He's new. She knows he's new because she's seen him around the boarding house, even if she doesn't know his name. That's the thing about a community this small: you start to get a look at everybody, eventually. Alina had come to the industrial row to pick up an order for Nikolai from Vojislav, but it's hard to ignore the sudden shout from a nearby shop.
An unpleasant competitor, by the sound of it. Alina thanks Iskra for her time and leaves the package on her counter for the moment, crossing the cobbled street to put a hand on the back of Tony's arm.
"Leave it," she says quickly. "Believe me, it's not worth the trouble." She's been trying to rise to the bait less often herself, but it's far easier when she's not the one targeted. "If you're interested in smithing, I know someone I can introduce you to."
Trouble, however, doesn't care that Alina has been trying. The uniformed man spits at her feet, calls her a bone witch when he tells them both a second time to clear out because he doesn't want to look at her. Alina's jaw sets. There's a twitch of something in her brow as she presses her eyes shut to gather herself, neck cracking as she turns her face away. When she looks back, she has found a loathsome smile to hide behind as she says, "I hope your next death is the long one."
out in town
He's new. She knows he's new because she's seen him around the boarding house, even if she doesn't know his name. That's the thing about a community this small: you start to get a look at everybody, eventually. Alina had come to the industrial row to pick up an order for Nikolai from Vojislav, but it's hard to ignore the sudden shout from a nearby shop.
An unpleasant competitor, by the sound of it. Alina thanks Iskra for her time and leaves the package on her counter for the moment, crossing the cobbled street to put a hand on the back of Tony's arm.
"Leave it," she says quickly. "Believe me, it's not worth the trouble." She's been trying to rise to the bait less often herself, but it's far easier when she's not the one targeted. "If you're interested in smithing, I know someone I can introduce you to."
Trouble, however, doesn't care that Alina has been trying. The uniformed man spits at her feet, calls her a bone witch when he tells them both a second time to clear out because he doesn't want to look at her. Alina's jaw sets. There's a twitch of something in her brow as she presses her eyes shut to gather herself, neck cracking as she turns her face away. When she looks back, she has found a loathsome smile to hide behind as she says, "I hope your next death is the long one."