Lera: We just like our privacy.

Ardalion: Alright, then. That's good then. This underground thing can get very suspicious quick. I'm too old for exciting things like that. Let's just keep this as informal as possible, then.

Polya: Yes, and Lera and I... we like to have our private time, you see.

Ardalion: I see! It makes sense. I wish I had a beautiful woman to bring here as well! I used to have a wife, you know. She was quite lovely, but had a horrible temper. And I had many, many other women afterwards. *drinks more as the memories come back* There were quite a number of questionable women though.

Ardalion hiccups.

Kuzma glares at him.

Ardalion: What? I'm only stating the truth. There were quite a number of rude, poorly behaved peasant women who stabbed me in the back after all the good I did for them.

Andrei: Ah, you're a dog, Ilya! The sort that plays around with the grass widows? Mind you, there are women present.

*Andrei snorts in stern dismissal*

Ardalion: Oh, I was a dog alright, but a good one! A wild, daring one who couldn't be tamed.

Ardalion glares at Andrei, a spark returning to his otherwise dead eyes.

Ardalion: And you? You allow yourselves to be tamed like a dog who grovels beneath his mistress' feet?

Andrei: Watch your tongue. I said nothing about grovelling beneath anyone's feet. Watch out- we all get our teeth pulled- one way or another. *wants to say something about being a Cossack, but is wary of Ardalion's former ties*

Ardalion: And I thought this meeting was informal! You are making this awfully cold and boring. So, Andrei, wasn't it? Or do you prefer Dron?

Andrei: What is it to you?

Ardalion: You looked a little familiar to me for a second.

Andrei: Boring? You're boring us. We didn't ask you to come over here.

Ardalion: So, you'd like me to leave now, is that it?

Andrei: Familiar? How?

Ardalion: Oh, I don't know, it has something to do with the army, right? I used to be in the Army as well. Civil War veteran, in fact.

Andrei: *feels a prick, like a knife blade at the mention of the Civil War* Some war that was. More like a pathetic butchery.

Lera: Dron....*glares at Andrei and then smiles nervously at Ardalion*

Ardalion's eyes gleam, sensing he's hit a sensitive spot.

Ardalion: Oh, was it now? *his voice is soft* I can agree with that. *his eyes look a bit tired and sad now as he thinks* My own son died in the Civil War. But the War was not meaningless, I'll assure you. Without it, we wouldn't have the State as it is today. Look how much our country has progressed since we pushed back that fool, the Tsar.

Ardalion takes another sip of Vodka, wanting to purge the memories of Mitya, but they're coming back to him like a flood now, since they're talking about the Civil War.

Andrei: *growls but maintains his sharpness. He knows Ardalion is provoking him*

Ardalion: *more emotional now* The Basmachi! They killed my son. And he was only 17! Can you imagine, d-dying when you're 17! He was a boy. He knew nothing of the world yet. But he died.

Kuzma is a bit wary now, knowing his father is going to go on a tirade and possibly drag him into it.

Ardalion: *points at Kuzma* He was only 10 back then! No, 12! I can't remember your age, son, what was and is it?

Andrei: *bids his time and listens to Ardalion, trying to seek a sensitive spot to strike* Wait! So you're Kuzya's father, then? Well, everyone lost someone in that damned war.

Ardalion stops himself and blinks, but his half-drunken state makes it hard for him to focus.

Ardalion: Yes, I am his father. What of it?

Andrei: Nothing. Odd you treat your son so coldly. You never mentioned if before. I suffered my own losses. More than you will know.

Lera *grows bored* : Well, comrades, let's drink more.

Ardalion: I agree. Drinking does help. I feel more confident now, less plagued by--never mind. *drinks more and even pours some on his shirt by mistake* And Dron--cold? I don't treat people coldly. No. It's a fact that it was the boy and his mother who have done this to me.

Lera: So we all have lost something. I lost a lover and my legs in the war. No, like that. I used to dance. I have my legs, just they do not work as they once did.

Ardalion: They've treated me like some kind of pariah. Hell knows how hard I've tried to communicate with both of them but over the years, all they've done is push me out of their lives. *looks at Lera* I am sorry to hear about your legs. It must be painful to be unable to do something you once loved to do.

Andrei: Don't call me that. I'm tired of your moaning.

Ardalion: I can empathize with that. I too have lost more than just my son. I've lost my zest for life. I'm tired, paranoid, and an utter wreck. Perhaps I'll even kill myself soon, who knows?

Kuzma: Father, we have NOT treated you like a pariah.

Kuzma's tone is cold and quiet, but everyone can instantly hear him.

Andrei: We're here to ease our burden and licks our wounds from the day, like dogs. You should leave now. We could care less what you do with yourself.

Kuzma: Don't accuse us of something we haven't done. We just wanted to end our relationship with dignity. All you've done is act like a dog, like Andrei said. Why would we want to associate ourselves with someone like you--! Growing up, I longed for a real father figure, not someone who calls himself my father because he happened to give me life, but was never there for me when I needed someone to look up to!