iron. (nikolai)

[Ivana Dimionva Kuznetsova]

Date: January 13, 1944
Time: 19:29
Location: Alexandrov, Vladimir Oblast, USSR

The harsh Siberian wind chill sent a reminder to the young woman of her temporary return back to her homeland. It was that unfamiliarity that irked her, that unfamiliarity that trailed her heels everytime she returned from the foreign western sun- it was something that caused a silent longing for the place she called home, a place that carried the damage of a war-torn world.

Her spine and bony fingers ached in the exposed bite of Russian winters, but it did not take long for the spy to retrace her system and comprehend the icy air. 

She had only been in the untouched corner for a few hours, despite being home, the GRU still held her duties over her head, constantly dangling the string before her eyes; it was an annoying thought to bare but this lifestyle was a choice- with more pull from outside influences rather than inner circumstances. Ivana sat alone at the local tavern, waiting and watching for her next mole. She kept her code name intact even though her feet touched Russian earth, it was protocol and out of the safety of herself and the one she will pass information to. 

Once again her delivered message was cryptic and vague, obviously the messenger was none other than a common village boy, but the GRU tended to use rather menial citizens to send off the words, perhaps to keep from the wrong ears from picking up the tune. From the lips of the boy all she heard was that she was meeting a man by the codename, Wolf; then her fingers were the holder of a leather-bound book. Normally she would have paper telegrams to deliver, but this was a first but her lips did not ponder on such curiosity. 

Now she was seated in a warmer draft in a seedy tavern, observing those around her- blending in by ordering a drink or two.

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ooc: sorry about the weird starter, still a bit rusty but let me know if you want me to change anything.

[Nikolai Boryenko]

Snow. The dirty brown and piss colors blurred together with the pure white of the snow. Nikolai stared as he pulled out his fingerless gloves to start to brave the Siberian winter. He had been sent back behind the lines to start an odd line of work. Odd for him at least. He had been a quiet professional, using his rifle as a tool of destruction for long range. Since witnessing the death of his cousin two years prior, he had changed. War had changed him. His faith in countrymen and in God was faltering. The past always came up in every situation and haunted his very being. As he stared into the snow, a tall man with a brown beard came next to him and pushed through the door. Nikolai followed the man's lead and stepped through the door after the man. The man showed a courtesy and held the door for the Mladshii Serzhant. Nikolai gave a slight nod to the man and kept moving.

The sun touched Nikolai's face from many miles away. So many, that it did not seem to warm it all. He thought nothing of it, but pulled his collar a little higher to keep the chill off of his neck. He walked briskly through the snow on the roads of Alexandrov. The town seemed very quiet to him, but what did he expect. War changes the scenery everywhere. He trudged on down an alleyway where he came to the other side he looked to his left and then right. Then he spotted it. An extremely squalid tavern. He laughed to himself when the sign above read "The Volgagirl." Nikolai thought to himself, Sounds more like a whorehouse to me. He shrugged and proceeded to the doors.

Nikolai reached the doors and blinked a few times. He was looking at the handle...one was broken off, so he took the other and pulled on it to reveal a dank little room with a few tables and a long bar. He took off his gloves and stuffed them into his jacket pocket. He then proceeded to take off his long jacket to reveal his civilian quality clothes that still felt awkward on him. Made up of a button up dull white shirt, old khaki pants, and black suspenders and an old blazer to conceal his bayonet, recovered from his fallen cousin. He then took a seat at the bar. The bartender was currently serving a young woman, so Nikolai took a second to make a few observations, just in case. He spotted the bartender, a bald man with average height but overweight and a large bushy mustache. the woman he was serving was an attractive young lady with dark hair and an air of either confidence or cockiness, he couldn't quite guess which, but he didn't really care all too much. All his instructions were to get a leather book, full of God knows what, and return it to a Starshii Leitenant named Markoff. Nikolai did not know what was written in this book of knowledge and frankly, he did not care. He just wanted to be back on the front lines, seeing the pink mist that made his heart leap a little every time.

The bartender had returned and look at Nikolai inquisitively, like he did not belong. Nikolai smiled and said, "A water would be nice my friend." The bartender looked at him and chuckled.

"My friend, vodka is water here."

Nikolai's smile faded slightly. " That is too bad, my friend. For it seems I have such a thirst for pure Russian water that my wallet seems to be leading me elsewhere. Such as..." His voice trailed off as he pulled his wallet out of his jacket and revealed a distinct blemish on it. The blemish was, in reality, the brand of a wolf's head.

"Ah, Mr. Wolf. For you, all the water in Russia...as long as you can pay for it." The bartender poured the dark haired man a glass of semi-clean water.

Nikolai's ears pricked a little bit at something he heard behind him. "Mister Wolf, cheers to that."

OOC: :Keep it! You set the scene just fine!

[Ivana Dimionva Kuznetsova]

They're were not many souls indulging in the earthly liquor, which was a good thing due to the fact that fewer ears were present. Ivana purely seated herself at ragtop bar, nursing the clear, biting liquid in the glass. Time seemed to have continued to drag it's soles in the mud, leaving an unspoken awkwardness to filter through the seeping winter, this was not her first prolonged encounter and definitely will not be her end chapter.

"Another round please."

Her feminine tone uttered to the stout bartender, for some reason he held a familiar stature to his bones, as if in written moment in life he was there- there was no time for petty forth thoughts, it was crucial that she kept her senses keen. With a nod the older man slightly wobbled his way towards the stashes of domestic contraband, his quivering limbs attempting to grasp a sound foundation on the clear bottle, but all he could muster were moments of colliding sounds of touching glass. It was a sight to see, but it did leave some sense of pity for the bartender. 

"Here you are ma'am."

His age was present in his voice, despite the tide of the war he still held an unsung kindness in his eyes. The spy could not help but to return a nod and a small smile in gratitude. Ivana noticed a shift in his attention, if a second she craned her seat over a bit to see who captured the older man's attention; nothing more than another civilian.

With a slight sigh, the young woman returned to the warming nesting of her beverage, attempting to keep her thoughts slipping over the crags of her subtle memories.
Ivana could not help but to grasp a definite photograph of the stranger that made his way to the bar, he seated himself next to her harboring a common man's wear, but it seemed foreign on the man- as if he was not wearing them in the first place. He was a handsome man, but there was an air of unseeded combat slipping from him- common. With careful ears, the spy honed into the conversation, it seemed like an odd one to the untrained ear but upon further listening and catching the glimpse of the man's wallet her wires connected. So this was her mole, interesting. 

"I do believe he wants water, don't want to lose a customer."

Ivana spoke with a small smile on her lips, ushering the man along to his own business. She knew in a public place that exchanging important documents were not the most practical tactics, but with the only two souls in the bar it was customary to exchange information to shorten the visitation. Libella was the codename that was etched on her tongue during meetings like these, not one soul truly grasped her birth name, that alone would have played a risky hand.

"I think you may have forgotten this, picked it up when I saw you drop it."

Without much hesitation, Libella reached into her inner greatcoat pocket, grasping the leather-bound book in her slender grip. Keeping eye contact, she handed "Wolf" the documents. Once he held the documents she returned back to her drink, it was a good thing that both parties the floated around were aware, of course they were familiar but the GRU was extensive and their spies were as innumerable as the snow under crushing soles.

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ooc: ah thanks. c:

[Nikolai Boryenko]

The bartender gave Nikolai a feeble gesture when he heard the voice of a woman. "Another round please." The voice said. Nikolai's ears were refreshed by the voice of a woman. Not the voice of a female soldier that he had worked with countless times, but a real woman. He closed his eyes slightly as he let the voice linger in his mind, but before he could gain any real pleasure from the voice, the blood-stained portrait of his cousins ripped body shot through his minds eye. He quickly opened his eyes fully and looked down at a deep scar in the table. He then blinked a few times then looked over at the young lady sitting a few stools away.

"I do believe he wants water, don't want to lose a customer."

Nikolai observed her a little closer. He took in her pale almond complexion and her big hazel eyes. The sight of her brought him back to something. Something before the war. Something that he couldn't quite pin down. He nodded to her his thanks regardless and gave her as much a smile as he could salvage. The young lady then proceeded to move closer to him where she slid a leather bound book within his reach. Nikolai then picked up his wallet and slid it into his jacket pocket on his right, rather than left where his bayonet stayed concealed.

"I think you may have forgotten this, picked it up when I saw you drop it."

The book was old and bound in a dirty leather. At that moment, the bartender came back and placed the cup of water on the table near Nikolai.

"Here you are, sir." The bartender told Nikolai as he set the cup down. The man was about to walk away when Nikolai patted the table with two fingers. He pulled a little bit out of his wallet and gave it to the bartender with a closed hand so the man would not realize how much he had gotten until later, which Nikolai intended. He had no need for money. He had nothing to spend it on besides the daily provisions. The bartender smiled through his mustache and gave his thanks to Nikolai. Nikolai nodded and smiled in agreement.

Nikolai picked up the cup and took a small sip from it, then placed it on the book. The somewhat clear water was so cold Nikolai was surprised it wasn't frozen. He grasped the top of the glass for a few seconds. Looking at it, he started to speak. "Intelligence. What an odd name." He then looked into the young lady's hazel eyes with a warm look. "Mr. Wolf. As I'm sure you already knew, but a pleasure to meet you nonetheless." He then proceeded to hold out his hand for a handshake. Nikolai had dealt with these types twice before. Both times had been men, so a woman was a welcomed change. The men were very manipulative and tried to find something in the conversation to assert their dominance. They would even scramble to find something, anything that would give them an upper hand. Nikolai's nature told him to be kind and let them do all of the talking, but his mind told him to play the game, as it were, and make them squirm a little by showing them there was little he cared about in life anymore. This young lady seemed different in some way though, he could now see that it was confidence he had observed earlier. He liked confidence. It was always a trait that he mimicked throughout his teenage years, then took control of in adulthood as a sniper.

Nikolai gave a quizzical, almost confused look. "Seeing as we are the only two here, what do you think about getting better acquainted? So, what may I call you, Miss..." He asked almost playfully as he placed a hand near his chin to 'invoke' thought. Why not try to have a little fun? It may be the last chance I get. Thought Nikolai almost grimly.

[Ivana Dimionva Kuznetsova]

She felt his eyes upon her skin, alas it was not a look of ravenous, predatory intent but one of slight curiosity and acknowledgement. Warfare changed human intentions, altering their perceptions creating animals more than humans; it was a sour afterthought, but that was where her heart was beating at the moment, what flowed through her mind during moments of posing as a dainty German secretary, Ingrid Stelar.

But she was not in Paris, Bruges, or Frankfurt- she was home, marrying to the coldness that created both comfort and infamy. For a few moments, Ivana returned his gaze, occasionally feeling a slightly warm feeling, which was bizarre but not alien. Something about this mole seemed different, beyond the physical masks, beyond his probable circumstance of dining with Hell's corners. 

"Intelligence. What an odd name."

A bit baffled by his words, Ivana gave him her full attention, one their colors connected she could not help but to look away, besides an attractive color, she saw a deeper meaning.

"Mr. Wolf. As I'm sure you already knew, but a pleasure to meet you nonetheless."

With gentle kindness, Ivana returned his hand gesture, leaving a small smile and slight giggle in her wake. She did enjoy his slight poke at humor, despite the grim circumstances that had enveloped all creatures of life, it was a pleasant thought that there might be still others out there holding to realism but keeping their minds open for a grateful tide. Once her slender hand let go of Wolf's she brushed a lock of bothersome brunette hair from her face, returning her attention slightly to her clear beverage.

"Seeing as we are the only two here, what do you think about getting better acquainted? So, what may I call you, Miss..."

A voice she would not mind listening to chimed once more, relieving a playful gesture of involving thought; another laugh could not help but to part from between her pink lips, this man was rather entertaining and willing to drag out a conversation with the spy. But the creeping thought of escape tainted her waters, not in a pure physical sense but of a mental sense- how most jovial proses held the deeper meaning of an unknown foreboding death, a emotion that war seemed to snag by the neck. It was true that they were the only patrons in the rusty bar, but getting better acquainted seemed to cause a slight chill to crawl up her spine. It seemed nearly impossible to truly known someone beyond a mission, that was the life she knew- something that was bred into her in those younger years. But the decision was held in her hands to play the risk of revealing her birth name or to stick to the cards and utter her codename.

"Ivana."

The spy simply spilled, it was a road she was willing to travel down, despite her company falling along the same lines of trust. 

"And what about you, there must be a name other than Wolf."

The quiet upturn remained on her lips, it was a bit unsettling how willing she was able to reveal a part of herself that was meant to be preserved, but something about this man called for her to dig deeper and surface a part of her that was labeled by the tag.

[Nikolai Boryenko]

Their hands met and her hands were cold, as were his. The winter seemed to take the warmth out of every situation that Nikolai had been flung into. His hand lingered a little longer than he intended. He withdrew his hand and let it rest on the bar. He saw her push a piece of hair from her and offering a smile and small laugh. Nikolai smiled as well then looked over his shoulder at the door. He hated having his back to entrances. It made him feel off guard and less alert without a line of sight on an opening tat anyone could walk through at any moment. His eyes had saved him more than once and spotted some things that others had missed. He then returned his gaze to her, he looked down, and then up again. Not to look at her in a perverted way, but to assess her fully.

He picked the glass up off of the book and slid the small, ancient, leather book into his front khaki pocket. He then winked at her. "Safe keeping." He was always very cautious, especially these days with everything going to hell so quickly. He felt as if everything needed to be watched or guarded. So, the book was something that he intended to never leave his person, until the exchange with whom he needed to exchange it with. He didn't know what was in the book, could have been movie times in Frankfurt or love letters from the front lines to a worried wife. He didn't know, and definitely didn't care. He just wanted to get it out of his possession when he needed to, which would be in a few days. For now, Nikolai intended to learn more about this beauty who was sitting next to him.

Nikolai's interest had been peaked. The young woman sitting next to him seemed to be quite interested as well as interesting, but very reserved by the way she slightly hesitated when saying her name. He suspected it was either her using a fake name as were the custom of those in her line of work or possibly wrestling with releasing the truth of her name. Nikolai figured he may as well play into it. He was always up to a challenge, whether it be physical combat or a combat of different sorts. Those two men he had worked with prior were already no match for this attractive lady at the table. She came at him full force with subtlety. Nikolai's approach was slightly different.

"Ivana. A beautiful name indeed. " He spoke softly, then took a small sip from his class of water thoughtfully. "My mother used to tell me the meaning of some of our countries most precious names, she was an odd but amazing woman. Ivana would be...a gift if I remember correctly." He made a small hand gesture to embellish 'odd' and smiled. He missed his family, but he knew where he was truly needed. Right now, he felt like he was almost cheating his comrades by being able to converse with another human being without them mentioning an attack or a death that had taken place. Nikolai was at odds with himself. He wanted to be fighting alongside his men, but he also wanted to be right here, conversing with someone who seemed so simply complex.

Ivana then proceeded to ask him about his name. Nikolai had many names, yes. The Nazi's did enjoy giving their unseen enemies devilish names. Such as his old childhood friend Vasily whom had been named, The Fox. Nikolai had been so graciously named The Wolf by his enemy. Honestly, he kind of liked the sound of it. Apparently, so did his countrymen.

He smirked and answered her assumption. "Nikolai Boryenko. I grew up in Yeleninskoye. But you'll have to forgive me, His eyes narrowed. "your accent. I can't quite place it. May I ask where you are from?" Nikolai was starting to feel a little uneasy about this woman. Her charm was genuine, but the hesitation nagged at him. He glanced at the bartender, whom was wiping down a table on the other side of the room. The man was old and looked kind of confused. He stopped wiping the table and looked at Nikolai and motioned to the money in his hand. Nikolai made a passive gesture, telling them man to keep it. The bartender then smiled and waved a thank you to Nikolai. Nikolai then looked into Ivana's eyes, so he could catch her if she lied.

[Ivana Dimionva Kuznetsova]

The numbing kiss of the lack of heat was felt with the momentary contact with their hands. It was a peculiar feeling, but not one that cause too much discomfort. She noticed that the man's gaze had shifted to the door, it seemed like an involuntary glance, more so for the preserving of content nerves than an expectation of any new being. It seemed rather trivial that her mind was too preoccupied with the person beside her rather than her surroundings, and that was a feeling that did not settle to well in her belly. 

"Safe keeping."

Ivana watched as the male place the book in his pants pocket, it was of course not too bulky to conceal, then again she did not peer in between the tarnished flaps to assess what was written, but whatever it was it had to have held the crown of importance, even though it was strictly confidential from her warm browns from feasting on the words. 

"Ivana. A beautiful name indeed. "

A flicker of the lost shards of her smile tickled the corners of her mouth momentarily. It was a first that someone had complemented on her name, ergo a man. 

"My mother used to tell me the meaning of some of our countries most precious names, she was an odd but amazing woman. Ivana would be...a gift if I remember correctly."

Mother. A name she never uttered a day in her tender life. Ivana never met her mother, never had the experience to be held or dotted on by the woman who had given birth to her. At times the thought of what the woman was like glazed over her lone voids, but it was fleeting, she had no desire to unravel in the sentiments- but that was when she was Libella or Ingrid, not Ivana. Her smile had faded, she was curious to know more about this man's family, despite hers being spare in numbers- cast away in the vast unknown. 

"Yes that is correct... It has an interesting meaning, must have really been a reason why my mother named me that, but I have never met her. But your mother sounds like a wonderful woman."

She was careful about her words, not wanting to open the door of unspoken revelations, for both of their sakes. Ivana began to lazily brush her slender fingertips over her glass rim, loosing the interest to further delude her senses in numbing flavors of brisk vodka. 

"Nikolai Boryenko. I grew up in Yeleninskoye. But you'll have to forgive me, your accent. I can't quite place it. May I ask where you are from?"

She sense the change of air, noting of a slight distrust on her end- funny how she had never heard of his hometown either, he did hold a different dialect than hers, but it was Russian, much like her own.

"Nikolai... that is a nice name. I am from Moscow, born and raised in the heart. Yeleninskoye sounds like an interesting place, I have never heard of it... must be rural."

She returned his eye contact, not hesitating to note the truth, yet inquire about his whereabouts as well.

[Nikolai Boryenko]

When the compliment was given, he saw a smile, then it was gone as fast as it came. That's when he knew the name was real. People take pride in their true identities, he caught on and kept going with it. As soon as he said the follow up, he saw something that made him almost wish he had retracted the statement. He saw a glimmer of sorrow on her face.

"Yes that is correct... It has an interesting meaning, must have really been a reason why my mother named me that, but I have never met her. But your mother sounds like a wonderful woman."

Now Nikolai understood. He felt a little worse now that he learned of what had become of Ivana's mother. He felt a want to comfort her, but who was he? They had just met. What an odd thing to feel. He quickly recovered and kept on with the conversation.

"Yes, my mother was, is,a fine woman. I remember her always getting angry at my pup, Cossack, whenever he brought in rabbits he had either found or killed. He would always drop them right at my mother's feet." Nikolai smiled as he recollected and gave small sneers during the story. He then slowly became serious again. "But that was a long time ago." He said this and took another sip of his water. He used this tactic really just to stall as he thought of the next thing to say or for the young woman to respond.

"Nikolai... that is a nice name. I am from Moscow, born and raised in the heart. Yeleninskoye sounds like an interesting place, I have never heard of it... must be rural."

When Ivana told him that his name was nice he was almost shocked. Growing up, kids had always made fun of his name. Saying that it was such a typical name, they asked him if his parents just weren't creative enough to name him anything better. Nikolai then listened to her response as she said it in her voice. Her voice made him feel good, like there wasn't anything to worry about. But training and years of being in the middle of everything made him almost on edge to combat his sense of relaxation. No chill. Door's still closed. Good. He thought to himself.

"Moscow. I've never been, although I've been told by a few comrades that it is beautiful and I should make every effort to see it when...if this hell ever ends. Nikolai started to feel the game begin. He didn't want to question this woman. He wanted to learn more about her. So he started a different approach. She asked him about the location of his hometown in not so many words.

"You're smart, Ivana. My hometown is a rural village in the Ural Mountains. Although I am sure people from the city call it Yelininka rather than Yeleninskoye. The mountains always look beautiful with the setting or rising sun. You can run for days in the valleys and in the summer time they are filled with wild flowers that would fill your senses. Nikolai smiled as he pictured it in his mind. He pictured his small house with his parents, sister, and brother. The problem was, that this scene would never be acted out. His brother, Yuri, died long ago. It hurt Nikolai to remember him, but it fueled his motivation to do his best for his country. So no one would have to feel the pain of the loss of his brother and cousin. Two of his dearest friends.

A lump formed in Nikolai's throat, so he cleared it once and took another sip of water. He looked at the young woman again. Giving her his full attention. "Ivana. Why are you here?" He asked her of the purest intentions.

[Ivana Dimionva Kuznetsova]

She could not subdue the growing pains of bubbling sorrow in her, how living life without a true since of family, of course she held her ties with her grandparents, but it has been years since she had held communications with them- even more so with the knowledge that their lungs still inhaled oxygen; it was something that she would probably never know. But Ivana never held the desires to drown in the thought of loneliness- that is if she lives to the end of the war, whenever that was.

"Yes, my mother was, is,a fine woman. I remember her always getting angry at my pup, Cossack, whenever he brought in rabbits he had either found or killed. He would always drop them right at my mother's feet."

A warmness filled her eyes as she heard Nikolai explain his mother, something that she never had- nor will never feel. 

"But that was a long time ago."

The moment that he seemed truly happy quickly froze once his mind caught up with his memories. It was slightly unsettling, but of course the hellish warfare taking place beyond their front door seemed to cause many memories to slip into the ash. 

"Moscow. I've never been, although I've been told by a few comrades that it is beautiful and I should make every effort to see it when...if this hell ever ends."

"It is a beautiful place indeed, I would love to show you around, but you are right it does depend on whether or not this war ends." 

She spoke softly, silently resenting the way this conversation was turned in more torrent waters.

"You're smart, Ivana. My hometown is a rural village in the Ural Mountains. Although I am sure people from the city call it Yelininka rather than Yeleninskoye. The mountains always look beautiful with the setting or rising sun. You can run for days in the valleys and in the summer time they are filled with wild flowers that would fill your senses."

For a moment she was lost from the admiration about her intelligence, of course many have complimented her on the abounding knowledge that floats around, but to incorporate her name seemed to leave a different taste, but not one of a sour undertone. In this visual description of his hometown, images of his words seemed to paint a picture, a place she would love to run off to- if only the war did not threaten the livelihood of every damned soul. 
Ivana was about to part her lips to give forth a response, but she was interrupted once more.

"Ivana. Why are you here?"

Why was she here, in what sense? Either way, this was not the place to discuss such matters, to words itself held a considerable risk, along the lines of the "wrong ears" hearing her story. 

"I can not discuss it... in the open. Come, walk with me and I will tell you."

With a soft voice, Ivana lost his eyes, reaching into a pocket and pulling out a few coins in gratitude for the service, placing the money on the bar top, the spy made her way to the tarnished front doors. She paused her movements, waiting for the other to gather his bearings and meet her there. 

[Nikolai Boryenko]

Nikolai could feel himself getting lost in his daydreaming of memories and someone who would listen to him and at least feign interest in it. It made him feel cared about in the middle of a war where people died all the time and no one ever batted an eye. The bodies were buried or cremated and the young man or woman next in line filled the empty boots. Nikolai knew war, he had honed his skills to be a warrior, a killer. He did not think he'd ever make it to see a person that asked him more than, 'Hey Nikki, how many Nazi's did you kill today?' or Mladshii Serzhant, may I interview you to keep the people of the Motherland informed? It all became old. He had become calloused to talk of executing a man from a bird's eye view. Practically close enough to engage in a conversation. It made every kill close, intimate in a way that most, if not anyone could understand.

Nikolai heard Ivana's response. "It is a beautiful place indeed, I would love to show you around, but you are right it does depend on whether or not this war ends." He thought about what she said for a second. He knew the war would end. They always do, but he wasn't sure if HE would see it to the end. All he could hope for was vengeance for his brothers, but he knew in his heart there were many Germans that thought the same about him.

Nikolai smiled at the thought of him getting a tour from a woman he had met in a bar in the middle of a frozen wasteland. It seemed almost cliche to him. "A city can be explained and shown in more beauty when it's experience with another, or so they tell me." He said this with a shrug and a playful head nod
as he said 'beauty.' In all honesty, Nikolai was starting to enjoy himself with this new found mystery woman.

The comfort level between the two seemed to be on the rise until Nikolai asked why Ivana was here. It was a very vague question, but Nikolai left it vague on purpose so he could get an honest answer. One that she would have to tailor specifically for the occasion. Her answer could contain a normal background story of a young woman trying to do right for her country or her being some type of deviant. Or perhaps a real reason as to why she were specifically meeting with Nikolai. Before Ivana told him anything she broke eye contact and said, "I can not discuss it... in the open. Come, walk with me and I will tell you."

Nikolai smiled on the inside. Now things are about to get interesting. He pulled on his jacket one arm at a time. Ivana left some money on the table and started moving to the front door. Nikolai glanced at the bartender. The elderly man looked at him and started hobbling over to get the money and spoke to Nikolai. The man smiled a sad smile and looked at Nikolai.

"Thank you for your kindness, my friend. Stay safe, keep her safe too."

Nikolai patted the older man lightly on the shoulder with a smile. "You take it easy comrade." He smiled at the man and moved to join Ivana. He started walking towards the door, pulling his gloves on one at a time. Instinctively, he felt for the dagger. It was right where he had placed it. He then put his right hand in his pocket and felt the warm leather that had been pressing against his leg. The book was still there as well, of course. He felt somewhat silly for checking these things, seeing as there was no possible way they could have been taken off of him without him knowing it. But better safe than sorry. He made it to the door where he held it open for Ivana. "After you, my lady." Nikolai said with a playful bow, trying to take the edge off if he could.

[Ivana Dimionva Kuznetsova]

It was rather interesting that this man was so open about his banter, of course she had heard about him, heard about his pristine sharpshooting record and avid skill and wit when it came to the battlefield, but a different tune seemed to play as he was not hesitant to deliver her one of his many warm smiles, funny how Ivana thought that he should smile more often, noting his rather handsome attributes that seemed to be rather contagious- at least to her flesh. 

"A city can be explained and shown in more beauty when it's experience with another, or so they tell me."

She could not help but to allow another warm, rather bashful laugh to escape from parted lips. Strange how she was approached by many men but they seemed to have never brought out this side of her. In all honesty Ivana never purely found herself attractive, never bothered playing up her looks because of the rather cutthroat sneers she had endured during her youth are other children; but she led her mind to believe that Nikolai desired company to prevent his eyes getting lost in the vast, beautiful city. 

She waited patiently by the rotting front door, watching as the other exchanged some uttered word and parted the older man. She did wonder what they spoke about, but by no means would she prod her nose into business that was not in her possession. 

"After you, my lady."

With a slight nod and another giggle, Ivana made her way out of the establishment and into the bitter chill. She quietly pulled her greatcoat more tightly around her frame, attempting to keep the gnawing bites away from her exposed flesh. The spy began to stroll at a pace where Nikolai could match, once she was away from the establishment her soft voice finally rung out. 

"I am here because I have a briefing to attend to in Moscow, but before that I was stationed back in Frankfurt, under another alias- a German one but relaying messages to home under Libella. Had to infiltrate areas of importance to reap information. This is all I can tell you without being compromised. But I was given instructions to give that book to you, most likely it is military illustrations or enemy tactics, my instructions are normally vague."

Ivana kept her voice low, but loud enough for only Nikolai to hear. She continued walking, not having a clear direction of where she was going yet just enjoying the sliver of peace she was able to grasp.

"I have heard about you Nikolai, very impressive... but of course war talk can be only interesting to a point before it become rather stale."

Ivana turned her face to catch his, to deliver another slowing moment of eye contact. Of course perhaps he did not understand that she noticed how he held her frigid hand for a long period of time back at the bar, how she noticed some type of sorrow in his eyes, the way he seemed to have been glimpsing her when they were seated next to her. It was crucial for an effective spy to pinpoint every detail and to dissect it, but those subtle gestures were something she had trouble grasping. 

"I have notice a lot of things about you... the way you held my hand and looked at me. But sorry, I know it is silly thinking."

A rising heat in her cheeks painted them a tinted pink, despite the numb frost reigning the ground. With another bashful smile, Ivana shifted her focus in front of her, stuffing her hands into her warmer pockets. There was slight embarrassment festering within her for sounding so... vulnerable, but there was a peculiar warmness also. 

[Nikolai Boryenko]

Nikolai was comfortable around her. He felt like he could relate to this woman, he could just talk to her and listen to her story. He was especially interested in her story. About here she's been, who she was, and the daring world of espionage. He was sure it was much better than laying amongst the bodies of your dead comrades for two days before you squeezed the trigger and sent another officer to the Almighty.

When he recalled his past and painted the picture of his home, he didn't feel true sorrow until he remembered his brother and how heart broken his mother must be. Before that, he was able to go back to a different time. He had never been able to do this before, because reality was always knocking, telling him to stay alert to stay alive and to keep his wits or the next thing you feel will be the burning sensation of a bullet wound, or perhaps nothing at all.

Nikolai had always embraced the possibility of it ending quickly, but now he wasn't so sure. He had never been with another person that made him feel this way. His childhood was rather lonely besides being with siblings and parents. He had never had a relationship with one of the opposite gender. His hopes were starting to raise a little. Especially when she spoke.

"I am here because I have a briefing to attend to in Moscow, but before that I was stationed back in Frankfurt, under another alias- a German one but relaying messages to home under Libella. Had to infiltrate areas of importance to reap information. This is all I can tell you without being compromised. But I was given instructions to give that book to you, most likely it is military illustrations or enemy tactics, my instructions are normally vague."

He listened intently, hearing every syllable of every word, listening to her was intoxicating to his ears and swirled his mind. Every word was processed and he had questions. He did not really understand why someone would ever want to live with the enemy for long enough to learn their secrets. His tone matched hers and could only be heard by her.

"I do not quite understand. I understand what you have done, but how and why would you ever live amongst your enemy? How could you?" Nikolai was not judging her. He was at a loss for reasoning with it. He could not grasp the need for espionage of that type. He only understood running and moving intel. He believed that the only contact he should ever have with the enemy would be a bullet to the head or a questioning session. He stopped to listen and glanced at the young woman.

"I have heard about you Nikolai, very impressive... but of course war talk can be only interesting to a point before it become rather stale." She said. Nikolai felt a slight pain of reality. He met her gaze and smiled and started speaking somewhat nonchalantly but slowly and thoughtfully.

"I give all of the credit to my father and the training of this nation's fine army. My father taught me how to hunt animals, and the army taught me how to hunt people. But I'd rather not be remembered as that kind of a man. I would have liked to be known and remembered as loving father, husband, and son. Not as a mighty killer, but there is still time." He ended the thought with an emphasis on time as he looked at Ivana. Her eyes looked even more beautiful when the snow was reflecting from them, he thought.

"I have notice a lot of things about you... the way you held my hand and looked at me. But sorry, I know it is silly thinking."

Nikolai glanced at her when she finished speaking. She showed the telltale signs of embarassment. Readjusting herself, readjusting her gaze, and her cheecks flushed lightly. Nikolai smiled at her embarrassment. Not because he had found a 'weak point', but because it attracted him even more. He liked this young woman, she wasn't afraid to come right out and say something she wanted to. Again, back to her confident side.

Their path led them to what, in the summer, would have been a park with a few trees. Nikolai stopped in front of it and looked at the bare trees. "Ivana, it is not silly. Your training and emotion have helped yo on this encounter I believe. I find you very charming and...very beautiful. Your mind is a beautiful one, it is not filled with vice and anger, but with wonder and wisdom. A feeling I don't think I have had in a long time. May I ask, what else did you notice?" Nikolai ended by facing her, squaring his shoulders to her. His stature did not intimidate people, he was only 5 feet and 11 inches and perhaps 165 on a day where he had full meals. He looked into her eyes, then at her lips, then back to her eyes again. He liked this woman.

[Ivana Dimionva Kuznetsova]

Many found her line of espionage difficult to swallow, much of a bitter taste due to her assimilation with the thorn that punctured the skin of her home country, but to the GRU it did not matter how she felt, she was supposed to feel the nationalistic crimson flowing through her and the blaze of loyalty within her bones- but she hated every moment of it, loathed being Ingrid and not Ivana, loathed the Germans, wishing that the country would be engulfed in the red flames.

"I do not quite understand. I understand what you have done, but how and why would you ever live amongst your enemy? How could you?"

A small smile could not help but to quake on her lips, this was the first time someone purely paused to ask her a rather personal question.

"I think about what I need to do, I focus on the assignment- how it will help us win this war, I loathe every moment when I am undercover, but with each moment they foolishly fall into my act the weaker they become."

Ivana locked her eye contact, momentarily being lost in his bright seas, silently desiring for the world to stop just long enough for her to indulge in the lasting moment, but it was brief as she trained her sights back before her. 

"I give all of the credit to my father and the training of this nation's fine army. My father taught me how to hunt animals, and the army taught me how to hunt people. But I'd rather not be remembered as that kind of a man. I would have liked to be known and remembered as loving father, husband, and son. Not as a mighty killer, but there is still time."

Ivana listened carefully, acknowledging his gratitude to his father and crown. Father. Another being that she only had the pleasure of holding until she was five, he slipped to the bullet causing another eternity to be separated to the mortal's touch. She relished in Nikolai's voice, carefully piecing every letter, until he uttered about his desires. For a moment she felt her heart quake and flesh flutter with blush. The way he emphasized on 'time', the way he had cast his eyes upon her, was he placing his desires on her? Did this man hold a budding want to be close to her being? It was hard to place, but it did not relieve the warm feeling that had roared like the ocean. With a crawling bleeding red on her pale cheeks, Ivana released a bashful smile, casting her eyes downcast onto the moving concrete beneath her soles.

"Ivana, it is not silly. Your training and emotion have helped yo on this encounter I believe. I find you very charming and...very beautiful. Your mind is a beautiful one, it is not filled with vice and anger, but with wonder and wisdom. A feeling I don't think I have had in a long time. May I ask, what else did you notice?"

She paused when he did, her surroundings altered into a frozen park of barren trees. It did baffle her to how her feet took her to this location, but alas she lacked the sense of direction in the moment, which under normal circumstances would have been deadly, but in this moment it felt only natural. She could not help but to catch her breath once Nikolai uttered about her beauty and charm, two traits that she had led herself to believe were beyond her reach. Her eyes softened as a larger smile painted on her plump lips. She felt her heart rush faster as Nikolai fully turned to face her, 'he is so close' his eyes trailing to her lips before deeply connecting with her eyes once more. A mutual emotion filled her soul, a foreign taste that she could not help but to find delicious. Her feet moved out of creeping desperation to close the distance- 'a foot apart'

"Well, I think I noticed how we ended up here, and- how you were so strong about being remembered for a man, father, and husband; but how you looked at me when you said it,

She closed more distance between them before pausing, just a comfortable breath away from Nikolai.

"especially this moment. You are right, there is still time to be that man, I do believe that you are capable of being that. But what I am wondering is who are you willing to become that with?"

A slightly sultry smile could not help but to blend with her features, she was so close to the sniper that she could feel his warmth radiate upon her, not stepping back on inch despite being so close. There was a tone of curiosity and serious dripping from her breaths, this was a peculiar feeling, a moment that was completely opposite from the ones she had before. She stood noticeably shorter than the male, reaching the peak of five feet and five inches, but not that she would dearly mind upon the height difference.

[Nikolai Boryenko]

Nikolai could understand what the woman felt. A burning hatred for an entire people. It was very hard for him to remember that the Germany was held with many people like his family. Mothers and fathers with sons that they may never see again. He wondered if people were so different in Germany or if the Nazis were much different from the mighty Red Army. What was he saying? Of course the Nazis were different from his countrymen. They were monsters. They were the monsters that murdered his brother and cousin. But how could he say that? On the other side, he knew he was a monster as well. A monster that did not even have the decency to give his opponent a fighting chance. He killed from afar, being so close that he could see the color of their eyes, but so far that they looked like mere ants from where he lay his rifle.

Before she said a word, a small smile appeared on her face. the smile slightly confused Nikolai, was it a precursor to her secret sadistic ways or was it a mere reaction to Nikolai's silly question? Nikolai listened to the spy as she spoke. "I think about what I need to do, I focus on the assignment- how it will help us win this war, I loathe every moment when I am undercover, but with each moment they foolishly fall into my act the weaker they become."

He understood what Ivana was saying. He could see now how she could do what she did. "You are a stronger person than me, Ivana. But, are these men true monsters? Are they all the same sadists, like the SS?" Nikolai could not help but ask her so he could satisfy his curiosity. He had always wondered. He had never met a Nazi that he had conversed with. He had only ever seen the ones that had been captured and heard of the atrocities that the SS committed in 'camps.' It disgusted Nikolai, that anyone could do such a thing to another human being. He placed his right hand in his pocket and felt the book again as he looked into her eyes, he saw something in them. Was it, desire?

Nikolai watched her as he spoke. She slightly fidgeted and moved her feet. She smiled and looked away. The soldier pulled his hand out of his pocket and longed to pull her closer to him. Now was not the time, he knew. He wondered what she felt like, her hands were soft and her smile was warm. He eyes were keen and her skin was gorgeous. His mind wondered what his senses would feel if he were to touch her face. How would he feel? Would he feel excitement for finding someone so interesting? Or would he feel sad, because they met under such unfortunate circumstances?

"Well, I think I noticed how we ended up here, and- how you were so strong about being remembered for a man, father, and husband; but how you looked at me when you said it,especially this moment. You are right, there is still time to be that man, I do believe that you are capable of being that. But what I am wondering is who are you willing to become that with?"

Ivana gave a brief pause after she said the word 'it.' It made Nikolai almost hold his breath so he could hear the full sweetness of her voice caress his ears. Nikolai looked at her lips move as she spoke, he wanted to spend as much time with her as he could. What she said filled his heart with joy. This young spy was the one filling his heart with a feeling he had never felt. Her words were genuine and made Nikolai smile. He wished they had been able to meet under different circumstances. Perhaps in a different, more peaceful time. He wanted to be close to her regardless. And apparently so did she, as she stepped a little closer to Nikolai. She closed to closer than arm's length. The woman was so close she had to look up at Nikolai. On her face was a smile, he enjoyed her smile. He leaned to her,placing his hand on the side of her cheek, their noses touching, moving for a kiss. His words were nothing but a low tone just above a whisper.

"I wonder myself, my lady." He said as he brushed her hair and starting to move his face closer to hers.

[Ivana Dimionva Kuznetsova]

Hate was an easy accessible drug during rising paranoia and panic, it was a cruel language that could blind even the wisest of men from their righteous council. Even Ivana herself was guilty for having such an action brew within her being every morning she was to report to the Gestapo headquarters in Bruges and Frankfurt alike- but it was justified, it was towards the men who found no compassion in human life, who willingly traded their souls for admiration from one egotistical man, who lost their sense of morality each time they attempted to cop a drunken feel of the Russian; of course it was easy to feel that emotion, but she had met underground civilians that held a different tune to their lips, which baffled her but somehow gave her an unsound hope.

"You are a stronger person than me, Ivana. But, are these men true monsters? Are they all the same sadists, like the SS?"

It gave the spy a sense of awe as the words spilled from the man's lips, interesting how he was so apt to applauding her for strength when he was clearly a head and shoulder over her in that area. But his question did spring a deeper thought, a memory tucked away of meeting a few underground Resistance, noting of their presence despite being chased in the heart of the regime.

"Not all. I have met a few men and women who held different views on their country. It is simple to hate a whole group rather than a few individuals, I have been guilty of that- but the men who are proud and work under the SS, those are the true monsters."

Her soft voice uttered through the wisps of snow, lacing the stark chill with the heat of her body from within. 
The more she caught fragments of reflections in his blues she could not help but to feel lured, abandoning her mind for the beat of her heart, a feeling that she never posed within the space. War seemed to distract her, close her soul off to many who had attempted to make a pass, but this moment did not seem like a pass but something deeper. The proximity of Nikolai filled her with unsung excitement and eagerness, it was difficult to pinpoint when this emotion assumed the throne but at this moment of peace Ivana did not care, she desired to spend as many breaths of time as she could. It pleased her when he did not shy away or retreated from her advances, even more so when he kept the contact through the strained moment. 
For the first time, in a long time, she felt comfort- she felt... safe. 

She could not stop her feet, the held their own will and emotion; stopping Ivana before Nikolai, allowing their clothed bodies to make contact. This was a foreign feeling and situation, but it was just as beautiful in the same noise. There was a part of her that yearned to have met him before the war, before the unrest that scratched at every door- but before the war she did not know this handsome man was alive, did not hold any understanding about him; were miles apart from one another. But now, the Siberian winter seemed nonexistent, the heat that pooled from both of their emotions blanketed her in special heat. Ivana could not tell you what was flowing through her mind, what time it was, or where they were, all she could speak about was the intimate moment that occurred in the present. 

"I wonder myself, my lady."

His soft tone brought forth a pleasurable crawling shockwave of warmth deep within her. Ivana kept her deep browns locked in his eyes. It was a blur, she felt the contact of Nikolai covered palm on the side of her warm, full cheek while his fingers and thumb ran free through her hair and caressing her pale flesh. Then the distance he closed between their faces, brushing chilled noses and sealing lips for a passionate but chaste kiss. She instinctively ran her slender finger through Nikolai's dark, soft hair, melting into the longing contact- tasting the waters of before. 

Ivana caught her breath once the she pulled away. She could not subdue the mixture of pure emotions on her face. 

Another one of her smiles played on her lips, before she closed her eyes and brushed noses with him once more, wanting to feel his lips and hands again- how she secretly held the burning desire to know who this man was, beyond the bullet or gun, just him and every inch. 

"Hmm, I don't think I am convinced, I think I missed something."

Ivana matched his tone, breathing out in soft silk, her fingers tracing the features of his face while she held that smile and half-lidded eyes. She hoped he understood her context, her diction, how much she felt about him in a short amount time- something that the most handsomest of Germans could not achieve in the hours they spent time with the spy. God how she wanted to feel Nikolai again and again.