"Da. You do what you need to do to get what you want, Irinarhov, whatever that is."
He looked at the khokol, addressed him, but he was speaking to Lasha too. He had the feeling Lasha would know it anyway, but there was no need for the khokol to hear the things that Taras would otherwise say privately. Part of Taras' job was to make sure that no one saw Ilarion in any moment they might construe as weakness.
Some would say Lasha's devotion to Liadov was a weakness.
Taras was on the fence on that one, but it also didn't matter, one way or the other.
He shrugged his bare, tattooed shoulders.
"If you're worthy, you'll get it. Nothing comes easy."
His lip curled in sudden amusement.
"But you got this far, da? That counts for something. Keep going, khokol."
Taras reached out, and punched in the shoulder lightly He found that Irinarhov had a bit of solid muscle in his arm, moreso than he'd guessed for a man of his size and build.
Irinarhov frowned at him.
Taras glanced at Ilarion, who had regained his composure. It had been a momentary ripple, but still. Taras hadn't wanted Irinarhov to get the wrong idea.
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"Da. You do what you need to do to get what you want, Irinarhov, whatever that is."
He looked at the khokol, addressed him, but he was speaking to Lasha too. He had the feeling Lasha would know it anyway, but there was no need for the khokol to hear the things that Taras would otherwise say privately. Part of Taras' job was to make sure that no one saw Ilarion in any moment they might construe as weakness.
Some would say Lasha's devotion to Liadov was a weakness.
Taras was on the fence on that one, but it also didn't matter, one way or the other.
He shrugged his bare, tattooed shoulders.
"If you're worthy, you'll get it. Nothing comes easy."
His lip curled in sudden amusement.
"But you got this far, da? That counts for something. Keep going, khokol."
Taras reached out, and punched in the shoulder lightly He found that Irinarhov had a bit of solid muscle in his arm, moreso than he'd guessed for a man of his size and build.
Irinarhov frowned at him.
Taras glanced at Ilarion, who had regained his composure. It had been a momentary ripple, but still. Taras hadn't wanted Irinarhov to get the wrong idea.
"Right, Lasha?"