The Simplest and Most Complicated Pleasure

[whoneedsadream]

All things considered, life was going well for Anatoly. There hadn't been any major occurrences of Island Strangeness that he was aware of, what he had with Roger was good and the quasi-parental relationship with Cassie and Kon seemed to be as strong as ever. The incident at the strip club had been enough, so he thought, to provide impetus for a

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[one__song]

As Anatoly wished for a worthy opponent, Roger approached. Weighing a startling hundred-and-thirty-pounds soaking wet, he seemed to glimmer like a gaypire (something he'd learned reluctantly from Dean) in the afternoon sun, perspiration from the rising temperature not helping that image. He'd been working on nothing in particular at radio station when he decided he wanted to go home. Of course, he'd taken quite the detour to go visit Anatoly, but for how his heart fluttered ridiculously, it was a well-advised sidetrip.

The dog yipped at Roger and he smiled from behind his sunglasses, hair a wild, curly, damp mess about his face. "Hey -- uh -- you," Roger murmured to the dog whose name he could never remember and brightened yet still as he approached his...whatever-the-hell-he-was. "Hey, Russia."

[whoneedsadream]

At Aeneas's bark, Anatoly looked up. Seeing Roger before him, Anatoly grinned happily and got up to greet him properly with an enthusiastic kiss. Whatever it was they had, it was something that undeniably made his heart skip a few beats in delight. "Hey Roger. You're coming from the radio station?"

Aeneas, wanting in on the action, ran in circles around Roger, yipping excitedly.

[one__song]

Once Anatoly kissed him -- not just then, but at any time -- all of the doubt and fear and insecurity unwound from him. There was no way to say what was going on, if it would last or if Lex would find a way to bend it back to his favor, but in each moment, it was a different kind of perfect all the fucking time.

"Yeah, just wanted to set a few things," he said, somewhat stupidly exhilarated that he had some sort of responsibility to report back about. That was something left over from Brian, he was sure: the random and unexplainable (and completely fleeting) feeling of accomplishment by assimilation into the workforce. He was sure it'd pass, and it always did, but sometimes it came back up. Like puke.

Roger bent down to pat the young whats-his-name of a dog, hoping to remember exactly what the name was before he had to admit he didn't know. "How're you? How's the chess going?" Roger didn't pretend to understand a thing about chess, but he understood enduring passion for something, so that was where his interest lay.

[whoneedsadream]

Anatoly gently threaded his fingers through Roger's hair, still enthralled by the novel sensation. He was finally understanding how Lex could have been so fascinated with his own hair - though even if he hadn't been used to being with someone with no hair at all, Roger's hair was still rather amazing in its own right.

"I'm well. Aeneas and I have been out here for the most of the day," Anatoly answered. "White is in check but he has a few options to get himself out of trouble."

[capable_of]

It was late in the afternoon and Lex was heading to the compound to get some dinner for Helen and him. But it was such a nice day that he took the long route. Or at least that's the reasoning he had for going by Anatoly's hut if anyone asked. In reality, despite everything, he still kept a close eye on the Russian, making sure he was safe and happy. Looking out for him was the least Lex could do, especially after what had happened at the Club, despite it being necessary.

It was almost too late when Lex saw Anatoly set up outside. He had to smile, happy to see the man outside, even if it was just to play chess. On a closer inspection of the board, Lex saw how the pawn, which was currently in his pocket, hadn't been replaced and he was impressed with the strategy used to make up for it's lose.

He was about to turn back to go another way so as not to disturb the Grandmaster, but Aeneas had other plans. Going from asleep to wide awake in a way only puppies can, he was up and barking his head off, running quite happily to greet Lex.

[whoneedsadream]

Anatoly had been contemplating White's strategies to get out of check was Aeneas's bark broke his concentration. He looked up, expecting Cassie or Roger, and froze when he saw who it was that the puppy had greeted so enthusiastically.

"Lex," he said coolly, determined not to let his anger over the incident at the Catscratch keep him from being civil. The island was only so big, after all, and it was impossible to avoid them all the time. But more importantly, he didn't want Lex to know how much he'd hurt him. He knew from first-hand experience with Molokov how displaying emotions was a weakness and he'd learned Lex was not above exploiting such weaknesses.

[capable_of]

The coolness in Anatoly voice made Lex flinch mentally. It was a horrible thing to hear in that beloved voice, especially since he had been the cause. But...as he had to continue to tell himself, it was necessary. It never got easier though.

As Anatoly closed himself off, Lex forced a broad smirk, with a hint of mockery. "Hello Anatoly. I admit, it's a surprise to see you outside. You were looking a bit pale at the Club." His tone was conversational, but the words were chosen to rile up the Russian. Digging the hole a little deeper.

But it wasn't in him to be cruel to Aeneas and he scooped the puppy up into his arms, hoping his tenderness to the small dog wouldn't give him away.

[whoneedsadream]

Anatoly's jaw twitched at Lex's comment, but he swallowed down his rage. Aeneas was surely confused enough as to why his other father wasn't around anymore - he didn't want to upset him any further by yelling.

"Was I?" He turned his attention back to the board, debating on what piece White should sacrifice to save himself. "I'm surprised you had time to notice."

[not_the_s]

"I need a dating life," Kon said unceremoniously. He planted himself next to Aeneas and ran his fingers through his fur. He wasn't sure what caused it. Maybe seeing Serena looking all lonely and realizing that was what his life was like, but more. He just had himself. Cassie. Lex. Anatoly. Oh, and of course Bob and Aeneas.

"My entire circle family consists of...well, you know all of them." Which meant it wasn't that big.

[whoneedsadream]

Anatoly blinked in surprise but he was getting used to Kon's opening conversational gambits and so he moved a pawn in front of White's king to get him out of check and then looked up.

"You do?" He was tempted to ask why, but he remembered what he felt like at that age - well, the age Kon appeared to look like, at least. He'd dated a few times, but the lure of the chess had won out every time until Svetlana, at least. And even then...

"But who would you date?"

[not_the_s]

"I don't know." Kon threw his hands up and it was only the fact that he didn't want to hurt Aeneas that kept him from smacking them down again. "Someone. Anyone." He muttered under his breath about something involving Cassie and her boyfriend, but he didn't really want to get into the fact that he was jealous. He didn't like being jealous.

[whoneedsadream]

Anatoly conveniently chose not to hear Kon's mutterings about Cassie. Kon had made her cry once, and that was enough to convince him that the two shouldn't be together. Besides, she had found herself a nice Russian boy - what else could be better?

"I don't think I would know where to start," he admitted. "I was never very good at dating."

[shot_my_shoes]

Harry was out walking with Rover when he saw Anatoly seemingly playing chess against himself. So he went to investigate. Rover had got distracted by something else and didn't follow, but Harry kept an eye on him. "Are you playing against yourself?" he asked. "Who's winning?"

[whoneedsadream]

"I am," Anatoly answered, looking up with a smile. "Black has White in check, but it's not all over just yet. I can get another chair if you would like to sit?"

Aeneas lifted his head up and let out a short bark, but seeing no immediate threat, he settled back into his nap.

[shot_my_shoes]

"I would like to," he replied. Rover, upon hearing the bark came over to investigate. He liked other dogs, so he sniffed Aeneas. Harry watched uncertainly, not sure what the other dog might do.

[whoneedsadream]

"All right," Anatoly said cheerfully as he stood. "Just give me a moment and I will be right back."

He paused for a moment to watch Aeneas and see how he might react to the other dog, but his fears were unrealized. The puppy simply barked happily a few more times and seemed content enough to sniff around for a bit.

Thus reassured, he went into his hut and came back a few moments later with a chair for Harry.