god with us

dmitri romanov. xxv.

[dmitriromanovs]

quccns-blood‌:

“Don’t you think I know that?” she snapped at him. She hated feeling like this, fragile and dependable. “I hate this helplessness, Dima. I see how they look at as, as if we’re… barbarians.”

She hated this place, and how people looked down on her; figurative, because she stood a good head above all the women and a lot of men in the palace. “The next time they treat us unjustly, I will be taking my sword.”

“you will be doing no such thing,” his words flow with a firmness and need for quick action. “we are guests & you would only be giving MERIT to their whispers against us.” dmitri grips her hand tightly, ice cold eyes demanding her attention. “promise me you will not do anything to jeopardize our place here.”

[dmitriromanovs]

ingrid-duchessofhalland‌:

She was unused to the compliments that flowed from his lips and it took Ingrid another moment to compose herself. This man, she thought, was dangerous. His eyes would be easy to get lost in and his charming tongue seemed to enjoy making her cheeks flush with pink and her lips curve in pleasure. “And as I am a woman with grace,” she said softly as she finally allowed her eyes to meet his. “I should not be so uninhibited with a man I have just met.” Ingrid knew she was, perhaps, being too uninhibited by saying such a thing, but as she had already admitted, Dmitri flustered her. “There is no apology necessary. I was simply caught off guard.” She exhaled softly, eyes moving to his own as the stem moved around his fingers.

Kind. It was not an adjective that Ingrid was used to hearing to describe herself. She was pragmatic, yes, and had the ability to maintain a polite conversation, but it was rare that she truly thought about other people simply for empathy’s sake. It was odd to hear it used to describe her, but as it came from Dmitri’s lips, Ingrid could not bring herself to disagree. “I am honest,” she replied, her tone genuine. As his face lit up, Ingrid wondered what she had said that was so fascinating; she was often oblivious to the interest of others and now was no exception. “As would I.” A small laugh escaped her lips at the irony of their meeting here of all places. “Perhaps we would have met regardless,” she mused quietly, offering Dmitri a small smile. “Our countries are not so incredibly far apart, after all.” She looked back at the flowers.

a small voice within his mind dares him to step closer. a taunting voice, that has often gotten the red-headed boy into trouble with his attitude towards his elders. however, dmitri knows his limits and keeps himself reserved. he is a gentleman above all else and will behave as such. ingrid is undoubtedly graceful and he knowingly agrees with her by giving a small nod of his head. “i must confess, i am slightly notorious for catching others off guard. before my father’s passing, i once shocked one of his advisors with a comment i had made. i was rather passive in my saying it, but my father told me it was the look in my eyes that shocked him so.” the duke shrugged. 

“mmm, that as well, from what i have seen,” he says with a slight upward quirk of his lips. he thinks more of their homes and what future, is any, there would be there. from the comments he has heard, the outside world is in disarray. “perhaps,” he echoes. “if the world had turned out differently.”

[dmitriromanovs]

quccns-blood‌:

“Papa would want us home. And Mama would not allow us to leave either way.” She looked up at him, biting her lip. “We are not meant for the south, Dima. Our home is in the coldest city in the world, where we are strong.”

deep down, he knew she was right. but, he would not accept that they were weak here. perhaps the winter had forged their bones to be unbreakable, but this place would not snap them. “we do not have a choice, maria,” dmitri snapped, his eyes growing wider as he spoke. “we never have. nor will we and WHINING about it will do you no good.”

[lionbaek]

[klaw]

how is “””pretty boy””” supposed to be an insult i’m the prettiest goddamn boy in town

[dmitriromanovs]

quccns-blood‌:

She burrowed her face in his shoulder, inhaling her brother’s familiar scent. No matter how many arguments and things were between them, the youngest Romanov siblings were always a united front against the world. “None of this would have happened if Papa was alive. We would be home, and we would be safe.”

dmitri sighed and shook his head, holding his sister closer in an attempt to quell any more outbursts she may have. “papa would want us here. this is the safest place for us. you must know that.” 

[giftvd]

[dmitriromanovs]

hrhbrandonwindsor‌:

The crown prince had always been an adventurer; he’d climbed plenty of trees as a child and torn up plenty of garments and come home covered in mud, bumps, and bruises. Though the quality became less appealing to the court as the future king grew up and his wayward spirit hadn’t changed. He should be at his father’s side meeting with foreign dignitaries to discuss the devastation of the world and trying to make political trade agreements. The thought of being trapped inside all day on a beautiful day like this was nearly impossible. Throw in they were on an island he hadn’t yet explored and you might have well have been trying to turn water into wine.

he found himself wandering through the grounds getting to know the area and he had spotted the other while he had shot the archery bow. Brandon had quietly watched as the arrow flew its path and connected with the target dead center. Impressive indeed. His presence was noticed by the shooter and was offered a chance to join in the game. “I’m not much of a shot compared to the skills you just displayed, but I’m up for a game and much appreciate the offer to test your bow.”

dmitri lines up his last arrow, eyes focusing on his target before he releases the bowstring and allows the arrow to fly. it makes its mark perfectly and the grand duke beams with satisfaction. without hesitation, a servant goes to fetch his arrows and dmitri extends the bow to the man who accepted his offer. “a game we shall have then. show me your best,” he says with a chuckle. “shall i call for more drink first, -- ?” he pauses in the hopes he will tell him his name, dmitri is trying his best to learn of the important people in court.

[dmitriromanovs]

ingrid-duchessofhalland‌:

His words were comforting and soothed the slight embarrassment that Ingrid had felt upon being so maudlin so soon into their first meeting. She missed Sweden more than she had ever expected to and explaining that did not come easily. “You have only just met me,” she pointed out. “Surely you cannot expect to enjoy all of the thoughts that might inevitably slip from my mind.” It was not quite flirting, not exactly, but it came close. She barely knew the man, though it was clear to Ingrid that he was a handsome one and she resolved not to meet his gaze, lest she get caught staring into his eyes. Her blush deepened and she looked down with a small breath of her own. “You have flustered me,” she admitted. She was not used to feeling so out of sorts and she looked back over at the flowers in hopes that doing so would help compose herself.

The young woman laughed. “I very much enjoyed her company,” Ingrid stated, her voice honest as she thought of her meeting with Maria. She had seemed to be a good sort, after they’d gotten over the initial first moments. As the prince said her name, Ingrid’s eyes widened and her gaze softened. So few said her first name and she found she liked the way it sounded from his lips. “Dmitri,” she repeated, sounding the foreign syllables on her tongue as a small smile graced her face. “Very well. We should be friends then, should we not?”

“i could not say as i have not had the pleasure of hearing them. however, i imagine i would enjoy most from a woman with your grace,” the flattery comes consistently easy from his lips, though it does not taint the sincerity of its meaning. dmitri knows the charm of his words and looks have great affect. yet, somehow, seeing her reaction is like a breath of fresh air that blindsides him. “my apologies, i only hoped to see you smile,” he explains and quietly picks a small flower, twisting the stem between his fingers. he is ever the charmer, a trait likely inherited from his late father. many have told him it would one day get him into trouble.

it raises his spirits to hear someone speaking kindly of her. dmitri knows she has been having a hard time being away from home and it has made him feel useless as a brother. there is little that dmitri can do for maria, when his very presence likely reminds her of russia. “you are very kind.” his interest is raised when he hears his name, in the same way he had seen his uttering affect her. it may have seemed a funny exchange to any outsiders, however, dmitri is thoroughly pleased. he has heard his family call his name hundreds of times, but it feels pleasantly different to hear it come from another. his face lights up once again at the offer of friendship and dmitri is quick to accept. “we should, yes. i would enjoy that very much.” he misses his friends left behind in russia, wishing they could be with him, so to have found new companionship is comforting. “what a funny thing. two royals of kingdoms notorious for their cold weather, meeting in a place known for its warmth, ” he muses.

[dmitriromanovs]

svalaofnorway‌:

Svala nodded, “years of practice.” She smiled and shrugged, “I guess we do not have much else to entertain ourselves with.” Her eyes landing on the arrows beside her, before she gave him another curt nod. “If that day ever comes, for you, I’m sure you’ll do well.” She said pointing at the target he had been aiming at, “you’re a good shot. You would definitely be a worthy opponent on the battlefield.” She had never meant to come off rude, if she did. She had many years along side several weapons, and to her they were more than just a hobby or a way to pass the time. It was an answer to several questions. Now, that answer didn’t prove to fix the problems at hand though. “Your day in battle may come sooner than you think with the way the world has become now.”

“it is remarkable, truly. i must remain steadfast on my own practice, then.” it was not often that dmitri found himself admiring others, envy was much more true to his personality, but he found himself humbled by her skill. “there are some italian sports that i enjoy, but archery is the most satisfying.” his eyes trail towards the direction of her nod and the compliment urges a polite smile upon the duke’s lips. “thank you, truly.” though he was boastful amongst his friends, dmitri had always doubted his ability. her words were a momentary aid to his dubiety. “the world is in jeopardy. even while this disease ravages our people, their fear can become a much more deadly weapon.”

[dmitriromanovs]

quccns-blood‌:

She struggles to take a proper breath in order to speak. “I want to go home!” she manages to gasp out, extending her arms towards him, in a silent plea to be held. “I want things to be as they were!” She looked up at him, and blue met blue. “Dima,” she whined.

@dmitriromanovs

“you know we cannot, masha,” he tells her gently, bringing her close and raising a hand to pet her hair. it is the same motion he has done since they were children, for it was the only way he knew how to comfort her when their mother was not available. he does not know how to deny her pleas, but he cannot grant them either. the romanovs are to remain in sardinia until their brother says otherwise and the sickness sweeping their country is far too dangerous to return to. “i know you do, but the world has changed. russia has changed, сестрa. going home would not be safe for any of us,” he tries to speak carefully, so as not to upset her further.

[quccns-blood]

“i’m not a goose, you’re the goose for crying over nothing”

“I’m not crying over nothing, you bloody идиот!” Sobs racked through her body, and she was unable to control them.

“Can you bring Mama back? If you can’t, just leave! You are the most unsensitive and cold-hearted person I have ever met!”

@dmitriromanovs

[dmitriromanovs]

he nearly snaps at her again, but then the sound of her sobs shatters his heart and his voice quickly softens. “maria..” dmitri realizes his mistake as his words bring more distress to his sister. his frustration has once again gotten the better of him and consideration for her feelings slipped away. the thought of her pushing him away is painful and his mind scrambles for the words to make it right. “please, я прошу прощения. tell me what is wrong.”

[dmitriromanovs]

ingrid-duchessofhalland‌:

Ingrid’s lips rose as the man chuckled and she offered him a genuine smile. “Is it strange that I believe I miss the cold now that we are here?” she asked him curiously. “I would prefer more warmth, of course, but something about being here makes me acutely aware of what I have lost.” She shook her head. “I apologize; we were speaking of flowers and here I have become much more introspective than I had intended.” She looked back at the hydrangeas, her eyes watching as his fingers moved over the petals. “That they do,” she agreed. “And it is rather lovely that there seem to be flowers from all over the globe.” At the compliment, Ingrid was somewhat taken aback and a slight flush rose on her cheeks as her smile deepened. She was unused to being complimented so freely and she allowed herself a moment to consider her response. “Have you not seen green eyes before?” she asked, a twinkle in her own.

Her lips quirked in amusement. “I did,” she responded. “And I believe she survived my own.” While Ingrid could be rather personable, she did stick up for herself when she deemed it necessary. Another incline of her head as he introduced himself. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well,” she said softly. “But you may call me Ingrid, if you wish it. It seems silly to return to titles when we are social equals, is it not?” Well, excepting the fact that he was a man.

dmitri shook his head, clearly giving his answer before could even speak. “it is not strange to miss the familiarity of home. it gives a feeling of security unlike anything else.” he could complain about russia’s weather all he liked, but his country was a beautiful place and held his dearest memories. so, he knew exactly what ingrid spoke of. “do not be afraid to speak your mind. personally, i enjoy hearing those kinds of thoughts when they slip.” it certainly gave him the chance to study her, though he hoped he was not too obvious with his gaze, and it seemed his compliment had gotten through to her. perhaps he was allowing it to feed his arrogance, but it was foolish to deny the delight the blush of her cheeks brought him. “yours are the first to have truly struck me,” he remarked.

“if this means maria has finally met her match, then i am glad to hear it.” if she could gain a friend in this court, then surely the rest of the romanov siblings would settle in just as well. friendships led to bonds and could grow into alliances. so, with sweden just across the baltic sea, dmitri knew their eldest brother would approve of maria’s recent interaction. “then you must call me dmitri; for i could not agree more, ingrid.” 

[dmitriromanovs]

catharinalabelle‌:

“I would” Cathrina responded waking up to the man and holding her hand out to receive the bow. “Though you may have to remind me how it’s done. I’m afraid it has been ages.”

“with pleasure, my lady,” he replies, passing the bow over to her hands. “do you recall how to knock an arrow ?”

[dmitriromanovs]

morethanatitle‌:

She could tell her appearance had thrown him off, but luckily, he didn’t seen upset by the matter. He continued to move forward with the interaction, which made her relax a little. A smile came on her face at his offered. “Thank you, milord. I would be honored if you would teach me.” She looked around, not sure how he was going to instruct her.

“you can come closer. i will show you how to pull and release the bow, without the arrow, for a start.” he holds the bow out straight in front of him, motioning for her to come and grasp its string. “it takes a great deal of strength, i must confess i have struck myself in the face more than a few times as i learned. but, that was because i tried to do it on my own.”

[dmitriromanovs]

ingrid-duchessofhalland‌:

Lips curved upwards as he agreed with her; she was often satisfied when people did so. “I wish we had more of them in Sweden,” she responded slowly. “But it is so cold that flowers do not come nearly as often as I would like.” Nodding, she looked at the man and smiled. “I like that scent as well,” she told him, the smile widening. “Just because something is green does not mean its color is not brilliant.”

Ingrid shook her head quickly, just one shake. “I do not,” she responded slowly. “But I had the pleasure of meeting your sister Maria at dinner a few days ago. She was quick to tell me the proper form of address and that none but her siblings had red hair.” The smile that graced Ingrid’s face was fond. She had liked the other woman and felt that, perhaps, they might be well-matched when it came to wits. “I am the Princess Ingrid of Sweden, Duchess of Halland.”

at the mention of the cold, something all too familiar to the duke, an amused chuckle arises from his lips. “i wished for the same in russia,” he starts, adding a nod of signaled understanding. “however, now, i believe i just wish to live somewhere with warmth. that way, there is always an abundance of flowers to be had. amongst other things.” a hand reaches out to feel the soft lavender petals of a hydrangea. “italy certainly has the right ideas for their gardens.” dmitri paused at her last comment, his head tilting curiously with a pert smile growing across his lips. “i must concur, you are quite right about that. your eyes, for example.” for he could not ignore the brilliant shade of green they bore. 

the mention of maria gives him a natural flow from his last comment and he cannot help but chuckle ( once again ) at her description of their interaction. it was entirely typical of her. “ah, my little sister. i trust you survived her sharp tongue, then ?” though he was now greatly found of his younger sibling, there was a time when he had not always been that way. growing up together in the nursery with her had led to plenty of bickering and times where he had wished for baba yaga to whisk her away while she slept. “i am grand duke dmitri romanov. ‘tis a pleasure to meet you, your royal highness.”

[dmitriromanovs]

fgrcndduchesskctya‌:

YEKATERINA WAS WALKING through a long corridor, at a brisk pace, her heels clacking gainst the floor -  a woman on a mission, who knew exactly what, or rather who, she was looking for. She’d been searching for her younger brother all over, after the day before, when he’d made her suffer a miserable defeat in a game of three-card brag - Katya’d learned it from the British delegation and immediately became almost addicted to.

Finally discovering him in the chamber she entered, the duchess set a deck of cards down on the table. “I’m not letting you walk away victorious without revenge, Dmitri.” @dmitriromanovs​

the rules to three-card brag

after a long day of engaging nobles, dmitri sits before the ornately carved table in his chambers. a goblet of wine is in one hand, while his other turns the pages of a booklet on the rules of florentine football. dmitri is wildly immersed in this, until the sound of coming footsteps from the hall seeps into the room. instinctively, dmitri’s head turns in the direction of the opening door and he is immediately amused by the presence of his older sister. he watches as she places the deck of cards on the table and leans forward to teasingly trace the intricate design on the back of them. “are you truly up for the challenge, darling katya ?” he asks his sister with a wide, devilish grin. “i would hate to spoil your revenge, by winning again.”