#upwardstrokes

     “I can assure you that the Little Palace is the safest place in all of Ravka for you to be, Miss Grimhilde. Once we get you inside, the safer you’ll be.” Aleksander can sense there’s potential in her. That she’s Grisha. It’s all a matter of bringing that power out --- which wouldn’t be hard. Ignoring the murmurs crowd that formed around them he took a few steps toward her, the sound of his boots clacking against the ground. Stopping short of her fist, he reaches his hand out, grabbing hers with force. “You weren’t tested as a child were you? Or perhaps you were and you’re hiding it from me. Which is it?”

Meme

The question shocked him, but only briefly, a fluttering of something like a perfectly sinful mixture of pride and delight curling in his chest at the pretty princess’s question. Harry drew in closer, the smell of her perfume almost cloying. Pretty little dear, in such an ugly world. He hated it for her, but oh, he wasn’t opposed to taking advantage of the fact that she was still stuck with them. 

Gentleman, he reminded himself. You’re in the presence of a lady, after all, and Evie had just as much sway as her mother did over the lesser folk of the Isle. 

A fine pawn for Uma, if nothing else, should he be able to pry her from Mal’s grip. And certainly pleasant company for himself, who drew great joy from surrounding himself with nice things. Things he knew he didn’t deserve. 

“Alright Charming, back off,” Harvey warns, storming over to where the son of Cinderella had led the daughter of the Evil Queen under the bleachers--Doug trailing behind him. Chad gives Harvey a fixed--but nervous--smile and a little wave as the eldest of the half-dwarf cousins towered over him. “Heyyyyy Harvey. Nothing to see here!”

“Yeah? Because it looks to me like you’re trying to manipulate poor Evie into doing your homework. Get a life,” he gently takes the backpack from Evie before shoving it into Chad’s chest, earning a grunt from the prince as he glared at him. Opening his mouth to retaliate, Harvey pulls out his phone with an almost bored expression. “Well let’s see, I think I have Auntie Ella’s number in here still. How disappointed would your mother be to know you’re manipulating innocent girls and bullying my cousins?” Blue eyes narrowed and his expression darkens, Chad shuddering. Shit. Harvey knew. “That’s what I thought. Go crawl back into hole you came out of Chadwick.”

….give me the balvie we deserve

DO YOU WANT ME? The question left him quickly, even before he could consider the consequences. But he wasn’t able to hide it any longer. To-- pretend, when really all he was doing was loving her, the way he had before. The way he still did, he never actually stopped. He needed to know if any-- any of this meant anything to Evie. The way she stares at him though, with those brown hues so big, the way she pauses... it gave him a flicker of hope. just for a moment, before she crushed that with her words. Blinking, brows furrow together and lips press together in a thin line. His gaze cast down, realization that she was really lost upon him dawning on him. He considers following her, but what good would that do? She just gave him an answer, that no. She can’t do this anymore. She didn’t want to. She didn’t want him. Didn’t love him.

The sight in front of him is nearly horrifying. Seeing Evie covered in blood is not something he’d ever expected to see. She’s covered in blood, trails of crimson all over her clothing - some of it splattered on like someone had thrown paint on her.

What had she gotten herself into?

One of his crew tries to move forward to get to her but Harry won’t allow it - hand flies out to shove the boy away and off to the side, he starts to stumble but the pirate doesn’t care. He moves forward, his mind on one thing and one thing alone.

Evie.

He can feel his heart fluttering about in his chest, pounding in his ears like his heart was a pair of drums. His first thought is that she’s hurt, so he calls out her name. Once he reaches her, his hands move to her face, gently gripping her cheeks between his hands.