[It's a little bit like Hickey calling her clever, in that Andrew sees some truly familiar darkness from herself in Shiv, and a compliment that should be superficial and glancing sinks a little deeper than it should. Her gaze flicks briefly to the side and then recalls.]
You're the first person alive, I think, to have ever said such a thing.
[She yearned for her father's love when she was young. To get him to accept her, Andrew behaved as meekly and obediently as she could, lest acting out get her put in that cold cell again. That was the closest to "good" she'd ever been.
Maybe it isn't too late for her. Or maybe she's a lot like Shiv for a reason.]
You live in a time and place where being beholden to producing an heir doesn't seem to be the norm. It would be a shame to fall victim to it anyway to placate vacuous feelings. I trust you'll make a wise choice. [Which might sound like a really heavy amount of faith in Shiv...but there's a little danger in her saying it like this, too. Someone watching expectantly can feel like a threat.]
no subject
You're the first person alive, I think, to have ever said such a thing.
[She yearned for her father's love when she was young. To get him to accept her, Andrew behaved as meekly and obediently as she could, lest acting out get her put in that cold cell again. That was the closest to "good" she'd ever been.
Maybe it isn't too late for her. Or maybe she's a lot like Shiv for a reason.]
You live in a time and place where being beholden to producing an heir doesn't seem to be the norm. It would be a shame to fall victim to it anyway to placate vacuous feelings. I trust you'll make a wise choice. [Which might sound like a really heavy amount of faith in Shiv...but there's a little danger in her saying it like this, too. Someone watching expectantly can feel like a threat.]