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Entry tags:

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

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Clark likes to jog too, Illya! ]

Yes. [ He pauses at a fork in the path and looks down at the map. Clark uses the opportunity to listen for the creatures in the forest. He'd like to avoid a confrontation. ] We can go both ways. The one on the right is longer.

[Sure, jogging it is.]

I have nowhere to go after this, I’m in no rush at all. [That’s his answer, because he’s fine with taking the long road but he doesn’t want to make Clark be late or take longer than what he was planning to doing this. He may stay and walk some more either way, he finds he enjoys the quiet of the forest.]

I don’t usually spend this much time in nature. I’m usually traveling between cities.

[ The long road, then. Clark is on the side of the path closer to the nearest monsters. They're still downwind from them and should be safe as long as they stay that way. ]

How're you finding it? Nice to be away from everyone?

[Illya keeps an ear out for monsters and creatures as well, but his hearing is (obviously) not as good as Clark’s. He doesn’t seem worried or scared at the prospect, though- he knows he can defend himself, and he figures Clark will be able to get away quickly if they are attacked by monsters.

Little does he know.]

I enjoy being on my own. And I enjoy silence. I have had roommates before but they were usually Russian men like me. [And in the same line of work, but he figures he can’t exactly say that without raising a few eyebrows.]

Most people in here are... [He hesitates for a moment.] Loud.

Edited 2017-05-19 11:43 (UTC)

[ To Illya's credit, he's right about Clark being able to get away quickly. He doesn't usually run away, though. ]

I know what you mean.

[ Clark hears more than Illya does, but the principle is the same. He thinks the reason they've managed to get along so well is they know when to leave the other be.

Like right now, he doesn't ask why Illya doesn't have friends among his teammates. ]

I'm not sure if I can get used to living in a city.

[Illya lets out a hum of agreement- or more accurately, a hum of understanding. Illya’s lived in cities all his life- he doesn’t need the comfort of them, not in the slightest. But he wouldn’t be able to do his job without access to the latest inventions of technology.]

I can definitely appreciate the calm. I like the city, but I would enjoy having a place like this to get away [He looks up at Clark with the corners of his lips twitching upwards.] I suppose a reporter also benefits from being able to keep a low profile.

[ They're alike. Clark wouldn't be able to do his as well if he didn't have access to the 24-hour news cycle or the connectedness of a city. ]

I have a campsite I use sometimes. It's safe, and no one can come across it accidentally. You're welcome to it.

[Illya doesn't stop, but he does pause for a second to look at Clark. There's been something he's been meaning to ask, but he... doesn't quite know how to do it without being insulting (the last thing he wants is to upset Clark, whose company he actually enjoys). But he figures this is as good a chance as he's going to get.]

Can I ask you something? I... don't quite understand why you are being so nice to me. You have been helpful since I got here. And I don't understand what you will get out of it.

[ It's not an insulting or upsetting question. Clark just falters. He can't joke about this like he did with Taako or Cisco. ]

Uhm. Well, I...

[ It's the right thing to do. His adoptive parents had found his ship just before Reagan became President. They had told him they thought he was Russian at first (one of those animals or babies sent into space) until his father went to that metallurgist and realised Clark might be from another planet.

For a journalist, he's at a loss for words for a while. ]

I'd like to understand where you come from, and what makes you who you are. My job is going to take me all over the world. I'm not interested in what makes for good clickbait. Uh, headline. It's not the truth.

I know we're not close, and I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I guess we'd be uhm... приятель? Is that right? We don't have to be more than that.

[That’s not a word Illya uses often, not when it comes to describe his relationship with people. He’s not alone, per se. But his line of job does bring itself to keeping his distance, if only because anyone close to him could be used as leverage against him if he was ever captured. So while he’s found people whose company he enjoyed before (and more than simply ‘enjoyed’, he’s only human) he’s never really had the occasion for a long-term relationship. The closest he’s gotten are assignments. And now there’s Gabby and Solo.

He hesitates for a bit. Maybe tovarich, comrade, would be a better way to describe it. But he’s not back home, Clark isn’t going to be used against him here. He smiles, just a tiny bit.]

Friends, yes. [He finally answers, purposely switching to English so the meaning behind it doesn’t get lost in translation.]

You don’t make me uncomfortable. It’s a little confusing, sometimes, to meet someone that kind. [A beat.] To meet an American, this kind.

But I suppose I have time to get used to it.

[ Clark was careful to avoid using "друг". He wouldn't think of "comrade" unless Illya had asked for that. It's a little dated.

Clark smiles back. He's been making a lot of friends recently. ]

I'd like to think the people have changed since your time. I don't know for sure.

[ He's an American, not a Russian. Still, Clark has faith in humans. They do some things right.

If they're being forthcoming with each other, he has something to add. ]

I think you've realised there's something I haven't told you about myself. [ Clark's only a little better than Jon at keeping the secret. Illya has been in close quarters with him for over a month. If he hasn't guessed, then he must suspect. ] I'm not trying to lie. At home, I'd never told anyone. If you'd ever like to talk about it... I'd be willing.

[ He's not doing this to get Illya's own hidden depths out of him. Clark has come to understand from the priest he spoke to that sometimes, he has to take a leap of faith.

He doesn't want Illya to keep nursing whatever suspicions he has. Or worst of all, for Illya to find out from someone else. ]

[Illya privately thinks that people don’t usually change that much, not if what he’s read in some history books is true. And yes, he’s investigated, his room was nothing but history books for a while- you can’t give a spy that much information and expect them not to look at it even if he’s only taking very broad notes for now.

But when Clark continues, it makes him tilt his head. He’s known there was something Clark kept hidden- maybe nothing big, maybe Illya was just being far too paranoid about secrets everyone keeps. But there was definitely something he didn’t know about.

But as long as it doesn’t put Illya himself at risk, he considers it none of his business.]

I think… [He pauses, keeps on walking for a few steps before he switches to Russian. He’s ready to translate everything Clark needs, but he just finds it easier to express himself that way, and this moment kind of needs it.] You know I’m not exactly open, myself. I can tell you do your best not to ask, and I appreciate that.

I am curious by nature, I always want to know. But I can’t ask you to be honest if I can’t reciprocate.

[ Being an alien isn't inherently dangerous to anyone. Good and bad people can come from all walks of life. It so happens that humanity's major exposure to Kryptonians was when a group of them tried to kill everybody on Earth. Clark is the only one left who can be painted in a different light, and he has the hard work of the people at the Daily Planet to thank for it.

If he tells Illya the truth, he knows it will change the way Illya looks at him. Especially since as far as Clark knows, his world doesn't seem to have any aliens or metahumans. At least not in the open where Illya might have an opinion. ]

Then we can talk whenever you feel comfortable. [ He switches to Russian too. Like Illya thought earlier, it's good to practice. ] I'm curious too, and I hope now you understand why.

[Illya nods, because he does understand. And the reason he doesn’t want to take Clark on his offer to talk about it- or rather, he so badly wants to, but he knows it would be unfair. And Clark was the first person he met in this place, the first friend he made. He has no experience with that kind of relationship but he knows they have to be equal.]

There’s a lot of it I cannot share, just like I assume there’s a lot you cannot either. [And yes, the idea that Clark may be an American spy has crossed his mind. But what are the chances of that?]

But you should probably know Alexei isn’t my real name.

[ There are a few names that are obviously fake, because of people's delivery when lying. He could tell Bucky was not being honest. "Alexei's" hadn't registered to him as suspect.

Clark knows he can be fooled. He frowns as he thinks about who might have the experience and cause to do that to him. ]

If it's all right, I'll keep calling you that.

[ He has lied about his own name in the past. Clark's not in a position to judge him. There's also nothing Illya can do to physically hurt him, so he's not at risk here. ]

[Illya’s entire body is well, pretty tense. He has just revealed something that he knows back home he wouldn’t have been allowed to. There’s no risk in here, not when people don’t even really know what Russia is, let alone use his knowledge against his country. But that doesn’t make it any easier for him to open up.

But it’s more than that. It’s… kind of the surprise of Clark just taking it in stride.]

I’d prefer if you did. At least, for now. [He bites the inside of his cheek gently as he looks into the woods.] I still don’t know if it’s safe.

But it felt wrong to let you believe that when you are offering to share about yourself.

It might never be.

[ Clark warns him gently. He knows that his own secret is to protect his family. That Portal might bring through as many enemies as friends.

Clark is beginning to get an inkling of what Illya's concern might be. He won't speculate because Illya doesn't have to tell him. For whatever it might be worth, Clark thinks Illya is an honorable person. ]

It might never be.

[He agrees quickly, glad Clark seems to understand where he’s coming from. He sees no judgment coming from Clark, no resentment and no doubt even though Illya just admitted he has been lying to him since they met and can’t even tell him the truth yet, if ever. Clark really is one of a kind.]

But what I must hide doesn’t change… [He hesitates, unsure on how to word it. Clark’s been better at being honest with this kind of thing so far, Illya kind of… stumble into it.] Doesn’t change that I appreciate you.

And what you do for me.

[ He's not completely okay with it, but he knows enough about Illya to understand there's a good reason. If he finds out that reason, then he can decide if he's upset.

He really hopes it's nothing terrible. ]

You're very kind. Does this mean we should switch to informal language?

[Depends on what you understand by terrible, Clark. But Illya is definitely happy to set that aside, for now. Until he figures out how to talk about it, until he figures out if it’s completely safe.]

If you’d like the practice, absolutely. What would you like to talk about?

[ He knows Illya has a sense of honor that can be appealed to. Clark would find it difficult to face someone who had no compassion, or no sense of fairness. ]

Do you have anything you like to do, other than chess and reading?

I like vodka. [As always, it's hard to tell if Illya is joking or being serious. But the overly dry tone he's using probably makes it easy to tell he's joking, at least a little bit.]

I do enjoy going on my powerboat. And martial arts, particularly sambo and Judo.

[ They can never play a drinking game until he knows Clark's secret. It would be very suspicious for Clark to be able to hold his own against a Russian drinking vodka. ]

Did you learn when you were young?

Pretty young, yes. I’ve always enjoyed fighting.

[He has A Lot of pent up anger and that was a way of letting it go and no one really minded much once he started fighting for his country. Win-win situation, really.]

They also helped me find peace. Or some sort of release I suppose. Do you know any martial arts?

No, not really my area of interest.

[ He tries to avoid fights, seeing as he can crush a car without thinking about it. For a long time, that had been enough. Clark had never imagined meeting anyone as strong as him.

He's been thinking about learning here. ]

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