Searching in Kharovsk

[November 1938]

"Ah, Narcotics Nandev? You're still alive!" shouted a black-haired Militiaman, who is on duty in the archives room.

"Of course! You think I'm dead just because I haven't seen any cases?"

"I thought so, actually. What do you need from me?"

"I want to see the arrest files for prisoners who ended up in the mental hospital."

"Why do you want to see them?"

"Just to analyse them. Also, to check for any developments on other criminal files."

"Ah, but the mental hospital's files are the least updated... You know, since the Vozhd tightened arrest regulations, more people have been sent directly to the Gulag than to the mental hospital. Although they have to get permission to test them first..."

"I know that. But is it okay if I take a look?"

"Nu, of course."

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.

Being Creepy

 

Taken from fancomic of Touhou that describing Seiga-Yoshika dynamic.

Parlous Tango

[September 1937]

"I can't risk to lose you, Dyusha. That tenor soloist and the venue manager has captured randomly. Living together and seen as a normal roommate would be safer than being watched alone by the authority," he said, as he massaged Andrei's wrist on the tram... that slowly creeped to the back arm.

Andrei muttered, "I think so, too..."

"Sweet, I will work on the documents before moving in. You don't need to help me, I can do it alone. Just wait and prepare the second bed, okay?"

"Hmph..."

A large gulp swallowed from both of their throats. Andrei then leaning to Maxim's stiff shoulder, inhaling the faint scent that he always liked.

Accompanying Spirits

[November 1952]

"I don't believe you, doctor," Dmitry said with a troubled expression. Meanwhile, the old man in the white coat before him could only frown.

"Feel free to disbelieve me, Mr. Petronov. But that's the lab's diagnosis, along with my advice."

"Isn't there another way? At least something that can keep me going until I retire?"

"Unfortunately, no. Resigning is the only option."

Now Dmitry left the hospital gloomily. He hadn't suspected, let alone believed, that the cough he'd been experiencing for the past year was anything but ordinary. Until two days ago, while rehearsing, he coughed violently, coughing up a little blood, before collapsing from shortness of breath. He only woke up a few hours later, realizing he was in the hospital with his colleague. Sputum and blood samples were taken for testing, and Dmitry returned to his apartment after his colleague informed him that he had been on sick leave until the test results came back. And today was the day of the test results, and the results made Dmitry realize that the illness his mother had suffered from had now affected him.

The envelope he held contained the test results and a doctor's recommendation that Dmitry should withdraw to undergo intensive care. He had no choice but to go to the place where the envelope was to be delivered to the leader of the Alexandrov Ensemble, Boris Alexandrov.