KEEP YOU BREATHING // A MODERN AU - Tumblr Posts

@iskron  ;) 

Any YA fantasy enthusiasts would have argued that being bodyguard to the Crown Prince of Norway was a d r e a m   j o b. For Mayu Kir-Kaat, it was H e l l. But she was willing to go through Hell to spare their mother from drowning in debts. 

The bodyguard hadn’t said a word since they’d pick their new assignement up at the airport. The only words she’d spoken was Mr Fluff when Prince Rasmus had asked what was the name of the dog in the car. And no smoking in the car when he’d attempted to do so. 

Now, they were setting up their living space, which was way too luxurious to be that of two ordinary students but Mayu kept quiet on the matter. They weren’t the one in charge of those arrangements. Their job was to make sure the royal was still breathing. Though that could prove to be a heavy task considering he was a smoker. 

She was emptying her single suitcase in her new room (thrice the size of the one they had back home!) and placing the clothes in the closet (twice the size of their old room!) while Mr Fluff was rolling on the bed (king-sized!) playing with his favorite toy.

❛ Home sweet home.❜ Mayu sighed, with no enthusiasm whatsoever, falling onto the bed. She was going to be living with a Crown Prince for the entire duration of the latter’s studies. How exciting, they thought. At least, the pay is good, another voice reminded her, which seemed to make things bearable for now.

iskron​:

If Rasmus Grimjer had had any saying in the matter of his personal protection, he would have insisted he didn’t need any, not here, not in Saint Petersburg where he was a royal under no ones. Where anyone barely knew that there was such a thing as the crown prince of Norway. He hadn’t however and now he was stuck with a bodyguard his parents had chosen for him. Fun. Especially since she hadn’t said a word ever since they’d picked him up from the airport. Not even a how was your flight from Oslo? He found out that her dog’s name was Mr Fluff though. And that she apparently hated cigarettes because she immediately told him off when he tried to light one. Later. He could smoke on the balcony later. Or in his room, he hoped he’d be allowed privacy like that. So, being forced into the tight living space of an approximately 200 square meter sized penthouse apartment overlooking the city of Saint Petersburg with someone he didn’t know in the slightest was anything but comfortable. He would have to manage. It was better than being home. Anything was better than being home.

❝ Do you like it? It is rather small, no? ❞

He flashed her his best grin as he let himself fall onto the soft leather couch, a cigarette between his lips, fumbling around for his lighter. Damn it. No smoke inside then.

❝ Could use some … booze stains too if I’m being honest. Do you drink? Should I invite my cousins over for a glass of Vodka or more? ❞

❛ Tiny. ❜ Mayu replies, deadpan, even though she thinks that place is HUGE. They walk up to the fridge, checking inside. It’s full. Packed up with goods of expensive brands she’s never heard of. No alcohol in sight though. But her joy is short-lived when they open the kitchen cabinet and hear the prince talk about inviting his cousins over for a drink of vodka   o r   m o r e. So, he drinks vodka like one would drink coffee or  wine. Nice. He asks if he  s h o u l d  do it. Mayu almost huffs at that. As if i truly have any kind of power over whatever you decide to do. 

❛ Do as you please. ❜ The bodyguard finally answers, closing the kitchen cabinet which contains various alcohol bottles. They still haven’t answered the question. D o   y o u   d r i n k ? he’d asked. No, she doesn’t and never will. But that’s none of his business. He must already think she’s  n o   f u n  anyway. Do they care what he thinks? Not really. She instantly picks up Mr Fluff who just walked into the kitchen. ❛ I don’t care much for whatever you’ll be doing within these walls as long as you manage to be up for class. ❜ She adds, walking back into the living room, her fluff ball in her arms. ❛ And this is your home, not mine, you may invite whom you please. ❜ 

iskron​:

❝ I’ve had hotel rooms bigger than this. ❞

He huffs though a tiny sliver of sarcasm is seeping through his words. He doesn’t mean it. The apartment is much better than anything he’d hoped for. As long as he didn’t have to share a tiny dorm with some random classmate he would be fine. If only the threats against his life hadn’t been so frequent, so vocal or else he could have lived on his own.

❝ They’re nice. You’ll love them. ❞

Rasmus watches her search the kitchen cabinets to find nothing but expensive booze in them. No wonder, considering his rather lush lifestyle. As long as she doesn’t find the cocaine …

❝ I haven’t seen them in so long to be quite honest … ❞

He finds himself rambling out of instinct, out of decency, anything to keep up the conversation. It is hard to keep talking when they are rarely responding to his questions. He still doesn’t know if she drinks at all. Well, some wine will be fine he guesses.

❝ It is my home as much as it is yours. ❞

Honest. He was being honest with her. He would never invite someone over if she wasn’t content with it. He started typing away on his phone, to Nikolai and Vasily.

Drink at my house? In 10 min? Yk the address.

Hotel rooms b i g g e r   t h a n   t h i s  penthouse? He must be joking... Right? Mayu doesn’t know him well enough yet to be sure though. He is spoiled after all. That definitely sounds like something a rich kid would say. 

❛ I’m sure they are. ❜ They say, petting Mr fluff who nuzzles her neck, front paws pressed on their shoulders as if to give her a hug. Small talk. She hates this. She never knows what to say. Reyem was better than her at this. He was better than her at e v e r y t h i n g. And he’s gone. He’s been gone for almost a year. Wow. Time flies. Mayu frantically smooths the pomeranian’s fluffy fur. 

❛ I’m sure they’ll be happy to see you. ❜ She blurts out. Their own words startles them. That’s stupid. You don’t even know these people are, how can you say that? She looks down on Mr Fluff, their comfort. To his eyes, they’re the best person in the world. All they have to do to be appreciated is feed him and pet him. He’s easy to please, easy to be around. And Rasmus—— Well, they don't know him. She holds the dog tighter against her heart, eyeing the hallway as they contemplate the idea of going back to their room for the rest of the evening (Or for the rest of their life). Though they’d have to come out to go to the bathroom eventually, right?

It is my home as much as it is yours. Head jerks up at that. She blinks twice, not sure if she heard this right. They decide that yes that’s exactly what he said. 

❛ Maybe... ❜ They replies, slowly. ❛ I—— don’t feel much at home. ❜ She confesses. Not here, not anywhere, she whispers inwardly. Home is nowhere anymore. The warmth, security... G O N E  and It has been for a while. The only place they’d ever felt at home has become  A   T O M B. Her twin’s tomb. And sometimes she wonders if she didn’t die there as well the day where they—— 

Rasmus’ phone buzzes a few times in a row, stopping her from getting dragged into the darkness. His cousin Nikolai has responded to the text he sent. 【ＫＯＬＹＡ】

𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩! 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘺𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘷𝘦 ;)

iskron​:

❝ Is there anything that can be done to make you feel more at home? ❞ he asks, though he can imagine the answer. No. No because she’s far away from home guarding the Norwegian crown prince’s sorry ass because some mad people believe it would be a splendid idea to attempt to murder him. The pleasures of being a royal … The money is good however. The public appearances? Not so much. He should ask cousin Vasya how he handles his. He’s been in the business for much longer than him already.

Home. What is home anyway? He’s never known a place he’d call home. Truly he’s been away far more than he’d like. The last two years he’s spent here in Russia, studying, and now for the start of his third and last year … Business Management and Marketing. He hates every second of it but it was a natural choice. An easy choice. Similiar enough to what his cousins studied and yet aligning with his future career path.

His phone buzzes a few times and Rasmus barely even has the will to look at it. He does so anyway.

❝ My cousins are coming over. I cannot ask you to stay but I would appreciate if you did. ❞ he flashes her his most charming grin as he raises from the divan to choose the vodka they’d be drinking.

❝ Beluga, Tsarskaya or Stolichnaya? ❞

He looks at his phone to type a quick message to Nikolai.

Ok.

Ask Vasya which Vodka he wants.

Is there anything that can be done to make you feel more at home? Mayu is startled again by his words. ❛ I— ❜ God! He needs to stop this — whatever  T H I S  is. And yet she finds herself blurting out a response. ❛ More plants. ❜ There was none in the entire place. Maybe that would help. They also wanted their twin back but she doubted even the Crown Prince of Norway held such power. So, plants would have to do. Despite the abundance of sunlight and the absence of bars, this penthouse felt as welcoming as a prison to the bodyguard. 

❛ I’d be unprofessional of me to leave, sir. ❜ They replies, frowning. It makes no sense for her to leave this place, to leave their assignment unattended. She cannot be sure his cousins mean no harm. Mayu has seen enough movies to know that when there’s a crown and/or money involved, family doesn’t mean much. Her family history proves it, not that her employers knows anything about it. It’s better that way. No well-adjusted royal would want the child of a Triad member to be involved with their son, let alone be in charge of their protection. Fortunately for her (and her deceased brother), their mom had done a great job keeping those skeletons buried deep in their closets. But with Reyem’s early—— departure and his debts that kept piling up, the very people that had helped them and gave them new identities were threatening to expose those skeletons. 

Mayu hadn’t thought much when they’d seen the job offer on the internet. That looked like a regular security job, to be fair. No mention of royalty anywhere. The hiring process had been long and  e x h a u s t i v e. It lasted several days. At one point, she had to run miles and even battle four people at once. They sure thought it was rather unusual but, eh, they needed the job so they just went along with it. It’s only when they got officially hired that they’d been told whom she’d be assigned to. Mayu didn’t believe it at first and, to be fair, it still feels like a fever dream.

【ＫＯＬＹＡ】

𝘵𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘴𝘬𝘢𝘺𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 …𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭 ♥

❛ I’ll stick to soda. I don’t drink on duty. ❜ I don’t drink at all. They plant a kiss on Mr Fluff's forehead before setting the pomeranian free. ❛ That makes more for you and your cousins then. ❜ She adds with the barest smile. As they approach the kitchen area, her eyes fall on the three bottles of vodka on the countertop. Fingers clench the inside of her trousers’ pockets. ❛ Which one’s your favorite? ❜ A banal question, it seems, and yet she’s already regretting it. What the hell are you doing, Mayu? You don’t want to know. 

iskron​:

❝ Plants? Are you good with cacti? Because I cannot remember to water them and study at the same time.❞

Not that he studies much anyway, he is blessed with a remarkably good memory. The upside of having a body willing to give out on you anytime. At least he was right in his head. Okay - he should take it back. Drug addiction and alcoholism probably aren’t what anyone would call right and he isn’t proud of his self-destructive habits either. It is what it is.

❝ Right. But you could stay in your room if you do not want to have the pleasure of meeting my loveable cousins. Don’t worry I’d scream if something happened to me. ❞

He is not used to having someone at his tail 24/7, he realizes as he goes through the cupboards once again to look for suitable glasses. Hmm, highball. Four of those and a normal one for Mayu’s soda. He respects her boundaries and he is not going to force her to drink with them. Damn his cousins and their questions, he would let her have her non-alcoholic beverage of choice.

A quick glance on his phone and a hastily replied “Anything for you❤️” is all Nikolai receives as he starts pouring the glasses, one for him, two for Vasily and one for himself. He goes with Stolichnaya just because he doesn’t particularly feel like wasting expensive vodka when he doesn’t like its taste anyway. Booze is booze he takes all he can get. Would he rather have a cocktail? Absolutely. However, they are in Russia where there is an overabundance of vodka and an underwhelming amount of, well, anything else acholic.

❝ I hate all of them equally. ❞ he exhales a laugh before he starts to explain.

❝ My cousins brought me into it. I don’t particularly like strong alcohol. More of a sweet type you know? ❞

Not only with alcohol.

The doorbell interrupted him before he could say anything else.

❝ Oh, it must be them. ❞

—

❝ You better explain it to dad why I left early … ❞

Vasily’s voice could be heard even from outside the apartment as he starts to argue with his little brother. He should be glad he doesn’t have to sit in his office anymore, is all Rasmus can think. But him and Vasily have always been fundamentally different even if they seemed so alike.

❝ I wasn’t even working for … 14 hours today and I am not even halfway through the reports … ❞

Rasmus opens the door with a wide grim before his cousin can continue his rant.

❝ Could you two stop bickering for once? ❞

❛ I can water them. ❜ Mayu had said with conviction. ❛ I used to do it when i was living with my brother. ❜ Shit. Did she really say that last bit out loud? He doesn’t need to know about such trivial matters. He doesn’t need to know about her life, about Reyem, about what happened to him. The matter of plants seemed to have been settled quickly though. Thank god. Rasmus was about to get visitors and was making sure the drinks were ready for when his guests arrived. His answer to her question earns him a questioning glance. They hadn’t expected this, honestly. She’s confused but her interest has been piqued. He explains. His cousins got him into vodka, apparently, and he doesn’t like strong alcohol. Mayu has a hard time believing it, judging by how many bottles of strong alcohol there are in that cabinet. More of a sweet type you know? he then says. 

I don’t know, i’ve never been called SWEET. But before she could actually answer something substantial, the doorbell interrupts them. Let the fun begin. 

❛ Sure, sure. ❜ Nikolai replies, as if he’s a dad indulging a child, while he pats his brig brother’s shoulder heavily. He rolls his eyes behind Vasily’s back but, really, having his brother work so much worries him. More than 14 hours a day? That can’t be healthy, right? The door opens, revealing Rasmus. ❛ Us bickering? Pff! I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, cuz. ❜ He winks at his cousin before letting hazel eyes widen at the sight of him. ❛ Oh! And look at you miraculously recovered from your very recent fall into the staircase of your building! That’s a m i r a c l e ! We should definitely drink to that, shall we? ❜ He enters, dragging Vasily with him into the kitchen area. ❛ Look, Vasya! There’s two glasses of your  f a v o r i t e  vodka waiting for y— Oh! ❜ He stops dead in his tracks. There’s someone leaning against the countertop. A rather short yet very attractive someone. He let go of his brother’s arm to run a hand through his hair, giving the person a charming grin. ❛ Pardon my manners. Ray didn't tell us he had someone over. ❜ 

❛ I live here. ❜ They replies, bringing their glass to their lips. They don’t drink though. Their head tilts to the side midway as eyes like molten gold study him. Intently. ❛ You must be Nikolai Lantsov. ❜

Nikolai almost blinks at that. ❛ You do? ❜ He utters, eyeing Rasmus, intrigued, before hazel eyes goes back to his cousin’s r o o m m a t e. ❛ As a matter of fact, i am! The grumpy one here is my brother Vasily. I’m guessing you heard of us. ❜ He replies, straightening, proudly, before narrowing his eyes. ❛ Should we be worried we haven’t heard of you? ❜ It’s his turn to tilt his head to the side, observe the person’s features with his clever hazels.  

❛ I’m Mayu Kir-Kaat, not that my name should ring any bells. ❜ Mayu says with a shrug before taking a sip from her soda. This one’s clever, they think. Could be dangerous. They take a few steps closer, looking at him over her dark lashes. ❛ Well—— Ray can be quite secretive at times. ❜ The bodyguard exchanges a glance with Rasmus and a knowing smile. ❛ That’s a quality I appreciate. I’m not much of a socialite. ❜ She adds, with a well-placed nervous laugh ❛ Meeting you guys is kind of a baby step. ❜ Those are no lies. Only half truths. She’s great at that. There’s something  e e r i e  about the way she acts now, compared to when they were in private. They seem more relaxed, in control, approachable, even friendly. No doubt she’s adapting to the people around them like a chameleon to its environment.   

iskron​:

Rasmus has never been a flirt but there is something about Mayu that makes it so remarkably easy to talk to them sweetly. Full of affection. Or rather new found interest –

No. He isn’t going to fall in love. He knows. He is not made for relationships and love. He is made for boring state banquets and meetings with foreign dignitaries that lasted so long it should be illegal. Alas he is losing focus.

❝ Whatever Lantsov. ❞

He smirks, well aware Nikolai and his brother will always quarrel about anything really. It’s a product of their upbringing. He’s happy they’re even talking to each other still. Hell, they’ve even tried to be brothers lately. Real brothers. Rasmus cannot imagine how they’ve pulled it off but they have.

❝ A miracle indeed. My ribs are still pretty sore, though. ❞

Behind them, Vasily looks like as if he wants to start crying. He left work for this? His brother said it was a family emergency. Not that his need for alcohol isn’t one but still …

He exhales a weary sigh. He could have finished those budget reports in time before tomorrow. He’d have to pull another eighteen hour shift again then. Great. He lets himself get dragged into the kitchen, past his pale, sick boy of a cousin, a light-hearted eye roll is all he manages to do. At least he can drown his sorrows in Vodka now.

❝ I hope there is – ❞

Vasily stops in track, his hand flying to the lapels of his suit to smooth them out. He hasn’t had the time to change from his business attire because Nikolai had quite literally dragged him out of office and into his car. He turns to his cousin as Nikolai converses with the unknown roommate, his glance saying it all. Ohhh you didn’t tell us you have a girlfriend now?

Rasmus gestures for Vasily to sit down on the divan before hurrying off to grab the glasses and return with them. He needs a drink now if he wants to survive Nikolai’s subtle questions about his in fact non-existent love life. Mayu Kir-kaat. A no one. Perfect to protect him. Not many would be asking questions where they came from or what their apparent relation to Rasmus is but Nikolai does such things. Vasily is the quiet observer in the back, almost absently sipping on his Vodka as he watches and learns. He is a master at reading people, always has been. In a way, she’s similiar to Nikolai he finds. They adapt easily to their environment, toying with words as if they were the fountain of their power.

❝ Kolya, please. Drink. Here. How is aunt Tatiana doing these days? Is uncle Alexander still sick? ❞

❛ Your auntie is doing wonderful. I’m afraid I cannot say the same about Alexander though. ❜ Nikolai takes a sip of his vodka but doesn’t say anything more. For now. 

Mayu is sitting on the sofa across from the Lantsov siblings. A quiet observer. She can already tell Nikolai isn’t fond of his father. Or his parents at all. He must have a strained relationship with his mother as he call her Ramus’ auntie. No MOTHER, no MOM.  He called his father by his first name. No FATHER, no DAD, not even a YOUR UNCLE. He hates the guy, Mayu notes. And Vasily—— Well, from what the bodyguard heard from the other side of the door earlier, he’s afraid to disappoint the man but still calls him Dad. 

❛ As always Mother dear is deploying great efforts to achieve her dreams for grandkids. She usually gets like that around Christmas so she’s a couple months early on her schedule this time. I did remind her of the process of baby making  I N   D E T A I L, in case she thought babies grew in trees since she’s not getting any younger after all, you know. I thought i had stunned her for a while but as soon as i was done with my version of the birds and the bees speech, she took her damn phone and set up A   P L A Y D A T E  with the Taban girl. Not the oldest one, thank god! Because we all vividly remember that  D I S A S T E R, a few years back, when that b— i mean, lovely lady threatened to sue poor Vasya because he’d gotten so drunk out of nervousness —and boredom!— he’d spilled his drink on her. ❜

❛ Suing someone for a date gone wrong seems a little…extreme. ❜ Mayu commented, leaving all the room in the conversation for Nikolai to rant about the situation because, clearly, that’s what he needs. 

❛ Nothing is  T O O   E X T R E M E  for the Taban family. All of them are hella extra. And I don't expect Makhi’s little sister to be anything less than a diva. I googled her. She used to be a model! Look!  ❜ He’d grabbed his phone, quickly opened his bookmarks and got up to shove it in Rasmus’ hands. He begins pacing in the living-room and ranting again, his drink in hand. ❛ And she’s to be an intern at Lantsov Corporation, can you imagine??  I bet she’ll have nothing else to talk about than her G L O R Y   D A Y S  or whatever. I can’t believe mom would think she’d be a great fit for me! I mean, granted we both hot as fuck, but man you can’t base a relationship on how hot both parties are! There’s a reason I don't work there. And I don’t want my partner to keep reminding me of the HUGE BULLET I dodged. ❜ He stops in his track to turn to his brother. ❛ No offense, brother. This is just not my thing. ❜

Mayu leans in to have a look at the pictures on Nikolai’s phone that Rasmus is now holding. Their shoulders are touching now. The girl in the pictures is stunning. Long dark hair frames an angelic face with big doe eyes. Sweet. That’s the first word that comes to mind when she looks at the model. Everything i’m not. There’s something about that one picture where the girl isn’t dressed so humbly that catches her eye. There’s something about the model’s eyes… Mayu needs to have a closer look. Before they realize it, her hand reaches to grab the phone. Fingers brushes against Rasmus’. She’s fighting herself not to withdraw their hand as soon as it happens. It wouldn’t be natural. It wouldn’t add up with the fact they’d been living together. She gently picks up the phone from her roommate’s fingers, smoothly and naturally withdrawing from the touch once the phone is in their hands. She’d apologize later for invading his space.

@couronnez there <3

❛ I’ve never been here. ❜ Ehri admits, picking up the card from the table. It’s not that she doesn’t have the money for those fancy places, she does, it’s just that she never went out much on her own to explore places like this. Her family is very protective of her. It’s a miracle she even got to work somewhere else than the family business. LANTSOV CORPORATION still doesn’t align with her values but it’s still a breath of fresh air for now. She gets to see new faces, meet new people. Hell! She’s even about to have coffee WITH THE CEO! Don’t flatter yourself, a voice whispers to her, he’s just apologizing for spilling coffee on you earlier. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have payed attention to you. She manages to push back those thoughts and smile. ❛ You come here often? ❜    

@iskron gets a starter for no reason

❛ You got toxic plants for dogs. ❜ Mayu says from the doorway of Rasmus’ room while holding the packing slip in their hand.

couronnez​: 

The fine Italian restaurant he has chosen for the occasion is just perfect for a date an apologetic invite to drink a cup of coffee turned dinner, the view breathtaking through the tall windows, city lights glimmering in the distance.

❝ Only every now and then. The food is excellent but I don’t have the time to eat out. ❞

If she knew more about his eating habits, she’d be devastated, he figured because Vasily doubts anyone manages to eat more junk than he does. He is lean and athletic, his build does not betray him. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, a muscular chest. The picture perfect portray of a Lantsov as his mother used to say.

❝ Please, pick whatever you’d like. The pasta is phenomenal. ❞

He returns her smile, easily summoning as much charm as he can muster while studying the menu himself. He finds himself leaning towards Seafood. Cozze? Or rather vongole? A waiter passes them by and Vasily makes a quick gesture, stopping the man in track.

❝ Could we get a bottle of Verdicchio, please? ❞

This wasn’t at all the coffee experience she expected. Is she disappointed though? Hell no! Every dish on the card looks absolutely exquisite. Even the seafood. She isn’t gonna eat any though. That would take her breath away, literally, and Vasily’s doing a great job at that already. That smile… Does he give it to all his interns? she cannot help wondering. While he asks the waiter for a bottle of wine, Ehri plunges her hand in her purse, pulling out a pill box, which she displays on the table. That way i won’t forget, she thinks. Usually, she puts an alarm on her phone but she didn’t want to disturb the date whole restaurant so she turned it off before entering the place.

❛ Absolutely. And what will we be serving you tonight to accompany such fine wine?❜ The waiter barely looks at the man. His gaze is all on the pretty brunette sitting across.  

❛ I would like a paccheri al forno, please. ❜ Ehri says, smiling at him as she puts down the card on the table. Then, she purses her lips together as she closes the menu. ❛ Um, just to be sure—— There’s no seafood in it, right? I’m allergic. I mean, it’s fine if people eat it around me, I just can’t ingest it myself. ❜ She wanted to make sure Vasily understood he could eat the seafood if he wanted, it’s just that she wouldn’t be joining him or kissing him after.

❛ No, madam. No seafood in this dish. I guarantee you it is a safe option.❜ The waiter smiles at her. The kind of smile that lets you know they are interested in knowing you, personally. That’s a bold move to do when the person you’re trying to flirt with is clearly on a date but, oh well, bold doesn’t mean wise. ❛ May i add it is a great choice. You won’t be disappointed. ❜ 

Ehri is completely oblivious. She just thinks he’s being helpful and polite, like a good waiter. ❛ Well, thank you. So far, i’m very satisfied with my experience. ❜ Another smile. A polite one. Nothing flirtatious about that but the waiter seems to read something else. Again, she’s totally oblivious. ❛ Oh! i’ll have a carafe of water as well, please. I tend to get thirsty when i’m nervous. ❜ Did she just say that last bit out loud? Yep. You did, her brain confirms as it replays the scene. Dammit. She wants to facepalm herself right now but that wouldn’t help make it less awkward. Instead, she settles for a nervous laugh while the waiter turns to Vasily, asking him his order.  

couronnez​:

Vasily’s glance flicks to the pill box before her on the table, surprised at how casually she was handling the situation. If he would have to take any kind of medication, he’d likely feel ashamed like no other. He admires her for it. It’s brave. It’s probably just a normal task for her but he finds himself drawn to her more and more as he thinks about it. This smile is reserved for her and her only, no one else has ever seen him this charming before. He isn’t Nikolai but he knowns his way around such situations. He grew up with him after all. That’s why he notices the waiter’s stares, too. He was looking at her like he had done too the first time he’d met. All hearts in his eyes. Jealously rises in him quietly, feeling offended that the other man would even dare to gaze at his date in such an affectionate way. His attention switches back to her as she orders, deciding to ignore the waiter for now, not wanting to get into an argument on his first time taking out someone in a long time. Seafood. She’s allergic to seafood. Just like that he knows what he is going to avoid from now on.

Vasily is just short from lashing out as he watches the waiter continue to sweet talk, glad beyond measure that she doesn’t seem to realize the vain attempts of his.

She’s here because of you.

He thinks and knows that it’s the truth. He could offer the world and if not all of it, he had Russia. That ought to be enough.

I tend to get thirsty when I’m nervous.

Vasily melts at those words. Just like that he’s gone. Smiling. His bright blue eyes afire, brimming with enthusiasm.

❝ I’ll have the same. ❞

No thank you. No please. Vasily only has eyes for Ehri and when the waiter is finally gone, he leans forward slightly to talk to her.

❝ I think I am gonna have some of that water, too. ❞

An attempt to make her feel at ease. Show her safety. Show her a bit of the vulnerability he rarely ever allows himself to wear.

❝ At least a bit of healthiness because I don’t like salads.❞

Vasily has been called a silly toddler by Nikolai several times because he’s the person to pick the greens out of his food. If there’s a remotely vegetable looking shape on it, he will not eat it. Blame his upbringing for it but his father had done it the same way.

He gifts Ehri another one of his smile’s and settles back into his chair.

Ehri has no shame regarding her illness. When you spend years thinking you were fine only for your own heart to let you down, you learn a thing or two about vulnerability. When you’re forced to slow down, be anchored to a bed and look Death in the eyes, suddenly there’s no room for playing pretend anymore. You just get to be utterly vulnerable, utterly yourself. At first, it is terrifying, paralyzing. To let people see you that way. Pale as death, struggling to even breathe. You can do nothing else than stare at the ceiling and think. Think about all the time you’ve wasted pretending your life away. About how many times you said i’m fine, thank you but never meant any of it. When you have to rely on people for your basic needs, you eventually learn to accept the help of others, to welcome it. Ehri won’t pretend anymore, not when it comes to her health. She can pretend she likes Business Management and Economics until she’s done with college, until she manages to gain some independence. This internship is her very first job since her days as a model. And she’d like to believe her impeccable grades got her this position but she’s also aware Tatiana Lantsov and her mom Keyen Kir-Taban have been talking. Talking marriage and grandkids. The other day she was supposed to have a date with Nikolai Lantsov at the Lantsov mansion. Date he canceled (thank god!) because of a family emergency, something about his cousin Rasmus falling down a staircase. And now—— Well, now, she was sitting at a table in a fine Italian restaurant on a date with Vasily Lantsov, CEO of Lantsov Corp AND Nikolai’s brother. What a weird funny universe she had just walked in. She wasn’t complaining though. 

He’ll have the same, he says. No please. No thank you. She would’ve thought it was rude of him—— if she didn’t see his blue eyes afire like that. Damn. She catches her breath. Am i doing this? I—— I haven’t done anything. I’m not even trying. He’ll take some of that water. She smiles at that, understanding that’s his way of saying he’s nervous, too. Adorable.  ❛ Maybe we should’ve order two then. ❜ She teases, feeling more at ease already. She wonders if he really likes the paccheri al forno or if he was just too wonderstruck by her just  e x i s t i n g  that he couldn’t come up with another order. She also notes that he didn’t take seafood either, like he was planning to at first. Because he wants to be safe. Because he wants ME to be safe. And she smiles at that too. Out of the blue. Because that thought alone makes her all fuzzy inside. And, just like that, she forgets she’s an intern and he’s the CEO. They’re just two nervous people on a date sharing a meal together and getting to know each other. He says he doesn’t like salads and she’s genuinely curious. ❛ Well, i cannot blame you for that. Lettuce on its own is pretty boring. There’s various types of cold dishes you might like though, if you’re willing to try. You just have to find the right fit for you. ❜ Her voice is soft and her tone not at all moralizing or patronizing. She isn’t there to turn him into a veggies lover. She just lets him know that the options are there and he can explore if he wishes to. No pressure. ❛ I’ve been on various diets in the past. Some of them I'm not really proud of…❜ She pauses, fiddling with the corner of her napkin. Being a model isn’t as glamorous as the magazines made it out to be. The industry is slowly killing its people with drug usage and insane diets and poisoning the youth with unrealistic beauty standards. She got rid of those habits though. The meal skipping thing, the eating disorder. She didn’t have the choice. With her health condition, it would’ve killed her. That’s a great wake up call there. Death. At least, for her, it was enough. You don’t want to die before your twenties. Especially if there’s a way you can avoid it. ❛ But i’ve learned from those experiences. And i’ve found that the best diet is eating what you love. One shouldn’t look at their plate and think ugh not again or ugh disgusting. I know i won’t be thinking that when i see my plate. And i won’t be feeling guilty about ALL THAT CHEESE either.❜ She giggles, toffee eyes gleaming with pure joy. 

couronnez​:

❝ Maybe we should have. ❞

He laughs, a sound that slips so very easily over his lips. It hasn’t, in a long time, he missed it. Just .. living. Being himself and unapologetically so. The food is long forgotten, a minuscule thing on an evening like this, with her sitting vis-à-vis from him. Her presence was mesmerizing. Otherworldly capturing. A moment spent in quiet, with him just taking in her sight, the beauty of her face and then -

❝I have yet to find something I truly like. But … ❞

He leans forward, conspiratorially, his smile widening so easily, it was clear he was no stranger to doing so. Mischief gleams in his eyes. A desire. He wants her to like him. To meet the TRUE Vasily Lanstov. Not the CEO of Lantsov Corporation.

❝ Perhaps, you could show me? ❞

She might, she might not. It doesn’t matter. He is not keen on finding out whether he likes salad or not - as long as it is made by her he will eat it. That’s the whole deal. Flirting and flirting shamelessly but hiding it away with an expertise previously unknown to him.

Then the conversation turns serious again. It’s about her past. Her modeling career. Vasily understands the struggles, the pain. He knows what she must have been through, starving herself to stay thin. To stay photogenic. What nonsense. Vasily thinks he has never seen a prettier woman in his life before.

❝ You shouldn’t. Absolutely not. You’re perfect … ❞

HE DID NOT. He didn’t just say that, did he? Those few words. Vasily holds her glance despite it all. Feverishly. His blue orbs filled with desire. Need. Longing.

❝ Your- … your looks I mean. Impeccable.❞

He smiles, hides it insecurity behind a layer of charm. Suddenly he wishes for nothing more but his wine. To calm his nerves. His heart is racing behind his sternum, his chest aching with the stress of it all but he doesn’t care. Cannot care. Not when he is so mesmerized by the woman sitting across from him.

❝ Anyway … may I ask … what those pills are for? ❞

That laugh. It had startled her. In the right way. It was beautiful, genuine. Nothing she’d had expected from the all famous Vasily Lantsov who’d gotten so drunk years ago he’d spilled his drink on her sister Makhi who was his date at the time. I have yet to find something I truly like, he’d said. She’d thought it was sad at first, sad that he hadn’t yet found something he truly enjoyed. But then he had leaned forward as if to share a secret with her. Perhaps, you could show me? he had said. And she had known he wasn’t just talking about salads. She’d looked down, shyly, as a smile spread across her pink lips. ❛ Perhaps i will. ❜ She had uttered, fiddling with the corner of her napkin before she’d talked about her past. 

Toffee eyes were locked with blue ones. You’re perfect. Those are dangerous words. She slightly shifted on her seat, a nervous laugh escaping her. She didn’t know what to say or how to reply to this. Honestly, she didn’t think she was perfect. And didn’t aspire to be either. Not anymore. She knew he meant it well but something still stirred inside of her. It’s a compliment, the little voice whispered. Just take it and move on. ❛ Thanks. Many say the same about you, Mister Elected Most Eligible Bachelor of Russia. ❜ She ends up saying, hoping the smile and the teasing would dissipate her discomfort. He didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Get over it!  But she can’t. Lips part again and she’s about to open up about the situation but he suddenly wonders about the pills. ❛ Oh. ❜ She says, picking up the little pill box. She’s relieved. This is something she can talk about without tiptoeing. ❛ Those are Plavix. Well, blood thinners. I take them to prevent heart diseases. I’ve had issues with my heart in the past and had surgery to fix it. ❜ She explains. She is totally open about it. No shame, no discomfort. She’s at ease. ❛ I’m okay now though. Well, i still need to be careful but with the medication i can pretty much live my life as fully as before. ❜ She smiles. A reassuring one. She wants to reassure him. Let him know that she’s alright now and won’t die on him or anything, since she knows a lot of people get scared off whenever she speaks up about it.