[ An instantaneous painting? Nikolai can see how such a thing would be useful, even if he has no idea how it would be accomplished. When Brook pulls out his phone, Nikolai watches, nonplussed. He is certainly not expecting to be the subject of the picture, and he doesn't want to miss how it happens.
There is a small click and then Brook is approaching him again. But surely he hasn't finished? Where is the canvas or paper for the photo? Brook is looking at the device itself, and Nikolai cranes his neck to see... himself. Not just a painting of himself. He's seen plenty of those for a lifetime. Instead, it is an exact likeness in miniature, exactly mimicking the green light of the room, the clothes he is wearing, all of it.
And it is only when he looks down at the photo that he realizes what a profound effect the lights of the room have had on him, too. ]
What?
[ He half-laughs, half-scoffs in response to Brook's question. As if it is too outlandish to be believed. And that is how he would handle something like this, if he were back in Ravka. Good cheer, a little condescension, and denial after denial after denial.
But then, they don't have photos in Ravka. Even as he is opening his mouth to spin out some plausible series of explanations, he can see his own face staring up from the screen of the phone. He sees his own needle-sharp teeth. The black eyes.
His voice dies in his throat. Several awkward moments of silence stretch. Even that pause is its own kind of admission. He should be figuring out how to take a photo of Brook and show him that he's hardly looking all that human, himself. Only Nikolai knows that what's showing on his face in that photo isn't a lie. It's just... revealing a part of the truth that isn't often seen. ]
I'm human.
[ Who is he trying to convince - Brook or himself? The conviction is bleeding out of his own voice. Honesty wasn't an option back home. If anyone found out what he is there, it would have disastrous consequences for untold numbers of people. But here... he isn't king. He is just Nikolai.
no subject
There is a small click and then Brook is approaching him again. But surely he hasn't finished? Where is the canvas or paper for the photo? Brook is looking at the device itself, and Nikolai cranes his neck to see... himself. Not just a painting of himself. He's seen plenty of those for a lifetime. Instead, it is an exact likeness in miniature, exactly mimicking the green light of the room, the clothes he is wearing, all of it.
And it is only when he looks down at the photo that he realizes what a profound effect the lights of the room have had on him, too. ]
What?
[ He half-laughs, half-scoffs in response to Brook's question. As if it is too outlandish to be believed. And that is how he would handle something like this, if he were back in Ravka. Good cheer, a little condescension, and denial after denial after denial.
But then, they don't have photos in Ravka. Even as he is opening his mouth to spin out some plausible series of explanations, he can see his own face staring up from the screen of the phone. He sees his own needle-sharp teeth. The black eyes.
His voice dies in his throat. Several awkward moments of silence stretch. Even that pause is its own kind of admission. He should be figuring out how to take a photo of Brook and show him that he's hardly looking all that human, himself. Only Nikolai knows that what's showing on his face in that photo isn't a lie. It's just... revealing a part of the truth that isn't often seen. ]
I'm human.
[ Who is he trying to convince - Brook or himself? The conviction is bleeding out of his own voice. Honesty wasn't an option back home. If anyone found out what he is there, it would have disastrous consequences for untold numbers of people. But here... he isn't king. He is just Nikolai.
Quietly, he adds: ]
Mostly.