you could sell me on many, many versions of Ilya’s dysfunctional family in fic but I don’t personally think that ilya’s dad was physically abusive. I think he’s relentlessly critical and intensely image- and status-conscious. I think he’s authoritarian in his dealings with his family as a way of shoring up his own ego in a world where his wealth was dwindling and with it his political and professional relevance. I think he was hard on irina because her depression frightened him and embarrassed him in front of his peers and it was easier to experience and express those feelings as repulsion at her weakness, her incapacity, her many failings as a wife and mother. I think deep down he is fiercely proud of ilya’s talent and beauty and charisma, and considers him the best of his two sons by a long shot, which is why he is so much harder on him than alexei. because ilya could be someone, if only he has someone to help guard against those tendencies he inherited from his mother: the lack of discipline, the evasiveness towards his responsibilities, the inability to pull himself together and be strong under pressure. I also think that as ilya’s father gets sicker and his grip on his own cold harsh domineering persona slips he becomes sweeter and sweeter with ilya, doting on him like the beautiful little child he once was. his golden-haired boy, his pride and joy, into whom he poured all of his hopes and none of his warmth or affection or praise. and ilya can’t fucking deal so he fucks off back to boston and pays alexei to take care of him and tells himself he’s done with it, he’s done, it’s over, he’s fucking done. except he still picks up the phone.
jbbartram-illu
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