Avos'

𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧

"𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥, 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲

'𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰

𝐢'𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐰

𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐮𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞" 

- 𝐅𝐀𝐔𝐎𝐙𝐈𝐀

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS IN THE WORLD THAT ARE NECESSARY EVILS.

Learning important lessons through disappointment, lying to a child so they don't hurt themselves, working for someone you hate in order to get ahead in life, they're all examples of the small prices one must pay to achieve the greatest reward.

Standing here, right now, in a room full of people that he neither likes nor tolerates is another perfect example.

Tommy hates parties, hates having his space invaded, hates having to be pleasant and courteous when he doesn't want to be. However, a man in his position needs to socialize and uphold a certain lifestyle. He needs to mingle with members of parliament, schmooze with political donors, and thank the local shops that have helped build his empire.

And, of course, it's unfortunately also a perfect time to conduct business, unseen and camouflaged behind flutes of champagne and fancy oeuvres.

He makes sure to invite all the business associates that he's currently friendly ish with; the Jews, some Italians, and of course, the top priorities at the moment.

Russians.

He spots them now, standing in the corner all proud with their upturned noses and slight grimaces as people they deem so below them pass them by. He recognizes them by the profiles Churchill's contacts have given him. They're everything and nothing like what the simple black and white dossiers said they would be. They're similar in their stature, their faces, their classically Russian features that give them an air of supremacy and disdain. Nevertheless, there are certain things files simply can't describe.

Like the way their eyes glance around the lavishness of his mansion, shining with nothing but repressed jealousy and resentment. Like the way they try to hold their shoulders high and their chins out, bursting to hold any semblance of pride they have.

The Petrovna family: Leon, Isabella, and Tatiana. Former Russian aristocrats that have fled the old country after being targeted by the Soviet Revolution whose nails bleed and crack with the effort of holding their meaningless status. They're staying at the Wilderness House now, in the house of Hampton Court Palace, living in the painful shadows of all the riches they left behind.

His observation is cut short when the young woman- Tatiana- catches his eye. Her lips quirk slightly as her fingers delicately brush away a strand of hair on her face, walking toward him with nothing but pure intent.

"Ms. Petrovna, you look well," Tommy says, reluctantly taking her gloved hand when she offers it. "You're not the one I was expecting here."

Tatiana smiles wickedly, shrugging as if her presence is a reward, not a settlement and her accent is thick and bold as she speaks. "How unexpected, since I am told you are the man that knows all about certain things."