[A wry grin, which soon fades into an inscrutable look.]
I don't know about unscathed...
[So much of his body is threaded with scars, a parting gift from the Darkling. A monster burrows inside him, eluding his attempts to tame it.]
However, I'm pleased to report that the crown sits rather nicely on my head.
[He watches for Alina's reaction. From her perspective, he was still a prince. The future of Ravka was blotted with uncertainty — well, that remains true at present. Then, he had to fight for the throne he knew was his; now, he fights to stay on that throne long enough to ensure his country won't drown in all its problems.
She won't remember that he tried to make her his queen. That may be for the best, as far as his bruised ego is concerned.]
[ Alina's primed to probe more about that unscathed comment, but surprise and relief washes across her face when she learns he's taken the throne. Her shoulders dip as she releases a long held breath. Of course with his brother gone, he would be the next in line under normal circumstances, but lines of succession aren't really the threat she's concerned with. ]
And the fate of the Darkling?
[ He must be gone for Nikolai to rule. Mal must have found the firebird, and she must have been successful in vanquishing him. It seems unbelievable. She tries not to let her face betray or voice betray her, that she's surprised and maybe even afraid of the depth of power she had to wield . ]
[She never was adept at masking her emotions. But he always liked that about her.]
Gone. Defeated.
[That's one reassurance he can provide her. Although, their dear old pal the Darkling had not vanished without leaving behind a parting gift. And lately, Nikolai isn't so sure he's truly gone. But in this moment, he turns a grateful smile on Alina.]
It's all thanks to you, Alina.
[He would have to tell her the messier parts of the truth eventually. Sooner, rather than later. She is, for now, his only reliable ally in this world. More than that: his only friend. But he does not want to overwhelm her when already she must be oversaturated with new and strange information.]
[ Relief and disbelief cross her face. Untangling her arm, she presses her palms together over her nose and mouth. Her eyes close gently and she lets go of the breath she didn't realize she was holding. ]
Gone.
[ Thanks to her. It doesn't feel real.
Something unknown gnaws at her too, a sense of mourning with a confused guilt as she turns her head away and regain composure. Whatever she's feeling is just a product of the overwhelming revelation that she conquered an impossible task. The Darkling was a monster. It doesn't make sense for her to mourn a monster. Right?
She tips her chin up, turning back to meet him with a smile. Not quite with the poise or confidence of a Saint, but she'll get there. She's working on it. ]
So, moi tsarโ [ her grin grows when linking her arm again with his to resume their walk. The title sounds more like a pet name to tease him with than an honorific. ] โI don't suppose you have any idea of how to get out of here so you'll have plenty of time to regale me with all your accomplishments as king.
[ Of course, there is one more fate she needs to ask about, but she is almost too afraid to know the outcome. Mal must be alive to have found the firebird. There is no other explanation, and while the not knowing is uncomfortable, a confirmation of any fears would be too painful to know at this moment. She can ask later. Not here, in the market. ]
[He pauses, allowing her to have her moment. How must it feel to have a window to the future, to know how it all turns out? As Alina beams up at him and re-forges the link of their arms, half of him hopes for Zoya or Tolya or Tamar — anyone — to pop out from the crowd and tell him the same. That everything will be all right. He rescues Ravka from drowning, he finds a queen to provide an heir, he frees himself of the monster.
Of course, if any of them were stuck here too, his concern for Ravka's future would only double.
He returns her grin, continuing to guide her through the crowded street.]
If I knew how to leave, I would be far too busy for a stroll through the market. Ideally, I would be halfway back to Ravka. Not that I'm anything but pleasantly surprised to cross paths with you. Especially while you're in such an adulatory mood.
[He's as talkative as ever. That's one thing that hasn't changed.]
As for my accomplishments as king...well, I've been trying my damndest to pull Ravka into the modern era. Increasing trade, providing new incentives for farmers, granting increased rights to the peasantry, developing new weaponry to keep pace with Fjerda and Shu Han.
[Ticking them off on his gloved fingers, then waving his hand. He sighs. There's a hint of weariness in his expression that he can't quite conceal.]
Truthfully, it seems the harder I yank Ravka forward, the more she digs in her heels.
[ It's a comfort to know Nikolai is on the throne, more-so to hear his efforts that are actually in service of the people rather than using the position to elevate himself. For as much as she has pokes at his sense of self-importance, she admires his dedication to his duty. He could have resigned himself to being the second son, and although his ascension to heir was less than ideal circumstances, she has never questioned his motives. He wants to do good for Ravka.
She wishes she could accept her own duty as readily. ]
She's as stubborn as her king.
[ She squeezes his arm, a comforting gesture. An attempt to give what reassurance she can offer. ]
[Nikolai has always operated under the assumption that as long as he keeps pushing forward, trying every path and turning every stone, he can achieve anything. Only recently has he reconciled himself to the possibility that he and Ravka cannot both flourish, that he may have to sacrifice himself to give his country its best chance at longevity.
But Alina's presence at his side, the pressure of her hand at his arm, is a reassurance. A warmth, a weight — not burdening him, but anchoring him.
He sneaks a glance at her. Even now, it feels natural to walk by her side.]
In case you're wondering, Mal made it through too. Zoya, Genya, and David I installed as head of the Second Army — it may have been too much power to grant any one person. Tolya and Tamar are my personal guards.
[ Her heart leaps at the news. Although her relationship with Mal was more fraught than ideal when she left, her heart leaps at the news. She hadn't asked out of fear of knowing the outcome. To mention it in passing, in easy conversation... well that must mean he is alive and safe. Mal deserved a life, uncomplicated in the ways hers could never really be. Her smile comes easily as her relief is palpable, the corners of her eyes crinkling in joy.
She is the only one unaccounted for, and she has already constructed a likely fate. The way that he's looking at her, the outcome he described... If the Darkling is gone, well, it makes sense for his complement to go as well, and apparently it had been some time since they had seen each other. It was a sacrifice she knew was almost surety. Her power is a frightening weapon, and while it is part of her being, a thing that makes her thrive as it grows, it's a relief to know that she may be unbound from it too.
She offers a gentle nod of acknowledgement. Too calm to be for her friends, this is one for herself. But she won't mourn herself. Saints were meant to be martyrs. ]
I probably shouldn't admit this, but if you asked me I would probably would have said that sounds like an utterly fantastical and impossible outcomeโ [ She holds her hand up anticipating his interjection about how it is really improbable, thank you Nikolai. And it's not for lack of faith in any of her fiends and allies. It was herself that she doubted. ] โbut one that I am truly happy to hear.
[ Hoping to keep the conversation light and not focused on her almost sure death, she turns her head to him, offering a bit of a mischievous glance before she teases him. ]
[What he neglects to mention is that she gets her happily ever after with Mal. An ordinary life, released from the weight of expectations sheโd borne like a heavy mantle as the Sun Summoner. Nikolai tells himself that it could be dangerous to know the shape of the future too well before it comes to pass — but beneath that thin excuse is his pride, still smarting after all these years. She had not chosen him. It was one scheme that failed utterly.
He allows her to change the subject. Although, her choice of light conversational fare happens to be one of the problems that weighs on him most heavily. Nevertheless, he plays the part of roguish bachelor quite well. In answer he arranges a jaunty grin on his face.]
Not yet, although Zoya has made an admirable effort to inundate me with name after name of potential brides. Itโs so hard being the worldโs most eligible bachelor sometimes.
[Eligible aside from the fact that he may very well devour his bride on their wedding night. But even if the monster curled in his heart did not stand in the way of marriage, Nikolaiโs own foolish romantic notions would stall him.
He knows he has no time to wait for love. His duty to his country calls.
He also does not say that everything would have been easier if the girl beside him had accepted his damn emerald ring.]
[ Alina remains blissfully unaware of the wrench she has thrown in his scheming, assuming she is out of the running on account of being. Well. Dead. ]
I would have thought Zoya would have added herself to the list.
[ Is that... jealousy in Alina's voice? Surely not. But it's a statement muttered under her breath, and she can't help the way her nose wrinkles in displeasure. Her assumptions are running a little rampant tonight, and Mal and Zoya's kiss is still fresh in her mind. ]
Well all the more incentive for us to try and get you home and she can resume her royal matchmaking activities.
[And he tries to ignore the pang of...something that pulls him back to the night Zoya had told him the story of her own scars. The night he realized — with the force of the sea overwhelming the shore — that she possessed all the strength that composes a true queen.]
But you're right about one thing — the sooner I can return, the better. That country of ours is like a child, always in need of a hand to walk upright. Or like a drunkard.
[Find a way back. Purge himself of the monster. Get out of the Fold. Save Ravka from imminent political turmoil. It's one hell of a to do list.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I don't know about unscathed...
[So much of his body is threaded with scars, a parting gift from the Darkling. A monster burrows inside him, eluding his attempts to tame it.]
However, I'm pleased to report that the crown sits rather nicely on my head.
[He watches for Alina's reaction. From her perspective, he was still a prince. The future of Ravka was blotted with uncertainty — well, that remains true at present. Then, he had to fight for the throne he knew was his; now, he fights to stay on that throne long enough to ensure his country won't drown in all its problems.
She won't remember that he tried to make her his queen. That may be for the best, as far as his bruised ego is concerned.]
no subject
And the fate of the Darkling?
[ He must be gone for Nikolai to rule. Mal must have found the firebird, and she must have been successful in vanquishing him. It seems unbelievable. She tries not to let her face betray or voice betray her, that she's surprised and maybe even afraid of the depth of power she had to wield . ]
no subject
Gone. Defeated.
[That's one reassurance he can provide her. Although, their dear old pal the Darkling had not vanished without leaving behind a parting gift. And lately, Nikolai isn't so sure he's truly gone. But in this moment, he turns a grateful smile on Alina.]
It's all thanks to you, Alina.
[He would have to tell her the messier parts of the truth eventually. Sooner, rather than later. She is, for now, his only reliable ally in this world. More than that: his only friend. But he does not want to overwhelm her when already she must be oversaturated with new and strange information.]
no subject
Gone.
[ Thanks to her. It doesn't feel real.
Something unknown gnaws at her too, a sense of mourning with a confused guilt as she turns her head away and regain composure. Whatever she's feeling is just a product of the overwhelming revelation that she conquered an impossible task. The Darkling was a monster. It doesn't make sense for her to mourn a monster. Right?
She tips her chin up, turning back to meet him with a smile. Not quite with the poise or confidence of a Saint, but she'll get there. She's working on it. ]
So, moi tsarโ [ her grin grows when linking her arm again with his to resume their walk. The title sounds more like a pet name to tease him with than an honorific. ] โI don't suppose you have any idea of how to get out of here so you'll have plenty of time to regale me with all your accomplishments as king.
[ Of course, there is one more fate she needs to ask about, but she is almost too afraid to know the outcome. Mal must be alive to have found the firebird. There is no other explanation, and while the not knowing is uncomfortable, a confirmation of any fears would be too painful to know at this moment. She can ask later. Not here, in the market. ]
no subject
Of course, if any of them were stuck here too, his concern for Ravka's future would only double.
He returns her grin, continuing to guide her through the crowded street.]
If I knew how to leave, I would be far too busy for a stroll through the market. Ideally, I would be halfway back to Ravka. Not that I'm anything but pleasantly surprised to cross paths with you. Especially while you're in such an adulatory mood.
[He's as talkative as ever. That's one thing that hasn't changed.]
As for my accomplishments as king...well, I've been trying my damndest to pull Ravka into the modern era. Increasing trade, providing new incentives for farmers, granting increased rights to the peasantry, developing new weaponry to keep pace with Fjerda and Shu Han.
[Ticking them off on his gloved fingers, then waving his hand. He sighs. There's a hint of weariness in his expression that he can't quite conceal.]
Truthfully, it seems the harder I yank Ravka forward, the more she digs in her heels.
no subject
She wishes she could accept her own duty as readily. ]
She's as stubborn as her king.
[ She squeezes his arm, a comforting gesture. An attempt to give what reassurance she can offer. ]
no subject
Hopefully stubbornness will be enough.
[Nikolai has always operated under the assumption that as long as he keeps pushing forward, trying every path and turning every stone, he can achieve anything. Only recently has he reconciled himself to the possibility that he and Ravka cannot both flourish, that he may have to sacrifice himself to give his country its best chance at longevity.
But Alina's presence at his side, the pressure of her hand at his arm, is a reassurance. A warmth, a weight — not burdening him, but anchoring him.
He sneaks a glance at her. Even now, it feels natural to walk by her side.]
In case you're wondering, Mal made it through too. Zoya, Genya, and David I installed as head of the Second Army — it may have been too much power to grant any one person. Tolya and Tamar are my personal guards.
no subject
She is the only one unaccounted for, and she has already constructed a likely fate. The way that he's looking at her, the outcome he described... If the Darkling is gone, well, it makes sense for his complement to go as well, and apparently it had been some time since they had seen each other. It was a sacrifice she knew was almost surety. Her power is a frightening weapon, and while it is part of her being, a thing that makes her thrive as it grows, it's a relief to know that she may be unbound from it too.
She offers a gentle nod of acknowledgement. Too calm to be for her friends, this is one for herself. But she won't mourn herself. Saints were meant to be martyrs. ]
I probably shouldn't admit this, but if you asked me I would probably would have said that sounds like an utterly fantastical and impossible outcomeโ [ She holds her hand up anticipating his interjection about how it is really improbable, thank you Nikolai. And it's not for lack of faith in any of her fiends and allies. It was herself that she doubted. ] โbut one that I am truly happy to hear.
[ Hoping to keep the conversation light and not focused on her almost sure death, she turns her head to him, offering a bit of a mischievous glance before she teases him. ]
And have you found a queen to keep you in line?
no subject
He allows her to change the subject. Although, her choice of light conversational fare happens to be one of the problems that weighs on him most heavily. Nevertheless, he plays the part of roguish bachelor quite well. In answer he arranges a jaunty grin on his face.]
Not yet, although Zoya has made an admirable effort to inundate me with name after name of potential brides. Itโs so hard being the worldโs most eligible bachelor sometimes.
[Eligible aside from the fact that he may very well devour his bride on their wedding night. But even if the monster curled in his heart did not stand in the way of marriage, Nikolaiโs own foolish romantic notions would stall him.
He knows he has no time to wait for love. His duty to his country calls.
He also does not say that everything would have been easier if the girl beside him had accepted his damn emerald ring.]
no subject
I would have thought Zoya would have added herself to the list.
[ Is that... jealousy in Alina's voice? Surely not. But it's a statement muttered under her breath, and she can't help the way her nose wrinkles in displeasure. Her assumptions are running a little rampant tonight, and Mal and Zoya's kiss is still fresh in her mind. ]
Well all the more incentive for us to try and get you home and she can resume her royal matchmaking activities.
no subject
I think she would rather swallow her kefta whole.
[And he tries to ignore the pang of...something that pulls him back to the night Zoya had told him the story of her own scars. The night he realized — with the force of the sea overwhelming the shore — that she possessed all the strength that composes a true queen.]
But you're right about one thing — the sooner I can return, the better. That country of ours is like a child, always in need of a hand to walk upright. Or like a drunkard.
[Find a way back. Purge himself of the monster. Get out of the Fold. Save Ravka from imminent political turmoil. It's one hell of a to do list.]