WHHT - Ch 8

Title: Where Hoofbeats and Hearts Thunder - Ch 8
Rating: T
Fandom: Shadow and Bone (TV)
Pairing/Characters: Aleksander/Alina Starkov
Critical Tags: Canon Divergence, Horses, Gift Giving, Drama, Road Trips
Chapter Summary: Kirigan has tracked down Alina after her brief disappearance from Os Alta, and now the two have just a few things to discuss. Alina doesn't want to come back just yet, and Saints know that isn't what the general wants to hear.
Excerpt:

“Why did you do that?” Alina asked, breaking the silence between them first. It would have been easy enough for Ivan to slow her heart and knock her out. They all knew that.

Kirigan nudged at the coals with some of the kindling that Alina had not needed. “I hoped that it would put less pressure on you to not be under so many eyes and that you might feel comfortable enough to drop that little blade. But perhaps more simply I thought we could both use some privacy for this discussion,” he answered.

Alina frowned. She thought about putting the knife down - he was just one man just as she was one young woman - but she knew that even while apparently unarmed, General Kirigan was still plenty dangerous.

“I don’t have any reason to believe anything that you have to say,” Alina said.

“Really.” Again, he had that calm affect to his voice that raised her hackles. He continued to prod at the coals, adding slim twigs and dried leaf litter to the remnants of her fire.

“Really,” Alina insisted. She waited a beat then she added, “Genya must have told you that I figured out you’ve been lying to me.”

“Which lies are those?” The first pieces of leaf litter were smoldering along with the coals. Kirigan plucked a large sheath of bark that Alina had carved off of a log and used it to gently fan flames to life. They were tiny but eager, racing to consume the kindling that had been set. Alina was less than impressed with the quick revival. He was just using her previous hard work that had come from long minutes of friction and tired arms.

Words and Stuff!

So, clearly being back in the office 85-95% of the time has severely killed my ability to blog on here. Who would have thought!!

What's been going on with me in the past 6-12 weeks, anyways? Well, work mostly. Lots of work and training and dealing with the new super being... Mmmm let's not say inadequate but let's compromise with "lackluster". Like, I don't want the supervisor job - far from it - but I was somehow doing it so much better. But, whatever. Time to let New Guy sink or swim on his own. If I'm casually mentioning all the things that are falling behind in my one on ones with Bossman, well, who can say what that will mean for New Guy's performance eval at six months?
( TW Pandemic Bullshit )

Positive things, positive things... I'm sure that I can wrangle some of those out from somewhere...

Doc and I have made two batches of wine so far! We did a Riesling and a Strawberry White Merlot (kind of like a blush, kind of not) and now the house is stocked with something like 50 bottles at this point XD We're well prepared for any spur of the moment gifts needed for people and have gotten to share the Reisling so far on those scattered few days when we DID get to see friends and my sibling.

Writing has been my one constant, other than my darling Doc and the animals. I'm a little behind on where I'd like to be with some open event responsibilities and I haven't updated Prove It in a hot minute; BUT I am very excited by how consistent I've been able to be with the Darklina Horsie Fic aka WHHT. The outline ballooned a bit, yes, but the readers are LOVING it. And I'm having a blast. SO that's a win.

Next week come hell or high water I will have drafts done for auexchange and rule63exchange. And maybe I'll be bold and get a chapter drafted for Prove It in by the start of September. We shall have to see.

Cheers for now!