St. Petersburg

[aeon_flux69]

[locked for lexiromanov, evankasparov, wild_callie, mikepinocchio, the_romanovs please and thank you.]The air was cold. The clouds hung low in the sky seeming to threaten to cry. As the car barreled down the long drive, once passing large iron gates, two of the people in the car seemed to perk up and look out the window with wide eyes. One was checking his gun. The other was calm, but for Alex, it was

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[ex_the_roman875]

They're visitors are going to be rumpled and slightly unsteady from the trip. Even the best travelers are. Kiska, who got in less than an hour ago is still suffering from fatigue despite having a private jet to herself. A maid is brushing Kiska's hair and buttoning her dress even as she hurries to join Olga in the entrance hall.

There is nothing casual about this greeting. The servants are in livery that they don't always bother with. Olga's gown is simply cut and undecorated, but it's still sweeping the floor. Cathers, also newly arrived, is stifling a yawn behind a velvet sleeve... although she was permitted pants. It's a pity Riene couldn't be here for the arrival. There would have been a certain power in having all three of the remaining Catherines in one place when Alexei walked in.

Olga turns a look on the two girls and both of them straighten in place. The maid scuttles off. There's nothing to say. Everyone here is aware of just how important the moment will be when those doors are opened.

[aeon_flux69]

Climbing out of the car, Sestra hung back from the others as she looked about. Never had she seen a place so... so awe inspiring. Blinking as Alex's words pulled her from a sort of day dream she fell into, of running around the grounds, dancing and singing. Exploring every room and all 30 acres of the place. Of playing in the gardens, laughing. But of course it won't happen

[wild_callie]

Callie gave a little squeeze back to Mike's hand, then to Alex's, and then slid her hands under their arms. Children would hold hands. Adults would not, and she was firmly intentioned to enter with her two men at her side. In all her playfulness, there was however a natural and gentle dignity to Callie, who was queen or her world anyway.

Sestra and Evan started towards the stairs, and they followed.

[ex_the_roman875]

Doors opened, servants fluttered about and Olga carefully watched what was happening. Kasparov and the clone had the lead spot. Alexei was differing command of this encounter to that old monster. How annoying. Still, protocols were protocols. She stepped down on the bottom stair at exactly the right moment, moved at the perfect speed to meet half-way across the entrance hall

[wild_callie]

Callie has regnized Kiska, behind the others. The older woman must be Olga. Callie took an instant dislike to her, which was at the same time to be expected and untypical of her.

And there was another one of the...sisters. Callie just couldn't bring herself to call them clones. This one kissed Alex's cheek, and her eyes shone.

Callie waited to be introduced, glancing at Michael, trying to keep down her growing amusement at all the formalities.

[ex_the_roman875]

"Spasiba, Cathers." Alex turns into the kiss. "Cathers..." He tilts his head. "This is Callie... and Mike. My loves, Cathers... who normally works out of Thailand." The last sentence raises slightly at the end in inquiry.

"Everyone will be here by tomorrow night, Aloysha. Everyone who will come. Olga has called everyone home." It's not whispered like a secret, but neither does Cathers shout out the information. Settling flat again, Cather smiles just slightly at the the other. "Welcome."

[evankasparov]

"Thank you for your kind invitation." Caspian's tone is as bland as his expression as he leans forward to take Olga's hand, bowing slightly when he kisses it.

"Olga, may I introduce, Sestra Flux. Sestra this is Olga...Romanov."

Caspian's manners are impecable, but so are the subtlety of his insults. He'd spent most of the seventeenth century at court. Few alive could play the game of civilized ridicule with the polished grace of the aristocracy from that period. Nicola came close, but Olga - Olga was still finding her way.

[ex_the_roman875]

That pause should have been either absent or filled by 'the', but it's a small slight, not one that a person of her station should care about. Her only concession to admitting annoyance is to meet Kasparov's eyes just a moment too long before turning to the young lady and pulling her mouth into a smile

[wild_callie]

There was no way, no way to make her accept Alex sleeping in a separate room from hers or Michael's. Callie tensed, all her body did, even though she kept the smile on her lips. Alex had all of five seconds to say something, or she would.

[lexiromanov]

Alex shook his head. "I would rather not take that room, Olga, please and thank you. I'll stay with my family. Although I would appreciate the clothing, since you're being so generous. Perhaps one of the maids could cart a few things over to where-ever you have situated Calya and Mike."

He could ask for Callie and Mike to come with him instead, but it would be better to stay close to Evan and Sestra as well, and besides, Alex didn't want what he had with Sestra, Callie and Mike contaminated by his old room and all that happened there.

Olga chin lifted just a bit, betraying her annoyance, but she smiled. "Of course you want to stay with lovers. It is best, however... Lexi, ditya moyo... if you go pick out which clothing you want for yourself... whenever you have a few free moments of course."

[aeon_flux69]

Sestra kept her mouth shut through all of it. Only her eyes took everything in. Mannerisms of the Catherines. Olga and of her brothers and their lovers. Everyone was tense and she also tensed at the mention of Trevor Goodchild. It was going to be hard to try and be civil without snapping or saying something wrong. Which she had been doing a lot lately

[wild_callie]

Callie understood all too well Michael's anxiety to have informations. His urge was being broadcast to her loud and clear, and in a way, Callie couldn't but share it. Still, they were here for a reason and this was another game to play.

Widening her smile, and adding just a hint of the 'young and trustful', she addressed Olga directly, stealing Alex's answer to her and leaving him free to murmur back to Michael. "Oh, you're too kind. Thinking about clothing and toiletries, thank you so much. I'd love to see Sasha's old room, where he grew up, I'll go help him choose what he needs. It'll be a good excuse to look around. You certainly know how reticent he is, with tales of the past." A tiny pause. "And then of course, I'd love to see that painting we talked about."

[mikepinocchio]

Pinocchio looked over at Alex and Callie then pulled away and back a bit. So Callie talked to Olga already. Fuckin' great. The look now upon his face was unmistakable. He was pissed off and he decided to hell with all this be polite shit not with all this possible maneuvering coming up.

He turned away, pulling away from Callie and Alex, back facing toward the others as he looked out, scanning the ground, hands upon his hips as he did. He could feel eyes upon them from everywhere. "The Prince has returned home," he mumbled out before turning back.

[ex_the_roman875]

Olga nodded just a bit, conceding the opening round. There was time enough. "Alexei knows where his room is. I suppose he can take you there to collect his things as soon as the rest of you are made acquainted with your own quarters."

Pinocchio's frown and sour glare at the floor was a bit of compensation for the girl's unexpected show of confidence. The flare of resentment made it clear that he would be an excellent connection to start the chiseling process on. To that end, Olga completely ignored his burst of ill manners, as if his discomfort wasn't worth noticing.

"The painting is around about somewhere. I'll have someone look for it." Olga knew exactly where it was, but why spoil the surprise?

A flick of her fingers indicated Olga's intentions. "Cather's... escort Mister Kasparov, Miss Flux, Alexei, Miss Callie... and Alexei's boyfriend to their quarters."

[lexiromanov]

"His name is Mike, Olga. You know that," Alex needed to get that out before his oldest sister retreated. "Mike Pinocchio. Don't be rude."

Alex moved to catch hold of Mike's hand, to brush a kiss across his cheek. "Please, Michael. Stay close."

[mikepinocchio]

Pinocchio turned his cold gaze upon Olga as she called him not by his name but just by a word. She and Santiago should get together. Or her and Inga which he didn't doubt that already happened. The two were nearly like mirrors. The cold ice stares and the manipulating of words