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noblehcart · 2 years

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drabble: office hot gossip Author’s note: yeah there is legit no point here other than me indulging in liesel dealing with office gossip in the Leningrad office.

LENINGRAD, RUSSIA : circa 1927

"what is it this time?"

because there was a particular group of workers who gathered in the small kitchenette, beside the samovar as hot tea was sipped at and equally hot gossip. liesel preferred not to get involved with office gossip, but sometimes one couldn't help but get involved or overhear the occasional salacious piece...besides it was a little interesting.

"we were just discussing how lucky we are to work in an office with such handsome men dedicated to their country." alisa smirked as she delicately sipped at her tea.

alisa fedorova was perhaps, by most standards, the prettiest of the office girls and she wielded her rank with terrifying ease. the only one who didn't shrink at the girl's ferocity was samara bazhenov, who was a middle aged terror and dragon in her own right nearly ruling the office with as much a steely fist as gorlinsky himself. there was a small betting pool on who would win in a battle of intimidation (her bet was on comrade bazhenov.)

lips pressed into line, hinting at frown though olive green eyes twinkled slightly in amusement. of course, that was the topic of the hour. she had already heard a few of her closer friends remark on it and now it seemed like it had turned into an official topic. she tried to ignore it as best she could considering that her half brother was in the list of handsome desirable officers. "well...i can't argue that." she conceded knowing better than to speak any other way considering she didn't want the office secretarial pool turning on her for being less than social.

"General Baranov has been keeping up with his physique as much as Vaganov and Essen, you know." Liese tried not to flinch at the reference of names she considered friends. Anton Baranov had become a dear friend as of late and yes, like the other office girls, she had noticed his sharp frame. Major Essen had become like a brother now and General Vaganov …Gleb …well she kept her eyes focused on making her tea as she swallowed carefully.

"Of course, our officers have to remain fit for duty." She remarked lightly now keeping her back turned on Alisa's prying eyes and thanked god when she felt that thorny gaze disappear off her back. unfortunately, that gaze turned to a weaker prey at her side. Poor Misha. She was the most unfit girl for office work. Shy, timid and utterly affected by those around her at the slightest teasing; her only saving grace being that samara bazhenov had taken a liking to the dandelion like girl as a daughter or a niece and kept her under her dragon's wing protection.

"what do you make of our officers, misha?" alisa hummed watching the mousy girl stop digging into her biscuit tin for a bite to eat and freeze under the gaze of the six women in the small kitchen. "who do you think is one of our more handsome men, hm?"

gaping slightly, a fish out of water, misha set her biscuit down and glanced around anxiously before stammering out quietly. "i-i don't know....captain mikahilov is very kind and-and handsome i think-"

"oh please- mikhailov doesn't count." alisa hissed in return, startling misha back against the cabinets while clutching her tin as she tried to figure out what she said wrong. which was why liesel's eyes narrowed faintly, catching the venom in the other girl's tone and the thick tension that sat in the room as the other women shifted uncomfortable.

"and why is that?" liesel managed out as she gently stirred her cup while wondering if her guess was close as to why.

"he's diseased, obviously." the blonde hissed and in turn liesel flinched at the hatred unleashed in her words. "he's with that street walking whore. anything handsome about him is clearly gone-"

"she does have a name. natasha is a lovely woman." liesel retorted evenly in return as she carefully stepped around the girls sitting grouped around the table. natasha was friendly, clever and sharp, but no matter her profession she was still a person and no matter who luka mikhailov chose to see deserved respect. and in turn respect to him. he was the little brother she wished she had, but that also left her irritated at the animosity flooding from alisa. her guess as to why had been correct. she was still stinging from mikahilov's rejection. " and captain mikahilov is one of the BEST men in leningrad. there isn't any officer in this building who wouldn't serve with him."

not to mention it was dangerous to let loose lips slip about mikahilov because of General Vaganov's favor of the boy. not that alisa wasn't aware of such a thing. other than liesel it was alisa who kept tabs on everything that gleb vaganov did, said and looked. liesel was just glad that alisa had yet to pick anymore on how she felt about the general, but then again he was the most difficult man in the building to get to know other than gorlinsky...and perhaps her own brother. which unfortunately was the next topic of choice. "right, well, i still wouldn't put him in the ranks of vaganov, baranov or even ivanov."

liesel could feel the ice sliding down her spine at the light smirking tone. "so tell us, liesel, what is your brother up to, hm? any special women or men in his life?"

"aside from russia? no." she replied sharply at alisa's jab as she glanced to the ground briefly noting alisa's long skirt splayed on the ground. a thought came to mind and she mused on it for a moment before edging closer to another girl sitting on a stool in turn scooted closer to alisa as the foot of the stool sat on the edge of the skirt. "my brother is focused on his work and is just as interested in the role of deputy commissioner as general baranov and vaganov."

alisa smiled sweetly. "we're all very curious to see who will win that seat. the office will certainly change. positions shifting amongst the secretarial pool."

it felt traitorous to say, but the words spilled out anyway as liesel spoke coolly, utterly confident in her belief. "i'm sure general vaganov will be a great deputy commissioner. he's the obvious and better choice." eyes narrowed briefly at alisa. "besides even if my brother did get the role i know he'd be even more dedicated to his position than to anything or anyone. for that matter- he's not the romantic he looks to be."

and like an answer from God himself did samara bazhenov stride in looking in a dark mood as the entire group sat up straighter and made a point of finishing up their tea.

"private fedorova, commissioner kozlov needs you in his office immediately." bazhenov hissed as alisa leapt to her feet at the order while the sound of fabric ripped loudly in the room. the dark green skirt of alisa's, caught on the stool had ripped half way up to her thigh drawing a horrified shriek and a glare from bazhenov.

another delay, another order and situation to figure out. "go home and change, private fedorova." private bazhenov glowered as alisa fumbled to make herself decent before turning to liesel. "see to commissioner kozlov's orders, private ivanov and bring the paperwork to me since some girls can't be aware of their surroundings. afterwards general vaganov will be needing your assistance with a ceremony next week."

"yes, of course, comrade bazhenov. i'll go see to that." she managed out quickly as misha reached to take her tea cup for her allowing her to hurry out of the kitchen before a smile gave her away.

#// drabble #/ liesel ivanov / drabble #walkingshcdow #tagging u cause i referenced natasha bless her heart

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