Nikolai is surprised that she can sense the shame roiling under the surface of his polished exterior. He is not given to wearing his heart on his sleeve. But there might be a certain heaviness in his eyes. A certain hesitation hanging about his falsely confident demeanor. Or perhaps she just knows, having borne this particular shame herself. He purses his lips together before breaking into a self-abasing grin.]
No shame, then. What about mortification? Contrition?
[Before she can get too frustrated with him, he reaches out to take the linen bag she holds out and returns to business.]
Should I take both together?
[It doesn't escape his notice that she says "my knight." An intriguing turn of phrase, considering that knights are sworn to a very particular class of person... But he tucks this scrap of information away for another time.]
no subject
Nikolai is surprised that she can sense the shame roiling under the surface of his polished exterior. He is not given to wearing his heart on his sleeve. But there might be a certain heaviness in his eyes. A certain hesitation hanging about his falsely confident demeanor. Or perhaps she just knows, having borne this particular shame herself. He purses his lips together before breaking into a self-abasing grin.]
No shame, then. What about mortification? Contrition?
[Before she can get too frustrated with him, he reaches out to take the linen bag she holds out and returns to business.]
Should I take both together?
[It doesn't escape his notice that she says "my knight." An intriguing turn of phrase, considering that knights are sworn to a very particular class of person... But he tucks this scrap of information away for another time.]