The Rats In The House Of The Dead are stuck in their ways when it comes to addressing each other, adopting a typically Russian format in doing so. Since there are multiple names and ways in which they speak of and to one another (depending upon who is around them) I thought I’d share a few headcanons!
I’m not actually Russian so if people do have corrections I’m open to hearing them! (also please note this is headcanon and refers to my interpretation of Fyodor not necessarily other people’s)
This is the most standard way of referring from one to another, and a polite way of address. Since there is respect between the Rats, ideally they should refer to each other this way - in particular younger men/women should address their elders this way out of respect. This is also accompanied by the use of the formal “you” (Вы).
Fyodor Mikhailovich - And anyone in Fyodor’s presence should refer to him as such. The Rats will address him this way when he is in the room or if they are talking directly to him. The exception is Lev, for reasons to come.
Lev Nikolayevich - Lev’s extremely traditional and commands respect when being referred to. He is also the oldest of the Rats (canon age for fyodor when) and so there isn’t much excuse for the younger ones to not address him this way. The exception being Fyodor, for reasons to come.
Aleksandr Isayevich - Actually very rarely gets addressed politely by the other Rats. However he would introduce himself this way when meeting someone new.
Yevgeny Ivanovich - Insists on being addressed politely (even if he rarely is). But that does mean he’s being allowed to even have contact with people, which is extremely rare.
Dmitri Alexeevich - The youngest of the main Rats and rarely addressed by his full name because of it - unless he is in trouble. Which, to be fair, is quite often. However, he will introduce himself this way to people he is meeting for the first time.
Vladimir Vladimirovich - Demands to be addressed fully. The other Rats will when he’s around (Mostly to get him to shut up), but non-Russian’s often find it weird that it seems like he’s just repeating his own name for emphasis.
Mostly how non-Russians will refer to the Rats. It can be taken as insulting if someone younger refers to an elder just by first name if they’re not close (So, for example, Dmitri referring to Lev as just “Lev” rather than addressing him as “Lev Nikolayevich”) but they won’t generally be offended. The Rats have mostly adopted a comraderie (okay, more like a marriage of convenience but you get me.) and will refer to each other by first name only unless in formal circumstances.
Nicknames (General, Intimate and Pejorative)
Russian nicknames be wild man. So we’re gonna summarise this. They have differing meanings depending on how close you are to a person, and in some forms they are deliberately teasing/insulting. But There’s a few choice ones that each of my children have used around them.
Fyodor - Fedya, Fedyenka, Fedyushka, Fed’ka
Fyodor is not a man for nicknames, and the only person who gets a pass in calling him anything other than “Fyodor” or “Fyodor Mikhailovich” is Lev since the two of them are together. Since they are lovers, he is referred to by Lev as “Fedya” and in intimate moments and private he is called both “Fedyenka and “Fedyushka” the more “cute” forms of his name. Other Rats, when certain he isn’t around, will use “Fed’ka” insultingly when referring to him.
Lev - Lyova, Lyovushka, Lyovochka
Similarly, the only people who gets to be on nickname terms with Lev are Maxim and Fyodor. Who both use “Lyova” “Lyovushka” and “Lyovochka” to be intimate with him. The insult name? The Rats jokingly refer to him as “Mama Lev” because of his fussy hen nature.
Aleksandr - Sasha, Sanya, Alek/Alik, Sashenka, Sashechka, San’ka, Sanyok
With it being the most popular name in Russia, it’s no wonder Aleksandr’s name has so many different ways in which it’s shortened. Though “Sasha” is the most common nickname, it’s actually an upsetting one for Aleksandr because it is a painful reminder of his wife and family prior to joining the Rats. This, however, is not respected by most of the Rats who still use “Sasha” with him anyways. Other standard variants, “Sanya” and “Alek/Alik” are used by more polite friends of his. Yosano uses “Sanya” and “Sashenka” affectionately once they get together. The pejoratives, rarely used because Aleksandr rarely causes trouble, are “San’ka” and “Sanyok”
Dmitri doesn’t use any intimate nicknames with anyone (he doesn’t have anyone that close) but since he is young he is referred to by his standard nicknames. “Dima” is what his parents would call him, and he’d likely get offended if called that. “Mitya” is what he prefers.
Yevgeny - Zhenya, Zhen’ka
Yevgeny is mostly referred to negatively, because people fear his ability. So “Zhenya” and the pejorative
Vladmir - Vladya, Vova, Voloden’ka, Vov’ka
Like Yevgeny, Vladimir is often spoken of mostly negatively, with “Vov’ka and “Voloden’ka” as pejorative names. He, on the other hand, thinks highly of himself. While he wouldn’t use “Vova” as a standard nickname much (It’s quite a grandpa name he feels) he does go by “Vladya”
It’s not really like ivan gives a toss what people think of him by this point…
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