#but mal is better able in a crisis to think about battle moves while alina worries for the people

[lingeringscars]

I really love the differences between mal and alina. Both were soldiers, but alina was a cartographer. Mal was trained to be a weapon, and he dedicates himself as such. He's a weapon for alina to use (I am become a blade), and alina tries and tries to turn herself into a weapon, but she's never as good at it as mal.

When Sergei betrays them and they have to adapt from their plans, alina searches for and fights for her people. They are all concerned with getting alina out, but alina puts them in front. Mal is beside alina and willing to die for them, but he's fighting and focused on shooting his target.

Alina looks for stigg; mal says there isn't time. Alina thinks about all the losses; mal (tries and fails to) pushes them from his mind. Alina thinks about how she needs to keep moving and fighting and can't let their emotions get the best of them, but alina is all emotion.