Cold Day In The Sun [RL With Minato, ot3 Virus]

[insovietme]

[The couch he sits on is very comfortable. Much better than the ones he's used to. But he doesn't say that out loud. He doesn't say much out loud. He knows this can't last forever. Sooner or later, they'll come to their senses. Sooner or later, they'll leave. It repeats, all the time, community or no community. But for now, Ivan sits on the couch,

Comments

[dormition]

[Minato wandered out of the kitchen, having just grabbed himself another needless snack, and sees Ivan.

Without thought, he smiles, free and open, and drapes himself over the back of the couch.]

You're here, [he says, like that needs to be said, because he's just happy to see him.]

[insovietme]

[Ivan doesn't flinch, just looks over the back of the couch. It takes a minute, for him to catch on to what's going on around him. The snacks aren't a surprise. Neither is Minato. But he acts as if he might disappear every time he blinks. An illusion made real, but only for a moment. And every time, it takes a second for Ivan to catch on that this is okay.]

Da, I'm here.

[But only just a second, every time. So he smiles and he speaks, pausing the music. Just for a moment.]

Need anything?

[This is okay.]

[dormition]

[Rather understandingly, Minato makes no indication that he notices anything off about Russia's demeanor. He's always that way, after all; he doesn't mind being patient.

He sets the plate down on the coffee table and takes a seat. It was still odd for him not to be in his uniform on a Monday; he kept looking over his shoulder and waiting to be called in for truancy. But it was only a minor irritation, flitting through the back of his mind as he makes himself comfortable and considers whether to make so bold a move as touching Russia.

Not yet, he decides.]

Want to watch something with me?

[insovietme]

[Ivan brightens. He likes the television, he decided. It's colorful, and there is sound, and he spent all of yesterday running through the channels as fast as possible. He didn't care if he couldn't understand the language. He felt the future, saw it on the screen, and he liked it, very much. He doesn't mind crediting America with an invention for once, if it resulted in something like this. He decided that yesterday. Ivan takes a sip of the hot chocolate, and nods like there's no tomorrow.]

Sure. Is there anything on?

[He doesn't care. It could be commercials. He'd watch it all.]

[dormition]

I'm not sure.

[He picks up the remote and turns on the TV, flipping through channels lazily. His other hand grabs a muffin off the plate; he munches on it distractedly, feet propped on the table, as he browses through the stations.

Better not pick anything political, he thinks, skipping the news stations quickly. Aside from time paradox issues, Minato has the more important issue of not making Ivan upset to consider. It's rare to see him relax or enjoy himself - rare for him to get the opportunity to. It'd be pointless to spoil it for him.]