[ it is and isn’t about that. they’re not kind or gentle people, not harmless by any stretch of the imagination— but there’s something to be said for understanding and acknowledging someone else’s harsh edges and sharpness. it’s not safe, but it’s something.
these are lessons khlyen never taught her. (she wonders, sometimes, if bruce had a khlyen or how he came to be who he is.
the silence is comfortable and dutch lets it stretch. ]
Did you do this at home? [ she asks eventually. ‘this’ could be anything. ]
[ he holds knives that she’s handed him, that he could twist inside her. this? she thinks this is a bucket instead.
a family. dutch has johnny. she had khlyen, father figure and mentor and someone she’s loved and hated in near equal measure. someone who’s always manipulated her. ]
They’re asleep? [ is that loading the gun? her tone is softer than usual, but only barely. she has no intention of shooting. ]
[ She has a family. She's come from somewhere, she's young, she has a future. Maybe her life — like Cassandra's — will never be easy or safe. But she'd fight. ]
They're safe.
[ There's a current of relief. He'll never not be glad they're at least here, where he can look from the outside without worry — that they won't have memories of being in the stasis rooms. Everything else that he's done, maybe they can face it, he doesn't know. ]
[ she didn’t always have a family.she didn’t know where she came from for so long, pieces of her khlyen had held hostage. she doesn’t think she has a future because the war can only end with her dead, one way or another — but aneela isn’t here and there’s no war. at least none that hinges on dutch killing the person she’s face she’s wearing and herself with her.
maybe all he thinks is true. ]
Been busy. [ it’s a joke. an out, too, if he wants it. ]
[ so she does. her place is small, but there's a firepit on the roof she's been using to roast whatever she catches and there's always some beer and whiskey. ]
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these are lessons khlyen never taught her. (she wonders, sometimes, if bruce had a khlyen or how he came to be who he is.
the silence is comfortable and dutch lets it stretch. ]
Did you do this at home? [ she asks eventually. ‘this’ could be anything. ]
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[ There's another silence. It's inky, measures out, like a thread. They aren't friends, but — ]
With my family.
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a family. dutch has johnny. she had khlyen, father figure and mentor and someone she’s loved and hated in near equal measure. someone who’s always manipulated her. ]
They’re asleep? [ is that loading the gun? her tone is softer than usual, but only barely. she has no intention of shooting. ]
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They're safe.
[ There's a current of relief. He'll never not be glad they're at least here, where he can look from the outside without worry — that they won't have memories of being in the stasis rooms. Everything else that he's done, maybe they can face it, he doesn't know. ]
Two boys, and a girl.
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maybe all he thinks is true. ]
Been busy. [ it’s a joke. an out, too, if he wants it. ]
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[ She offers an out, ]
We should do this again.
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Let's. Can't have you getting rusty.
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An utter impossibility.
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[ outright grinning now. ]
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[ He flashes her a quick smile. ]
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then: ] I got more meat than I can eat on my own. Want some? [ girl's gone hunting. ]
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Lead the way.
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