#fedor d.

[vitalphenomena]

@coefficience // hélène // x

SO THE COUNTESS DETESTS HIM. To Dolokhov, this matters very little—just as he would insist the vague apathy (at best) or ignorant revulsion (at near-worse) of polite society—that polite society whose adoration Countess Bezukhova so intensely covets—matters very little. If he allowed himself to be impacted by the opinions of small-minded people, how would he stand up in battle? Against men, their bullets? Against bears? Against the permanent nature of reputation itself?

"As the lady of this house," he smiles thinly, "Perhaps you have every right to suggest what I shall do in it. But consider, instead, that I have concerns about your wellbeing, and I only wish the best for you."

A beat.

"Pierre Bezukhov?"

[vitalphenomena]

@unpossession asked for: 🎁

"Grow up weak or grow up tough."

[vitalphenomena]

@leagueprem // daisy said: you can leave any time you want, and you don’t.

SHE'S RIGHT.

Dolokhov's townhouse is small and modest. Daisy surely balked internally, a little, the first time she was brave enough to venture inside (under the cover of night, of course, while Tom was away on business, so he said, so probably having an affair of his own).

His bed is nice, though. Nicer than any mattress he'd laid upon in Russia, any cot or sleeping bag he'd made his home during the war. It's the little things he finds appreciating more than he anticipated. Perhaps he's going to become Americanized. How his comrades would balk.

"We're in my chambers, Daisy Fay," he says wryly, choosing to make light of a startlingly sincere observation during pillow talk.

"Where do you think I would go?"

[vitalphenomena]

@leagueprem // daisy said: i hope he's not taking advantage.

"Don't be ridiculous, darling."

Terms of endearment don't flow naturally off of his tongue when he's forcing stoicism such as this. Even darling sounds sharp and wrong. The precision of it, however, matches the look he oh-so intentionally casts towards Daisy. Unwavering eye contact. It is intimate and uncomfortable.

Either Daisy doesn't realize that it is Dolokhov who will be taking advantage of these Americans—or she's being cute because she knows exactly that. Despite her airy speech and active imagination, he does not underestimate her social intelligence. She would do well not to underestimate his.

"I'm making friends. Aren't you happy?"

[vitalphenomena]

@petisdieu asked for: [moan] - Sender accidentally / on purpose moans suggestively.

WHAT IS FEDYA SUPPOSED TO MAKE OF AN EXPRESSION THAT INDICATES SUCH A LEWD SOUND CAME ABOUT ACCIDENTALLY / ON PURPOSE?

He jolts. His hand, raised to face her own raised hand as they dance at the ball, jerks away. They had not been touching, but the mere thought of being close to her, of being seen as the culprit responsible for such an outburst, makes the fierce, fearless soldier tremble.

"You vex me purposefully, princess. Why is that?"

[vitalphenomena]

@unpossession

A BRIT AND A RUSSIAN WALK INTO A BAR—

—and sit here for hours on end, drinking vodka and feeling nothing, and staring, and observing, and coldly interrupting (at least, the Russian does) as soon as the fancy strikes.

"Your friend," the bleach blonde who stumbled out into the waiting arms of a six-seven brute, "Is very drunk. It's good. — that she left."

[vitalphenomena]

@petitsdieu

THE BEAST IN HIM WILL NOT BE BROUGHT OUT.

"This is no place for nobility," he drawls, "And I have taken more intimidating figures than yours prisoner." Fedya! Watch yourself.

"Who sent you, Princess?"

[vitalphenomena]

@miidnighters // bella

"You require a chaperone."