Back To The Bathhouse

Elise has found her Ivan! They're sitting over by Elise's bedroll, chatting and playing with a deck of cards. Elise seems to be giving instructions. She laughs at something, the first real smile in several days. Ivan's smiling as well. All's well that ends well.

Aw. Novikova smiles. She switches in to help stoke the fire once more after pouring some water into the barrel. She seems pleased that Elise and Ivan are playing cards, laughing and smiling. Her own eyes brighten a little at the sight. "Comrades," She greets them softly.

after sounds of around, petrov moves his body, then opens his eyes and scans the barracks with puffed eyes silently

"Cousin!" Elise smiles up at Zoya, brightly. "Look who turned up." Ivan gives Zoya a friendly nod and a quiet greeting as well. "Come, join us." The stirring Petrov gets a brief look, but she doesn't know the fellow.

Petrov glances back at novikova before looking at elise "i am with you" and then nods "ready for orders"

A smile to Petrov. Novikova grins at Elise, "Hello you two." She moves over, after stoking the fire a little. She looks pleased, "I am glad to see you all." It's true.

Petrov gets his attention, then adds "well, i'm michael petrov, a squad who added from moscow to the troops" he replys to elise "and good to see you"

Elise smiles at Petrov. "Don't look at me, Comrade. I'm sure the sergeant will be around shortly. I'm Elise. Welcome." Almost on cue, a sergeant comes tromping down the stairs into the cellar. He points to the folks in their squad. "You lot. You're needed, come with me." Elise says a quick goodbye to Ivan, earning herself a smooch on the cheek that causes her to grin and blush. Then she follows the sergeant.

Bathhouse

The Grid-----> > > > > THE GREATEST GENERATION < < <


Coordinates : 1 0

This was a communal bathhouse in the corner of several shared homes and apartments. The stone walls and porcelain interiors have been shattered by bombings and fighting, though it hasn't been hit as hard as the living areas next door.

It is currently dawn.

Sub-Rooms :

1. Empty pool

2. Overturned lockers

3. Dark corridor

Evening has just fallen over the River Volga. There are rumors that a major offensive is brewing. Rumors of more Russian troops being pulled in around Stalingrad, rumors of a major strike planned against the Germans. But tonight, those are just rumors. Your squad has been hunkered down in the bathhouse this evening, on no particularly special mission save standard watch for German patrols. Thus far, it's been quiet. Thus far.

Elise is settled in the darkness of the long corridor near her cousin, rifle at the ready. She keeps an eye to the north.

Novikova is settled near her cousin, smiling worridly at Elise. "Boy, too bad we can't /use/ the bath huh," She whispers softly, a bemused look on her face. She squints into the darkness. Rumors of a major strike… she can hope. But for now, time to keep her eyes out.

Maschenko is down on one knee just below the cracked lip of the empty pool, rifle braced over the top. He keeps most of his attention to the west, occasionally turning his head to glance northward for moving shapes.

Yuri is leaning against the overturned lockers, peeking west towards the Dilapidated house; He is trying his best to be as hidden as possible just in case.

Petrov is chrouched in the pool with flickering body, his rifle in hand looking around

Yulia is momentarily rearranging her scarf for more coverage around her face, breathing soft vapors into the air as she does so. It's cooold. She's behind an overturned locker near Yuri, and once done with her scarf and a brief smile at Novi's comment, she squints west.

Elise smirks at Novi. "Da, that would be nice wouldn't it?" she whispers back softly, sounding wistful. "A nice, warm, bath. I remember last time we were here."

Novikova nods at Elise. She looks to the east, peering over the road. Probably not, but - well, you know. She stays hunkers though.

Yuri can't help but glance towards Elise, a sheepish grin on his face. No one can tell what he thought of at that moment; and than he kept looking westwards towards the house, wondering if Germans would really come from that direction. It made little sense.

Yuri repositions himself to look towards the north, it made more sense. This time he lied down, partially using the overturned lockers to provide cover as he scanned the road.

Petrov checked his weapon silently, while looking at yuri's actions and then at the direction of west, seems have trusted to him

Elise was looking around and happened to catch that glance from Yuri. She looks curious in return, but then quickly refocuses her attention north.

Maschenko blows a thin stream of air out between pursed lips, his scarf keeping the warm exhale from turning to a terribly visible fog. His knee crunches softly in a crust of snow, and he takes one hand off the rifle to flex his haf-frozen fingers.

Novikova smiles at Elise again. She has to wriggle her fingers a little and she loooks almost comical taking a deep breath then looking pained. Cold air! East seems clear at least. Hrrm. Squint.

Yuri shivers and is suddenly all too aware of the silence. So he starts whispering, the scarf stopping fog from creating. "So… an American, an German and a Russian are having a contest in drinking." He begins, snickering almost soundlessly already.

Petrov rubbs his weapon against the wall of pool, whispering to Maschenko but clear to hear "d..do they have chance to brings aircrafts to this sky?

«Ground Combat» Leitner fires his Scoped Kar98k at Petrov but misses!

Maschenko opens his mouth to answer when the shot rings out. "Shit." He turns around in the pool, mud spattering his arm as it's knocked off the pool edge. "That was east."

Yulia slips a hand into her pack and takes out a minute chunk of bread. A extra large crumb, really. She tugs down her scarf and pops it into her mouth, then chews slowly. A look over at Yuri, curious, then jerks as a bullet zips in. "East?" she echoes, looking over.

Elise raises eyebrows at Yuri's beginning joke, then jerks at the sudden gunshot. "Where'd that come fro…." Maschenko answers her question. She tenses, but keeps watch north for now, not wanting to get flanked.

Yuri was about to continue the joke when suddenly a shot rang out. "Crap!" He rolls again, positioning himself, staring east.

Novikova points, "I see one east!"

«Ground Combat» Novikova fires her Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Leitner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Maschenko fires his Mosin-Nagant at Leitner and hits!

Leitner suffers 6 wound damage to his right arm.

Yuri growls, "I can't see him!"

«Game» Novikova changes her style to Uraa!

«Ground Combat» Novikova fires her Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Leitner and hits!

Leitner suffers 8 wound damage to his left arm.

Maschenko takes a pretty good chunk out of Leitner's arm with that first shot. Then the man's other arm goes. No 'unarmed' jokes, please.

«Ground Combat» Maschenko fires his Mosin-Nagant at Leitner but misses!

Novikova must be borrowing one of Maschenko's dread scalpel bullets and thoroughly disarms the Nazi. The man could use a hand, but still. She frowns.

«Ground Combat» Novikova fires her Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Leitner and hits!

Leitner suffers 3 wound damage to his right hand.

Elise isn't watching the sniper, keeping her attention focused elsewhere. "Did you get him?" she asks Novi.

Novikova nods, "I got his arm and hand so far. Comrade Doctor got a good shot off," She squints. "Darned snipers." Pause. "No offense."

Yulia peers east with no results. She glances over to the others shooting, then back westward.

Petrov pulls the trigger while targeting into east

«Ground Combat» Novikova reloads her Scoped Mosin-Nagant!

Maschenko is about to shoot again when the Fascist ducks. "Fuck. Lost him."

Yuri is peering east; and than glances to Novikova. "None taken."

«Ground Combat» Novikova fires her Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Leitner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Petrov fires his Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Leitner but misses!

Yuri growls again, "There you are!"

Novikova frowns, "I still see him. Sneaky git." She grins at the none taken comment.

«Ground Combat» Faustmann snipes Petrov with his Kar98k but misses!

Maschenko blinks as a shot comes from another direction now. He turns around as Novikova and Petrov go for Leitner, trying to see the source of the other bullets.

petrov vhoice come loud and loud again "dam, fucking snipers, i'll get you down!"

Yuri carefully lines up for the shot. "Now, don't move you little bastard…." He snarls through closed lips… slowly pulling the trigger.

«Ground Combat» Elise fires her Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» Petrov fires his Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Leitner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Novikova fires her Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Leitner but misses!

«Ground Combat» Yuri snipes Leitner with his Scoped Mosin-Nagant but misses!

Elise fires off a shot. "One to the north," she says. "Damn." The bullet goes wide.

"See him finally," Yulia says, squinting an eye as she leans forward with her rifle.

Yuri fires and than shakes his head. "Damnit. The cold is unbearable." He says as his shot misses.

Maschenko spots one northward and levels his rifle on top of the pool edge.

«Ground Combat» Elise fires her Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» Novikova fires her Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Leitner and hits!

Leitner suffers 3 wound damage to his left arm.

Elise grumbles as she misses again. "He just moved behind that chimney."

Yuri plants his rifle on the overturned Lockers and turns to the north.

Petrov turns around to watch the position of the squad, then peek again to the east to target again

«Ground Combat» Yulia fires her SVT-40 at Faustmann but misses!

Novikova sticks the tip of her tongue out comically as she concentrates. She takes aim and apparently blows off poor Leitner's arm. Or at least msot of it. "The one to the east seems to be down."

«Ground Combat» Petrov fires his Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Leitner and hits!

Leitner suffers 6 wound damage to his head.

«Ground Combat» Maschenko fires his Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann but misses!

«Game» Elise changes her style to Standard!

Yulia makes a grumble of disgust as the Nazi ducks behind the chimney and her shot misses.

Petrov shouts as he shoot towrds the sniper "down, enemmy is down, repeat, he is down"

Elise lines up another shot, moving to a slightly better position. "Good news, Cousin."

«Ground Combat» Faustmann fires his Kar98k at Elise but misses!

«Ground Combat» Elise fires her Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann but misses!

«Game» Maschenko changes his style to Standard!

«Ground Combat» Yulia fires her SVT-40 at Faustmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» Maschenko fires his Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann but misses!

Yuri looks down the scope at the hidden nazi behind the chimney, taking careful aim. He doesn't say anything, he tries to keep his body from shivering too much.

Maschenko adds to the barrage of bullets going northward, pinging the side of the chimney bricks but not the Fascist.

«Ground Combat» Elise fires her Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann but misses!

Yuri inhales deeply, slowly squeezing the trigger.

«Ground Combat» Yuri snipes Faustmann with his Scoped Mosin-Nagant but misses!

«Ground Combat» Yulia fires her SVT-40 at Faustmann but misses!

«Ground Combat» Maschenko fires his Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann but misses!

«Game» Novikova assists Elise!

«Ground Combat» Petrov reloads his Scoped Mosin-Nagant!

Yulia slides a glance at Yuri, then back north. "Warm enough, comrade?" she asks with a slight smile, shooting.

Maschenko misses again and swears under his breath. He ducks his shoulder below the pool edge to reload his rifle.

Elise curses as another shot hits the chimney instead of the German. She flinches at a bullet that comes back her way.

«Ground Combat» Elise fires her Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann and hits!

Faustmann suffers 5 wound damage to his left chest.

«Ground Combat» Reizenstein snipes Novikova with his Kar98k but misses!

Novikova frowns, and nudges Elise's barrel over a little. "He— GAH!" Damn that ginger. She hisses.

«Ground Combat» Maschenko reloads his Mosin-Nagant!

Yuri smiles at Yulia and nods his head, "Now I am." He chuckles and than notices another one. "Another one. North!"

Novikova frowns, "Is he north?"

«Ground Combat» Elise reloads her Mosin-Nagant!

Maschenko confirms at novikova, "North. out in the open."

«Ground Combat» Yulia fires her SVT-40 at Reizenstein but misses!

Petrov shout as his vhoice ekkoed to the bath house "dam sneakers, you are dead!"

«Ground Combat» Petrov fires his Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann and hits!

Faustmann suffers 5 wound damage to his right hand.

«Ground Combat» Maschenko fires his Mosin-Nagant at Reizenstein but misses!

Elise purses her lips in a grim look as Faustmann goes down. She nods to Novi. "Da, north there." She hurries to reload.

«Ground Combat» Yuri fires his Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Faustmann and hits!

Faustmann suffers 3 wound damage to his left arm.

Petrov points to the north "he is alive, the sniper is alive" he skreems

Novikova frowns, peering west too for the dread red-headed Nazi that plagues her.

Maschenko shakes his head quickly at Yuri and Petrov. "That one's on the ground already. Get the other one."

«Ground Combat» Elise fires her Mosin-Nagant at Reizenstein but misses!

«Ground Combat» Yulia fires her SVT-40 at Reizenstein but misses!

«Ground Combat» Reizenstein fires his Kar98k at Yuri and hits!

Hits hard cover.

Yulia refocuses on the red-headed German. Novi's favorite. She gives an annoyed snort, her shots continuing to go wide.

«Ground Combat» Maschenko fires his Mosin-Nagant at Reizenstein but misses!

«Ground Combat» Petrov fires his Scoped Mosin-Nagant at Reizenstein but misses!

«Ground Combat» You are now peeking into Dilapidated House.

«Ground Combat» Elise tries to fire her Mosin-Nagant at Reizenstein but her weapon is jammed!

Yuri almost jumps away as a bullet hits the overturned locker. He looks at Yulia, perhaps fearing for her safety. What a wierd kid. Looking back to the nazi. "You will pay for that you bastard."

«Game» Maschenko changes his style to Uraa!

Yuri adds, "Go home and destroy your countries property!"

«Game» Novikova assists Elise!

«Ground Combat» Maschenko fires his Mosin-Nagant at Reizenstein but misses!

«Ground Combat» Yulia fires her SVT-40 at Reizenstein but misses!

Novikova hands over her oiled rag, "Here. Don't touch the metal. It's probably hot." She frowns.

«Game» Petrov assists Maschenko!

«Ground Combat» Yuri snipes Reizenstein and hits!

Reizenstein suffers 8 wound damage to his right chest.

«Ground Combat» Reizenstein has been taken out!

Reizenstein takes a sniper's bullet in the chest. That is that.

«Game» Maschenko changes his style to Stealth!

Elise pulls the trigger again. CLACK. That's not good. "Damn it!" She frowns and fumbles with the mechanism, freezing fingers having a hard time with the fine points. "Thanks, Cousin," she says, taking the rag. "Good shooting, Comrade."

«Game» Elise unjams her Mosin-Nagant!

«Ground Combat» Maschenko reloads his Mosin-Nagant!

Yulia looks up, seeing the red-head flop over. "Ah, good shot comrade," she offers to Yuri.

Petrov jumps out "good one yuri, you take it down!"

Novikova nods, "Good shot if you got him." Darn red-head. She'll get him yet.

«Ground Combat» Petrov reloads his Scoped Mosin-Nagant!

Yuri smirks looking towards Yulia, "Hehe, thank you, Comrade. That was a close on though." His finger traces a hole at the Locker. "That could've been me."

Maschenko had stood up further to get better aim, which is promptly made unnecessary. Thankfully. He goes back to one knee and refreshes the clip in his rifle, nodding to Yuri. "Good shot, comrade."

«Game» Stalingrad Docks is no longer a war zone!

Petrov chears loudly "fighters, you've done! there are gone!!"

"For now anyway," Elise says, finally getting her gun unjammed. She hands the oil rag back to Novikova.

Novikova smiles, "Da. For now anyway." She shrugs and rolls her shoulder. "Jinx." A gentle poke at Elise. She accepts her rag back.

"Is anyone hurt?" Maschenko asks, just loudly enough that his voice will reach all the way to the ones shadowed in the corridor. He didn't see anyone get pinged, but contrary to popular believe the doctor doesn't have eyes in the back of his head.

Yuri peers towards the east and than back north. "Hmm, seems they have had enough bodies for tonight." He smiles and than looks at Yulia, "I'm Yuri by the way." He smiles, peering back north.

Petrov looks back at yuri "hey, boy, your wound is still open" and points at the blood that are coming down

Elise grins back at her cousin, then shakes her head, calling back to Maschenko softly. "Fine over here, Comrade Doctor. Are you?"

After another squint in the house, Yulia slides down against a locker and feels for some ammo to reload. She glances at Yuri while doing so. "Oh - yes, you were in the barracks the other night, weren't you?" she asks slowly, remembering. "I'm Yulia."

Yuri looks at Petrov, "I didn't get shot." He says and than touches his the area right above his left eyebrow, feeling blood. "Hmm. It must be just a scratch. The bullet hit the locker. Probably just debris." He smiles. And than he too leans his back against the lockers, so his head doesn't poke over it. "Yeah, I was." he replies to Yulia.

"Alright. Good." Maschenko's blue eyes flicker in the darkening dusk light, looking over everyone he can see clearly. Satisfied, he lifts his freezing fingers to his mouth and gently blows on them, keeping an alert eye out around them.

Novikova shakes her head, "None here." Novikova seems to be intact. She smiles at the others, relieved. "It's good no one got hurt then." Definitely getting better. She's satisfied. "Comrade doctor, want to borrow my gloves? My fingers are getting sweaty," She offers.

Petrov dropped his weapon, looking to evrry one and listening to the conversation around

"Your fingers are /sweaty/?" Elise repeats, in awe. "Is this some other strange gift that you got when you lost your sense of smell?" She grins at that. Her own fingers are freezing, since she doesn't have proper gloves either, just woolen wraps around her hands. She keeps them tucked under her armpits.

"I think you introduced yourself and then hit the hay right after," Yulia says, lips turning in a slight smile. She slings her rifle on her back, then spots the bloody scratch on Yuri's forehead, smile fading. "Want me to look at that? It doesn't look bad, though."

"Ni, Zoya Dmitriyevna." Maschenko answers, shaking his head at the two in the corridor. "Keep them on. The sweat will freeze if you pull them off. We don't want this."

Petrov takes a deep breath and whispers to Maschenko "umm, you see? the snipers locked on me…..i was lucky today!!" then smiles "next time don't stand beside me, or you'll be die!"

"Oh right." Says Yuri. "My memory's a bit vague, I was so tired." He chuckles, some of the hot breath escaping the scarf and turning into fog; "Sure, you can look at it before it freezes, I think I'll be alright though, I can barely feel it."

Novikova looks to Elise, "Then you can borrow them if your hands bug you." Then a pause at Maschenko's comment. She just shrugs. "If you say so." She smiles. Then a nod at Petrov and a soft laugh. "And I am she who walks in front of machine guns. I'm surprised I'm not dead 7 times over. I owe our medical staff that much," She admits. She grins at Elise. "It's coming back slowly."

Maschenko gives Petrov a half-smile, doing his best not to make it look too forced. "Better to die beside a comrade than to live alone, no?" He glances down at his rifle barrel, checking it to be sure it's not jammed. Which he already knows it's not, but chalk it up to paranoia. The winter wind tries to grab his scarf, sending a free flap of it slapping against his shoulder.

Elise shrugs slightly to Novi. "Best not, like the doctor said. I'm all right. Warm thoughts, eh?" She glances over at Maschenko and Petrov, amused but worried. Novi's last comment gets a raised eyebrow. "Is it? That's good. Well, kind of a mixed blessing, I guess. But I'm glad for you."

Petrov trys to make a good condission "oh, dock, don't tell that,…." and then smiles back at novikova "don't you think….i was standing and talking with dock, and then a bullit crrosed at my ear and goes….it is terible hmmm?"

Yulia does just that then - looks at it, and shrugs. "It's not deep. Just a scratch," she confirms. No more than they'd get on an everyday basis. "Da, we were all fortunate today," she says with a slight emphasis on /today/. Their last experience with snipers trained her not to get too confident. She rubs her hands together quickly and tucks them under her arms as the wind picks up.

Yuri suddenly looks up, "Right. I didn't finish my joke. Everyone duck, just in case a german tries to interrupt me again." He grins widely. "So, the American brings a fine Johnny Walker or something. Drinks it all; and the jury plants a chair in front of him and ask him "How many does he see". The American says "Three". The German is next," He continues as Yulia checks the scatch on his head. "He brings his ugly beer, and he sees only 5 chairs." He grins again, "The Russian is next. He brings good ol' Vodka and drinks a bottle. They ask him how many trees he sees, and he goes "In which row?"" Than he laughs out loud at his own joke.

Petrov looks back at yuri and laughs with him to shows his happyness, then turns around and glances at tired squads diss appointed

Novikova chuckles softly and nods. "Well, everyone's in one piece, so it's good." She grins at Yuri. "Hah." She wrinkles her nose, laughing softly. "That reminds me of a few." She bobs her head, pleased to meet another jokester. A peer at Petrov, "Are you alright?"

Elise chuckles softly at the joke. "Comrade, you'll get along great with my cousin here. She and Taktarov are quite the jokesters." She's also relieved when there are no sniper interruptions this time.

"I suppose the ear is better than some places," Maschenko comments to Petrov, wryly. "Keep your hat down on it." He glances at Yuri and manages a faint smile at that. Making fun of Russians, always a sure way to lighten a Ukrainian's mood.

Petrov shakes his head to novikova "of corse, i'm really good" and then gazes at her, elise and Maschenko "why do you look like this? a little smile on the face is not good!"

Yulia smirks a little bit at the conclusion of the joke. She agrees with Elise in a nod. "Da, you'll think you're in a comedy troupe sometimes. It's a good thing, though." She continues rubbing her hands for warmth. "Where are you from, comrades?" She glances from Petrov to Yuri. "Stalingrad?"

"Consider it relative, comrade," Maschenko says to Petrov, smirking. "This is pure joy compared to some times." He glances at the setting sun, keeping track of it and for the sounds of any relief soldiers coming to take their places out here in the cold. As Yulia asks that of the newcomers he looks back at them.

Elise looks confused to Petrov. "What? We smiled," she insists. Though it wasn't exactly rolling in the aisles.

Yuri looks to Yulia and than nods. "I was born here, but I lived for a while in Poland. They sent me here when war started, they…" He shrugs not finishing the sentence. "I love Stalingrad. Well, the one before Germans destroyed most of it."

Petrov looked at Maschenko and nod to him, that he can't tell anything to him, then turns back at elise "ummm, i mean……" he trys to find something to say, then glances at yulia "i.i'm from moscow, and added to the troops last 3 day"

Novikova pauses, "Hmm. Oh here's one." Novikova takes a deep breath and smiles at Petrov. She smiles at Yuri. "Poland? Really?" She seems curious. A headtilt. "Da." Nod. "Here's one: An American, a Frenchman and a Russian are alone on an uninhabited island. They catch fish for food and suddenly catch a Golden Fish, who promises to fulfill one wish for each for his own freedom:%rThe American wishes for a million dollars and to go back home! The Frenchman wishes for three beautiful women and to go back home! and finally, the Russian goes," Tch. Just when we were getting on like a house on fire… Three crates of vodka and the two fellas back!"

Maschenko's sharp eyes cut to Yuri at the mention of Poland. There they hold a moment, then turn away again. He fishes in his pockets for his cigarettes and battered matches, slouching down past the lip of the pool to block the wind.

Yuri looks over to Novikova, not noticing Maschenko's gaze, and listens to the girl's joke. He laughs out loud at it's conclusion, "Haha, that's a good one!" He keeps laughing, having a tough time keeping it down. "Don't misunderstand me though, I just lived there for a while with my parents. I'm Russian. Born here, in Stalingrad 16 years ago."

Petrov looks at novikova and replys with shiny eyes "umm, i agree with the frenchman…., by the way, is there any river here to catch a fish? i think there is"

"Poland? That's interesting. I understand," Elise says, lips pursing when Yuri talks about being Russian. Her own accent is a faint but unusual. "And Moscow - were you in the fighting there?" She smirks at Novi's joke. "That's a good one, Cousin."

"Ah," Yulia says once her question is answered. She steals another look over the locker to the dilapidated house, then back at Yuri. "I was too," she adds in a soft voice. They're still apparently on patrol, after all. "I've never left Stalingrad, actually." She groans slightly at Novikova's joke, but a corner of her mouth is turned up. She looks over at Petrov then, for his answer about Moscow.

"The Volga," Maschenko remarks to Petrov. He exhales smoke, curling the cigarette in his hand so both the pool and his palm cover up the telltale bit of orange light at the end. "But's well on its way to being frozen now."

Petrov looks upset "well…..they're forcing some people to go to the frontlines, i'm wandering why moscow, there are all city around" he said while looking to evrry one

Petrov adds "they're testing people, and send the strongs

Yuri smirks and than glances back to Novikova. "An American, a Brit and a German are stuck in the desert. They know that there is a magical oasis nearby; so they try to find it. Eventually they do." He begins the joke, smirking every now and than. "Turns out that you have to grab a good run and jump into the oasis while shouting the name of a place before it magically takes you there in an instant." He begins the joke, looking to Maschenko, Yulia and than back to Novikova… and ocasionally towards the north.

After all, 3 is the best number for drinking and company in drinking! Novikova laughs, "You all make me feel so boring. Here I am born in Stalingrad and a vanilla flavored Russian. Don't test that-" She warns. A faint smile. "Nyet, Comrade Petrov. Anything with water is bound to be frozen over unless you are a talented fisherman." She grins at Yuri as the joke sttarts. A headtilt, cueing him to go on. A look to Petrov. "Da… it's been that way awhile," She falls quiet.

Elise looks a little confused at Petrov. "Wondering why the Facists attacked Moscow?" Yuri's joke gets a passing look, curious as to where this one is going, but she keeps her eyes focused on the perimeter.

Yuri shivers a bit as he continues the joke. Sure, a desert would be a nice place compared to this cold hell. "So, the American dashes forwards first, he jumps and shouts 'New Jersey'! And than disappears." He grins, "The Brittish is next. He sprints really fast and than exclaims, 'back home to Paris'" Give him some slack, he's young and doesn't know geography that well. "Than goes the German. He runs really really fast and accidentally trips, shouting out "Argh, Hitler's unholy butt!" before he hits the water and disappears."

Maschenko knocks his ring finger against the cigarette, shooting a glance northward in a quick scan of the horizon. No shapes. Careful watch, then he turns his attention back to Yuri. A slight smirk. "Soon they'll be rewriting that to say Stalingrad swallowed him, comrade. All willing."

smile appear in petrov's face while listening to yuri then goes to the thinking for a while "no, i'm wandering first, why they are forcing people, second why send them to the long distences" he said looking between all

Yulia shifts her body around to see into the house better while still able to glance at the others from time to time. And also to stave off the cold pins and needles in her feet. She listens to the joke in silence, then snorts and shakes her head at the finish. "Really. And - comrade Zoya. We can be vanilla together," she adds with a slight smirk. "You're not the only one." She peers over at Petrov, bemused. "I'm sure they send soldiers where they are needed most."

Elise ahs to Petrov. "Da, ours not to reason why, I suppose." Yuri's joke doesn't get a chuckle this time, just lips pursed into a thin line. "We should be so lucky, Comrade, to have something like that befall that madman."

A laugh at that. Oh man. Novikova grins at Yuri, "I like him already. Can we keep him?" Her eyebrows lift. "Now… fair is fair, so here is another. I know a joke a fellow at the University told me. He told me that we had launched the first man into space. A Ukranian shepherd standing atop a hill calls to his friend, "Andrij!" who calls back - The Russians have sent a man into space! His friend asks, "All of them?" The man shook his head, "No. Just one." The second shepherd sighs, "Then why are you bothering me?"" She winks. "Sorry, I couldn't resist." She shuffles her shoulders then frowns at Petrov. "That's why I am not a General I suppose."

Yuri glances between the people gathered, "You all seem willing to place things in luck's hands." He thinks for a moment and than chuckles, "I guess even that's better than in "God's" hands like the Brits and Americans do. Which is silly. I place my trust in my comrades and my weapon alone." He grins and than takes out a knife and strikes a notch at the barrel, as he does, it's visible that are dozens of notches on the barrel, who knows why. Than looking back to Novikova, Yuri listens to the joke and literally rolls laughing. "Good one. Ukranians don't like Russians too well it seems." He chuckles.

Novikova shrugs, "I doubt that it's anyone dislikes one another. Everyone makes fun of their neighbors." She interjects quietly.

Petrov nods to elise and yulia "well…..i hope" then eyes at novikova while smiling at her "you were a good joaker we didn't know!" and laughs repeatedly

"That joke is about moskalis, Zoya Dmitriyevna," Maschenko corrects Novikova, drily. "Hard to believe, but we don't have the time in Ukraine to dislike all of you at once." He gently exhales smoke, flicking another column of ash from the cigarette.

Yuri glances back to Maschenko. "If you dislike us, why do you fight with us than?" He asks curiously, looking as if he has asked 'the forbidden question'.

Grin at Maschenko. "Aaah! I'm sad, you already know that one." Novikova doesn't seem to mind. "Sometimes I forget the exact words. Ooh. A patient goes to his doctor. The doctor says: 'This medicine is for depression. This one for your nerves and that one for your stomach.' The patient sighs. "Don't you have anything to prescribe me /besides vodka/?"" She shakes her head. Then a grin at Petrov. "Ooh, this is why I am going to be launched into the Volga someday. I love my fellow apartment dwellers," A nod to Maschenko too. "But I suspect that one day, I may be the first Russian in space if I keep it up." She looks to Yuri, her eyebrows lifting. A wince. "Um. I don't think that is a good question." She shakes her head. "I shouldn't have made that joke." She looks guilty. "Sorry."

Elise shrugs slightly to Yuri. "It was just a joke." THAT was her idea of a joke? It's no wonder Novi is the funny one in the family. "Luck is not something you can trust in." Beyond that, she doesn't comment. The vodka joke does get a smirk.

Yulia turns back from a stretch of watching the house and listening to the others. She rubs her eyes with a thumb and forefinger. Once Yuri asks his question, her eyes light from face to face, eventually settling on Maschenko for a longer second. Then to Novikova. "They'll want comedians in space someday. You'll get a jump on everyone else by being the first." It's a weak attempt to lighten Novi's mood.

«Game» It is now night time.

Maschenko blows another gentle plume of smoke into the winter wind, the gray quickly whipped away by the icy air. "Because my jacket says Soviet, comrade." A slight stress on the 'S' word. "And so does yours. We fought for that too…we'll fight for this." He doesn't seem offended by the question. Surely it's been lobbed at him before, occupied Ukraine under suspicion as it is for producing traitors. He looks back at Novikova. "Oh, it's quite alright. Everyone and their mother knows that one. You'll have a badge as an honorary before you know it."

Elise nudges Novi gently with her elbow. "Don't fret, Cousin. Like Comrade Yulia said, you'll be the first." She smiles, attempting to cheer up her cousin. She nods in support of Maschenko's words. "We're all fighting against the same enemy."

Yuri leans back, seemingly thinking about something. Something existential. He doesn't reply to either though, just blows out a thick collumn of fog into the air and than smirking slightly as he watches the shape in the fog unfold into something that almost seemed like an elephant, or at least how he imagined one to be.

Novikova doesn't seem to think badly of the Ukranians, betraying an ignorance, innocence and confusion. Even if one nearly made her into string Novi. She snorts softly at the comments she'd be in space first, "Nyet! None of you has enough rubber bands." She winks at Yulia. A look to Maschenko. A grin. "Oh, thank you." She'll work hard. "So, a man decides he wishes learn to jump from planes. He goes to buy a parachute and asks the man at the shop, "What should I do if I pull the ring but the parachute doesn't open?" The man replies, "Pull the second ring?" So then the fellow asks, "What if I pull the second ring but the parachute doesn't open?" With a smile, the man replies, "Our shop will replace the broken parachute for free."" Novikova offers a distraction.

Yulia leans her elbow on the edge of the locker, resting her cheek against her hand. Her brow furrows at the conclusion of Novi's next joke. "I don't get it. How would he replace it if —?" Then a realization. "Oh." A roll of her eyes. "I'm not sure these are getting better, Zoya," she adds, almost teasingly.

Yuri laughs at this joke as well from Novikova and than glances at Yulia, "You must be a fellow Jokester to understand every joke, comrade!" He exclaims, breaking his train of thought and than looks back to Maschenko. "Glad to have you with us, comrade." He thinks for a moment, "What do you people plan to do when the war ends eventually?"

Maschenko's eyes flicker to Elise after she speaks. For once she gets an actual smile — small, but for the first time in a while it's completely unforced. He takes another drag off his cigarette, exhaling through his nose at the end of Novikova's new joke. "Cute." Black, but cute. War is a time for black humor. He coughs quietly, letting the wind take away the sound, and gives a slight nod to Yuri. At the mention of the war ending he doesn't answer immediately, glancing at the side of one of the destroyed buildings.

Elise glances back at the doctor, the smile getting a pleased one in return. Novi's joke causes her to shudder. "You won't catch me in an airplane. I've seen too many fall from the sky. Can't imagine jumping out of one." She shakes her head to Yuri's question, letting others answer.

"Well, at least he'd have a free parachute," Novikova offers and gently pats Elise's shoulder. "No planes for us then. Train is nice," She offers. A look to Yuri and tilts her head. "Uhm. Not much CAN be done until things get rebuilt a lot if you ask me. I'd like to finish my studies, it seems a waste to start and not stop. Plus I miss all my projects," She looks sad. "How about you? And da," A grin at Maschenko. "We are lucky to have him." She pauses and looks thoughtful. "Mostly I hope people go where they will be happy and find their work." She considers Mas another moment bbefore glancing to her cousin and the others.

Yuri shrugs his shoulders. "I've heard the French Foreign Legion need men. I doubt it will change after the war here." He shrugs again, surprised by the answers. Already the boy seems to be the kind who will not be able to function as a civillian. But than he grins, "Oh well. As long as we are alive by the end of it, I'm fine with whatever I do or where I go to."

Yulia shakes her head at Yuri. "A jokester I am not, though I can at least appreciate them. The good ones." She smirks, which fades quickly once considering his question. "After? Perhaps - help rebuild and continue at the hospital…" She seems puzzled for some reason. It doesn't seem any longer like it will be so easy to pick up where life left off. "I wouldn't mind going for a flight though," she says, picking up on Elise's comment. "At least when no Fascists are trying to put holes in the plane. Imagine seeing the motherland from up above."

Elise nods to Novi. "Da, I hope so too." Yuri gets an odd look. "Why in the world would you want to fight for France? Surely Russia will still need soldiers when all this is done with." She smirks weakly to Yulia. "You imagine it enough for the both of us, Comrade Yulia."

"I doubt France will have the strength to keep up much foreign presence after this," Maschenko remarks quietly. "They have some terrible shackles to throw off first." Shackles named Nazis. He gets a last little drag off his dying cigarette and leans over, pushing it into a lump of frozen dirt in the pool bottom. At the mention of planes he glances up at the rapidly darkening sky. "Wouldn't that be a wonder. I remember when they were still saying planes would never catch on."

Yuri looks to Elise, "Of course it won't, comrade. Germany will break it's teeth on Russia. I am sure of that. And than my comrades, we'll go pay Hitler a visit and kick him in the ass all the way to Stalingrad where he will be executed." He pauses for a moment, serious, "Russia won't need many soldiers after that." He grins.

Novikova tilts her head at Yuri. "Well. You seem nice enough, even if I don't know your whole name," She admits. "But … go where you'd be happy, where you can help those you care about." Notice she avoids family. So many have lost. She smiles at Elise, "Hey! We could even travel a bit I bet. Although you have a boyfriend now huh?" Now it's Novi's turn to tease a little, grinning. "Hmmm." She is being playful, but happy. A shrug. "I think they were wrong to say that. So many people love such a view. And imagine carrying things that fast. You could get medical supplies somewhere in hours or days, not weeks." She tilts her head. "Even without train tracks." Not to mention other goodies. "Although I can see why they say that too. It tends to get hairy fast if you go a— backside over kettle," She considers.

"I have no doubt of that, Comrade," Elise agrees with Yuri. "But Russia will always need soldiers, even in peace," Elise points out. "Germany is only one nation in the world." She blushes at Novi's teasing, elbowing her gently. "I don't know about travel. Where would we go?" Especially if they're limited to trains.

"That must have been before my time comrade doctor," Yulia replies, a faint wrinkle on her nose hinting at a smile. "Yes, but I guess it'll be a while before that will be a reality again. Going places like that. I will always want to stay in Stalingrad" that is, if it still exists after the war, " but it would be interesting to see other parts of Russia." She tilts her head up a bit, a bit amused at Novi's ribbing of Elise. Hm. To Novi she says, "You're clever though, thinking about using it for delivering medical supplies."

"Way before. Ancient times, comrade nurse," Maschenko replies back to Yulia, lips twitching. He can't help but glance up again at the further talk of planes, half paranoid and half plain curious. The time they saw an airdrop come in, the thing nearly crashed and lit half the factory building on fire. He looks back down and towards Elise as she talks of travelling somewhere.

Yuri sighs and shrugs his shoulders, standing up slightly and over to a window staring out into the darkness, "I'll keep watch." He says and than fades back into the background.

Novikova smiles at Elise. "Lots of places!" She offers. A look to Yulia. "Stalingrad is a good home," She agrees. She looks up too then back to the Doctor. "What, do you hav eone of those cool pharaoh hats? That would be awesome. I am Pharaoh Maschenkokamen. Bring me some COBRAS and um, Vodka! I don't know what you'd do with the cobras but they showed up a lot," She shrugs and smiles at Yulia. "Moscow might be fun to see." She smiles at Yuri. "We should hang out sometime. Be well." She nods.

Yulia watches Yuri move to the window and nods. "Thanks, comrade." Maschenko's searching for planes causes her to scan the night sky herself, but only for a brief second. Novikova's history lesson prompts a concerned look. And a snort. Maschenkokamen. "What — oh, that's right, you were the one with the ancient Egypt book. Cobras? Aren't they poisonous?" It may not be the most relevant conversation ever, but it's passing the time until relief comes. "Moscow, da. I'll probably get there at the very least to visit my friends."

Elise chuckles softly at her cousin. "You are just too much sometimes Zoyuschka." She'll grow quiet, settling in to keep watch.

"Be well," She smiles to the others. "Guess we should nap. I'm on fire stoking duty anyway," Novikova pouts and settles into her spot to poke the fire.

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