[ ...ah. Yes. She knows. The Shu thing. It's not easy to resemble the enemy in a land that's at war, she supposes. Grisha have more reason to fear the Shu than most, but they also don't have the luxury of turning anyone away who wants to help them -- let alone the sun summoner. Nina imagines Alina must have, very abruptly, been thrust into a very different life.
The Little Palace was many things, but nice was not the first word that came to Nina's mind. It had been, however, good to suddenly be in a place where she fit, where she had a purpose, and where there were people who wouldn't turn her away.
She imagines that it might have been similar for Alina, if... impossibly more, to have gone from who she'd been to who she was. The politics could be brutal, and, well... at least Nina knows the names of some of the people Alina befriended. Poor Genya; she was glad she'd found a friend there. And Fedyor and Ivan... Nina feels a pang of sorrow, thinking of how they would view her now. She doesn't regret it; it hurts all the same. ]
Nadia, I don't know well. Fedyor is a sweetheart. Ivan... [ she trails up, her hand brushing against the silver locket she now wears ] ...has had to do many difficult things. He has a true heart. They're both very good. [ At what they do, at being Heartrenders. They'd been a few years ahead of her, but she'd still competed with their class - Ivan could beat her out at times, still. ]
[ She doesn't mention Genya, because Genya is not mentioned. The white kefta speaks loudly enough for her. When they had been younger... even then, it hadn't truly been that different. But Nina did not like being cruel, and sometimes that was close to kindness, and when Nina had become a spy Genya had shared a few things with Nina that, perhaps, she should not have as in the past Nina had done a few things for Genya that, perhaps, she should not have. ]
i really, really hope this works for headcanon with genya
The Little Palace was many things, but nice was not the first word that came to Nina's mind. It had been, however, good to suddenly be in a place where she fit, where she had a purpose, and where there were people who wouldn't turn her away.
She imagines that it might have been similar for Alina, if... impossibly more, to have gone from who she'd been to who she was. The politics could be brutal, and, well... at least Nina knows the names of some of the people Alina befriended. Poor Genya; she was glad she'd found a friend there. And Fedyor and Ivan... Nina feels a pang of sorrow, thinking of how they would view her now. She doesn't regret it; it hurts all the same. ]
Nadia, I don't know well. Fedyor is a sweetheart. Ivan... [ she trails up, her hand brushing against the silver locket she now wears ] ...has had to do many difficult things. He has a true heart. They're both very good. [ At what they do, at being Heartrenders. They'd been a few years ahead of her, but she'd still competed with their class - Ivan could beat her out at times, still. ]
[ She doesn't mention Genya, because Genya is not mentioned. The white kefta speaks loudly enough for her. When they had been younger... even then, it hadn't truly been that different. But Nina did not like being cruel, and sometimes that was close to kindness, and when Nina had become a spy Genya had shared a few things with Nina that, perhaps, she should not have as in the past Nina had done a few things for Genya that, perhaps, she should not have. ]