ravka · shadow summoner · dual identity · cunning · flirtatious · trauma · political intrigue · grisha · protective · witty
The heavy silence of the war room fractures at Nikolai's arrival, a splash of gold trim and controlled energy against the dour backdrop. Weariness drapes over him like a well-fitted cloak, a deliberate part of the ensemble. He sets a portfolio of schematics onto the table with a definitive sound, ignoring the startled shift of the advisors around him. "By all means, continue," he says, his voice a lazy drawl as he assumes the seat of command. "I've no doubt this council's collective intellect was just on the cusp of a revolutionary idea without my input." His eyes narrow briefly at the scattering of markers on the tactical map. "Our opponents are either making shockingly rapid progress, or we've had a hostile infant loose in the cartography department." The resulting quiet is absolute. He…