ravkanwitch | [open post: Kei ryezich Ravkayash?]

Nina makes friends very easily. This is a known fact. Despite what's going on internally, she's friendly, exuberant, and silly when she's around others. When she moved to the Little Palace from the orphanage, she immediately made a few fast friends with other Grisha who were around the same age. One was a young girl from Fjerda -- rescued from the Drüskelle, who would rather burn their own at stake than admit that Grisha were human -- and they were best friends. Her friend didn't know the Ravkan language that well, so Nina began learning Fjerdan to bridge the gap. Her instructors immediately saw promise and placed her in multiple language courses where she thrived. Fjerdan (the language of the enemy) ironically became what she excelled in, to native fluency. Her Kerch (the language of commerce) is near perfect. Shu and Zemeni were next, potential rivals or partners of Ravka. Kaelish because it was fun. Suli was the most difficult to grasp, a dialect of Ravkan but also entirely different. In any case, she didn't see it as work, she saw it as a way to connect more deeply with others.

Since arriving, Nina has noticed that everyone at the mansion has a different accent, if you can call it that. It's clear that none of them share the same language, but she processes everyone's language the same, somehow. She started experimenting, speaking Fjerdan with Laertes, Shu with Binghe and Lan Wangji, Kerch with some of the other residents like Nightingale and Janet. It's possible it changes her accent to something closer to theirs -- she thinks it does -- but it doesn't seem to change what she's saying. At least it's a way to maintain fluency, just in case...

She has also noticed that there are some areas of the grounds, some little pockets, that don't seem to translate what she's reading or saying as clearly. She first noticed this when she wandered a little too far into the woods and pulled out a book to read in an attempt to be more cultured (before she became swarmed with bugs and had to give up) -- but there was a moment where the language in the book seemed to be entirely different. It's been happening more frequently lately.

In the wake of a successful (?) talent show, Nina has found one of those pockets. She is sitting at a desk strewn with books about languages, deep into studying English, French, and Chinese simultaneously. She would absolutely welcome company, whether to discuss the talent show, languages, or anything else.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Luo Binghe holds on for longer than he feels like he should, but she did say it was alright. He's not typically shy with touch; it's just so hard to believe that it will be welcome without romantic or sexual intent. Without that promise of what he can offer—his body, his wealth, his protection—then what could anyone possibly get from holding him? But it's so good to be in Nina's arms, feeling that she cares for him on an instinctive, animal level. He has missed this, he realizes, about sex—not the sex itself, but being held so much more than he is here.

Eventually, though, he pulls back. "Thank you."

It makes Nina happier than she would have thought to have multiple friends here that she can hug, throw an arm around, nudge, or press a hand on their arm without thinking; small moments of touch where it just feels natural. Loving but not sexual. Growing up without a family, her friends have always been her family -- and hugging Luo Binghe feels like hugging family.

"Anytime," She responds. Then her face brightens. "We definitely made quite a pair on that stage, didn't we?"

Luo Binghe smiles weakly. He hasn't fully shaken off his dark mood, but he recognizes that she is trying to pull him out of it, and he won't resist. "We did. Shen Yuan's reaction to the clothes Janet picked out was worth every minute of rehearsal."

"I bet it was," Nina laughs. "You know," she continues thoughtfully, searching for another light subject, "it was actually Aziraphale who inspired the entire talent show. Have you met him? He performed first under the stage name Mr. Fell."

"That was Aziraphale?" Luo Binghe has been keeping an eye out for Crowley's friend from the heavens. He never would have guessed that the... less than confident performance that kicked off the talent show came from a heavenly being. True, Luo Binghe has never met one before, but... If that's the extent of his powers, then Luo Binghe can understand why Crowley was worried for his safety. His heart goes out to him. It must be hard to love someone so defenseless.

"I haven't met him, but Crowley has spoken of him. What did you think of the other acts? We were clearly the best—although of course Shen Yuan's paintings were exceptional."

"He's incredibly talented," Nina agrees. Her brows furrow for a split second thinking about the portrait of Aleksander and the conversation about it, but she had promised Shen Yuan that she wouldn't say anything about it. "I think everyone did great," she adds diplomatically. "Sagramore's poetry was a nice surprise, though. I had to encourage him to sign up but I'm glad he did."

Luo Binghe nods in approval. "I like Sagramore. He is a good friend to Shen Yuan and I both." Likely the only one of Shen Yuan's friends who also likes Luo Binghe. He sighs—he does not intend to go back down the dark path of his troubles, but he would still like his closest friend's advice. "What will I do, if the rift between Galahad and me is irreconcilable? I worry Shen Yuan will feel obligated to choose between us."

Nina pauses for a moment to consider the question. She's not sure if she's ever been in a similar situation; Kaz is an asshole and she hates him sometimes, but it's not like Matthias and Kaz got along at all. It's not like anyone really got along with Kaz.

"I'm not sure," she says, quite honestly. "I think you'll need to sit down with Shen Yuan and talk about this... but if I know him at all, and it's probably part of the reason why you love him so much... I don't think he would ever abandon either of you."

Luo Binghe nods. There's a petty part of him that wants Shen Yuan to choose him—to stand up and say anyone who doesn't like Luo Binghe should get out of his sight. But Nina's right that if he did that, he would not be the same Shen Yuan. He's compassionate, and forgiving of all manner of faults. If it were otherwise, there's no chance he would love Luo Binghe.

"I appreciate your counsel. I wish I had more sweets to give you," he says with a little smile. "I've been too busy with matters of the heart, and I've been delinquent in my duties."

“You’ll just owe me twice as many sweets the next time you see me,” Nina says, firmly. She’s joking - but she also wouldn’t mind. “I just… I hope I helped. Even by listening. It upsets me to see you upset.”

"Hearing you say that helps," Luo Binghe says sincerely. "Nina... I really think you are the best friend I've ever had." Ning Yingying cares about him, but turns a willfully blind eye to his darker side. Liu Mingyan is a safe harbor for his secrets, but he would not go to her when he feels like this, uselessly upset.

It feels like there's something stuck in Nina's throat for a second, perhaps a little blurriness in the corner of her eyes -- but she swallows and gives him a brilliant smile. "I could say the same for you."

Can that possibly be true? Luo Binghe knows what keeps him from forming friendships, but Nina? He knows she has had a hard life; it must be due to the cruelty of the world, not any personal deficiencies. He does not want her to be alone, he wants her to have as many friends as she desires—but he can't deny it pleases him to hear that he has a unique place in her life. A smile flickers across his face. "An accomplishment greater than conquering the three realms."

[open post: Kei ryezich Ravkayash?]

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