[ he knows it's her. dutch can't imagine him not knowing that it's her, when she spots him — he plays the careless idiot well, but she's seen some of the flashes of intelligence, some of the humour that betrays it. just like she isn't merely a brawler trained to kill, just like she's been taught statescraft and politics, he isn't just some noble idiot. she doesn't know what he is and she's not sure she cares overly much.
but she thinks he must know that it's her. he's good with people.
which means he's giving her an out. which means he pities her. bad enough that he's seen this, that he's still seeing this. she turns away from the sight before them, khlyen telling her younger self to divorce herself from her pain, from her fear. to never ask why. to kill because she has to. his tone is honey and silk over steel.
there's a bitter taste in her mouth when dutch lets herself take the pity and the out. ] Yeah, no idea, but it's weird as hells.
[ her younger self manages to slip from the bonds by dislocating her own shoulders. it's something dutch has done too many times since. ]
no subject
but she thinks he must know that it's her. he's good with people.
which means he's giving her an out. which means he pities her. bad enough that he's seen this, that he's still seeing this. she turns away from the sight before them, khlyen telling her younger self to divorce herself from her pain, from her fear. to never ask why. to kill because she has to. his tone is honey and silk over steel.
there's a bitter taste in her mouth when dutch lets herself take the pity and the out. ] Yeah, no idea, but it's weird as hells.
[ her younger self manages to slip from the bonds by dislocating her own shoulders. it's something dutch has done too many times since. ]