#Dr Mikhail Astrov

[louk419]

Earth Day 2024 🌳 While researching his role as the conservation-minded Dr Astrov in Uncle Vanya, Richard went to Tring Park in Hertfordshire to help with a Woodland Trust project to plant one million trees in a day. “Sometimes people think these exercises are irrelevant or pretentious," he told the Radio Times in June 2021, "but as well as being a fun day out, I found it really useful.”

[ansonmountdaily]

Anson Mount on theatre roles he'd like to play

When Anson was at Dragon Con in September 2022 promoting Star Trek: Stange New Worlds, a fan in the audience asked him what theatre roles he's always wanted to play.

Anson mentioned Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov (the role of Mikhail Lvovich Astrov, a country doctor), and The Changeling by Thomas Middleton and William Rowley (the role of De Flores, servant to Vermandero). The fan also brought up Shakespeare's Macbeth and Anson said he's played the role of Malcolm (Elder son of Duncan, king of Scotland) before.

In 2020 Anson played Uncle Vanya's Dr. Astrov in a virtual theatre production of the play (gifs here and here).

Uncle Vanya portrays the visit of an elderly professor and his glamorous, much younger second wife, Yelena, to the rural estate that supports their urban lifestyle. Two friends - Vanya, brother of the professor’s late first wife, who has long managed the estate, and Astrov, the local doctor - both fall under Yelena’s spell, while bemoaning the ennui of their provincial existence.

The Changeling is about young Beatrice who is in love with a visiting nobleman, Alsemero. However, her father has already arranged her marriage to Alonzo, another nobleman. Desperate to be with her love, Beatrice enlists the help of De Flores, a cunning but ugly servant, a deceptive man obsessed with her and determined to claim her virtue. While she initially resists him, Beatrice is drawn into lustful complicity with De Flores, and together they set in motion a chain of love, lust, madness, and death.

Source: Dragon Con panel footage (via Clayton Courtney)

[qveenbervthiel]

Richard Armitage as Dr. Astrov in Uncle Vanya (2020)

[mezzmerizedbyrichard]

Astrov spam 1/?

My screencaps and edits.

[linasofia]

Into The Woods

Part 2

Fandom: Uncle Vanya (2020)

Relationship: Dr Mikhail ”Misha” Astrov x Female OC

Warnings: 18+

Words: 2,2K

A/N: This is part 2 of a fic I wrote for the Armitage Summer Splash event. You can read the first part here.

@legolasbadass & @lathalea This is for you! Thanks for all your feedback.💚💚

Faint rays of light find their way through the thin curtain and wake me much too early. The calming sound of raindrops against the window makes me pull the duvet closer to my chin. It is not heavy rain, I can tell by the soft sound, but an innocent summer rain, and its only purpose is to give nature a life-giving glittering blanket over its green fields. I turn away from the window but the curtain is not thick enough to block the light out. The room is small, there is only room for a bed, a nightstand and a small dresser but I’m glad I got to sleep in a real bed tonight and not on a mattress in the main room, which last night looked more like a dormitory at a summer camp than the sleeping area for a group of adult academics. When I stumbled to bed, I left the window in my little room ajar and now, my head is grateful for the morning air. I stretch my body on the bed and massage my temples. We had fun last night. The food and wine were exquisite, the combination of family, dear friends and colleagues turned out to be a genius idea, and the singing and dancing went on long after the midnight sun had nudged the horizon. But today I pay the price for all decadence.

I smile at the memory of Misha trying to get a word with my brother after we returned from our secret adventure in the forest. With a sweet blush on his bearded cheeks, he explained on our way back to the cabin that he was a little old-fashioned. Misha was not really seeking my brother’s approval but he wanted to tell him face to face, rather than Nikolay finding out in another way. But my brother was the center of everyone’s attention, as he should be on his birthday, and never understood Misha’s request for a private conversation.

The sound of gentle drops finally drives me out of bed and with a sigh, I search my bag for something to slip on while I visit the bathroom. Everybody seems to be asleep, and when I walk on silent feet the few meters to the bathroom I try to be as silent as I can. I notice the door to Misha’s bedroom is closed and I assume he is sleeping, just as the rest of the cabin. My head feels heavy and I rest it in my hands as I sit down and do what I came for, inspired by the dripping against the windowsill. Maybe a short walk in the light rain and a healthy dose of fresh air can make the situation better. I drink water directly from the tap, quickly brush my teeth and then leave the bathroom. The front door is not locked and I manage to sneak out unnoticed. Once again I leave my sandals indoors, this time to avoid them getting ruined in the wet grass. The summer-child in me is awake and nature calls my name. If it was not for the drumming against my temples, I would run through the high wet grass and let it tickle my sun-kissed calves. But instead, I walk, enjoying the feeling of light rain on my bare arms, not caring about the fabric of my dress slowly getting soaked. My bare feet carry me to the area where the meadow turns to forest and I stop on the small trail to take in the smell of wet pine and soil.

”We have to stop seeing each other like this.” The dark, familiar and slightly amused voice behind me instantly makes me spin around and Misha’s sapphire eyes greet me. His gaze is warm when he lets it follow my body’s curves and I realize that my dress at this point is probably showing him much more than I would be comfortable with if we had not been intimate last night. He wears the same trousers as the day before but his soiled shirt has been replaced with a clean navy one. In the rain, it slowly takes the same shape as his body and I could get drunk again just by looking at him.

”What are you doing here? I thought I was the only one awake.” I really thought I was. Not that I’m disappointed to see him, only astonished.

”I was laying on the porch swing under the big oak. I like resting there, the pillows are very comfortable. The old oak’s crown of leaves works as mother nature’s protection and is a good addition to the small roof of the swing. It keeps the rain away.” He gives me a warm smile that makes his eyes glitter more than the drops of rain falling from his hair. ”You can guess how surprised I was when I saw you walking out in the rain.” His hands gently brush over my upper arms. ”Especially dressed like this.” You should have borrowed my raincoat, or at least an umbrella. They are just by the door.”

”I’m fine,” I tell him. ”I love the feeling of summer rain and I don’t want to hide from it under a piece of water repellent fabric.” Misha bursts into laughter. Then he wraps his arms around me and holds me close. When his lips meet mine in a tender kiss I hug him back, like I am afraid this vision standing in front of me, in clothes that now cling to his body, might disappear. With a low groan, he deepens our kiss, his tongue finds its way between my lips and his hands become more eager as they caress my back, my waist and finally the top of my thighs. I moan softly as he pulls the fabric up and reaches for my naked skin. His large hands squeeze gently at the soft flesh of my hips and when he looks me in the eyes, it’s like opening the window to his soul. The sincerity in his eyes almost knocks me over and, together with the heat his hands create on my body, he enchants me once again.

”You are really special, I have never met anyone like you.” His voice is husky when he speaks and his chest is so warm, even if his shirt is just as wet as my dress. His voice is filled with longing, the same longing runs in my veins and my whole body aches for him. He runs his hands over my hair and kisses me again and when his tongue dances with mine I can’t help thinking that this man was made for me. I’m amazed by how well we fit together. He breaks the kiss with a displeased grunt.

”We can’t stay here in the rain. I would love to go back inside, take off your beautiful but soaked dress, put you in my bed and make love to you. But I don’t think that is the smartest way to wake the rest of the guests.” He gives me a smirk that makes him look playful. I know he is right. Teasingly I run my fingers through his hair at the back of his neck and gently scratch my nails against the soft skin, and I can almost feel him shivering under my touch. My name is only a trembling whisper as it falls from his alluring lips.

He rubs my upper arms and then takes my hand. His long fingers cover my significantly smaller hand. ”Come. Let’s go, before you get cold.” His thoughtfulness makes me smile and I follow him, even if my whole body is protesting and demands more of his hands on my skin. As if he can read my mind, he lifts my hands to his lips and places a gentle kiss over my knuckles. ”We will come back to this soon, I promise. I just don’t want you to freeze and catch something that will keep you away from me when we get back to town. I’m selfish in that way, you see?”

From a distance, the cabin looks almost abandoned. No life is to be seen and all windows except mine are closed. The cabin is large, too large to be called a cabin, actually, and I remember thinking yesterday when I arrived that it was not what I had expected, it was beyond my imagination. Misha told me while giving me a quick tour that it had been in his family ever since it was built. I picture the logs for the building coming from the forest around us. Cut down by hand and then transported to the meadow. The cabin, built by sturdy men who knew that good work would be rewarded, members of the Astrov family tree who no longer can breathe in the scent of pine and wet grass. My heart aches a little. The very soul of the cabin rests in its walls.

The sound of Misha’s voice pulls my attention back to him. ”Maybe we should change clothes and then sit on the porch until the rest wake up. How does it sound?” I squeeze his hand and give him a nodding smile. ”Hopefully they are very tired today.” The stairs up to the cabin are a little slippery but Misha holds my hand tightly in his, protecting me from falling if I should slip.

A few minutes later I sit down beside him on the outdoor sofa in the corner of the porch. I wear a long white sweater that was meant for yesterday evening, but it stayed in my bag since the night was so warm. Now I’m glad I have it. He places a blanket over my bare legs and gently caresses my knee. A part of the blanket rests in his lap. Then he gives me a concerned look. ”Are you warm enough?”

”I was not really cold before, but thank you. It feels good.” Misha puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me closer to him. I rest my head against his firm body, feeling the intoxicating scent that is uniquely his. The rain has almost stopped now and the clouds in the sky will eventually bow to the sun. Under the blanket, I sneak my hand over to his knee and gently caress his thighs. His legs are a treat for my palm and I seductively run my hand over the strong muscles and I hear him softly pull in air between his teeth as I firmly squeeze the firmness of his upper thigh. Encouraged by his reaction I grow bolder and let my fingers wander along the inside of his thigh, but I stop as soon as I feel him tighten his grip on my shoulder. My name sounds like a treat when he rolls it on his tongue. As much as I long to touch him, all of him, I will not do it with the risk of someone stepping out of the door. Hiding my own arousal is easier than covering his state. Soft linen trousers can be very revealing for a man of his size. I withdraw my hand and a ragged breath slips from Misha. ”You have the power to drive me mad,” he then murmurs as he presses his lips against my hair.

Suddenly the door opens and my brother steps out on the porch. He looks like he came directly from bed; traces of a pillow can be seen on his cheek and his hair stands like the ends of a broom. With a surprised look on his face, Nikolay’s gaze wanders from me to Misha, to his arm around my shoulders and back to my face.

”Is this what it looks like?” His question is not directed to any of us in particular, but Misha answers him. My dear brother gets the news before he even has had his morning coffee. His face turns to a big smile and he stumbles over, clearly with a heavy hangover, and gives me a bear hug. Then he turns to Misha. ”Be good to her, or else!” With his finger, he makes a very telling gesture at his own neck and if it wasn’t for the grin on his face, I would have been horrified. A relieved laughter erupts from Misha’s chest.

”I need coffee,” Nikolay then says with a pointed look.

Misha removes his arm and stands with a grunt.

”Me too.”

When he disappears inside, my brother takes a seat on my other side. He rests his head on my shoulder and I pat him. We sit in comfortable silence, but then he speaks in a soft and affectionate voice.

”You look very happy, my dearest sister. Astrov is a great guy, nobody would be more happy for you than me, if this becomes serious. But don’t tell him I said so.”

I give him a hug, ”That’s because I am very happy.”

After a while, seated between my brother and Misha, I warm my hands on a mug filled with coffee and notice that my head feels much better. The sun shines through the clouds and when the rays of light hit the wet grass it glitters like someone sparkled the meadow with tiny diamonds. The view fills me with a blissful feeling and I smile serenely. Slowly more people join us on the porch and the cabin comes to life. It looks like it’s going to be another warm day after all. Followed by a presumably heated night.

Did you like it? Please like, comment or/and reblog! ❤️

Taglist and others who might be interested: @lathalea @legolasbadass @fizzyxcustard @middleearthpixie @i-did-not-mean-to @laurfilijames @enchantzz @bitter-sweet-farmgirl @xxbyimm @kibleedibleedoo @mariannetora @s0ftd3m0n @haly-reads @sunnysidesidra

Please let me know if you want to be added or removed.

[sorisooyaa]

Proposal - June 26th

Pairing: Dr. Mikhail Astrov x Fem!OC

Taglist: @fizzyxcustard @lathalea​

Theatre: Uncle Vanya

A/N: Idk how I feel about this one tbh! A part of me hates it and another part of me likes it. Idk you guys, I’m head is really bad rn and hard to keep looking at the screens, the more I add I keep messing it up so I left it as it is. Someone plz shed some light on this, cuz Idk how feel about ot... Also, apologies the bottom text is hard to read, it says ‘Shall we get married then?’

[astrovian]

I couldn't pick between flowers or no flowers so have both 🌺

Digital painting of Richard Armitage as Dr. Mikhail Lvovich Astrov in Uncle Vanya

Both versions up on Redbubble:

Flowers here

No flowers here

[riepu10]

Dr. Mikhail Lvovich Astrov Uncle Vanya (2020)

[sweetestgbye]

Week 3 - Day 17 - Armitage Summer Splash

Tags: @lathalea @fizzyxcustard

Trope: Illness

Quote: “I need space away from you.”

Character(s): Dr. Astrov x Reader

Notes: My customary drabble got away from me and became a bit of a fic. Also! According to Google, solnishko is Russian for "little sun."

*************************************************

“I need space away from you,” you said to Astrov as you half hid behind your door.

“Space? What brought this on?” he asked as he stepped closer to the door, placing his hand on the doorframe. “You don’t look well. Why don’t you let me come in? We can talk. Let me make sure you’re alright. Then I’ll go.”

“Please. Leave me be,” you whispered as you shut the door, leaving the stunned doctor on your doorstep. Slowly you leaned forward, the wood of the door cool against your forehead. You were not fine, far from it, but you had decided you needed to let him go. What was the saying again? If you love something, set it free, if it comes back it was meant to be?

It had been weeks since Dr. Mikhail Lvovich Astrov had last seen you. At first thoughts of you plagued him. He could not figure out what had gone wrong. He greatly enjoyed your company, although he knew he could be a grump and at times it was hard to tell. However, thoughts of you quickly dissipated as the typhoid epidemic worsened in the next village. He had been gone for days and had little time to think past what to do with the patients in front of him but, finally, he was given a reprieve and able to head home. He found his mind wandering back to thoughts of you as he rode through the forest, of the days you had spent walking side by side, helping him to survey the land, occasionally stopping to pick the wildflowers. Astrov’s thoughts went back to the day you had spent making daisy chains as you walked through the fields. You had even tried to braid some into his beard. He laughed to himself at the memory and decided he would call on you in the morning.

By the time Astrov woke, the morning was gone. Instead of calling on you at home he wandered into the village. He knew at this time of day he could usually find you hiding in the back corner of the tearoom, either reading the latest fiction or gossiping away with the ladies from the market. He was surprised to find you were not there nor had you been in for at least two weeks. He immediately thought the worst and rushed to your door.

A loud rapping woke you from your nap. Groggily you made your way to the door. “Astrov,” you exclaimed as you found a winded doctor on your doorstep.

“I heard you haven’t been well. Please,” he pleaded, “let me in. If not as a friend, as a doctor.”

You stepped aside to let him in, and he followed you into the living room. Wordlessly you sat on the sofa as Astrov began to unload his doctor’s bag and busied himself with checking you over. You knew the worn leather bag well, the smell, the feel, he carried it everywhere with him, even on your walks into the woods. “You never know when someone may need a doctor,” he once told you. “It’s good to be prepared.” You smiled at the thought.

“I missed that.”

“Missed what?”

“Your smile, solnishko,” he said as he took your wrist in his hand to check your pulse. “I was starting to forget how it could light up a room.” He let go of your arm and started to raise his hand to brush your hair behind your ear but stopped himself. “Tell me. What’s wrong?”

“I’m just tired. Very tired.”

“Have you been eating?”

“A little.”

“Anything else wrong? Any pain?”

Just the pain in my heart, you thought to yourself. “No.”

He sat next to you on the sofa and took your hand. “I think you’re not telling me everything.”

“I’m afraid you won’t think much of me if I do. I’m being selfish really. There are sick people out there who need you and here you are attempting to doctor me out of a melancholy of my own devising.” You paused. Astrov said nothing. He just sat and held your hand and waited for you to continue. “I have missed your companionship these past few weeks. Our little strolls through the fields and woods. Especially now with all the spring flowers starting to bloom. Oh, spring! It makes me think of new beginnings. Makes me long for my own new beginning, or at least one I thought I would have had by now. Oh, Misha,” you said as you squeezed his hand, “I do love you. I’ve been trying to hide it from you and myself, but I can hide it no longer. I thought you did not feel the same, so I set you free yet here you are returned to me.”

“We must be meant to be,” he said as he tucked your hair behind your ear and gently kissed your lips.

[qveenbervthiel]

Richard Armitage as Dr. Astrov in Uncle Vanya (2020)

[mezzmerizedbyrichard]

Dr Astrov spam 4/?

My screencaps and edits.

[mezzmerizedbyrichard]

Astrov spam 2/?

My screencaps and edits.

[mezzmerizedbyrichard]

Astrov spam 3/?

My screencaps and edits.

[linasofia]

Armitage Summer Splash #17

Trope: Illness

Quote: “I need space away from you.”

RA character: Dr Mikhail Astrov

@lathalea @fizzyxcustard @legolasbadass @middleearthpixie @i-did-not-mean-to @laurfilijames @enchantzz @bitter-sweet-farmgirl @xxbyimm @kibleedibleedoo

[linasofia]

🤭🤭 @enchantzz Thank you, I'm glad you like it!💙

Into The Woods

Armitage Summer Splash #5

Trope: Drunken admission of feelings

Quote: “I cannot believe you did that!”

Relationship: Dr Mikhail Astrov (Uncle Vanya) x Fem!OC

Warnings: 18+

Words: 3,3K

Thanks @lathalea & @legolasbadass for your help and feedback! 💚

***

The scent of pine is strong as I hurriedly walk barefoot along the narrow trail leading away from the cabin, leaving the laughter and singing behind. Dry pine needles cover my path and the soft carpet created by mother nature silences my footsteps. The night is still young, but the birds have already put their little ones to sleep. Warm air is surrounding me and the midnight sun prevents my skin from getting cold despite the late hour.

His voice calls me back, but I keep on walking, eager to put some distance between us. The way his eyes shone with a special light when I met his gaze, and his lips left a small burning mark on the back of my hand, made me question what he really wants from me. Dr. Astrov, or just Astrov, as most people seem to call him outside work, is a friend and colleague of my brother, and the main reason why I am at this party in a cabin located deep in the forest. My brother raised an eyebrow when I, too quickly, accepted his invitation. But the truth is that as soon as I heard that Nikolay was having his birthday party at Astrov’s place, I knew I needed to be there.

I stumble a little when a treacherous pine root briefly captures my foot and it makes me sway. But I do not fall to the ground and my dress brushes against my knees as I carry on at a hurried pace. I need fresh air. My head is spinning both from the strong wine I have been drinking all evening and the shift in Astrov’s eyes when he looked at me over the edge of his glass. Those beautiful sapphire eyes rested on me and it made my world spin. When he took my hand and slowly placed an old-fashioned, but very sensual, kiss over my knuckles and then another on the back of my hand, my needs exploded under my skin. I do not know if it was good or bad that my brother decided to interrupt our interaction by proposing a toast which made everybody look at him. Including Astrov. Maybe my brother saw what happened, maybe he did not, but his timing was… questionable. After the toast, our flirty moment was gone and one of my brother’s other friends stole Astrov’s attention by questioning him about some work-related matter. I emptied my large glass and excused myself, put the glass on the counter and headed for the door.

I can hear him calling my name again and his deep voice fills the air with his presence. He has the type of voice that travels through walls when he speaks, a commanding voice, suited for leading armed men in combat or, when dropped to a low murmur, women to his bed. His voice sounds closer now and my heart picks up speed. I have, unintendedly, turned this into a chase but when I look over my shoulder I do not see him yet. I smile to myself and slow down. I don't really want to run away. Rather the opposite. The rays of light from the midnight sun find their way through the green ceiling created by the treetops and caress my cheeks. The air is filled with diligent small buzzing insects refusing to go to sleep and I giggle with a slightly drunken smile at their perseverance in work when one of them circles my head. Eventually, it must have come to the conclusion that I am not a flower and abandons me for other targets.

Suddenly, I hear movement behind me and I cannot resist turning around. My heart makes a flip when I see him. Astrov’s hair glows every time the rays of warm light touch him and when he runs to quickly close the distance between us, his linen shirt hugs his chest in a way I cannot ignore. He stops in front of me, pulls his hand through his hair and gives me a questioning look. His eyes make me forget everything else and even the movement of the earth seems to slow down as the thin lines around his eyes deepen and his alluring lips form a smile.

”Are you running away from me?” His voice is playful but in his eyes I see a hint of insecurity, despite his slightly drunken state. He does not really know me that well and cannot tell what I am thinking.

”No… I just needed some fresh air. It is very warm inside and maybe I drank a little too much.” That is not a total lie but not the main reason for me to leave the cabin.

”It is. But it’s an amazing party. Nikolay always knows how to be a great host.”

”Yes, he does!” My brother means the world to me and hearing Astrov’s recognition of his efforts makes me warm inside.

Silence rests in the air and I look down at my naked feet. I have no idea why I left without my sandals but at the moment it felt less important to put them on. I have always loved to walk barefoot, preferably on grass or summer-warm cliffs by the sea, and feel the changes in nature under my feet. My mother always said I was a summer child, with bruised knees and calluses on my feet, sun-bleached hair and a natural tan, earned by countless hours playing outside. Darker freckles graced my face as soon as the spring sun appeared in the sky and just as much as I hated them as a young girl, I grew to love the characteristic look it gives me.

”I’m going for a walk, do you want to come along?” I suddenly hear myself say and I raise my head to meet his gaze. He gives me a warm smile and I feel the earth moving again as we start walking together deeper into the forest. At first, Astrov walks in silence beside me but it takes only a few minutes before we find that endless stream of topics we both can relate to and find joy in. He is so easy to talk to and it might be the wine making me bold but when his hand brushes against my hand for the third time, I take it. The second he wraps his long fingers around my hand, I know I am in trouble.

We walk without any plan for direction, talking and laughing, but without advancing beyond holding hands, which now feels more natural than breathing. I have no idea how far we have walked or for how long we have been gone, but the forest changes in its nature. Before us the waters of a big dark lake glitter in the sun. The surface is perfectly still and the trees closest to the lake cast their long reflections over the water. An old charming wooden rowboat is tied to a large rock and I smile when I get closer. Someone put in a great amount of time to keep that boat in a decent condition. It seems almost like a waste of time out here where no one can see it. The warm light from the midnight sun makes the whole picture absolutely bewitching.

It must be the amount of alcohol in my blood, but the lake is calling me and I suddenly feel an urgent need to throw myself in the alluring dark water and cool the skin on my body. I steal a glance at Astrov and the way he looks back at me makes my heart beat even harder than before. I really need to cool down, before I make a complete fool of myself. And still a mischievous idea forms in my head.

”Do you think the water is warm?”

”I know it is. I went for a swim in the lake yesterday when I got here. I bathe here all the time but I usually take my bike. When I am not trying to catch up with a beautiful barefooted woman running around in the woods, that is.”

My heart makes a flip but I ignore it. Instead I give him a daring smile.

”Let us take a dip. It would be a waste to walk all this way and not do it. Look how beautiful it is.” I wave my hand vaguely at the lake and Astrov gives me a look filled with disbelief.

”You do not have any swimwear…”

”Neither do you, I think. Are you prudish?” I giggle when his disbelief turns to a grin.

”Far from it.” He starts to unbutton his white linen shirt and I pull my summer dress over my head and toss it in the grass. I put my hands on my hips and watch him as he struggles a little with the last buttons. I am somewhat relieved that he is not sober either. I wait for him to pull the shirt off and when he does it’s a reward to watch, to say the least. His tanned skin glows in the warm light and the well-defined muscles on his upper body make it impossible not to stare. He is far from bulky, but he looks naturally strong, like he does a lot of heavy work in the woods or in his enormous garden surrounding the cabin in his free time. Dark hair covers his chest and I cannot help but imagine how it would feel under my hands. His shoes and trousers soon rest in a pile together with his shirt and I smile softly as I reach for the clasp of my bra.

”Wet underwear is not a favorite of mine. Why stop now?” I say with a wink. It must be the wine talking, I am not usually this comfortable with taking my clothes off and when the last piece of soft lace slides off me I lower my gaze, but I do not miss the soft gasp coming from Astrov. Feeling less cocky when fully naked, I turn to the lake and quickly wade out in the surprisingly warm water. Without looking back I throw myself in its dark embrace and I love the cooling feeling it has on my skin. The lake is deeper than I thought, even close to land, and therefore it quickly becomes colder the longer I swim from the shore. Behind me I hear a splash but when I look over my shoulder I only see the movements of the water. I wait for him and he appears right by my side, closer than I expected. I can almost feel him as he slowly swims around me. His hair is slick with water and it makes him look even more alluring than before.

”I cannot believe you did that!” He grins at me and I playfully splash some water at him. ”It has been a very long time since I was skinny dipping.” He doesn’t seek revenge for my splashes, but I can feel the movements in the water when he swims next to me. Neither of us say anything else but the nakedness is pulling us closer to each other and the air feels heavy and like it is charged with electricity. He watches me intensely and his wet lashes make his eyes even more expressive than usual.

”This was a nice idea.”

”I only have good ideas, Astrov.” I give him a teasing smile and he chuckles.

”So it seems.” His voice drops to a murmur and it sparks the small torch inside me and heat starts to pulsate deep inside my core. ”And please, call me Mikhail.” He is so close to me now and when he slides an arm around my waist to pull me even closer, I place my hands on his shoulders. ”Can I call you Misha?” I whisper softly and the warm affectionate glow in his eyes is answer enough.

His lips are soft and warm when they meet mine. Mikhail turns out to be an amazing kisser and when he intensifies our kiss by letting his tongue meet mine in a sensual slow dance, I moan into his mouth. His grip around me tightens but the deep water is not ideal for lusty moments. He pulls me with him back to where he can reach the sand and stand steadily, like one of the tall pines watching over us and what is inevitably happening. Eagerly he moves his hands and grip my thighs, lifting me in the water and urging me to pull my legs around him. I do as he wants and gasp as his skin meets my most sensitive parts. With one hand around my back and one under my bum he assaults my lips in a series of heavenly kisses. I kiss him back with all my feelings running freely in my body. I can feel the effect I have on him and he does not attempt to hide his own arousal. It rests against my skin and when he rubs me over his hardness, I whimper. His hands travel over my body, explore it under the surface of the water, where none of us can see. My body answers to him in a way I have never experienced before and when he slides his hand between our bodies to gently caress my sensitive bundle of nerves, the needs in me explode. I let my head fall back with a moan as his skilled fingers make me feel what their full attention means. Then he lifts me higher so he can reach more of me and my body is so ready it takes me by surprise when my climax washes over me. I cling desperately to his body as my body shakes in the water and when I come to my senses again, he kisses me deeply. Fire dances in his eyes and his hold on me tightens.

”God, you looked so amazing when you came. I want to see you like that again.” His words vibrate against my lips when he murmurs them and all I can do is wrap my arms around his neck as he starts walking out of the water. He puts me down on the grass, grabs his shirt and spreads it out before he gently lays me down on it. At least most of my back rests against it but that feels less important. The gesture is just another tender detail from his side.

Misha quickly covers my body with his and the fire in his eyes burns steadily as I part my legs to give him enough room. I want him just as much as he wants me and when he presses the top of his hardness against my opening, I gasp. Without breaking eye contact he slowly enters me, allowing me to feel every inch of his thick shaft and the stretch my body needs to perform makes me see stars. I hug him tighter, my body begging him to settle closer and deeper. When he finally rocks his hips against mine, the world around us disappears and all that is left are two bodies, slowly driving each other mad with lust.

As if he is able to read my mind and body like an open book, Misha takes in every single hint I give him and he soon finds the perfect angle and pace to bring me closer to the brink of relief. He rests his hands on either side of my head, allowing him to look at me and see all my reactions, not only feeling them with his body. I have never had a more present lover and the way he tends to my needs, like my pleasure is the most important thing in the world to him, only deepens my already strong feelings for him.

When I come again it is with his name on my lips, desperately pulling him close to me and digging my fingers into the firm muscles on his back. I can feel how hard I clench around him and the low groan erupting in his throat tells me how good it feels for him as well. He follows me after a few more thrusts, I can feel him swelling and then he stills, panting heavily, but with the sexiest smile I have ever seen. The fire in Misha’s eyes is replaced with something more tender and my heart aches at the sight. He bends down to place a soft kiss on my cheek.

”I do not usually believe in love at first sight,” he then says softly, ”but I have never felt like this before. I mean, not after the short time we have known each other.”

”Technically this is not a first sight, we have met before.”

”I know I am drunk, but not that drunk. I do remember the last time. It was a way too short meeting but I thought you were stunningly beautiful. No wonder Nikolay is a little protective when it comes to you.”

I giggle at his comment on my dear brother. Water drips from his hair down on my neck and chest as he slowly shakes his head. ”You must think I’m crazy. No sane man says that kind of thing after…well…after sex. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

”I feel the same,” I say with a sudden shyness. The truth is that I have not been able to stop thinking of him since the last time we met. But I am not ready to confess that. At least not tonight. Misha's deep kiss seals our statements and then he sits up on his knees.

”I could stay here until morning with you but maybe we should go back, or what do you think?”

”It might be for the best. I guess people will soon start to question where we went, if they have noticed that is.”

I stand on unsteady legs but Misha supports me as I grab my clothes. My hair is still very wet and creates a damp spot on the back of my dress. I watch Misha as he shakes his shirt but it is beyond rescue. The traces of grass and soil in addition to the soaked material makes him laugh and he tosses the shirt over his shoulder like it was a towel. I swallow hard. He looks too good to be true wearing only his beige trousers. He gives me a contagious smile and reaches for my hand as we start our walk back.

We walk in silence for most parts, like we both need time to process the evening, but when I for the first time think I recognize the surroundings, Misha breaks the silence.

”Do you think Nikolay will kill me for this?”

”Let us hope he is drunk enough to not notice that my hair is wet and you are missing a shirt.” I cannot prevent the laughter from escaping me.

”Nobody can be that drunk. Not even your brother.”

”Good point.”

”He better get used to it because I am not letting you go.” Misha stops in his tracks and pulls me into his arms. The kiss is filled with emotions and when he breaks it, he rests his forehead against mine. ”I am serious. This is not only for tonight. Not for me.”

My heart flutters happily at his words and I caress his cheek. His beard is so soft under my fingers. ”Not for me either.”

Far away I can hear the sound of music and laughter. I give Misha a smile.

”Come on, let’s give them something to talk about.”

***

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[linasofia]

Into The Woods

Part 3

Fandom: Uncle Vanya (2020)

Relationship: Dr Mikhail ”Misha” Astrov x OC

Words: 3K

Warnings: 18+

A/N: This is the third part of this fic. You can read the previous parts here.

@legolasbadass & @lathalea thanks again for your help. 💚💚💚

With a longing look in his expressive eyes, Misha asked me to stay another night. When all other guests left, and while my dear brother kissed my cheek and wished me a pleasant day, I blushed at the indecent insinuation in his words. I have no doubt in my heart when it comes to Nikolay’s approval of my choice, for he has always been honest with me. He wants me to be happy and as we left childhood behind, he slowly learned that I am fully capable of taking care of myself and that my judgment when it comes to people’s characters often is even better than his. While he always takes time to calculate situations by facts, I rely more on my gut feeling. Maybe it was my imagination but his hug felt even warmer than usual and I silently blessed our mother for raising my brother and me alike, so we both know the value of showing feelings instead of hiding them on the inside.

Mikhail Astrov, the man who makes my heart beat faster than anything or anyone else, is walking beside me with his long fingers intertwined with mine and he squeezes my hand gently as we walk deeper into the forest. I love being in the forest on a warm summer day. Not on a humid, sticky day, but a comfortable warm day when the soil gives away that special scent and the tall pines provide shelter from the blinding light of the sun. When the air is filled with all of the forest’s smallest winged inhabitants, but they are too busy to bother you. Misha carries a large basket in his other hand and a blanket is thrown over his shoulder. I have already tried to convince him that I can carry the blanket but he refuses to let me take it and keeps telling me it is no burden.

We take another path today and as soon as the cottage is out of sight, the calming feeling of being one with nature surrounds me again. All the birds seem awake and their different singing and drilling create the forest’s own symphonic orchestra. As we walk further away, the forest changes from dark pine to mixed woods, with trees spreading their long leaf-covered branches like a green ceiling over us. Eventually we reach a beautiful meadow, covered in grass and tiny islands of white and yellow flowers. A small, glittering brook runs along the meadow and its sandy banks are full of traces of animals. We have clearly entered one of the forest’s most popular places for refreshment. I do not see any of the animals Misha talks about, but he assures me that even the shyest of them can be seen on some days, if you are lucky enough. When he speaks about the forest, his passion for nature shines through. Something about Misha feels so genuine, as if he is not a man, but a creature of the wood, aiming to seduce me to stay in his green kingdom.

Misha selects a spot under a tree with a huge crown of leaves and spreads the large blanket over the grass. When I sit down, the fabric feels soft and cool, almost like bed sheets, and far from the usual thick old wool picnic blankets I am used to. I take off my sandals and bury my feet in the grass, enjoying the way it tickles against my skin. Misha sits down beside me and runs his hand through his hair, making it even more unruly than it was. If he only knew what that slightly rougher look does to me. But his hair is not the only thing catching my attention. His linen shirt has three buttons open and when he sits down it allows me to glance at the dark hair on his chest, which he generously exposes. A pair of grey shorts hug his hips and his tanned legs come to rest next to mine. As he pulls off his shoes and socks, I giggle to myself; It is true what they say about men with big feet… And Misha's feet look enormous next to mine. Thankfully he is, as I learned the previous night, well-proportioned.

”Are you hungry?” His deep voice pulls my attention back to his face.

”A little,” I tell him honestly. ”But you only had coffee for breakfast so I can imagine you must be starving.”

”Keeping an eye on me already? I like that.” He winks at me and it makes his eyes sparkle brighter than the brook. It was not so much that I kept an eye on him, but it was hard to miss that he made an effort for me and everybody else. And after the guests had left, he prepared the food for the basket with great enthusiasm and we left for our picnic shortly after. There was no time for him to eat. Misha leans in and kisses me tenderly. His lips are warm against mine and I lift my hand to caress his bearded cheek. When he breaks the kiss I let out a displeased sigh and he gives me a teasing smile.

”We have all day,” he murmurs with his gaze on my lips. ”And all night if we want.”

The thought of sleeping together in the cabin is beyond exciting but I save that thought for later as Misha turns his attention to the large basket. Small packages with different sandwiches and biscuits soon appear on the blanket and I pick one of them and start unwrapping it while Misha pulls out a bottle of wine. ”Is it too soon for more wine? Or would you like some water?” He looks at me and tilts his head to the side while I consider his offer, and when I nod at the wine bottle in his hand, he smiles. ”You can have both, you know.”

The cork leaves the bottle with a characteristic pop, and while Misha fills our glasses my gaze falls on his capable hands and strong wrists. He wears his shirt with the sleeves rolled up, exposing his toned forearms, and again I wonder how it is possible to feel so much attraction as I do just by watching his arms move in the warm light. When he hands me a glass, I take a sip, only to find that the wine is light and a perfect match together for the food he brought. Not that I am surprised, for as far as I remember it was the same result at my brother's party, and Nikolay told me that Misha was very involved in combining the food and wine.

We eat and talk about both the small and larger things in life as if we have known each other far longer than we have. I feel incredibly relaxed and comfortable in his company, but every time his gaze falls on my lips, my heart beats faster. When the food is eaten and only a little wine remains in the bottle, Misha lays down on his back and stretches his tall body with his arms over his head. His shirt glides up a little and exposes some skin and the alluring dark trail of hair disappearing under the waistline of his shorts. I want to kiss his skin but Misha holds out his arm and offers it as if it was a pillow. ”Come and rest with me.” A radiant smile spreads on his face when I lay down beside him and when I look up into the green ceiling of leaves, the rays of sunlight find a way to shine through when the wind rustles the tree. For a long time words are not needed and I feel how my body becomes heavy and relaxed.

”I used to come here when I was a boy.” Misha breaks the silence. ”Always alone. And I could stay until the shadows grew long, and with no perception oftime, I often missed dinner. My mother was never mad, but she thought I was a dreamer and I used to sneak into the kitchen to take leftovers or a sandwich after everybody went to bed. She must have noticed of course, but she never said anything. But even back then I dreamed about sharing this place with someone special.”

I turn my head to look at Misha, who rests with his eyes closed. ”I am glad you decided to show it to me.” Suddenly, I feel almost shy. I did not realize the significance of this little hidden meadow when we entered and I certainly was not prepared for the feelings of love that overwhelm me when I think of Misha as a young boy, running away from the cabin and hiding in his secret place in the forest, to be alone with his thoughts and dreams. Misha turns to me and his sapphire eyes are warm as the sun when I meet his gaze. ”So am I.”

I roll over to the side so I can be even closer to him and he welcomes me by folding his arm around me. He holds me tight and I listen to all the sounds of the forest as I move my hand over his shirt. The rippling brook, the birds and the wind blend together with his breathing and the sound of my own pulse. My fingers wander to the opening in his shirt and I trace the hem of the fabric, feeling his skin under my fingertips. When I reach the first button I pause at first, unsure if I should continue. But his small approving hum makes me unbutton it and move on to the next. Button by button I reveal his well-defined chest and once again I marvel at the natural strength his body possesses. I pull his shirt open as much I can, only limited by the fact that he is laying on his back. Satisfied with the exposed skin, I caress him gently, run my hand over his firm muscles and play with the dark curls under my fingertips. A pleased smile rests on his lips and when I meet his gaze, he reaches for my chin and urges me closer.

“I love the way your hands feel on my body,” he murmurs huskily before he presses his lips against mine. With a soft moan I kiss him back and he slips his tongue between my lips in the most sensual way. Lost in the feeling of our kiss, I vaguely feel him shift so he rests on his side, allowing his free hand to explore my body. As he intensifies the kiss, his hand gently squeezes my waist and then moves to caress my hip. When his large hand slowly travels down the outer side of my thigh to the hem of my dress, I let out a pleading moan. His hand finds its way under the fabric and he strokes my thigh all the way up to my hip, leaving the dress pulled up to my waist. Then he gently grabs my leg at the back of my knee and pulls it up so I rest my leg on his. His breathing changes and I can hear that he is just as affected as I am.

”I want to touch you. Feel your warmth and give you pleasure. Will you let me?” he rasps as he moves his hand closer to my undergarment.

”Please,” I breathe, unable to think of anything but his hand which moves agonizingly slowly closer to where I want him the most. When he reaches the fabric covering my heated skin, he slips his fingers underneath without the slightest hesitation and I whimper against his lips. I can feel how our intense kissing has woken my body, and when Misha feels it, too, he gives me praise that fuels my needs endlessly. The way his voice thickens as he moans my name sets my body on fire and his efficient experiments with his skilled fingers give me the sweetest sensation I long for much sooner than I ever thought possible. Afraid to embarrass all living things in the forest, I hold back my cry as I clench around his fingers.

When my body starts to relax again, Misha kisses me deeply. The language he speaks is the one of passion and I am overwhelmed by the feelings he showers me in. Never could I have guessed that the brooding doctor was such a passionate man.

”I adore the way you look when you let go like that. If your blissful face is the last thing I see before I leave this earth, I will go as a lucky man.”

I would probably blush if he had uttered those words under other circumstances, but now, as I bask in the heat of his gaze, I just smile back at him and run my hand over his hair to bring him even closer. Then I tug at his shirt, desperate to feel more of his skin against mine and he lets out a few grunts when I pull the shirt off his body. Growing impatient, I turn my attention to his shorts, take full advantage of his horizontal position, and let his underwear follow his shorts as I pull them both down his thighs. His thick shaft rises with glitter at its top, as if it had already been dipped in my hot spring.

Eager to return the favor, he pulls my dress over my head and slips my underwear down my thighs. When we are both equally naked under the protecting branches, he gives me another warm smile and my body kindly reminds me that there is more to receive from the wonderful creature beside me. I return his smile and allow him to grab my leg again, but this time I gently lift it over him and push myself up. My knees land on each side of him and he murmurs something I cannot really discern as I adjust myself to sit right over his throbbing hardness. When I lean down to kiss him he lets out a longing moan and buries his hands in my locks.

His kiss is filled with steaming passion and when I repeatedly grind against him, he lets out the most incredible raw noises. My breasts press against his warm chest and without feeling careless, he seems to cover all of my body with his hands at once. I cannot deny that the growing desperation shown in his face triggers my own desire but I try not to give in and sink down on him too soon.

”Woman, are you aiming to drive me crazy?” His hands land on my waist, gripping me tightly and the way he looks at me, with his mouth half open and lust dripping from his words, makes it impossible to resist doing what we both need more than anything in this moment. I glide down on him, and I have to steady myself when I feel him reaching the bottom deep within me. He lets out a ragged moan but does not move, allowing my body to adjust to his size and I feel my whole core pulsate around him. Misha wraps his arms around me and holds me still.

”You feel so wonderful, I—” his words turn to moans when I start to slowly move my hips. I free myself from his embrace, allowing me to move more and as I find the right rhythm Misha lovingly caresses my thighs and waist. In his sapphire eyes, I read more than just lust; tenderness and amazement. The need to belong with me beyond our carnal needs.

The green heaven around us soon disappears from my field of view and only the man beneath me remains. His fingers dig into the softness of my hips as he supports my movements, and when I increase the pace, he grabs me tighter to press me harder down on him. My breathing becomes uneven and the heat that threatens to consume me ignites under my skin. Misha senses how close I am and finds a way to let his thumb aid me in my desperate state. My sensitive bud bursts into bloom, my moans blend with his praise, and this time I do not care if the mythical spirit of the forest itself can hear me. With a low groan Misha follows me, and the way he buckles his hips as he does only adds to my own pleasure.

I collapse on top of him and once again he wraps his strong arms around me. His breathing is almost as heavy as mine and I wonder if he can feel my racing heart beating against his chest. His chest heaves with every breath, and since none of us are keen on letting go, I rest on him. Eventually I feel how we both relax and our bodies start to regain their usual strength. Around us, the birds begin to sing again, or maybe they never stopped.

”I never thought I could be with someone like you.” Misha lifts his hand to gently caress my cheek. ”I still wait for that moment when I wake up lonely in my bed and realize that this is just a beautiful, vivid dream.”

An insecure smile graces his lips but his gaze is steady. The soft lines around his eyes are very telling, like annual rings on an old oak, and when he lets me see his vulnerability, my heart swells.

”If this is a dream, then we are both dreaming.”

I seal my words with a reassuring kiss. It is true. He is like a dream. And I never want to wake up.

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