#razshaya

the wind came in sharp off the waves, carrying the tang of salt and the creak of rigging overhead. the volkvolny surged forward underneath golden sunlight with the easy grace of a predator that did not fear any uncertainties on the sea. the crewmen pretended to busy themselves with knots around the deck, as though strategically placed by their captain himself to stay watchful of their royal guests. having known them for a few years now, sturmhond knew they were also clearly waiting for his response to genya's open defiance.

genya's presence, however, is always welcome. her light footsteps, he can almost feel near-skipping across the tiled floors and hear with perfected recognition as they stop behind the large oak doors, before they are thrown open and suddenly the dull quiet is alive and bright, like the lines of sunlight dripping through the roughly drawn curtains closest to his desks, barely open save for a few cracks. illumination finding ways almost impossible. david doesn't have to let her in, this space is as much genya's own if she wants for it, but he regards her with a turn of his head, slightly tilting as she speaks and asks of him to leave the workshop for something most important, as so many things are to her. “ --- so, if you could join me ? ” she asks, and he is a man of sense, and it is less of a question and more a delicately spoken command --- he nods.

the two other grisha are regarded with a flippant point of his finger to their ongoing work. “ you --- er. carry on. ” eyes flickering between the two of them with the flash of a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes and disappears as fast as he can allow it, nodding to them affirmingly before he rounds the table and that same gaze softens, searching her features as though silently enquiring. as though second nature he offers her his arm, and back into the halls the doors close with a wave of his hand. then he turns to her, imploring and then somewhat sceptical. “ what is it ? is everything alright ? this isn't a plot to get me to one of those assemblies is it ? because i already said no. ”

𝚉𝙾𝙼𝙱𝙸𝙴 𝙰𝙿𝙾𝙲𝙰𝙻𝚈𝙿𝚂𝙴 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙿𝚃𝚂.     —     𝚏𝚝. 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚢𝚊 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊.       (  𝙰𝙲𝙲𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶.  )

  ❛   yeah,  wouldn't want to disappoint them.  ❜     he jested,  voice strained as though each breath of air that left him dealt the hurt of a knife being pierced through his flesh.    the bullet had lodged deep inside his leg and festered there for hours now,   and his limbs ached from the fever it brought on.     more often than not,   he imagined how much easier it would be to just  stop,    if not to rest then to succumb to this endless wrath of nature.    the world had lost its appeal,   with weeds growing where sunflowers once had been.    the wound on his leg felt like the key had been handed over to him and with each passing step,   the door was right in front of his eyes:   the light at the end of the tunnel.    then he'd look towards his friend,   a tether to fond memories of youth;    her worried eyes scanning over his face in search of fever,  malaise and foolhardiness.   as a child,   nikolai had always been good at hide and seek,   but he'd always lost to genya.   peering down at his bleeding leg,   he groaned.      ❛   look it's kinda yellow and dark now,  which means it's healing—   right?   keep walking.    ❜

𝙼𝚄𝚂𝙸𝙲 𝙵𝙾𝚁 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙾𝚄𝙻     —     𝚏𝚝. 𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚢𝚊 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊.       (  𝙰𝙲𝙲𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶.  )

❛   accusing the prince?  and so openly?   ❜     he challenged,   swiftly hopping onto the kitchen island across from the girl now glaring daggers at him.    the night was quiet but his limbs hadn't adjusted to the silence of the grand palace,   where the servants slid across the corridors like ghosts and the monarch's slumber was prioritised above all.    it was this restlessness that carried him out of his gilded chambers,   swept him up and down the stairs,   towards the cookhouse.    finding genya there was entirely coincidental,   for he hadn't wished to be caught red handed in his theft of  an apple  where he'd set his sights higher    ( the puddings set aside for the upcoming feast )    but it was the only thing within his reach when the doors had opened and revealed her presence.     ❛   say I was hiding something—   nobody likes a tattletale,  genya.   ❜