kαıηє {нคяd тσ Ъε รσƒт, тσugн тσ Ъε тεหdεя} (
apassingafternoon) wrote2015-04-17 09:08 pm
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Bottle It Up
Kaine didn't see Nariko after she returned to the palace. There would have been something oddly poignant about sharing the entire experience, speaking a bit frankly about it, but Kaine wanted to hold it to herself for a little while longer. In the end that was for the best. Sekht and Fyra's wedding was held in the morning and they all stood for it and then danced for it. Everything should have been goddamn peachy. There was no more pressure or tension in her general atmosphere, just the understandable, acceptable level of regret and acceptance. Kaine could deal with that.
What she couldn't fucking deal with was Nariko. Oh, sure, she smiled and clapped and when Sekht playfully asked her for a dance but every warning sign in the book was on full display. Her smile was hollow, her polite manner far too restrained. The natural ease that she'd found with Roland was nowhere to be found, in fact she seemed far too content with pretending he wasn't even anywhere near her. And maybe the obnoxious sleeves of her shirt - it was fucking insane that anyone could be unaffected by this heat - hid her left hand but Kaine saw the black chord around her neck and in that voiceless, deep way she had always possessed when it came to Nariko, Kaine knew that the other woman's wedding ring was hiding underneath her clothes.
This was some bullshit and Kaine, free of her nervousness and caution, was real fucking tired of pussyfooting around here.
So the wedding party continued but Kaine wasn't around to enjoy the latter half of it. She had dragged Nariko off and then returned alone.
Livid didn't begin to describe how she felt. But she made her way over to Bert anyway, jaw clenched tight and her arms folded even tighter.
"I need you to do something for me."
What she couldn't fucking deal with was Nariko. Oh, sure, she smiled and clapped and when Sekht playfully asked her for a dance but every warning sign in the book was on full display. Her smile was hollow, her polite manner far too restrained. The natural ease that she'd found with Roland was nowhere to be found, in fact she seemed far too content with pretending he wasn't even anywhere near her. And maybe the obnoxious sleeves of her shirt - it was fucking insane that anyone could be unaffected by this heat - hid her left hand but Kaine saw the black chord around her neck and in that voiceless, deep way she had always possessed when it came to Nariko, Kaine knew that the other woman's wedding ring was hiding underneath her clothes.
This was some bullshit and Kaine, free of her nervousness and caution, was real fucking tired of pussyfooting around here.
So the wedding party continued but Kaine wasn't around to enjoy the latter half of it. She had dragged Nariko off and then returned alone.
Livid didn't begin to describe how she felt. But she made her way over to Bert anyway, jaw clenched tight and her arms folded even tighter.
"I need you to do something for me."
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It was really that simple.
"You don't want to pay attention to what's going on? That's fine. But I don't leave people to fucking fend for themselves. But now you don't have to worry about it." She even threw in a fucking smile! Kaine was the best at this.
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"When it comes down to the moment," he said after a little while, "I swear to you, I will not force her to anything she doesn't want to. And nor will you. What comes after that..." He shrugged. "There'll be water if God wills it."
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Whether she noticed his anger or not Kaine did absolutely nothing to curb the sharp edge of her voice. It wasn't like her to yell and throw a tantrum but she could inject poison into everything if she felt like it. And since he was just so magically unaffected by everything then he wouldn't mind one way or another!
"What I do and don't force isn't really your business unless it's about Cuthbert. I don't want to have to fight with you both, that's the only reason I bothered to say a word." Because for as unsettled and disappointed as Kaine was, and for as much as Nariko didn't believe it? Kaine still couldn't help wondering what he might actually pull at the very last second when this became reality. That some idle bit of hope remained was laughable but, hey, she was an optimist.
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"Of course I wouldn't, it'd feel painful and I'd almost sooner die than pick one or the other." And it was true because she loved them both so much that it hurt, even scared her occasionally. "But this isn't about a choice in fact it hasn't got shit to do with that. Have you ever known her to be the kind of person who won't fight? Because while I know differently, I'm pretty sure she never gave up on Gilead, on winning them over or saving it in front of you. So a better question might be: Why is someone who is so naturally determined and hardheaded stepping down instead of fighting for you? Because I'll tell you the latter is far more in character than this subservient, degrading bullshit."
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Not that he wasn't considering it. He was, and would continue to, letting the question tick over in his mind for a good long time while his thoughts ground away at it, slow but exceeding fine. But for now, he was interested to know what she thought on the subject - not that you would have guessed it, from the stony immobility of his face.
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"Because she sees herself as some awkward placeholder for the space Susan should have been in, and she thinks that's how you see her, too. It's great that you can get along and it's great if there are things you like about her but, Roland, if you sit in front of someone and say 'if not for her I would have loved you with that same intensity' then they're always going to know their best is still worthless just because they aren't who you really wanted. If you pair that on top of the fact that she's been told she's worthless scum all her goddamn life its begging for an outcome like this."
Kaine rubbed the back of her neck, looking a bit weary despite herself. "For her to lay down her pride and her morals and do something that might make you happy, even if it makes her suffer, that's about the greatest display of love someone like Nariko can express. It's harder to let you go than it is to hold on, and it's necessary in a way because even if you could have both Nariko would still feel like the - whatever you call mistresses in your world. Just the woman you sort of idly keep around to maintain your vows."
roland you're a butt
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"At least she didn't half-ass the dialogue." That might not have been a satisfying answer but it was all Kaine could think of for a second. "If you could somehow possess enough determination to show even a third of the passion she feels for you then I'd bet all the coin to my name that she wouldn't be able to repeat any of that with a straight goddamn face, Roland. You don't really know her but consider how well she might know you. Gods knows she stared at you longingly enough to have picked up a thing or two."
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And that was more than enough of that conversation for him. Pulling himself up to his full height, he turned on his heel, aiming to walk away and lose himself in the crowd for a while.
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"Look, that's not what I meant, alright? Affection would have been a better word, I was really just talking about an insanely romantic kiss, something along those lines. I'm sorry." And she meant it. For as hardheaded and pissy as Kaine had been she knew when to humble herself a little, and so her next words were laced with caution. "I just need to know one more thing if you can find it in you to do it." And he would probably understand why in just an extra second. "For both our sakes can you tell me exactly dangerous this 'Marten' man is?"
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"If you are lucky, and he takes no interest in you," he said, his voice low, "he may only be deadly." There's a tension under the level tone which belies just how much he does not want to talk about this. "I was... unlucky. And one day, he will pay for that. But now, in public? I will not speak of it."
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"Then it's an even better idea that she stays here, Roland. Let her be with Wei instead of you or I." Even though that was unfair, even though Kaine had never asked for anything but to keep the people who made her happy. Now she was having to let go of one because of this man. But she had rung him through the paces enough, so she nodded. "Try not to get into any more trouble, maybe."
Maybe it was time for her to check on Nariko again. If Kaine was lucky her friend might have softened up after getting a bit of attention.