Nikolai Lantsov. Major of the Twenty-Second Regiment, Soldier of the King's Army, Grand Duke of Udova, and second son to his Majesty, King Alexander the Third, Ruler of the Double Eagle Throne, may
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
his life and reign be long.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
That was so involved it split across messages. I always knew it was too much of a mouthful, and now I have proof.
More or less. I thought about Sweetheart or Handsome, but I didn't think they'd fly with that.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Sturmhond is also my name, technically. It's the one I use when I'm doing things that princes shouldn't, like leading a fleet of privateers, or destroying unfortunate glowing planets.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Helps me to keep my affairs in order. You understand.
[ Adrien wasn't in the best head space at the moment but that first line deserved an eye roll. ]
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
An alias.
[ Which was actually both logical and practical if you were royalty and doing things you weren't supposed to do!
Adrien considered for a moment if this should disconcert him, that Sturm... Nikolai had lied to him see effortlessly for so long. But did it really count as a lie? It wasn't as if Adrien had ever asked 'hey what's your real name' and Nikolai hadn't given it.
Sturmhond was how he'd known the man and one of their first points of mutual understanding had been the idea of secrets and the necessity of keeping them.
No he wasn't disconcerted by the name, though ... ]
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
That reminds me, I want to ask for more stories about your life as a privateer.
[ In the meantime... ]
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
I ... appreciate you telling me. Do you truly want me to use Nikolai or would it be safer to continue to use Sturmhond?
I have plenty of stories, half of which you probably
won’t believe. It was a good life.
[ It’s also far more in the past than he’s let most people believe
here, but that’s been for the sake of convenience. The lies have come
easily, far much more easily than trusting the people around him. Adrien is
one of the few that he trusts, though. It is about time he acknowledged
that. ]
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
If you’d stick to Sturmhond in public, I’d appreciate
it. But use Nikolai when we’re together. I’ve not told many others.
The ones that are difficult to believe are often the best.
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
I will try. Though it's likely I'll forget and just always call you Sturmhond.
[ It was the name he was used to associating with his friend. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the fact that Sturmhond had just shared what was obviously an important secret with him; he did!
But the man was still ... who he had been a few minutes ago. That hadn't changed and Adrien tended to live and breath secrets these days. A fact he should probably reflect upon, given how deeply he was sinking into them. ]
I grew up with two older sisters, Nikolai. I know when to keep my mouth shut, if I want to keep my shins intact.
[ You are not getting him in trouble with Alina, hell no. Because if Alina gets perturbed enough to kick shins, she might get perturbed enough to stop giving Smiles sunlight.
Then he'll also be dealing with a pissy plant.
His mind may be sixes and sevens at the moment but he's not that far gone. ]
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
Arie would make me stand for hours in heels and her skirts for a fitting, every time I called her 'Your Grace'.
She had a penchant for 6 inch heels. At the least.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
No. I'm going to take a walk.
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I see.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Are you angry because I didn't come to Medical?
no subject
I'm not angry, Sturmhond.
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
Certainly not at anyone making a choice for what they needed.
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
This day has been difficult enough, people needed to do what gave them comfort.
no subject
Nikolai.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Call me Nikolai, for the love of every Saint. It's about time you did.
no subject
Nikolai?
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
Is that some sort of nickname?
[ This may take a minute ... it's been a long day!! ]
no subject
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Nikolai Lantsov. Major of the Twenty-Second Regiment, Soldier of the King's Army, Grand Duke of Udova, and second son to his Majesty, King Alexander the Third, Ruler of the Double Eagle Throne, may
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
his life and reign be long.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
That was so involved it split across messages. I always knew it was too much of a mouthful, and now I have proof.
no subject
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
Oh!
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
Uhm.
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
Those are a lot of titles. I feel like I should say congratulations?
[ There was a pause and then...]
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
Did you just shorten it all to Sturmhond?
no subject
More or less. I thought about Sweetheart or Handsome, but I didn't think they'd fly with that.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Sturmhond is also my name, technically. It's the one I use when I'm doing things that princes shouldn't, like leading a fleet of privateers, or destroying unfortunate glowing planets.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Helps me to keep my affairs in order. You understand.
no subject
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
An alias.
[ Which was actually both logical and practical if you were royalty and doing things you weren't supposed to do!
Adrien considered for a moment if this should disconcert him, that
Sturm...Nikolai had lied to him see effortlessly for so long. But did it really count as a lie? It wasn't as if Adrien had ever asked 'hey what's your real name' and Nikolai hadn't given it.Sturmhond was how he'd known the man and one of their first points of mutual understanding had been the idea of secrets and the necessity of keeping them.
No he wasn't disconcerted by the name, though ... ]
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
That reminds me, I want to ask for more stories about your life as a privateer.
[ In the meantime... ]
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
I ... appreciate you telling me. Do you truly want me to use Nikolai or would it be safer to continue to use Sturmhond?
no subject
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
I have plenty of stories, half of which you probably won’t believe. It was a good life.
[ It’s also far more in the past than he’s let most people believe here, but that’s been for the sake of convenience. The lies have come easily, far much more easily than trusting the people around him. Adrien is one of the few that he trusts, though. It is about time he acknowledged that. ]
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
If you’d stick to Sturmhond in public, I’d appreciate it. But use Nikolai when we’re together. I’ve not told many others.
no subject
The ones that are difficult to believe are often the best.
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
I will try. Though it's likely I'll forget and just always call you Sturmhond.
[ It was the name he was used to associating with his friend. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the fact that Sturmhond had just shared what was obviously an important secret with him; he did!
But the man was still ... who he had been a few minutes ago. That hadn't changed and Adrien tended to live and breath secrets these days. A fact he should probably reflect upon, given how deeply he was sinking into them. ]
no subject
I'd prefer that to having to explain Nikolai to everyone. I wouldn't have half the air of mystery in that case.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
On the other hand, if you ever feel like teasing Alina about how you know she'll be a Queen one day, I'm sure she'd appreciate it.
no subject
I grew up with two older sisters, Nikolai. I know when to keep my mouth shut, if I want to keep my shins intact.
[ You are not getting him in trouble with Alina, hell no. Because if Alina gets perturbed enough to kick shins, she might get perturbed enough to stop giving Smiles sunlight.
Then he'll also be dealing with a pissy plant.
His mind may be sixes and sevens at the moment but he's not that far gone. ]
FROM: md.arbuckal.adrien@cdc.org
Arie would make me stand for hours in heels and her skirts for a fitting, every time I called her 'Your Grace'.
She had a penchant for 6 inch heels. At the least.
no subject
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Saints, man. I wasn't advocating that sort of torture.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Although, you do tend to be the person Alina goes to about her dresses as well. I remember that. You've obviously got a latent skill there, Adrien.
no subject
No good can come of this line of conversation so I'm disconnecting now.
no subject
Have a good night, Adrien.