Eeeeee-I hundred cutting or The tracker's tactical tramp stamp
Remember how Mal wanted Alina to get into her thick head she's not to keep seducing him with her presence?
Apparently, in Keramzin they didn't teach the Golden Rule...
Ruin and Rising- Chapter 5
A group of fugitives is camping near a big city. Alina brings her owner boyfriend loyal guard some news, since he's busy elsewhere:
Ehm...
Idk, but if he's so bothered by Alina's desire, why doesn't he go get dressed immediately? I'd feel uncomfortable half-naked in front of a person, who wants me against my wishes. It would be only natural to want to put some sort of barrier between them.
It's also basic consideration, since he requires the same from her. Like... why he keeps showing off solely in front of her?! Shortly after telling her how much he wants her, but refuses to pursue her for her sake?
Don't tell me someone, who has SO MUCH experience doesn't know how he affects female part of the population, when wet and bare-chested.
I won't even begin on the irresponsibility of playing half-naked in water, when on the run...
OMG, who could've guessed this is gonna happen?
I never saw it coming!
Attention and cookie points?
It's not like he can't also have it safely and quickly removed...
E... eeeee?!
ya... I
sta... NOT the first grammatical case of hundred?
rezku... 4th case of cutting, for some reason?!
This would make a delightful foreshadowing of a bit poorer relative of death by a thousand cuts, alas...
Likely the first thing ever we can agree on.
... and pretty dull one.
... whom the Grisha had followed... as if they had a choice...
... who'd told me I would be a queen? After finding out forbidding you doesn't work, so let's try to put you off.
Nah- in that case a possible reader could at least assume he doesn't mean it. That it's an irony...
Finally something that works!
He slut-shames her, virgin-shames her, tells her he wants to fuck her just like those many other girls before her, shows off his assets, and finally she can't resist!
She touches HIM in lustful way! No flinching this way!
I mean... he could always just swing his dick around, but that could look too direct and arouse her puritan upbringing instead.
note: Modern AU Malyen's totally sending Alina dick pics.
Who else?
He's just gullible enough to take Malyen's lovey-dovey act seriously. And everyone knows Tolya's the softer of the twins. More likely to appreciate such a romantic gesture properly.
As I wrote earlier- Malyen probably quickly figured out there's no place for him in Alina's cult unless he's a part of it. The Apparat isn't exactly fond of him- too aware of the danger Malyen presents to the saintly maiden he wants to parade around-, so the most likely allies are the twins, who aren't exactly happy with him either thanks to his drunken failure. So he makes the effort to change their opinion, proving just how much he wishes to rectify earlier error of his way. Loudly proclaiming how is he wholly devoted to Sankta Alina. That it makes him "just like them" is just a sweet bonus.
Inej mentions no sensation, when Nina makes her makeshift tattoo. Only an itch, when it's being erased by parem-high Nina, but then the scar under is also being healed.
Using one of Kaz’s lockpicks and copper pyrite Jesper had extracted from the roof, Wylan traced his best imitation of the Menagerie feather on Nina’s arm, following Inej’s description and making corrections as needed. Then Nina sank the ink into her own flesh. A Corporalnik didn’t need a tattoo needle. ... The harbor. Inej thought of the Ferolind with its cheerful flags, and tried to hold that image in her head as she watched the peacock feather sink into her skin.
SoC Chapter 28
Inej was glad she hadn’t had to ask. She pushed up her sleeve, baring the peacock feather and mottled skin beneath it.It took the barest second, the softest brush of Nina’s fingertips. The itch was acute but passed quickly. When the prickling faded, the skin of Inej’s forearm was perfect—almost too smooth and flawless, like it was the one new part of her.
SoC Chapter 42
Malyen's grand gesture was likely done in totally painless way.
Alina THE seductress.
As if he didn't get that tattoo to get her attention...
As if that weren't EXACTLY what's he aiming at.
As if he just didn't pass every chance he got to stop Alina before she gets too close.
A guy, who spent last year insisting you're a couple, and you should act accordingly, gets your name tattooed all over his back, makes sure you see it right after needlessly showing off his "admirable" skills, then pretends you're seducing him against his will.
The very same guy, who claimed to be basically a horse female whisperer not so long ago?!
Apologies, but the association just popped up in my head. The band rocks, they don't deserve it, but that's exactly what Malyen would be singing, were this a musical.