#odessa x felix 001

[rviner]

There it is. Just a flicker of recognition that Odessa wondered if she'd see, subtle to most. But, she built a whole life on reading subtleties and can see the meaning behind the smallest of glints in an eye. She catches it in Felix's, giving a gentle nod in response of her home city. "Я понимаю английский." Odessa comments smoothly, giving a careless shrug at the suggestion and then paying it no more mind. As Felix doesn't leave the topic of the spell alone, Odessa blinks as if slicing from one moment to another. "Очевидно нет." she remarks, speaking like he isn't even there. "Вы бы к этому привыкли." Odessa muses, slowly glancing to Felix and reading his demeanor as they walk. She decides that he's a man who can navigate coldness, and not just in the sense of weather. An odd calmness to him that's wrapped with an edge of tension, just slightly. Like prickling your finger on bramble. Just a scrape.

It's perhaps why she has no issue in reprimanding his carelessness. Not just because of the institute's resources but because a witch turned wolf is in no position to be as unfazed as he tries to be. Odessa's brow arches, unimpressed with his retort. "Да, я сделал." she answers plainly, a swift nod of her head. Despite sympathy for Felix's loss of magic, Odessa doesn't take kindly to time wasters. "Это просто, нет? Если вы думаете, что уже вылечились, вам не обязательно здесь находиться." her shoulders lift and there's a quick downward shrug of her mouth. "Net. Folktale." she then answers him directly, moving away to start her travel back to the main entrance and also uncaring if Felix follows her or not.

But, when she hears his steps, Odessa gives him a single glance over her shoulder. "Lyubov. A witch, she protect the forest. All the animals and life in woods trust her. One night she is changed by wolves when there is a fight to protect others." Odessa begins, hand waving as she conjures the old story. "She is in despair for months, she thinks she will never protect home again but when hunters come, in her wolf form she can kill them all. Protect the forest better than she ever did." she finishes, clapping her hands together to signal the end of the tale. "I summarize but...she was stronger and better. End." Odessa shrugs then, glancing up to Felix. "Приносите мне «Преступление и наказание» каждую неделю, пока вы поправляетесь, как Любовь, и я буду делать в нем пометки, пока вы здесь."

Felix offered the witch a small nod, an element of surprise over his expression but not nearly as much as the curiosity. "О, да. Это довольно далеко." he let out a slight chuckle, keeping his other thoughts to himself. The immediate picture the witch managed to paint for him wasn't quite a pretty one, conflict and economic struggle springing to mind. Her response to the suggestion struck Felix with instant amusement and he laughed, throwing his hands up in a lazy surrender. "Я просто спрашивал. Я понимаю. Хотя я могу заплатить. Или, если вы хотите что-то понять по-английски, можем поторговаться?"

The air she carried herself with was intriguing to say the least, Felix able to muse to himself at how off-putting many people could find her if not used to a direct nature. "И они не рассказали тебе о заклинании?" he returned to the statement, prying for the sake of amusement with such an abrupt personality. He gave a slight hum about living in Russia himself, purposely pretending to mull the suggestion over in his mind. "Холодный." Felix finally answered, staving another chuckle. He didn't even have the time to acknowledge her name as he handed over his phone, Odessa gone in a flash but not without another demand. Felix froze himself in place just to make a point, not even moving how he was stood.

But her abruptness seemed to melt away once the door closed and separated them, another thing he found deeply amusing. Maybe he was the off-putting one in this dynamic, Felix chuckling to himself as Odessa reappeared yet her chirpier tone disappeared. He took back his phone with a thankful nod, gaze dropping to the screen to read the predicted warning. "Thanks. Yeah, that's what I thought it would be. They like feeling important, I guess." he muttered without glancing to her but all the while, he could feel Odessa's intense stare on him. While delivering him a warning of her own. Felix's eyes lifted from his phone, clearing his throat at the very obvious telling off. "Я знаю, что ты увидел причину, по которой я здесь, Одесса." he pointed out, but his tone didn't carry any annoyance or challenge. "But I'll keep that in mind." he used his phone to wave at her and to her words. "Do you know any Russian literature about witches turned wolves? Because...I'd be cured." he added with a cold grin.

[rviner]

Odessa's brows raise with a polite show of interest to Felix, and a slight grin accompanying her nod. "Я никогда не был там." she shrugs before waving a hand to herself. "Астрахань." Odessa adds, and if he knows about Russia as much as he boldly claims, he will know the history of her home well. And, if he knows the history of her home well then Odessa curiously watches for a flicker of his expression to shift. His request, however, is able to make her laugh freely and the witch is deeply amused by the idea. "Ах да, я во все свободное время буду вам разбирать Преступление и наказание? Бесплатно?" her chuckle fades into an airy sigh, even if Felix never intended to be so funny.

Odessa doesn't react much further than a sharp glance in his direction at the quip, before her chin angles higher while she walks. "Я новенький." she offers no further explanation but referring to both her job and her magic. A faint grin returns as Felix's smitten crush on her home country flutters through again, making Odessa chuckle. "Тебе следует поехать и жить там. Посмотрите, насколько вам это нравится." she suggests in return, breezing through doors and deciding to take the stairs to the next floor instead of the elevator. Odessa turns to him once she stops by the next set of doors, her hand offering out in a silent but sharp demand for his phone again. "Одесса." she answers while taking the device from him. "You, wait. Do not go." the witch adds, her eyes giving the gesture for Felix to stay in place before she disappears into the room.

The conversation with Rebecca is brief, but perhaps Felix can hear the way her tone shifts entirely with the other witch. Lighter, far less abrupt. Despite being new to her role Odessa is still adamant in pointing out the mistake. How "witch" was placed in the wrong box, therefore meaning Felix has to contend with inappropriate emails. Odessa returns again moments later, offering Felix's phone for him. "Here. You are right, it is warning." she says, not caring that she read the private email once it popped up for all to see. "You do not like what they do here, hm? Может, тебе стоит остаться дома и почитать русские книги. Освободите свое пространство для тех, кто этого хочет." Odessa has no qualms scolding him either, though her tone is a simple note of suggestion.

Felix instantly fell into a sense of comfort from the witch's demeanor. That precise no-nonsense only a Russian could have, which was arguably one of his favorite things about the country, too. The harsh weather and brutal architecture able to cut it's people into a show of resilience and strength. So much so that not even reading about his turned nature could make a lip twitch into a frown, or a sad blink over her eyelids. Something he was undoubtedly grateful for. "Я был несколько раз. Только в Москву. Но у меня также лучшие русские манеры." Felix grinned slightly despite still not offering a please or thank you, simply because it was now amusing to him. Taking his phone from her, his interest piqued at the statement and his head tilted subtly. "Если нетрудно, могу я принести вам свою копию? Мне было бы интересно посмотреть, какие примечания вы можете добавить." Felix had no shame in his eagerness, especially when it came to his favorite literature.

He laughed slightly as the witch left the desk, mumbling a quiet and amused "Fair point." under his breath to her directness. But Felix immediately followed after her, controlling his steps to not overtake as she whisked away from the main entrance. "Я не хочу показаться грубым, но разве твоя работа не знать заклинание?" he couldn't help himself, although was certain she would have a much easier time hearing the sarcasm in Russian. Instantly, Felix grinned with a nod to her question. "Не в школе, нет. Вот почему я люблю Россию. Я думаю, мне было бы намного веселее в школе, если бы мы читали Толстого." he muttered, walking with her with utmost curiosity as to where they were headed. "Как вас зовут? Или я всегда буду называть тебя Не-Ребекка?"

[rviner]

It only takes Odessa a few moments to adjust to Felix's demeanor, gradually able to appreciate the dry humor she notices through his accent. But, it doesn't mean even a hint of the appreciation is over her expression. Only she is acutely aware of her own concern that sweeps through her, recounting stories heard of turned witches that lose their magic. Outwardly, her glances to him a curious even when his Russian gives her a sickly sweet sense of home that she was never expecting. In her native language, she can finally hear his humor precisely. "В следующий раз? Вы часто бываете в России или хотите сказать, что мы еще раз так поговорим? Где ты даже не говоришь пожалуйста." it's the first time Odessa is able to chuckle to him, quirking her brow in a slight challenge for his lack of manners.

With her attention on his phone, she acknowledges Felix's appreciation for Russian literature with a slight blink as her attention is to the computer screen next. "Знаешь, возможно, есть вещи, которые ты пропустил. Мы читали это в школе в России. Он использовал трудные для нас слова." she replies with an absent tone, mostly ignoring his remark about her English as she hands the phone back to him and slides from her seat. "Why waste breath on words not heard." is all she says, gesturing with a sharp nod of her head. "Come. I do not know the spell but I will fix." the admission is a huff and Odessa moves from the front desk to start her journey through the building, expecting Felix to follow without glancing to him. There's a few moments of silence as she walks ahead but finally Odessa breaks it with a dart of her eyes to the witch turned wolf. "Мы тоже читали Толстого в школе. Ты?"

As it dawned on Felix that he was dealing the aloofness of a Slavic witch, his sudden disdain for being at the institute in the first place melted away. He could navigate abruptness and disinterest with ease, the cool chill she emitted feeling more familiar than anything else. "Fine. Staying." he remarked back to the demand, fighting the grin from appearing over his lips. Even while knowing she'd be able to read details about his reasons at Asphodel didn't bother Felix suddenly and his head subtly nodded once he could see the change of the screen reflect in her eyes. Nothing but the utmost appreciation for the way she didn't outwardly give a single fuck.

The correction of his Russian was what finally broke his grin into a more noticeable expression, and Felix fought a slight laugh. "Спасибо, обязательно запомню это в следующий раз." he vowed with only a slight hint of sarcasm, passing over his phone with a grateful nod for her finally agreeing to help him. Felix took a comfortable lean against the desk and watched as she worked before his gaze flitted to the passing supernaturals. "Мне хотелось читать Достоевского без ужасных переводов." he answered, slowly glancing back to her. "Это мой любимый язык, особенно в литературе." Felix doubted she cared to know that fact, but he was certainly enjoying the sensation of speaking Russian with an actual Russian. "Кстати, у тебя хороший английский. Даже если я слышал очень маленькие части этого." he added with a self amused and dry chuckle.

[rviner]

The American's sarcasm dances around Odessa like a fleeting breeze, the subtleties lost on her entirely. Instead, and with an air of detachment her gaze drifts upward to the ceiling as his does before settling back on him. With languid blinks, Odessa watches him closely, as if she's considering a painting rather than a person. Then he gestures towards the computer and Odessa's movements are purposely prolonged in response. Each tap of the keyboard is slow while she remains silent. With a flat hum of acknowledgment of his name, she offers no other urgency. "Net, you stay." she says without glancing to him, as Felix has failed to say please and therefore earned himself an extended stay at the front desk until Odessa decides otherwise.

But then, just as Russian words fill the space between them, details of his reasons at the institute appear on the screen. Turned wolf. Witch. Odessa schools her expression as she reads the words despite the sudden sympathy that spikes in her veins. Slowly, her eyes sweep back to the witch turned wolf. It's been a long time since she last heard Russian spoken in person, long enough that the smallest of smiles touches the corner of her mouth. "чародейство." Odessa corrects him with a coy tone. "Мы также говорим колдовство, имея в виду магию." she adds, her demeanor shifting in the slightest display of warmth as her hand slowly extends over the desk and towards him. "Дай мне свой телефон." her words are quick, taking the device from Felix as she gets to work now to help him. "Вы свободно говорите? Как?" once again, the witch speaks to him without looking to him but her tone has slipped into a subtle cadence of curiosity.

Felix's eyes slowly followed the woman's point to the ceiling, as if Rebecca would materialize right above the two of them. He even offered a subtle and sardonic nod as if he could see her before he glanced back to the blond. "Oh, thanks. Glad I have x-ray vision these days." he droned under his breath until her accent hit his ears and caused his gaze narrowed to her. Along with the aloofness she responded with, Felix suddenly found a way to muster a grin. "I gathered it was private, yeah." he muttered, realizing steadily that she was prying manners from him. "Felix. Ranström. It has an umlaut above the o." he gestured to her computer as his tone shifted into something lighter, even if the volume couldn't increase further than a tired mumble. "I just want to know if I've been kicked out or if this is their little warning email they do." Felix added, before a a quick sigh huffed out from him. His curiousness was finally gifted an answer as he heard a slip of Russian, once again bringing a grin to his face. "If you could help me, I would appreciate that, yeah. But also I have no problem just leaving either." and obviously, he also couldn't help himself. "У меня больше нет магии, поэтому я не могу прочитать письмо. Я не усложняю ситуацию."

[rviner]

Odessa's adaptable nature means her little space behind the front desk is now a small home away from home. Scatterings of her own personal touches around her computer and paperwork. It makes her work day more comfortable, she thinks. She shares the same expression as the other when he approaches the desk, a blank look as she glances to and from his phone. Odessa is first inclined to shrug, fighting back a slavic kiss of her teeth. "She is here. Upstairs." she raises a delicate finger to a quick point at the ceiling and the context doesn't particularly help considering the size of the building. "You find her? Or wait?" Odessa offers, choosing to run with the fact he hasn't exactly asked her for help. "I will not know the-" she waves a hand, struggling for the English word. "Enc...It is private, that is why." she adds, a brief thought entering her mind about his abrupt approach and causing a small grin to sprawl over her lips. Purposely, she allows a pause to drift over the moment. Because she can do abruptness much better. Especially to men. She blinks at him before her gaze scans to her computer, then to his phone and finally back to him. "I do not know how to read mind either. You want help, da? Yes?"

asphodel

felix ranstrom and odessa kashirsky @rviner

At least Felix was consistent. He wasn't only avoiding some things after returning from Paris, he was avoiding everything. Including whatever help Asphodel had to offer him. But he finally drudged back to the institute, which he knew he would he just needed to get some defiance out of his system first. A dreary cloud was over his head and he carried himself with heavy footsteps to match. It only lifted slightly with his blink of surprise as he noticed a new face behind the desk. Suddenly, a week felt like a long time to be avoiding everything. "Good morning...where did Rebecca go?" Felix asked first as he approached the main desk and the curious new worker behnd it. Once he had her attention, he lifted his phone slightly to the more pressing matter. "Either there's been a problem with the email or someone has a sick sense of humor." Felix explained. "I'm guessing it's supposed to be request for me come in before I'm removed from the program but...it needs magic to read." he could find most things funny, sometimes, but Felix's expression remained unmoved. "And if you were Rebecca you'd understand why I can't do that. Is she here?"