"I'm not just another person. I can be perfect, if I am not, at everything, I will lose." She would lose her life, her position and him. She had no intention of merely getting by in the program, she would be it's finest student. Perfection was freedom, she saw that now, by not following each example given, by achieving each goal but with her own style and means she had advanced. Perfection was not defined by what the program knew because the program had never seen her in action before. Natalia would redefine perfection for The Red Room, not out of ego, but because it was what she had to do.

"I will do both, I can Miliy moi."

It was the first time she used such address with him, and in her own tongue rather than the English he had her use so often. It was specific, the English was artifice, facade, this came from her heart and she wanted him to know and understand that. Natalia was in love with him, there was not question to her now. All that remained was for them to not suffer for it.

"Watch me soar, as graceful as the ballerina on the stage, I will be in battle. It will be a dance, a thing of beauty and skill." Prophetic declaration as her skills would so soon be tested.

She glanced out the window, the moon was higher than it should be, night was waning too quickly. "I should rest, for tomorrow." Though it was clear by her tone that she would far rather spend her time with him than sleeping. "We have much work ahead of us, as you said."