Aleksandra thought over his words. It was a lot to take in, to know that LeVane and his father had likely made sure they ruined these families because they were outliers that might still support a Stålhammar on the thrown. Sebastian had tried to snuff out any support she might try to gain before she could even gain it, but she did not want to tell Maleki that was what she thought. He would probably hold her directly responsible for it all, even though he had softened slightly toward her. She could see there was pain behind his eyes, though he had chosen the life he now lived, it seemed as if some part of him still wished things had gone a different way.<br/><br/>"I'll do what I can. I can't out pay the Armor, but I'm good with people...present company excluded."  It was almost a joke, but there was a lot of truth to her words. Though she had been nervous to approach him, especially when she thought she was seeking out his father, most others she had interacted with were like Barnstorm, they became quickly fond of her. It was why she had tried to hard to win Maleki's favor, only to fail at it spectacularly.<br/><br/>As she looked at him, his eyes seemed almost haunted, and something deep in her chest wished to ease the ache, but there were no alleyways to pull him into, no tents to fight in. Still, she wanted to try. They were hidden here, for the most part, and while that did not mean they were utterly safe, they were at least somewhat protected from anyone who might wander by in the next few moments. Aleksandra moved so she was in front of Maleki, her eyes level with his. "I'm sorry for what happened to you and those with you in Valkaren. I know you think I'm spoiled and entitled, but I...I understand that that kind of loss, and I am sorry for what you went through...And impressed at how strong you remain despite it." He likely did not care what she thought, but it was the truth. There were plenty of people who would have given up or give in to the puppet ruler. Better to have false power than no power at all, to folks such as those.<br/><br/>Aleksandra moved in slowly and she pressed her lips to Maleki's, hoping it would at least pull his mind from that dark place, since she had been the one to ask him to go there. That or he would push her away and curse her for even asking him to think of such things, but she thought physical affection might ground him back to this moment in a way that words could not. Words always seemed to get fucked up between them anyways, no matter her best intentions.