"Yes," he says wearily, his expression bleak, "I've had that thought as well."
Cassandra's finally caught a lucky break in her life, inasmuch as she's not among Rubilykskoye's citizenry, and he can't be anything but grateful for that. He feels rather more complicated about the other options; while only the cruelest of gods would have dragged his other younger siblings here, he has to admit that his older brother and sister would technically be fair play. If Vax can be here, dead in all but name, why not Julius or Vesper? Hells, why not his parents? Is this fate worse than the one forced upon his family at home?
Restless nights have given him far too much time to consider, and he's decided that it's for the best that the worst of all the de Rolos is the only one present...but some selfish part of him envies Vex the time she has with her brother. Having the time to say everything that needs saying to someone who'll never come back otherwise - when he's alone and feeling less than optimistic about their chances of escape, it's something he covets impotently.
But he can't think about them now, not when Vex is looking like she might fall to pieces at any moment. She's strong, always strong, and holding herself together as best she can, but even a stranger would see the distress making her gulp her wine.
"I've also had that thought." He might not be good for much right now - breaking her heart has rather colored the afternoon - but he can at least try to comfort her. No more booze for him; he's had enough that he probably can't walk a straight line at the moment anyway. No more self-pity, only reaching over to embrace her, if she'll let him. Into her hair, he murmurs, "I'm a selfish bastard. I like seeing you happy...and having you all to myself."
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Cassandra's finally caught a lucky break in her life, inasmuch as she's not among Rubilykskoye's citizenry, and he can't be anything but grateful for that. He feels rather more complicated about the other options; while only the cruelest of gods would have dragged his other younger siblings here, he has to admit that his older brother and sister would technically be fair play. If Vax can be here, dead in all but name, why not Julius or Vesper? Hells, why not his parents? Is this fate worse than the one forced upon his family at home?
Restless nights have given him far too much time to consider, and he's decided that it's for the best that the worst of all the de Rolos is the only one present...but some selfish part of him envies Vex the time she has with her brother. Having the time to say everything that needs saying to someone who'll never come back otherwise - when he's alone and feeling less than optimistic about their chances of escape, it's something he covets impotently.
But he can't think about them now, not when Vex is looking like she might fall to pieces at any moment. She's strong, always strong, and holding herself together as best she can, but even a stranger would see the distress making her gulp her wine.
"I've also had that thought." He might not be good for much right now - breaking her heart has rather colored the afternoon - but he can at least try to comfort her. No more booze for him; he's had enough that he probably can't walk a straight line at the moment anyway. No more self-pity, only reaching over to embrace her, if she'll let him. Into her hair, he murmurs, "I'm a selfish bastard. I like seeing you happy...and having you all to myself."