It's the quiet night that breaks me

[salylimon]

WHO: Emi and Ivan
WHEN: [Backdated] November 20th, Sunday evening
WHERE: Ivan's house
WHAT: It's not a sleepover, okay? Just two lonely friends enjoying each other's company. Or something.

Comments

[das_vedanya]

"Ah, zdrasvuitye," The Russian greeted with half the enthusiasm that his appearance gave. He was in a pair of loose-fitting pajama pants that came up past his ankles, a faded LU shirt, his hair flat on one side and sticking up on the other from lying against a pillow. Casting a glance over her shoulder as he allowed her inside. "Emi, you are more than welcome to park on my driveway- you know that I do not own a car. I use my garage space for storage."

He closed the door behind her and the thought was forgotten. His house was dark as night except for the light on the porch and the one flooding in from the room down the hall. "Следуйте за мной, I made tea."

[salylimon]

"Too late now," Emi quipped, shaking her head as she followed after Ivan. Even with her red coat hugging her snugly and even with the scarf wrapped around her neck to protect her from the night cold, she couldn't help the slight shiver that traveled down her spine in faint discomfort. But she supposed it may have been the sudden chill that came with opening the door. A bit of a stretch, as she knew how cold Ivan's home could get, but the possibility was still there.

Both bags still on her person, she continued following the tall Russian while sparing a quick glance around as they walked. "Were you in bed?" She asked, brown eyes flickering up to stare at his mused hair with a small affectionate smile behind his back.

[das_vedanya]

"Mm?" He lead Emi to his fully lit kitchen where two steaming mugs of tea awaited them on the counter top. "Well, I was resting. Just on the couch, not in my bed." With an eyebrow raised, he looked at the thick red coat still adorning her shoulders.

"Are you cold, Emi? I can light the fire for you." He pushed the mug of tea toward her.

[salylimon]

"I was just curious," she replied, nodding toward the blonde's unruly hair as she set the bag of sandwiches on top of the counter carefully while her overnight went to rest beside her feet. "And cold? Oh, no, I just couldn't take my coat off while holding all of this," Emi replied sheepishly as she moved to unbutton her coat.

Sliding it off her shoulders, she paused, shivering.

"....O-Okay, so maybe a little a cold," Emi muttered meekly, reaching out to take the mug in order to warm her hands before lifting it to take a sip.

[das_vedanya]

A small smile passed over his lips as he lifted his cup to test the hot water on the tip of his tongue (ow, still too hot!) Placing the cup down on the counter again, he looked up at her. "I know it's cold here. I still have not found the problem with the heater. It is an old house, almost a century old! It needs a new heating element, I think. I should try to get one before winter arrives..."

A pause, and forgetting that his tea was still too hot to drink, he went for another sip and instantly regretted it. "Th-thank you for coming, though."

[salylimon]

"You know I'm just horrible with any kind of cold weather, even if it's not winter yet," Emi said, laughing sheepishly as she kept her hands wrapped around the mug still, enjoying the near uncomfortable warmth for the time being. Her expression softened, however, at the next comment as she shook her head.

"It's the least I can do," she replied, moving one of her hands to rest against his arm lightly. "You already put up with me enough as it is," Emi continued with a small grin. "So there's no need to thank me, Ivancito."

[das_vedanya]

Ivan laughed back, his hands, too, closed around the warmth of the mug as his bare feet juggled across the cold tile of his kitchen. "Nyet, Emi, I owe you more than I give you in payment..." His smile twitched in memory of a few weeks back when the two of them were crouched against the counter right where Emi stood.

[salylimon]

"Now you're just giving me too much credit," Emi replied with a small laugh before bringing the mug up to her lips for another slow, careful drink. She remained quiet for a moment, relaxing beneath the faint spread of warmth given to her from the tea.

Sighing softly, she offered the blonde a small smile. "Hungry or should I go change and stop feeling so overdressed and formal? Since it's-" She glanced at her phone. "Not exactly that early."

[das_vedanya]

"I am perfectly capable of making myself a sandwich if you would like to go change, Emi," the Russian said as-a-matter-of-factly, one eyebrow raised. He caught another sip of tea as it burned sweetly down his throat and warmed the walls of his stomach. "And you look lovely, Emi. Not overdressed or too formal." His hand carded through his hair to fix the side sticking up. "I suppose the state I am in is offsetting the dress code... if you would like, I could go upstairs and change into a suit if that would make you feel better, haha!"

[salylimon]

"The sandwiches are pre-made. They're tortas actually," Emi replied, smiling slightly as she pushed the bag toward him before slipping away from the counter. Grabbing her overnight bag from the floor, she shook her, lips curling upward in bemusement. "I'm pretty sure you would further offset my jeans and t-shirt if you come back dressed in a suit," she teased as she began to walk away. "I'll be right back, so help yourself

[das_vedanya]

"Sounds good~" Ivan said behind a smile as he peeked into the plastic bags. His peripheral vision barely caught Emi leaving, and by the time she had returned, Ivan had already gotten out two plates out and dished the sandwiches onto either one. As he plucked a small shred of meat from his sandwich and placed it on his tongue, he caught her eyes. He allowed them to go stray for a moment, but upon meeting her eyes again, he knew that perhaps, in another time - or world - he would have found her to be heart-stopping in her fitting pajamas, but settled on the reality that he thought they looked rather nice on her.

"Even? Somehow you even sport a pair of pajamas better than I do."

[salylimon]

Rolling her eyes, her hands immediately went for the mug of tea once again. It had cooled a bit during her rather short trip to the bathroom, though she supposed that had more to do with the cold inside Ivan's home. "Oh? I think you look adorable in yours," Emi teased as she brought the mug up for a tentative drink.

Her brow furrowed slightly. It was cooler than before, but not entirely unbearable. Taking a longer drink, she eventually set the drink down before tugging one of the plates toward her. "So you're home alone now?" Emi asked after a moment, glancing up at Ivan.

[das_vedanya]

The smile Emi left on his face from the compliment faded into something forced and unmatched to his eyes. "So it appears. I do not blame them for wanting to leave because it is so cold here. Ion went back home, Natalia is missing, and Katya is living who knows where. It is a rather large house, and it can be lonely when it is just me, but I do not have to worry when I am not here very often. Work is very busy."

[salylimon]

Noticing the sudden change in mood, Emi stared up at the blonde as she chewed at her bottom lip nervously. "Ivan, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" She muttered quickly, face flushing in shamed embarrassment, body tense and expression apologetic.

[das_vedanya]

Eyes widening, Ivan realized what he just said and instantly regretted it. "Nyet, nyet- Emi. I am sorry. I did not mean to... make you pity me-" a nervous laugh (because, yes, part of him thought he deserved pity, just not from Emi) "-it is just how things work, and being alone makes visits from you more special."

[salylimon]

Expression still sheepish, Emi focused on the mugs still standing between them, silent before she shook her head. "Still, I probably should have worded that better," she mumbled, fingers curling into the hem of her nightshirt as she bit back a small sigh.