Armed Bodies of Men

[Selja Hakalamaki]

"Well it'd be nice to understand what you see in this, but hey if it makes you happy..." I leave it at that and sit down next to him. "So what exactly are we discussing this time?"

[Valodya Bassarov]

"Well this is actually a convention of socialists from all over, Selja. The current speaker is talking about mine closings in Wales, but there are various topics on the agenda today. I'm sure you will learn something."

[Selja Hakalamaki]

"Well good." I say and take his hand in mine and hold it tightly. I have a hard time understanding socialisim because like many I am under the misconseption that socialisim is just a poor people's cult.

[Mikhael Nadyezhda Kirsanov]

I have spent the past several hours, staring up at the ceiling, counting the tiles, blinking. I could be doing so many other constructive things, but I just have no motivation. I turn onto my back, and let out an unintentional "ugh". This life is weighing on me.

I should probably call Tanya, and let her know that I'm alright. I dig in my bag for my cell phone, and stare at the display for a couple of minutes, watching the seconds tick by.

A minute passes.

I mechanically dial her cell phone number. It immediately goes to her voice mail, her cell phone is OFF!!

I let out a sigh of relief.

"Hey honey, it's me. Just wanted to let you know that everything's okay. I'll give you a call as soon as I know what's up with my schedule and everything. Talk to you soon, love you, bye." I hang up.

The phone rings. I wince, knowing it's Tanya.

"...Hello?"

"Mikhael, yeah, it looks like your vacation is going to be cut short." YES!!!

"Okay, what's up?"

"We're going to move against the Chechens. I'll give you a call when more details come in. Dosvedanya."

I put my phone back into my bag and let out a long sigh of relief.

[Valodya Bassarov]

Bassarov isn't really sure how to react when she takes his hand. At this point in his life he is pretty dedicated to his politics, and hasn't had a girlfriend in at least six months.

"There are many things changing in the world, so we have come together to decide what should be done about it. It is the largest socialist meeting we've had in years." Bassarov explains to her.

"I am very excited, though, it looks like I may be traveling to Ireland after this."

[Selja Hakalamaki]

"Ooh! That could be interesting. I'm transferring to this college but it'll take awhile for the papers to go through, I might just tag along with you." I say happily. THough my education is more important to me than chasing after a man who I probaly don't have a chance for anything serious with it is hard to think like that when I am actually with him.

[Riku Matizumi]

I smile and nod slightly, still wishing to do something, I felt awkward standing in her apartment just looking around.

I look out of the window and then back to her. "... so how long have you lived here?"

[Valodya Bassarov]

"I wouldn't be gone long. But things are heating up politically in the world. I think more is going to be expected of each of us." Bassarov explains. He is sort of at a loss for what to say, since he didn't expect her to show up at the meeting.

"Well, after the meeting is done for the day, we could go out for coffee. I could explain socialism better and help you understant what's going on here."

[Selja Hakalamaki]

"Okay." I say. "I've been so preoccupied with studying lately it wouldn't hurt me to try something new."

[Valodya Bassarov]

"Sure, or we could just chat. You can tell me how your classes are going since I hardly spend any time in the technology department." He replies. He smiles then returns his attention to the speaker.

[Selja Hakalamaki]

"Sure." I say, and see that he has turned his attention back to the speaker. I don't want to monopolize his attention too much, so for the moment I remain quiet and listen in...

[alex]

Alexander parks and goes into a restaurant.

OOC: Anyone can enter now xD

[Heikki Toivonen]

Heikki is bored and enters a cafe. He sits down by some random business man since the cafe is full. He doesn't bother asking permission.

He orders a slice of blueberry pie.


(To Alex.)

[Ian "Mad" Sweeney]

((Sorry Void, I got impatient. Tell me if I say anything staggeringly wrong, please? Thanks.))

Sweeney coughs, his throat still slightly irritated from the tear gas, and his heavy smoking.

"Father, how may I lead a more Christian life, and still fight for my country and my neigbors? We are oppressed by the British Protestants, and relegated to menial labor. One of my cousins was beaten to death by a group of the Ulster Volunteer Force. I know that my sin was revenge and rage, but I want to protect my family friends and home. I want to be free."

Sweeney's Russian is choppy at best.

"I am sorry for my sins. I hope Jesus will forgive me for them, as well as any others that I missed."

The priest talks with Sweeney about the ethics of war, and how terrorism is wrong for a while. Finally, he gives Sweeney a penance to preform. Since Sweeney is poor and does not have enough money to make signifigant enough donations to the poor to make his penance, when he returns home he should do at least 100 hours of community service.

"O my God, I am heartily sorry
for having offended Thee
and I detest my sins
above every other evil
because they displease Thee, my God,
Who, in Thy infinite wisdom,
art so deserving of all my love
and I firmly resolve
with the help of Thy grace
never more to offend Thee
," Sweeney prays. He feels like it is somewhat half-arsed, but it is the best he can do under the circumstances. He really wants to be sincere.

"God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," the priest says in Russian. Sweeney makes the sign of the cross again.

"Go in peace," the priest says, and there is more weight, truth, and hope in the phrase when it is said to Sweeney, even though the priest says it to everyone.

"Thanks be to God," Sweeney mutters greatfully as he exits the booth.

He goes to a room that the church helps house the homeless in, where he is handed a sleeping bag. There are six other men in the room with sleeping bags.

Sweeney rolls his out, and falls asleep. He will call Aiden tommorow, to see if he can figure out a way to get out of Russia without getting caught.

[Bella]

Morning brings a kink to the neck and a foul taste to the mouth of Mrs. Malone. Having never been a morning person, she stays in bed as long as possible before deciding that it is probably important that she get out of bed at some time. The floor seems cold, as always, on her bare feet, and her dark hair seemingly lost it's reliance on gravity and is sticking out in a number of interesting ways.

After pulling on a thick sweater and some leggings, brushing her teeth and doing all of the other important morning things, Mrs. Malone grabs a skarf, her bag, and a granola bar, heading out the door.

The sun is shining brightly and the air feels wonderfully new. People pass by on their way to business meetings and lunch dates, Mrs. Malone heads down to one of her favorite people watching spots to sit secretly and paint people's portraits with watercolors.

In the middle of busy New York City, She sits down near a window at her frequent coffee shop stop, taking off her boots and crossing her legs beneath her on the bench seat. Trying desperately not to be found out as she steals glances at the man scowling over a large novel and the woman opposite him in the bright fuchia hat, sealing their long life in watery paint, she accidently dips her paintbrush in her herbal tea instead of her water glass. Mrs. Malone has had her share of paint-laced drinks inside of her during her short time on this planet.#nosmileys