#then he went to use his powers after drinking his spiked tea & POOF—kitten!Darkling

[dhampiravidi]

moi soverenyi, the cat

Something is wrong.

Aleksander was supposed to have met her for breakfast in her chambers. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d done such a thing, since the head of the Oprichniki is supposed to check in with him regularly. It allows both of them to get work done & eat in a companionable mostly-silence—when they weren’t griping about incompetent nobles & royals. If something came up, Aleksander makes sure to tell Jayn, either in person or via messenger, that way she won’t worry or wait up for him. But he hasn’t said anything & it’s over an hour into their mealtime. He doesn’t sleep in, because he loves getting to watch the sunrise, bathing in its hopeful, gentle light while the Little Palace is still quiet.

Jayn pulls on the rest of her uniform’s layers (she’d been in her sleeping pants & usual shirt), plus her boots, then goes to Aleksander’s chambers herself. She knocks on his door, already coming up with plans in case he was sick or somehow injured by an assassin. He’s fine, the little Zemeni girl in her says gently.

No, he’s not.

“Al—" She squeezes her eyes shut for a second to calm down. “Moi soverenyi, it’s Jayn. Can you open the door, please?” He’s her responsibility, not to mention her confidant & friend. She needs visual proof that he’s alright.

@starlsssankt