part one. assorted lines taken from the third book in the secret shanghai series. adjust names and pronouns as needed. trigger warnings for mentions of death and violence.

poison. that's not such an abominable way to die.

when did you start getting so foolish?

you can't keep doing this.

you can't keep trying to fix our father's mistakes,

treason is not inherited. they'll see. they'll have to see.

you're too trusting, [name]. you ought to be more careful.

why don't you two listen to a single thing i say?

when are you going to let that go?

darling, did i have a tone?

i'll be your replacement father, kid. it's okay.

i don't think the spies in the bushes outside quite heard you.

it's so hard not to hate them.

do you know how many people have gotten away from me? zero.

i was always going to catch up to you.

listen, i'm a married man -

you're going to give me a hernia.

don't sweetheart me!

it wouldn't hurt to tell me what instructions you're under.

yes, [name]. nation over everything.

but not you, sweetheart. never your life in exchange.

if you're going to accuse me of something, WHY DON'T YOU COME RIGHT OUT AND SAY IT?

you know what, i see it. horrible. [name], how could you?

if you would be so kind as to relieve me from having to witness a domestic spat.

who did this to you? i'll kill them.

trust me, if there was something that could have been done, i would have done it myself.

i am not defenseless.

there are plenty of other places to go.

i tried to hold on but that only made it fall apart further.

it's an image i've trapped under museum glass, put on display for my visitation every so often.

it is merely who i am. falser than vows made in wine.