Anya's own expression has turned solemn, more serious than she's been
in hours. The itch that had been lurking under her skin has finally been
scratched, the discomfort that had quietly nagged at her made real. She
had known that such a war hadn't lasted for forever, but seven years is a
long time. By her math, she knows that had she not suddenly arrived here in
this city then she would have certainly lived to see that war start. It
would only be a little more than ten years later. That is almost too much
to bear. Both she and Gleb and Russia have seen too much war, too much
bloodshed. How much more can the world endure before it completely falls
apart?
She hadn't manage to finish her research, picking up on all that she had
missed. There are books in the library that she hasn't dared to crack the
spines of. Perhaps in a few months she will be ready to, but not now. When
that time comes it will be slowly, in drips and drabs.
"I think we have," she agrees with a soft nod of her own. War in so many
forms. Between neighbors, between allies, within oneself. Her own memory
wars against her. "There is certainly that. War hasn't touched this place.
Or if it has, it is only in the people who come from somewhere else."
Some people she's met come from violent, messy places. Others seem to have
lived idyllic lives. All of them are building and rebuilding lives. Her
pace has slowed involuntarily as she turns her body slowly towards him,
watching his face, taking in the softness that she finds there. There is a
gentle way that he seems to handle her. Anya is certain it isn't purely
because he was ordered to kill her and didn't. There is more to that and
she longs to know it, but can't make herself ask why. Why does he look at
her like she is something precious? Is she? Isn't she the enemy of the
world he'd hoped to build simply for still living? His confession says
otherwise. Her lips part is gentle surprise at the admission. "I'm
certainly not sorry that I didn't see it as well," she agrees. "People
aren't meant to fight for forever. Ceratinly not to die for someone else's
cause."
no subject
Anya's own expression has turned solemn, more serious than she's been in hours. The itch that had been lurking under her skin has finally been scratched, the discomfort that had quietly nagged at her made real. She had known that such a war hadn't lasted for forever, but seven years is a long time. By her math, she knows that had she not suddenly arrived here in this city then she would have certainly lived to see that war start. It would only be a little more than ten years later. That is almost too much to bear. Both she and Gleb and Russia have seen too much war, too much bloodshed. How much more can the world endure before it completely falls apart?
She hadn't manage to finish her research, picking up on all that she had missed. There are books in the library that she hasn't dared to crack the spines of. Perhaps in a few months she will be ready to, but not now. When that time comes it will be slowly, in drips and drabs.
"I think we have," she agrees with a soft nod of her own. War in so many forms. Between neighbors, between allies, within oneself. Her own memory wars against her. "There is certainly that. War hasn't touched this place. Or if it has, it is only in the people who come from somewhere else."
Some people she's met come from violent, messy places. Others seem to have lived idyllic lives. All of them are building and rebuilding lives. Her pace has slowed involuntarily as she turns her body slowly towards him, watching his face, taking in the softness that she finds there. There is a gentle way that he seems to handle her. Anya is certain it isn't purely because he was ordered to kill her and didn't. There is more to that and she longs to know it, but can't make herself ask why. Why does he look at her like she is something precious? Is she? Isn't she the enemy of the world he'd hoped to build simply for still living? His confession says otherwise. Her lips part is gentle surprise at the admission. "I'm certainly not sorry that I didn't see it as well," she agrees. "People aren't meant to fight for forever. Ceratinly not to die for someone else's cause."