A "Chance" Encounter [Belarus]

[Ivan Braginsky]

The shopping plaza was mildly bustling with pairs and groups of shoppers alike, but no differently than nearly any other time, Ivan was on his own. Taking a walk among people minding their own business and using the time for himself was a way to take a break and get his mind off of working. It wasn't something he quite minded, but it was always good to immerse himself in a different sort of leisure. And, of course, there was nothing peculiar whatsoever about someone so tall and dressed in the winter-like fashion that he was without any intention of actually going shopping. Not at all.

Conversations among the people filled the atmosphere with a low murmur, meshed with the faint sound of music that drifted from a few open-door shops. It was rather contenting even if he hadn't anything in particular to do, gazing around at the various buildings and contemplating whether or not he would perhaps enter one, although he couldn't think of anything he needed. He was completely unsuspecting of any possible disruptions that could be coming in the future.

[Natalia Arlovskaya]

In recent weeks, Natalia had gotten lazy. Not that she had stopped working, or had taken up being a couch potato or anything like that. It was more that she was slacking on her hunt for her brother. Most would see that as a great improvement on her psychological state. She firmly disagreed. It only made her more determined to find him. She refused to accept failure, despite her slump. Although she felt very bad calling it a slump, since in that time she had made several dresses; and had even sold two for good prices.

But after so long of barely searching, Natalia was so shocked when she saw his head over the crowd of unimportant pedestrians. She swore she felt her heart stop, and then double. He was there in the flesh. She hadn't seen him in months since he stopped frequenting that shady liquor store across town with the cheap vodka. She theorized it had something to do with the fact that she would wait around there for him, and insist on buying him some. But that doesn't even matter, because he's right there!

Before she could think her actions through, she jumped up on to a stoop so her face was clearly visible. Still hopping slightly, hoping to get his attention, she called out, "Ivan! It's me! Brother?"

[Ivan Braginsky]

The Russian's violet eyes continued sweeping from building to building, deciding whether he'd just take his usual trip to that liquor shop - not that he was due for any more alcohol, though there was no such thing as too much anyway - or not. And just possibly, he could find someone interesting among the various people to make friends with.

There was a fair amount of stares headed in his direction that he took little notice of, taking up the thought of possibly just finding somewhere else to go; wander further throughout the city. A projected voice was then heard that put him to a halt, feeling an immediate sense of unease building up inside of him. Only hoping that it couldn't have been the voice he had always dreaded to hear nearby, a glance over his shoulder in its direction proved him wrong. He noticed her hopping and succeeding in making herself noticeable, but at least she wasn't in reaching distance.

A panicked noise left him as he quickly sprinted to the nearest escape route, anywhere, avoiding the shoppers in his way and bumping into others. He ended up in an alley between two buildings, looking rather desperately for something that could act as a barricade - there wasn't much. But, with further hope, maybe she didn't notice where he had ran to anyway, but that was only wishful thinking.

[Natalia Arlovskaya]

When she caught his attention, she smiled wider, waved larger and bounced higher. Maybe if she seemed more friendly he'd come over. Maybe they could get a cup of coffee, and talk for a while. Things must have changed since she last saw him. They had to catch up.

Oh, wait, no; he's running away. She immediately stopped moving, while that feeling of hurt welling up in her chest. Natalia supposed she was used to it, but it still stung when he turned his back on her. Wasn't family supposed to be there for each other? He was always such a good brother, why was he running from her? She never understood why he tortured her like this, but she did know she'd have to chase him. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't.

It was a quick jog with the crowd to catch up to where he was when he started fleeing. After that point, he left a clear trail of empty space and bruised pedestrians. Natalia allowed herself a quick moment to grin and shake her head. He would never be able to sneak away. She ran after him as fast as she could manage. She hadn't dressed for running today, and soon found her feet aching, but she refused to let anything that silly stop her. The 'trail' of people ended in front of a dark alley. "Brother? Are you in there?" she called out. She did not want to go in there unless absolutely necessary.

[Ivan Braginsky]

Ivan stopped in his tracks and turned around to face where he had just came from, possibly thinking that the crowd of people passing by would keep him unnoticed. But there were some lying disheveled and offended on the ground, and so that didn't work for long. He could see her sticking out among the crowd and her voice project in his direction, echoing along the walls of the alley.

His heart had picked up significantly, staring at her in the light that shined in at the opening. There was no point in staying in there the whole time, likely that the alley was a dead end, but on the other hand, he could have stayed there quietly until she wandered away...

"S-sestra," he spoke up and immediately gave himself away to her question, but his nervous mind couldn't quite think up of any other options. Telling her to go away has long been proven ineffective.

[Natalia Arlovskaya]

As soon as she heard his reply, her grin came back full force. Natalia walked into the alleyway, searching for the source of the voice. It was a very creepy place to be, she noticed. But Ivan was worth it; at least, she told herself so. Sometimes she wondered if it was useless trying to win the affections of a man who seemed to run away whenever she approached him, but she always reminded herself that they were meant to be. They had to be. Otherwise she wouldn't be skulking down this dank alleyway looking for him.

If she hadn't known any better, Natalia would have thought that Ivan was still hiding from her. Fortunately on her part, she found him just in sight of the dead end. She refused to acknowledge that its presence may have been why he gave away his location.

She ran at him, hugging him as tightly as she could around his waist. Although in reality she was not small, she always felt so tiny next to him. "Ivan! I have missed you so much!" She mumbled excitedly. "We need to catch up! How have you been?"

[Ivan Braginsky]

Naturally, he had to have chosen the dark alley that hadn't an open end to it. And while being approached in the dim light was rather unsettling in this situation already, he couldn't help but take a large step back -- it was quickly to no use, though, as the younger woman was suddenly latched onto him before he could do anything about it.

He stared down at the top of her head and caught a glimpse of those dark blue eyes, deciding not to resume standing there as if he didn't know how to react and instead lifting his hand. It rested awkwardly on the Belarusian's shoulder, his lips twitching into a faint smile and his mind only hoping she hadn't noticed the thumping of his heart against the thick material of his coat.

"Catch up?" he repeated in a higher pitched voice than he intended, letting his strange little smile grow. "I-I have missed you too, and I have been.. well." He supposed it would be best not to discuss matters concerning their affiliations in public like this, though that was not the primary thought on his mind anyway. "And yourself..?" His standing position shifted slightly, wondering and hoping they wouldn't be lingering in this one spot for much longer.

[Natalia Arlovskaya]

Content to just stand there in the warmth of her brother, Natalia had to turn her head to the side to reply, instead of pulling away as anyone else would do. "I am good, Ivan. Thank you for asking," she answered, then sighed. The Belorussian had missed her brother dearly. The intensity of her adoration hit her hard when she was finally back in his arms. The idea of leaving left an ache.

But this alleyway so creepy she just couldn't stand it. Ivan's heart was pounding so hard she could hear it through his coat, and he fidgeted. Natalia reasoned he was nervous about the dankness of their environment. He couldn't possibly be nervous about her. That was ridiculous; she wasn't scary at all.

Reluctantly, she unwound her arms from his torso. As soon as the hug ended, she latched her hand into one of his; too prolong the physical contact. She really did miss him too much to let him go so easily. She began to walk towards the exit, hoping he would follow her. She knew she wasn't strong enough to drag him very far; so she had to hope that he would walk with her. "Yes! We need to catch up. We can go for a walk around the city while you do what you came out to do and talk, can we not?"

[Ivan Braginsky]

His eyes appeared rather fret although he did well to keep his focus intently on the girl latched onto him, forcing away any further evidence to just how nervous he was. Making that obvious wouldn't make anything better. And, on the positive side, his younger sister's actions seemed much less demanding than they usually would be. "That is good to know," he said with a nod of his head. Being in the alley was certainly just as uneasy for him, most especially given their proximity; but he wasn't open with complaining about it, no matter how much he'd wished to. The little chance of being able to see anything that was happening between those two buildings and simply the fact that they were alone there together. But he would determinedly remain calm, not burst into the usual much less masculine reactions he'd find himself giving during any other encounter of theirs.

Resisting wouldn't be a good option. There was nowhere else to go. And it was true, anyway; it had been a while since the two had seen each other. Perhaps many things had changed with her. He offered yet another smile and a nod, relieved his legs were finally in motion once more, walking along while their hands were attached. Back in the light, he looked around a moment before peering back down at the platinum blonde, "Da, of course we can.. but what is it you would like to hear first?"