viator.

Aether watched him quietly, letting him speak. He was distinctly aware of the power difference that lay between them like a vast stretch of ocean. When they’d last met, their roles had been reversed - Dottore holding the position of deity and Aether THRASHING beneath him. Now, his opposition lay shackled with only his voice and keen mind to sway him. In some way, they were equals - always had been, always would be - even with the stage of fate shifting relentless beneath their feet.

The chill was thick in the air, alive and prickling at his skin, seeping into his bones, SHARP like a knife between his ribs. At the very least, what he said was honest. There was no trick, no lie, only a staunch refusal to cooperate beyond what was immediately necessary.

“You’ll tell me.” Aether responded simply, a strange and indifferent coldness in his voice. He was eerily still, almost unnaturally so, eyes hooded and dark.

“You’ll tell me because I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

From his pocket emerged a collection of keycards, two obtained from the guard-room on entry, the other three frisked from the now-unconscious sentries. He understood the implication of his actions - antagonising the decree of the Cryo Archon, capitulating to the whims of an old enemy, unleashing a monster into the world - and all for the most selfish of objectives.

What a stark contrast this was. If he didn't know better, Dottore would almost wonder if the FRIGID COLD of Snezhnaya had seeped in and infected or corrupted Aether in his journey here. Here, to the palace or here, to the deepest prison cell under the Tsaritsa's most intense security. It seemed like Aether had come here not by CHANCE but with purpose. All that freedom, but they both know only Dottore had achieved the divinity required that allowed him the knowledge that the descender so desperately, pointlessly sought out.

" Oh? Such an ambitious promise. " WHAT COULD HE BE OFFERED THAT HE COULD NOT GET HIMSELF? He has clawed himself from the bottom pits of the desert to -

Ah.

He stares at the various keycards held up before him. FIVE IN TOTAL. Enough to unlock all the locks upon the chains binding him still against the wall. ( It's flattering in a way that the Tsaritsa does not trust him to be able to be contained by even this cell alone and that she has taken all these extra measures. )

Dottore does not leap for the opportunity of freedom with the desperate pleas any other locked in the prison would nor does he rush to spill the information he has in eager anticipation of freedom. He sits stoically silent, regarding the situation. They are effectively at a standstill. Dottore needs his restraints released, and Aether needs the information he possesses. Neither have a guarantee the other will uphold their end of a deal. Aether could not set him free, and Dottore could not tell him the information. But that wasn't really either of their styles. Furthermore, DOTTORE DOES NOT PARTICULARLY CARE ABOUT THE INFORMATION. It is not treason to offer it up.

Avoiding him.

He knew her like the back of his hand. If she did not want to be found, then no amount of searching or toiling would reunite them until she desired otherwise. But why? Why the secrecy? Why the avoidance?

The cell door opened with a hiss and a rattle. Aether moved, going through the motions almost without thinking. It was strange to be standing over Dottore like this with the other so undoubtedly, physically hapless. That he was only immobilized in the physical sense was a key distinction - anyone would have been a fool to ever consider the prowess of his mind HARMLESS.

The restraints came undone in sequence. All the while, Aether worked in brooding silence. The chains were numerous and heavy, forming a complex web that took a moment to decipher even up close. First the legs, then the arms, then the ones that crossed his torso and neck which were the last to go.

[ wipe ] sender wipes away receiver's tears [ hurt ] sender hurts receiver with words [ lonely ] sender finds receiver alone in a dark room [ wounded ] sender patches up receiver's wounds [ crying ] sender finds receiver crying [ help ] sender runs to receiver when they scream for help [ nightmare ] sender wakes receiver up from a nightmare [ dying breath ] sender talks to receiver before dying [ hold on ] sender pulls receiver into their arms [ anger ] sender takes their anger out on receiver [ argue ] sender gets into a heated argument with receiver [ scared ] sender scares receiver [ sick ] sender cares for receiver while they are sick [ palm ] sender places a hand on receiver to stop them from doing something [ fight ] sender gets into a physical fight with receiver [ comfort ] sender tries to comfort receiver [ blood ] sender notices that receiver is bleeding [ collapse ] sender collapses into receiver's arms [ pressure ] sender puts pressure on receiver's wound [ slap ] sender slaps receiver in the face [ panic ] sender helps receiver through a panic attack [ lie ] sender catches receiver in a lie [ sobs ] sender sobs uncontrollably while receiver holds them [ hiding ] sender finds out that receiver has hidden an injury from them [ death ] sender just died, receiver finds out [ chin up ] sender lifts receiver's chin to stop them from hiding their tears [ fears ] sender talks to receiver about their fears [ scream ] sender screams at receiver [ coping ] sender teaches receiver some coping mechanisms [ loss ] sender is there for receiver after they've lost someone important to them [ needs ] sender asks receiver what they need [ bullet ] sender takes a bullet for receiver [ bruises ] sender finds bruises of unknown origin on receiver [ rainfall ] sender finds receiver out alone in the rain [ hospital ] sender wakes up in a hospital bed and finds receiver sitting by their bedside [ intrude ] sender walks in on receiver treating their wounds [ calming ] sender tries to calm down receiver [ inspection ] sender holds receiver's face while inspecting an injury they got [ rescue ] sender carries receiver to safety [ clean ] sender cleans blood off of receiver's body

GIFT GIVING

[ handmade ] sender gives receiver something handmade

[ flowers ] sender surprises receiver with flowers just because

[ souvenir ] sender brings receiver something special from a trip

[ wanted ] sender hands receiver something they wanted but never would've gotten for themselves

[ practical ] sender offers receiver something they mentioned needing

❛  i know it's not much, but i saw this and thought of you, so i wanted you to have it.  ❜

❛  you said you needed a new one, so i got it for you.  ❜

❛  don't make a big deal out of it, please. just take it.  ❜

❛  i wasn't sure what to get you, but this felt right.  ❜

❛  i wanted you to have something that was only yours.  ❜

QUALITY TIME

[ date ] sender takes receiver out on a date

[ visit ] sender surprises receiver with a visit just to spend some time together

[ quiet ] sender joins receiver to sit in comfortable silence

[ home ] sender spends the day with receiver at home together

[ night ] sender stays up late talking to receiver

❛  we don't have to do anything. i just like being near you.  ❜

❛  i cleared my schedule for you, so now you have my full attention.  ❜

❛  i like doing ordinary things with you. let's make a day of it.  ❜

❛  do you want some company? i have time.  ❜

❛  honestly, i just needed an excuse to spend some time with you.  ❜

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

[ comfort ] sender verbally comforts receiver after a hard day

[ important ] sender reminds receiver how important and loved they are

[ enough ] sender assures receiver that they are enough

[ compliment ] sender gives receiver a compliment

[ proud ] sender tells receiver that they are proud of them

❛  i'm so proud of you, you did such a great job.  ❜

❛  you always make things better just by being here.  ❜

❛  you can do this, i believe in you wholeheartedly.  ❜

❛  you're more than enough, and i'm lucky to know you.  ❜

❛  you are not hard to love. in fact, you are loved by so many people.  ❜

PHYSICAL TOUCH

[ cuddle ] sender initiates cuddling with receiver

[ warmth ] sender offers receiver their body warmth

[ shoulder ] sender pulls receiver close so they can rest their head on their shoulder

[ gentle ] sender brushes hair out of receiver's face

[ kiss ] sender kisses receiver's forehead/cheek/etc.

❛  come here, you look like you could use a hug.  ❜

❛  let me hold you for a minute; i've got you.  ❜

❛  you're freezing. give me your hands, i'll warm them up.  ❜

❛  i like being close to you like this.  ❜

❛  you don't have to pull away if you don't want to.  ❜

ACTS OF SERVICE

[ repair ] sender fixes something broken that belongs to receiver

[ sickness ] sender takes care of a sick receiver

[ chores ] sender helps receiver with some chores

[ space ] sender makes receiver's space more comfortable for them

[ clean ] sender cleans something up for receiver

❛  you looked tired, so i already took care of it for you.  ❜

❛  sit down and relax. i'll handle it.  ❜

❛  you don't have to do everything alone, i can help.  ❜

❛  i did it because i wanted to make your day a little easier.  ❜

❛  let me help; i don't mind doing it.  ❜

Enemies to lovers + Language barrier

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