The train slowly stops at a platform after traveling nearly 800 miles. The conductor announces that the train has arrived in Berlin, and that there will be a 2 hour lay over before the train continues it's way to Moscow.
Svetlana listens to the announcement and sighs. Another day and a half on this tin can.
She debates whether or not to get off and get something to eat at a little cafe that she used to frequent a lot as a teenager. But decides that she would rather stay on board. To many bad memories here.
She sits back further into the cushion of her seat and closes her eyes. The smell of the train station and the sounds of the Germanic language waft into her compartment, bringing back memories of a childhood she would rather forget.
"Alessandra, why aren't you ready?"Her mother, tall and regal in her black saffron gown asks her 16 year old daughter with bitter contempt.
"I am not going mother. I hate these balls. They are boring, and the boys there...She snorts with anger,"...they are not worth getting to know. They are all spoil..."
"Alessandra, I don't want to hear it. You are required to go so you can find a suitable husband. Now go get dressed. We are late as it is, so you better hurry." Alessandra's mother turns and walks back into the drawing room. With a resounding thud, the door slams shut.
Alessandra stands there and stares at the door, quietly seething about the injustice of being forced into marriage, when she so desires a life of near death experiences and danger all around. She gives the door one last fleeting glance, and before she turns away, she yells, "I am not going and you can't make me!"
She turns and runs down the hallway and down a flight of stairs motorcycle and disappears out the front door. She spots her father's Ducati , and hops onto it, thankful that he left the keys in the ignition. She gets the motor roaring, peels out of the estate and races into Berlin.
A loud knocking on her cabin door snaps her back into reality.
"Yes?"
"Miss, you can leave the train and do some shopping if you want.'
"I know, thank you.'
Her thoughts still lingering on the night she fled her families estate, she leans back into her seat again, her head tilted back, and looks out the window at the people rushing by, and they blur until she only sees herself on that motorcycle again, racing through the streets of Berlin.
The bike runs out of gas in front of a little cafe two blocks from the train station. Swearing, she dismounts and pushes it to the side of the street and parks it. She kicks the rear tire in her frustration, and then finds a seat at one of the tables sitting on the patio of the cafe. She pulls a pack of cigarettes from her back pocket and searches her pockets for a lighter. A hand reaches in front of her face, and she jerks back in shock. She follows the long arm to look up into the face of a young man with blond hair, and pale blue eyes. His face was covered in scars that hid the fact that he would have been handsome. Realizing that she was staring, she blushes and turns back to his hand, still holding the lighter. He lights her cigarette and then sits down in a chair next to her.
"Ich habe Sie nie hier vorher gesehen. Ich möchte gerade zum Sagen, daß Ihre dunkle Schönheit mich atemlos gelassen hat.
She blushes deeply at his comment and looks down at the table. Then looks back up at him.
"Dunkel? Ja. Eine Schönheit? Ich denke nicht. Ich nehme durch Ihren Verhaltengeehrten Herrn, der an, den Sie dies häufig tun."
He looks at her sharply and then laughs.
"IIhr Deutsch ist ausgezeichnet und Nr., tue ich nicht dies häufig. Für Sie sehen Sie, mit Kummer, wie Grube, ich nie hinsichtlich gekommen bis zu jemand wie Ihnen so fett sein würde, aber mir werden bezaubert durch Ihre Schönheit. Ich könnte nicht Ihrem Zorn an Ihrem Fahrrad auch helfen aber beachten, das aus Kraftstoff heraus läuft, und dargestellt Ihnen könnte eine Hand benutzen."
She stares at him in shock, and then smiles slightly.
"Sie sind sehr beobachtender Sir. Und was muß ich in der Rückkehr für Ihre Hilfe tun?"
He replies in english.
"Have dinner with me."
She frowns thoughtfully and looks him directly in the eyes. Not seeing or feeling any undesired emotions from him, she nods her head slightly in acceptance.
"I am Alessandra.'
He smiles at her, and takes her hand and kisses it.
"Pleasure to meet you Alessandra. I am Kazimir.
The sound of a whistle startles her out of her day dream, and she sits up to see that the train is pulling out of the station. Her eyes wander over the crowd one last time, hoping and not hoping to see a face she recognizes.
OOC Translation:
K: I have never seen you here before. I would just like to say that your dark beauty has left me breathless.
Svet: Dark? Yes. A beauty? I think not. I am assuming by your demeanor sir, that you do this often.
K: Your German is excellent, and no, I do not do this often. For you see, with afflictions like mine, I would never be so bold as to come up to someone like you, but I am enthralled by your beauty. I also could not help but notice your anger at your bike running out of fuel, and figured you could use a hand.
Svet: You are very observant sir. And what must I do in return for your help?
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