𝕄. 𝕂𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕒

𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦

[milakorshunova]

Gideon.

Despite enduring the presence of her husband at her side, Mila found herself enjoying the event and the cause it supported. When dinner finally concluded she didn’t make to leave Konstantin right away, standing at his side and make pleasantries for appearances sake though more focused on cumulating bits of conversation that might be relevant in the future. Finally, she declared she was going to turn her attention to fulfilling the evenings obligations and find her campaign for the egg hunt. Running into Gideon moments later however was not ideal. Konstantin had inquired about her prior connections to the Rutherfords on New Years, and she knew whether she provided any response or not he’d look into it himself. Konstantin was not the jealous type she suspected, but he was possessive of his assets. She smiled in greeting nevertheless. “Good evening, Gideon.”

@gidrutherford​

[milakorshunova]

𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝑲𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑡𝘩𝑒 𝑬𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒂

— April 11th, 2020 Escorted by Konstantin Vorshevsky

[violentwavesofemotion-deactivat]

Her beautifully mournful eyes,

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, tr. by Judith Thurman, from “Sonnet 187,”

[theirinashayk]

[milakorshunova]

You’re cordially invited to the Last Night in Hell on March 18th, hosted by Persephone herself. Arrive when the sun sets and stay until the sun rises, when the Queen of Hell will make her ascent into the world above. Careful what you eat or you just might want to stay forever. Burn this invitation at the party pyre or in your own home. Either way, it must turn to ash once again or you will go with it in the flames.

The invitation was skimmed alongside her morning tea, though decidedly set aside to be discarded.

[flatteryourself]

[elisabethhewer]

My mouth became a churchyard. I carved gravestones for everything I should have said / but did not dare to.

Elisabeth Hewer, extract from upcoming poem “Village Green” (via xxhirxeth)

[milakorshunova]

Damon.

“I can’t believe I’m missing the Commonwealth Day celebrations,” Damon mumbled, and looked out of the hospital window from his bed, as if he’d somehow see the Westminster Abbey, “Harry always laughed at my jokes, and instead I’m stuck here with my emo brother.”

“Of all the things, I’m surprised that’s what you’re down about missing out on.” Mila replied having entered the room just in time to witness him gazing out the window, forlorn over the festivities. She walked further into the room setting down the paper bag she held, the sweet smell of doughy goodness wafting out of it, thanks to the custard filled ponchiki she’d picked up for him on her way over. “How much longer do they have you confined here anyway?” She with a tender smile as she went to sit beside him.

[milakorshunova]

Maksim.

He didn’t trust his sister-in-law in the slightest. Mila wasn’t as skilled at hiding her disgust as she thought she was. When Konstantin had asked him to accompany his wife to a certain charity gala, he audibly groaned, but begrudgingly agreed.

London wouldn’t be like Launceston.

As little as they cared about public opinion back home, England was a slightly different story. Konstantin had already made some powerful acquaintances in the British capital, even prior to the Rutherford-Vorshevsky alliance, but Mila and the Rutherfords had opened a whole new set of doors, and they would absolutely take the advantage. 

Thus, Maksim found himself dressed in his finest suit, flashing his brightest smile and turning on his charm. They were the new generation of the Russian mob. No less animalistic and brutal than their fathers - if not more - but could be silver-tongued conversationalists, if they wanted to. 

Small talks were made, new acquaintances gained, plans discussed and pleasantries exchanged. All the while, Maksim had kept a watchful eye on Mila. Who she conversed with, traded glances with. It didn’t go unnoticed when she slipped out of the room. Wondering if there was a particular reason why Mila had sought privacy, Maksim went for a smoke on the balcony, overlooking the hotel entrance.

Everything had happened quickly.

Maksim rushed downstairs and towards the car, but the mere minutes it took him to get there had been too late to save the driver. Luckily, he’d got there just in time to make sure Mila wouldn’t suffer the same faith.

Even though Maksim had come unarmed, he grabbed the first heavy item he could get his hands on and leaped at Mila’s attacker. He dodged the sharp blade aimed his direction and slammed his fist into the man’s jaw, followed by hitting him with a small marble decorative statue across the head.

“Are you okay?” He turned to Mila, as the body hit the ground with a thud, “did he get you?”

With some effort Mila was able to stand, though her legs wobbled on her stilettos and her head felt heavy the world in her direct periphery felt just slightly off kilter. Bracing herself for what was to come next only realize moments she was no longer alone with her attacker, with his attention diverted from her for the moment. Ignoring the throbbing pain in the back of her skull she tried to focus on the scene in front of her. The audible sound of the marble striking the man jostled her, her attention remained transfixed on her attacker at he staggered then slowly fell to the ground. 

It took the woman to process the question that was asked of her, and her hand went up to feel the back of her head when her mind finally did catch up. “I’m fine my head just hurts a bit.” She said though she had the distinct feeling that she was either speaking very slowly or the throbbing pain that battled for her attention was making her feel as though that was the case. “Thank you but, he’s...he’s going to be okay right? Can you have someone take care of him?” She asked not having looked up from he lay on the ground trying to discern just how much he actually hurt. 

[milakorshunova]

Mikhail.

‘‘Oh, I know I might have to wait my whole life for him. The price of influence is lack of time for loved ones. And we’re all a little crushed,’’ he smiled elegantly, without undertones that would imply this or that, rather than with grace that almost believed in his words. He took the first seat he could think of on the couch and tried not to stare to much at the house, as curious as he was. ‘’Of course. I trust you with the flavor. You’d never do something as terrible to me as serving green tea.’’

An amicable smile lingered on the dark haired woman’s face though she felt quite the opposite of crushed whenever her dear husband was away. For pretenses sake Mikhail did not need to know such a thought. Mila assembled a tray with a small spread of biscuits and toffees alongside the teapot and sugar, habits she was keen to from her upbringing under her mother’s most hospitable tutelage. She poured him a cup and passed it to him along with a small saucer before preparing her own cup. “It’s a style of earl grey I’ve .always favored. I hope it’s too your liking.” She commented on the matter of the tea, taking a moment before continuing. “I hope it wasn’t too urgent of a matter for which you wanted to see your brother. I’d be happy to pass along any message.”

[milakorshunova]

Text | Mila

Damon: Thank you for the flowers.

Damon: If that husband of yours hasn't locked you up in a doorless tower, feel free to drop by.

Damon: Visitors are now allowed, thank goodness.

Mila: I'm glad you're feeling better.

Mila: I'll visit soon.

[milakorshunova]

Jack.

Date — Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 Location — The Washington Mayfair Hotel @jack-katz

WORD PROMPT MEME - [ Help ]

Strangely the second attempt on her life had rattled her less than the first, Mila couldn’t help but wonder if it was because this time around the person who’d held the gun had been taken care of. Regardless, this time around she refused to spend weeks on end working from home and afraid to leave the house for even the simplest of tasks. Mila had dealt with several unsavory encounters in the past given her status as a public figure, with plenty of threats hurled at her at her father’s expense. Yet never had a threat materialized to an actual attempt. Until now, and not because of her father but her husband and his long list of enemies.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t stop living her life. Starting her day like any other she’d stopped into the coffee shop on her way into her office. Since she’d felt fine for the most part with just a mild concussion that night, and some bruises, she hadn’t expected to feel faint while in line at the coffee shop of all places. When her head spun along with the room around her, Mila reached out to grab hold of something to steady herself in that moment. The arm of a stranger, unfortunately was what it end up being. 

[milakorshunova]

Maksim.

Date — Sunday, March 1st, 2020 Location — The Washington Mayfair Hotel @enter-maksim

WORD PROMPT MEME - [ Bloody ]

This had been an event Mila was looking forward to for weeks, it was meant to be the right step in the direction of her short terms goals of mending bridges with some of her former peers, as well as the distraction she needed to finally end the cycle of paranoia and distress she’d found herself in since the attack. What she hadn’t accounted for was her husband deciding she needed a escort to the function. Finding himself occupied he’d sent his cousin in his stead. While the woman had not let her pleasant disposition slip, she had been fuming over the fact all evening. Kurylenko after all was no less notorious a surname than Vorshevsky.

As the evening had begun to wind down though far from over, Mila had excused herself to visit the ladies room. Having decided she was done for the evening, she sent her cousin in law a text minutes later informing him she was heading home, her car already on her way. In an effort to forgo any departing words she’d taken the roundabout way out, asking her driver to pull into the rear of the hotel. Stepping into the cool night air when she saw the luxury suv pull into the park way, she’s offered the driver a light smile as he stepped out of the car to open her door. She’d just barely stepped closer to enter vehicle when his face warped in a stunned expression as his hand came up to the side of his neck. She stared in confusion until she saw the blood trickling out from between his fingers before he slid falling first into the car then sinking down to the ground.

She hadn’t realized she’d been covering her mouth because perhaps she’d screamed it seemed likely. The contents of her purse that had slipped from her hand came under her feet as stepped towards the body still in shock though the slight disruption thankfully brought her out of her stupor and she turned heading straight back towards the entrance of the hotel. She could hear the sound of footsteps on her heel, though she willed herself not to look back. She’d nearly made it to the door when they caught up to her, having grabbed at the tie of her waist coat to pull her back and shove her into a stone bench that lined the cobblestone pathway leading back into the hotel. The back of her head made impact with one of the corners, and she felt disoriented though she still struggled to try to stand. “Why-y...” She managed to gasp out wincing at effort it took to even push herself up, the right side of her body aching. “Who sent you?”

[modernblanc-deactivated20150628]

[violentwavesofemotion-deactivat]

On herself she had no mercy.

Charlotte Brontë, referring to Emily Brontë, from “Memoir of Emily Jane Brontë,” (via violentwavesofemotion)

[milakorshunova]

If Kosta wasn't in the way, would she try to rekindle her relationship with Gideon?

Framing this answer as if this was a possibility in the future and she has in fact been with Kosta for the last two years, and he’s no longer in the picture for whatever reason, etc.

The honest answer would be that I can’t entirely say the thought wouldn’t occur to her or that nothing about him would cease to attract her, but I think given the point she is in her life she’s lost her sense of self somewhat, and that’s why rekindling or entering into a new relationship with anyone wouldn’t be on her mind.

Not to forget it’s been an entire decade of them having been apart, meaning at some level they need to get to know each other over again, at least a little.

Mila is definitely not who she was at twenty four, and she’s likely not going to be anything like she was prior to her involvement with the mob through her marriage to Konstantin. Mila has never had mercy on herself, always having held herself to a higher standard perhaps the standard she held her father at (not that he truly reached it himself, and at the very least has drastically fallen from that place), but regardless her selfdom has been suffering drastically since the start of the marriage as she continues to wear this studious facade.

So in short she’s just not in that space of mind. Because if she were to rekindle something with Gideon, I fear she would only end up using him as a sort of life raft to keep her afloat, building herself up around him. And while she would likely be happier, and feel she’s returned to a better place in all actuality she’d only continue to feel more lost in the long run. Thus, she needs no man in her life. Instead she needs to remind herself she’s a force all on her own, and she needs to stop letting narcissistic man (obviously excluding Gideon) stir her in whatever direction suits their needs.

( @konstantin–vorshevsky + @gidrutherford )

[milakorshunova]

Does she miss her old friends? Spencer, Gideon, etc.?

Yes, incredibly.

Mila being an only child, never really had strong bonds with those closer to her own age. She never knew what it’s like to have numerous people to rely on, and thus her ability to trust outsiders was rather fragmented before she opened herself up to her Oxford friend group. They were her found family, they came to her at a time when she needed it the most. Being away from home not entirely of her own volition left her feeling very isolated and it’s very likely she’d have become far more resentful towards her father at this time had she not found them.

They each were very different and she found that her friendship with each of them was different though for the most part equally secure. In Gideon she found stability someone who mirrored her own outlook of the world, and understood what it was like to have larger than life father figures. She could share her understanding of the world through the lens she was brought up in with him in a way she couldn’t with the others. When they were together she fully believed he was the love of her life.

Spencer and his infectiously crass humor, and unapologetic opinions provided a constant challenge that pushed her boundaries in the best way, as this was after all a time in her life where she was growing into herself, and learning all the things you learn as you begin to adult. Sure they didn’t always see eye to eye but her relationship with him definitely taught her how you can love someone and not always agree with them a hundred percent (and maybe even want to throttle them from time to time).

Through Diana and Cassie she learned how woman can support other woman, so often woman are pitted against each other in looks, in intellect, in purchase. She understood through her friendship with them that there is always more room at the table. Also they each were able to provide that emotional support that only a female friend can provide even though her friendships with them were drastically different as the two women themselves are very different. Not to mention they provided very MUCH needed relief from Spencers testosterone trips.