Snowflakes in the Night || Ivan

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 763

Tags: Ivan

Notes: Sorry it took me a while. ><

It was freezing.

Winters were always cold. Alfred hadn't experienced a winter that wasn't. And it had certainly felt worse when he was homeless and had barely a rag on his back. But even now...

Alfred brought his bomber jacket closer and shivered. He'd never gotten the hang of dressing properly for the subzero Russian winters. Now that Christmas was over, there was very little to look forwards to. Just the harsh reality of the cold snow and the cold world.

The wind howled, penetrating Alfred's jacket and involuntarily caused his teeth to chatter. He didn't even know why he was out here anymore...all he wanted to do was run back home and hide under the covers with a burger, some french fries, and a laptop.

The park was basically empty, though there were a few couples mingling around. A haggard businessman hurried through the park, not giving a single person a second glance. For half a second, Alfred considered scamming him...but it was honestly too cold to even think of anything. And besides, ambushing a (most likely) innocent man with something like that would just be cruel in this weather.

The wind died down and Alfred breathed into his gloves, trying desperately to warm his hands. Gosh, he was starving. He was running low on burgers too...

Now that he really got a chance to look, the park was beautiful in the winter. The snow glistened, perfectly white, completely different from the gray slush you found in the ghettos. The lamps shown cheerfully and warmly, their light reflecting off of the snow, making the world sparkle. If it hadn't been so damn cold and if there was no wind...Alfred would be glad to spend time out here.

But of course, since those factors existed, Alfred couldn't think of a single reason why anyone in their right mind would be out in the cold.

Across the street were a few brightly lit restaurants and Alfred found himself slowing down, almost entranced by the people and families sitting there. They seemed so happy. A father leaned over to wipe the mouth of a little boy while the mother chatted easily with her daughter. They seemed so warm and happy, and the atmosphere was very different from the park Alfred was standing in...

Winter was made for family, wasn't it?

Alfred snapped his head back, focusing on the path ahead of him, refusing to look at the restaurant again. The park seemed to have lost all of the charm it had briefly retained and returned to being dull and insanely, cruelly cold.

He should head home. What was he doing in this park anyways?

Alfred was about to turn around (he'd go out to buy groceries some other day) when he saw a vendor. The middle-aged man looked as cold as Alfred and just as lonely.

"Are you hungry, sir?" the man asked. Even though there was a smile on his face, there was a tint of desperation to his voice.

Alfred automatically grinned. Whether it was due to the prospect of food or just an automatic response, he wasn't sure. "Sure!" he agreed amiably as he made his way over to the stand. A look of relief and gratitude seemed to cross the man's face briefly, a look that wasn't missed by Alfred.

"Hmm," Alfred said, staring at the choices. "I think I'll have the pirozhki and the pelmeni, if that would be alright."

"Absolutely!" The man grabbed two small white paper bags and filled them with Alfred's order. Alfred reached into his jacket and pulled out his wallet, counting off several bills.

"Here you go!" The man thrust the bags forwards. Alfred gave a light chuckle as he handed the man the money.

"Keep the change," Alfred said as he took the food.

Settling down on a nearby bench, Alfred opened the bags. The smell of the food wafted towards him, making his mouth water. Popping a pelmeni into his mouth, Alfred closed his eyes, savoring the taste. Soon, he found himself digging into both of the bags.

Despite the fact that he'd just gotten them, the warmth was already slipping away into the bitter cold. Alfred looked at the first empty bag disappointedly before he started opening the second one.

A snowflake dropped on his nose, temporarily distracting Alfred from his meal. It was snowing and Alfred wasn't sure if he should be happy or depressed. A sigh escaped his lips.

"When does spring start?" Alfred muttered to himself as he reached into the bag of pirozhki.

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Deleted]

strangers passing in the street

T

he evening was much like any other. The atmosphere of the open outside air possessed an environment different than that which he felt when at home -- there was desolation out here, but it wasn't the feeling that seemed to mock him. Everyone fell victim to the cold and frost of winter and he was indeed in its clutches, but here it felt more free.

It would have been fairly warmer to have stayed home, but such a small place between four walls harbored a more demanding sense of loneliness -- he had only himself and his dolls and that was all he knew each passing day. Silence served as a reminder for that.

More often than not he found himself biding his time outside, if not in the Underground. He was standing at the head of one long road, bundled in layers of winter wear in his best attempt to encase his warmth. That did not keep all of the cold air from seeping into open spots and nipping where it could, but that was not enough to change his mind.

There always was a visual advantage to such frigid temperatures. The snow that had collected over the past week looked flawless and untouched, lining streets and its parallel sidewalks with smooth piles and mounds of sparkling white, which seemed to absorb and reflect what color shone from the streetlights and the lit evening sky above. The sky was a canvas of grey and silver from which those white flakes fell, drifting in aimless paths that were carried by the wind. 

Those streetlights did offer a touch of warm shade to the scene -- circles of glowing gold that highlighted the ensemble of colors coming from the buildings behind them, all of which stood on one side of the street to provide activity and life to this portion of the city. Fallen snow had only been disrupted by footprints, which carved tracks without particular rhythm -- their visibility was limited until the next dusting of snow would blanket them again. Ivan's boots had done the same behind him, and throughout his walking it felt as if he were treading upon layers of thin powder.

This was the beauty he could share with no one else but himself at the time. It felt better for him to be mobile rather than standing in one spot -- as he would often do on guarding duty -- and as dull as this blanket of white and grey might have looked, Archadia was but a fraction of the beauty he found Russia to be in the months of winter. His patriotism and admiration could conquer how strongly he wished for someone to be walking at his side, if only for a short time.

Ivan wasn't paying much attention to how strange it must have looked for someone of his height and size to be walking (and at times, lurking) on his own, on the side of the street that was distant and barren from all the others. Shops and restaurants were in clear view to his right side, and any noises he might hear from jovial citizens and families walking together were likely drowned by the sound of his own steps. He was headed for the central park, for no reason other than it - as well as everywhere else around him - provided opportunity to run into someone. Anyone. If not, it was a much more open space for him to collect himself.

Green grass and the flourishing garden flowers he had once been used to seeing were lost as well under a layer of white, providing the park itself with a more melancholy touch. There was a vendor in the heart of the place, whose vicinity wafted with the scent of food. Their eyes met briefly and Ivan shook his head before he could be lured over.

Another presence nearby was what caused him to halt. Had he just uttered something about spring? The sound of crinkling bags followed suit, and he could tell by the lack of voice and a second figure that this one was all by his lonesome as well. Unfortunately for those who do not know the Russian so well, he is not always gentle when approaching someone. His hands were plucked from his pockets and he wandered over to seat himself at the open end of the bench. Violet eyes regarded the stranger with a curious and rather intent stare.

"Vy kazhete grustno," he remarked, perhaps compelled to speak Russian by the scent of fried pirozhki and pelmeni. He continued in a tongue more familiar to others just in case, "Ant lonely too. I hope you do not mint if I sit here with you." Not that he really had a choice. Regardless of the man's answer, Ivan might just remain here and insist on a conversation with him anyway.

("you look upset")

Word Count: 809
Tags: Alfred F. Jones
Notes:

by worldie for jen

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 819

Tags: @jen

Notes:

The cold was piercing through Alfred. He really needed to hurry up and finish his food so that he could head on home. The park was beautiful, but it was a bit lonely if you were out by yourself.

Another pirozhki was halfway into Alfred's mouth when he noticed the man standing in front of him. Before Alfred got the chance to ask what he was up to, the man had seated himself right next to Alfred.

Alfred turned to look at him with a perplexed expression. Violet eyes stared straight back at him in a way that Alfred couldn't quite interpret. Alfred wasn't going to lie—the stare made him slightly uncomfortable. What did this man want? He decided that the best choice was to stare back. Pretend he didn't care.

"Vy kazhete grustno," the man remarked, continuing to look at Alfred intently.

You look upset. He did? Alfred wondered how the man knew. He was a little upset, he supposed. And maybe a little jealous. He missed his family in the winter. Christmas was sometimes a hard tim to go through. Winter should be a time to stay warm with the people you loved and cared for after all.

The man spoke up again, but this time in English. "Ant lonely too. I hope you do not mint if I sit here with you." There was a heavy Russian accent to his words, one that Alfred had grown used to in his time in Russia. No doubt this man had grown up around here.

And...lonely, huh. Alfred frowned a little at this. He had been a little lonely, that was true. Was it so obvious? Or was it just because he was sitting, completely alone, in the middle of winter? Well, he did want company, didn't he?

Which brought him to the question of why this man had chosen today to sit here next to him. Was it pity? Alfred didn't like pity much. He could handle himself. The fact that a stranger though, was able to look at him and say he was lonely so matter-of-factly made him start a little. When Alfred was alone, he didn't really think too much of keeping up appearances. It shocked him that a random stranger could walk up to him and deduce that much though.

...Perhaps this man was lonely too? That was always a possibility. He was out here all by himself as well. Chances were, he wasn't headed anywhere in particular. If he had been heading anywhere, he would no doubt have walked by Alfred without a second glance.

Still, the fact that this man had talking instead of just staring at Alfred made him feel a little less tense. He relaxed a little bit. Conversation, Alfred could do.

"Not at all," he said cheerfully. He laughed a little. "I don't think I'm lonely or upset, but I'm not always the best person to ask about that." He grinned at the man. "The name's Alfred. What's yours? Want a pirozhki?" He offered the bag to the man.

Now that Alfred felt a little more relaxed in the man's presence, he was able to fully take in his appearance. This stranger was tall, very tall. Probably taller than Alfred, which irked him a little. Alfred liked being taller than people most of the time. It was a nice natural advantage.

The man was wrapped in layers and layers of clothing with a scarf wrapped around his neck. He looked rather warm, which Alfred was a little jealous of.

His violet eyes, now not quite so piercing, seemed alright. They were an unusual color, violet eyes, but not unpleasantly so. In fact, Alfred rather liked the color of them. They reminded Alfred a little of how mountains looked just after the sun went down, the pale lilac reflecting off of the bright white snow. Not a warm color exactly, but a calming color.

A wind kicked up again and Alfred pulled his jacket a little tighter around him before blowing into his gloves to warm his hands. He looked back up at the man sitting next to him.

"So," he said curiously, "what are you doing around here? Just out for a nice stroll?"

Once again, Alfred thought back to the fact that this man was alone. Winter was a time to spend with others. The people across the street proved that, the way they happily dined together. So did the couples who held their gloved hands as they sat together, enjoying the quietness and beauty of a winter park. And the children who somehow seemed unable to shiver when they were busy playing in the snow. Even the businessmen in the park hurrying home proved it. They were, no doubt, hurrying off home to someone they loved.

Winter was a time for companionship and Alfred suddenly found himself glad that this man had chosen to sit next to him.

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Deleted]

by chance two separate glances meet

I

f someone was deemed lonely by Ivan's standards, it felt obligatory that he do something about it. Their side of the situation most often went without consideration: no matter their moody state or the effect that unwanted company had on them, they still needed it. That and it gave him the chance to be hypocritical. It was an excuse to cover up his own sense of loneliness, which he hated to be brought up by anyone.

At least he couldn't tell what the other man was thinking about him now. He had grown used to keeping things like that out of mind as well. The stranger looked unwilling to get up and leave him, so that was rather a successful first sign. The first few seconds of their encounter seemed to lend themselves to an awkward staring contest, which he almost didn't mind. The other's eyes were a nice shade of blue to look at, looking youthful behind the lenses of the man's glasses and all, but he was hoping to hear a verbal response from him.

Upon receiving just that, he was taken back by the unexpected cheeriness of Alfred's voice. It was emphatic and followed by an agreeable laugh, which both mildly confused the Russian and made his curiosity heighten - clearly this was not a citizen of his home land, for his accent sounded much clearer and more western, likely with a better grasp on the language than Ivan could convey himself.

"Oh. Well, that usually is a common think for someone to deny about themselff," he stated bluntly, suggesting that he might not have believed the man. Since Alfred was already moving forward to his own introduction, it was made clear that he probably did not want to dwell underneath that spotlight.

Ivan's intense expression had already given way to a more lax and comfortable smile, softer eyes lowering to check the contents of that bag. He imagined he would have a troublesome time enduring that scent without becoming hungry himself, so he couldn't quite bring himself to reject Alfred's offer. It was a tad disconcerting, being offered food by a stranger - that didn't happen often at all - but he couldn't help himself. That forward friendliness alone made it all the more obvious to Ivan that Alfred was a foreigner, but he couldn't say he regretted joining his company. He seemed to be a warm enough person.

He plucked his glove off before reaching that bare hand inside, pulling out a pirozhki for himself. It was still fairly warm when his fingers closed around it. "My name is Ivan," came his response, making sure to ensue brief and proper eye contact. "Ant thank you for this. It has been a while since I came here to eat these before."

His eyes broke away again, staring down to his hands. They looked silly and mismatched now that he had taken one glove off, and he could see that his knuckles and the skin surrounding them were already turning pink. The sudden influx of wind didn't help that bitter chill, but he tried to ignore it.

Now he had to be mindful of eating politely around another person, especially one he didn't yet know well. He was hesitant while taking bites of his pirozhki, almost forgetting to swallow first so he doesn't speak with a mouthful - that was always one bad habit of his. "That was what I hat in mint, I suppose. Home is nice, bot the streets always look nicer throughout all off the seasons."

He paused, unsure of where the rest of his thoughts lied. He had had his fair share of brooding jealousy upon seeing the various couples that passed in and out wherever he went, so it was rather nice having something to distract him just this once. 

Feeling that it was time to shift his attention back to where they had started, he proposed in an insensitive ramble something that was likely better off unmentioned, "By the way~ I dit not mean you lookt lonely in a mean way. To be honest you lookt like someone who is sittink here in the snow, waitink for someone who decidet not to show op today. Is that what the proplem is, or were you jost wantink to take your own little stroll too?"

Word Count: 718
Tags: Alfred F. Jones
Notes:

by worldie for jen

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 851

Tags: Ivan

Notes: It's bad, I'm sorry. ;;

Alfred watched as his breath trailed upwards in thin mist, twisting and turning in the air. It had always amused him as a child, watching the vapor leave his mouth. Now he'd grown too used to it to appreciate it.

Alfred hadn't really sat in the cold for a while. There was no wind now that he'd sat down, but the cold still chilled Alfred to the bone in a different way. He breathed into his gloves again, allowing the temporary warmth of his breath to thaw his cold fingers.

Winter was beautiful, but the cold was not.

"Oh. Well, that usually is a common think for someone to deny about themselff." There was a bluntness to his tone that made Alfred wince slightly. He wasn't in denial. At least he was pretty sure he wasn't.

Luckily, the man moved on from the topic which made Alfred feel a little better. He didn't really like talking about it. There were other things one could concentrate on, though they seemed to be slipping his mind at the moment.

Ivan accepted his offer and taking off his glove, took out a pirozhki. Ivan's hands looked pale and cold in the weather. Alfred hadn't bothered taking off his gloves and the action made him wonder if he should have. He'd been alone, he decided, and taking off his gloves now would be just awkward. Besides, he could wash them later.

The man thanked Alfred before he bit into the pirozhki. Alfred smiled and taking the bag, he popped another one into his mouth as well. There was a deliciously warm sensation in his mouth, though the wind whipped away at it so easily that Alfred feared it would be lost before he'd finished chewing. He took another one while Ivan talked.

Alfred chuckled. "Yeah, they do." The winter snow grew old, but sometimes it was better than being cooped up at home. Home got dull too, especially after you spent countless hours there, being blocked in by the weather. There weren't many reasons to go out in the winter for him after all. Alfred looked up at the sky. Grey, as usual, but light snow was falling, the sort that one could actually take the time to appreciate.

"By the way~" Alfred's gaze shifted back towards Ivan. "I dit not mean you lookt lonely in a mean way." Oh. They were back on this topic. Alfred shifted a little uncomfortably, stiffening a little. He was tempted to say something, but that might come off as rude and Alfred didn't want his only company to be driven away. At least Ivan was apologizing...sort of. "To be honest you lookt like someone who is sittink here in the snow, waitink for someone who decidet not to show op today. Is that what the proplem is, or were you jost wantink to take your own little stroll too?"

"I don't have anyone to wait for," Alfred laughed, a little awkwardly. He felt a little defensive. Even if he was, he wasn't about to admit it. "I just came out here for a bit of fresh air and to pick up groceries." ...Groceries. Right. He'd forgotten about that. Ah, he had enough for now as long as he wasn't snowed in again.

"So, Ivan," Alfred said brightly, "where were you headed? Can't have been much good to let someone like me sidetrack you so easily."

Switching the topic seemed like the easiest way to get out of this politely. Alfred wasn't exactly the most polite individual on a usual basis, but with strangers, it was always a good thing to make a good first impression. Good first impressions could get you very far, a lesson that Alfred had learned quickly. Besides, now that he had sat down, Alfred didn't want to leave. He was craving company, to be honest. There were very few people that Alfred could see on a regular basis, if any. This man's company, however short lived it might be, wasn't something that Alfred wanted to walk away from.

What sort of man was Ivan anyways? Alfred paused to ponder the thought. He seemed kind enough. Most people didn't randomly take time out of their day to sit with a stranger and tell them they were lonely, regardless of whether or not they believed it. Ivan's face was round and now that he wasn't staring at Alfred so intently, he seemed almost childish in a sense. His violet eyes were large and his hair, which looked almost white from a distance, was more of a silvery blond.

Wrapped thickly under layers and layers of clothing, Alfred couldn't tell what the rest of the man really looked like. He did have a pink scarf that didn't seem to quite match the man, but who knew? Maybe he liked the color pink. Maybe his girlfriend have given it to him. Alfred was curious. Who was Ivan?

Was that too much to ask? Probably. Then again, it hadn't stopped him in the past. Though it seemed like at the moment, Ivan was the one asking the questions.

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Deleted]

and I am you and what I see is me

H

e took note that his comment about the beauty of the streets had been agreed upon. It struck a sense of relief within Ivan that he was not the only one who chose not to overlook that -- yes, the cold was brutal and unforgiving most of the time, but what about the visual sights? He very well preferred the colors and the heat of warmer seasons over this, but with his history of enduring winter he knew by now to just make the best of it. Moskva is especially pretty in the winter, he wanted to utter aloud.

"I don't have anyone to wait for," continued the other man, thus turning down that possibility which Ivan came up with -- unless, of course, he was lying about it. It didn't quite matter to Ivan either way. He imagined that Alfred's response wouldn't waver his opinion of him anyway, he was only curious. "I just came out here for a bit of fresh air and to pick up groceries."

That particular statement drove Ivan to look down again, wondering if he had missed seeing something else with him -- but the only bag that was visible on the man was that which he had just bought from the vendor. The Russian blinked, mildly amused by that. "You most haff jost gotten the fresh air so far," he commented, dwelling on Alfred's appearance before his eyes returned upward to view his face.

All of their light-hearted exchanges so far derailed Ivan's train of thought, and it took him a moment to get back on track -- where was he headed at first? He wasn't late for anything, no, it was just... a meaningless stroll. His usual solitary wandering through streets he already knew so well, of course. His head shook as he went on to answer, leaning back against the sturdy bench.

"Nowhere. Is it possible to want to become sidetrackt? I like ronnink into people, so please do not start to think you are takink op any time. The only think I know I neet to do now is fint out more about you. See, it is not usual that most people want to be approacht in poblic, but you do not seem to mint ant that makes you interestink enoff already."

Looking down, he noticed a bit of grease that shone on his fingertips. That hand was now significantly colder than the one still trapped under its protective glove. He subtly wiped the grease off on the thick fabric of his pants and, deciding that he would not try for another pirozhki, slipped that hand back into its respective glove. 

Since Alfred seemed to be the less curious individual between the two of them, Ivan hadn't any qualm with posing all of the questions. That desire to enlighten himself with newcomers seemed only natural. He looked up again, though his gaze had not landed on Alfred this time -- instead he found himself staring down the stretch of the park, watching nothing in particular. "I am thinkink you are from Amerika. I imagine whichever part off it you came from is moch different than it is arount here. It is goot you are font off the scenery, bot what dit you come here for?"

Not that he could blame anyone for moving to Archadia, really -- or, since he wasn't certain about Alfred's case in particular, just visiting. 

He found his mind straying again, imagining Moscow and other cities that looked so charming in their blankets of white. He would have to remind himself to ask Alfred whether he had been to any places other than Archadia, and that lead him to suddenly picturing himself taking the man to one of those places, showing him all of the landmarks and beautiful structures he had always wanted to see for himself. Alfred was still but a stranger -- or an acquaintance, rather -- but Ivan couldn't help himself admiring that warmth and positivity about him.

Word Count: 657
Tags: Alfred F. Jones
Notes:

by worldie for jen

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 870

Tags: Ivan

Notes:

"You most haff jost gotten the fresh air so far." Ivan sounded amused and Alfred laughed at himself as well.

"Yeah, I'm not exactly the best at staying on track," Alfred said, rubbing the back of his head with his hand. "But I mean, they're not urgent. I've got plenty of time."

Alfred leaned back on the bench a little, putting his arms back and looking up while Ivan talked. He was a little more relaxed with Ivan now, a little more comfortable with him. The bag of pirozhki was mostly empty now and Alfred's stomach felt much more satisfied.

"Yeah," Alfred said, grinning. "It's totally possible to want to be sidetracked." He knew that he liked being sidetracked from time to time. It was nice, being distracted from what was really happening in your life.

"The only think I know I neet to do now is fint out more about you." Find out about him? That was...odd, to say the least. Alfred didn't really like people talking about who he was or who he used to be. Maybe it was just something that had set in since he was a con artist. "See, it is not usual that most people want to be approacht in poblic, but you do not seem to mint ant that makes you interestink enoff already."

...He supposed that was true and reasonable. Ivan seemed to be the curious type, with the way that he had approached Alfred so easily and in such a straightforwards manner. Interesting? Alfred didn't find himself particularly interesting. Maybe to an outsider, perhaps...

He would have to lie to Ivan, Alfred realized, if things continued this way. If Ivan continued asking questions. Because there was really only so many questions that Alfred could answer honestly. Maybe he should leave now, before Ivan asked more.

"I am thinkink you are from Amerika," Ivan continued, oblivious to the thoughts in Alfred's head. "I imagine whichever part off it you came from is moch different than it is arount here. It is goot you are font off the scenery, bot what dit you come here for?"

"Yeah, I'm from America. Land of the Free and all." Alfred smiled, though it was forced. He did like America, but that was also a place filled with memories that Alfred would prefer remain buried and hidden. "And yeah, it was different...in a way." He'd never, Alfred realized, appreciated America. And now he wasn't certain he really ever would.

As for what he came here for...god, that was an awkward question. Because Alfred hadn't run here because he wanted. No, it'd been a year of stowing away, getting out of the country, and they'd somehow wound up all the way in Russia. Alfred had run to Europe to get away from the people who had been chasing him and his brother. And then, after two years of stumbling around, homeless, he'd ended up here.

"I just came here for..." Not for work, that would lead to questions about Alfred's job. "Well, just because I wanted to." Lame excuse, alright, Alfred admitted that. He laughed a little uneasily. "I just sort of make on-the-spot decisions and somehow wound up here."

It didn't sound convincing at all, but Alfred hoped that it would be enough to satisfy Ivan's curiosity. Ivan had so many questions...it was time Alfred started asking some of his own. The best way to avoid questions was to ask them yourself.

"I don't think it's fair that you're the one asking all the questions," Alfred said teasingly. "So tell me a little more about yourself, Ivan. You're a pretty interesting person too, bothering to come up to a random stranger to talk. How about you? Did you grow up in Archadia? Or did you just move here recently for a job or something?"

There. Maybe if Alfred got Ivan talking a little more about himself, there would be fewer questions directed towards Alfred. Alfred wondered briefly what Ivan did for a living. He couldn't imagine what the man did. He didn't seem like a businessman or a politician. No one like that would've stopped to chat. Did Ivan do something friendly for a job? Alfred remembered how bluntly and directly the man had approached him. No, someone who interacted frequently with people and relied on that for a job would be...different. There was something about Ivan's directness that Alfred sort of liked. At the same time, he also felt uncomfortable with it. It was rather confusing, Alfred decided, and not something he wanted to focus on.

Alfred opened the bag of pirozhki, taking the last one and popping it into his mouth as he looked ahead. He glanced, a little forlornly, into the empty bag before crumpling it up and tucking it into his pocket.

They'd been sitting around for a bit now and the cold was starting to sink in. Alfred would like to talk to Ivan a little longer, just for the company. So he stood up and stretched before smiling at the man next to him.

"Say," Alfred said easily, "why don't we talk and walk? Be a shame to just sit on a park bench all day."

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Deleted]

and do I take you by the hand

L

and of the free and all? That had to be one of the most typical American ways to confirm Ivan's suspicion. His gaze swayed back into focus, taking into view the smile that was on Alfred's face when he answered in that distant fashion. It was a manner of speech that he expected would have more patriotism to it, more of the pride which he always thought all Americans had.

As someone who regularly looked out for false emotions and, hypocritically, displayed them himself, it was rarely difficult for Ivan to pick up on a false smile. He thought he had been doing a fine job keeping Alfred in good spirits. Maybe his home country was a subject to avoid, not that Ivan would know anything about that. He had never visited America before, and it would be a shame if he wouldn't get to know more about it from another person's point of view. In all honesty, the country sounded like a magnificent place.

But the smile he would have to do something to fix. He hadn't immediately decided on how or when, but he would find a way to make it happen. He had fallen silent for the duration of Alfred's response, which sounded similarly vague - but Ivan would accept it.

"Okay," he said, and nodded. Alfred let out another random laugh, and Ivan mentally bet on the possibility that the man did that a lot. His hands were resting contently upon his lap, fingers picking idly at the fabric of his gloves. "At least you were not brought here against your will, then." Not that he knew that experience, but it seemed a necessary thing for him to comment on.

At that point, it might have seemed that Ivan hadn't any further questions in mind to ask. He hadn't been expecting to run into anyone, after all - but it was as if he had been saving questions like these for a moment when he would meet someone new. And no sooner was he called out for all of his inquiring. It seemed like a natural thing to him, but had he really been asking more questions than the other man..? For a moment he wondered if that meant Alfred found him too talkative, but he wouldn't worry himself over a silly thing like that.

About myself he thought, sifting through his mind to properly provide an answer. "I... work as guart for the school, the Weets off Tomorrow," he began. "Mostly out on the back site, so I can watch for naughty students that try to sneak out. That is little bit off reason why I came here." Drifting closer to details that he wasn't certain whether he should spit out, he began to grow hesitant. There was a pause, long enough that Alfred might think he was finished speaking already.

"Why don't we talk and walk? Be a shame to just sit on a park bench all day," Alfred interjected. Ivan looked up to see the blond man stretch, deciding quickly that he would take that offer as an opportunity to relieve his own growing discomfort.

The Russian stood as well, expression lit with another abrupt smile that did not hold its usual luster. "Da," was his one light response, his hands coming apart to rest steadfast at his sides. Sitting on a park bench all day didn't actually sound too bad, but there wasn't anything wrong with walking either. That probably meant more time to spend.

He proclaimed himself the leader for their little walk, starting at a quick pace to get himself ahead of Alfred; even though it was the American's idea and he hadn't any idea whether they intended to go somewhere specific. As he walked, he decided he would continue his speech. "Bot I grew up in Yakutsk.I came here wh--" His heart thudded as he realized he was neglecting to mention his family. He probably wouldn't have to go into details about them if Alfred didn't know anything... 

He didn't want to worry the other, so he resumed a second time. "Ufu.. When I was ready to leaff. That was when I finisht high school, so I haff gotten uset to it here now. I came here alone, too, ant that has not changet yet."

Word Count: 716
Tags: Alfred F. Jones
Notes:

by worldie for jen

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 958

Tags: Ivan Braginsky

Notes: Alfred can be such a child.

"At least you were not brought here against your will, then." Alfred raised an eyebrow at the wording of Ivan's comment. It was...out of place. Or perhaps not so much. Archadia was known for the Underground after all. And every single one of them had been brought here against their will. Including...

Alfred blinked, trying to wipe the thought from his head. No use thinking about that.

"I...work as a guart for the school, the Weets off Tomorrow," Ivan began in response to Alfred' question. Alfred tensed slightly, staring straight ahead. He refused to meet Ivan's gaze, absolutely refused to. "Mostly out on the back site, so I can watch for naughty students that try to sneak out. That is little bit off reason why I came here."

So...Ivan was a guard for the Weeds of Tomorrow. Alfred had never personally visited the school. He'd never been able to and honestly, he didn't really want to. He'd loitered around a few times during his first year in Archadia, but students were shipped off once they turned eighteen. There had been no point in staying around afterwards.

Alfred didn't like the guards at the Underground, that was certain. Most of them were cruel and sadistic, taking pleasure in the pain of other mutants. Perhaps at one point, Alfred had been like them. The thought made him wince internally.

He admitted that he thought the guards at Weeds would be pretty much the same. But so many of the mutants sincerely believed in the propaganda that Weeds put out about them. Maybe the guards of the school were simply like the typical security guards at some of the more prestigious private schools Alfred had seen in the U.S. Maybe...

Maybe it was just false hope that Ivan wasn't like the rest. Alfred liked Ivan, even with the man's bluntness and directness of his questions. It was nice, having someone to talk to, if only for a moment. He seemed alright to Alfred, though now that he looked, he could see why Ivan would be a guard. Alfred considered making an excuse, to get out of their conversation. He hesitated though. Ivan had been good company so far. Alfred knew he had a bit of a problem with jumping to conclusions. It was a problem of his, judging people by their covers. Like Francis for instance. The first thoughts that had run through his mind when he'd found out who the man was...

No, Alfred would stay. Just this once, he would try to keep his suspicions under control. Chances were, Alfred and Ivan wouldn't meet again. And that would be fine. They would go their separate ways, they would forget about each other. Until then, Alfred should try his best to ignore what Ivan had said.

When Ivan stood up to join him, Alfred's mind abruptly shifted gears. Goddamn...this guy was tall. Like, crazily tall. Almost inhumanly tall. There was a smile on his face, but all Alfred could really concentrate on the fact that the man was so much taller than him. It irked him to no end, making his eyebrow twitch. Though Alfred very rarely thought much of his height, he liked being tall. In particular, he liked being taller than other people. Ivan though, was taller than Alfred. Not just a little bit taller either. The Russian was at least a couple inches taller than the American and Alfred found himself rather annoyed by that fact.

It didn't help that, with Ivan's height, his legs were longer and he could walk faster than Alfred could. Before Alfred was even able to move, Ivan had already taken the lead. Alfred had no idea where they were headed and had to pick up the pace in order to catch up with Ivan, who continued talking. "Bot I grew up in Yakutsk. I came here wh--"

Ivan paused, which piqued Alfred's curiosity. Ivan looked a little startled, as if he'd been meaning to say something but it didn't quite sit well with him. When what happened? Alfred wanted to know...but he wasn't going to ask. Alfred didn't like being asked those sort of questions. Judging by Ivan's expression, it probably wasn't anything good.

"Ufu.. When I was ready to leaff," Ivan supplied. "That was when I finisht high school, so I haff gotten uset to it here now. I came here alone, too, ant that has not changet yet."

Alone, huh. Alone. Alfred could understand that. He wondered why Ivan was alone, why he'd come to Archadia by himself. It didn't sound like he had family...or at least if he did, there must've been a reason why he had left them behind. Alfred briefly pondered how long ago that had been. How old was Ivan anyways?

...Shit, he'd started to fall behind. Damn Ivan's height and his long stride. Alfred's eyes strayed, falling on a stray patch of snow. The idea occurred to him suddenly. The conversation was starting to become just a little too...serious. Not that Alfred couldn't do serious, but he didn't want to linger on it. It was time for something a little more cheerful.

He swiped a handful of snow while Ivan continued to walk in front of him, his gloved hands pressing the white substance into a perfect sphere. Without thinking, Alfred tossed the snowball at Ivan, watching as it arced perfectly through the sky towards its target.

A self-satisfied smirk appeared on Alfred's face. Childish? Maybe. But it was definitely worth it. He stood with his hands on his hips, grinning like a bit of an idiot. Already, his hands were molding another snowball.

It was Russia, it was winter. Why not have a little fun?

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Deleted]

and lead you through the land

I

van had noticed how often Alfred refused his gaze. Refusal, of course, was only a reluctant guess. To fill that growing pool of self-conscious thought, Ivan could easily come up with some other scenarios. He wouldn't forget about Alfred's choppy way of speaking and his probable false excuse of a smile. Maybe he didn't know how to talk to new acquaintances. That was understandable. Ivan didn't think he had touched on any sensitive spots so far, so that shouldn't have been the problem. Maybe he was just shy. That wouldn't make a whole lot of sense given Alfred had offered him food and had been cheery for the most part, but it was still precious to think of. He always felt most confident in the presence of timid people.

Alfred probably had a lot on his mind, as did Ivan. At this rate, that wasn't going to get Ivan to let go of the situation. None of that would be enough, so perhaps it didn't even matter. The memory of the American would probably be etched into the Russian's memory for a long while to come. He was not offended that the American didn't seem to want to hold eye contact, anyway. Just a little curious, since Alfred's little conversational quirks were easy for him to pick out.

Now he was walking while mulling over those things. Ivan hardly noticed that Alfred had fallen behind, because he had been too wrapped up in sharing an excerpt of his history. It seemed he had succeeded in avoiding the subject of family. He thought of turning that subject around on Alfred again, in case the other man had any family or friends (or current significant others), which the other probably wouldn't like. Ivan's questioning seemed to have no end.

As he went, he was oblivious to the American's frustration behind him. Fortunately for him, that saved Alfred from a world of gentle taunting. He always loved to pick on anyone who was shorter than he - specifically anyone who was very well aware that they were short. Now that it did not seem required of him to continue, he could take a little pause in speaking. His hands had stuffed themselves into his pockets again, relishing the little envelope of warmth provided for him in there. The press of cool breeze against his face was a different matter, but he didn't mind that. He was content with what had happened so far. Strolling through the park seemed to have been a lovely idea indeed. The air seemed fresher now, albeit still lightly hinted with the scent of pirozhki from before.

He took a breath of it, deciding from the sound of Alfred's feet crunching upon snow that the American was still on his trail. Ivan hadn't expected him to escape or anything, but it was relieving that he was still in his company. Without looking back, he broke the silence by speaking again. "Was that enoff for you to hear? Is there anythink else you nee--!" ...need to know?

Halt. 

Something hit the back of his neck. His scarf cushioned the blow, though the cold still pricked slight pain on Ivan's skin there. Between each crease of that pink fabric, he could feel escaped chunks of snow scatter and tumble, wedging between scarf and skin and even falling down the back of his coat. He had stopped then, violet eyes significantly wider.

Was that how Americans dealt with all of their new friends?  Of course, Ivan was quick to catch on to what this was. An opportunity to be a child, well taken. His eyes lowered, evaluating the snow around his boots. Surely this was enough to gather his own ammunition.

Broken off from the serene and nearly sullen mood he had just been in, he peeked over his shoulder to notice the look on Alfred's face. Challenge was written all over it, and how could he resist the twinge of vengeance that that sweet grin caused him to feel?

Ivan made a small sound when he returned his own grin, which threw off any hints that he had been bothered by Alfred's attack.That would have stayed the same if it weren't for his bending down, gathering handfuls of snow into both of his hands. He smushed them together to create a snowball twice as big (but probably kind of sloppy in shape), which was hurled at Alfred with all his playful strength. "I can get you too~!"

Word Count: 746
Tags: Alfred F. Jones
Notes:

by worldie for jen

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 700

Tags: Ivan Braginsky

Notes:

The snowball slammed into the back of Ivan's neck. Alfred had cut off the man mid-sentence, though he hadn't heard what Ivan was saying, having been preoccupied by his childish antics.

Ivan seemed stunned, coming to a complete halt and not turning around to see what had hit him. Of course, there weren't exactly a lot of possibilities, but hey, one's first reaction was usually to check out what had happened. It didn't look like he'd expected Alfred's attack at all, having most likely been preoccupied by his thoughts. That briefly reminded Alfred of what they'd been talking about before...why Ivan had moved here. Were there that many negative connotations? It piqued his curiosity. Alfred knew people could be sensitive about certain subjects...but he really did want to know...

For a moment, Alfred wondered if Ivan would be one of those stuck-up people that couldn't even take a stupid joke or let go of a serious exterior to have a little fun. If that had happened, Alfred would simply have left, perhaps without another word. It would've been enough for Alfred to decide that Ivan really was no different from the guards at the Underground, however nice he may have seemed at the start. At the very least, it would've confirmed that Ivan really wasn't the sort of company that Alfred wanted today. Ah, well. It had been fun while it lasted.

Ivan looked over his shoulder, his eyes wide. There was surprise written over his face, but it quickly morphed into a grin. Alfred took that as a sign that the man wasn't the slightest bit mad with Alfred's sneak attack. That was good. Alfred's grin grew wider, relief coursing through him. This had to mean that Ivan was different...right? Or was he just so desperate to believe he was different that it clouded his judgment?

Alfred couldn't be bothered to think anymore about that. In fact, just the hint of the grin on Ivan's face and the sight of the man leaning down to retaliate was enough incentive for Alfred to call out. “Hah!” he exclaimed, perhaps a little too proudly. “Got you right in the—holy crap!”

Alfred's eyes widened as Ivan hurled a massive snowball at him with a singsongy “I can hit you too~!” The snowball was perhaps twice the size of Alfred's and hurled with an astonishing amount of force. It wasn't packed as neatly and tightly as Alfred's was but that didn't make it any less lethal. The American jumped and it was only after several years on the streets that he barely made it out of the direct trajectory of the snowball. Still, it hit his arm and the pain made Alfred wince a little. Ivan could throw, and he threw hard.

However, that attack simply made Alfred more worked up. There was no way he was losing a snowball fight, nuh-uh. His eyes narrowed despite the grin on his face. Trying to duck out of the way, he'd dropped his snowball so Alfred scooped up some more snow and began repacking his snowball as quickly as possible.

“Think that's enough to get me?” Alfred taunted, the challenge clear in his voice. He couldn't keep the smirk off his face, could he?

Alfred threw the snowball in his hand at Ivan, aiming at the man's face. As he let the snowball fly, Alfred ran behind a nearby bush. What he'd give for a snow fort and a partner right now...it'd been years since he'd had a proper snow fight. Alfred always preferred doing these things head on and having a partner who could form snowballs behind the fort while Alfred attacked their opponent was the easiest way for him to operate. Still, Alfred wasn't complaining. He quickly sculpted three more snowballs before popping his head out of the bush to see where Ivan was at, accidentally knocking some snow into his glasses as he did so. Alfred scowled as he jerked his glasses off quickly before setting them back on his nose.

The man was nowhere to be seen. Shit, had Alfred taken too long with the snowballs?

Damn it... “Where did he go?” Alfred muttered, scanning the scene as he looked around.

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Deleted]

and help me understand the best I can

V

iolet eyes that had since brightened like that of an eager child's were intent on watching his snowy creation. That was very likely the first snowball he had made in ages, not to mention in the presence and playful invitation of another person. It would be the first time he's done something like this as an adult, but age and level of maturity were far out of mind right now.

All that mattered was that he could prove he still knew what he was doing. There was an audible thump followed by a burst of snow around the American's arm, making Ivan clench a fist in silent victory. The matching grin plastered on his face spoke his pride for him. At least his aim was still in tact - he didn't even care to think whether his throw was too hard or anything like that. It was only snow, after all, and missing Alfred would have made for an embarrassing start.

Chaffing words charged forward like the snow itself: "Think that's enough to get me?"  and Ivan felt that sort of spark usually started by the proposal of a challenge. Not that this was so serious of a matter, but it was still something worth attempting to win. He was the one who had first been assaulted, not to mention vaguely irritated at the feel of snow melting underneath his scarf and jacket now. Determined as he was, his carefree expression still trumped any hints of looking irritated - he was more than capable of understanding the good fun that this was, if not relieved and grateful that anyone would even care to engage in it with him. Within seconds Ivan's eyes fell to the ball being prepared in Alfred's hand, right as it left contact to go hurling in his direction.

Nearly too late a reaction, Ivan's arm shot up with the intent to protect his face. The snowball collided with his hand, bursting against his fingers - half of it went plopping back to the ground, the rest splattering onto the Russian's face. He made a sound of surprise, and then giggled. The cold bits of snow were likely to start tinting his skin pink, but he was too occupied shaking it off to worry.

Once his vision was clear from that, all he could see was the rustling of a bush. He had forgotten to make a retort to Alfred's teasing, but perhaps that was to his benefit now. This was only the perfect time for him to slip away, what with his decent sneaking skills. The crunch of snow under his boots would likely give him away here, but it wasn't as if he would go too far.

Within that interval of Alfred taking cover, Ivan had already bent down to scoop more ammunition into either hand. He went swiftly to a thick-bodied tree that stood nearby, standing casually on the side that Alfred couldn't see - or so he hoped. The trunk was at least wide enough not to give Ivan away too easily. That and he seemed to be handling their little fight casually - as if it were a natural thing for him to play. He was only too familiar with the role that snow played in his childhood, but the games that he and his sisters played were a more vague memory. Snowball fights were more gentle, of course, and Ivan always preferred to just build things in the snow.

He twisted around to look around the bulk of the tree, suspecting that Alfred had lost sight of him. Part of him wanted to stay here just to see how confused the American would get, but he wouldn't want the other to think that he had abandoned him. 

Deciding he had waited long enough, he stepped around the side to face Alfred and his bush barrier, tossing one of his snowballs at the blond head that briefly peeked out. "I hope you woult not think I gafe op already," he said brightly. Their voices likely echoed throughout this area of the park, reaching the darkening evening sky and making it feel like they were the only ones around for miles.

Word Count: 693
Tags: Alfred F. Jones
Notes:

by worldie for jen

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 887

Tags: Ivan

Notes: Not great, but better.

The pride in Ivan's face was quite evident from the way his eyes lit up in when the snowball collided with Alfred's arm. Certainly, Alfred's choice to aim his next snowball directly at Ivan's face wasn't without a hint of childish competitiveness. Alfred wanted to win. A snowball fight was a small victory in the grand scheme of things, but Alfred would take what he could.

Unfortunately, the snowball didn't quite make its way completely to Ivan's face as Alfred had planned. The Russian managed to block its path just barely with his hand, the rest of the snowball splattering across Ivan's face. It was an amusing sight, certainly, but not one that Alfred took too long to relish in. Already, he was running, hiding. Alfred wasn't the most strategic when it came to snowball fights, but having a fort was always a necessity.

After Alfred had settled in behind his shelter and looked around he still couldn't quite spot where Ivan was. His breath rose in the cold air, misting before his eyes. He picked up a snowball cautiously as he scanned the area. Come on, Ivan had to be somewhere around here...

Out of the corner of his eye, Alfred thought he saw something move. He stared at the trunk of the tree for a moment, almost certain that Ivan was hiding behind it. When no one appeared though, he couldn't help but feel a little bit frustrated. He should've been paying attention earlier. Ivan was tall, even taller than Alfred and there weren't exactly a lot of places to hide. He couldn't be that difficult to find, could he?

Now that he had stopped moving about for a while again, Alfred couldn't help but feel a little cold. The snowball was soaking into his gloves by now, he really should make a new one...

Alfred was so lost in his thoughts, so completely oblivious to what was going on around him that he didn't even see Ivan make his way out from behind the tree, snowball in hand. It actually took Alfred a second to realize the hurtling white ball makings its way directly at his head. He didn't even have a chance to react.

Oomf. The white substance collided with his forehead. Alfred was so shocked that it took him a second to fully comprehend exactly what had happened. By then, the snowball had burst open all over his face, little chunks of snow sliding down his face and into his jacket. Alfred stood to his feet, quickly wiping his face with his sleeve. Only then did the coldness of the snow fully register in his mind and he shook his head as if trying to clear it. His eyes blinked away the snow that had caught in his eyelashes, Alfred shaking his hair. It was so cold. He'd almost forgotten. Clearly, not paying attention had been a costly mistake. Already though, his hands were moving into the familiar motion of reshaping a snowball. A small fire was burning in Alfred's stomach, one reminiscent of earlier years and simpler days.

"I hope you woult not think I gafe op already." There was a bright cheeriness in Ivan's voice that for a moment. Ivan's voice echoed through the park and for the first time, Alfred paused to really take in his surroundings. The streetlights were flickering on, the sun's natural light fading fast with the coming of nightfall. The sky's color was rapidly fading to black, darkening and almost seeming to isolate the park. The lights reflected off of the newly fallen snow, making the snowdrifts seem to sparkle.

It was nice, in a way, almost like a photograph. A thousand words, captured in one small image.

But more to the point at hand, there was a snowball fight going on.

Alfred's laughter pierced through the cold winter air. It came easily and without restraint for once. "Not at all," Alfred said, a grin coming onto his face. There was just the slightest hint of malice in his expression, a glint in his eyes perhaps. Or maybe it was the snowball he was currently balancing in his hand. "It'd be rather dull if you chickened out that quickly."

Alfred's words were blunt and to the point. Usually Alfred knew how to be polite, but the snowball fight seemed to have knocked Alfred's sense backwards a few years. Yes, he'd only met Ivan but it seemed so far that the man was a good sport. Although Alfred still remembered that Ivan was a guard at Weeds, it seemed to have been inadvertently pushed into the back of his mind. Adrenaline and a general cheerfulness seemed to have allowed the information to be lost in transit.

Without hesitation, Alfred flung the snowball in his hand at Ivan's chest. In the dim light, he couldn't quite make out if he'd hit Ivan. Two more snowballs followed in rapid succession, each hurled with all of Alfred's strength at Ivan. He dusted off his hands, feeling rather satisfied with himself. He could still feel the remnants of Ivan's last snowball, stuck in his hair with bits of snow still in his coat. There was a bright smile on Alfred's face as he waited for Ivan's retaliation, something that he was counting on.

Revenge was a dish best served cold.

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia

[Deleted]

and no one calls us to move on

F

ollowing suit in recognition of another successful snowball hit was Ivan's smug laughter. The sound echoed like each one before it and matched those which Alfred made, as natural as the trees and snow that settled around Alfred and himself. It felt so serene to experience joy derived from true happiness, not from a smile or a laugh forced to suit the situation. Even if it were only temporary, it was there, free for the duration of their time together.

In the heat of their little battle, Ivan couldn't really dwell on any of those notions. This was a rare display of genuine emotion to share with, coincidentally enough, someone who hardly knew him at all. Just as he'd like to keep it, there were probably only a few who knew how often Ivan faked his better emotions. At least, that is what he thought. It seemed he had found luck leaving such a good first impression on someone this time around.

His excitement was teeming, his heart fluttering to match it. Did he hear correctly that his reputation was on the line, at risk of becoming dull? Ivan was hoping he had done enough so far for the American to find him acceptable, but it seemed that there was still more being expected of him. That posed little issue, because quitting hadn't yet crossed Ivan's mind. Darkness was quickly approaching but the end of the day did not strike the Russian as any warning.

Alfred grew quieter and so did he, taking that opportunity to lean and gather more ammunition - but it turned out that things were not all in his favor. His hands hardly found contact with the thickly powdered ground before another collision arrived. Not solely one, but two more after that. The first knocked breath and sound out of his chest, the second and third reminding him of the cold's ruthless ways. The noises he made were akin to startled gasps and likely sounded comical to Alfred's ears.

His eyes closed and the American was put briefly out of sight. Ivan stepped back once or twice, whether or not is was truly necessary, arms rising at his sides to catch his balance. All of Alfred's strength was not to be underestimated, and it was impressive that it seemed to match up to par with his own. A shake of his head sent away bits of snow that clung to the tips of his hair. The fabric of his coat was too promisingly thick to allow the cold and moisture inside, but he could feel that his gloves, too, were damp, much like the snow that had already snuck down his scarf and melted there.

Opening both eyes again, he wouldn't even have to check to know that his cheeks were rosy. Pink and cold like his hands were, but all of that was still yet to stop him. This was one thing that made winter worth the coldness, just like when he was younger.

He only grinned again, hurrying out of the way and collecting more snow as he went. He was even less meticulous about creating a feasible snowball now, and in his eagerness to get back at Alfred, began to throw poorly crafted attempts at him. They didn't fly as gracefully as he would hope, and while that still entertained him, he quickly tried making better ones.

As if it didn't even matter whether he was hit now, he was still standing fairly close to Alfred's little hideout. Competitiveness was more so fading into Ivan simply having fun.

Word Count: 594
Tags: Alfred F. Jones
Notes:

by worldie for jen

[Alfred F. Jones]

it's a

revolution

Word count: 836

Tags: Ivan

Notes:

Ivan laughed when he hit Alfred, but it wasn't a mean laugh. He was simply relishing in a victory, and Alfred honestly did the same. He may have pouted a little as he shook off the snow in his hair, but a grin eased its way onto his face. The coldness of the snow invigorated him. Running and hiding had made him warm and the snow was oddly welcome.

For once in the dismal winter that Archadia knew so very well, Alfred didn't feel lonely. He really couldn't feel lonely. It was like being a child again, back to when he was eleven or twelve. It was back to the snowball fights he had with his brother, but for once, he did not feel guilty about thinking of his brother. Those were memories that had been formed before they had started to break apart. Before he had gone wrong. And they were happy memories, and in this moment of bliss, Alfred thought that this once, nothing could bring him down.

The snowballs Alfred aimed at Ivan hit him in quick succession, directly on his chest. Ivan made a surprised gasp that sounded unbelievably out of place from the towering Russian. Alfred tried to hold in a snicker but failed, almost doubling over as he began to laugh. Perhaps a little mean of him to do so, but it didn't last long and the giddiness had gotten ahead of him. He straightened, not quite able to erase the smirk on his face.

Ivan's cheeks were tinged red, both from the cold and possibly from running around a bit. Alfred might have been the same. Certainly he felt warmer than he'd been, even when he'd been walking around or eating pirozhki.

Ivan grinned, which Alfred realized perhaps a second too late that it wasn't just a symbol of happiness but also of the impending snowball.

The white mass moved at him fast, not tightly packed, but when a snowball was coming Alfred raised his hand and started moving away when the snowballs struck him: the first on the chest, the second on his arm. They had been loosely packed, perhaps too much to hurt and Alfred couldn't help but laugh as he began to step away and find his own ammunition. The next snowball missed Alfred by a little, but only just.

Alfred leaned down to scoop up more snow but he really didn't want to take the time and effort to pack a perfect snowball. It was time for a much more direct approach.

Perhaps Alfred should have thought his actions through a bit more, but thinking wasn't really part of his agenda at the moment. Instead, he ran directly for Ivan, tackling the taller man to the ground. Ivan was heavy, but Alfred was fast and both of them fell into the powdery snow, which cushioned their fall.

Alfred rolled off of Ivan, laughter bubbling in his throat as he lay there on the ground. "Man, I can't believe that actually worked!" he exclaimed, triumph in his voice. "It's been years." Alfred hadn't tackled anyone since football in sophomore year and that seemed like an entire lifetime ago.

The snow was cold and if he lay there too long, it would soak into his jacket, but right now Alfred simply couldn't bring himself to care. He spread his arms out, almost as if he was going to make a snow angel. "I could just stay like this forever," he remarked as he stared at the gradually darkening sky. He could, or at least in this moment he could. Alfred was certain that in a few moments, other things would start to come to mind, the FF being one of them. If happiness was one's only goal in life, Alfred would just stay here. Unfortunately, that most certainly wasn't the case.

Alfred closed his eyes for a moment. Staying like this for a moment couldn't hurt, right? There was nothing urgent he needed to do, no important cons to pull or meetings to attend to. It would be fine if he just stayed here for...

"Shit!" Alfred sat up, specks of snow still in his hair, his eyes darting towards his watch. "I forgot about groceries!" He was running low on burgers, this was a national disaster—he could ration out for a couple of days he supposed but he was also low on coffee beans...

Alfred jumped to his feet. The adrenaline was dying down and the coldness of the snow on his neck was beginning to get to him. In having fun, Alfred had neglected to notice how rapidly the sun had set. If he had to groceries could wait until tomorrow, but even then, Alfred realized, this brief moment of reprieve was already coming to an end.

Alfred reached out a hand towards Ivan to help him up off the ground. "It's getting late," he said. "You should be heading back...and I never got to groceries," he added, chuckling a little at himself.

i suppose

by Worldie for Leia