(Untitled)

[border_princess]

What looked to be a very pretty, slim, dark haired boy, dressed like a slavic peasant of the 1640s, stepped into the Mansion. After looking around in bewilderment a well bred voice asked in Polish. “Pan Zagloba? Where are you?” The question was attempted again in Russian, Ukrainian, Ruthenian, and even broken French. “Hello? Can anyone tell

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[naturestrangled]

The Russian catches Vera's attention, and she responds in the same. "No one is quite certain where it is, I'm afraid."

[naturestrangled]

"You grow used to it, soon enough."

[border_princess]

"Excuse me, Panna. I did not ask your name."

[naturestrangled]

"Vera Sabouroff." Vera has long been refusing to curtsy at people, but she does give a sort of nod of acknowledgment.

[border_princess]

"I am Vasil Kurtzevitch." She is still pretending to be a boy because she isn't certain it's safe. (Wether or not Vera notices is a different matter.)

[naturestrangled]

"A pleasure to meet you, citizen." Vera is certainly familiar with disguises, and so perhaps something strikes her as slightly off, but then, exceptionally pretty boys aren't exactly strange to her either -- so precisely what seems odd is out of reach.

[border_princess]

"It most certainly is, Panna." It could be the decidedly peasant attire and the decidedly non-peasant voice and attitude.

[naturestrangled]

That would certainly explain the vague familiarity of it -- when first she met the czarevitch, after all, he was disguised as a poor student. "Is there anything you need, citizen?"

[border_princess]

"I do not think so." She pauses. "Why do you call me 'citizen'?"

[naturestrangled]

"I am a republican," she replies simply.

[border_princess]

"A what?"

[naturestrangled]

"I seek a voice for the people."

[border_princess]

A look of pure confusion.

[naturestrangled]

Vera frowns a bit, not sure how to explain the concept (she's given fiery speeches in the past, certainly, but that would scarcely be appropriate in this context, and usually people have at least heard of the idea). "When only one man rules, it is too easy for that man to become a tyrant. To be unfair and cruel to his people."

[border_princess]

Helen nods. "Yes. This is why we elect our king."

[naturestrangled]

"We sought to have no king at all. It . . . did not exactly end as originally planned, but things have changed for the better."