[Particles 1]
"All Soviet military bases have similar floor map plan. Once you know where is the officer's toilet, their secret stash of vodka is nearby."
That's what Oleg and Anatoli learned from their Red Army since 1924. The accidental finding happens for the first time; during the punishment to drain the rain puddles with dust pan. One crate of cool vodka found buried down when Anatoli throw the dust pan in annoyance, causing the weird thud on the ground... or more likely, a thick wooden plank covered with grass patches.
"The officers were being stingy to us..." Anatoli huffed as he stared at those high-quality vodka. Unlike the one that sometimes provided during dinner, or smuggled by other soldiers in the middle of night.
Oleg put his hand on his chin... and soon the smile cracking crazy. Soon infantry's desire brought them to such forbidden knowledge in later years.
Of course they don't do it everyday, or every week. They made sure to do it once in four months, during new moon (Anatoli kept the calendar and will always mark it with a cat doodle). After 11p.m, they will take two bottles of vodka, and pour its inside to the tin can, which usually for gasoline. Soon they replace the empty bottle with water, and carefully placed it again. They also tidily buried as if it's never touched by other hands. The tin can hidden in Oleg's locker, which later will be opened whenever Anatoli and Oleg wants to have one sip in secret. Should be enough for the next four months.
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[Particles 2]
After joined Alexandrov Ensemble in 1929, they continued to become roommates, in the provided communal at Tver. Thanks to the stable and better salary, both of them able to afford for music education. And as they were prodigy and graduate fast, their career rose faster than everyone. Alexander Vasilyevich appointed them as choir coordinator - helping the chorusmaster managing the voices by being the good example to sing, which followed by the other choir artists.
But soon as they knew Alexandrov Ensemble will always have schedule to perform in military bases around Soviet Union... their gears inside brain start to grinding hard.
Their dynamic becomes more lively, as both each other practice and planning their pranks. Not only about vodka-turn-into-water prank (because the visit to military bases won't be always during new moon), but also other harmless pranks. Putting "Out of Order" at officer's toilets, sticking cutouts gecko drawings with glue to the windows, slipping a fake key written "Officer Room" at the officer's lock (despite the door is unlock and the real key was on the other side of the door), and many more...
So far they never get caught. Nobody harmed... except the screaming officer's noise echoed in the corridor, as Oleg and Anatoli enjoyed the provided food in the cafeteria.
The prank tradition, of course, still happens by the time Alexandrov Ensemble transferred to Moscow. Or in exact - CSKA building. Because the repertoires around Soviet Union's military bases still planned by Alexander Vasilyevich.
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[Particle 3]
"I can see both of you are up to no good, guys," interrogated Vasily with smirk. It's such a bold claim that he made. Despite Vasily was just joined in 1932 and being close to Oleg and Anatoli for around two months.
"Oh, and what makes you think so, Dear Supreme Leader?" Oleg chuckled and teased, while Anatoli slightly concerned if Vasily was going to snitch their antics. They have heard the gossip that Vasily wasn't from ordinary civilian... but a secret spy that hired by Militsia from Kharovsk. And this time, Vasily has caught them counting the leftover cheap keys behind the CSKA building - ready to be launched for the long concert tour around Stalingrad's military bases.
"From your smirk. Unless I am just liking you in first meeting and immediately afraid that my trust too quick to built," guessed Vasily again, but his smirk is calmer now.
"Now, now... We may perform some harmless antics... But will you be a killerjoy, Vasya? Or will you promise to be a fun guy all of time?" Anatoli negotiated awkwardly. Vasily hummed.
"Deal, I can do that. Just make sure nobody harmed for real. I may be fun and jokester, too... but I have my own morality."
It might be a fictional miracle during those dangerous era, but still... it happens. Since then, such small deal lead to the good future for Vasily, too. He finally freed from his forced duty given from Kharovsk.
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[Particle 4]
Oleg and Anatoli only got caught once in 1938. Because of one female officer got out, just by the time Oleg slapped the "Out of Order" sign to the next door.
"Explain what are you doing, young men," demanded that blonde officer. Her sharp gaze pierced both of the young men, which made both of them slightly flinched.
"We are just... reminding the officer to staying humble for their high position, madame. Lots of them only have praporshchik rank and they acted as if they are a colonel," maintained Oleg with sweet smile, accompanied with Anatoli's nervous smile.
"Ah, so someone like me also need humbling too?" that blonde woman crossed her arms, "What a coincidence that you are going to do that to my office room."
Both are gulped their saliva. The blonde officer then made a deal:
"Spare the Moscow's military bases and I won't tell any soul. If I heard another rumour of geckos in someone's window, I will have a good story told to the secret police."
Oleg and Anatoli can only put down the sign, had to deal with her. Though still, Oleg pulling the last trick to her by quickly writing something, then giving that cardboard sign, "Anyway, here's for you. A souvenir that you can use whenever you need privacy."
And by them two left the corridor, that blonde woman flipped the cardboard. The CSKA building's address written there, added with Oleg's message "I like your style. Let's hangout there whenever you want."
At least, that's how Oleg met her fiancée. Very unhinged unlike Anatoli, whose his fiancée was a frequent attender for the ensemble's concert in the theatre.