Casting Pebbles

[Princess Anastasia Fyodorov]

She shot him an odd look, not fully certain of his meaning. Did he refer to Nikolai's recent fall from grace and how it might have affected him if he had been friends with Nik? Or was it just a general statement regarding the risk in befriending those of exalted station? Tired of constantly being haunted by her brother, Anya opted to believe it was the latter, a faint smile touching her lips. "It can be dangerous, but it is often said that the greater the risk, the greater the gain. Do you not agree? And that a little danger adds much spice to living?" He struck her as the sort to not only embrace danger and spice, but welcome risk for the purposes of gain.

When he brandished the frog, Anya laughed. It was such a little-boy thing to do, but she eyed him. "I'd prefer not to wear the frog, though I doubt he will turn to a prince if I am foolish enough to kiss him. But I imagine you tormented your fair share of young ladies, including those kin to you?" She could all too easily picture him as quite the imp of a boy, chasing girls with frogs, snakes and anything that was guaranteed to make a little girl squeal.

Lord Nicholas Remington

[Lord Nicholas Remington]

"Oh, now there's a truly appealing philosophy of life," he returned genuinely. "Fortune favors the bold and punishes the foolish? I hope that I am more the former than the latter." Admittedly, however, Nicholas did have a tendency to charge without looking which has landed him in a spot of trouble more than once. But, oh the lessons that had been learned. "Do you share a similar philosophy?"

Nicholas eyed the frog, then, trying to imagine just what sort of prince he would transform into. "Somehow, I don't think he'd be particularly dashing as a prince. That and he might be a little ... slimy." Then, he suddenly chuckled, "Yes, I did torment my fair share. I think it was my odd way of conveying my attraction and appreciation for them. Slipping a frog down the dress or tugging on the hair got me close enough to them without having to do one of those weird romantic gestures."

Princess Anastasia Fyodorov

[Princess Anastasia Fyodorov]

Anya contemplated whether she truly believed in the philosophy she set forth, then nodded slowly. "I believe I do, actually, though you may find it less... positive. Fortune may favor the bold, but only so long as they are wise in their boldness. Fortune also punishes the foolish, if they are reckless in their foolish ways. I think it is more that I believe every action has its consequence, whether for good or for ill." Nikolai's actions lately had certainly brought that belief flaring back to life for her; he reaped what he had sown, and now he was paying the consequence of those actions.

Glad to change the subject back to something lighter and take her mind off her unfortunate sibling, she smiled at the frog he held. "Slimy is not very attractive, I admit, and the hopping about can be off-putting." Amused, she shook her head; he sounded very much like Demetri had been. They could have been brothers, in some ways. "You were a very naughty little boy, by the sounds of things, Lord Nicholas."



Lord Nicholas Remington

[Lord Nicholas Remington]

It was a dark and dreary subject, especially when the day was promising to be beautiful and full of light. There was no need to drag them both down. "Ah, so let us think on this a moment," he nodded toward the frog, "Were I to do the boyish thing of putting this frog in your hair or attempt to put it down your dress, I can think of a few outcomes. I might be amused, you might be amused. Or, I might end up with a very red mark on my face and a bear of a man chasing me through the wood. Hmmm. Such prices to pay."

The eyes gleamed with mirth as he gazed upon her. "Oh, I still think that naughty boy in me is still lurking about from time to time, I'm just careful when I do finally let him out." A chuckle sounded as he gazed down at the frog. The creature seemed relatively calm at the moment, though it was going to start squirming about sooner or later.


Princess Anastasia Fyodorov

[Princess Anastasia Fyodorov]

Anastasia had about enough of dark and dreary, thanks to her elder brother. Relieved when he changed the subject, she threw herself headlong into the foolishness of it, laughing softly. "I am more likely to chase you with the frog, or worse, plot a retaliation that is suitable but unexpected." Her eyes sparkled with merriment, thinking of a happier time when she and Katya played a prank on Demetri. "I have two brothers of my own, and they treated my sister and me accordingly. It was learn to hold my own against them or else." She grinned back at him, more amused than anything over the idea of a grown man chasing after her to slide a frog into her gown.

"Ah, but it is good to let that boy out some times, as I should remember to let the girl in me out, no?" She was relaxing once more in his company, turning to look at the poor, unsuspecting amphibian. "He is a good specimen, but perhaps he would be happier back in the water before the temptation grows too great?"


Lord Nicholas Remington

[Lord Nicholas Remington]

The thought of Anya chasing him about the frog was an admittedly amusing one, "Oh, really? I think I should like to see that. What will I have to do? Or do I have to wait until I least expect it?" The smile on his lips was a purely playful one. Nicholas was unable to help himself. All he could think of doing was slipping the slimy beast down the front of her bodice or pretending to chase her around with it. For some reason, he could picture her squealing and laughing that the little girl she wanted to let out.

"Oh, I suppose I should. There are more fun ways to torment girls, anyway." With that, he crouched down, opened his hands and let the creature leap back into the water. It darted off quickly beneath the small waves.

Princess Anastasia Fyodorov

[Princess Anastasia Fyodorov]

Anya slanted him an amused and sly look. "Oh, you must wait until least expected and then some. It is not so fun for me if you know that mischief and pranks are coming. Surely you would not deny me the chance to remember days gone by with a warning of trouble to come?" Her eyes had finally lightened from the caution to sparkle with renewed life, relaxed in his company. The little girl that she had been had not been fully smothered under the adult's mantle of responsibility, though the opportunities for her to emerge were sadly few as of late.

Laughing as he freed the poor frog, she watched it gladly continue its escape. "Something tells me, Nicholas, that though you wear a man's face, there is always the heart of a boy beating beneath the surface, one who looks to bring smiles and perhaps some mischief wherever he goes. Do you cause such trouble to your sisters and brothers, or do you have none?"



Lord Nicholas Remington

[Lord Nicholas Remington]

"Mm," Nicholas toned with approval, his eyes alighting with mirth and excitement, "You most certainly have my attention, my lady. I look forward to seeing just what you come with even if I won't necessarily see it coming. Though, worry not, I won't be watching out for you .... too much." After all, the lady was lovely to behold, so how could he possibly be faulted for wanting to gaze upon her from time to time? "After all, some surprises are good for you, no?"

As for the question of family, he shook his head, "Some more than others. I have one sister with whom I prefer to be gentle, in a way, and another brother that is entirely too serious for his own good. The pranks are never appreciated, and instead, I am treated with an analysis of how they could have been executed more timely or less costly manner. The man would analyze a gift horse to death."


Princess Anastasia Fyodorov

[Princess Anastasia Fyodorov]

This Montenoirian lord had been just what Anya needed to put her out of the mire of emotions in which she'd been caught since Nikolai's scandal ensued. He was handsome, charming, amusing, and rather distracting; she was thinking less of her very real anger towards her eldest sibling and more towards the pranks she could inflict on her companion that he would not be able to anticipate. Already, certain plans and plots were simmering in the back of her mind, pranks she had been able to pull with some modicum of success on Demetri. "Some surprises can be good, but if you see them coming, then the good is undone. And you can watch out for me all you wish, but the true question is - will you be able to see me, much less whatever I may have planned for you?"

She was interested as he spoke of his siblings, somewhat reminded of her own, though Katya did not always require a gentle hand. Still, she had to smile thinly with his description of the brother. "It seems we share more in common than we both realized. I have a brother who is... lamentably similar, I fear. But you speak of your sister in a strange way. Is there something.. amiss?"



Lord Nicholas Remington