Brotherly Chat- Sergei and Fydor

[Fydor Romanov]

First week of autumn, Year One of Queen Sabrina's reign

It was a quiet morning when I set out to write Lessa a letter. Well, actually I set out to write her a poem. I did the first version in Ruskovian, then went to translate it when I realized my dictionary was missing. After searching through the rest of my room and the common areas of the house, I went and knocked on Sergei's half-opened door. He was the only one home at the time, and it would have been rude to search the others' rooms without their presence.

And since his door wasn't closed, I stuck my head in. "Hey brother, have you seen my D'Angeline book? The one Professor Volk wrote for me?"

[Sergei Romanov]

Odd for me, but I was actually within the confines of my bedroom, not spending my day in the stable as I normally would have. No, today I was dressed smartly in clothing befitting my station, not decked in the more rugged woolens that I generally wore out to the stables. My face was shaven again and not stubbly, and I was doing something I generally didn't - I was studying.

When I heard footsteps I looked up expectantly, then grinned as I saw Fydor pop his head in. "Aye.. Yes, somewhere," I responded, a touch confused as I carefully marked my book and stood up, heading to a pile of books that sat stacked on my normally seldom-used desk. "Come in, come in," I added, frowning as I began the search for the book.

[Fydor Romanov]

I entered at his summons, wandering over to a chair near his desk and sitting down. "Well aren't you spiffy. And reading! Alright, who is she?" I asked with a teasing grin. Only a woman could have gotten my brother to dress in something other than his stable clothes voluntarily. "Since you've stolen my dictionary, should I venture on D'Angeline? Except you're studying... what is that, Aragonian?" I asked, leaning forward.

[Sergei Romanov]

I grinned and pulled the book away, unceremoniously closing it around my finger and thumping him in the upper arm with it. "Yes, Aragonian," I responded, my grin holding strong as I put the book down elsewhere and continued to search for the dictionary, finding it, after a moment, under a stack of crinkled papers. "And what makes you think there's anyone? Maybe it is that I wanted to dress a little nicer. Someone has to set a good example for you, little brother." Tease hung heavily to my words, and I handed him his book back, needing the Aragonian one more than that currently.

[Fydor Romanov]

I chuckled, not minding the playful hit. "Didn't you spend an afternoon with an Aragonian princess the other day?" I fished with a grin, taking my dictionary back. "What was her name?"

[Sergei Romanov]

"Mercedes," I answered, grinning widely at him, wholly unabashed. In good truth, I was quite proud of it, and I didn't much care if the entire world knew. In fact, I wanted it.

"Mercedes de las Aragonia," I added, correcting myself. "And such a flower to be envied as well. Have you met her?"

[Fydor Romanov]

"No I haven't, though I think I've seen her at one of those gods-forsaken parties," I replied. Seeing how his grin split his features, I gave a bark of a laugh. "I was right, wasn't I? Someone is infatuated. Well brother, she is very pretty."

[Sergei Romanov]

"Of course she's pretty," I grinned at him, my teeth flashing white as I sat back down on my bed again. "What of you? I heard rumor you've been spending time with a d'Angeline woman of your own. What's her name?"

[Fydor Romanov]

"Lessandrie de Merliot," I replied with a soft smile. "Lessa. Beautiful, smart as a whip, and shy enough that it's adorable. Don't laugh, but I think I'm going to propose. After Alexei's wedding of course."

[Sergei Romanov]

"Oh, Lessa," I repeated, flashing him a teasing grin that was nothing if not good natured. "The descendant of gods, who has en.. What?"

Abruptly what he'd said sank in, and I stared at him dumbfoundedly for a long moment... And then a grin burst out across my mouth and I barked a laugh, reaching out to clap my hand upon his shoulder with happiness. "You're going to ask her to marry you? Congratulations brother! I had no idea you were so serious about someone!"

[Fydor Romanov]

He did laugh, even after I told him not too, but it was not mocking so I grinned. "She's perfect Sergei, I couldn't possibly let her go. I... well, I love her," I said, my voice soft for the first time that I had said it aloud. It had been building in me for a long time now, but I didn't have the courage to tell Lessa yet. "And Father shouldn't disapprove of her, though it would almost be worth it if he did."

[Sergei Romanov]

"Aaah brother," I said, smiling at him in a way that wasn't mocking or judgmental, but happy. Happy, for him, and because I knew at least partially what he felt. "Father will come 'round. I think he'd just be happy you found someone of good status... You've given him a number of grey hairs over the years, you know," I added, grinning wickedly to think of Fydors antics.

[Fydor Romanov]

"I would be disappointed with myself if I hadn't," I retorted with a cheeky grin. "Though I must admit, I'm glad I'm not looking at being cut off from the family for my choice in brides. She would be more than worth it though."

[Sergei Romanov]

"I'm sure she would," I responded, thinking in that moment of my own Aragonian princess. "I would like to meet her sometime, if you think I can be trusted," I added, teasing him with a flash of a grin. "And I would like you to meet Mercedes, too."

[Fydor Romanov]

"Of course," I replied with another grin. It seemed he was on first name basis with this Mercedes, which was interesting since I hadn't heard of his interest in her until today. "Tell me about her. All I know is that she's beautiful and Aragonian."

[Sergei Romanov]

My grin held; it was impossible to rid myself of it, thinking on her. "Aye, yes, very beautiful," I replied, not needing to feign in the slightest. "She's very reserved, very proper... You know, the first time I kissed her, she got mad at me." I chuckled, leaning back some as I thought of that day. "But I suppose she had a right to.. I didn't give her any warning of it. Father would like her, I'm sure. She's part d'Angeline, though you'd never know it by the way she acts; she's very proud, very ladylike. Even Mother would like her."

And I had no doubts of it, either; what was there about Mercedes that was not to be coveted and revered?

[Fydor Romanov]

"If she's the lady that you say, no wonder she got mad," I said with a laugh. "Here I half thought Father was going to find someone for you. I knew that it was always going to take a very special woman to wrench you away from your horses." I grinned, getting ready to duck if he threw something at me.

[Sergei Romanov]

I grinned; rather than throwing something at him, I shrugged, though my eyes held a wicked glint that usually came when I was brewing a plan. "I think Father was going to choose someone for me when I got back from Terre d'Ange," I said, my amusement fading into a horrified look at the prospect. "Thankfully he wasn't too worried about me though.. Not with Vlad and Alexei both settled in their marriages, and with Vlad already expecting a child."

[Fydor Romanov]

"Trust me, we're all thankful that Vlad takes his duty as heir so seriously. The gods know I don't want his position," I said honestly. Then a thought occurred to me. "I wonder if Father had anyone planned for either of us. I mean, surely he couldn't have planned on us both finding wives in Terre d'Ange."

[Sergei Romanov]

I laughed, shrugging my shoulders and shaking my head. "I don't know. He might have a couple girls picked out for us.. maybe Vermise Zoncloff's daughter for you," I saidl my grin widening devilishly. A wretched little chit if any; it was amazing to see her looks was as horrid as her personality, but her father stood in good stead with our father. Always had.

[Fydor Romanov]

I shuddered hard. "That is a truly evil thought brother. But then, knowing how I stand in Father's eyes, he might just have done it too," I said with a sour face. Then I brightened. "But a duchese of a province here is a far better catch, even if he does like Zoncloff. Plus I actually want to marry her."

[Sergei Romanov]

"Aah, and break the poor Zoncloffs heart," I teased, my face full of merry amusement. "Tell me about her though. What is it about her that beguiles you so?"

[Fydor Romanov]

"She's... Oh brother, how do you describe perfection? She utterly stunning, but modest enough that she doesn't see it. She drives me wild with want without doing a single inappropriate thing. She's incredibly intelligent, and very well educated as far as I can tell. She's elegant and sophisticated without making me feel like an idiot. Well, more of an idiot than I already am around women," I said with a wry smile. "I could go on if you'd like."