[ He murmurs that incredulously to himself. Nikolai had thought he was doing well with pronunciation! (Although, he knows he wasn't, not at all.) He tries it again, ignoring how she seems at odds with whether or not she's allowed to touch the bottle of wine before she actually does so.
Despite being well-travelled, Nikolai takes Ravka's freedoms for granted. Then again, he supposes he's always had more freedom than others. It's why he enjoyed studying in Ketterdam, far away from where he was Nikolai Lantsov and instead was someone else. It's why he liked that most of the military hadn't recognised him when he returned to Ravka. That anonymity is gone now, but it'd been a luxury he'd taken for granted for years.
Annoyed he can't quite get the word to mimic how it sounds coming from her, Nikolai falls back against his chair and rests his hands in his lap. He's certainly not one for defeat—and he won't be defeated!—but, Saints, is her language hard with all its volley ups and downs. This is why he's always had someone else speak to him.
Being royal encourages such laziness. He really is ashamed. ]
This is very hard, you know. [ He says that with a laugh, ignoring how his face heats. ] You're not a very good teacher. [ Lie. She's an excellent teacher. ]
[ Having felt like her Ravkan was hardly adequate, she finds her strength in their cross-language communication bolstered. She's doing ninety percent of the work, after all. All he has to do is not comment disparagingly on her accent! ]
Azatan might be easier. There's no کلیک on the masculine form. You'll need to be careful whom you address that way, however. Za is neutral, but informal. It helps if you know the person.
[ She pauses to daintily cut a pelmeni in two. They're like french fries, meant to be eaten by hand, but Anahid uses a fork. Always. ]
I had six weeks on a ship with nothing else to do but to learn your language. [ When she wasn't throwing up over the side, of course. ] You've had one lesson.
[ And it isn't like she never stumbles. Perhaps she keeps referencing the infamous milk-beast to hide her embarrassment at having not learned the names of animals, or only knowing numbers up to ten, or even the merzost debacle. The words you don't know are the words it never occurs to you to know until it matters. ]
[ He shrugs, glancing out at the grounds with narrowed eyes. He does his best not to look at her from the corner of his. ]
Maybe.
[ Yes. No? Maybe so. He has no idea. Perhaps Bezim can truly help Ravka pay off its ridiculous debts and restore itself to a city that casts a long shadow rather than a small one. ]
I did make new friends from there. Friendly people. The husband's a little quiet, but the wife… [ He sucks on his teeth and shakes his head, looking at her now with a crooked smile. ] Quite adventurous, that one. Wants me to show her all of Ravka's innovations and then pushes me in the mud when I do.
He lifts his brows, but Nikolai doesn't comment on it. Is there a point to it? She's just teasing.
Moving on. ]
Is she? [ He cocks his brow as he regards her curiously, the corner of his lips curved upward. ] Does she plan to be my doom? Because if so, perhaps she'd like to do so near another mud pit? There's one west of the Grand Palace. [ He extends his arm, pointing over her shoulder. ] It's a bit swampy. You could submerge my entire body in that one if you like.
Edited (SAD THIS TAG DIDN'T WORK THE FIRST TIME) 2023-10-08 05:24 (UTC)
[ Teasing, yes. And on a glass of wine that is assuredly not her first, loosening her inhibitions just slightly. Perhaps if she hadn't become half-frozen with thin air and then been dumped into a swamp, she'd be a little more gathered together. As it is, she has just enough presence of mind to remind herself not to stare at his mouth. ]
But then I would have to put in the work of befriending your successor. Currently, you're handing me all your secrets on a gilt platter. It's much more beneficial for me that you stay alive.
[ Deftly slices up another pelmeni. Onto the fork, into the mouth. ]
[ No one in Ravka eats pelmeni with a fork. It's on the tip of his tongue to inform her of this, but he follows suit, not taking his eyes off her as he pops another piece he's cut into his mouth.
When people don't follow tradition, it's an interesting exercise to learn why. Perhaps this is how she eats similar meals or all her meals. Maybe this is what she expects manners looks like in Ravka. ]
What secrets have you discovered? I might as well know and then tell you if they're worth taking with you. Some of my secrets are worth dirt.
[ Like that he knows intimately that there's a swamp west of the Grand Palace. His hot air balloon thing is an invention that someone would want to know more about and snipe. Who knows if he wishes to weaponise it? Perhaps it's a part of a new military fleet.
In that case, he'd have to have the tarp made of indestructible material. ]
Well, as I told you previously — your left earlobe trembles a bit when you knowingly lie.
[ Using his tells in this instance might be cheating. He's somehow both more and less guarded than anyone other person she's ever met. He's warm and gregarious, quick to be physically affectionate; but there's also a thick veneer of performance in his manner. She just isn't sure where that veneer begins or ends. ]
You also mirror the person you're with, I assume to make them feel more at ease. It's hard to say if that's a habit born out of innate friendliness or self-preservation. Perhaps it's both.
And you were slower to pick up your utensils for this course and tilted your head slightly the first time you saw me eat the... [ Ugh! She jabs her fork at the pelmeni to indicate where the term is absent. ] This. The گوشت خمیر. You needed a second to acclimate to my [ blunder ] method. You don't mask your body language nearly as well as you might think.
[ As soon as she's finished saying all that, she frowns and sets her fork and knife down across one another. A muscle twitches in her throat. ]
I apologise. I think your liquor is a bit stronger than what I'm used to. That was... longwinded and inappropriate.
[ Don't look at his mouth, Joddani. Don't fucking do it. ]
[ He regards her with amusement before he nods, widening his smile until he shows teeth. He chuckles lightly, inhaling deeply through his mouth, and shifts on his chair before he settles back against it all too comfortably.
Furrows his brows in amusement.]
Why are you apologising?
[ He knows why. Royals are so sensitive. None can take a lick of criticism in fear their fragility will finally shatter. But Nikolai's grown up without his title and crown, often treated like a nuisance than anything worth keeping around. It's why he always preferred Ketterdam. He could be himself, skin his knees, and know no one would think it a crime against the Ravkan crown.
Still, he smiles. ]
I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want the truth. And I must admit, not many people think to notice those little details about me. Not many people bother to look beyond the supposed heavy pockets and fluffy, golden hair.
[ He does have nice hair. ]
We eat… [ He tries to copy how she said "meat dough" in her language, but absolutely butchers "meat", so he settles for: ] pelmeni with our hands. But if you're more comfortable with a knife and fork, [ He gestures toward her utensils. ] then, by all means, eat that way. Perhaps there's something I'm missing out on by not doing so.
[ Briefly, Anahid looks at him as if he's grown two extra heads and one of them just said something very offensive about her parentage. And then she's picking her knife and fork back up, finishing off what remains of her pelmeni. Her tone is a bit less prim with indignation when she continues speaking. ]
It's interesting that the Ravkan people wouldn't consider their king worthy of observation. I would expect the most opportunistic among you to take any chance given to cling to your coattails.
[ That's all to say - ] They're missing the bigger picture if they fail to see you're much more than pockets and hair, sire.
[ ...
And with that painfully earnest moment hanging between them, Anahid decides to switch to water for the remainder of the meal. ]
[ Nikolai grins, chuckling low in amusement as he doesn't take his eyes off her. She's full of indignation, compliments, and stinging insults. While he's still learning where he should put his feet, he likes the fact he can tease her. ]
I won't tell anyone you ate with your hands and that you've been admiring my hair. [ He runs a hand through it. ] It's quite stylish if I say so myself.
I think you're mistaking me for your handheld mirror, Majesty.
[ Noticing the way his eyes linger, her back straightens - almost overcorrecting. But if he's posing his words as a challenge, it's one she won't back down from. ]
[ And it's not half as pretty, but Nikolai at least has some sense not to say that. He may come across as someone who says almost anything that comes to his mind, but he's not as reckless as many think him to be.
She's married. She also takes her marriage and properness seriously. Sometimes Nikolai respects that enough not to push it. ]
All it says is, 'Kolya, you're a devilishly handsome man'. I hear that every day. [ He shrugs. ] It starts to fall flat.
Perhaps you ought to encourage your mirror to find a personality trait aside from 'sycophantic'.
[ Like any good halfway-drunk person, she's already forgotten her decision to stick to water; and takes another sip of her wine. Did someone refill her glass when she wasn't paying attention? ]
'Contrary' would amuse you, I think. Everything you say to it, it vehemently argues.
[ He doesn't mean to turn on the charm or lay it on thick, but it's true. He's known Anahid for a short time—hardly long enough to get a good read on someone, but enough to make a decent impression—that he thinks her to be intentionally contrary… at least when it comes to him.
Nikolai likes it. He likes people who roll their eyes when he's being purposefully exasperating. He also likes people who tell him what he wants to hear: the truth.
Lifting his glass, he says against the rim, ] You're very contrary. Also, someone who I think loves to argue, even though she'll vehemently deny it.
[ Interestingly, it takes until just now for her to realise he's flirting with her... And that she's been flirting back for quite a while. Strange, that it took her mind becoming slightly cloudy with drink for her to gain any clarity. Maybe her sober self would never have considered the possibility.
Anahid will need to decide what she wants to do, won't she?
Not yet, though. A few minutes longer, she tells herself. This isn't going to go anywhere, of course; but she wants to know what it feels like before the coming weeks take it all away. That's why she doesn't do the responsible thing and excuse herself from dinner, even though all that's left on the table is some untouched fruit. ]
If I were to vehemently deny it, I would just prove your point. Creating an argument to demonstrate I don't like to argue? I'd be handing you a victory. [ Nikolai.
Okay but what if she, like, just said it? For no reason other than... because. ]
[ He smiles brightly as he plucks an apple from the table and slices it with his knife. Perhaps any other king would require someone else to do it for him, but Nikolai is particular about his apples. He likes them in particular slices. Today, it seems he's favouring the thin ones. ]
You're arguing with yourself. It's quite a fun thing to watch. Do you tire yourself out? Hand yourself the victory? Declare yourself the loser?
Leaning forward, he cocks his head toward the pear she eats with a knife and fork. ]
You can touch it with your hands. I promise this particular pear won't bite.
[ Surveying the fruit on the table that he'll most likely take to the horses later, he scrunches his nose slightly when he eyes the other pear sitting on its side. ]
[ Rather easily: ] Depends on what the favour happens to be.
[ Granted, she could ask him to ensure everyone ate with a knife and fork while in her presence and his opinion of her wouldn't change.
But saying as much is entirely too familiar, and Anahid, while not easily spooked by incredible intelligence and innovation, is still a big question mark. ]
[ It's hard not to hesitate. She's terribly embarrassed by the whole thing, including her own ignorance. She can't help but feel like she should have a stronger grasp on the situation than she does. This is a foreign country, yes, but it's rare she feels like a foreigner. ]
I had heard the royal library was open to the public. My friend and I had hoped to visit.
[ She had hoped to find some sort of reference for learning Kerch. And knowing Siyon, he'd wanted some forbidden, archaic tome that could teach him how turn a single pebble into a thousand full-sized elephants. ]
Your archivist turned us away, citing... sullied hands? [ Suli.
(This confusion would only work in English and they're not speaking English, let me MST3K mantra and live.) ]
He was concerned we would get the books dirty. I've no wish for further enmity, but if you could intervene on our behalf — [ A mix of shyness and mortification sinks her shoulders. ] I would be grateful.
[ While Nikolai starts off smiling, by the end of it, his mouth is pressed into a thin line that may curve upward, but all that ridiculous boyish delight is gone. All that's left is a tightness that betrays the annoyance he doesn't want her to read into.
Ah, yes. He should've expected that some of the remaining staff would carry his father's and brother's more offensive restrictions. ]
He said that, did he?
[ He doesn't need her to confirm. He knows Radomir. Always testing his limits like he's somewhat invincible. That's fine; perhaps he can remove him from his post and finally hire Kira. She's so much better and more fun. ]
It is open to the public, and to anyone. He must've gotten that confused when you asked.
[ Highly doubtful.
Nikolai pushes his chair out and stands, still holding his apple and knife. He's almost forgotten about them. ]
I'll remind him of that. You're welcome to come along or stay here and enjoy your pear, but you and your friend will be more than welcome to use the library, even outside of hours.
[ He winks then. He's a little excited; he's been waiting to rip Radomir a new one for some time. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ He murmurs that incredulously to himself. Nikolai had thought he was doing well with pronunciation! (Although, he knows he wasn't, not at all.) He tries it again, ignoring how she seems at odds with whether or not she's allowed to touch the bottle of wine before she actually does so.
Despite being well-travelled, Nikolai takes Ravka's freedoms for granted. Then again, he supposes he's always had more freedom than others. It's why he enjoyed studying in Ketterdam, far away from where he was Nikolai Lantsov and instead was someone else. It's why he liked that most of the military hadn't recognised him when he returned to Ravka. That anonymity is gone now, but it'd been a luxury he'd taken for granted for years.
Annoyed he can't quite get the word to mimic how it sounds coming from her, Nikolai falls back against his chair and rests his hands in his lap. He's certainly not one for defeat—and he won't be defeated!—but, Saints, is her language hard with all its volley ups and downs. This is why he's always had someone else speak to him.
Being royal encourages such laziness. He really is ashamed. ]
This is very hard, you know. [ He says that with a laugh, ignoring how his face heats. ] You're not a very good teacher. [ Lie. She's an excellent teacher. ]
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[ Having felt like her Ravkan was hardly adequate, she finds her strength in their cross-language communication bolstered. She's doing ninety percent of the work, after all. All he has to do is not comment disparagingly on her accent! ]
Azatan might be easier. There's no کلیک on the masculine form. You'll need to be careful whom you address that way, however. Za is neutral, but informal. It helps if you know the person.
[ She pauses to daintily cut a pelmeni in two. They're like french fries, meant to be eaten by hand, but Anahid uses a fork. Always. ]
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It's a good thing I have you with me, then.
[ He smiles lopsidedly as he drops his gaze to her fork usage. His smile only widens a little at the sight. ]
Perhaps you can be my translator when I travel to Bezim. You seem to understand me perfectly.
[ When Nikolai leans forward, he doesn't use his hands to work at his pelmeni. He copies her, using a knife and fork. ]
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[ And it isn't like she never stumbles. Perhaps she keeps referencing the infamous milk-beast to hide her embarrassment at having not learned the names of animals, or only knowing numbers up to ten, or even the merzost debacle. The words you don't know are the words it never occurs to you to know until it matters. ]
Are you planning a visit of state?
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Maybe.
[ Yes. No? Maybe so. He has no idea. Perhaps Bezim can truly help Ravka pay off its ridiculous debts and restore itself to a city that casts a long shadow rather than a small one. ]
I did make new friends from there. Friendly people. The husband's a little quiet, but the wife… [ He sucks on his teeth and shakes his head, looking at her now with a crooked smile. ] Quite adventurous, that one. Wants me to show her all of Ravka's innovations and then pushes me in the mud when I do.
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[ She, uh, hadn't meant to be quite so familiar. It just slipped out. ]
A lot can happen while a king is extricating himself from a swamp. Perhaps this wife is a spy.
[ Teehee. ]
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He lifts his brows, but Nikolai doesn't comment on it. Is there a point to it? She's just teasing.
Moving on. ]
Is she? [ He cocks his brow as he regards her curiously, the corner of his lips curved upward. ] Does she plan to be my doom? Because if so, perhaps she'd like to do so near another mud pit? There's one west of the Grand Palace. [ He extends his arm, pointing over her shoulder. ] It's a bit swampy. You could submerge my entire body in that one if you like.
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But then I would have to put in the work of befriending your successor. Currently, you're handing me all your secrets on a gilt platter. It's much more beneficial for me that you stay alive.
[ Deftly slices up another pelmeni. Onto the fork, into the mouth. ]
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When people don't follow tradition, it's an interesting exercise to learn why. Perhaps this is how she eats similar meals or all her meals. Maybe this is what she expects manners looks like in Ravka. ]
What secrets have you discovered? I might as well know and then tell you if they're worth taking with you. Some of my secrets are worth dirt.
[ Like that he knows intimately that there's a swamp west of the Grand Palace. His hot air balloon thing is an invention that someone would want to know more about and snipe. Who knows if he wishes to weaponise it? Perhaps it's a part of a new military fleet.
In that case, he'd have to have the tarp made of indestructible material. ]
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Well, as I told you previously — your left earlobe trembles a bit when you knowingly lie.
[ Using his tells in this instance might be cheating. He's somehow both more and less guarded than anyone other person she's ever met. He's warm and gregarious, quick to be physically affectionate; but there's also a thick veneer of performance in his manner. She just isn't sure where that veneer begins or ends. ]
You also mirror the person you're with, I assume to make them feel more at ease. It's hard to say if that's a habit born out of innate friendliness or self-preservation. Perhaps it's both.
And you were slower to pick up your utensils for this course and tilted your head slightly the first time you saw me eat the... [ Ugh! She jabs her fork at the pelmeni to indicate where the term is absent. ] This. The گوشت خمیر. You needed a second to acclimate to my [ blunder ] method. You don't mask your body language nearly as well as you might think.
[ As soon as she's finished saying all that, she frowns and sets her fork and knife down across one another. A muscle twitches in her throat. ]
I apologise. I think your liquor is a bit stronger than what I'm used to. That was... longwinded and inappropriate.
[ Don't look at his mouth, Joddani. Don't fucking do it. ]
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Furrows his brows in amusement.]
Why are you apologising?
[ He knows why. Royals are so sensitive. None can take a lick of criticism in fear their fragility will finally shatter. But Nikolai's grown up without his title and crown, often treated like a nuisance than anything worth keeping around. It's why he always preferred Ketterdam. He could be himself, skin his knees, and know no one would think it a crime against the Ravkan crown.
Still, he smiles. ]
I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want the truth. And I must admit, not many people think to notice those little details about me. Not many people bother to look beyond the supposed heavy pockets and fluffy, golden hair.
[ He does have nice hair. ]
We eat… [ He tries to copy how she said "meat dough" in her language, but absolutely butchers "meat", so he settles for: ] pelmeni with our hands. But if you're more comfortable with a knife and fork, [ He gestures toward her utensils. ] then, by all means, eat that way. Perhaps there's something I'm missing out on by not doing so.
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[ Briefly, Anahid looks at him as if he's grown two extra heads and one of them just said something very offensive about her parentage. And then she's picking her knife and fork back up, finishing off what remains of her pelmeni. Her tone is a bit less prim with indignation when she continues speaking. ]
It's interesting that the Ravkan people wouldn't consider their king worthy of observation. I would expect the most opportunistic among you to take any chance given to cling to your coattails.
[ That's all to say - ] They're missing the bigger picture if they fail to see you're much more than pockets and hair, sire.
[ ...
And with that painfully earnest moment hanging between them, Anahid decides to switch to water for the remainder of the meal. ]
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I won't tell anyone you ate with your hands and that you've been admiring my hair. [ He runs a hand through it. ] It's quite stylish if I say so myself.
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[ Noticing the way his eyes linger, her back straightens - almost overcorrecting. But if he's posing his words as a challenge, it's one she won't back down from. ]
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[ And it's not half as pretty, but Nikolai at least has some sense not to say that. He may come across as someone who says almost anything that comes to his mind, but he's not as reckless as many think him to be.
She's married. She also takes her marriage and properness seriously. Sometimes Nikolai respects that enough not to push it. ]
All it says is, 'Kolya, you're a devilishly handsome man'. I hear that every day. [ He shrugs. ] It starts to fall flat.
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[ Like any good halfway-drunk person, she's already forgotten her decision to stick to water; and takes another sip of her wine. Did someone refill her glass when she wasn't paying attention? ]
'Contrary' would amuse you, I think. Everything you say to it, it vehemently argues.
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[ He doesn't mean to turn on the charm or lay it on thick, but it's true. He's known Anahid for a short time—hardly long enough to get a good read on someone, but enough to make a decent impression—that he thinks her to be intentionally contrary… at least when it comes to him.
Nikolai likes it. He likes people who roll their eyes when he's being purposefully exasperating. He also likes people who tell him what he wants to hear: the truth.
Lifting his glass, he says against the rim, ] You're very contrary. Also, someone who I think loves to argue, even though she'll vehemently deny it.
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Anahid will need to decide what she wants to do, won't she?
Not yet, though. A few minutes longer, she tells herself. This isn't going to go anywhere, of course; but she wants to know what it feels like before the coming weeks take it all away. That's why she doesn't do the responsible thing and excuse herself from dinner, even though all that's left on the table is some untouched fruit. ]
If I were to vehemently deny it, I would just prove your point. Creating an argument to demonstrate I don't like to argue? I'd be handing you a victory. [ Nikolai.
Okay but what if she, like, just said it? For no reason other than... because. ]
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[ He smiles brightly as he plucks an apple from the table and slices it with his knife. Perhaps any other king would require someone else to do it for him, but Nikolai is particular about his apples. He likes them in particular slices. Today, it seems he's favouring the thin ones. ]
You're arguing with yourself. It's quite a fun thing to watch. Do you tire yourself out? Hand yourself the victory? Declare yourself the loser?
[ He bites into a slice and shrugs. ]
This is better than watching the nobles argue.
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[ So there.
Picking up a fresh pear for herself, she... cuts it into dainty little squares, which she then eats, one at a time, with a fork. Yeah. ]
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Leaning forward, he cocks his head toward the pear she eats with a knife and fork. ]
You can touch it with your hands. I promise this particular pear won't bite.
[ Surveying the fruit on the table that he'll most likely take to the horses later, he scrunches his nose slightly when he eyes the other pear sitting on its side. ]
That one will.
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[ Although... As she considers her hands, laid flat on the table with fingers splayed, something occurs to her. Her expression sombers slightly. ]
Actually, would your opinion of me change if I begged a favour?
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[ Granted, she could ask him to ensure everyone ate with a knife and fork while in her presence and his opinion of her wouldn't change.
But saying as much is entirely too familiar, and Anahid, while not easily spooked by incredible intelligence and innovation, is still a big question mark. ]
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I had heard the royal library was open to the public. My friend and I had hoped to visit.
[ She had hoped to find some sort of reference for learning Kerch. And knowing Siyon, he'd wanted some forbidden, archaic tome that could teach him how turn a single pebble into a thousand full-sized elephants. ]
Your archivist turned us away, citing... sullied hands? [ Suli.
(This confusion would only work in English and they're not speaking English, let me MST3K mantra and live.) ]
He was concerned we would get the books dirty. I've no wish for further enmity, but if you could intervene on our behalf — [ A mix of shyness and mortification sinks her shoulders. ] I would be grateful.
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Ah, yes. He should've expected that some of the remaining staff would carry his father's and brother's more offensive restrictions. ]
He said that, did he?
[ He doesn't need her to confirm. He knows Radomir. Always testing his limits like he's somewhat invincible. That's fine; perhaps he can remove him from his post and finally hire Kira. She's so much better and more fun. ]
It is open to the public, and to anyone. He must've gotten that confused when you asked.
[ Highly doubtful.
Nikolai pushes his chair out and stands, still holding his apple and knife. He's almost forgotten about them. ]
I'll remind him of that. You're welcome to come along or stay here and enjoy your pear, but you and your friend will be more than welcome to use the library, even outside of hours.
[ He winks then. He's a little excited; he's been waiting to rip Radomir a new one for some time. ]
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