#elizabethkarenina

[orlothegreat]

Elizabeth let out an amused little giggle. “Oh my God, imagine you, a conceited peacock!” She took advantage of his downcast head and pressed a chaste kiss to his chin. “I highly doubt that you would ever become like any of the arrogant pinheads around here, no matter how many compliments I give you.”

Her mood changed to annoyance, and even a hint of anger, as Elizabeth thought of how the court treated her dearheart, the insults and the taunts they hurled at him every day. “Besides, I rather think endearments and honest praise are what you need, considering how terribly you are treated in this brittle jewelry box we call the Court.”

She met his gaze head on, a steely determination shining in them. “It is my mission to make you see your worth and have you believe it, Alexei Grigorievich. I am nothing if not persistent.”

Orlo flattens his features in a playful imitation of annoyance.

"What is so funny, hm?" he challenges his lover, daring to pinch her sides. "It's entirely possible for my head to grow too large, if your entire purpose is to be emboldening me to my own talents!"

"You must also caution me against becoming a boorish egomaniac, we've a plethora of the aforementioned 'pinheads' about. Even I am not immune to conceit. So if you must make my happiness your mission, as I have yours," and he rubs her forearms, with a gentle glowing smile, "then remind me never to abandon my principles."

[orlothegreat]

As Alexei’s words washed over her, Elizabeth felt emotion bubble inside her chest. With tender eyes, she met his gaze and said, “Oh Alyosha, you have…” she stopped to take a deep breath, her throat tightening, tears filling her eyes. She gave him a watery smile.

“You have no idea how much I needed to hear you say that! We’ve not spoken about it, but I always had the feeling that you wanted to travel far afield. Since we hadn’t formally discussed the future, I…began to fear that what you and I have would be finished if you left.” Elizabeth stopped and wiped her eyes with her hands, relief and happiness seeming to overflow from her. “Paris sounds absolutely delightful. I have never been there, but I have heard it’s quite congenial. And I don’t know if I ever told you this, but my father was a diplomat to the court of King George in England, and I lived in London for many years. It’s a wondrous place, and I think you would enjoy it, too!”

She stepped forward and slowly wrapped her arms around his waist, bringing her face so close to Alexei’s that their noses were inches apart. “As corrupt and imperfect a land we live in, I will never stop loving Russia and its culture, and wanting…our children,” she stopped and shyly ducked her head at the notion, “to know the land of their ancestors. But loving you has made me realize that home is not merely a place; it’s also who shares it with you.”

Elizabeth placed her hands on both of her dearheart’s cheeks. “Wherever you are, that is my home. As long as ma chouette is with me, that will always be enough.”

And with that, she pressed a loving, passionate kiss on Alexei’s mouth.

"I have been dearly remiss in leaving you in such suspense."

His words are gentle: a priceless commodity from a man in the Russia of the eighteenth century.

"But no longer."

Orlo takes advantage of his nearness to Elizabeth, to press a soft and earnest kiss to her lips.

"I have faith in your father's experiences and your judgment, and what is more, I see no reason why we cannot travel back to our homeland and import with us the progressive ideas teeming in France."

[orlothegreat]

SEND ❓+ “This is going to sound rather presumptuous, and I apologize, my dearest. But do you see your future here, in Russia? Where would you go? And would that future….also include myself?”

Send ❓+ a question and my muse must answer honestly.

Orlo tilts his head entreatingly at his fiancee.

"Do you fear that, if I say, 'no, Russia isn't for me,' I will abandon you, as well?" he croons. "No, my love. It could never be so. It is my wish to relocate to Paris, that is true, but to travel frequently back to our homeland and ensure that good and true reforms are underway. And I could not uproot without the unwavering support of one very particular lady at court."

He tucks his chin in with a chuckle, and murmurs,

"And that lady is you."

[orlothegreat]

It took all the self-control Elizabeth possessed to not laugh at Alexei’s discomfort at Dunyasha’s presence, but she hid her amusement well.

Continuing to enjoy the bounty that Dunyasha had laid out before them, she nodded in agreement. “Oh yes, it does have a rather cold sensation, does it not? I find it most refreshing, too. It suits our bitterly cold country well, I think.”

Elizabeth nodded towards the door that Dunyasha exited, a small smile on her lips. “She won’t say nary a word to anyone about us, you know,” she said, talking around her scrumptious bite of peppermint. “Dunyasha can be a terrible tease, but she is no gossip. Anything that is said or done will never travel past my apartments, I assure you.”

Elizabeth giggled a little at Alexei’s flirting. “I don’t particularly give a damn what the rest of the court thinks of us being together. Besides, many of them would have no room to speak of scandal considering,” she waved a hand around the room, “all the shenanigans they get up to around here! You and I being in a state of informality is harmless.

“Which reminds me,” Elizabeth paused for a moment, and making sure that Alexei was watching her, she slowly raised a hand to her own pinned up hair and started to pull the pins. “I seem to be rather overdressed at the moment! How terribly rude of me.”

She pulled all of the pins out and gently shook her head back and forth, allowing her long chestnut brown hair to fall over her shoulders to her hips. She could smell the lavender that Dunyasha had scrubbed into it the night before.

“There! You see? No we match, Alexei!” Elizabeth said, a toothy, mischievous smile spreading across her lips.

"W-well," and Orlo double-takes at Dunyasha but, despite the heat rising in his cheeks, reminds himself that navigating his timidity in love is little different from negotiating tense international relationships with a manchild and his acolytes in the same room. In fact, it is vastly preferable. "There is such a thing as too much coldness, my love."

"Hello again, Dunyasha," he greets the maidservant, pointedly, just a bit testily, to hasten her exit. He sighs and waves off Elizabeth's reassurances. "It's alright. Your reputation is sterling and I would be proud to be known as your paramour in any court. I only worry for your safety. Those who become involved with high-ranking government officials tend to be seen as leverage. I only ask you go nowhere without a trusted escort. And--"

Elizabeth takes down her hair and he can smell its fragrance from across the table easily. If he thought his face was warm before, it's scarlet now. Suddenly the ice cream seems like a brilliant idea.

"E-ehm, ah, dear me, you....yes, that....how nice....you look....I mean. I believe I am rendered speechless."

[orlothegreat]

Elizabeth did not expect Alexei embracing her, and she let out a noise of delight as he twirled the two of them, happiness bubbling in her chest. She looked up at her beloved through half-lidded eyes, and returned his sweet kisses.

“Oh Alexei, you know what I mean,” Elizabeth replied between their kisses. “You are already so lovable to begin with, that there is no challenge whatsoever in loving you. And you don’t even realize it, you tempting man.”

She giggled and gave their joined bodies a gentle squeeze. “But don’t you understand? I’m a big woman! I require a man with large hands. They’re much more,” with a truly naughty gleam in her eye, Elizabeth slowly slid her hand down and gently squeezed Alexei’s hip. “Preferable.”

The Count--a man with the balls to go toe-to-toe with (and take a knife to) the corrupt Archbishop and to subtly manipulate the Emperor of Russia--is, here, immediately shy. He laughs breathily, nose wrinkling as he tucks in his chin.

"I have never in my life been described as 'tempting,' I know not how to begin responding to that....!"

"You must take care with such praise, or I shall become as conceited as the other peacocky fools about here!"

[orlothegreat]

@elizabeth-karenina​ @xa-silent-voicex​  continued from X 

In he bustles, the coveted Count, spectacles removed and resting on the paperwork he carries, as he reads the written stack of court crises for immediate review, mumbling curses that range in severity from “bother” to “fuck.” 

Orlo pauses between Elizabeth and Nadia without noticing either, so buried is his nose in these pressing tasks. The unnatural silence, however, dawns, and he looks up, expression caged.

    “I say, what . . . . oh, Elizabeth, you’ve . . . . ! You’ve surely discovered the newest addition to my . . . ahhhh there she is.”

He deposits the papers on his desk and hunkers down before the child.

   “Don’t be afraid, snowdrop, this is,” and he signs, friend. “My friend. Come here, I’m sorry. I have been away too long today.” 

He collects Nadia into his arms and drops kisses onto her cheeks and nose.  

 “Come, let us say hello,” he breathes. 

[orlothegreat]

@elizabeth-karenina this is my favorite version!!!!  https://youtu.be/lmiENK_B8D4  

[orlothegreat]

Elizabeth carefully opened the door to her lover’s apartments, and peered inside the room. On a couch in front of a fire sat Orlo, absorbed in a massive tome. She smiled fondly and quietly walked into the room.

She lovingly rubbed her hands down his shoulders, and planted a kiss to his cheek. “Is all well with you, dearest?” she whispered.

Orlo's gaze rises from the book slowly. His tongue wets his lips. The feeling of Elizabeth's touch is a balm, but one that feels strangely far away.

"I scarcely know," he admits, at length. "I am what my family wanted me to be, but they still want more. I have risked all for the Empress's sake, and yet she changes before my eyes into a being without substance or character. Perhaps her resolve is not as strong as I had once believed. Perhaps I am doomed to be little more than an ineffectual bureaucrat."

[orlothegreat]

A thoughtful look passed over Elizabeth’s face, which was replaced by a determined one a few seconds later. “Yes,” she replied. “Yes, I do think it is possible. You, Her Imperial Majesty, and those loyal to you, will see it done.” She gave a quick nod at the end of her statement, to add emphasis to it. She closed her eyes and chuckled, shrugging her shoulders a bit. “Who knows? Mayhaps even I will have a part to play in the new Russia to come!”

Elizabeth blushed anew at her chouette’s delight at his gift, admiring his handsome face without the obstruction of his spectacles. “Oh, I know I do! I thought of it as more of a physical reminder of what I try to show you every day.”

As she gave her explanation, Elizabeth took one of his hands and tried to put the ring on his right index finger, but it barely made it to the middle! “Ah, I had a feeling that was going to happen!” Elizabeth giggled. “You have handsomely large hands, ma chouette.” She then placed the ring on his pinkie finger, and it slid on as seamlessly as a glove. “There we are! Now you have me with you always.”

Elizabeth gazed up into Alexei’s face, her eyes aglow. Her breath hitched as she realized how close they were, their noses nearly brushing, and could feel the warmth of his stocky, solid frame. It was a shame Alexei had such poor self-confidence; he had no idea how he affected her!

“I do so love you, Alyosha,” Elizabeth said, her voice warm and husky. “Damn you for making it so easy to do so!”

This startles a conspiratorial snicker out of Orlo. He assumes a feigned expression of stern scolding.

"Damn me?! Really, solnyshko. That's scandalous of you, you'll get us thrown out into the streets."

He titters again, and spins her in a circle, and draws her closer, so very softly kissing the mouth that playfully claims to condemn him.

"How dare you call my hands 'large'?" he murmurs against her lips.

[orlothegreat]

Watching Alexei laugh made Elizabeth laugh even harder. One of the most charming secrets about her darling was that he made the most amusing face when he laughed! All the lines of anxiety melted away, leaving him looking like the young man he truly was. And his smile! What a magnificent, toothy one it was! If she was telling the truth, it made Elizabeth’s beat faster at the sight! She made an effort to catch her breath; sweet Dunyasha had laced her stays a little too tightly this day and certain assets were threatening to spill forth with every chuckle.

Without thought, she reached out and ran her fingers through his thick midnight black hair. “You should make an endeavor to wear your hair looser, dearheart,” she said in a rather husky voice, leaning forward to kiss him. “You look most delightful with it about your shoulders.”

Before she could reach his lips, Dunyasha had come back with the sweets, a twinkling amusement evident in her eye as Elizabeth hastily pulled herself back. Dunyasha knew very well that she and Alexei were in a relationship, and often teased her mistress about when they would finally wed. After thanking her and dismissing her for the afternoon, Elizabeth took in their bounty.

“Oooooh Alyosha, look! Honey cake, pastila, zefir, and oh my goodness! Raspberry kvas! I guess Dunyasha suspected that we needed something a little stronger than tea, what with us carrying on.” Elizabeth giggled.

“Oh, this is something new! I think...I think it’s called chocolate peppermint.” Elizabeth said excitedly, pointing to a lovely brown confection topped with what looked like white and red snow. She picked off a piece, and held it to his mouth. “You must try it, it’s most heavenly!”

Orlo tucks his chin in to his neck with a shy laugh.

"I suppose it's an indulgence I could afford for your pleasure," he mingles his expertise in diplomacy with his nascent skills in courtship. "But, ehm, perhaps not at formal gatherings, without running the risk of sullying your reputation for spending time with a man in indecent dishabille," and he exhales a final little snicker through his nose, to kiss the corner of her mouth, and then her lips.

Dunyasha enters and Orlo rapidly straightens in his seat, cheeks dusting red, and greets the far-from-unwitting maidservant with a stiff and awkward smile.

The humming of embarrassment slowly dims as Elizabeth lauds the platter of delicious treats before the couple.

"Chocolate peppermint, is it...is it cool to the taste?"

Rather more adventurous than usual, the Count plucks up a brown truffle and pops it in his mouth.

"Oh Christ. How odd, yes. It is, and yet....biting, refreshing. Rather like ginger, only cold."