Chapter twelve: Validation
Bonus points to anyone who can guess what Aseena's joke was.
Chapter twelve
The bells were silent, and the western wall was still standing. It felt a bit shaky, to Dara's witchcraft senses, like constantly being roiled to throw off demons and bring gargoyles into being was starting to take its toll on its structural integrity. A few more attacks of this scale, and she would be seriously worried - but for now, it was still standing, and the only figures outlined in the glow of the watchfires on top of it were uniformed Soldiers. Shadowed Citadel Demesne was still holding firm.
The garrison building stood right next to the wall, a great barrack of black stone - not Witch Stone; much like the Ministry of Mystics building, garrisons were constructed specifically to make sure that rogue witches couldn't cause damage to it - with two floors and no real windows, only small holes that you could fire crossbows out of. If the wall fell, the garrison would still remain a strong point of defense against the tidal wave of demons that would come pouring in.
The bloody rain had stopped, though it had left a thin crust of dry blood over every building and every patch of street. In the streetlights, the whole city looked like a corpse.
"Well, you've got to hand it to Mansuur," Aseena said. "He really knows how to..."
"No," Dara said.
"I'm just saying, he..."
"Don't."
Aseena gave her a grumpy look.
"You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"Yes, I do," Dara said. "You're going to make a very obvious and tasteless joke. Please don't. I don't think I can stand it right now."
Aseena sighed, slumping her shoulders theatrically.
"I miss Jalon," she said. "He appreciates my sense of humour."
"Yeah, well, let's just say I'm starting to understand why you feel so blessed at having found at least one person who does," Dara said. "Come on. Let's see if Rinabaar has been horribly killed by a demon, or if he can help us."
They headed for the garrison entrance.
"I know that you're the great judge of character and all, so I shouldn't be worried," Aseena said, "but are you sure that he isn't going to report us to Kroll?"
"Not if I tell him that it's important that he doesn't," Dara said. "He trusts me."
"Yes, but the question is, do you trust him?" Aseena said.
"With my life," Dara said simply.
Aseena gave her an amused look.
"You're a bit sweet on him, aren't you?" she said.
Dara gave her a panicked look.
"What?" she said. "Oh, for the UniGod's sake, can everyone tell?"
"Pretty much," Aseena said. "When you talked about him just now, your face got this really weird expression - like it was trying to smile, but was suffering from a lifetime's lack of practice."
Dara groaned. She was used to analysing people. This new thing whereby everyone and their grandmother went around analysing her was getting really old really fast.
The guards at the door let them in - they hadn't forgotten the part Dara had played in the desperate battle not twenty-four hours ago, though Dara supposed they might wonder just where she had been in the next desperate battle, not an hour ago. Still, at least it seemed that she wasn't actively wanted by the law. She was still a champion of the Demesne, even if part of it had turned against her.
They found Rinabaar in his office, patiently listening to a lower-ranking Soldier giving him some kind of equipment report (the report was that there was no shortage of gear to be feared for quite some time yet, but apparently the lower-ranking Soldier felt that Rinabaar needed to be informed of that with as many words as possible). Rinabaar wore his usual look of dignified competence - if he was bored, or concerned, or tired, he did not show it.
That stone face shtick is more annoying than lying, Dara thought crossly. With a liar, you can try to figure out why he might want you to believe the thing he's trying to get you to believe. What can you do with someone whose entire body language constantly says "no comment?"
"Mystic Dara," Rinabaar said, rising from behind his desk as he saw her and Aseena enter. His face and hair was covered in rusty-red, showing that he had been outside - fighting on the wall, most likely - when the rain fell. However, he had apparently found time to change into a clean uniform coat. The golden stripes on his shoulders gleamed. "Please come in." He glanced at the other Soldier. "We can finish this later, Sergeant. Dismissed."
The Sergeant looked very much like he didn't appreciate being given the brushoff, but he saluted and left.
"I am very pleased to see you well," Rinabaar said. "There were reports of some kind of altercation at Sablecrest Manor - just exactly what happens remains a bit spotty, but supposedly the building is practically in ruins."
"It is," Dara said stiffly. "Mansuur paid a visit and did his best to pull down the roof on my head. Did I or did I not ask you to arrest him?"
Rinabaar hesitated.
"I see," he then said. "Please accept my most sincere apology for my error in judgment. I thought that he was a minor threat, and that we had more important things to spend manpower on. If I had believed for a moment that he would try to hurt you..." He shook his head. "All I can do is promise you that he will be under arrest within the hour. I will take a squad and see to it personally."
Dara noticed that Aseena was giving her a skeptical look. You just said you liked the guy. Why are you being so hard on him?
Dara wanted to groan. Because I don't know how to go easy on anyone! she wanted to wail. Because I'm angry and scared and my home is a pile of rubble and the world might be ending, and being me I take it out on anyone who gets within range!
She wanted to go home, right then. She wanted her gargoyles. Her gargoyles never minded when she snapped at them.
"No, I..." She grimaced. "I'm not sure a squad would be enough, and anyway, I'm not sure he'll still be anywhere he can be found. I'll need your help with him eventually, but for now, there's nothing you can do."
"As you say, Mystic," Rinabaar said.
Dara strained. Was that just the teensiest hint of emotion in his voice - just the slightest hint of tension around his mouth? Was he insulted? Ashamed? Hurt? She wanted to grab him by the ears and shout at him to start giving off some normal signals already.
"There is something you can help her with, though!" Aseena said. She stepped forward and held out her hand. "Hi - Aseena of Tenchurch Abbey, caste of Servants."
Rinabaar shook her hand politely.
"How do you do?" he said. "Major Rinabaar of Twotower Lodge, caste of Soldiers." He glanced at Dara. "I am of course entirely at your service, Mystic."
Aseena stepped back again and put her hand on Dara's back, giving her a gentle shove forward. Dara tried to find some words. She couldn't understand why this was suddenly so difficult. She must have talked to Rinabaar a hundred times by now, and while he had always made her a bit flustered, she had always managed to get her message across.
The stakes in her life had gotten higher, in all sorts of areas. And come to think of it, the stakes had been life and death before that sudden rise...
"I have uncovered, at the least, proof that a high-ranking member of the Demesne government has become corrupt," she said. "At the most, I may have found evidence of a far-ranging governmental conspiracy. I know that most of the government is unaffected; I also know that several parts of it have however been infiltrated. From this point on, if you decide to believe me and help me, you will not be able to trust your superiors. For now, this must stay between us."
"I see," Rinabaar said. "That is... most alarming. What can I do to help?"
Dara frowned.
"You're taking this awfully well," she said.
"I wouldn't say 'well,'" Rinabaar said. "This is certainly appalling news, and they couldn't come at a worse time. But that is no reason for me to waste your time with emotional outbursts."
"Oh, that part I've kind of come to expect from you," Dara said. "But... you believe me?"
"Of course," Rinabaar said. "There is no one else who has your genius for finding the truth. If you say that there is a governmental conspiracy, then there is a governmental conspiracy. And if there is a governmental conspiracy, then as a Soldier of the Demesne, I must do everything I can to extinguish this stain on our proud nation."
Dara's stomach suddenly seemed to be filled with something warm and gooey. She had known that Rinabaar trusted her, had counted on Rinabaar trusting her, but all the while there had been some stupid, panicky, irrational part of her mind that had been sure that he would arrest her on the spot - or at least send her off to a Priest to deal with her paranoid delusions. She had been right, though. When push came to shove, Rinabaar was on her side.
I have this, she realised. I might not have any real friends, and I certainly don't have someone that I belong with like Jalon and Aseena belong with each other, but I have this. I'm good at what I do, I'm valuable for what I do, and at least one person has seen enough of me to trust me to know what I'm doing. Mansuur told me that I'd lived a wasted life, but if I haven't done anything else, I've done this much - earned this much.
I don't know. Maybe that's a start.
"An important witness in my investigation was seized by Soldiers," she said. "The first thing I'd like is access to arrest records, but I don't expect to find him there. They don't want to throw him in jail, they want to disappear him. The second thing is for you to tell me where the Ministry of Safety puts prisoners when they don't want anyone to know where they are."
"Ah... it is the official position of the Ministry of Safety that Building Thirty-Seven does not exist," Rinabaar said slowly.
"Does the Ministry of Safety have an official position on why, then, there is a Building Thirty-Six and a Building Thirty-Eight?" Aseena said innocently. "Just out of curiosity."
Rinabaar blinked.
"Building Thirty-Six and Building Thirty-Eight?" he said. "I do not believe I have ever heard of..."
"Ignore her," Dara said. "She thinks she's very funny. But there is a Building Thirty-Seven, isn't there? Official position or no official position, sometimes you need to lock someone away somewhere where his cronies won't immediately stage a rescue attempt."
Rinabaar was silent for a long while.
"There is a Building Thirty-Seven," he said. She could hear pain in his voice now, though he tried to suppress it - some things were beyond even his ability to appear unruffled. "Believe me when I say that had I the power, I would burn it down and salt the earth."
Dara wanted to tell him that he did have the power. He could spread the word - alert the right people. But then, that would be failing in his duty, wouldn't it? And it was dishonourable to betray your sworn masters, even when those masters were behaving dishonourably. Dara felt a sting of compassion. Being a good person in a bad world must be hard.
Thank goodness that I'm an evil bastard, she thought. It makes things must easier.
"Where is it?" she said.
"Fifty-two Lockley Street." Rinabaar drew a little sigh. "It will appear as just another deserted building. Do not be fooled. The moment you approach, people will be watching you."
"Let them," Dara said flatly. "It won't make a difference."
Rinabaar nodded, his moment of weakness past. He was himself again, committed to his course and ready to face whatever that course brought him.
"You know where to find the arrest records," he said. "They are updated constantly by a scrier. If your witness was not taking to Building Thirty-Seven but placed in an ordinary jail, his name will be there."
"Thank you," Dara said. She took a deep breath. "Really - thank you. I know you didn't have to do any of this."
"I am sorry to disagree with you, Mystic," Rinabaar said. "But I believe a man has to do the right thing, when he recognises it."
"Yes, you do, don't you?" Dara sighed and pushed her filthy hair away from her face. "Look... if I manage to pull this off, and I'm not in jail, or dead, or the city has been overrun by demons, or any ominous prophesies foretelling our doom has been fulfilled or anything like that... then..."
She broke off.
"Mystic?" Rinabaar said.
Oh, just say it! Dara howled at herself. You just asked him to betray state secrets to you! Not only that, he says yes! You can ask him this, too!
"Wouldyouhavedinnerwithme?" she blurted out.
"I'm sorry?" Rinabaar said. Judging from the odd look he was giving her, she probably looked like she was about to die from sheer, furious embarrassment.
"She wants to have dinner with you," Aseena said helpfully. "They do let you go off and eat, right?"
"We are not allowed to stray too far from the wall during times like this," Rinabaar said. "However, for that exact reason, there are a number of pleasant restaurants near the garrison, for Soldiers to rekindle their spirits in. I would of course be honoured to escort you to one of them, Mystic."
"Oh," Dara said. "Right. Great. Tonight? At eight-ish?"
"Certainly," Rinabaar said. "Barring demon attacks, of course."
"Barring those," Dara said, feeling a bit light-headed. "Great. Thanks. Uhm... see you then."
She walked out of the office, with Aseena following her.
Five seconds later, she stormed back in.
"Oh, this is ridiculous!" she snapped. "I hate not knowing what's going on! Why do you have to be so impossible to read?"
"Mystic?" Rinabaar said.
"Do you want to go out with me?" Dara said. "I meant, want. Not just be willing to do it because it's polite. Not just to humour me. Do you want to spend time with me?"
"I would of course..." Rinabaar began.
"Are you interested in me?" Dara said. "Oh, hell with it, are you attracted to me?"
Rinabaar was silent for a moment. His look could have meant anything.
"Yes," he then said.
"To... to which question?" Dara said.
"All of them," Rinabaar said. "Yes, Mystic, I am interested in you. Yes, I find you very attractive. Yes, that is the reason why I want to have dinner with you."
They looked at each other for a long moment. The words Why? How? Are you insane? was burning in Dara's mind, but they just felt too self-hating to utter.
"I'm attracted to you too," she finally said.
"I am... very pleased to hear that," Rinabaar said. Dara was shocked to see an actual smile on his lips. A small one, but still a smile.
"I... I guess we should talk about that," Dara said. "Tonight. So, er. We will. Then."
She left the office again. Aseena was waiting outside, leaning lazily against the wall.
"You know, I can't decide," she said, grinning obnoxiously. "Was that little scene just pathetically unromantic, or was it actually so pathetically unromantic that it came right around again and became sweet?"
"Oh, shut up," Dara said.
Chapter twelve
The bells were silent, and the western wall was still standing. It felt a bit shaky, to Dara's witchcraft senses, like constantly being roiled to throw off demons and bring gargoyles into being was starting to take its toll on its structural integrity. A few more attacks of this scale, and she would be seriously worried - but for now, it was still standing, and the only figures outlined in the glow of the watchfires on top of it were uniformed Soldiers. Shadowed Citadel Demesne was still holding firm.
The garrison building stood right next to the wall, a great barrack of black stone - not Witch Stone; much like the Ministry of Mystics building, garrisons were constructed specifically to make sure that rogue witches couldn't cause damage to it - with two floors and no real windows, only small holes that you could fire crossbows out of. If the wall fell, the garrison would still remain a strong point of defense against the tidal wave of demons that would come pouring in.
The bloody rain had stopped, though it had left a thin crust of dry blood over every building and every patch of street. In the streetlights, the whole city looked like a corpse.
"Well, you've got to hand it to Mansuur," Aseena said. "He really knows how to..."
"No," Dara said.
"I'm just saying, he..."
"Don't."
Aseena gave her a grumpy look.
"You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"Yes, I do," Dara said. "You're going to make a very obvious and tasteless joke. Please don't. I don't think I can stand it right now."
Aseena sighed, slumping her shoulders theatrically.
"I miss Jalon," she said. "He appreciates my sense of humour."
"Yeah, well, let's just say I'm starting to understand why you feel so blessed at having found at least one person who does," Dara said. "Come on. Let's see if Rinabaar has been horribly killed by a demon, or if he can help us."
They headed for the garrison entrance.
"I know that you're the great judge of character and all, so I shouldn't be worried," Aseena said, "but are you sure that he isn't going to report us to Kroll?"
"Not if I tell him that it's important that he doesn't," Dara said. "He trusts me."
"Yes, but the question is, do you trust him?" Aseena said.
"With my life," Dara said simply.
Aseena gave her an amused look.
"You're a bit sweet on him, aren't you?" she said.
Dara gave her a panicked look.
"What?" she said. "Oh, for the UniGod's sake, can everyone tell?"
"Pretty much," Aseena said. "When you talked about him just now, your face got this really weird expression - like it was trying to smile, but was suffering from a lifetime's lack of practice."
Dara groaned. She was used to analysing people. This new thing whereby everyone and their grandmother went around analysing her was getting really old really fast.
The guards at the door let them in - they hadn't forgotten the part Dara had played in the desperate battle not twenty-four hours ago, though Dara supposed they might wonder just where she had been in the next desperate battle, not an hour ago. Still, at least it seemed that she wasn't actively wanted by the law. She was still a champion of the Demesne, even if part of it had turned against her.
They found Rinabaar in his office, patiently listening to a lower-ranking Soldier giving him some kind of equipment report (the report was that there was no shortage of gear to be feared for quite some time yet, but apparently the lower-ranking Soldier felt that Rinabaar needed to be informed of that with as many words as possible). Rinabaar wore his usual look of dignified competence - if he was bored, or concerned, or tired, he did not show it.
That stone face shtick is more annoying than lying, Dara thought crossly. With a liar, you can try to figure out why he might want you to believe the thing he's trying to get you to believe. What can you do with someone whose entire body language constantly says "no comment?"
"Mystic Dara," Rinabaar said, rising from behind his desk as he saw her and Aseena enter. His face and hair was covered in rusty-red, showing that he had been outside - fighting on the wall, most likely - when the rain fell. However, he had apparently found time to change into a clean uniform coat. The golden stripes on his shoulders gleamed. "Please come in." He glanced at the other Soldier. "We can finish this later, Sergeant. Dismissed."
The Sergeant looked very much like he didn't appreciate being given the brushoff, but he saluted and left.
"I am very pleased to see you well," Rinabaar said. "There were reports of some kind of altercation at Sablecrest Manor - just exactly what happens remains a bit spotty, but supposedly the building is practically in ruins."
"It is," Dara said stiffly. "Mansuur paid a visit and did his best to pull down the roof on my head. Did I or did I not ask you to arrest him?"
Rinabaar hesitated.
"I see," he then said. "Please accept my most sincere apology for my error in judgment. I thought that he was a minor threat, and that we had more important things to spend manpower on. If I had believed for a moment that he would try to hurt you..." He shook his head. "All I can do is promise you that he will be under arrest within the hour. I will take a squad and see to it personally."
Dara noticed that Aseena was giving her a skeptical look. You just said you liked the guy. Why are you being so hard on him?
Dara wanted to groan. Because I don't know how to go easy on anyone! she wanted to wail. Because I'm angry and scared and my home is a pile of rubble and the world might be ending, and being me I take it out on anyone who gets within range!
She wanted to go home, right then. She wanted her gargoyles. Her gargoyles never minded when she snapped at them.
"No, I..." She grimaced. "I'm not sure a squad would be enough, and anyway, I'm not sure he'll still be anywhere he can be found. I'll need your help with him eventually, but for now, there's nothing you can do."
"As you say, Mystic," Rinabaar said.
Dara strained. Was that just the teensiest hint of emotion in his voice - just the slightest hint of tension around his mouth? Was he insulted? Ashamed? Hurt? She wanted to grab him by the ears and shout at him to start giving off some normal signals already.
"There is something you can help her with, though!" Aseena said. She stepped forward and held out her hand. "Hi - Aseena of Tenchurch Abbey, caste of Servants."
Rinabaar shook her hand politely.
"How do you do?" he said. "Major Rinabaar of Twotower Lodge, caste of Soldiers." He glanced at Dara. "I am of course entirely at your service, Mystic."
Aseena stepped back again and put her hand on Dara's back, giving her a gentle shove forward. Dara tried to find some words. She couldn't understand why this was suddenly so difficult. She must have talked to Rinabaar a hundred times by now, and while he had always made her a bit flustered, she had always managed to get her message across.
The stakes in her life had gotten higher, in all sorts of areas. And come to think of it, the stakes had been life and death before that sudden rise...
"I have uncovered, at the least, proof that a high-ranking member of the Demesne government has become corrupt," she said. "At the most, I may have found evidence of a far-ranging governmental conspiracy. I know that most of the government is unaffected; I also know that several parts of it have however been infiltrated. From this point on, if you decide to believe me and help me, you will not be able to trust your superiors. For now, this must stay between us."
"I see," Rinabaar said. "That is... most alarming. What can I do to help?"
Dara frowned.
"You're taking this awfully well," she said.
"I wouldn't say 'well,'" Rinabaar said. "This is certainly appalling news, and they couldn't come at a worse time. But that is no reason for me to waste your time with emotional outbursts."
"Oh, that part I've kind of come to expect from you," Dara said. "But... you believe me?"
"Of course," Rinabaar said. "There is no one else who has your genius for finding the truth. If you say that there is a governmental conspiracy, then there is a governmental conspiracy. And if there is a governmental conspiracy, then as a Soldier of the Demesne, I must do everything I can to extinguish this stain on our proud nation."
Dara's stomach suddenly seemed to be filled with something warm and gooey. She had known that Rinabaar trusted her, had counted on Rinabaar trusting her, but all the while there had been some stupid, panicky, irrational part of her mind that had been sure that he would arrest her on the spot - or at least send her off to a Priest to deal with her paranoid delusions. She had been right, though. When push came to shove, Rinabaar was on her side.
I have this, she realised. I might not have any real friends, and I certainly don't have someone that I belong with like Jalon and Aseena belong with each other, but I have this. I'm good at what I do, I'm valuable for what I do, and at least one person has seen enough of me to trust me to know what I'm doing. Mansuur told me that I'd lived a wasted life, but if I haven't done anything else, I've done this much - earned this much.
I don't know. Maybe that's a start.
"An important witness in my investigation was seized by Soldiers," she said. "The first thing I'd like is access to arrest records, but I don't expect to find him there. They don't want to throw him in jail, they want to disappear him. The second thing is for you to tell me where the Ministry of Safety puts prisoners when they don't want anyone to know where they are."
"Ah... it is the official position of the Ministry of Safety that Building Thirty-Seven does not exist," Rinabaar said slowly.
"Does the Ministry of Safety have an official position on why, then, there is a Building Thirty-Six and a Building Thirty-Eight?" Aseena said innocently. "Just out of curiosity."
Rinabaar blinked.
"Building Thirty-Six and Building Thirty-Eight?" he said. "I do not believe I have ever heard of..."
"Ignore her," Dara said. "She thinks she's very funny. But there is a Building Thirty-Seven, isn't there? Official position or no official position, sometimes you need to lock someone away somewhere where his cronies won't immediately stage a rescue attempt."
Rinabaar was silent for a long while.
"There is a Building Thirty-Seven," he said. She could hear pain in his voice now, though he tried to suppress it - some things were beyond even his ability to appear unruffled. "Believe me when I say that had I the power, I would burn it down and salt the earth."
Dara wanted to tell him that he did have the power. He could spread the word - alert the right people. But then, that would be failing in his duty, wouldn't it? And it was dishonourable to betray your sworn masters, even when those masters were behaving dishonourably. Dara felt a sting of compassion. Being a good person in a bad world must be hard.
Thank goodness that I'm an evil bastard, she thought. It makes things must easier.
"Where is it?" she said.
"Fifty-two Lockley Street." Rinabaar drew a little sigh. "It will appear as just another deserted building. Do not be fooled. The moment you approach, people will be watching you."
"Let them," Dara said flatly. "It won't make a difference."
Rinabaar nodded, his moment of weakness past. He was himself again, committed to his course and ready to face whatever that course brought him.
"You know where to find the arrest records," he said. "They are updated constantly by a scrier. If your witness was not taking to Building Thirty-Seven but placed in an ordinary jail, his name will be there."
"Thank you," Dara said. She took a deep breath. "Really - thank you. I know you didn't have to do any of this."
"I am sorry to disagree with you, Mystic," Rinabaar said. "But I believe a man has to do the right thing, when he recognises it."
"Yes, you do, don't you?" Dara sighed and pushed her filthy hair away from her face. "Look... if I manage to pull this off, and I'm not in jail, or dead, or the city has been overrun by demons, or any ominous prophesies foretelling our doom has been fulfilled or anything like that... then..."
She broke off.
"Mystic?" Rinabaar said.
Oh, just say it! Dara howled at herself. You just asked him to betray state secrets to you! Not only that, he says yes! You can ask him this, too!
"Wouldyouhavedinnerwithme?" she blurted out.
"I'm sorry?" Rinabaar said. Judging from the odd look he was giving her, she probably looked like she was about to die from sheer, furious embarrassment.
"She wants to have dinner with you," Aseena said helpfully. "They do let you go off and eat, right?"
"We are not allowed to stray too far from the wall during times like this," Rinabaar said. "However, for that exact reason, there are a number of pleasant restaurants near the garrison, for Soldiers to rekindle their spirits in. I would of course be honoured to escort you to one of them, Mystic."
"Oh," Dara said. "Right. Great. Tonight? At eight-ish?"
"Certainly," Rinabaar said. "Barring demon attacks, of course."
"Barring those," Dara said, feeling a bit light-headed. "Great. Thanks. Uhm... see you then."
She walked out of the office, with Aseena following her.
Five seconds later, she stormed back in.
"Oh, this is ridiculous!" she snapped. "I hate not knowing what's going on! Why do you have to be so impossible to read?"
"Mystic?" Rinabaar said.
"Do you want to go out with me?" Dara said. "I meant, want. Not just be willing to do it because it's polite. Not just to humour me. Do you want to spend time with me?"
"I would of course..." Rinabaar began.
"Are you interested in me?" Dara said. "Oh, hell with it, are you attracted to me?"
Rinabaar was silent for a moment. His look could have meant anything.
"Yes," he then said.
"To... to which question?" Dara said.
"All of them," Rinabaar said. "Yes, Mystic, I am interested in you. Yes, I find you very attractive. Yes, that is the reason why I want to have dinner with you."
They looked at each other for a long moment. The words Why? How? Are you insane? was burning in Dara's mind, but they just felt too self-hating to utter.
"I'm attracted to you too," she finally said.
"I am... very pleased to hear that," Rinabaar said. Dara was shocked to see an actual smile on his lips. A small one, but still a smile.
"I... I guess we should talk about that," Dara said. "Tonight. So, er. We will. Then."
She left the office again. Aseena was waiting outside, leaning lazily against the wall.
"You know, I can't decide," she said, grinning obnoxiously. "Was that little scene just pathetically unromantic, or was it actually so pathetically unromantic that it came right around again and became sweet?"
"Oh, shut up," Dara said.