into the unknown

Aidan Gillen mugging it up as Nelson Rathbone in Shanghai Knights

“Is that so?” she asks before pulling her top over her head, dropping on the floor by her belt. Her gaze raises to meet his before she’s yanking him in using her telekinesis, forcing him on his knees as she hooks one leather clad leg over his shoulder. “What else do you want, John?”

There were plenty of places to punish her in here, but for today he wanted to tie her to the bed. He wanted to pull her own knives down her bare body, blade only slightly touching her skin to see if she would squirm under it. If he told her not to, would she stay still? He wouldn’t cut her unless she moved, just a small cut. He bites her thigh before he tosses her over his shoulder onto the bed, “I need to call Evelyn first.”

She asks it as she watches him undress for bed, waiting in the doorway to their bedroom.

“You’re not serious, are you?” he took both of her small hands in his and squeezed them, “I love you, Evelyn. And I’m sorry if you feel stuck with me, but I truly love you.”

It sounded so stereotypical, and a lot like something Kizzy would say, but Taya can’t stop this gnawing in her stomach. This intense, insatiable desire to be with him. Near him where she could reach out and touch him like she is now. Her eyes are so deeply brown, it’s like looking into the bottom of a well. "Stay the night, that’s all I ask.”

He looks at the ceiling and drags his hand down his face slowly, looking as if this decision was the hardest one he’d have to make today. Stopping at his chest, he finally looks down into her eyes and replies, “I want to...”

he wanted to r u l e.

     ”I understand. Family means sacrifice.”

    “ I know, I know I shouldn’t be making 'em if I can’t keep ‘em. Taya, I understand         if you don’t want to keep doing this but I love you and I will until I die. ”

        “It’s beautiful John. Thank you.” Her smile is bright.

      “I’m glad you like it despite it's imperfections.”

  It was just.. unusual really.

John pulled a flower from his coat pocket and stared at it a bit mournfully. The safe spot crushed the flower a little and one petal was missing while three others were bent. He held it out to her and bit his lip nervously, “It’s kind of frumpy now...”

“John? Have you seen Maryellen or Adam?”

      “Oh Sarah! No I haven’t.               Would you like some help tracking them down?”

   ”You knew how I’d feel about this. And you did it anyway, Abraham. You went behind my back. And you… You expect them to even begin to respect me as your wife? You expect me to kiss away your worries and rub your fucking feet, when you betrayed my trust and faith in you?”

     "I respect you more than anyone else in my life, and I love you more than life itself. I want you to be yourself as you have always been, I want your opinions to consider. I made this decision without you, and now you are not going to be held accountable for anything."

   ”No, they wouldn’t have done it at all.     Even if they could, they’d know in their hearts                       that they shouldn’t.       And you can’t even take the blame.”

      "Jaysus Chroist. I know they would have!              They are good soldiers and they understand the importance of following the orders of higher ups. Of course the deaths of the royal family are on my head. This mess is my fault, but it was not my ambition or decision to even start this war. My leadership is in question by everyone, but I didn't think you would be in that group. I'm questioning myself already, I don't need my wife to do it too."

   ”The leader?    Christ, Bram. You’re not King Arthur.    You expect them to follow you when you didn’t have enough sack          to do it yourself.”

"Do you think I was sitting behind a fucking desk, Phoebe?         It was a stealth mission and I sent the ones I deemed worthy.         I should have sent Noah and Elijah; they would have done it right."