#dash ;

[romanticaisms]

Meanwhile the Tsaritsa is seeing all of her Harbingers trying to go to town against Dottore, and for a moment, she seems to contemplate intervening in this petty matter. After all, unpleasant as his personality and endeavors may be, his talent is too useful to let waste, and it will only dimminsh if she allows him to be maimed.

But alas. It is still a petty thing at the end of the day. And there are papers for her to sign, bills to review, a nation to keep track of.

She will turn an eye away from all this. (But at least this time, it's a knowing eye.)

[albaitross]

"Goodness me, this man named after a boring herb certainly never learns, does he? All the more entertaining of course, but surely, he has to draw the line somewhere, yes? Perhaps... once he's donated away 9999999999 billion credits to that CBT Research and Charity Drive for that one singer..."

[romanticaisms]

"As the God of Love, as deemed by the people, it is only natural that I accept all and one, as well as their pursuits for the beloved."

A pause. "If my Eleventh wishes to 'tussle' with other men, then my blessings naturally go with him."

[albaitross]

"oh my, a womb tattoo. this relationship is surely progressing rather quickly isn't it?"

[romanticaisms]

"Plans continue apace... It shall soon be time to gather our pieces and set the board onto checkmate, 'ere we set it and its tyrany aflame."

A small, still pause, as the Tsaritsa reviews the pages before her, then turning to look out the open windows of the office - it is the rare month of sun and warmth for the calendar, allowing the blizzard breeze to be more temperate instead. Not that it would affect her even if she opened the windows in the dead of true winter.

Merely a nuisance in that case. Speaking of nuisances—

"...I wonder, will Tonia return from Nod-Krai with some 'fascinating' method to commit arson again?" Another pause, this time with an escaped sigh. "Of course she will. I should ensure she gets an appropriate—and secure—welcome back then."

[romanticaisms]

"My well wishes go to all who embrace love, its beauty and its thorns alike. No matter what has come of it, no matter what may come of it."

"—Except for this particular instance. I am not inclined to bless lunatics with an arrest warrant, I am afraid."

[romanticaisms]

"—Achoooo!!"

Natalya sniffs violently, before suppressing a shiver. Wow, is she catching something? Hopefully not. She still has a lot of work to do - especially now that her latest business has survived a treacherous year already!

Maybe she can finally think of expanding the pipeline... make new contacts in her network... Speaking of, there's that bold fashion designer cutting a new brand for herself in Fontaine, isn't there? Live flowers might not have any use for a designer, but Natalya doesn't suppose it would be bad to check in - or gain a new business colleague.

"Right then!" The woman smiles and pumps a fist determinedly. "I should get going! Today will be a good day - I'll make it a good one if I have to."