[ When he swaps out the ration packets, she stiffens further. It's not only tacit and familiar in a way that she has not earned with anyone (nor has he earned with her, honestly), but it's seamless. He has observed her quirks and accounted for them and solved the issue, even if it does mean giving her food that he has already stuffed his dirty fingers into. (It's not the worst thing that's ever happened.)
The trouble is that she still doesn't believe him. If anything it only makes her more suspicious. Something truly awful must wait for them in the Umbara System. An ugly trap. His 'few hours of imaginary freedom' are likely her own. He has set a trap for her, and now he's trying to keep her docile long enough to see it through to the end.
Panic claws up her throat, and she closes her fist around the packet, crumpling it somewhat.
It's too late, of course. There's nothing to be done. She had put herself on this ship with him because she had chosen, foolishly, to regard him as stupid and her own skills as greater. But she can imagine no alternate reason. ]
no subject
The trouble is that she still doesn't believe him. If anything it only makes her more suspicious. Something truly awful must wait for them in the Umbara System. An ugly trap. His 'few hours of imaginary freedom' are likely her own. He has set a trap for her, and now he's trying to keep her docile long enough to see it through to the end.
Panic claws up her throat, and she closes her fist around the packet, crumpling it somewhat.
It's too late, of course. There's nothing to be done. She had put herself on this ship with him because she had chosen, foolishly, to regard him as stupid and her own skills as greater. But she can imagine no alternate reason. ]
The truth.