Canon is Eastern Promises | Apping at Abax

[bornvor]

Hey, hey. You think you could fucking pay attention for little while? You've got deadline, yeah?

I don't like missing my appointments, so don't slack on the app. [Don't mind the heavy accented Russian. Kirill looks annoyed if anything, impatient also. He could use a smoke, or hell a drink... or five. He was nervous about going to this Abax place, but Nikolai would be there so that was a plus?]

Stop "having feels" for this stupid game, Mass Effect or whatever. Get to work, bitch. [He'll make a motion with his hands to hurry his mun along. Always the gentleman with the ladies this one.]

Eto prikaz! [That's an order!]

Comments

[bornvor]

That's what you're here for. I drink, you remind her. [And he'll laugh, giving Nikolai another squeeze and pat patting his back. He'll go peeking around for something to drink now, okay?]

[justthedriver]

[ The physical contact is something he's used to by now, so he only stands there and lets Kirill go. ]

Does that woman drink often? [ He takes another drag of the cigarette. ]

[bornvor]

Not at all. She's boring, boring as goddamn nails. [His mun drinks a little, but barely worth noting. And goddammit! Can't a man find a little booze around here in dear_mun?!]

[justthedriver]

[ Probably not. Nikolai reaches over and gently ruffles Kirill's hair, barely touching against the strands. ]

Better not drink then, Kiryuusha. Not much alcohol where you're going. [ Beat. ] Where I am.

Even fags are hard to find.

[ British meaning, but he uses the word for a reason. ]

[bornvor]

[He'll give Nikolai a little huff and a smile at first, but when he uses that word it has an instant effect on him. The smile fades a little and he's quiet, looking away.]

... heh, yeah? That right?

[Play it off Kirill. It doesn't bother you. It's not like your father flings the words around and his hate of what you are in your face all the time. A thick swallow and he'll try to manage a smile again.]

You keep me in line, kolya, da? [With his drinking that is.]

[justthedriver]

[ He knows Kirill; knows that it'll have an effect on him, which makes what Nikolai is about to do much more effective. He reaches out and rubs his knuckles gently against Kirill's cheeks. ]

Da. [ He smiles faintly. ] Don't worry. You're my Captain, Kirill. I take care of you.

[ Carrot and whip, really, with this man. ]

[bornvor]

[And it does. It's like a drug really. Nikolai gives him just enough to keep him hooked, to keep him there. A little hit and he's good. And while he smiles back at the other in the same fashion he'll harden his features and pull back a few seconds into that touch.]

Regular shining knight in armor, or knight in shining armor. Bozhje. [And he'll shake his head before giving Nikolai a light pat to the cheek in retaliation.]

Don't think I don't protect your ass too. Why you think papa keeps you around, hm? Who tells him what good driver you are, yeah? [And Kirill points to his own chest, tapping it a few times. Have to try and seem all important and like he matters. Like he has any pull or say.]

[justthedriver]

[ There's no doubt that Semyon even notices Nikolas because of his close proximity to Kirill, but saying that Kirill has any influence on his father's decisions is just delusional.

Nikolai smiles, nonetheless. ]

Da, Kirill. There's lot for you to teach. In new place, we learn from each other.

[ An insurance. To make Kirill feel better about himself so he will listen.

Nikolai cam play hin like a goddamn violin by now. ]

[bornvor]

[Kirill might try to delude himself into thinking it, but deep down he knows he has about as much say as dirt telling people not to walk on it.]

We learn while you drive, da?

[He thinks he's being funny. Shame the cars don't work in Abax. He doesn't know that.]

[justthedriver]

[ Nikolai laughs anyway. No matter how bad Kirill's jokes are, he laughs anyway. It makes Kirill feel good about himself, and that's useful, isn't it? ]

You going to bring car in, Kiryuusha?

[bornvor]

What you mean "bring in car"?

[Have a confused look.]

No cars in place?

[justthedriver]

No cars. No motorbikes either. [ Nikolai shakes his head, taking a drag of his cigarette and blowing it towards the window. ]

Piece of shit place.

[bornvor]

What sort of place is this? [Seriously. No cars or motorbikes?]

We ride horses like fucking cowboys or something? [What was he going to tell him next? No electricity? No running water?]

[justthedriver]

No goddamn horses either. [ He chuckles. ] No light either.

[ He waves a hand. ]

Piece of shit place. [ Headtilts. ] You sure, da?

[bornvor]

I thought this was a city? She said we'd in a city!

[Like a normal goddamn city! That bitch. That bitch of a mun.]

Tell me about this place then, what the hell do we have there? [A demand, he wanted to know what he was going to be getting into. And he wanted to know if his father or the vor would be there. But he didn't want to ask directly.]

[justthedriver]

She didn't lie. [ Calmly, and he reaches out to squeeze Kirill's shoulder a little, calming him with the touch. ] But city abandoned. No cars, no motorbikes, no light.

[ A beat. Then his eyes sharpen slightly. ]

No guns. No people other than poor bastards city brings in.

[ He doesn't need to say it explicitly. There's no vor, and barely anyone recognises the stars. ]

[bornvor]

[The touch has its intended effect and he relaxes.]

What sorta poor bastards?

[Kirill is sure Nikolai is hinting his father and their sort won't be there. He won't admit it, but being in a place where his father had no influence, where he could be free from him. He could care less about about not having working cars and what not, it would be worth it.]

No police?

[justthedriver]

Too many fucking Americans. [ He snorts. It's the Russian in him who remembers the Iron Curtain with perfect clarity. ]

One Russian girl. She talking to you now. Not much else.

[ A confirmation. ]

[bornvor]

[That gets a snort from him. He's used to not being the majority as it was, so it will be just like home in that sense. Just instead of Brits they'll have more Americans. He's not sure which is worse.]

Hard to talk to someone when they don't talk back.

[And it's all the confirmation he needs. This Abax place is sounding better and better by the minute.]

[justthedriver]

[ He shrugs a little. ]

Give time. [ Beat. ] Maybe.

[ He glances at Kirill for a moment. ]

Good place, da? [ Gently. ]

[bornvor]

Maybe. [A shrug.]

Depends. Not sleeping in the dirt are we?

[justthedriver]

Nah.

I got place. [ Beat. ] Not much different from apartment back home.

[ Nikolai's apartment in Britain is a shithole. ]

[bornvor]

Familiarity breeds comfort. [And he'll snort.]

Or some shit like that. Better than dirt I guess. [He'll take it! Also, living with Nikolai best thing ever y/y?]

[justthedriver]

Don't know that saying. [ He does, but it'll probably make Kirill feel better if he knows something Nikolai doesn't. ]

Better than outside also. Cold. Not as cold as Russia, but still cold.

[bornvor]

Learn something new, huh? I'm a regular fucking teacher, yeah? [He'll teach you your ABCs too, Nikolai.]

Rather be little cold than hot, fucking heat is bullshit. He likes to wear his leather coat and stuff man. Can't do that in the sticky heat.]

Besides, you have blankets and shit, da? [Or hey, hey we could like... you know... body heat, Nikolai. I hear that is good for keeping warm. And stuff.]