[open And we keep waiting to be seen, right?

[nikolaievich]

who: Illya Kuryakin & you
what: just a general catch-all
when: End of April and beginning of May
where: around the city shopping, gym
warnings: will add if needed



1; around

Illya doesn’t get out much.

It’s not being in a strange place, in a strange world full of strange people with futuristic technology. Or… rather, even though he has to admit that’s kind of getting under the skin, it’s not just that. He’s just used to keeping to himself, to doing things on his own and only relying on his boss to give him his orders and trust Illya will know what to do.

In here it’s different. In here he doesn’t have to hide, doesn’t have to keep in the shadows and become a shadow himself. In here he can get out and try to be a normal person. Or at least do his best to look like one, since the most people know about him is a fake name and his claims that he was a rowboat champion before he ended up in this place.

So there’s probably something… calming, in just doing normal things. Grocery shopping, checking out nearby libraries, just stopping at a park and watching the animals go by. It may seem boring to most people, but to Illya is kind of refreshing to be able to do all of this without a weight on his shoulders. He figures it will get boring eventually, but for now he enjoys his newfound freedom.

Enjoying it so much he doesn’t even notice the orange firefly circling him.

2; gym

It does get boring eventually, even with all the shenanigans going around.

Illya is used to physical exertion, to being active and working out as much as he can, as much as he’s healthy. Back home he needed his body to be in peak condition, to be able to fulfill every mission as fast as efficiently as possible. Most of them ended up with him running away or towards something, after all. But in here his job, while more interesting than what he had assumed when it had been assigned to him, doesn’t require much more than a inquisitive mind and knowing where to look, what questions to ask.

He really misses the exertion. So after asking around and getting some advice he’s finally decided to join a nearby gym.

He can be seen running himself ragged on the treadmill, doing weights or basically using every single machine he can find his hands on. Yay technology. Obviously not all on the same day, he’s stubborn but not suicidal… but someone should probably tell him to slow down.

3: OPEN option! Go wild. Poke me on DM or over at crotalus if you want a specific thread!

Comments

[signifies]

[ Illya doesn't call him out so Clark won't say anything. ]

Yes. I thought you might like to try it.

[nikolaievich]

[The Gatorade is bottled, so Illya doesn’t hesitate to take it even if it’s a present for apparently no reason. Clark is so nice he keeps expecting the other shoe to drop, but it just… never does. Clark’s just like that all the time, with everyone. Kind of weird, if you ask Illya.]

Thank you. You’re always... kind. Is there a reason for that?

[signifies]

It's actually an elaborate plan. [ He feels uncomfortable addressing it directly so he tries to make a joke. ] You'll see.

[nikolaievich]

[Illya raises an eyebrow.]

You’re joking. [He says with a tone that implies like he isn’t really sure.] But people usually don’t act nicely just… because.

[signifies]

I'm aware of that.

[ He won't stop doing it but he'll be more sensitive to Illya's background now that he knows what it is.

It's not right that he's had to grow up so suspicious. Clark has read about Russian history in that era since meeting Illya but history books can be biased. He's ready to revise a lot of what he knows about Russia when facing someone who's actually from there. ]

What if you thought of it this way? I'm an American. We don't have a good track record with understanding people we were at war with.

[nikolaievich]

[Illya takes some more sips of the gatorade as he considers that. Clark is honestly nothing like what he has been told Americans are like all his life. Solo was a little bit more like that, and even he saved his life when he didn’t have to.]

I suppose that is true. But I still feel I should repay you.

Can I... help you with the article, perhaps?

[signifies]

[ uh-oh ]

There is one thing.

[ Clark smiles at him warmly. ]

I've been trying to learn Russian. Will you help me practice?

[ He lives in Metropolis and looks like a white American man. American issues and disasters get first response because he's physically closer to them.

He can't be Earth's protector if he only speaks English or culturally navigates the continental United States. Superman's responsibility is to the whole world. He wouldn't want people afraid or confused because he didn't understand their language or their society. It's a mistake Clark can foresee and avoid making altogether.

Russian is a good place to start. ]

[nikolaievich]

[Illya blinks, because he definitely wasn’t expecting that. Americans do not learn Russian unless they have to, period. Just like the only reason he learned English (and German) was because of his job. Clark is definitely not like your usual American- or, at least, the mental image Illya had of Americans. And he keeps throwing unexpected curve balls at Illya that he’s still trying to learn how to catch.

Illya would say he’s still not sure if he likes said curve balls, but there’s a reason he’s becoming more at ease around Clark instead of the opposite.]

… I could.

If you promise, you will take learning seriously.

[signifies]

I'm a quick study.

[ Only, he's never had anyone to teach him.

Clark switches, taking some time to choose his words. ]

Should we start now?

[ His pronunciation is very good. Exactly like the library's tapes, which might be outdated. ]

[nikolaievich]

[Illya’s eyebrows raise up, nearly high enough to try to meet his hairline before he… smiles. Actually smiles, like he hasn’t in front of Clark since he got here.]

I keep underestimating you, and I feel like I should apologize for that. [He finally says, way more at ease than he sounds when he speaks English. He’s definitely not going back to his training now, not while talking to Clark in Russian, so he uses his towel to dry himself off a little bit.]

But maybe we should wait until after I take a shower?

[signifies]

You don't need to apologize.

[ Clark knows from experience that Illya doesn't smile like this a lot. He counts himself lucky he's seeing one. ]

I'll look after your bag?

[nikolaievich]

Thank you.

[And he starts heading towards the dressing rooms, and the showers. He's kind of a neat-freak, but he wouldn't want to make Clark wait so he doesn't take that long in the shower and he starts looking for Clark as soon as he's all dressed up.]

[signifies]

[ That was a really quick shower, Illya.

Clark hands him his bags. Nothing's been touched. ]

Are you hungry?

[nikolaievich]

[He's efficient. And maybe he is far too excited to be talking to someone in Russian, to be talking to someone who wants to learn.]

Definitely. Working out always makes me hungry. Got a place in mind?

[signifies]

There's a place nearby with good pho. Have you eaten Vietnamese cooking before?

[nikolaievich]

Never, but I like trying new kinds of food.

[He'll just privately always think Russian food is better. But that's not really about the food, he simply thinks everything Russian is better.]

Lead the way?