timestamp : evening , 6th of january , 1921 . location: the metropol , back hallway . tagging : @penanceknelt
nikolai did not like to lie to her , and perhaps that’s why he’s so quiet when the topic of his family or his work ( two things intrinsically linked ) came up . it was easier simply to not say anything ; his sin of omission , justified yet again by some heavenly virtue and the belief that the she would be safest if she knew nothing of the wolves , if he could keep her mind unaware of blood and fangs . it was a well intentioned drive , no one should fault him that , and yet , it meant that the violinist was walking around the wolf’s den with a blindfold on , making her more vulnerable than if she had simply known .
the details of christmas eve are kept to himself , a vague explanation that he would be busy and hopes she assumes that he will be present within the cathedral ( he would , for a large portion of the day , so it was not a lie , and he would rather her picture him there than in the ballroom with other assorted criminals and murderers ) . he doesn’t expect that someone else will call on her , needing another performer for the gala at the metropol , but that is exactly what happens .
blood runs cold when he sees her , finishing a set . she was not supposed to be here . he claps politely with a small crowd that has gathered , and waits until she is fully off stage to begin moving to find her . there’s a desperation not unlike that in the market square the month before , but this time he pushes back the feeling of suffocation long enough to do what he believes must be done . a gentle hand , light like on the keys , wraps around her arm and guides her in a direction away from the crowds , into a hallway between the dining room and the kitchen . dark eyes search her for a moment , and then he poses a question : ‘ what are you doing here ? ’