He turned his head again, pressing his face to Aleksandr's wet temple briefly once more. Then he rubbed his palm against the back of Aleksandr's neck, as if chafing circulation into numb skin.
"We start with the basics. The things you take for granted until you don't have them."
Cheslav fell silent, frowning, wondering if he'd said something insensitive to a man who had just lost his wife. Aleksandr had spoken of something dark and terrible, a responsibility Cheslav did not understand. Was it survivor's guilt, or something more?
What he did know was that regardless of the circumstances of Avdotia's death, Aleksandr had treasured her in life. He had seen the way they had been together, and wondered at it. The closeness he'd seen between them, stolen intimate moments.
It was different from what Cheslav had observed when they'd drifted away from Avadya, moved on to whores and the occasional red-headed mistress.
He had always wondered about the transition, but had never questioned Aleksandr about it.
Cheslav flexed his shoulders and found that the weight of his fully soaked coat was fairly oppressive, even for him.
"Wait here. I'll be right back."
He stepped from the shower, trailing rivulets of water as he went.
First, he pulled off his coat and let it fall heavily to the floor. Then he removed his watch and wallet and set them on the counter, shaking off excess water.
After a moment's hesitation, he stripped off his knives and sap as well.
He eyed the puddled water on the floor briefly as he returned to Aleksandr.
"We made a mess, didn't we?"
Cheslav set about unbuttoning Aleksandr's jacket, his fingers deft.
"I know I was a little rough on you, Shurik," he said, stripping off layers of uniform with careful efficiency. "I'll make up for it now."
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-03-01 08:01 pm (UTC)He turned his head again, pressing his face to Aleksandr's wet temple briefly once more. Then he rubbed his palm against the back of Aleksandr's neck, as if chafing circulation into numb skin.
"We start with the basics. The things you take for granted until you don't have them."
Cheslav fell silent, frowning, wondering if he'd said something insensitive to a man who had just lost his wife. Aleksandr had spoken of something dark and terrible, a responsibility Cheslav did not understand. Was it survivor's guilt, or something more?
What he did know was that regardless of the circumstances of Avdotia's death, Aleksandr had treasured her in life. He had seen the way they had been together, and wondered at it. The closeness he'd seen between them, stolen intimate moments.
It was different from what Cheslav had observed when they'd drifted away from Avadya, moved on to whores and the occasional red-headed mistress.
He had always wondered about the transition, but had never questioned Aleksandr about it.
Cheslav flexed his shoulders and found that the weight of his fully soaked coat was fairly oppressive, even for him.
"Wait here. I'll be right back."
He stepped from the shower, trailing rivulets of water as he went.
First, he pulled off his coat and let it fall heavily to the floor. Then he removed his watch and wallet and set them on the counter, shaking off excess water.
After a moment's hesitation, he stripped off his knives and sap as well.
He eyed the puddled water on the floor briefly as he returned to Aleksandr.
"We made a mess, didn't we?"
Cheslav set about unbuttoning Aleksandr's jacket, his fingers deft.
"I know I was a little rough on you, Shurik," he said, stripping off layers of uniform with careful efficiency. "I'll make up for it now."