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A Skyrim journey, 54/?

Allow us to reintroduce Her Majesty Queen Charlotte.

• Tolya repeatedly putting himself in harm's way to protect Inej. Not to show off or because he thinks she can't handle herself, but because life debt is Serious Business. And Inej, flustered and exasperated (and terrified, too, because she's not about to lose this person now that she has him in her life) just as repeatedly insisting that it was Wylan and he owes her nothing.
• Tolya watching over Inej as she sleeps/naps – especially at first because stuck on a ship with virtual strangers is not the easiest thing for her to adapt to – just staying near and humming calming tunes or softly reciting choice stanzas etc. until one day before long she's basically using him as a pillow.
• Tolya picking up on her impending panic attacks and desire to disappear before even she does and soothing her – with her permission, though for some realistic drama, I can see how he would especially initially instinctively try to calm her and her lashing out because he did it without her consent.
• Tolya always being able to find her on the ship but knowing when to give her space and let her come to him.
• Tolya letting Inej handle the worst of the slaver scum and afterwards talking it through with her, or just praying with her or sitting quietly with her or holding her.
• Inej and Tolya talking about their faith, similarities and differences and what it means to them.
• Tolya teaching Inej to meditate.
• Tolya gifting Inej with little trinkets and trophies and braiding them into her hair for her. And one day, she'll perhaps even accept something from his own hair. Not as some kind of mark of ownership – not with Tolya, never with Tolya – but as a little piece of him to carry with her always.
• Tolya and Inej sparring until they flow together like wind and water, almost as in sync as the twins.
• Tolya carrying Inej on piggyback. As, you know, light cardio. And just because.
• Hugs. Lots of hugs. Twin hugs! My sister is your sister too, now.
• Tamar (and Nadia) teasing Tolya about Inej and him taking it in good-natured stride while Inej blushes somewhere within earshot.
• Because it's not like that. Is it? Maybe it is like that. Inej Ghafa no longer has any patience for not knowing where she stands with a man. So she asks.
• It is whatever you want it to be, Tolya says, for however long you want it – but as long as they both live, she'll always have his sword.

Rest in Peace Lance Reddick (June 7, 1962 – March 17, 2023)