{ ηιнιℓιѕм }

“ I don’t recall Friday being a part of the conversation.” Before he realized, his tongue daggered back with a defensiveness that only showed his sensitivity to the subject. When it dawned upon his mistake, those same lips pursed with a soft, huff-like breath, trying to disregard the tone he had previously gave. Yes…he remembered this man was a glib one. It was bittersweet to have someone that had bite to their words when it brought remembrance of his friend, but Watson did not mesh the personalities. They were different. Much different. 

Thankfully, the moment passed with the acceptance to his previous conversation-starter. Adjusting his tie, he listened fondly. Evolution. He had indeed read theories on the matter and personally found a fondness in the bold statements offered despite religion pressing to pronounce it as sacrilegious. A raised brow was conjured. 

“Does the philosophy not suit your taste? Surely not all of them can be dreadful, unless the writer is flawed.” Another glance was given to Friday as the boat rocked, but his eyes were content with giving his full attention back to the other after. “I find myself more indulgent to philosophies and science more than novels these days. I have not touched a sincere novel in a year, at least.” 

     “You musn’t worry. I doubt he will take offense.“ And he was at it again. Nikolai supposed there was no use trying to hold his tongue when his purpose in this whole ordeal was to challenge the man’s views, after all —and he couldn’t deny just how amusing it was when the fire was so easy to spark, judging by the doctor’s reaction.

     Despite finding his ideas to be rather imprudent, that wasn’t to say the agent didn’t hold any respect for Watson. Nikolai had looked at the man’s academical records and papers himself as part of his prior research. A bright mind with pretty bold stances, he managed to wake the blond’s natural curiosity and hunger for debate.

     Nikolai shook his head at Watson’s assumption. “It isn’t a matter of distate. This book was left on my father’s bookcase. Interesting as it might be, I’ve gone over it enough times to find it stimulating. You may take it off my hands after our mission is complete.” In the end, he thought with some bitterness, there was no use in holding on to any of these items; his father’s dusty books nor the locket hanging from his neck. Though, he quickly erased any outer traces of his troubling thoughts with a lofty smile as he closed the volume.

@nikclai inquired

“I feel there is a need to break the ice between us.” If that frigidness had been a product of his first words of introduction, Watson would not say or admit to. But, the present silence on the boat was one that he was growing tired of. A small, watchful glance was offered to his dear friend Friday to ensure he had not wandered too far along the boat, before his gaze returned to the man before him; fingers splayed and greeting one another. “What is the book that you are reading? Common ground might be a nice play to start.” 

     “Perhaps, since I suppose your friend isn’t particularly talkative.” Soft-spoken words held a sharp edge as he quickly glanced at the wobbly corpse making its way through the wooden boards. It wasn’t his intention to antagonize the man whose favor they ultimately would need to win right off the bat, but he just couldn’t help himself —that was a habit that even the patient mentoring of Alyosha couldn’t have gotten rid of.

Ask my muse for advice on or off anon.

     “A vain ‘sword’? Is that some kind of foreign terminology? In any case, your ‘sword’ might feel as though your gifts are nothing more than a way to buy rather than win his favor. Or perhaps said gifts are only feeding his vanity, keeping him from acknowledging his benefactor?