Sometimes, but I haven’t lately. Everything has happened so fast since coming here, I haven’t had time. Perhaps I’ll start again now that I’ve started to settle in, though.
[It might give her something else to do in her spare time besides pen letters to Mal. Not that she has any plans to stop that but maybe she should give her letters a chance to get to him before writing new ones.
Besides she’s been dreaming of the stag lately, maybe it would help to get the images out on paper.]
So, yelling is just part of Baghra's charm, is it? I was afraid of that.
You should take the time to sketch if it would make you feel more at home.
[ Aleksander did intend to make this place as a save haven for those who are Grisha. He did not quite anticipate someone joining the Little Palace who already had a life of their own.
But his smile widens slightly. ]
I'm afraid I can give you no reassurance there. I would be more worried if she stopped yelling.
[ They can easily find whatever she might need and more.
There's a pause after that bit if only because he doesn't like to think of Baghra hitting her, but he is also well aware of Baghra's technique. He... experienced it himself after all when he was much younger than Alina. If he wants the sun summoner to be as strong as he knows her to be, she has to be trained by the best, which is Baghra. If Kirigan had the time through fighting a war, through travelling through the country to fight at his army's side, he would want to teach her himself.
But their time is limited, and the threat grows every day. ]
I am afraid so, Alina. Her methods are extreme. But they do provide results.
I went through similar training when I was younger than you.
If you insist. I could gather them myself, though, if it's too much trouble.
[But she suspects he might insist.
She has to take a moment to consider what he says about Baghra. In spite of hearing some stories, she hadn't yet thought much about how young some of the Grisha must be when they first started training. At least she's not a child any longer.]
I know. I've heard the same from some of the other Grisha here.
I'm sorry, though. It must have been difficult to deal with as a child.
[ Kirigan insists. She has much more important things to be doing than gathering supplies at the moment, and there are plenty of servants who could do so with ease. When she retires this evening, she will find everything she needs laid out upon her bed.
There is a long pause following what she says. It is strange to hear her say it given the reality she does not know, that no one knows. It is certainly nothing he deserves though he wonders if one day he may be able to tell her the truth. Speak of what he hasn't truly ever spoken about, what he rarely thinks about anymore- he has changed so much within his lifetime.
They have time after all - more than she knows. ]
It is an unfortunate necessity of being at war. [ of being only valued for what they can do for the king, of being in danger otherwise. ] At least here Grisha can be safe.
[ safe to fight a war for a king who cares not for their interests. ]
And one day perhaps we will not have to fight so hard any longer. That is the hope you bring. Is it not?
[Ah, there it is again. The pressure. The spike of anxiety in her chest and the doubt that eats at her. Being the people’s symbol of hope is a heavy weight to carry, and she’s not accustomed to bearing it yet.]
So they keep saying.
[Well, except Zoya. On some level Alina wonders if Zoya is the only one who sees the truth. She’s completely out of her depth.
Then again, proving Zoya wrong is excellent incentive not to give up.]
I still have a lot of work to do before I can live up to it, though.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[It might give her something else to do in her spare time besides pen letters to Mal. Not that she has any plans to stop that but maybe she should give her letters a chance to get to him before writing new ones.
Besides she’s been dreaming of the stag lately, maybe it would help to get the images out on paper.]
So, yelling is just part of Baghra's charm, is it? I was afraid of that.
no subject
[ Aleksander did intend to make this place as a save haven for those who are Grisha. He did not quite anticipate someone joining the Little Palace who already had a life of their own.
But his smile widens slightly. ]
I'm afraid I can give you no reassurance there. I would be more worried if she stopped yelling.
no subject
[Indeed, the Little Palace seemed to have everything. A charcoal pencil and a sketch pad is probably easy enough to find.
As for Baghra:]
What if she stopped hitting? Would that be worrying, too?
[Of course she understand why Baghra does it. The sudden pain triggers a Grisha's power. But, it's very frustrating.]
no subject
[ They can easily find whatever she might need and more.
There's a pause after that bit if only because he doesn't like to think of Baghra hitting her, but he is also well aware of Baghra's technique. He... experienced it himself after all when he was much younger than Alina. If he wants the sun summoner to be as strong as he knows her to be, she has to be trained by the best, which is Baghra. If Kirigan had the time through fighting a war, through travelling through the country to fight at his army's side, he would want to teach her himself.
But their time is limited, and the threat grows every day. ]
I am afraid so, Alina. Her methods are extreme. But they do provide results.
I went through similar training when I was younger than you.
no subject
[But she suspects he might insist.
She has to take a moment to consider what he says about Baghra. In spite of hearing some stories, she hadn't yet thought much about how young some of the Grisha must be when they first started training. At least she's not a child any longer.]
I know. I've heard the same from some of the other Grisha here.
I'm sorry, though. It must have been difficult to deal with as a child.
no subject
There is a long pause following what she says. It is strange to hear her say it given the reality she does not know, that no one knows. It is certainly nothing he deserves though he wonders if one day he may be able to tell her the truth. Speak of what he hasn't truly ever spoken about, what he rarely thinks about anymore- he has changed so much within his lifetime.
They have time after all - more than she knows. ]
It is an unfortunate necessity of being at war. [ of being only valued for what they can do for the king, of being in danger otherwise. ] At least here Grisha can be safe.
[ safe to fight a war for a king who cares not for their interests. ]
And one day perhaps we will not have to fight so hard any longer. That is the hope you bring. Is it not?
no subject
So they keep saying.
[Well, except Zoya. On some level Alina wonders if Zoya is the only one who sees the truth. She’s completely out of her depth.
Then again, proving Zoya wrong is excellent incentive not to give up.]
I still have a lot of work to do before I can live up to it, though.