo was tied to the estes even if there’s no proof and nobody can convince him otherwise. ”

he looked at the other over his shoulder, his hazel eyes making contact with their’s. he was sure it was going to be a tale of a fashion disaster, polka dots with stripes something silly that happened years ago.  “eso es trágico,” he answered back. “what do you order?” he wondered if it was frozen and had no caffeine, only sugar. somehow vicente could take his coffee black and his americanos with extra shots.

“sorry,” sera replied, flashing her sibling a tight smile that was, all told, utterly unlike herself. “i went to virginia with parker.” she shrugged. for the first time in her life, she hadn’t wanted to spend her birthday with family, a fact which she only felt bad about now that sasha brought it up. “done. better late than never, right? what are you thinking?”

Maybe Stefania would have been able to help out by being there to offer support and a hold to hand, but she could do that tomorrow. Tonight, her priority was to make sure that her siblings were okay and telling by the way that Sasha wrapped her in a hug, she knew she made the right decision. She wrapped one arm around their shoulder and used the order to rub the back of their head. “You don’t have to thank me for anything.”, she assured. “Yes, I am. Are you?’

“ i know, but you need to be appreciated, ” sasha sighed and closed their eyes for a moment. they were so incredibly tired but sleep just wouldn’t come. “ good, i’m glad. i texted sera, just to hear from her. i saw sam in the lobby. ” sasha rubbed her tired eyes as they took a step back. “ i don’t know if i should go to the hospital or not. i think everyone’s there. i don’t think i’m needed but... i don’t want them to think i don’t care. ”

“i certainly think so!” alina smiles, wide, turning her skirt to let the train flow just a little bit. “um, not yet, actually. we haven’t gotten them resized yet,” it was an easy enough lie to tell, just to keep people from gossiping about it. alina constantly worried about the optics, but she’s sure to have a discussion about rings with kenny before the night is up, now. 

It was almost three in the morning and Stefania was exhausted but she could not bring herself to calling it a night just yet. Instead, she rushed to Sasha’s room and as soon as she heard a voice on the other side of the door, she pretty much barged in without a second thought. “I’m sorry, I know it’s late and you’re probably tired but I would not be able to sleep if I did not see you first.”, she explained once she saw them. “I couldn’t find you earlier.” ( @czvrtoryskie )​

there really wasn’t anything for sasha to say. they had decided to return to their room instead of rushing to the hospital with the rest of the savoys. they hadn’t felt like they had anything to offer, not even a shoulder when they were so devastated themselves. stefania’s presence was welcome. she was like a lighthouse in the middle of a storm: constant and protective. sasha quietly wrapped their arms around their sister and took a deep breath. “ thank you, ” sasha mumbled. “ for coming here. ” it was difficult to ask for support when you needed it. they adjusted their head on stef’s shoulder. “ you’re alright ? ”

“thank you,” alina smiles. she’d been getting compliments all night, she guessed it was because this was the first dress in a while that actually felt modest… for alina, at least. “i thought the train would be a little too much, but it’s worked out pretty well!”