Natalya

@natofrussia​

One of the good things about having to find a big enough venue to hold so many royals was that there was enough room that not only were the Romanov siblings not tripping over each other, they barely had to see each other.  Growing up the pair hadn’t been close and while Ivan focused on training for his upcoming crown he left it to his parents and staff to keep track of his younger sister and her antics.  

But locked away here they both lacked their usual support network and while Ivan wouldn’t usually seek his sister out, the fact that Yelizaveta hadn’t seen the girl meant that he should probably check that Natalya wasn’t making too bad a name for their country.  It took a while, but eventually he managed to track her down, approaching her with his hands in his pockets. 

“So this is where you hide out, how quaint.” 

Nat had tucked herself away in one of the castle’s sitting rooms. It was the smallest by far, but still someone could comfortably entertain ten people or so people in it. She was paging through a children’s book she’d discovered in the room upon her arrival, one she’d read herself nearly twenty years prior. Looking at the pictures that accompanied the simple text meant for children still learning to read, Nat vaguely wondered if someone had picked this book from the library because they were starting to learn Russian. She nearly chuckled at the thought that The Flower of Stone would be one of the first Russian stories that a person would read in her native language, as it was sad, strange and the ending was entirely unsatisfying.

Nat heard the door open, but continued reading the end of the passage she had started. She looked up to find her brother, not only was he there, but he was walking toward her, clearly intent on talking to her. A shrug was all she could think to respond to his accusation of her hiding away. She was indeed hiding and she didn’t see the problem with that. "Is this the part where I’m suppose to apologize for not wanting to be the perfect little Russian hostess? Because I’m not going to do that.”

               " IF THE GOAL IS TO intimidate  –– let me be the first to inform you that it isn’t all that good. “ the blonde replied with a tilt of her head. perhaps it was the fact that she’d stared down mean twice her size, and with far bigger personalities than the russian princess was displaying at the moment. “ the attitude may work with staff, but most of us have the same amount of weight to our words than you do. “ if not more, she wasn’t a stranger to how things worked, yes royalty as a whole carried power but those first in line were often the ones who wielded it most often. “ our interactions are meant to be CIVILIZED did russia not get the memo?  –– funny i would have guessed that our hosts would be the first. “

a closed starter for @natofrussia

when it came right down to it, socialising would be the easiest part of this whole process, considering all of the fine-tuning of foreign policies and the balance of tradition, one might think that the process of getting closer to one’s future in-laws would be a piece fo cake. at least, sylvia had that very same mind. so when the order – suggestion, proposition – came from her parents to sidle up to the grand duchess, the swiss princess almost felt affronted that she herself did not think of doing so without her parents’ prompts. “your imperial highness, welcome! please do come in.” she got up from her position on her couch and swept over to the door, all bright smiles and sharp eyes. “i thought it would be apt for us to get to know each other, given the circumstances – i have tea, if you’d like, or perhaps something stronger? i’m very adamant in keeping my liquor cabinet well-stocked.” 

If Nat was being perfectly honest, and she usually was, she had no desire to spend much time at all with her brother’s new fiancee. She always seems so orderly and boring. Why was it that the Russian royal found herself entering Sylvia’s room after an invitation for tea had been extended to her? Boredom. That was the answer that she’d give if anyone asked. It wasn’t so far from the truth, but it wasn’t all the way there. Rolling her eyes at the overly formal greeting, Nat contemplated turning around and leaving right then. However she stuck around long enough to hear the offer of alcohol and that was enough to get her to stay... for now. “Well, I’ve never turned down a hot toddy on a drizzly day.” She mentioned the fact casually, not bothering with the polite niceties that Sylvia clearly wanted to have.

Kala nodded in understanding, even if she did disagree with the sentiment. In her own country she had always been happy to give people tours of her home. Then again that wasn’t every day like Natalya was likely having to do, and likely multiple times a day. “I suppose they just think it’s easier to ask someone whose familiar with the palace. Maybe next time just point them in the direction of one of the palace staff who can help them?” Even she had struggled to figure out the palace but she was getting better at it. 

The Russian princess was an…..acquired taste. Luckily Seraphine’s palate was a tolerable one. She was young Seraphine would often think whenever they encountered each other thus giving her the benefit of the doubt. “Well warnings are much appreciated.” She nodded, her demeanor unfailingly pleasant. “Does catching up count as something less awful?” She asked unsure of what the younger princess’ reaction would be. She was as unpredictable as a coin toss. “I should advise that you keep somewhat of a distance. I may be coming down with something.”

Taking a moment to consider the offer, Nat pressed her lips into a tight line. The other’s cheerful personality often had Nat at odds with herself. She couldn’t stand the optimism, but also enjoyed the kind words. She didn’t know how to feel about her. “You’re sick and you want to catch up?” The question didn’t hang in the air long before Nat immediately spoke again. “We can’t do it in my room then, and I’m not sure yours will be any better. Maybe a sitting room then?” She offered, though she was already thinking through the few remaining sitting rooms that hadn’t been converted into additional bedrooms for all the royals who were still trickling their way in.

Boston immediately stepped back, going for the probably impolite stance of shoving his hands deep in his pants’ pockets as he stood in front of the Princess, managing a tight-lipped nod in return. It wasn’t as if she needed to explain herself to him, not given their positions or anything else that sort of mattered in life. “It’s no problem. You won’t believe the type of things people drop when they’re distracted,” he pointed out, as though he had made a huge scientific breakthrough. “Mostly when they’re trampling through the hedge maze. Not that you’d particularly… asked, but. You know.” Motor-mouth. It killed people several times a year. “Uh, yeah. Glad you two are reunited. I’ll leave you to it, now, your Highness.” He made a bigger fool of himself by attempting a bow in her direction, taking another step back even while not really turning his back on her.

                “ NO PLEASE AND THANK YOU? “ the blonde questioned with a quirk of her brow. “ you’re hospitable. “ she added with a roll of her shoulders  –– hospitality could be draining, she understood that but she didn’t think that attempting to do someone a kindness warranted such a hostile reaction. regardless the norwegian dropped the bracelet into the russian’s hand. simply because she’d like the same courtesy if she were ever to loose something. even if the more defiant part of her had wanted to see the other princess get angry. call it curiosity but truly seeing what would have happened could have provided some much needed entertainment. after all what could she possibly do? picturing a guard tackling her did make her chuckle slightly, but she quickly shook her head. “ people with a backbone don’t respond well to threats ‘ your highness ‘ it may do you well to REMEMBER that. “ yes, she’d used the other’s title ironically and by people she meant herself. things had changed yes, but her backbone remained the same she’d stand up for herself always. 

              “ SO YOU WON’T BE WANTING this back? “ the norwegian questioned with a quirk of her brow, holding up the bracelet that had fallen from the russian princess’ arm seconds before. “ it’s no problem really  –– i’m sure that someone else would LOVE to have it. “ sarcasm laced into her norwegian accent, as she shook the diamond bracelet in the russian’s face. sure the reaction wasn’t exactly something one would expect from her but the brunette wasn’t the vision of loveliness either and she was away from court which meant that anyone who could take issue with her less than ‘ graceful ‘ disposition wasn’t here. “ your call, i’ll happily drop it and circle around you, if you’d like. “ 

The Israeli princess was coming down with something. She could feel it the moment she woke up this morning. Her throat was unusually dry even after drinking copious amounts water.  And as the day progressed so did the severity of the slight ache she initially felt in the back of her throat- making her feel the need to clear it constantly. She’d been on her way back from the theatre when she felt that awful tickle again. And without making too much of a spectacle of herself- or so she thought- she cleared her throat. The brash, colourful language of the Russian princess causing her to stop short. “Oh dear. Please refrain from the latter.”

Nat rolled her eyes at the other princess’s remark. “Screaming is my body’s natural reaction to cluelessness.” She told her sarcastically, giving a slight shrug. “I can’t help what happens when people don’t head my warnings.” While the Russian knew this wasn’t exactly true, she was a bit more likely to let herself react more extremely to even minor annoyances at the moment. “If you don’t want directions, then is there something less awful I can do for you, Sera?”

Freedom. That had been the primary thought in his mind for at least the last two minutes or so, ever since his shift had ended at a reasonably early enough hour so that he didn’t necessarily want to drink himself into sleeping until he was due to work again. It was odd, it was welcome, it was… something that was definitely didn’t belong on the ground. He picked up the small, purse-looking thingy with one hand, looking around for anyone that might possibly miss it soon enough. There might’ve been the slightest of trots towards someone’s retreating back before he could actually catch their attention, eyes widening just slightly as he recognized the princess. “Oh. Sorry. I just – did you drop this? Because I just found it and if it’s not yours I won’t bother you anymore?” he trailed off, shoulders pulled up nearly all the way towards his ears.

Nat had barely turned around when she’d let loose her harsh warning, let alone actually seen who it was that had been trying to get her attention. She felt a slight bit of remorse for so rudely going after Boston, especially when she saw what was in his hands. The purple change purse, with Jack Skellington on one side and Sally on the other, had been in her pocket until... well until shortly before he found it, she assumed. “It’s fine,” she sighed, reaching out and gently plucking the small bag from his grasp, “I’m just very tired of everyone expecting me to show them all this hospitality when I don’t even want to be here, myself.” She explained her frustration, but didn’t actually apologize for her temper. “I appreciate that you found my wallet.” Wallet was a loose term, she did have ID in it, but no money, mostly it had small makeup items and a mirror. A girl shouldn’t be caught without a touch up kit.

Kala had been in the library browsing through books for close to an hour before she finally settled on one to read. Book in hand she made her way through the palace halls, intent on going outside and reading in the beautiful weather. She had just turned the corner when she spotted the familiar Russian princess, and stopped to say hi. She was taken aback by the girls words and the anger with which she spit them at her. For a moment she was speechless, surely such an attitude was unnecessary. Finally she rearranged her face into a warm smile, pretending the words didn’t bother her in the slightest. “Forgive me Natalya, I only meant to stop and say hello, see how you’re doing. But I can see you’d rather be left alone.” 

Giulia tilted her head as she watched the other approach her. “It’s a sangiovese, a wine from home. I brought some with me in my case. Would you like a glass?” She offered as she took another sip of her glass. 

“No, that’s alright, don’t waste your taste of home on me, I’m more into grape juice and vodka than wine.” The Russian wasn’t against a glass of wine now and again, but it wouldn’t have been fair to waste the Italian’s limited supply. “In fact,” Nat turned toward the kitchen door before calling out, “Can I get a vodka with sparkling white grape juice?” Then she turned back towards Giulia and gave a small smile. “Have you been here long? I haven’t managed to run into you yet, so I figure not too long.”

The dining hall was abandoned as Giulia sat and sipped on her glass of wine. Swirling it around in the glass, she gazes into it, thinking about home and how much she missed her family when she hears footsteps. Setting the glass down she gestures to one of the empty chairs. “You are welcome to join me.” 

Natalya had found herself once again looking for some kind of company, not that she’d admit that was what had her wandering aimlessly around the castle. After not finding any suitable company in the corridors, she’d wandered out the gardens and eventually made her way to the dining hall. Spotting the other royal, glass in hand, looking comfortable as she sat on her own, Nat decided joining her might not be the worst invitation she could receive. “I would certainly hope so, as you haven’t chosen a very private place.” Nat nodded toward the drink the other was holding. “What’s on the menu?”

back to the future: which decade in the last century would you most have liked to live in? 

Perhaps three or four decades before the wars broke out? I think my life would be much simpler if I’d lived then.

the breakfast club: which high school stereotype do you fit into best? 

footloose: who did you last dance with?