1999 - House Party

As seen in the lorebook, this story takes place in the Nussian Federation / Noobic Union.

Oksan's house is for a large part indoors, only the garden and porch of the house being accessible. Entering the house reveals a long floor with two doors to the left and one to the right leading to the living room, the two doors to the left leading to the garage and laundry room (which is also Timofey Olesin's room, as evident by the sleeping bag laid neatly on the floor). Entering the archway on the right reveals an Amerikan-style kitchen, a decorated table with a cake and table tennis table. Directly connected to it is the actual living room equipped with sofas, a glass coffee table and TV. From the living room, you can follow the corridor which loops around the bathroom and into the bedroom. Turning left, you'll find three doors. The first door on the right leads to a small greenhouse with glass walls and roof. The second door is a small closet area with a gap that leads to a secret room with a blue chair. There's also a hole that leads back into the bathroom. The door at the end of the hallway is the bedroom, presumably Oksan's. It has access to a little back room with a generator and a small walk-in closet to the right. It contains another pathway that connects back to the kitchen.

Oksan Rhyosa has a dark brown mullet, a 5-o-clock shadow, and rectangular half-frame spectacles. His outfit consists of a vermillion sweater with dull sangria stripes, tan shorts along with white socks tucked into brown shoes.

Despite coming off on the surface as a grumpy fellow, Oksan is a nevertheless a fairly pleasant and emotionally mature individual should one get to know him, a trait which helped him get along with just about anyone that comes to his bakery. He is a dedicated family man and faithful companion with a devoted dedication to his craft, looking out for those close to him whichever way he could as much as he pays attention to all the little details in his confections.

Oksan grew up well-off in a house in the outskirts of Nussia. Despite working long hours, his mother would always take the time to teach him how to cook simple foods and dishes. It was all meant for fun, but it became his greatest weapon when taking care of his younger sister Ekaterina. He would cook her dinner if their parents were working late into the night and sometimes dabbled in baking small treats for her. On some days, they would be babysat by a close friend of his mother’s, who was also their neighbor. They often celebrated milestones together, and that’s when he met a young Vladimir Voynov and his older sister. Sometimes, it felt like he was babysitting two kids whenever the Voynovs came to visit.

He began cooking and baking a lot of Nussian specialities and meals for friends and family. He was also great at making foreign recipes and changing them to appeal to the Nussian tongue. His most famous foreign recipe is his take on the Herman Blackforest Cherry cake. They all loved the treats he made, and would be the start of his dream of opening a bakery.

When Oksan was 18, he would go on to become a confectioner at a vocational institution. After graduating, he then applied to become one at a factory, where he met Alyona Nemtseva. She also worked as a confectioner, and the two got along well for their sweet-tooth and camaraderie towards each other. That soon turned intimate, and soon they began dating.

They had their son named Konstantin out of wedlock, and had him take his father’s surname. This made Alyona’s traditional family extremely angry, as they had wanted them to get married first. This caused a huge strain that affected their relationship, despite Oksan’s reassurances of them figuring things out. Even after they actually got married, it still brought a dark and gloomy cloud over their marriage.

Ultimately, the only conclusion they came to was to get a divorce after 10 years of being together, and they both shared custody of Konstantin, with Oksan taking him during the weekend. This took a huge toll on his mental health, and turned to baking for solace. He recalled his dream of opening a bakery, and he still held on to it dearly, even after all of these years.

One slight problem was that he didn’t have the money to fund one. That’s why he turned to the Nubagami and took out a loan so he could afford his bakery. He eventually opened Oksan’s Sweet Delights in the heart of Nubzikyl when he was 33 years old, a milestone he would celebrate with Vladimir and Ekaterina, as well as Timofey Olesin, Vladimir’s friend. The both of them became extremely close due to their similar sense of humor and their laid-back attitudes.

Because of his easy-going personality, he was able to befriend most of his customers. The botanist next door would personally order his special blini covered in chocolate sauce, while he’d known Pavel Petrov as the man who owned the apartment upstairs. Katya Serafimova was a loyal customer from day one, and Veronika Elizavetina would often stop by after her shifts at the retirement home. He would even meet another fellow baker by the name of Nina Kalashnikova, who also owned a bakery just like him. Ekaterina would sometimes help him with the shop, and it became clear that she would inherit the bakery if he ever passed away one way or another.

That was put to the test on May 27th, 1999, on Oksan’s 37th birthday. After cooking the dishes for the guests and even making the cake himself, he greeted each person who came at the door. He saw Pavel with a man who introduced himself as Nikolai Yarikov. He welcomed him with open arms, not knowing he was planning something else in mind.

Oksan's birthday is on May 27. Aside from Oksan's Herman Black Forrest Cherry cake, his bestsellers were his medovik with syrup and his plombir-flavored ptichye moloko.

Ekaterina Rhyosa has long dark brown hair and wears maroon rectangular glasses. She is dressed in a sage green long-sleeved V-neck shirt with a matching deep green skirt, beige rain boots, and a brown mariner's cap.

Ekaterina could be described as merry, having a fondness for verbal jest and appearing self-congratulatory as evident in her behavior around her older brother. Despite this habit of banter and smug mannerisms, she is rather introverted, a trait that doesn't seem to affect her standing as a reliable individual among others.

Growing up, Ekaterina had always been doted on by her older brother Oksan. Since their parents were always away at their jobs, Oksan was always the one who cooked her tasty meals and snacks. He was the one looking after her during days when their parents were too tired or too busy, and they were both often babysat by a kind woman who lived next door to them. She had two kids, Vladamir and Zinaida, but Ekaterina never grew particularly close with them due to her introverted personality. Nevertheless, their families often hung out and celebrated achievements with each other. When Ekaterina was 14, she was taught by Oksan how to bake simple bread and also lectured her on the importance of keeping the oven hot and ready for meals. These simple moments they shared together pulled them even closer, which helped her in pulling off her anxious mask. Oksan and her parents were the only people in her life to see her true self: a cheerful, lively girl who enjoyed a little tomfoolery every once in a while.

Before her college years, she would initially consider taking Engineering. After much consideration, she would decide to become a cook like her brother and enrolled in the same vocational institution Oksan attended to enhance her skills, expanding her capabilities to help her older brother. As she studied, she would shed her introverted personality, something Oksan wanted for her to lose in order to appeal to their future clients if they were to get their own bakery.

She was also close friends with his brother’s wife Alyona and their son Konstantin; she was always the first person Ekaterina called when problems and stresses arose during her college years. Alyona would be able to relate to her, as she was once in the same position before.

A year after she finished her studies, she moved back into her childhood home where Oksan was now the one residing in. She slept in the laundry room with nothing but a sleeping bag as she helped out around the house, returning the favor to Oksan. At the same time, Oksan's Sweet Delights would open, finally giving her the opportunity to earn some money while spending time with her brother. As the bakery continued to run, it was clear that if ever Oksan's life were taken, Ekaterina would be inheriting the bakery to keep the family name and bakery alive.

Ekaterina is 26 years old.

Timofey Olesin has blonde hair, which he keeps shaved down to a mere buzzcut so that he wouldn't need to care for it too much. His outfit consists of an olive green sport coat over a white tank top, brown shorts along with white socks and brown saddle shoes.

Timofey is an unemployed slacker who couldn't find himself the energy to search for any means of occupation, and yet finds himself within friendly company for the most part. His oddball eccentricities, especially accentuated with a little bit of alcohol endear him to most, who find him as a good-natured person underneath his slothful behavior.

Timofey had always been a lazy guy. Ever since he was a child, he never played with his friends outside, instead he stayed indoors watching cartoons or tuning in to the radio. This made him the odd one out in his peer group, but they embraced his quirky side. He never excelled at school; his grades were middling at best and failing at worst. Luckily, his childhood friend Pavel Petrov, was able to tutor him in the basics like Math and Science just so he can get the passing grade and not flunk out of school. His father worked long hours at a construction site, leaving Timofey home alone most of the time. One day, to stop himself from feeling bored, he taught himself on how to pick locks open. This came in handy in picking on the giant padlock on his dad's liquor cabinet, which guarded his most valuable whiskey. He poured himself a glass full of whiskey and chugged it down in one sitting, causing him to suffer from severe alcohol poisoning. He was rushed to the hospital after his father noticed the symptoms.

From that day onward, his dad quit his job at the construction site and instead took another job that's nearer to their house. Scared of another incident like that happening ever again, he gave away all the liquor he had and spent more time at home. For Timofey, it felt as though his privacy was being compromised, as he was already used to being home alone with the freedom to do whatever he wanted. Under the watchful eye of his father, he was constantly monitored to the point where it became overbearing. At the age of 17, he moved out without his father's knowledge, spending the night at Pavel's house.

Timofey never finished high school when he began crashing at his friends' houses while doing odd-jobs for some money. His most recent job was as a janitor at Serebryakov Highrise Residences and Offices, but quit because of his unsavory experiences with its residents and their narrow-minded point-of-view.

A few years later, he reconnected with his father, who profusely apologized for being incredibly paranoid and overbearing to his only son. As an apology, he offered Timofey money from his monthly pension while not pressuring him to move back in with him. Timofey agreed immediately, providing him with a somewhat stable source of money. He mostly uses that money for buying and drinking with people like Pavel and Vladimir.

Timofey is 20 years old. Timofey's birthday is on April 1st. Timofey is fat.

Pavel Petrov has spikey brown hair swept to the side, most likely using some sort of hair gel, along with olive colored aviator-framed glasses. He wears a green, long-sleeved raglan shirt with black sleeves, blue shorts that covers his knees, and is sporting black socks with matching shoes. He also wears a gray ushanka.

Pavel is a quiet and soft spoken man, an unassuming presence. From the outside, you would never be able to tell that someone like him was once a prolific member of Nussia’s largest criminal organization, the Bratva. It would be even harder to believe that he was once much friendlier and energetic than he currently is, seeing he rarely ever talks about himself. He struggles with depression, and it often gets the best of him, being emotionally vulnerable and prone to spiralling into episodes. Pavel endures a great deal of guilt after everything he’s experienced, but he still does his best to keep it together, not wanting to be a burden to the people around him.

Pavel Petrov was born to a cold and loveless home. The lonely environment would shape him into a quiet presence. His mother would briefly recognize him through the short blanks of sobriety between constant drunkenness. As the second son, he was proof that her love with his absent father was still tangible, that it had not yet run dry. But not even her desperate hands on his small shoulders would make him feel loved. He knew that this was not love. At an early age, he would learn that he could not depend on the people who he should have been able to depend on. His only role model was his older brother, Viktor Petrov, who took care of him in place of the parents who were unable to. He recognized Viktor as a good man—he worked a respectable job, he looked out for him. The difference between how Viktor treated him and how his parents did was too great, so great that it felt hopeless. Taken in by this hopelessness, he went on to be a quiet and observant child—keen on listening to the lessons that Viktor would impart on him. He wanted so badly to be just like him, his older brother who shone like the sun.

From early as pre-school, his teachers worried about his silence. But one other kid, Kolzak Egorov, adapted well to it, the only friend he’d ever make—although they’d end up going to different schools following graduation. Pavel gave up on making friends after that, never bothering to try meeting people when they’d eventually disappoint him. Viktor’s greater presence in his life would be the only thing to keep him grounded—up until his first year of high school, when he received the news that Viktor had died in war.

Grief consumed him. He drowns in it, dropping out of highschool, having nothing left to tie him down. He was always a lonely child, after all. Never picked on, never acknowledged. His parents would never notice how he stopped leaving for school in the morning.

Only out of coincidence did he reunite with Kolzak, who recognized Pavel when he was wandering through the streets of Nubizkyl after dark. He hardly recognized him at first, but Kolzak was the last remaining person who knew him after he lost Viktor. So, he followed after him, even through the dead of night.

They spent the day catching up, Kolzak telling him about everything he’s gotten up to while they were apart. He felt a sense of guilt as Kolzak littered in front of him and pressured him into tagging alley walls together with shoddy spraycans. But Kolzak wanted him near, and there was nobody else left who did. He wondered if Viktor would forgive him.

It culminated in Kolzak inviting him to his gang, the offer accepted by a young, broken, and immature Pavel. He was dragged into petty crimes, vandalism, shoplifting—even grand theft auto. Pavel adapted well to it, and began to forget the guilt in favour of the pride that each completed mission fills him with.

The last wall of his was broken down when he agreed to Kolzak’s offer of a drink they were too young to have. He still remembers the shitty taste of the cheap beer, but it was overshadowed by Kolzak’s laugh as he told Pavel how little he’s changed from when they were kids. That night, he was promoted to second-in-command. He finally felt like he found his place.

Pavel witnessed as Kolzak was stabbed to death in a gang-related altercation—and he ran. He needed to take charge in his stead, but he’d retreat right back into his shell, engulfed in the familiar feeling of grief. Realizing that he was in too deep, he shifted the gang’s activity into moneymaking schemes, terrified of physical encounters after watching Kolzak die. Chop shops, insurance fraud, money laundering. It grew bigger in scale, and it began to feel too easy.

Pavel made enough through crime to move out into a small apartment. The success that his schemes found would bring him recurring dreams of Viktor, remembering how horribly he’d let him down. He realized how little of a person he was, hollowed out inside of a cold and undecorated apartment.

The gang would eventually disband after their leader had seemingly disappeared. Nobody knew him well enough to find him, and he no longer had the willpower to keep it up. Meanwhile, Pavel had too much money to know what to do with, rotting away in his bed without any purpose.

That routine was interrupted when a man found him. Having heard of his previous schemes, he had tracked him down to offer him a new opening in the Bratva. Pavel was much scrawnier than he expected him to be, but he would do.

The Bratva had low expectations of him at first, but Pavel was able to adapt quickly. He found quick success, and despite the initial poor impression, his hard work had earned the respect of the gang’s leader, Grigori. Pavel was hesitant at first when they’d accept him like family with open arms, but receiving the warmth he so desperately yearned for made it easy to get used to.

His new life as a part of the Bratva changed Pavel. He felt closer to other people again, making many fond memories and slowly climbing out of his depression. He found himself stumbling into the prime of his life—he’d even make enough money to move into a nicer place above a bakery.

He would introduce himself to the bakery owner, Oksan Rhyosa, and make quick friends with him, being accepted into Oksan’s greater circle of friends, getting acquainted with the regular customers who’d drop by, especially one Vladimir Voynov, who would go on to become a casual drinking buddy.

Pavel knew as soon as he began to feel like a human again that it wouldn’t last long. Grief was the hand on his shoulder, always by his side. In November of 1998, the Bratva disbanded. Even if Pavel escaped scot-free from the fallout, the leftover money wasn’t enough.

He had no income, and felt as if he couldn’t tell anyone about it. Horrified of testing his luck, Pavel hid his turmoil out of fear of burdening the friends he didn’t deserve to have. He had nothing outside of his criminal life, realizing yet again just how little of a person he was, how little of a person he always has been.

Pavel was barely able to hold on for the following months. He skipped out on meals, desperate to make the most out of his remaining savings. He’d lost contact with his remaining Bratva affiliates, watching as they got picked off one by one. He had nothing left but his grief, seated beside him in his loneliest hours, the one shadow that he would never lose.

He lived life like a machine, only having room to think about survival—and on a day like any other, when running errands, he was taken by surprise by one autoshop. A familiar building, owned by a former Bratva affiliate. Though he rarely did things out of his own volition, a quiet yearning in him led him inside, even when he had no money and no car. There, he’d be reunited with Nikolai Yarikov.

They recognized each other, having gotten briefly acquainted in the past through the Bratva. Pavel would idle by Nikolai, a welcome company while he waited for customers to drop by. The two struggling men found mutual comfort in each other’s presence, hours running by them as they connected over their troubled pasts. The night ended with the both of them sitting on foldable chairs, sharing cheers over beer cans to everything they’d survived. Pavel was happy to find a spot of genuine connection in his depression.

Nikolai became the first person he opened up to about his struggles following the Bratva’s disbandment, and in turn, Nikolai would open up to him about his struggles with debt. Pavel mourned his inability to help, but he was assured by Nikolai, who said he had a plan to settle everything. He thought nothing of it then.

Out of gratitude for their connection, Pavel introduced him to his friends at Oksan’s Delights. There, Oksan would welcome Nikolai in with open arms, finding the reclusive Pavel making a friend of his own to be a special occasion. Nikolai was invited to Oksan’s upcoming birthday party.

The day of Oksan’s birthday party, Pavel would wake up early and take the bus to Nikolai’s, where they’d drive to Oksan’s house together. They shared platitudes, talked about their excitement to share the day with each other. For the first time in 5 months, he found a reigniting sense of hope, a brightness in his new friend.

The party was everything he wanted. Pavel was more talkative than he found himself usually being, but he didn’t mind, warmed by the company of others. He reconnected with old friends, and made new ones. He hoped that Nikolai could do the same. For once, he felt no dread when he thought of needing to wake up the following day.

Pavel is 26 years old.

Nikolai Yarikov has short black hair that he combs in a slicked back, as well as a slight stubble on his face. He wears a short-sleeved, bay leaf yellow shirt with beige pants and black boots. He also wears a dark brown cowboy hat.

Nikolai is a pragmatic man who always seems to find the solution to every problem, no matter how unethical or how morally bad it is. Described to be weak-willed and indecisive, he is easy to convince when using the right words. Oftentimes, he could be secretive of everyday things he’s doing without even needing to be, and thus has a hard time opening up to and befriending other people.

Born in Rutav, Nikolai grew up with his loving parents in a middle-class neighborhood. His parents were working hard to provide for his childhood. His father, a mechanic, taught young Nikolai how to change the tires of their old, beat-up Volga and how to fix appliances all on his own. It was one of the best memories he could recall from his childhood. That day came when he was eight years old. His father was teaching him how to fix the stove when something had gone wrong. Nikolai was blown back, when his sight returned he felt heat all over his body, and screaming voices. His mother rushed in, scooping Nikolai in her arms and shielding him from the inferno. As he looked over her shoulder, he saw the sight of his father writhing in agony as the flames consumed his flesh. His screams faded away as they fled, the image burnt in his head as they left his father to burn.

Ever since that day, Nikolai had never been the same. He became even more withdrawn from his mother and peers, never forgetting the face his father made when he was burned alive. They had moved into another, much cheaper home in a different district, one farther away from their original home. Since his father was their only primary source of income, his mother was struggling to provide for his basic needs, leading to frequent arguments.

Nikolai began to yearn for a much simpler time before his father died. As he grew older into his adulthood, he began to notice himself mimicking his father’s mannerisms. He drank like he did, hummed his favorite songs, even picking up his affinity for repairing stuff inside the house. It was like he was trying to relive his father’s memory in the things he did.

When Nikolai turned 21, he moved out of his mother’s house. Having felt suffocated in that dingy house he once called home, he moved into his aunt Marina house so he could get back up on his feet. He began working as a part-time repairman to try and help with his aunt, but since his pay was meager, he had to resort to other means of earning money: he began distributing drugs to people and repairing stolen electronics that people had brought to him. He also helped with bypassing his electric meter for his clients. He almost got caught by multiple different landlords, but he managed to get away every time. Marina began taking Nikolai to therapy every other week with Dr. Avgury Brusilov, who had prescribed Nikolai some medications he needed to take, which Marina paid for. He felt incredibly guilty and indebted to her, so he decided to find other means of a job.

Nikolai soon opened his own auto repair shop in a seedy part of Nubizkyl when he was 29, where he was able to earn money more efficiently. He became well-acquainted with a large number of his clients. The stresses and constant mental fatigue he faced at work caused him to sometimes skip work days and unwind at a bar called The Golden Tap. During a visit there, he met someone named Kira Solzhenitsyn. They both chatted for a while, and even if Nikolai was dodging all of their questions, Kira seemed to be interested in him and had given him their number. Distrusting at first, he never acknowledged them or tried to reach out for a few days until Kira themselves initiated first, sending a message asking how he's been doing. Instead of ignoring it, Nikolai responded back, which turned into a long conversation, albeit a closed-off one from Nikolai’s end. However, Kira was gentle in their persistence, checking in on him every chance they get.

At first, Nikolai just found it annoying, but soon he began to long for the presence of an actual friend. The clients he would meet on a daily basis never bothered with him past the usual business-related talks. He wondered if this Kira person was willing to stay with him, to go through his lowest of lows with him, so he stuck around and entertained them while maintaining his distance. What he believed to be a short-lived friendship turned into a slow yet steady one, with Kira even coming to visit Nikolai’s house sometimes, much to his chagrin. They were someone who was patient, gentle and assuring, the kind of person Nikolai craved for in his life. His aunt’s constant support was nice, but he was looking for something more… more. Marina had taken a liking to Kira, and asked if they were dating. Despite him saying no on multiple occasions, it soon became clear that his feelings were changing.

During one hangout at the park with Kira, he finally, although slowly, confessed that he had liked them. Even if it was brief and rushed, Kira still heard and remembered every word he muttered. They had reciprocated the same bottled up feelings he also felt, and soon started dating. In the beginning, Nikolai was afraid he would stop being committed, but whenever he saw Kira’s smile or received great and thoughtful advice from them, he knew he made the right decision. After a few years, he got down on one knee and popped the question to Kira, and even if the ring wasn’t the most expensive or the flashiest one, it never bothered both of them at all. At 36 years old, they both got married at a modest church. Kira’s parents were supportive of them and were the ones who paid for the entire wedding.

His business began to steadily grow, which, in turn, helped him get more clients and customers. There came a day where the local Bratva started coming into his auto repair shop to fix up their battered cars or motorcycles. They paid Nikolai handsomely, which he generously gave to his spouse and his mother, who was still struggling financially at the time. Soon, his store serviced not only broken and battered cars but also broken things in general, such as burner phones and even guns. He also offered part-time services to fix vehicles outside of the shop, which greatly expanded his reach.

His sessions with Dr. Avgury began to dwindle down over the years, as Nikolai began to regain his confidence now that his situation seems to have lightened up. He still occasionally visits him, but it was to discuss the overall worries he had that he couldn’t tell, not even Kira.

One cold night in April of 1998, while Nikolai was at The Golden Tap again drinking alone, a seemingly charismatic man named Bai Shirong engaged in conversation with him. Through him, he coaxed Nikolai into going to a casino with him, and he reluctantly agreed. He soon fell into a rabbit hole of spending all of his money meant to be his savings for him and Kira on slot machines and buying drugs from Shirong. It was so, so much better, stronger and instantaneous than anything he felt before. He gave in to the temptation, and soon realized he had completely burned through his bank account.

Shirong had suggested then that he should loan some more money from the Nubagami. At first, he hesitated. He didn’t want to be indebted to the yakuza, and he tried to remind himself of his sessions with Dr. Avgury on how to better manage his self-control. However, the urge to see those three lucky sevens on the slots and the high the drugs had given him was enough for him to give in. One rainy night, he loaned money from the Nubagami, and had promptly gambled it all away three nights in a row. Even with the money he’s been earning, coupled with the fact that the Bratva had disbanded meant that his major source of income had been cut off. The interest began piling up, totaling up to 1 million noubles. He couldn’t pay that absurd amount back, and the Nubagami knew that.

In January of 1999, the Nubagami kidnapped him and, while being tied to a chair, told him that, in order to spare both himself and his loved ones, he should pay back his debt to them. May it be in money. May it be in blood. He was tasked to “deal” with another loaner, a baker who never paid back his own debt. He thought he was going crazy or they had gone off the rails, but they gave him a K1911, and told him to use it wisely.

For months, he practiced in the bathroom mirror. He watched how he gripped the gun, learned what to say (if he’ll say anything at all), and to aim directly for his head. He forced himself to stop hesitating, to stop shaking, because the key to both his spouse’s and his aunt’s freedom was in his hands. His 43rd birthday party that happened in March felt too clinical; the routine birthday cake looked fake and singing from his spouse and aunt sounded too robotic.

One day, while he was at his auto repair shop, wondering about how he would even meet his target, he saw Pavel Petrov come in with his car, asking if Nikolai could repair one of the tires. They both chatted and caught up about how everything was going since the disbandment of the Bratva. It was one of the more genuinely happy moments Nikolai had, since Pavel used to go to the repair shop to repair his stuff as well before the Bratva in Nubizkyl was “smoked out”, from what he heard.

A few days after their interaction, Pavel had referred his baker friend Oksan Rhyosa to Nikolai. He had been looking for someone to fix his car, and Nikolai was just the right guy. In early April, Nikolai arrived at Oksan’s house to fix the broken engine. As he was inspecting it and making a few repairs, he was thinking that now would be the right time to kill him, to leave the scene with his dead body on the floor, but he couldn’t bring himself to. He silently fixed his car, got his money in pay from Oksan, and walked out the front door, failing to kill him the first time, but it certainly wouldn’t be their last encounter.

The next month, Pavel had informed Nikolai about attending Oksan’s birthday party, which was around late May. Nikolai knew it was his next, and hopefully, opportunity to finally strike. He told him if he could be invited over too, saying some lame excuse about liking his desserts and sweets. Pavel naively agreed to let him come along. On May 27th, 1999, he went with Pavel to the house again. He wore his favorite brown cowboy hat as he was greeted by Oksan once more, his warm voice betraying Nikolai’s true intentions that day. As he walked inside, he saw everyone else there, attending to their own vices. Aside from Pavel and Oksan, no one else knew about Nikolai or who he was, so it was absolutely the best time to strike again.

Nikolai's birthday is on March 25th. Nikolai is 43 years old.

Randrei Aleksandrov has unkempt brown hair. Randrei wears a green military shirt, a blue short sleeve shirt, military pants with a brown belt, and black military boots.

Randrei is described to be slightly rude but still sincere to people close to him.

Randrei Aleksandrov went through lots of hardships in his youth. He was taught how to hunt and how to survive in rural conditions by his father. He also knew Igor since childhood. In hopes of leaving his past behind and receiving education, he attended college. There he made good friends with Katya and Ella. Katya was a nice and cheerful person who included him. She was also the person who introduced him to Ella whom he developed genuine feelings for.

However, due to his financial situation and the ongoing Noobic-NETO war, he enlisted. He was an excellent marksman and fought along side Igor who he was surprised to meet again after being sent to the frontlines. He luckily returned safe in early 1999, finding shelter in Ella‘s apartment while he works as a hunter. They both give each other comfort in their shared issues and individual trauma.

Randrei knows about Ella‘s abusive ex-relationship and her trauma. He tries his best to make her feel comfortable again and protect her at all costs.

On May 27th, 1999, Katya invited both him and Ella to one of her baker friend's birthday party. They happily agreed and went. After using the bathroom, Randrei would then horde a quarter of every available food for Ella before her checkup.

Randrei is 22 years old.

Ella Altseva has long, messy brown hair. Across all her appearance, she wears a silver necklace. Her outfit consists of a long-sleeved teal shirt and dull brown slacks along with gray socks and brown derbies.

Ella is ambitious, professional, and hardworking, having been known to push herself and endure in order to reach her goals. After being with her abusive ex-boyfriend Dimitirj, she developed trust issues, which left her with a sense of uselessness. Even after he was dead, she became jumpy, apologetic, scared, and her overall mental health took a decline. After slowly reconnecting with Randrei, she became more comfortable again, and began rebuilding her life with the one person who shared the same trauma as her.

Ella Altseva always dreamt of being a doctor. She worked hard and got into a nice college where she met Katya. She was a cheerful and smart person who supported and spent time with Ella. She also introduced Randrei to her, who whilst initially coming off as a bit rude, turned out to be a sincere and nice guy. However, Randrei would leave to fight in the Noobic-NETO War before she could properly realize her feelings. While still in college, Ella had a charming boyfriend named Dmitrij Solekov who she and Katya shared a few courses with. However, Dmitrij was an abusive and manipulative drug addict who mentally and physically abused Ella, making her feel useless and develop trust issues. When Katya found out, she went and saved Ella from Dmitrij who she shot dead after he lunged at them. However, his shadow still haunts Ella to this day.

When Randrei came back from the war in early 1999, she offered him shelter in her apartment. There, she developed genuine feelings for him as both of them share the same issues and support and accept each other with their own traumas. Randrei tries his best to help her heal and feel comfortable again while she tends to him and helps him open up. She openly harbors these feelings for him and people who knows her well can sense that these feelings run deep under her usually professional and disciplined demeanor.

Ella is 21 years old.

Katya (full name Katrina Serafimova) has platinum blonde hair, frazzled from a relative lack of care. She dons a goldenrod yellow low-collar shirt and faded blue jeans. She wears a gray knit beanie and brown flats.

In addition to her intellect, Katya is known to be friendly and approachable, which underlies a strong sense of protectiveness that kicks in whenever she sees any of her friends in an unideal situation. She's also known to take matters into her own hands, whenever she feels is necessary.

A disciplined and ambitioned currently independent journalist, Katrina Serafimova, also called Katya by those closest to her, was known as one of the brightest and smartest students in her college years. She met Ella and Randrei there and became good friends. She was the one who introduced both of them to each other.

She knows the risk that comes along with her job as a journalist so she decided to carry a small handgun for self defense, a Derringy chambered in .41. It came in handy in an encounter with Ella‘s abusive ex where she shot him in 1997. It also helped her survive a hit from the Bratva after she helped spread leaked information to the authorities from a mole in 1998.

Katya is 22 years old.

Svetlana Letna has long brown hair styled into a ponytail which splays out from the back of her head. Her attire consists of a silver grey sports coat over a dark grey turtleneck sweater, brown shorts along with black flats.

Svetlana isn’t bubbly or outgoing at work. She is polite, professional, almost invisible. She keeps her head down, does her job, and tries to ignore the lingering ache in her shoulders from hours spent hunched over a keyboard. On the rare occasions she had free time, a different Svetlana emerged; one who laughed easily, told self-deprecating jokes, and loved exploring the hidden corners of Nubizkyl. A complete opposite of her workplace persona; a contrast her co-workers could hardly believe were the same person.

Svetlana Letna was the glue that held High Rise Communications together. At 32, she was the office secretary. Not a glamorous title, but one she wielded with quiet efficiency. Her days were a monotonous cycle of scheduling meetings, managing correspondence, and troubleshooting the office’s ancient printer; a routine she embraced. Order in a chaotic country. She zipped around town on her late father’s Munsk MA1 motorcycle, a vintage machine she lovingly maintained. Weekends were spent tinkering with its engine or cycling through the city’s sprawling parks, the wind whipping through her hair. She also sometimes took Tatiana on joyrides with her.

At the office, she and Natalia were the head desk duo; working in sync, anticipating each other’s needs, a well-oiled machine keeping everything running smoothly. Svetlana was spared Sergiy’s infamous flirting because they’d been classmates since elementary school. Anastasiya, another former classmate, made sure she had a fresh coffee every morning. Katya, whom she met in the city, had become one of her closest friends.

Tatiana was one of her best friends at the office. They started talking at the front desk and later began meeting at cafés after work. That turned into drinks at bars, which eventually led to drunken kisses in alleyways; kisses she never regretted.

Tatiana was everything Svetlana wasn’t: joyful, confident, a natural saleswoman. She was the sunshine to Svetlana’s quiet diligence. Their relationship was a haven in a world that might not accept them. They knew the risks, knew the potential consequences at a company that could easily discriminate against them. Svetlana wished she didn’t have to hide her real self just to stay employed; but it was something she had to do, for herself and for her love.

She knew Tatiana wanted to leave the country with her, but Svetlana couldn’t abandon her duties and the people around her; especially after her promotion to temporary manager. She hesitated.

Tatiana is 32 years old.

Vladimir Voynov has a red, mid-parted slicked back hair with beige glasses. His House Party attire consists of a zipped-up, dark gray funnel-neck jacket with matching pants with drawstrings.

Vladimir is described to be introspective, channeling his creativity and raw honesty in his writing. He’s also loyal and empathetic, developing incredibly close bonds with his family and close friends, yet societal pressure and times of tragedy often drive him inwards. Despite that, he's resilient, letting his imagination and writing guide him through hardships.

Vladimir Voynov was born in 1976. Growing up, he lived with his single mother and his older sister Zinaida. His father left the family before he was born, so it was just the three of them living in a quiet neighborhood. He developed a sharp and curious mind for a boy his age. He was always outside playing and poking around with bugs in his small backyard. Vladimir is also incredibly gifted, being able to read and write with proficiency. It’s partly because of his sister, who taught him complex concepts in her physics textbooks. Their mother worked as a clerk at a ministry office, becoming the breadwinner of the family. Despite the harsh world outside, the Vova family pushed on. They’re also long-time friends with the Rhyosas, who lived next door to their house. They often celebrated milestones together in each other’s houses.

This fostered the growing potential of the future writer, and he began writing short stories in a small notebook given to him by his sister. Although they weren’t considered his best pieces, he was still extremely proud of his work, and often showed them to Zinaida. They both brainstormed ideas, bonding with each other through their love of writing as well as novels and books.

At school, Vladimir was excellent, always acing tests and even tutoring his classmates. One of his tutorees was Timofey Olesin, whom Vladimir grew close with, despite their seemingly conflicting interests. The latter would often tutor the former in difficult subjects while eating stale biscuits and drinking cold juice in the school cafeteria. Over the years, they began to hang out outside of school, with Timofey sometimes proofreading Vladimir’s stories.

As the years went on and they transitioned to high school, Vladimir noticed something… different about himself. While friends around him were quick to try and win over girls affections, he found himself yearning to be one sought after. Wishing they would seek him instead. He didn’t fully understand it yet, but he knew how jarring it felt. He was scared about the ridicule and mockery he’d receive if word came out about the kind of thoughts he had been having.

He felt confused and even sad, struggling to fully accept himself. Zinaida was always there for him, patiently listening to him and supporting him in every way she could. In a society where people like him were condemned, Vladimir saw his sister as his source of profound hope. Eventually, he was able to get back up on his feet and accept who he is as a person.

After graduating from college and receiving his diploma in Philology, he began writing a draft for his first novel titled “The Falling Planet”. It’s about the struggles and goals of a young man witnessing the downfall of his home planet. After continuous writer’s blocks and multiple distractions in his life, he fully released the book. His book became a bestseller in January of 1999. Its overwhelming positive feedback pushed Vladimir into the spotlight as an up-and-coming sci-fi writer. He celebrated by drinking beer with Oksan Rhyosa, as well as Timofey, who really hyped him up and was his personal cheerleader in his writing career.

In February of the same year, Vladimir attended a meet-and-greet, where he met fellow sci-fi writer Roman Mikhaylov. They both got along quickly due to their love for the sci-fi genre. Roman would often stop by Vladimir’s house to chat with him and help proofread his other upcoming novels, one of which was a sequel to The Falling Planet.

Vladimir has an otter body type. Vladimir is 23 years old.

Alina Mahrisha has straight, shoulder length ginger hair which she keeps a section of up in a small ponytail on the side of her head. Her face is partially obscured by her bangs. She wears circular glasses as well as a red bow.

Known for her top grade flowers and cheerful, loving personality, Alina prides herself on being a good person. She is compassionate over anything else, unable to see others unhappy without a guilty conscience if she doesn’t interfere. Alina’s soft character tends to people as well as her hands tend to the flowers she loves so dearly.

Born on farmland in 1977, Alina spent her first few years of life relatively isolated from the rest of the world. Her parents, Vera Mahrisha and Anton Mahrish, both farmers, raised Alina and her sister Yulink to know the practicalities of farming as a family tradition. Their parents took turns taking care of Alina and Yulink, seeing as there were no daycares nearby that the pair could afford to drive to every day. Since the farm was quite sheltered, the sisters roamed freely for hours on end, entertaining themselves with the cattle or the family dog, Bobik. As her parents farm was located about an hour away from the nearest major city, being Nubizkyl, Alina didn’t have many friends. Lucky for her, she got along with her sister Yulink amazingly. When she wasn’t strolling around the farm, Alina was fused to Yulink’s hip, copying her big sister when possible to hopefully get her attention.

Alina’s mother frequently took her out to the farm’s gardens, telling her all about how fertilizer worked or what flowers required how much water. Alina, however, commonly refused to work in the gardens, finding them “wack” as Yulink had said once. Of course, if Yulink said it, it had to be true. She prefered to count the farm animals with her sister anyway.

In comparison to her sister, Alina was noticeably the softer one. She cried more, was more dependent and also afraid to stick up for herself when Yulink wasn’t around. She admired Yulink’s ability to somehow exist so effortlessly greatly, aspiring to be like her.

At five years old, while doing a head count of the farm animals as usual, Alina noticed one of her favourite cows didn’t seem to be present. She counted several times, coming out with the same number each time. Shortly after Alina noticed her sisters clear discomfort. That day, Alina’s father had to explain to her that they sent certain animals away to be processed, and that was just how farm life was. To the degree a child could be, Alina was distraught. She’d never been told about any of this! How could anyone do something like that? Alina stormed off into the nearby forest she was well familiar with, partly needing to conceptualize the idea of animals being sent to be processed and partly wanting her family to feel bad.

Yulink found her not too deep in the woods and talked to her about it, trying to tell Alina that she hadn’t been told any earlier because she was too young. Alina asked for an apology, which Yulink happily gave, promising to never lie to her about anything again.

Alina was enrolled into the same school as Yulink later on, only a few grades below. Instead of being jealous of her sister’s achievements in the local newspaper, she encouraged Yulink, proudly flaunting her to anyone that would listen.

Alina blossomed socially in school, unlike her sister. She became well liked for her kindness and helpfulness, often surrounded by crowds during break. This helped her shake off the nervousness and shyness she often felt, turning her into a bubbly, open child. Yet, when Yulink began to distance herself from the family, she became frustrated. Yulink was her best friend, always had been, and now she was treating her like she’d done something wrong.

At first she brushed it off as teenage moodiness. They do that after all, right? Her mother always told her Yulink was so moody due to her being a teenager. To try and fix that moodiness Alina would ask to tag along to Nubizkyl city with Yulink, figuring the behaviour stemmed from a lack of friends. Instead of simply being denied, Yulink often threw quips at her regarding her being too immature to be out alone.

Alina had to watch Yulink argue with her parents once they found out she was planning to become a journalist instead of a farmer like everyone in their lineage before them. Not only did it sadden her, but it also made her fear for her own relationship with them. Alina herself didn’t want to stay on the farm forever, so how would they react to her leaving too? Her own doubt festered into annoyance and resentment towards her sister, since she’d been the one to cause their family so much pain. She noticed the way her parents got quiet when her sister came back from a day out, took note of the awkward silences at dinner. The 13-year-old had no reason to know better; her parents couldn’t be wrong.

So when Yulink gifted her a Polaroid camera for her departure, Alina was almost offended. After everything that had happened in the past few months, it felt more like a kick in the gut than a goodbye gift. She grudgingly accepted the gift, storing it away in a cabin to collect dust. Alina no longer had any intentions to be like her sister. Despite being annoyed with her, Alina made Yulink promise to visit.

She never did.

The house felt quieter with one less person living in it. Not simply because one person is missing, but because the house had left an awkward, empty space where her sister had been. But more than anything, Alina was angry because Yulink had broken her promise to never lie to her again. Up until Alina herself decided to move out, that space never quite filled up. Her parents were not as harsh with her, glad she’d at least decided to follow a career path that somewhat resembled theirs. She knew it was unfair deep down, but it was better than leaving like Yulink had.

While studying horticulture, Alina decided to put the Polaroid to use. Though she still somewhat resented Yulink, it had been years, and a Polaroid wasn’t something she could just let waste away. She took pictures of her flowers most often, testing out angles and lighting to make them look as appealing as possible.

Shortly after graduating she opened up a flower shop next to a few other business owners. Among these was Oksan Rhyosa, the confectioner next door. Through Oksan, she met Ekaterina Rhyosa, Oksan’s younger sister. After some awkward conversations, Alina managed to befriend her. It felt refreshing finally having someone to talk to properly again.

As she settled in she began to notice customers like Yuri Pavlenko coming in regularly, which lifted a huge worry she’d had off her shoulders. Her flowers were good enough to get people to come back!

One afternoon in January of 1998, Alina was running her shop as usual, when the entrances bell rung. Alina momentarily froze when she saw who it was. Yulink. For a second, she couldn’t do anything but stare as her sister approached her. Yulink began the conversation with a long, drawn out apology directed at both her parents and her, confessing that she could’ve handled everything more maturely. Though it was hard at first, Alina accepted the apology, admitting that she’d likely remain bitter about it for a while.

Over the next few months, Alina stayed in contact with Yulink, regularly meeting up with her to go out for coffee or pick up food from Oksan’s bakery.

On May 27th of 1999, Alina attended Oksan’s birthday party. Most attendees were acquainted to her, as she’d made most of her connections through Oksan. She’d arrived a bit earlier to prepare decorations with Ekaterina, set up a few flowers and make sure Oksan didn’t spoil any surprises for himself. Alina later left that party a different woman.

Alina is 22 years old. Alina's birthday is on July 16th.

Veronika Elizavetina has short jet-black hair styled into a mohawk, which she constantly maintains. Her outfit consists of a dark grey spaghetti-strap dress with blue and red stripes and detached sleeves, along with brown flats.

By all accounts, Veronika is a kind and compassionate lady, always willing to lend out a hand in times of need, even if her tomboy-ish appearance may look off-putting at first glance. This empathy also extends to those she meets at the retirement home, which she houses a certain fondness for.

All her life, Veronika Elizavet was raised by her grandfather after her single mother abandoned her in front of his door when she was still a baby. He took care of her and taught her how to plow the fields on his farm. She learned how to milk the cows and lugged heavy bags of rice and corn. As a result, she displays incredible strength, but she never makes this known to others, even to those closest to her. Because of her working on the farm constantly, Veronika never found time for makeup or any form of grooming or self-care. She saw her long hair as a distraction, so she let her grandfather cut it for her. After he passed away, she refused to let it grow back, opting to cut it into a mohawk haircut as a way of memorializing her grandfather, who was the only one in her life who was there for her.

After she finished community college, she became a social worker and caregiver at a local retirement home. She wanted to take care of the elderly and the sick, much like she did with her grandfather. There, she was able to relate to an ex-farmer named Ramzan Yusupov. She also met an old senior named Ivan Pavlovich, who she sympathizes with because he’s forced himself to work at a warehouse, even at such an old age.

During her free time, she has close relationships with Svetlana Letna and Pavel Petriov, with whom she spends the evenings quietly talking.

Veronika is 25 years old.