gently poking his shoulder and holding out a cup of coffee for him.

silently stepping into the room, knocking on the door to catch his attention.

“ I can understand that.” she said softly with a small laugh. She moved some of her hair back, tucking it behind her ears. “ I never thought I was going to see you again.” she admitted. “ But i’m very happy we have come across each other.”

“ oh, no! i just arrived.” she smiled and looked at him. “ I was thinking we should go into the gardens and have a snowball fight.” she said, grinning widely.

/ i need to be more active here rip

ALWAYS AN ANGEL ╱ NEVER A GOD.

⠀ ⠀ silently tinkering with a few of her brother’s things in his lab — she couldn’t help herself. ⠀ ⠀

⠀ ⠀ Hearing nikolai’s voice she jumps a little bit—surprised is all. She wasn’t expecting him to come down. “ did i?” ⠀

⠀ ⠀ “ ah. i promise you, you are not.” she smiled and pulled a pencil out from behind her ear, scribbling away on a blueprint. “ if you take this ship in the air, it will break. it needs stronger sails for the squallers.” ⠀ ⠀

⠀ ⠀ silently slipping into his bedroom, snowball in hand. definitely about to throw one at him. “ wake up!”⠀ ⠀

⠀ ⠀ “very small mathematical error.” she said shrugging a bit. She set her pencil down and looked at her brother.⠀ ⠀ “ ask away! i am an open book.”⠀

⠀ ⠀ at his words, she slightly pauses and takes a soft breath. “ he is certainly an interesting man.” she said. “ he cares, very much. but he is also a fjerdan man. I think he would’ve loved to have a son to raise.”

“ he treated me like a princess.” she said, reminiscing on her childhood. “ But at a certain age in fjerda, you are expected to marry and have children. I…did not. He was embarrassed a little bit. always trying to get me engaged.”

“ zoya!”

She chuckled a bit with him. “ perhaps not. I’ve had about…4 failed attempts at an engagement.”

⠀⠀⠀ “ I would love too.” a small smile etched across her face. “ I’ve found some nice quiet spots out in the garden from my last visit, i’d love to show you.” she offered, holding her hand out to him. She couldn’t help but blush while just admiring him. ⠀⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ As she held his hand, she noted how soft they felt. Soft but also hardworking hands, she could feel the callus’ on the sides. Her eyes scanned the crowd, she doubted anyone would notice them both gone. “ very loud in there.” she said as she lead them to the gardens. ⠀⠀

⠀⠀⠀ “ same. They’re horrible.” she slightly looked down at their hands, blushing as his thumb was brushing against her hand. “ Though they can be tolerable with the right company.” After a couple moments of walking, she revealed the nice secluded spot. “ here we are!”⠀

⠀⠀⠀ she may be able to help and offer assistance. ⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀