Etot Mir Priduman Ne Mnoi (Open Log)

[dr_eldarov]

WHO: Anatoly Eldarov + anyone who happens by!
WHERE: Beach near Heropa + downtown De Chima
WHEN: Early August
WHAT: Anatoly tries to master his powers, integrate into modern life and figure himself out.
WARNINGS: None. Will update as needed.

A. Beach, around five in the morning

[Anatoly isn't 'old' by the standards of this world. He knows he's in remarkably good shape for someone his age by his world's standards. But that doesn't mean he has the same physical stamina and control of his abilities other imPorts have. The former, he can take care of by working out, which has been a hellish process but something he's made some progress on. His powers, on the other hand, or more accurately one of them, has been totally unused since his arrival. He's not sure if there's really a 'safe' place to practice with electricity, but the beach before dawn is at least abandoned enough he won't draw a crowd and risk harming anyone. He comes dressed down in a pair of black jeans, a white T-shirt and a black jacket that's mostly there because he feels underdressed otherwise. An unassuming figure on the beach, he spends a few minutes generating useless sparks of electricity from his fingertips before sighing, frustrated with himself. He's never going to get anywhere without taking a leap into the deep end of his powers.

He tries various motions, clearly without much idea of what he's doing, and electricity arcs through the air, but it's not well-aimed, it varies wildly in how visible and strong it is, and he grits his teeth in visible frustration. A keen-eyed observer might notice it seems like the motions themselves are well-practiced, from some other part of his life perhaps, almost dance-like in their fluidity. The more he focuses, the less stray shocks spark off in random directions, but it's clear he's not about to win any awards for accuracy anytime soon. Still, he keeps at it, adjusting his stance and working on pulling the electricity back as well as firing it forward.]

B. Beach, somewhere around ten in the morning

[Some men know their limits. Some don't. Some do and ignore them. As Anatoly's entire family would attest to, he has always fallen into the third category. He had a feeling about an hour in that he needed to call it a quits, and he ignored it. Now he's paying for that, sitting in the cool shade under the docks, visibly exhausted. He'd get up and go home if that didn't sound like too much of a walk right now. His jacket is discarded nearby, his hair is somewhat mussed, and he looks about as unaccomplished as he feels. Everything aches and he hasn't made enough progress he thinks he could be of any help to someone in the event of an emergency. This hasn't been a waste of his day off, but it hasn't been as productive as he hoped it would be. Sifting sand through his hands, he frowns down at it thoughtfully, clearly a million miles away if the look in his eyes is anything to go by.]

'I listen to the earth', she said, [he mutters, thinking, churning that over in his head, silver-grey eyes cloudy.] And how exactly am I supposed to listen to electricity? Maybe I need a thunderstorm...

C. Downtown De Chima, various shops, evening

[It's never really a quiet evening in De Chima, but it never hit the levels of the city back home, either. Anatoly was only mildly out of place these days as he made his way through the crowds, destination firmly marked in his head. City street names and the like are not hard to navigate given streets were renamed throughout his old city thrice in his lifetime. If he spots anyone he knows, he won't mind stopping and talking to them, but for the most part, here as with home, his idea of a good weekend evening was some tea and a book, maybe a movie if he was feeling particularly in need of a pick me up. Tonight he just needed to visit the bookstore, the library and the disturbingly named Teavanamaste, which was apparently the best place to pick up tea according to locals. If each place, he sort of sticks out whenever he opens his mouth and the Russian accent draws suspicious eyes, but he's old enough not to care and confused enough by the overwhelming number of books and oddly-named teas that he doesn't notice.

Though he tries to be polite to the employees, he reads two pages of Fifty Shades Of Grey before recoiling and all but throwing it on the bookshelf at the bookstore, possibly permanently traumatized. At the library, he frustrates librarians much older than him with his total lack of understanding how to look up a book on the computer. And at Teavanamaste, he stares, dumbfounded, at a tea called 'Antique Indigo Rhaspody', torn between getting some out of curiosity or getting some 'Quartz Toffee Mariachi'.

If anyone needs help navigating the world, it is a man confronted by bad literature and bad tea in the same day.]

Comments

b

[h2no]

[you know the best way to get taken out of your thoughtful trance? a gyarados slithering up on the beach. it grumbles slightly as it wiggles around, trying to carve a nice little bed in the sand for itself.

archie appears a few moments later, holding a pair of flip flops and with a large pair of goggles on his forehead. he doesn't notice anatoly just yet, but stands back to watch gyarados, laughing as it flops around.]

Hey, c'mon, there's kids around! [gyarados grumbles again.] Yeah, yeah, I know. The sand's rough here- but ya trainer would strangle me if I spoilt ya too much!

[dr_eldarov]

[Anatoly has a few seconds of dumbfounded silence. Then, without even the barest indication he is remotely joking:] I do not have even the slightest clue what that is but that is the cutest Pokemon I have seen so far. And so help me, if you yell at it I will fight you.

[Look at it wriggle! Look at it flop! So cute!]

[h2no]

Dos... [grumbles the giant serpent. archie just laughs, waving at anatoly as he hops up onto the tail and flops down.]

I could never yell at Gyarados... unless it was far away. What're you doin' here?

[dr_eldarov]

At the moment? Trying to regain enough strength to go grab something to eat. Or get some water, I suppose. [Both of which require walking, which he's fairly sure he can do, he's just not sure how long he could do it, at the moment. He really overdid it.

He glances at Archie, then at Gyarados.] I suppose that's one of Niko's Pokemon? It looks like the sea serpents people back home believed lived in the sea by Arkhangelsk.

[h2no]

Blue. Dunno if you know the guy-- we swap Pokémon when we work. I take Gyarados divin' with me so it gets exercise and he takes Mightyena along with him and Arcanine to the animal centre.

[he drops a hand down, rubbing one of gyarados's fins. it rumbles appreciatively.]

What were ya doin'? I can carry you if you want... serious offer.

c

[knaval]

[need help navigating the world? too bad riptide is an alien who understands less than anatoly!

riptide is in the library, with a headache just from being around so many books. he catches sight of anatoly throwing the book back on the shelf and looks up from his own book.]

Jeez, what did that thing do to you? Was it super boring?

[dr_eldarov]

I am a doctor. Biology does not work that way, [he says, with the tone of voice that implies this is a wholly justifiable reason to chuck a book away.] That would have been out of date in the 1890's!

[knaval]

Right...

[riptide squints.]

...And what year is it now?

[dr_eldarov]

2017. [Anatoly glances at him, curiously.] Are you... from another period of time, sir? [Someone else temporally displaced = friendship, in his experience.]

[knaval]

I guess... technically? I'm not from this planet and my race's calendar is different.

...Though I'm not 100% on the year there, either. Post war redux and all that.

A

[fourlevels]

[ There is another Russian out and about at ass-early o'clock this morning, this one taking his morning run before his training workout along the beach for the view while staying on the sidewalk since running on sand tires you out faster. The large brown poodle that's running with him is darting back and forth between the sidewalk and the sand though, barking occasionally at his master in doggy glee.

It's hard to miss the power display especially before sunrise, and Viktor's eyes are naturally drawn towards it as he slows to a jog and eventually a walk to stare. It's also easy for him to spot the stranger's movements as he practices, Viktor's years of dance- and skate-related training making it easy to spot. It's that fluidity and grace more than the power display that has him turning his feet towards the stranger on the beach. He's careful in his approach though, not wanting to startle the man and accidentally get zapped, waiting until there's a pause before speaking up. ]

Wow! That's quite the show you're giving!

[ He grinning at the man as he approaches, his Russian accent obvious as he wipes the sweat from under his bangs. He's also dressed down in his workout clothes, a simple gray v-neck shirt that's obviously wet with both sweat and Florida humidity, small black running shorts, and well-worn trainers on his feet. The lack of modest clothing also shows off just how fit the man is; those thighs look they could probably crush a man's skull. ]

[dr_eldarov]

[Anatoly specifically chose this time because it promised a lack of people, but in retrospect he supposes someone showing up was inevitable. Due to the fact he's fairly certain his powers could be lethal if misdirected, his attention is entirely focused on them, on keeping the electricity exactly where he wants it, on generating only a certain amount of it. It's surprisingly physically exhausting, even if the movements make it somewhat easier, and when he stops, he has to catch his breath before he can answer.

He identifies that Russian accent as being non-Siberian; Western Russian, probably. Anatoly has never had an ear for such things and quite frankly at his age he's unlikely to develop one now. But he does appreciate that at least for once someone won't be side-eyeing him for his nationality.]

It isn't meant to be a show, but thank you nonetheless. I apologize for interrupting your run.

[Should Anatoly take up running? He's fairly certain his body would resent him for it, but clearly he also needs the exercise if his power is this energy intensive.]

[fourlevels]

[ Far from side-eyeing him, Viktor actually brightens at hearing his accent as well, coming closer to the man. ]

Ah, are you Russian as well? It's rare to find another comrade here.

[dr_eldarov]

[The word 'comrade' was ever so slightly before Anatoly's time - temporal displacement, and all that - but he brightens likewise at the younger man's enthusiasm.]

I am. Western Siberian, actually. I'm from Novosibirsk, if that name means anything to you. And you are right; so far, you're the only Russian I have seen here besides myself. Whereabouts in Russia are you from?

[fourlevels]

I live in Saint Petersburg. Or I did, rather, before coming here. And I've heard of Novosibirsk, though I haven't been there myself; I don't really go west of Moscow unless it's for a competition or some sponsor event I'm needed at. I've heard the Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is impressive though!

[ The large poodle that was following Viktor chooses the moment to rejoin her master, panting and wagging her tail happily as she steps in close to Anatoly to sniff out the new person. Viktor chuckles at the sight, gently calling her back to his side. ]

And speaking of other Russians for you to meet, this is Makkachin! There's two other Russians that I know of here, Yuri who's from my world, and Tara. There's also a Kazakh from our world as well, Otabek. Actually, the imPort Ambassador of Nonah is technically Russian, though he's a Space Russian.

c

[dendarii]

[ Miles spends less time in De Chima nowadays, given his post in Nonah, but the Residence is still up in the hills, as is his horse, and after a visit to both Miles is in the mood for some tea. So here he is with his own sample cup, mulling over blend names that seem equally baffling to him.

Seeing (and hearing) Eldarov's confusion makes him brighten, though. Both out of commiseration as well as the accent, clear as day. So Miles turns towards him from where he's leaning his elbows against the counter, regarding the other man curiously. He is a short fellow, barely 4'9", with a curve to his neck and back that indicates a lifetime of medical issues. He's wearing just jeans and a t-shirt, but it's clear they've been specially tailored to fit him. One sleeve shows only a stump, pink and newly healed.

Anyway, he lifts his remaining hand in greeting, and speaks in oddly accented (but otherwise perfectly fluent Russian): ]

Do you think it would be rude to just ask for some goddamn earl gray?

[dr_eldarov]

[In theory, tea was a hard thing to mess up for a Russian; they'd all had some bad local or homemade blends, and everyone had kvass at some point. But hard did not mean impossible, and he has never been so lost on what these teas even are. He recognizes a word here or there as ingredients or flavors, but a lot of it just seems like utter nonsense.

Anatoly glances over at him curiously in return. As a doctor, the lack of a hand is noted but is barely worth a blink. His own Russian is Siberian accented, sharp, clear word endings and softened a's and o's.]

Probably. But they do not seem to have a high opinion of Russians to begin with, so I doubt they would be surprised or even notice, honestly.

[dendarii]

[ Lack of an arm, more like; it's completely gone from the shoulder down. But healed well enough, and not actively paining him. He's ignoring it, personally, except when he goes to get something and forgets he only has one hand.

Miles' own accent is strange. He doesn't really sound like he's from anywhere in Russia (or a Russian-speaking country) that Eldarov's ever heard of - which is quite true. Miles is Barrayaran, and his version of the Russian language has drifted significantly in the millennium between this era and Miles' own. (Technically, he should be completely unintelligible, but. This is more fun.)

He snorts faintly at that statement. Not arguing it in the slightest. ]

Ah, I know the feeling. I have to use my Betan accent if I don't want to get stared at. More than usual, anyway.

[dr_eldarov]

[Sadly, after working in a veteran's hospital after WWII, he has seen worse.

The accent is of no concern to him. Anatoly is, like most people with the surname Eldarov, of Azeri descent, and he served alongside Kazakh, Tartar and Bashkir soldiers in the First World War. At this point, so long as he can understand someone, that's all that matters. Besides, they're in this together, being imPorts of the Russian variety in a strange land.]

My wife had mastered a French accent just to mess with people. I regret not having picked that up myself, now. Ah, well. Live and learn, I suppose. I could try an Azeri accent, but I doubt if people here know the difference between any Slavic groups here.

[dendarii]

[ Miles gladly seeks out anyone who seems even remotely Russian - solidarity, after all. Like now. He's a polyglot, himself, but Barrayar counts Russia as its first and foremost parent, with smatterings of other influences along the way. ]

I admit I would be one of them. It's been about a thousand years since my people left Earth, so I only know the broad strokes.

a

[jojoceanman]

[Bright and early is how Jotaro starts... well rather ends his days. He works night shift and, unless he's feeling extremely exhausted, comes out to the beach to do research. Though he's not employed as a marine biologist, it is still his chosen field and what he enjoys doing. Usually the beach is deserted and so the sight of someone on the beach practicing their power is a surprise. Not the bad kind, as he takes some time to watch from a distance the way Anatoly motions and releases the sparks.

Eventually he'll approach, coming from the side so as not to cause too much surprise. He doesn't like people sneaking up on him, so he extends that much to anyone he isn't trying to spook.]

You're doing well. [He says as he comes up, one hand in pocket and the other resting on his bag strap.] I didn't expect to see anyone so early here.

[dr_eldarov]

[The sparks sometimes form arcs, sometimes even an actual flowing, visible current, but it's clear he's not good at getting the latter results just yet. Brow furrowed, concentration peaked, he grits his teeth and tries to feel the electricity without the distractions of people, crowds or the worry of accidentally electrocuting someone or something nearby. Still, even with the crisp morning air helping his focus and the lack of other things to catch his eye, he can't keep more than a few visible crackling streaks of electricity emerge one after the other before it's back to sparks.

He's stopping to take a breather - somehow, this is tiring, for reasons he doesn't understand - when Jotaro approaches. Anatoly smiles wryly at the comment.]

Thank you. And that was my thinking, that perhaps this early I would not disrupt anyone's usual routine here.

[jojoceanman]

You're better off coming here now, before the crowds burst in for the day. [The beach is quiet and silent at this time of day, and especially now in the summertime when Heropa is a more popular location to come by. He can't stand to be in this area when the mix of locals and tourists emerge, but he generally has a distaste for crowds.] I suppose you must be practicing your powers.

[dr_eldarov]

Well, a more accurate descriptor might have been that I was attempting to practice with my powers. I have not done so before, and my success so far seems to be limited. [He flexes his hands, which still feel tingly, as if the electricity is lingering there, waiting. The feeling is both unpleasant and unnatural.]

[jojoceanman]

They're new to you then. [It isn't uncommon, from what he has observed, for imPorts to come in with no power previously. How those powers manifest and why is curious to him. Then again, he's used to speculating on these things, coming from a world where some people do have fantastical powers.] What is your... technique, to put it one way? I can offer you some advice.