At an apartment, somewhat bleak, with faded teal wallpaper from previously prosperous times, one man, a slender, almost feline type, parts his red hair carefully but emphatically. He adjusts his gold-rimmed glasses perched arrogantly on the bridge of his nose. This is Lera.

Another man, a darker, brawnier type, attempts to iron his military standard everyday outfit with an iron while standing up. This is Andrei. Lera turns around from preening himself in the mirror and looks bemused at Andrei's ironing attempt.

Lera: And what are you doing, Dron? There's such a thing as an ironing board.

Andrei: Quiet, you. I don't have time for an ironing board. Besides, I don't have one. We generally don't have them in the army. Wearing black again? You act like you're tending to a funeral or going to seminar as a monk. *tsks*

Lera: Still, ironing your suit while you're in it, don't you fear of burning yourself?

Andrei: We do this all the time- a trick I learned when I was a Cadet back Novcherkassk. I was always late for class, so I ironed my jacket real quick while I stood in it.

Lera: Hmm. *changes mood and topic* You seem in animated mood- I suppose you reunited again with this pensive loon of yours, then?

Andrei: Her name is Katya, I told you before! And yes, I told you before too, she invited us to join she and her sister at this party her employers are holding. I hate parties, but I might as well get you out rather than let you rot in drink or pedagogy.

Lera: How considerate of you, Dron.

Andrei: I told you to stop calling me that! *growls*

Lera: Well, it seems your little loon has the effect on you- you're becoming more human and bearable. Ah, I think she must have bestowed some sign on you, you're quite animated.

Andrei: Let's go now- stop wasting time with your chatter.

Lera: Very well, after you.

Liza and Katya have just finished dressing up for the party, and have arrived at the bakery, where Katya said they would be waiting for Lera and Andrei.

Liza is dressed in a disgusting, grey dress that looks worn down and her hair is a mess. Her expression looks as if she wants nothing more than to disappear. It's clear she was forced into this, or else wants to look as defiant as possible.

Katya, in contrast, is dressed in resplendent green, with a transparent shawl draped over her shoulders. Her hair is neatly combed and braided to the side. She has applied some very natural makeup to make her skin look smoother and fresh, and she looks quite excited to see Andrei and Lera as they approach the bakery.

Liza: Ugh, why is it taking so long? I want to go now! At this point, we're going to be late, and it's because of those two.

Katya waves to Lera and Andrei as they approach.

Nearing the bakery storefront, Andrei and Lera arrive. Andrei looks neater than usual during his furlough, he's even put on the stiffer color with the silver buttons and red piping, and Lera appears more stiff and formal than his typically elegant (yet traces of genteel poverty show up) attire.

Andrei: Katya! Are we late?

Katya: No, not at all. But we should hurry. The place is not that far away, but we shouldn't be late.

Katya: Andrei, Lera--we should take the Elektrichka, number 86, to be correct. That'll take us quickly to where we need to go. Come on, let's go now! It has just arrived!

Katya and Liza are already beginning to run towards the Elektrichka.

Andrei: 86- you would know. We'll follow you.

Lera: How far is this soiree, then? *follows a running Andrei, Katya and Liza*

Katya and Liza are now on the Elektrichka, which is very cramped. Many other people are shoving their way inside the carriage.

Katya: It's not that far if we get on here! Come on, it may be a while before the next one comes, so you two should get on here!

Andrei attempts to cram his tall and broad-shouldered self between the jostles of the crowd crammed in the car of the Elektritcka.

He manages to land a place standing next to Katya, but it's tight and he bumps into her.

Katya: Andrei! You've managed to get yourself here.

But Lera, more clever, dashes to the other side and weasels his way smoothly though an opening and crawls over the driver, irate someone entered this way.

The Elektrichka is now beginning to move. The doors close and the driver starts moving it.

It moves quite bumpily yet speedily, and some people are thrown off their balance as the Elektrichka moves.

Andrei: *still crammed, his brawny shoulders jutted tight to his side*

Katya loses balance and crashes into Andrei, much to her chagrin.

Quickly, Andrei catches with her second-split reflex and holds her for a brief moment. He holds her aside an inch to ascertain she is all right

Andrei: Be careful, devushka.

Liza also loses her balance and bumps into Katya, ramming her closer against Andrei.

Katya: It's alright, I'll manage.

Liza grumbles, hating being squished so much.

Katya seems a bit flustered that Andrei had just been holding her, and gives him a quick look before trying to regain her balance.

Liza: *at Andrei, yelling over the noise of the other people* So who are you again? Some army guy my sister knows now?

Andrei: Sorry, devushka. Perhaps we should have waited for the next one to come. *sets her straight standing, slightly embarassed at his reflex. His scowl is between annoyed with himself and concern if she thinks he's too forward*

Andrei: Didn't your sister tell you? Andrei Danilovich Novokshonov, Polkovnik with the ***th detachment. You must be Liza.

Liza: Hmph, no, she didn't. So you're your new lover or something? Yes, I am. I suppose she told you about me, then.

Liza looks suspiciously at him, and growls a little bit.

Andrei: What kind of- Lover? What! Why say that? *growls and glares at Liza* She said you are her little sister. I can barely believe that...*growls*

Liza: Oh, I don't know, you must be lovers or planning to be lovers, since you called her devushka in such a loving, cute way.

Her voice is a bit sarcastic and nasty, and then she sounds a bit more controlled as she continues.

Liza: Barely believe what?

Andrei: Hey, you'd best know I call people all sort of things. I call everyone by a name, I might even call you a name in time. Hard to believe you're Katya's sister.

Liza: Why can't I be a devushka too, huh? *she looks mockingly at Andrei*

Andrei: That's no way to talk about your sister, either. She is a respectable woman.

Liza: What's so special about her to you? You and those looks she gives you, it's so damned obvious. How have I disrespected her? I beg your pardon. Don't slander me like that.

Andrei: No, you're something else, entirely. A real rusalka!

Liza: I've just said that it seems like the two of you are lovers. Never said anything bad about either of you!

Andrei: No, it's your tone. You disdain her. Stop that talk. Stop accusing us of things we are not.

Liza: Why is it so hard to believe that I'm her sister? Because I'm a bit different acting?

Andrei: We're friends. That is all. Or do I scare you so much you need to bark and growl at me to scare me off?

Liza: No, it's just that I tend to talk like this a lot. Hey, I'm tough, alright? And how dare you say I don't care about my sister! I do! You don't know anything!

Katya gives Liza a weird look as she continues her pointless argument with Andrei.

Andrei: Good you're tough- that's good to survive in life. That's right, I don't know you. just as you don't know me, rebnok*... (*kid, like a brat)

Liza laughs a bit as she hears the last word and looks away.

Andrei: *grunts a resigned "hmmm" and looks ahead, above the heads of the other passengers*

They finally arrive at the station and disembark.

They walk towards the banquet hall where the party is being hosted.

Katya: *at Lera* So you are Andrei's friend? It's nice to finally met you. What is your name?

Liza looks at Lera with a lack of interest, assuming he is a pompous asshole, and is not sure if she can start a conversation with him at all.

Lera: Yes, you must Ekaterina Timofeevna Luneva. Yes, a friend of Andrei, though unusual how we met, this towering Scythian and I. My name is Valeriy Stepanovich Zimin, though have the decency to simply call me Lera. As much I prefer formalities, doesn't the name Valeriy Stepanovich strikes you as such a disjointed name? So atonal. And this is your sister, I presume? *looks at Liza with a charming smile*

Liza reacts with a smirk and then tries to have a more neutral expression as she thinks of a reply.

Liza: Yes, I am. My name is Yelizaveta Timofeevna Lunveva. It is nice to meet you, Lera. You seem like a well-educated, intelligent intellectual type. So what is your job?

Katya: Nice to meet you, Lera. So you've known Andrei for a very long time?

They are at the lobby now, and sign in with their names.

At the side of Andrei's eye, a familiar man in a white suit appears and then disappears into the main room.

Lera : *hands his coat, with an old-fashioned fur trim, to someone at the coat rack, while Andrei hands his trenchcoat*

Katya takes off her jacket as well, revealing her dress underneath.

Liza has no jacket so she just crosses her arms and waits for everyone to finish handing their coats over.

They start lining up to go inside the main room.

Lera: Ah, Yelizateva Timofeevna- you brought no coat with you? Aren't you cold, dear?

Liza: No, I'm not cold at all. I'm always extremely hot.

Andrei and Katya both catch a glimpse of a familiar man in a white suit, Kuzma, inside the room, sitting with a man and a woman, both black haired and similar looking, as if they were siblings.

Lera: It seems your sister and my friend are occupied- let us occupy one another.

Andrei: It's Kuzka..

Liza: Sure, we could do that. *looks at Andrei for a second as she hears the name Kuzka*

Lera: I can see. Your temper must provide the warmth, then.

Liza: *at Lera* It seems like Andrei knows someone that me and my sister knows?

Lera: Ah, it must be young Kuzma.

Liza looks a bit excited, like she's uncovered some gossip.

Lera: We both know him.

Liza: Really? I had no clue. How did you both know him?

They now enter in the main room and look around. There are many tables and it appears they can sit where-ever they like.

Liza: Are we going to be our own table, or should we join someone we know?

Lera: Ah, we simply met through our love of standing about in the cold waiting for the trolleybus, dear. Kuzma was harassed by several fellows, and Andrei came to his aid. I was there with Andrei, so I met Kuzma. Well, how about we share a table, and let your sister mingle with her friends? I imagine we should find our friends here. We should make some new ones. There must be a soul here you find agreeable.

Liza: Interesting. The world is a small place, then. It seems like we all happen to have a lot of friends in common. Well, I'll be brutally honest--I don't have any friends here. *looks sheepish* I'm not sure if I can really add to anyone's conversation. Everyone here looks so smart and educated, and I'm so young and uneducated, and look at how I'm dressed...

Lera: Ah, a kindred soul! Neither do I. I confess, dear, I'm bit of a hermit. Nonsense- you seem bright. You would have benefited from an education.

Liza: *laughs* I never wanted to put in effort because I knew even if I put in effort, I'd look like a clown. So I decided to pick the ugliest outfit I had.

Lera: Perhaps we can be each other's company for the evening?

Liza: Sure, if you'd put up with me.

Lera: if you can bear with me, I will gladly accompany you for the evening. What is your profession, dear? Also, grey goes well with your hair and eyes. It suits you nicely.

Liza: I'm just a factory worker. *feels a bit weirded out by him saying the grey suits her well, since she's never been complimented by a man before* Um, really? I guess that's nice.

Liza: To be honest, I just came because being stuck at home is even worse. My mother is terribly boring, and all she does these days is leave me at home with nothing to do. Ever since our father died, she's been hanging around her sister more often than with me. She doesn't want to be at home because she'd be reminded of how my father is no longer alive.

Liza sighs and looks away.

Lera: I used to work in a factory- I worked in a bottle factory as a boy. What sort of factory are you in? Wait, let me guess. Let me see your hands? *offers his hand to hers*

Liza: This is why I chose to came, though I hate parties and don't like meeting new people most of the time. It's just better than putting up with staying at home all the time, you know?

Liza shows him her hands.

Liza: Can you tell before I tell you?

Lera: Sorry to hear you are trapped in the ennui of grief an bereveament, dear. I myself- *takes her hand gently and cautiously, and examines it briefly and nods* suffered a similar fate when my mother passed away when I was 16. Ah! You work in textiles, yes? You man the bobbins and threads?

Liza nods, a bit shocked that he could tell right away. She snatches her hands back from his, a bit freaked out that he's touching her hands.

Liza: Yeah, that's enough. You did guess correctly. I suppose it's pretty obvious.

Lera: From one fellow factory worker, to another, it's easy to tell. My mother used to work in textiles, and her hands had the same marks and bone formations. Terribly sorry if my gesture bothered you. I will admit, factory work is not for the weak. You're quite a resilient one, I would think.

Liza: Well, it doesn't matter. Eventually, I'll be leaving soon. I have a plan to leave the damned factory once and for all.

Lera: Good for you! I left the bottle factory when I was 17, became a courier on a bicycle. That changed my life.