Xaviers!

*Somewhere over Europe*

No one could accuse Dr. Doom of not flying in luxury. Even Nika, who would have had some experience on Symkarian private planes, hadn't experienced anything quite like this -- even excluding the areas they were warned not to enter 'under penalty of disintegration', the thing was massive and comfortable. For Jez, who had presumably experienced the joys of commercial airtravel, it was essentially an impossibility.


A Doombot had served both Nika and Jez glasses of champagne as they tore through the skies, Doom himself having momentarily headed into one of the private rooms of the plane. That just left luxury, alcohol, and an awkward silence between Katarina's two would-be rescuers.

It was hard to bask in luxury when you feared for your life and believed yourself to be spied upon by hidden cameras and microphones. The bodice certainly didn't help.

"I haven't work a skirt this long in... well I guess since I cosplayed as Anna Nishikinomiya...." Jez wasn't really used to wearing this many layers outside of a convention but she was thankful for them now. They gave her places to hide the things she needed and to better keep her secrets.

"... do you think this is going to work?" Jez asked before she sipped her champagne. She didn't want to appear rude, not when who knows whom was watching.

"I know it will. What I'm not so sure about is what kind of situation we'll be in afterwards. Doom is not doing this out of the sheer goodness of his heart and if that's not potentially bad enough optics already, we'll have to deal with the fact that I may have to put down Prince Alexander to avoid an even bigger scandal. Assuming the cat isn't out of the bag already." Nika says. She's not indulging in the accommodations much and in fact looks kind of uncomfortable sitting in the large, cushioned seat.

"I... have a theory as to why." Jez tugged at her high collar, looking around despite herself. "Of course, it's just a theory."

"That's probably all it is then." she says dismissively but makes an inconspicuous gesture of miming writing something in the palm of her hand at Jez.

Jez took out her phone and began to slide her finger around on the screen before she eventually handed the device to Nika. On the screen the notepad was open.

I think that Doom has a secret alliance with another member of the Symkarian royal families, and that is why he doesn't want Katarina or the little prince to come into power. With Katarina out of the country, and without her to give prince Alex support, it makes it easier for a third party to step in; one who's agreed to annexation in exchange for power.

Nika types on the phone without looking at it much before zipping it over to Jez with her power

snds about right, possble he replaced a suitor w/ a doombot or wants to step into the position
hes underhnded but vry handson

Jez wrinkled her brow as she read the message, looking up at Nika with a confused expression before she wrote again.

How can you tell? He wears a mask all the time. I thought that his face was all burnt or something.

Nika looks confused, then subtly rolls her eyes.

hands on
personally involved

Jez took her phone back.

"Ohhhhhhh... that makes a lot more sense."

Doom strode back into the cabin.

"I presume you have gorged yourself on Latveria's luxuries. If so, it is time to get down to business."

Any sort of confidence that Nika might've seen in Jez during the short time they'd known each other would seemingly evaporate as soon as Doom re-entered the cabin, the woman adopting a rather meek disposition and folding his hands over her lap. If she could stay like this in Symkaria then they might just have a chance.

"Ah, yes, thank you."

"Do we know where he has taken her? I can't believe I'm saying this but... Latverian Intelligence has always been frustratingly well informed."

"Symkarian secrecy has always been overstated. There is little Doom does not know," he said, eying Nika specifically during that last statement, and putting in an appropriately dramatic pause before continuing.

"Prince Alex will not want to take over in a scandal, if it can be at all avoided. And thus, he has not gone to the other Royal Families with news of the Princess' proclivities as of yet. He wishes to be accepted as King to glorious acclaim, which would involve marrying the Princess -- anyone who does that will be lauded through the center square in Aniana, whereas toppling the Karkov reign in scandal and disgrace could prompt civil unrest. I believe we all know that the Prince does not have the support nor the force of will to put down an uprising.

As such, the Prince has gone to his castle near the Transylvanian border, where I am certain that he is attempting to...persuade the Princess to come to his view of things."

Jez looked over at Nika with some concern. "How likely do you think it'll be that Alex won't put up a fight?"

"I'd imagine he's kind of all in on this plan now. Kidnapping the Crown-Princess; not sure there's coming back from that."

"You may benefit from the fact that this was likely not his first plan. Information he received after arriving in the United Kingdom forced him to improvise, and he is not an adept improvisor. That is fortunate for the Princess; it takes time to set up any sort of brainwashing operation," Doom said, with the air of one who knows what he is talking about.

"He wouldn't..."

"You know the Prince better than I, Miss Novak. After all, weren't you the one meeting with him in secret?" Doom asked, sipping his champagne.

Nika freezes. It shouldn't surprise her that Doom knows this but that doesn't keep the icy dread from crawling up her neck.

"Uah-I was... trying to find a more amicable solution to this whole mess." she manages though that's clearly not the whole truth.

Jez's look of concern and uncertainty that had been on Jez's face during the entire trip soured into a glare that Katarina would have been proud of were she able to witness it.

"... what did you do?"

"Nudge Katarina back on the right path. It is not my fault this slimy piece of work would resort to actual blackmail!"

"Oh yeah, because he seems like such a trustworthy guy. You're supposed to be protecting her and you did the exact fucking opposite! I've known him for five minutes and it's obvious what an asshole he is, what's your excuse?" Jezabelle was quickly becoming heated, forgetting momentarily about the silent onlooker.

"And who are you to determine what the right path is for her? You say she doesn't take her duty to her country seriously enough and you turn around and screw her over?"

"I was trying to protect her! From the pain and heartbreak that you are leading her towards! You're a fling, a mistake, a constant reminder of something she can't have and it doesn't matter how unfair that is because that's not how the world works, okay!?"

"For fuck's sake Nika, we haven't picked out flowers and a wedding dress, it's just dating in college! Something normal people do! If she's going to be making decisions that affect the people around her and dealing with people outside of her bubble of nobility, shouldn't she actually get to experience some of it so that she understands the potential benefits and drawbacks? If she remained sheltered and coddled she'd probably be no different than that well-dress pustule we're trying to save her from. Do you really think she's so morally weak that she's going to fold in on herself because of hamburgers and making out?"

"With a girl! Making out with a girl..." her outburst seems to trail off. Or turn into a cold kind of anger, it's hard to tell with someone who always seems to be wound tight as a steel wire.

"There's no happy ending down that road. Not for her, not for Symkaria. You... you taunt her with something she can't have."

"Do you really think Symkaria's future lies in staying in the dark ages and everyone sticking their heads in the sand? This stuff is normal, it always has been. She's not the only one in Symkaria who's had these kinds of feelings, and they deserve to be able to live their lives out of the shadows. Do you think she's not strong enough to be the leader that brings your country into the modern world?"

"How fortunate that you're such an expert on the socio-political dynamics of my country." Nika snarls before turning to stare out the window.

Jez crossed her arms and grumped, looking out the other window.

"Yeah, I guess she is on her own. Since she won't have anyone she can trust anymore after we're done."

"I didn't betray her. I wouldn't be on this mission if I did. I wouldn't have gotten myself shot if I didn't want to see her lead our country into the future..."

"Well, we'll see if she feels the same way about us when this is all over with, and she learns the truth." Jez didn't really want to argue with Doom in any way, she would just give little nods to what he said. Be a good girl, don't get thrown out of the plane.

Speaking of which...


"We are approaching the drop coordinates. You will find a backpack with supplies underneath your seat. Should you require assistance, there is an emergency card you can press, but be forewarned -- requesting Doom's help in Symkaria comes at a cost!"


((Wait -- an emergency card? Like the one Nailah was given by the strange man outside?))

"Thanks for the ride and the intel, but I got this from here." Nika says and pulls the backpack out from underneath the seat to swing over her shoulder.

Jez ulped softly.

"Wait... drop as in... actually dropping?"

"A Latverian plane landing in Symkaria without invitation is an act of war. And Doom's aim this day is not for conquest of that sort!"

"What's the matter, not so brave now that you have to put your words into action?"

"I thought we'd be landing near the border and sneaking across by rail or something. I've never jumped out of a plane before, I never got...." She stopped herself, closing her eyes and taking several deep breaths. Without another word she fished the pack out from under her seat and pulled it over both shoulders.