Lyova/Aleksei works [TBC]

In a perfect world

??, 1944:

"I want him to forget that we live in a place where nothing lasts."

"That's a grim way of thinking, isn't it?"

Lyova only let a grunt of disapproval escape him as he turned his attention back to the book in his hands. He knew this was stupid. Opening up to anyone was a mistake; it was especially so when it was to Michael "Booster" of all people.

Even despite the silence and glower received from Lyova, Booster continued on.

"Would Aleksei want to hear you say this? Would he be happy if he knew that all these," he motioned with his hands to the room they were in. "all these things are fake?"

The room was lavish. Well, as lavish as it could possibly be. The Vasiliev's were lucky in that Lyova's father had government connections. Furs laid about on the floor and chairs; illegal. Shows of wealth in the house were also shows of those connections being put to use. A western colored tv? They had it. An audio system, though rarely used, and for good reason - they also had. The Vasiliev's even had a washing machine! Of course, all of this was kept under wraps. It was all merely for personal use. So then, that led full circle back to Michael's point. What was the use of all these so coveted material possessions?

It only took the mention of his things being 'fake' to get a rise out of Lyova.
A snarl escaped him and, with teeth bared, he stood to face Michael.

"Fake?" his claws willingly unsheathed and dug into the book he held onto. It was a gift from Aleksei. This flickering moment's thought only dug them in more.

It was better than tearing into Michael's face.

"What's fake is this whole society we live in! Anywhere that is not in here is FAKE." he could feel his fur start to bristle and his voice begin to rise. "Pieces of shit like Gorky want us dead. All we do every day is live a lie!"

Lyova, in his seething rage, saw through the red to the time when he and Aleksei had a similar talk. Promises made of a brighter future, the two of them together; safe, able to love each other freely.

It was all a lie.

He knew it deep down, when he held Aleksei in his arms at night. When he let his mind wander; allowed himself to sink into the never ending blackness.
The dread overtook him in those moments. He would succumb to the nothingness, growing number and number. The dread gave way to despair and soon, he felt the fangs of hopelessness sinking into his neck. Even the brightest star outside their window was snuffed out by the overwhelming dark.

While Lyova thought back to the similar talk he'd had with Aleksei, and visited the gloom of his hidden night adventures, Michael took the opportunity to take a step back.

He enjoyed his face and, by the way the book in Lyova's paw was being treated, he very well knew he could be next.

"Leva, listen. I didn't mean to say your things are, uh, actually fake. I meant, are you really happy living like this? You try to fill your and Aleksei's life full of material things. I know Aleksei," he stopped that sentence as the leopard in front of him snapped back to reality. Booster held his hands up in front of his chest quickly as his mind raced to fix the previous thought. "I mean! We both know him! But then, that just means we both know how he is. We both know that he isn't interested in this," he motioned around the room, "Extravagance."

Lyova clenched his free hand into a fist; letting his claws dig into his palm. Of course he knew this. He wasn't stupid. In fact, he was sure that even Aleksei had already caught on that this was all a cover up.

How else was he supposed to calm himself? To keep himself from turning on his own homeland? It was all he could do to 

[TBC]