checkmate.

♜ anna "anya" romanova. princess of russia. forty years old.

[aromancva]

&&. announcing her royal highness, ( anna “anya” romanova ), the ( 40 ) year old ( princess ) of ( russia ). she is often confused with ( antje traue ). some say that she is ( proud & impatient ), but she is actually ( loyal & intelligent ).

guess who’s back and judging you

the king really only ever called her anna when he was angry with her so, by all accounts she is princess anya, known in the royal court for never shying away from critique, especially even she should keep her mouth shut

but that was when she was a young, hot tempered, feral thing -- and never in front of the press; anya has learned much since then. despite her prickly reputation, she’s rather fantastic at handling the media

see she’s not like irina, who presides over hearts with a warm smile and calculating eyes. anya leaves less to chance. she’s friendly enough from a distance, through a screen, etc. but in person she’s a little less tactful

emotions and playing nice seems rather trivial in comparison to the complicated legal system they maneuver, the lives that hang in the balance of her family’s minute decisions

so yes, she disagrees with alexei often enough, particularly in matters of the heart (they’ve never had such luxury and to pretend otherwise is naive at best, ignorant at worst -- and she’s never suffered fools)

would probably get along fantastic with vitya, given some similarities in their personality...if she could stand vitya at all (look!! she is not a romanova!! she is not The Royal Family!! only anya can talk to alexei like that!! >:( )

not a fan of finland either

(an understatement to be sure, but we can get into that later)

struggles to understand nadya because anya focuses much more on the here and now, immediate tactics

prefers pant suits to dresses, but won’t say no to louboutin, likes monotone palettes (greys, whites, blacks, a good neutral beige) for her clothes, but indulges more dramatic colors with her accessories/makeup, a minimalist in most things. except cars, probably.

oh!! also!! she’s a divorcee, no she will not be responding to questions of her 3 month  less-than-a-year-long marriage at this time. (just know that she DID her fucking best but marriage is not for her, she was slowly dying inside) tldr; it was a legal mess, but she sorted it out

gorgeous adopt linked in source <3

task 002

&&. is that ( antje traue )?? no, it’s just ( anna “anya” romanova ). she is a ( princess ) of ( russia ).she is ( 40 ) years old and her birthday is the ( 22nd ) of ( december ) which makes her a ( capricorn ).  she is ( tactical & clever ) and ( confident & competitive ) but, unfortunately, also ( merciless & dogmatic ). those traits just make her a ( ravenclaw ) and in scientific terms an ( istj ). she is ( bisexual ) and the plaza’s ( logistician ).  her theme song is ( trouble ) by ( valerie broussard ). her interests include ( chess & speed skating  ). she practices ( russian orthodox ) and is a supporter of ( a just russia (socially liberal, fiscally conservative) ). her quirk is ( she only uses pens, never pencils ) and favourite quote is ( i used to attack because it was the only thing I knew. now i attack because I know it works best ) from ( garry kasparov ) because ( she admires the russian grandmaster ). last but not least she ( does not ) believe in true love.

[aromancva]

rcmvncv​:

He couldn’t help but to feel like this was just an argument to justify a harsh approach to something that, at the very essence, was a deeply personal issue. “Anya.” He started before he knew exactly what he was going to say. A silence followed her name. “I struggle to feel like you’re giving me advice when during each of these conversations, I have to watch my words and fine tune my sentence to make sure they don’t upset or offend you. I can’t, I just cannot believe in objectivity when the mere mention of Anneli leads to an argument.” There were things he asked for her help, there were things he trusted her with, there were things she had complete control over… “I’m want you to let others help me with this. I have people. Believe me, it’s not just you who has my best interest in mind. I appreciate you, I appreciate your advice. When it comes to this, it just misaligns so greatly with what I–” Mh… he should have stopped talking earlier. “–want. With what I want.” 

“I’ll think about it,” Alexei conceded after a pause. “But I feel it’d be too disruptive. It would create more distrust in Anneli. What happens behind closed doors can happen, I don’t need you to have the same amount of faith in her as I do. But choosing Lesya over my own children would be like screaming from the top of the roof that no one at the court thinks Anneli belongs there. She is doing her best not to make waves. She is doing her best — she doesn’t need nor could she maybe even handle a setback this massive. Her image isn’t ready for something like this.”

in the quiet that ensues after he calls her name, anya has the strange, disorientation sensation of traveling back to a body that was younger, to russian rooms, to a person sitting opposite who looked much like lyosha but was taller, broader, louder. the only difference of note is that lyosha still calls her anya, not anna. she knows what is coming next, before the czar speaks. invisible hands work at light speed to seal the cracks in her armor before his words can hit. before anger can leak into her words. laces tighten the line of her spine, and she swallows back venom.

“ this is not an argument, ” comes her quiet reply, “ don’t worry, you’ve ensured that. ” anneli was here to stay. anya stands, methodically gathering her things. “ all that has happened today is that i gave you my objective analysis of an important political issue. you don’t have to believe it, i understand it’s difficult for you, having to mind yourself with me, but thank you for thinking about it. ” she won’t patronize lyosha or anneli by saying that sometimes one’s best isn’t enough. they are old enough to know better.

“ that was all i had to say on the matter, ” she reminds lyosha. he could ease himself of the anxiety that another ‘ attack ’  would be awaiting him at their next meeting. “ we can move on. ”

[aromancva]

rcmvncv​:

“What to do you want me to do?” They had repeated these same sentences once before. He had done his best to attempt to toss around ideas, keep her involved with the issues that regarded Russia. With the Yurivič problem she had repeatedly greeted him with snark. Was he supposed to invite her to his marriage? Was that what was missing? That he needed to make her the third party in a partnership? Allow her to make decisions that ultimate affected him incredibly personally? Would she then feel satisfied?

“Nikita is not in a much of a position to bargain,” Alexei stated slowly. “His involvement with China… I haven’t forgotten.” There were certain decisions and a certain type of insubordination that he had to turn a blind eye to. But he found recklessness too concerning to overlook. “He’s sensible.” And Alexei liked the man. “The conversation should be fine.” And if it didn’t, Alexei’s eyes would be forcefully ripped open. 

“But she will. Anya. We’re waiting for the coronation.” The blind could not be of any help to painters. Anya did not know enough about his and Anneli’s plans to so boldly think she knew best. “Yes, they will be Anneli’s children but they’ll be mine as well. They’ll be Russian because there is no Finland anymore.” Couldn’t Anya see it? There was no victory for the Talvities to collect because it did not and would not and simply could not exist in any form. “Your reasons — they are worries. I know we need to be mindful and careful. But you’re– you’ve given up on them before they have been born.”  

she wants to feel less like a tool. “ i want you to give my advice due consideration. and then you won’t hear me bring this up again unless you would like to discuss it. ” gaze holds steady. “ i want you to trust that i am approaching this like i would any other work issue. i -- the reality is that as much as we try to compartmentalize, your personal life is political. ” it seems so clear to anya, that she had extricated her own personal feelings towards the ex-princess the moment she told lyosha it was possible to marry anneli. the moment she had suggested lyosha be with anneli regardless of labels.

brows knit together, she exudes doubt despite her silence. a successful coup in china could cause kurakin’s allegiance to waver, and family relations were not a deterrent before. blatant defiance from the duke would only result after deep risk calculation on his part.

it’s a good surprise. it should be a good surprise. she can’t name what mingles with the relief in her chest. anya nods, “ that’s smart. ” had irinka known this was the plan? kostya likely did. nadya didn’t warrant speculation.

“ a border is an abstract agreement between two governments -- finland still exists in its people, and it would be natural for your children to know their heritage on both sides. ” but would they be taught to see the bigger picture? “ i am asking you to think beyond tradition. unless you have the conviction that your children will be raised not only to be well-equipped and well-prepared, but willing to take the duty of ruling all russia... ” anneli was the passionate one, lyosha had told her. for finland. “ my recommendation is prioritising stability and signaling definitively that lesya will remain heir to the throne. ”

[aromancva]

ncdyc​:

❛   how would you know how bad it was if you slept through it ?  on top of me.  ❜  only a slight exaggeration.  ❛   you’re not the one doing my dry cleaning, you have no evidence,  ❜  her back leans over the plush cushion backing of the sofa, leveraging her shoulder in a move that would have masha romanova gasp in horror and then tut with disapproval — to swing her legs over the top so she can slide down into the seat with a slight bounce.  ❛  to the flowers ? no. i’m just curious about this process, he thinks he has you in grasp so he stops doing it ?  ❜

“ is your shoulder sore? ” she nudges nadya’s side none too gently, despite an endeared softness to her eyes. affection is displaced with an unconcerned roll of blues. “ your evidence is circumstantial at best. who says he stopped? maybe his assistant no longer has the fortitude to withstand a romanova stare when the door opens. ” the flowers no longer delivered to this suite.

[aromancva]

ncdyc​:

anya’s conclusions don’t warrant response, so she lets the matter rest.  ❛   oh you want me to be your in-flight nanny again ?   ❜   new year’s had proved how annoying and hopeless a very drunk anya could be.   ❛   will auntie anya need an intervention ? i’m surprised there’s no germany on this agenda, did you dump him ?  i haven’t noticed any new flowers in awhile…  ❜   the question reads just a touch too hopeful.  

“ it was not that bad, ” comes her immediate protest, “ i spent the whole time sleeping, and i know i didn’t drool. ” the relentless tease elicits startled laughter, no repose between queries. “ it would require more hours in the day than i have to try and fit germany in with each trip. ”  unless there was no reason to stay in spain. “ why? you were getting allergies? ”

[aromancva]

ncdyc​:

she prevents a mirthless laugh from escaping her chest as soon as it surges from her core. a public apology would be humiliating. fat chance, she cannot see anneli agreeing to it.  ❛   no.  ❜  the thought takes clearer shape in her mind only after the word has passed her lips, quiet and unassuming. it isn’t just about whether anneli would agree, it is about whether an apology would be the correct choice.  ❛   she is already czarina, anya.  ❜   anya has already lost that battle.   ❛   she might not be well-liked, but an apology is not going to help people like her. it is a form of prostrating before her new subjects who will lose some amount of respect for her for it. both russian and finn alike.  ❜   but it would make anya’s job easier — the czarina would have lowered herself, and it would help those who would want to look down their noses at it, tolerate her.  ❛   no one in our family should be put in that position. expressing regret for the loss of lives would be better.   ❜   mildly easier to convince.  ❛   you’re certain she’s resistant on taking on his name ?  ❜

she pushes her hair back and folds her arms.  ❛   in and out…  ❜  anneli would need help, nadya would bridge the gap until she was able to trust the people she’d selected to help her. her nose twitches slightly with the beginnings of a grin.   ❛   why ? afraid you’ll be homeless ?  ❜

“ regret works. it’s something. ” anything. anya shakes her head, and with it the feeling that she has been kneeling at the altar of alexei’s throne, begging for scraps. “ it’s not decided. i suspect me bringing it up with her again will make it certain. and with lyosha...the name helps. it helps her too, it’s not meant to be a punishment. ”

 “ eh, okay. i’ll be going back and forth too. ” the temptation to ask more about nadya’s work lingers, but it isn’t difficult to piece together what would require her presence in st. petersburg. “ ha. no, i just -- ” tongue falters, switching before the admission can fall from her mouth. “ thought it may be nice to coordinate schedules a bit. fly out together, fly in together. i need to split time between st. petersburg and moscow for the near future. ” 

[aromancva]

rcmvncv​:

“I suppose you’re right.” It was one massive thing — which made it into something multi-faceted. It was no wonder Anya was seeing several reflections. He tried to ignore the painfully cold sadness that gripped him at the accusation, the statement. He carefully reached for his cup of coffee to occupy himself with something. If he concentrated on keeping his hand steady as he brought the cup to his lips, he would not have to repeat the words in his mind. 

“I wish you didn’t think so little of me.” Her word choice was truly condescending and what made it worse was how it was not even meant to be agitating. Anya was not attempting to strike him, she was simply insinuating that his priorities had shifted severely. He had spent three days away. Three — some people called it a weekend. “People dislike her in her role. That much we knew would happen.” It was why parading her around was unadvised. The smaller the spotlight was, the better. There were still angles to try, certain key figures to talk to… In order to harvest, you had to seed. “I’m doing what I can. I’ve been spending more time in Saint Petersburg than in a long time.” He was explaining himself to Anya. It had become a new habit which he did not like. “I find it fairly unique.” He narrowed his eyes at Anya thoughtfully. Usually it took a bit more than one political move to cause a mass resignation. Was Anya treating her staff with the respect they were owed? “No one from my team has resigned.” The principled cooks and guards did not really matter to him. What 

now had everyone’s feelings churning would eventually matter little. He was only waiting for the storm to pass. “I’m meeting Nikita next week. He’s been…” Alexei searched for the correct word. He did not want to outright call the grand duke hostile. “Less than thrilled about Anneli.” Alexei couldn’t recall seeing him at the wedding. “I think a conversation with him will help a great deal.”

she stays quiet. they’ve reached this impasse before, and anya does not understand how to make herself any clearer. she has been as soft as she is capable in these circumstances. “ you wish it. but you don’t seem to really care that i do. this matter started with yekaterinaburg and lyosha, your behavior, your decision-making process hasn’t changed. i operate on the assumption that it will not change. ” her voice is hushed. “ do you understand why i’ve been disappointed in the last couple years? ”

he could not understand the sensation of being unheard so consistently. at least with папа, even when he refused to admit her points made sense, she would see the change in strategy. an edit in the wording of a policy. a shift from pursuing one target to another. credit, fame, crowns have never been motivators. it is lyosha’s name that goes on every win......and the consequences never seemed to touch him as much when there was a loss. except for the one she would not name.

“ you do. ” the acknowledgement buys her time to quell the rage that burgeons in her chest, bubbling into her throat. she is unique. but is she not part of their whole? “ that is good then. your staff will work with anneli frequently, their loyalty should be unquestionable. talk to irinka and gavril before you meet nikita - they may be able to figure out what inducements would bring kurakin to heel more easily. but i can tell you the general sentiment he likely shares with others right now. ”

“ the battles weren’t long ago enough for people to forget. anneli is a talvitie. she has not been able to promise that she can see russians as her own. she has not taken the family name. ” if lyosha really was so keen on a line of succession and tradition, at least this should have been easy for him to allow. “ if you do not keep lesya as your heir, provide some sort of legal backing for her to inherit after you regardless of any children....there’s too much uncertainty around anneli for anyone to trust her influence on her own children. your children. any subject, noble or not, royal or not, will be asking you -- us -- what confidence they are meant to have that the throne won’t have a talvitie on it, let alone someone who understands and values russian interests. i do not have the answer to that question, do you? ”

[aromancva]

ncdyc​:

how was moscow ?  what she had meant was whether or not being back in home turf alone had fortified her or not. she hadn’t expected an immediate status report. the burgeoning sigh is swallowed, back of her hip digging further into the back of the sofa.  ❛  give me an example ?  ❜

“ an apology from anneli -- before her coronation -- would be a good place to start. ”  uncertainty flickers across features; anya presenting the idea seemed like the easiest way to have it shot down. it’d be perceived as a strategy to humiliate anneli, rather than appeasing the military, veterans, the families of those who had lost more. fingers drum against the fleshiest parts of her palm, resisting the instinct to curl them tight. “ more than assurances, establishing lesya’s place as crown heir regardless of any...progeny... ” verbiage has slipped into legalese, anya sighs and rolls her neck. “ her surname? though timing-wise, changing that at a coronation ceremony would be better... ” face puckers slightly - one casual question and she can name three solutions thoughtlessly. but realistically, she’d have to plan around lyosha and anneli conceding nothing. “ anyway. this year will be busy navigating this. ” another delay to working on other issues.  “ will you be in alicante primarily the next few months? ”

[aromancva]

rcmvncv​:

He mirrored her expression: had Anya assumed that Lesya would be prioritized over his own children? “I don’t think the line of succession is something to be changed lightly. Appointing Lesya was a precaution and we only skipped over Irinka when we chose her. But if I have children, I don’t think it’s appropriate for Lesya to keep the title.” Did he wish to burden anyone with the title? No. It wasn’t a title a person should have in the first place. Lesya had not genuinely wanted it but had accepted it out of conscientiousness. “Do you think this one thing has changed everything about me?” Yes, he had chosen Anneli against all rationality. It had been pure selfishness — but did it mean that, from now on, everything he did was going to be reckless and short-sighted? “I can’t tell if you’re trying to get a rise out of me or if you’re genuinely confused about something.”

“ calling this one thing is an oversimplification. ” she bites her tongue, jaw clenching. a quick shot was not her best tool with lyosha, hadn’t she learned. still she continues, albeit muted. “ but i think this one thing revealed who you are and what matters to you. ” time and time again she had offered ways for the couple to fulfill responsibilities and at every turn both had rejected any attempt to make their marriage palatable for anyone aside from them. perhaps she'd respect it more, if it didn't mean adding to her workload. silence reigns briefly as she regroups for another attempt with gritted teeth.

“ lyosha, i am....glad that you are enjoying your honeymoon, she should be bringing you joy. good. but the wedding was only the beginning. you must have noticed a shift in st. petersburg. ” it was more obvious among moscovites, the dislike for the czar’s bride, the renewed distrust for the romanov names. “ we’ve lost significant ground among the duchies. ” just because the throne enjoyed being surrounded by sycophants didn’t mean the happy pair hadn’t set back whatever gains the imperial family had won in the last decade without a second thought. “ and it isn’t only the nobles bristling. head of my office in st. petersburg resigned in december. two more have given notice this month. and before you suggest it -- this isn’t the usual staff churn, and i think you’ll find it’s not unique to me. it’s the entire winter palace. ”

[aromancva]

ncdyc​:

❛   mm, your words, not mine. i miss the landscapes. the jeep.  ❜   even though everything had been so far flung.  ❛  alicante’s not as entertaining this time of year, but the aesthetic outside our windows is still better.  ❜  she doesn’t take the indicated seat, and circles around the back of the sofa instead, leaning against its back, legs at an angle.  ❛   how was moscow ?   ❜

“ the holiday spirit seemed to have disappeared very quickly. ” eyebrows quirk in time with the wry lilt of her voice. usually, anya was the dark cloud in moscow, an ill omen interrogating officials and nobles about their inaction. this year, she knew it was not because of her.

a quick glance is spared to confirm the last line she’d read before her torso twists, forearm resting on the back of the sofa and gaze cast up to meet greens. “ most functions are stable. ” head cocks, amending her statement. “ stable enough. veteran affairs....the duchies.... ” wrinkles etch around her mouth and eyes. “ it would help if the crown gave some sort of-- concession. ”

[aromancva]

ncdyc​:

❛ i kind of miss canada.❜  it had been a good house, fetched good value after she was done with it. the cuisine had gotten dull, but, lyosha’s chef had taken care of that, eventually. being able to drive with the bikes in the back to various remote places had been different. felt normal.  ❛   should have appreciated it more.  ❜    /.  @aromancva​

“ hm, i miss the bikes. ” blues lift from her tablet, gesturing towards the empty space beside her with a pointed chin. “ and the upstairs. i feel -- ” she wrinkles her nose over the crooked line of her mouth “ -- ungrateful complaining now after how much i criticized the location back then. ”

[aromancva]

rcmvncv​:

“Of course.” His frown was brief before it made way for a smile. It was the only expression he could offer to Anya in that moment. The way she had phrased it told him that she didn’t answer him not because she wouldn’t have known whom to name, but because she simply did not want to help him with it. “I plan to keep Lesya as my heir as long as there is no one else for the title.” At the moment there was no one. At the moment he could not say for certain that there would be someone. But, if he was fortunate enough to get everything what he had wished for, Lesya would need to take a step back. “Why do you think it should be reaffirmed?”

she blinks, genuinely surprised. the words fall from her mouth a piece at a time, enough breaks as if she were allowing ample time to interrupt and say she had misunderstood. “ i suppose it would not need to be reaffirmed if you want to indicate that your heir may change in the future. i...do not understand you, lyosha. you mean to pass this burden on to your children? that is what you and anneli want? i thought you married for love, and the title was about saving face for her. ruling and responsibilities were irrelevant. has something changed? ” his optimism seemed at best, delusional. the worst did not warrant consideration, she would not accept him being spiteful. he could not be so blind to the mood in the capital, could he?

[aromancva]

interziclovs​:

27 december 2022: brühl

❛   no, what i mean is, the way you told me just now. about feeling you need to fight for him or else. about him putting that on you and it not being fair, about being tired of climbing his walls,  ❜  he shifts his arms from around her so greys can look into blues.  ❛   if he reached for you, would you… not want to be the one to ruin it again ? with all this ? would the act itself not feel like you are meeting something sweet with something bitter — a disproportionate response, so you’d end up, watering it down ? it becomes a cycle that way. you wouldn’t let go.  ❜  and she would need to let it go, to have any peace, to move forward with her own goals.

“ i do not want to go unheard again. ” lately she avoids repeating herself with lyosha, determined to let the record needle slip into the grooves ahead rather than digging into a rut. “ if he makes the first effort, i’ll know he is receptive. i may not tell him right then, but if he does not ask...he has what he wants. he may be uninterested. ”

[aromancva]

ziclovs​:

27 december 2022: brühl

his arms wrap her closer still, transferring his warmth to her faint trembling so it may dissolve beneath his skin instead. a furrow appears between his brows.  ❛   you’re feeling wronged. let down. angry. if he did, would you still be able to express all these things ?  you would not feel guilty ?  ❜

“ guilty for what? ” she does not comprehend. “ not telling him about this specific instance? he knows i am disappointed, i have not hidden my anger. and we are both aware that he prioritises anneli. ”

[aromancva]

ziclovs​:

27 december 2022: brühl

❛   you shouldn’t have to.  ❜    gently, he lifts the cup out of her hands and pulls her close.   ❛   i’m so sorry.  ❜   sorry that the czar likely didn’t know the damage this was wreaking on her, that he had done it on purpose is too vexing to consider, so he doesn’t speculate.   ❛   perhaps then he wouldn’t have heard you. he might this time. might be more capable of being receptive. ❜  

fingers twist in his shirt instead of wringing together. she inhales deep, releasing through her nose with a shudder, jittery movement clicking parts of her back into place. her voice reverberates more evenly now.  “ i think. it is his turn to reach for me. ”

[aromancva]

rcmvncv​:

“Mhm…” He wanted to agree with her but he couldn’t get rid of the worry that had decided to stick to his chest. They had a plan and he was happy to follow it: it was simple, clean and safe. Yurivič was capable of destroying it. “There’s still time.” If they were lucky d’Orléans would die and they’d be left to deal with the elusive brother. The same family couldn’t have two members of the same caliber. “Do you have anyone in mind?” It was nice to exchange ideas like this again. Anya’s answers came quickly and they, as they always had, redefined the issue and made it clearer for viewing. The uncomfortable feeling that filled him anytime Anya brought up Anneli filled him once again. It was not unusual anymore. “Something smaller this year. Truly smaller. No one wants to sit through a five-hour-long ceremony.”

she smiles thinly. “ you are the czar. i’m sure whoever you choose will work diligently to be equal to the task. ” if he meant to include the tsarina in such duties, it was not anya’s business any longer. nothing had been made official, and operating off incomplete information was a waste of both their times. “ if that is your intention.... ” anya pauses, reframing her points. “ if you plan to keep lesya as the crown heir -- which. you should. regardless of other candidates. -- it would be good to reaffirm that at the ceremony. for the rest of the party, well, you know who the best is. ”

[aromancva]

rcmvncv​:

“How much do you trust him?” Trust was perhaps a poor choice for a word but it was the only one he found fitting. It was about trusting Roman Yurivič. Not his character nor his word but his principles. “When we take him to court, I don’t want to be surprised by him.” Milena’s secret was still an explosive the duke had chosen not to light. “I don’t like using children to solve issues but the earlier the princess is with Vitya, the better.” Alexei rubbed his tired eyes. “We need to decide who’s equipped to deal with Giselle d’Orléans. It’s her cooperation we need if we want the daughter in Karelia.” ( ** @aromancva​ )

her unimpressed look lasts the beat of scoff, at least lyosha realizes that trust and yurivič weren’t meant to cohabit the same sentence. “ he is out of surprises,” anya reminds him, “ without arnauld...he is just a duke. whatever support he may have been able to collect in belarus is nothing compared to us. and even that will be less of an issue when milena announces margaux yurivič as heir. ” shoulders lift, the finer details matter little to anya now. “ they’ll put up a bigger fight to have her wear the crown at eighteen i suspect. but by then....it won’t matter what their pawn tries to do. it’s our board. if you do not feel vitya is capable alone, pick someone the french king will be forced to respect. i’m sure he’ll keep his sister in line for the sake of the throne. ” her focus is solely on next steps. “ when lenya takes the south, people will assume it’s because you need to shore up support before major announcements. will there be a coronation for anneli? ”