__________ ♔ SHE CAN’T HELP THE hopelessly NAIVE surge of hope that courses through her veins once the deal is struck. she might actually have had more luck striking a deal with the DEVIL … at least he delivered on his promises, even if it would cost her SOUL( at this point she’d give EVERYTHING she had to tell her family how much she missed them, let alone to get them back in a more PERMANENT manner )perhaps she did find the devil … given the other’s reputation.❛ i expect you to uphold YOUR end of the deal. i ASSURE you i am not above using … legal channels to protect what little family i still have left in this world. ❜
F I N A L L Y —— relief eased his shoulders / the man could finally take in a deep breath. Digits run over angled chin ( thinking, always planning). However, this time, he for once did not have to plan a way to SAVE HIMSELF. No. He had no doubt that Anya … the Grand Duchess Anastasia would prove herself in a matter of seconds. She knew of the wall, of things he && Vlad never even spoke of. At her locutions, a smirk tugged‘pon a corner of his lips. “I don’t doubt you will. But for once, I’m NOT afraid of threats —— you’ll see. She’s here, in this hotel.” With that, he gave a quick nod, retreating to the door ( && of course holding it open, he wasn’t that much of a savage). “ — Just, don’t hit me until you see her alright ?? Once in quite enough for once night.” A light jest, despite the heaviness on his heart. He knew the moment she entered that room, saw HER SISTER, he’d be g o n e .
__________ ♔ THE ROMANOV BLUE EYES shine with an ill-hidden GUILT after all these years of wondering whether her youngest sister was ALIVE. there are days she prays for her family to waltz through the door … well&&healthy … only for it to mean that she had left them BEHIND in russia while they NEEDED her. is it not the same in the case of her sister ?? the little girl who had fallen out of her grasp while they ATTEMPTED to catch the last train out of saint petersburg ?? ❛ there are very FEW memories you cannot teach. i will make a DEAL with you … you are a con man && enjoy challenge do you not ?? a good bet ?? i have ONE question that i will ask your ‘ anastasia. ’ if she answers it right … well only my SISTER would know the answer to that question. if she does not, you will LEAVE paris with the actress&& your associate, never to bother my grandmother or i again. are we in AGREEMENT??❜
It didn’t matter how many HISTORY BOOKS they crammed into Anya’s head, how quickly she was able to memorize the family tree, or how little she cared for stroganoff ; that all meant nothing —— for Anya knew the one thing no one else but her true family ( && some insignificant kitchen boy) knew /HOW THEY MANAGED TO ESCAPE. Dmitry wasn’t surprised that Maria knew his reputation, the ‘Prince of Petersburg’, a con who managed to escape it all spread much word ( && the infamous auditions … he wasn’t proud of that anymore ). But this was a deal he knew he’d win, one that wouldn’t require a planned escape or a trick play of the deck. “Trust me, your highness, she’ll answer it. && if not, well you’ll never see me again.” Okay, that might be a lie —— he’d make sure they KNEW before he left this city … P a r i s holds a bit of magic after all it seems.
She looked at him angrily after his earlier comments, but then she relaxed again, Anya needed to focus on Alexei, the future doomed TSAR with hemophilia. “ i don’t remember something … exactly. ” her voice was low, while, the glance turned back to Alexei’s photo. tense silence, at least for her, since knew Dmitry was looking at her too. “ i mean, this is strange and silly, i know but —— i think, i feel that Alexei likes dogs as much as I do. ” that made her smile without noticing, sightly excited. she would said that to Dmitry ( not now ) but, the little boy seemed Anya’s best friend, she felt he knew it, but wasn’t enough, it was to dificult to express with words. the street sweeper felt far far away from the train just for a moment, but — nothing lasts forever, her mind still was a blackhole. deep sigh, a turned to reality &hurt even, the smile vanishes, but her heartbeat is somehow — STRONG.“ i know it’s useless, but it’s what i have … sorry. ” whispers her apologize, while continues looking the family chart, trying to find something. more clues for her own.
The Dowager will n e v e r believe her. For a second his tight grin vanishes ; however at the ever WATCHFUL eye of Vlad as he walks past them, the grin is back. CIVILITY ——— not something Dmitry had much experience in. A girl with no memories, it appeared it was ALMOST worse than hiring that one actress ( It’s ME, A N A S T A S I A — he shivers at the memory ).“He likes dogs.” Dmitry tried but failed not to sound utterly sarcastic, sucking in a sharp breath. “That’s what you remember ??” He can’t help the snicker that tugs at the corner of his mouth. Exasperated, he leans a w a y , tawny gaze staring out to the hall, thinking —— always scheming. AN IDEA. Immediately his lean frame turns towards her yet again, LIGHT back in once hopeless stare. “Well, perhaps if you can’tREMEMBER, tell a story out of it. A time where you two could have bonded. Afairytale.”
a princess though she may be , the feeling of royalty , of having the world at her fingers , comes only now , in the company of he who she has only known for a short time . a surreal happiness overflows , as if anastasia herself cannot behold nor comprehend the good fortune that has somehow fallen into her lap .
soft gaze finds his , mesmerized almost by the state they now find themselves in , together .‘you underestimate the bad decisions i ’ ve madebefore i met you . ’ a moment of levity , though uncertainty presses down 'pon her ribs at his words .‘what? what is it ? ’
Despite COMFORT, how e a s y it was just to breathe when with her, they still have so much to learn about one another. Instead of blood running cold, feet yearning to RUN, it excites him. A curiosity to stay ( && a relief to know that no matter what she has to tell him, he won’t go anywhere ) ; a refusal to even face the possibility of losing her once more.
Devilish gleam, tilt of the chin —— WONDERMENT strikes. A dame of surprise, he’ll never n o t be shocked by her. “Well, you’ll have to tell me all ‘bout those some time … && soon.” Tongue across dry lip, he shrugs, eyes falling ‘pon dirtied shoes. “I knew you were Anastasia before the ballet. At Sophie’s —— that escape, As UNBELIEVABLE as it is … it wasn’t a story you just made up on the spot, Anya.”
__________ ♔ A LUMP FORMS IN the young woman’s throat, constricting until the simple idea of BREATHING proves to be a touch too much. her pulse races ahead as if she were still RUNNING to catch that last train out of saint petersburg … as if she can still feel anya’s fingers slipping through hers until she let go … ❛ i have MISSED her every moment of everyday for the past TEN YEARS. love doesn’t stop when someone dies. ❜
Too much, Dmitry knows he is pushing his luck, taking it TOO FAR. But he cannot stop ; words fall from mouth with little thought / DESPERATION for her to see, to understand. Finding then, leading them through the palace’s secret corridors, almost like m a g i c , he could never forget it. “What she knows ——” He begins to pace, hands rubbing together from nerves, for once trying to find the right locutions to say ( yet ones that wouldn’t give up exactly who he was ). “— she knows more than just pure facts, your highness. There are certain things you can’t TEACH someone … they just know it. Her memories, they’re r e a l .”
stance hard as ice begins to melt with each passing moment , taking a moment of respite in the featherlight touches brushed along her skin . she shakes , the duchess does , a tremor shuddering along her spine at dmitry ’ s words . each passing second draws her closer to him in both physicality and emotion , any and all possible outcomes this scenario rampaging across her mind . a part of her wonders whether the feelings dmitry professes are simply another con , a way to get more money from this unwitting royal . but no , he is kind , and not so cruel to toy with the strings of her heart to such extremes . she takes his hand in her ’ s , folding fingers against her own , grip steady and determined , a forceful reminder that she will not let go , nor that she possesses any wish to be released .
‘not much of my life was easy for a long time . i ’ m used to a complicated life. ’a tremulous sigh to echo his own , the royal orphan ready , at long last , to shatter crumbling walls and lay unfiltered honesty before another human soul . gently so not to break either of them , fingers frame his face , tangled ever so slightly in hair and teeth gnawing at her lower lip , wrestling with indecision before her courage gathers .‘and i want that ; i want… a complicated life with you dmitry. i love you. ’eyes brim with emotion , yet light gaze holds his dark , determined and unwavering in her commitment . the words have been spoken , short and fateful , a declaration that hovers frozen in the sliver of space between them .
Her never failing kindness allows him to sometimes forget the cruel, horrifically unjust life she has led. An orphan —— wandering all the way to St. Petersburg with little to no memory, only know that in PARISsomeone was waiting for her. Dmitry may have had little, but he knew his father, knew that at least at one point there was someone with a heart open enough to L O V E even him. Dmitry couldn’t imagine her situation, it’s why he reveres her so highly / a pedestal he can never climb.
T’was unfair, but done anyway.
Tilt down of chin, he can’t look at her /pain. WHY DID HE HAVE TO LET HER GO && not someone else ?? T’was a job not ready for one that ———— a questioning stare, broad, unblinking. I love you , her statement etched into mind, echoed in ears. H O W?? Tears embarrassingly cloud vision, jaw tight as arms wrap around her, chin resting‘pon her head as a delightful chuckle parts dried lips. He should question it, use malign falsities to push her away permanently. But he can’t bare it. Finally, he pulls away to look her again, flash of white as cheeks already a c h e. “I love you more. You’re brave, intelligent —— beautiful of course. But more than that you — you’re optimistic, CHALLENGING … I’m afraid I could go on forever.” Another L A U G H echoes across the Seine, digits twirling ginger locks. ”There’s so much I want to tell you, things you need to know.”Oh how he wished to be better with words!!
“ in my defense, there were plenty of stuff more important than … history. ” she explained while was taking the family chart, moving her glance as well to them. Anya blinked twice, looking all of the faces of a family who could be hers —– somehow. the orphan passed her hands, touching the photos of the romanovs probably, fascinated, like they were ghosts of her mind, quite stranger. most of them, weren’t able to recognized for her, although, one of them — a boy. that made her smile just a little bit, like something her heart was telling something. “ alexei. ” she repeat his name, like whisper. then, the street sweeper looks straight to Dmitry. “ who is him? alexei. ” inquires, curious again. probably, it was familiar to her, after spending too much time with the kids of the orphange, still — something made her to be intrested and quite excited for learning, even. “ i mean, please don’t freak out but — he looks familiar. ”
“Like what ?? Survival —— shelter, food, water ?? You don’t have to tell me about that, Anya.” The man scoffs, for that he knew all about. The streets of St. Petersburg had been his home … well ever since that ghastly night. “&& yet, I still made time to l e a r n a thing or two. Guess we can’t all know everything.” A quip, his smile turns arrogant, eyes falling to hands in thought / ten million rubles ; he didn’t even know where to begin with that kind of money. Anya however, pulled him out from his trance a bit too soon, annoyed as he leaned over to see just who she pointed out. ODD, they were always known to be close. “Well, y’should recognize him. As the only boy, he was the HEIR. The Tsar’s son, he always had to be careful, not only to keep the Royal line but because he had hemophilia … do you, remember anything about him ?? Besides his face of course.” A cautious question, though nonetheless curious.
A deep breath, air filling his lungs as PEACE wafts over him. Despite anxiety over just what they’re about to do, this CALM is not unusual, considering the woman beside him, but it is however u n f a m i l i a r —— something he’ll readily get used to. He’ll have to, considering the question he had asked only a few hours ago && the answer she had given (YES, YES, YES —— can you believe it??).
Hand grips her own, t i g h t as russet hues call for her, beg for undivided attention. “Before we do this, && you make the WORST decision of your life.” Dmitry can’t help but jest, though smile diminishes a moment too soon. “I have to tell you something, something that uh — happened. You need to know.” @againrisen // sc.
__________ ♔ THE ONCE GRAND DUCHESS can’t help tugging the edges of her opera gloves as if she can do WHATEVER it takes to quell the turmoil in her soul. the storm in her has not fallen QUIET since the night her grandmother, sister, && she were ushered behind the fateful wall in the palace. ❛ does she have the ROMANOV blue eyes ?? the signature auburn hair && the mischievous smirk ?? i have seen it ALL before. each time i go, daring to hope that it could be her … each time i have to relive her DEATH … my heart can’t bear anymore … ❜
GUILT is fleeting, but oh is it there. During their scheming he had never once thought about the P A I N of the living Grand Duchess or the beloved Dowager Empress. Dmitry was a lover of the con, of money —— freedom finally within reach. But Anya, no —— ANASTASIA was alive. The money forgotten, he shook his head, desperation narrowing his gaze, pulse QUICK. “Your highness, she’s NOT like everyone else. I — She can prove it to you. You just need to give her a chance !!” He dares to step further in the room. “Don’t you think she’s missed you just as much as you have her ??”
“ i already regret. ” replied, with a sigh, while he was sitting on her side. Anya moved, again, visibly nervous and uncomfortable, probably. she tried to remember if she rememberd something about … learning stuff in general on the orphange. “ err... ” trying to focus, the orphan knew she didn’t paid attention in any class, but the comrades never spoke about more royals families than the last one —– probably because it was the meaning of the revolution. “ honestly? no. ” confessed, still trying to focus on something, maybe more information … but nothing else. “ hardly ever listened in the classes of the orphange. ” the street sweeper continued, then she looked at Dmitry, quite curious actually. “ do you know them? i mean —- all of the royal families? but … how? ” In her eyes there was glimpse of interest she had never had for anyone, actually.
Carefully, he angles himself AWAY from her, a deep s i g h parting from him. This certainly WASN’T going to be as easy as he once thought. With her question directed at him, it was now his turn to be uncomfortable. Legs cross, Dmitry clears his throat as face scrunches up, almost as if to say that was the stupidest question he’d ever heard ( it wasn’t of course —— a man from the streets?? knowing about all the royals ?? seemed a bit a of stretch ). The TRUTH however, was something he wasn’t willing to admit. A mere kitchenboy was almost worse, && only let to more questions.
“Let’s just say that some of us actually pay attention to history.” He mumbled, hand ruffling in his pocket for the FAMILY CHART he && Vlad created, easing it onto her lap. “Anyone ring a bell ??”
