The Circle Shrank

[Joukahainen]

I kiss her hand briefly, then let go.

"Okay, I haven't done this in awhile..." I haven't ever done this. "But this is how it works. You take some snow." I say, picking up some snow. "Form it into a ball. Then throw it at me."

I playfully toss the snowball at Iris, and it explodes harmlessly into powder on her shoulder.

"Like that."

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov orders a hot tea and a dessert. He is not one for sweets, but today he craves sugar for some reason or another. Maybe he is becoming more like Mischa, who consumes so much sugar that he has to stay out of the rain for fear he would melt.

He listens as Mischa and Zero speak of guns. Bassarov really never took much interest in weapons. He listens but offers nothing to the conversation, sipping his tea quietly instead.

"This tiramisu is great. Almost as good as the tiramisu you made that one time on my birthday."

Bassarov's birthday falls in February, but he never tells anyone when. He hates his birthday and the only rebel who knows the exact date and how old he really is, is Mischa.

[Iris Faust]

Iris watched and laughed when the snow hit her. Scooping up some snow, she and made a ball and throw it at Youki it hit his arm. Standing there she waited for his reaction.

[Lena]

Lena wakes up with a yawn. She sees that Lana is still asleep, so she carefully slips out of the bed. She decides to shower and changes. After discovering the water was steaming hot with a scream, she dries off and pulls on her new clothes. A pair of plain jeans and a long sleeved black shirt.

After pulling on her shoes, she walks from the room quietly, as not to wake Lana. She knew Lana didn't like to be woken up by other people either, like herself. She sees most of the others are still asleep, but notices Chai is not. Assuming she went outside, Lena walks out looking for Chai.

Not bothering to have put her hair back this morning, it blows lightly in the wind as she walks towards the woods. She brushes some of her light blonde hair behind her ear that had been blowing into her face as she calls out Chai's name. Lena knew Chai was safe, she just wanted someone to talk to. After failing in finding Chai by calling her name, she just begins to walk through the woods, enjoying the cold air and snow.

[Garret thingysure]

"Thanks." Garret pecks her on the cheek.

"Let's head to the metro and I'll try to give my opinion on the murals."

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

"I see. I'd have to say that I much prefer rifles, since I was usually in the back anyways. To get a hit is much more satisfying with a rifle than with a carbine. Especially if nobody saw me."

I smile at Valodya's somewhat arbitrary comment about dessert. "I'm glad you enjoy my cooking." I say, and order a tiramisu for myself.

"Now I do have an appreciation for carbines, which I gained when we raided a weapon depot in Siberia. It was an arms shipment from America, and that was the first time I had used an m4 for myself." I say, continuing to ramble about guns. It feels good to talk to someone about firearms, since Vossya doesn't like talking about them.

I smile.

[Linnea Korpela]

Linnea stood and smiled. "Yes lets go."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him up off the bed.
Arriving at the metro she stood in front of the murals nervous.
"So what do you think?"

[Joukahainen]

I laugh, as I roll up another snowball, and throw it back at her, this time hitting her in the chest, a little less playful to see if I can irk her into getting more involved in this snowball fight.

["Zero" Americanski]

"Hmm, that's interesting, you're the Russian and you like the M4. I'm the American and I always preferred an AK-47. I do like rifles, I've used Barretts and rail drivers, but as I said I am more used to close quarters battle."

[Garret thingysure]

"I think these murals look just great. I don't see anyting wrong with them at all. You are too self critical, Linnea." Garret says as he examines the murals.

[Iris Faust]

Iris cought his expression as she grabbed some more snow, and packed it into a ball and throw it at him, hitting him in the shoulder.

[Peter "The Owl"]

Peter rolls over, the covers on his bed a complete mess. One of his feet is stricking out from under the blankets and his head is under them. He grunts and rolls over twice more before finally throwing the covers off and sitting up. He's in a white tee-shirt and his boxers, his long hair a complete tangle, hanging over his eyes. He fumbles on the night stand and grabs his glasses, slipping them onto his face and sliding out of bed. He yawns and starts to walk out of the room when he thinks maybe he shouldn't wander around in his underwear. He walks to his bag and puts on a pair of sweatpants, then walks out and goes to the kitchen to see if he can find something for breakfast.

[Linnea Korpela]

"Really? I dunno some parts I think I was in too much of a hurry to finish some parts. It looks kinda sloppy." she folded her arms over her chest and rocked back and forth on her feet.

[Mikhael Nadyezhda (Mischa)]

"While I do like the ak47 since it's so rugged, I always thought it was too loud, and gave my position away. Firing an m4 over an ak47 is like firing a .22 over a .45. Sure, I felt like I could stop a tank with an ak47, but I prefer the 5.56x45 round over the 7.62x54. Although I feel as though I am betraying some of my roots by saying that."

I turn to Vossya and see that he is totally alienated, then turn back to Zero.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I'm alienating Valodya... Perhaps we should talk about something else? Like our food?" I say, in an unintentionally condescending manner.

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov listens and is glad that Mischa and Zero can at least talk about guns. He eats his tiramisu thoughtfully.
Those criticisms from Sayuka are subdued by the sweet dessert. Bassarov raises a brow at Mischa.

"No, why don't we talk about our favorite Russian ballet or opera instead." He replies with some acidity.

"It is fine that you two speak. I don't mind listening. Really, I might learn something new."