Meet The Author!

***
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 :)

Adieu To The Past

EPILOGUE

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)

****

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.

The Scandal

[Paris, Late July 1937]

On that bustling festival night, Semyon was seen walking with Ivan. Although they were just strolling, the two of them frequently remarked on how the Grand Prix festival was even more spectacular than the October Revolution festival. They briefly stopped at a pastry stall to watch fresh pastries and cream puffs coming out of the oven, then moved on to a clothing boutique where Maxim, Andrei, and Stepan were trying on colorful shirts. They exchanged a quick wave before continuing their walk around the festival grounds. After two hours of walking, Ivan began yawning frequently.

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.

Wanted, Arrested

Just imagining if NKVD are bored enough and wants to capture my OCs.

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.

Skipping Breakfast

 

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.

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.

Alexei's First Meeting With Dmitry

[1934]

The clock had now struck eight on the wall clock in the main room. It was filled with furnishings such as a bed, sofa, large table, and other items. It was as if the bedroom, study, and living room had been rolled into one. Not to mention several shirts were scattered on the floor of the main room, seemingly recently ransacked. Not far from the shirts, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard, along with a voice saying, "Why, why?"

Dyspepsia

07.00

The chirping birds waking up Stepan from his sleep. He slowly tidied his bed, which has three pillows stacked. Yes, Stepan mostly slept with sitting position than totally lying down all of this time. However, instead he made breakfast or anything... he just put the platter on the gramophone next to the bed, and played the song he liked. Then he only filled his stomach with glass of water, then relaxing on his bed again while staring at the ceiling or reading the yesterday's newspaper... completely lost in thoughts once again.

Coming Home

[May 1945]

The news about war ended finally heard through Stepan's ears, as one ensemble member announced while reading Fyodor's gripped newspaper. That blond Yakutian's body slumped to the wall, together with Group 4 who still rehearsing under the shelter. He hugged Ivan and Fyodor too when everyone start to feel relieved and can get up from the floor again.

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

=====

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.

Shards of Shame

[Moscow, October 1941]

Another piece of bread shoved onto Stepan's mouth, then he swallow it forcefully. The burning sensation on his throat and stomach dampened for a while. So, Stepan able to crouch fast around the ruined building, making sure he can find any enemy to kill before his stomach acted up again.

It took around fifteen minutes until he found one who wandered alone. But Stepan was too late to load his gun, as that Wehrmacht soldier already lunged on him with knife. Stepan managed to dodged and pick his knife. They fought with brute force, although it doesn't take too long because once again Stepan's insides are acting up again. Stepan quickly subdued and cornered at the wall by the wicked Wehrmacht soldier.

The sudden slam on that wall made Stepan's stomach burning hotter. He can feel his insides turning violent more than usual. He know what will comes afterwards... and can't hold it anymore. The burning and nausea on his body become stronger than his fear that the knife almost touching his forehead.

"HOOEEEKKKK!!!"

The hot, yellowish liquid thrown out of Stepan's mouth... and instantly landed to the enemy's face. That enemy startled until dropping the knife, screaming and gagging from such disgusting projectile. And with such golden chance, Stepan took his knife again and finished that Wehrmacht soldier's life.

Then Stepan look at the corpse thoroughly with flabbergasted face. "The acid saved me for the first time," he whispered to himself. But this makes him more scared and mortified. He doesn't want to be known by his peers as vomit thrower, even though that saved him from peril. Thus, Stepan quickly scoop the shards of glass from that ruined building and pour it onto the dead body's face. Then he left that building, continued to seek another empty place to chew another piece of bread.

At least this will cover such embarrassing detail about that enemy's death... and about himself.

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.

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