09-01-2023, 05:58 PM
She smirked for that little statement, and glanced up at her brother, but he did not meet the amusement in her gaze. In discomfort he did not look at her at all, though likely only Sofia recognised that emotion in him; outwardly he was still and silent and unyielding, the hands revealed the only concession he appeared willing to make in his belligerent consent of the healing.
Sofia prided herself on reading a room, but she did not predict what happened next. The face Iásōn revealed from under the white mask was not one she recognised, but neither was she likely to forget it. Her attention cut straight to the alarmed agent, cool and searching. If they had a problem here, it was a promise that she was about to be a bigger one, for all the casual way she held herself, hands back in her pockets, expression imperious and controlled. But though he called out, he did nothing she took to be a threat. Not now anyway. The Ascendancy went to great lengths to protect this man’s identity, and while on the one hand such knowledge was priceless, on the other it was also fucking dangerous.
Maksim better keep his mouth fucking shut.
She did not turn to look at her brother-in-law. The subtlety of a hard look would be utterly wasted on him. Instead her attention did not break from the exchange in front of her, and how it might be spun to their advantage. Why had Iásōn done it? She watched his soft profile, the earnestness of his explanation, and witnessed such sweetness it was no wonder he’d ended up with the Custody’s leash around his neck. She reached to place a gentle squeeze on his shoulder, in gratitude or commiseration or solidarity. Then she stepped back to allow space.
Pavel gave every impression of being utterly unmoved. Sofia had no idea why he was making it so hard on himself, and reluctance only made this whole sojourn more memorable. Possibly it was the idea of the power itself. They lived in a new world now, and their experiences of Sofia’s own gift were vastly different from this. Being groomed for the Vasiliev empire he would one day inherit did not leave much room for submission to forces he could neither control nor sense. His jaw clenched, and he said nothing, but neither did he flinch away – from holding Iásōn’s gaze or from the reach of his touch. At the last moment he held his hand up, palm facing upwards, for the other man to take.
Sofia prided herself on reading a room, but she did not predict what happened next. The face Iásōn revealed from under the white mask was not one she recognised, but neither was she likely to forget it. Her attention cut straight to the alarmed agent, cool and searching. If they had a problem here, it was a promise that she was about to be a bigger one, for all the casual way she held herself, hands back in her pockets, expression imperious and controlled. But though he called out, he did nothing she took to be a threat. Not now anyway. The Ascendancy went to great lengths to protect this man’s identity, and while on the one hand such knowledge was priceless, on the other it was also fucking dangerous.
Maksim better keep his mouth fucking shut.
She did not turn to look at her brother-in-law. The subtlety of a hard look would be utterly wasted on him. Instead her attention did not break from the exchange in front of her, and how it might be spun to their advantage. Why had Iásōn done it? She watched his soft profile, the earnestness of his explanation, and witnessed such sweetness it was no wonder he’d ended up with the Custody’s leash around his neck. She reached to place a gentle squeeze on his shoulder, in gratitude or commiseration or solidarity. Then she stepped back to allow space.
Pavel gave every impression of being utterly unmoved. Sofia had no idea why he was making it so hard on himself, and reluctance only made this whole sojourn more memorable. Possibly it was the idea of the power itself. They lived in a new world now, and their experiences of Sofia’s own gift were vastly different from this. Being groomed for the Vasiliev empire he would one day inherit did not leave much room for submission to forces he could neither control nor sense. His jaw clenched, and he said nothing, but neither did he flinch away – from holding Iásōn’s gaze or from the reach of his touch. At the last moment he held his hand up, palm facing upwards, for the other man to take.
![[Image: vasiliev--scaled.jpg]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/vasiliev--scaled.jpg)