Meet The Author!

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Pose reference from "Whole House Mad meme", except I don't use the meme word "Damn bro you got the whole house laughing" inside. I draw them wearing post-1945 uniform, as I want to see the alternate universe if they are still alive after 1945, or the alternate universe where they are all reuniting after death.

I also feel like that's how my 12 OCs react if they see the one who wrote the entire tragedies 😅

In other words, "Dark Tears in Red Music" blog finally comes to the end. For those who follow my journey since February/March (my first time to publish the blog), I thank you all and hope you enjoying the stories :)

And for the newcomers, feel free to visit! The main stories has finished, so there is a lot of time to explore... There might be side stories added later, but I cannot promise would be frequent like in the past.

P.S: Don't worry, I am still continue making fanmade MVs, shitpost and other worldbuilding story. And I open the comment section here, so feel free to ask related to worldbuilding :)

Some Alternate Universes That Make Me Giggle

Author Notes: This section may be updated sometimes whenever I find any incorrect quotes sounds good for my OCs lol.

AU Pretend we worked in a hospital but none of us are medically trained

Vasily: "Here comes the anesthesia!" (lift a steel chair)
Anatoli: "Hey Anton, take my photo! The light behind me looking good!" (Pose in front of x-ray light)
Oleg: "A schizophrenic patient asked me to help fighting their demons. Thankfully I am black belted so here we go."
Dmitry: "Ok so I have writing the tutorial of how to heart transplant. Sorry, it's my first time..."
Stepan: (Playing dead in the morgue to scare everyone who try to enter)
Maxim: "Don't forget to shake the medicine bottle syrup before consuming. And do it like this!" (starts to twerk while holding the medicine bottle)
Andrei: "Guys, I can't read this next tutorial that Dima wrote. What should we do next after taking out the aorta???"
Semyon: "Internal bleeding, nurse? I thought that's how supposed to be?"
Ivan: "Whoa, you have cancer? That's good! I have Virgo!"
Vadim: "Their heart rate is down!" (taking out tequila from stash)
Alexei/Vitaly: "Hey I just got your test result, sir. Congrats, your results are all positive!" (yes, both will answer the same)
Fyodor: "Huh? Patient's temperature suddenly dropping? Move outta my way." (bringing a large bowl of boiling water)

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P.S: Don't tell Elena Ostrucheskaya

To Be Or Not To Be Conscripted

(Taken from my 2013 Archive. Originally, the story was about Alexandrov Ensemble artists are getting conscripted in Belarus just for the drama. But I decided to change and edited it as normal concert tour)

[Particle 1]

[January 1936]

After hours of composing for the choir, Alexandrov rose from the piano bench upon seeing the clock hands pointing to twelve. "Alright, let's take a break for lunch. See you later!"

Before the choir members could ask a single question, Alexandrov smiled in farewell and left the room, carrying his yellow folder. Instinctively, they all shrugged in unison before filing out of the rehearsal room.

Messy Sketches and Drawing Part 4

These are the rest of messy sketches and drawings that I think it needed to be explained or addressed.

Because it's mostly clashed with the canon story I wrote in here.

Religion

I know religion usually the most absent thing whenever the story revolves in Soviet Union. But when remembering Alexandrov family are devoted Orthodox who has to hid their belief forever, I think religion is still worth to be explored among my OCs. Just as reminder that each people has their own religious (or non-religious) journey... but I'm not planning to make it as full personality since they still live in Soviet Union. Therefore, the list below was only based on my 2013 imagination that transliterated.

Fatty

Oleg: "Look, that fatty fuck being bossy to us again"

Vasily: "Olya, you are fat too"

Oleg: "But Boris and Vladimir shall look lean as conductor. They are the heir of the ensemble!"

Semyon: "Correct! We can get fat, but we will have some shame because our conductor trying to keep image. and then we will make it work to get slim. but they get fat instead. I doubt everyone will be alive long with such condition. Losing legs, heart attack, broken bones..."

Stepan+Anatoli: "BRUH IT MEANS YOU WILL TOO"

Raindrops

[Autumn 1937]

The raindrops are pouring down heavily tonight. The lamps inside CSKA building slightly flickering due to unstable electrical wave. Most of Alexandrov Ensemble artists stayed in the building even after the work hours end - as they don't bring umbrella from home. In one of the rooms of this vast building has a large window, which showing the ferocious thunder and the rain barging down the glass. But it seems that doesn't scare five artists who sat nearby in circles.

Water Turns Into Blood

[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.

CSKA Receptionist's Guide in 1930s

1. Who can go out in the middle of work without need permission slip or ID card?

A: Ivan, Dmitry and/or Fyodor.

2. Who must need permission slip for going out in the middle of work but no need ID card?

A: Stepan, Vadim and/or Alexei

3. Who must need permission slip for going out in the middle of work, and had to leave their ID card at receptionist?

A: Vasily, Oleg, Semyon, Anatoli, Maxim, Andrei.

4. In case #1 go with #2 or #3, it means #1 must also need permission slip (but no ID card). 

5. Please pay attention if suddenly #1 and #2 went alone but their satchel looked larger. It could be #3's belongings are there and they are try exiting through back door. Call the guards to check there.

Languages

Back when first time writing in 2013, I imagine what languages that my OCs can speak in real life. Of course in the story, it will be fully written in English. I am not a polyglot, hehe.

Dmitry Petronov - Russian

Alexei Mikhailov / Vitaly Bodenko - Russian, Ukrainian

Vadim Oktyuchev - Russian, German

Vasily Nandev - Russian

Fyodor Rokossovsky - Russian, English

Oleg Sepnenko - Russian, Ukrainian

Anatoli Cheyko - Russian, Belarussian

Semyon Isayev - Russian, German, Polish, French

Andrei Fatanov - Russian

Stepan Tabanin - Russian, Sakha-Tyla

Ivan Koshchin - Russian

Maxim Laruskiy - Russian

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Additional Notes:

1. Fyodor speaks English because he reads a lot of English book too. Usually from the thrift store or black market store, where he can get old worn out book that nobody looks for. His coping mechanism when smoking is not allowed... is by buying all kind of newspapers available and read nonstop. To make himself busy and invisible from his family (unless he has to shield his brothers).

2. Semyon speaks 4 languages because... he's been living for hundred years and travel a lot as a nobleman with magic power. If someone had long lifespan, wealth and magic but cannot even speak more than native language, it's... pathetic. Also Semyon mostly use that language to blend better with locals and get lovers in the past (before settled in 1919 with Veronika and become widower in 1928)

3. The letters between Stepan and his family members are always written in Sakha-Tyla, and it was the only thing that makes him remember his roots.

4. Vadim speaks German because his family used to speak German as second language. Despite he was neglected and abused by his father, he still demanded to learn German just like the other siblings. He never used it in his adult life and ensemble life, until only in 1943 when meeting Wilhelm.

5. Anatoli also speaks Belarussian because his fiancée was a Belarussian.

Unfair Grief

"Why do you stayed alive, yet he didn't?"

The question struck Anatoli when he still hugging his red haired fiancée at train station. But the words do not come from her. It was from a blond woman who stood before them two.

"I... don't know..." answered Anatoli as he gripped his fiancée's back.

Oleg's fiancée narrowed her eyes, still continued to berate, "You could have saved him! Bring him quickly to the medic! I bet you are just coward who just standing and watch him died!"

Interview

"Why were you not stepping up as soloist?"

DMITRY

Dmitry: "Because... I'm already content. Singing in the middle row, with friends between my shoulders. I can see other people instead just at audience. And I don't want to sing alone. It feels intimidating when I sing alone while my friends behind me."

Interviewer: "But the fame, the salary, and better connection!"

Dmitry: "As long the flour and yeast price not skyrocketing, I am content. As long I can still send money to Stalingrad, I am content."

Interviewer: "What, you have family?"

Dmitry: "...Just a neighbor who used to caring me while my mom working."

Interviewer: (jot down the notes)

VASILY

Vasily: "Because I heard there's a rule about reduce smoking and drinking habit to maintain good voice. I am not going to bent by such rules!"

Interviewer: "But soloist Georgy Vinogradov was popular as alcoholic wine drinker and heavy smoker."

Vasily: "BUT HE IS HANDSOME AND TALL LIKE ELF. I AM SHORTY BALD WITH EYEBAGS!!"

Interviewer: "Okay calm down! Yeah fair enough."

OLEG

Oleg: "I'm already a tenor coordinator. It's already multitasking as chorist too while maintaining my colleagues."

Interviewer: "Well, you can... pass your role to someone else, right?"

Oleg: "My colleagues trusted me more. I am crowd controller and mediator for every conflict among chorists."

Interviewer: "But I got information from Alexander Vasilyevich, you were kept thrown out of the bus because your pranks towards your peers?"

Oleg: "It's their love language. Because of me, they are staying in harmony without hostility. And so, they thanked me by make sure I don't leave them for a such isolating position."

Interviewer: "What."

ANATOLI

Anatoli: "Well, I would love to... but the position already taken by better singers than me. And I don't mad because they do talented! As example... Razumovsky, Nikitin, Laut, Vinogradov, Tverdokhlebov, Verkhulevsky, Kuznetsov, Babayev, Pankov, Lyagin, Shilov, Tolstov, Glazov, Ustinov, Fedorov, Bycheev...."

Interview: (slowly tune down the mic and stepped away)

FYODOR

Fyodor: "I don't need more unnecessary pressure from too much people, I guess."

Interviewer: "But the fame, the salary, and better connection! Moreover you have same surname like a military figure, Konstantin Rokossovsky!"

Fyodor: "Fun fact: tenor soloist Tverdokhlebov literally caught by NKVD three times and sent to Siberia, and somehow he always managed to escape, come back to the ensemble, and finally spared just because Commissars finds it funny."

Interviewer: "What—"

Fyodor: "Another fun fact: our Maestro's subordinate Shulman who usually managing the venues, were caught and kept in Siberia for years. Cannot escape until now."

Interviewer: "That's not connected at all—"

Fyodor: "It does. Having popular surname will make my life harder if I become too popular. So no thank you." (leaves the room)

Interviewer: (Speechless)

Longest Concert Ever

Alexandrov Ensemble used to perform concert tour around Far Eastern and Mongolia from 3 May until 26 September 1938. It was claimed to be the longest concert tour they've ever done in lifetime.

And so when looking at the calendar... it's interesting that it means some artists' birthdays are celebrated during the tour.

Tickle

 [1933]

Oleg: "Hello, I'm Oleg Sepnenko. Feel free to call me Olya immediately. So you are the new guy from Stalingrad?" 😏 (shake hand with Dmitry)

Dmitry: "Well, actually from Stavropol, but I moved to Stalingrad" 😅 (shyly shake hand with Oleg)

Messy Sketches and Drawing Part 3

These are messy sketches and prototype drawings related to minor characters (and some of 4 main characters). I know the proportions and anatomy looked wrong, so does the lore is clashed with the one I have published. After all, these drawings are the reason why the characters stayed exist.

Dynamics

 

Condolence

 [July 1946]

The funeral of Alexander Vasilyevich has ended. But some of ensemble artists stayed outside of the cemetery. To calming themselves down. To support each other through hugs. To talk whatever needed to be pour out for today.

Dom

 Page 1

  Box1: Civilians waiting on the station

  Box2: Empty railway

  Box3: A train comes by on that empty railway

  Box4: Soldiers and their beloved hugged. Some girls or mothers crying in grief for not founding their beloved.

Don't Mess It Up...

Panel 1: Anton holding camera and said "Ready, lads?". behind him is Boris glaring  with dark aura

Panel 2: Anatoli trembling while trying to smile properly. Dmitry who embraced Anatoli turned his head and asked "Tolya, are you sick? You trembled so bad."

Anatoli shook his head, "N n no. I am fresh as daisy, Dima!" as there is click noise heard from camera

Khor

Choir Rehearsal Room, 1935

The entire choir artists are chilling inside the room, including Dmitry, Vasily, Oleg, Anatoli who read newspaper that Fyodor held.

The door opened. Vasily shushed everyone "Comrade Alexandrov is here!". Fyodor fold the newspaper calmly.

Alexandrov entered the room and placed his notebook on music stand.