Fascist Republic Of Bermuda wrote:Luminesa wrote:-snip-
“Ah. Name of the doctor you have been visiting?” Asked Wagner, “Don’t even need a specific person, just the name of the location.”
Wagner nodded thoughtfully, not pressing forward about the scars any more. Higgins did much the same. The same could not be said for Graves, who, inside her stoic exterior, practically lit up like a little schoolgirl. An angle. As the needle entered Mikhailov’s arm, Graves waltzed to the other side of Mikhailov and crouched down.
“Mister Mikhailov,” she asked, “Do you mind sharing your other, healthier reasons?”
Her two compatriots glanced at her like she was mad, but Graves had found her angle and she was going to gently apply the pressure. “It’s no threat, I’m just curious. What sparked it? Collapse of the Soviets? Something about a sense of purpose in life? Did you find one? Who helped you out of that hole?”
“Agent Graves, this is hardly appropriate-” Wagner remarked, withdrawing the syringe, newly-filled with blood, and dabbing at the puncture wound with a bit of cloth before applying a bandage to it. “I don’t tell you how to do your job, lab tech,” Graves snapped back, “I’m just asking a few questions.”
Mikhailov smiled calmly. "It's not an issue..." He turned to Graves, giving her a kinder look. Inside, of course, he chuckled. He knew that she was trying to pry his mind, acting sweet to try and read through his own persona. Yet he knew that game, and he knew it well. He had played it all his life. "Hm? Oh no, the collapse of the Soviet Union did not worry me. When greedy pseudo-communists took over and tried to parcel Russia amongst themselves, I knew the end was coming. But that is no concern now. As for my sense of purpose...well, I have a few purposes. I am a professor. I was a scientist. I am also a theologian, though I am not famed for such. I suppose having so many purposes kept me going, but...also gave me some stress. And so I...well, I gave myself more scars. I spiraled into darkness...but a friend, a beloved friend of mine...helped me out of that darkness..."
He turned and smiled toward what seemed to be nothing, to give the indication that he was thinking about a distant memory. Really, he was facing the hallucination of Alexei, who blushed when their eyes locked. "...Yes. They reminded me that my purposes are for more than simply the aggrandizement of my own self. They are also to help the world to be better. I began teaching in the States for that reason. Philosophy. I enjoyed it. But now...I needed to take some time off in order to think further on my purpose. Does that answer your question? Or is there something else you wish to know?" I have not quite lied yet, have I? And why wasn't the idiot listening when I gave a doctor's name the first time? Look him up, go ahead! I know the question you will ask next.