Football

Elise stands near the window, looking out cautiously over the darkened square. Not officially standing watch, but watching out of restlessness, velvety blanket draped around her shoulders against the night chill. Her rifle is propped against the wall within easy reach.

Novikova comes tromping along quietly. Novi's got energy and doesn't seem to be rife with too many cooties. Thus, she is put to work. She shakes off the cold before entering the room, and smiles, seeing her cousin. "Cousin," She greets her softly and moves to sit nearby.

Having been off in another part of the building, Karpov makes his way back into this room now. Looking a bit tired as he glances around the room for a few moments, nodding to those present. He then makes his way over towards somewhere to seat himself now.

"Cousin," Elise replies softly, not wanting to wake anybody who might be able to sleep. She hasn't been, as evidenced by tired circles under her eyes. Noticing Karpov return, she gives him a nod. "Comrade. It's Karpov, da?" She's seen him around but hasn't really spoken to him.

Novikova manages not to step on any of the sleeping comrades. She smiles, hearing someone else. A Karpov. She waves to the man and settles in near Elise. "You should sit a bit cousin, if you're not on watch. You look like me after realizing a project was due the next day…" She speaks softly. And nods to Karpov, "Hello Comrade."

"That would be me, yes. Slava Karpov," he introduces himself, with a quiet smile. Glancing around the room for a few moments, then back to Elise.

Elise takes her cousin's advice. One more look out the window into the inky blackness and she settles down alongside Novi, back to the wall. "Just tired," Elise says, scratching at the fresh bandage adorning her forehead. "Good to meet you," Elise replies to Karpov. "I'm Elise, Zoya's cousin." A very faint smile greets him in return. "You used to play for Traktor Stalingrad, da?"

Novikova unfolds a blanket to share, "I can tell. It's no good to be looking when your eyes are tired." She's tired(ish) but it apparently takes a lot to sink a Novikova. She smiles at her cousin. She settles in, more quietly and looks to Karpov. She goes quiet as Elise speaks, smiling faintly. A soft grunt and she's looking into her kit for something.

Karpov nods a little bit, "Some days it feels like a lifetime ago, but yes. I did." Pausing a little, he smiles, "And hopefully I will again in the future…" Offered a bit quietly.

Elise smirks wryly to Novi. "If that were true I think none of us would ever see anything these days." She gives Karpov a little nod in return. "Everything feels like a lifetime ago." Which sounds strange to say given how short her lifetime has been so far. "I saw you play," she says, with a tentative air not unlike someone talking to a rock star. "My uncle took me to see the game against Spartak Moscow. Quite a game."

Novikova considers, "That's probably true." She frowns and shrugs. Oh well. She nods, "Yeah. No kidding. Positively eras ago. Were there dinosaurs or - No, I am not that mean." She winks. She goes quiet to listen to the sports talk, smiling. She nods along though. She seems happier for some reason.

Karpov smiles a bit as he listens. Pausing a bit as he hears the part about having seen him play. "You did?" Nodding a bit at the part about the Spartak game. "It was a good game," he replies.

Elise peers at Novi. "How are dinosaurs mean?" Well, apart from the obvious eating people angle. She nods to Karpov. "Da, it wasn't long before they shut down the season." She mentions that part hesitantly, not sure if it's a sore subject. Looking to Zoya, she explains, "It was tied at 1-all, nearly out of time, and then Comrade Karpov stole the ball, passed it to Matveyev and he scored. Everyone went crazy."

Novikova grins. "Well, there was a joke in there," She shrugs, "But I decided not to make it." She listens to the football talk. "Oh I see. What position did you play?" She asks, carefully. She seems eager to let Elise do more of the talking, preferring to remain an encouraging presence. She smiles at Elise. "That is pretty tense." She nods. "What parts do you like about it?" This addressed to no one in particular.

Karpov shakes his head a bit at Novikova's words, "Not that old, really," he replies with a bit of a grin. "Was mammoths, not dinosaurs." He keeps quiet at the mention of the stolen ball and the pass. "Midfielder," he replies, before he adds, "Usually played in an offensive role, on the left side."

Elise aahs to Zoya. "I missed it completely," she says wryly. The question gets a curious head-tilt. "Like about football, you mean? Oh, I don't know… the competition is exciting. The games are often so close." A glance to Karpov, uncertain at his silence about the game. She looks back to Zoya, then, a slightly floundering look taking hold.

Novikova smiles and listens. "I see," She nods. Poor Elise. She looks to Karpov and then back to Elise. "Hmm. I see. Hey, what got you into football?" She asks the two, trying not to overwhelm and impose herself on the conversation. "It does sound pretty exciting."

Karpov smiles, "What I like about football? Everything, really. One of the best things, from the player's side of things is the kind of connection you get with your teammates, you know. And the close, exciting games are a good thing too. As for what got me into it, it was back in my childhood. I've always been an active person, and when I tried football the first time…" Pausing for a few moments, "That's history now," he offers.

Elise doesn't seem to see it as an imposition. If anything, she looks relieved by Zoya's interjection. "We played it in the youth league," she says, just a flicker of reluctance when bringing up the club, given its associations with the Nazis. It's outweighed by her enthusiasm for the sport and she presses on. "Teamwork, like Comrade Karpov said. And it's just fun, very active. The competition makes it interesting." She listens attentively to Karpov's explanation, relieved also to see him smile.

Novikova nods. Novikova is learning balance in conversation. She smiles as she listens. "I'm glad. And I don't know. History is alive. You'll get to play it again soon," She notes quietly. She smiles at Elise, not commenting on clubs. She was more content to dig around in a sandbox or something. She looks thoughtful, "That sounds like a good thing for someone to be into. I feel kind of boring by comparison. Maybe after, you'll both have to show me how to play. Who's the fellow who catches balls? I wonder if I'd be good at that part. I was miserable at dodgeball so …" So maybe she'd make a good goalie by virtue of being a ball magnet?

"The goalkeeper," Karpov offers to Novikova, with a bit of a grin. "And when we get through this, I'll be happy to show you." He nods a bit at Elise's words too, before he adds, "And another good thing with it is that you don't need very much equipment to play it."

Elise smiles a little at Zoya. "That would be fun." She looks surprised as Karpov agrees. Such an offer for a fan. "Th…thank you, Comrade," she says, somewhat shyly. "It'll be amusing to watch you run rings around us." On Zoya's goalkeeping. "I'm sure it would be far less uncomfortable than catching bullets, which you seem to have a knack for. You ought to give it a try. And you're not boring, Zoya. Psh."

Novikova nods, "That." She smiles back. She seems pleased enough. "I am sure you are better than you think," Novikova notes. "As long as you have fun," She keeps a little smile and laughs softly. "I hope so. Mostly, I will enjoy playing as long as you're playing too." Nod. "Hah. I could sit and stare at a plant. The soldier who stares at plants," She closes one eye jokingly. "I don't think I've sprouted leaves at least. Hm. But that sounds very good, all of it." She goes quiet for a bit. "And you flatter me, cousin." Grin. "Do you play many games over a season then?"

Karpov smiles, "You're welcome," he replies, before he nods in agreement with Elise. "Catching bullets seem to be quite worse, yes," he offers.

Elise lets out a soft half-chuckle at Novi's staring plants impression. "Well, staring at plants is much more ladylike than running about a football field." Not that Elise cares. She looks at Karpov, still a little flustered, and says, "Ah, speaking of bullets… how are you feeling after that knock on the head? I never got a chance to thank you for shooting that guy with the SMG."

Novikova snorts. "Me, ladylike. Next, dogs will drive trucks. " She winks and smiles. "Thank you." She seems pleased, and somewhat amused. She looks to Karpov at the question. A slow nod at the gratitude part. "Da, those little guns are wicked."

"I'm fine. Luckily the rifle hit me more than the bayonet. Knocked me out," Karpov replies, before he adds, "And it's okay. I must admit I'm glad that I hit, though. But it seems I've learned how to shoot the rifle rather well, all things considered."

Elise smirks at Zoya, then nods to Karpov. "Well, I'm glad. I mean, that it wasn't as bad as it looked." A nod to the talk of hitting. "We've all gotten a lot of practice."

Novikova listens for a moment. She watches the two and nods. "That is good," She agrees. Those SMGs are ugly. "And yeah, the bayonets are mean too." A soft sigh. "I was impressed at the marksmanship," She admits. "Perhaps rifle clubs will be more popular after this." A shrug. "I don't know if I'd keep up with it."

Karpov smiles a little bit, "Unfortunately there'll always be some use for the rifles, I guess…" He sighs a little bit to himself now, looking around for a few moments, then back to the others.

Elise shakes her head to Novi. "No, I won't." She seems quite determined on that idea. "But I imagine they will be, Da." She stifles a yawn. "I think I'm going to lie down and rest a bit. It was good talking to you, Comrade Karpov." He gets a shy smile, and then she turns it on Zoya (minus the shyness). "Rest well, Zoyuschka."

Novikova smiles at Elise and nods. "Probably." She looks happier that Elise is going to rest. "Rest well cousin," She offers. She will settle in too, and looks to Karpov. "I think I will take a rest too," She adds. "Be well."

Karpov nods a little as he hears that, "Rest well," he offers to the two of them, as he starts moving towards a place to seat himself now.

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