Archive of Our Own

Summary:

It’s Hollander’s work. Ilya knows it with one glance. The structure is too orderly, laid out neatly according to plan. There are redundancy loops and opposing threads twisted together for stability. It’s precise, complex, beautiful to witness. It will be a fucking nightmare for Ilya to pick apart.

This is why the time war has lasted so long; why it feels unending. Every action Ilya takes will be countered by a Voyageur. Every one of their moves will be undone in turn.

or

This is how you lose the ice war.