Ivan's Story (v.01)

As Ivan steps back he glances away from the praying masses to focus on the roofing of the church. As a child, he dreamt of pursuing architecture, but dropped the idea upon realizing the amount of technical skills needed to become a relevant, party-approved architect– Sticking with painting was a no-brainer. The roof was tiled with a gorgeous mosaic of some typical orthodox passage Ivan wasn’t aware of. Artwork covered the entire upper space of this huge temple, with some spaces left for the windows. Intricate curves and bends of the construction gracefully added volume to the image, it was very well thought-out, unreal even. Naturally occurring shadows filled parts of the canvas that separated characters or events. Who could hae produced such monumental work, how many people does it take to plant this out? He gazed in awe, amazed more by the complexity of the work rather than by its aesthetic beauty. I could never have produced that- I can’t even finish one painting on time. The studio he spent most of his time painting, nor his home of course reminded him nothing of the place he was at right now. All his life he spent surrounded by Soviet modernism or Russian imperial designs. He rarely ventured beyond Leningrad, and even on rarer occasions stepped inside the church. The imagery he was now gasping at was completely foreign to him, perhaps something to reference in his future work… //[[Waste of Finances]] [[Hard Handwork ]] // (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan, panicking, was met with dry air in his apartment. Holding onto his chest, he was fighting for breath. "Again, again this is happening" - he thought to himself. "I can't, the... the memories are too much, I have to do something, take my mind off things" Ivan, barely able to stand up, slowly walked toward the exit of his small apartment, took his coat, a hat, and put his shoes on. He left his apartment in a stumbling hurry //[[Go Outside]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan looks at the old man, and the girl he just struck. She had a beautiful innocent face, blue eyes, lightly blonde hair, and puffy cheecks. An old piece of thick fabric, which could barely be called a coat, held on by patches of fabric and stitches, with snow slowly melting on the shoulders. Her face starts to pulse with red color, her eyes start watering, she started to hold her breath, choking in it. The eyes became watery, and it was clear she was holding a scream withing her. Her innocent expression had turned into the face of horror. Ivan took a second to process what he just witnessed. He had conflicting emotions, he wanted to strike the old man the same way that he had the girl, but he understood that he was a veteran of the great war. Ivan took a seat in front of the chess table, which had old chess pieces already placed in the playing position on them. The game was clearly in the middle, and had to be ended abruptly. "Shall we continue?" Ivan asked as he was looking at the kid that was already seating beside the old man, still holding her tears. The old man looked up at Ivan, with a sorrow expression, his face damaged with scars, the tremor still held at his cheeck. The eyes that were hollow with emotions, weighted by the burden of a thousand souls about the knowledge of conflict, stared into the abyss. He raised his right hand which was severely shaking, picked up a pawn, and held it whilst thinking about the move to make, but after holding it for a few seconds in the air, he dropped it knocking over chess pieces. "Oh lord" the old man expressed "Can't event hold a piece in hand anymore" as he started to pickup the pieces, but Ivan stopped him. "Please, let me pick them up, I shall go soon anyways, please take care of the kid" Ivan said. The man looked at the kid that was sitting next to him, already more calm, but still red with tears building up in her eyes. "My god, I-I- It's me again, no, I'm so sorry" The old man started to cry as he calmed his granddaughter. Ivan, after picking up the chess pieces, slowly stood up and left the pair together. "The war has been over for years, but its horrors still live within the people" - he thought. //[[Exit Park]] // (set: $score to $score + 0.5) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

“Sasha! Ha-Ha! Take another bullet and pass it around! No– Don’t! The blood, I can’t stop it anymore, the blood is passed around! The blanket of death will warm us, the rats will feast on us…” As Ivan approaches the man, he hears clearly the words he speaks. He says everything in a sing-song voice, mimicking the tune of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 7. Ivan recognizes it to be the opening of the second movement. It is haunting. A call to a time of lesser days, of a weak and starving people, a city deprived of humanity and filled with sorrow. He thinks of how to introduce himself into the elder’s environment, or whether he should do so at all. He, a survivor of the siege? The death he’s seen… the brothers he has lost… Ivan is lost to his thoughts. He is awoken from this day dreaming by the entrance of a little girl. She is pale, a mousy blonde, and stands no taller than four feet. Why is she alone? Meandering through the trees, she takes notice of the old man, too. She pays no mind to Ivan, who is a small ways away from the two others. Saying something too softly to register with his ears, she engages with the older man. He snaps upright from his previously hunched position. His rambling pauses. As if in slow motion, he lunges at the girl and strikes her across the cheek. //[[Let the man be|Chess Good]] [[Interfere|Chess Bad]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan enters the alienated structure through a bulky wooden door frame, struck by the shimmering silence that contradicts loud chirping and squeaking of busy morning streets of Leningrad. He wonders if the thickness of the doors contribute to the quietness, or is it the temperedness of everyone around. He smells incents, all of similar flavor but seemed to be originating from every corner, realizing that the room is filled with candles, hundreds of them, each located by a frame of a religious figure by the dozens. Tongues of flames from the candles produce most of the light in the room. He is stopped right as he about to take his first step forward. “Take the hat of young man, will ya” - quietly whispers an older lady whipping the floors. A large monument centered along the pillared hallway captures his attention. It is a statue of a saint - hanged on a silvered cross with golden engravings. Highlighted by the sunlight dripping from the only few glass panels located directly above the son of God, in a cylindered tower that holds dome of the church. There is something peculiar about this particular recreation of the figure, but he can’t formulate what. Approach the statue of Jesus //[[Statue of Jesus]] // (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

"Such simple form of art, trying to seem complex, hiding deeper meanings inside of it. But such a hollow tool for politicians to use, to push their agenda, and to force themselves into a position of power, where everything will be looked at as treason." Ivan looked at the painting with disgust, and procedded towards the exit of the gallery. //[[Exit Gallery]]// (set: $score to $score + 0) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))//Italic Text//

"Ivan took a closer look at the painting, trying to decypher its hidden meaning. But then he took a step back. Looking at the painting he thought about his Father figure, Arseniy, and his passion for this style of art, and always throwing hidden meaning. He wouldn't always understand them, but as Arseniy always told him, that this is the point of making it complex." Ivan turned around and headed for the exit, a slight grin appeared on one side of his cheeck. And he thought to himself as he headed for the exit. "Those cheeky cubist painters." //[[Exit Gallery]]// (set: $score to $score + 0.5) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

IVan headed towards the exit of the church, but before he left, he took a look at a small wodden table, nearly filled with slim, yellow candles, which were placed by other people before them. He took a deep thought about taking, and lighting one up. As his parents always told him. Whilst times may be difficult, its important to keep faith and hope strong. Whilst the memories of his parents brought him sorrow joy, he always told himself from his younger years, hope and prayer won't acheive anything. He looked towards the exit, and headed for it. //[[Walk on the Street towards Park]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan headed for the exit. He was met by strong cold wind, and a dusk sky. After a long day, Ivan decided to head towards a local pub, which was close to his apartment. A place where the locals went to, to share a drink and to hangout. He didn't really like going there alone, but today he felt like that it would be nice to grab a drink. He continued back home. Thinking about the day. //[[Walk To Pub]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan continued down the park. The naked trees were covered by a thick coat of snow. In a sense Ivan was accustumed to nature. It was one of his favourite ways to meditate from everyday life, especially during the time of severe oppresion. The day his parent were taken away by officers is the day he was left alone. Growing up on the streets of a city that was being rebuilt he remebered the days of his homelessness. The days were him and other boys around the city, were scouting trashbags, and had to break into places to hide from the deadly cold. Summers always brought joy to Ivan, the end of harsh winters that came with a bit of warmth not only helped him live with his difficult childhood, but also was the time when he was able to overcome homelessness, by joining a construction team at a very young age. For him it was better than living with no food on a regular basis. The construction workers took him in to carry materials like bricks and cement buckets. Some of the workers gave some of their food to him, but this treatment made his stand out from the group, and regular beatings at nights became regular for him. For Ivan, the horror of his life was the norm, afterall, the worst experience that a person has is the worst experience that they have. //[[Walk Towards Gallery]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan, lost in memories of him growing up, stubled upon a place close to his heart, and old musical factory build that produced parts for musical instruments, and forced to discontinue, the building now stands as a gallery for fine arts. The echoes of machinery and woodcarving can still be heard on the streets near it. Ivan stopped for a moment, closed his eyes, and imagined the sound again, The conversation of factory workers going for a smoke still lingered in his mind, trying to imagine these voices again he took a deep breath, and only heard the people living their lives on the street, going about their daily routines. With a deep sigh he opened his eyes, and continued forward, turning the corner. The building stood in front of him, the industrial red brick made, clearly weathered from years of harsh winter was showing cracks, being the same height as other residential buildings around it, it tried to fit in as much as possible, but it was always odd to look at it. He continued towards the steps leading to the front door, that was barely hanging on from being slammed all the time. Its dark yellow color, and a battered look, showcasing the peoples appreciation for small details. Upon entering the gallery, Ivan was met with two new gallery exhibits, a new artist he had never heard about before, Khoronko, painting in the impressionist stlye, and an exhibit of Constructiolist Painters. He decided to go into Khoronko's exhibit first, as he had already made up his mind about landscape paintings long ago. //[[Think Negatively about Impressionists|Landscape Bad]] [[Think Positively about Impressionists|Landscape Good]] // (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan procedded into the next gallery. After viewing the Impressionist artists, he felt a need for a different style of work, to his luck, the gallery was also hosting an exhibition of Constructivist Artist El Lizzitsky. Tha painter, who had a very interesting history with the Soviet Union, had been inspired hevily in cubism, and translated his thoughts into abstract paintings, which held a deep meaning. He entered the room, understnading this style very well, as it is very prevalent in the Soviet Union. Used in various things, propoganda, mosaic and artworks. He remembered Arseniy, and his work which he always respected. "He had to put a wrench in the shape of a bone on that last piece he had worked on" Ivan thought. As he entered the exhibit. Ivan walked around, but there was one painting that caught his eye. It's a painting called "About two squares" where the composition is simple. in the bottom left of the canvas there was a big red sphere, and on top of that sphere there was some blocky shapes, which reminded of buildings. At the top right of the canvas there was one red square, and right next to it a second black square. He proceeded to think about the painting. //[[Posh Style|Constructivism Bad]] [[Deep Meaning|Constructivism Good]] // (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Upon going outside, Ivan felt gasping for air, the street, met with busy people, made him feel slightly better. He tried to calm himself down. He took a second standing outside, breathing in the cold winter air, which helped him calm down a bit. And once he felt ready, he decided to take his mind off the memories, and continued walking, looking for something, for something to take his mind elsewhere. He continued walking down the street, until he reached a church. Never having much faith in his life, he decided to go into it. Although he had lived on the street for a long time, he never had the urge to go inside of it, but today, he felt different. //[[Church]] // (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

"I remember the days of studying, when we were forced to work on restoration and upkeep of old buildings, I comemorate the hard work that people have put in to build this piece of art, all the work of designers and architects to build a monument of hope. When the days are tough, I look up to other people, they give me hope and belief that times will get better. " //[[Exit Church]] // (set: $score to $score + 0.5) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan, after hearing the man speak, was astounded. His courage of speaking out, in such manner, was brave to say the least. But Ivan stood by his stubborness. Living in the country, under opression which had taken his closest family twice, made an impact too strong on him. He was tired, tired of the regime, of the silences, of the government. He realised in that moment, after living in silence for such a loosing family members, a light at the end of the tunnel. In a local pub, with local figures, a man who has never been seen before, walked in, and with his voice, was able to inspire the hollow hearts of the people inside. Ivan was conquered by the man, within him he didn't see a promising figure, a revolutionist, or a true political leader, he saw a piece of Arseniy, the man who gave him a chance at life, and that, inspired his heart. He raised his drink wish Zhirinovskiy, as so many others did at the pub, looking up, at him, drank his beer. "People are like cockroaches, they will adapt to anything." //[[Leave the Pub]]// (set: $score to $score + 0.5) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

(enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8)))) Subject: Ivan Petrov. Age: 63. Job: Painter for the local Government. Status: Unknown Notes: Ivan Petrov, child born in the city of Novgorod, and moved to St. Peterburg to study in the University of the Restorative History. After graduation work on restoring soviet monuments and political posters for the government. Subject to keep track off, related on putting death insignia on one of the local Astronaught monument in St Petersburg 1985: Subject clear of charges due to Gorbachevs new laws providing more freedom to artists in expression of their works. Was scheduled to be executed 2 days before the law came into power. Soldiers refused to take action... //[[Beggining of Story]]// (set: $score to 0)

"I'll get a Lager" - Proclaimed Ivan. The barmen takes a second, and pulls out a beer called Zhigulevskoe. "We just got this, don't know much about this one, but give it a try, I'd like to know what you think of it." Ivan took the beer, and as he usually does when he drink a beer, first takes a sip, then a larger one, and then a bigger one. For Ivan, that is the process of tasting a beer, as you are able to feel not just the state, but the way it sits in the mouth, goes down, and you are able to get a taste of the whole beer. Ivan drank it, took a second to process it. It had a sweet, and a bitter taste at the same time, a perfect balance, it doesnt feel sugary, and doesnt feel strong in taste, it is rather lite, and felt perfect. As Ivan thoughty, it had a biscuity malt taste, he thanked the Barman for the suggestion. //[[The Pint arrives]]// (set: $score to $score + 0.5) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan walk inside the exhibit, and one of the paintings caught his eye instantly. It was a painting of some kind of building in the park. It has a vibrant and warm color paletter. The focus of the image was the building. It had one birch tree on the left, in front of the building, and another three trees to the right. Thay were fliurishing with red, and yellow colors, that signified the already going fall. "The process of smplifying a complex composition servers as a downgrade in the world of painting. I never understood the impressionists, they take these beautiful scapes and think that they can alter the composition and think it looks good. Pffff, what a joke, I worked hard to create paintings in my style, they mixed some colors and used thick brushes to think they make something beautiful. Although, no, I am wrong, the choice of color is indeed done very skillfully. However I still stand against this style, as it devalues the work of much skilled painters." //[[Gallery 2]] // (set: $score to $score + 0) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))//Italic Text//

Ivan walk inside the exhibit, and one of the paintings caught his eye instantly. It was a painting of some kind of building in the park. It has a vibrant and warm color paletter. The focus of the image was the building. It had one birch tree on the left, in front of the building, and another three trees to the right. Thay were fliurishing with red, and yellow colors, that signified the already going fall. "The composition is truly stunning, the warm colors really make the fall season a welcoming in the painting, almost, I'd say, Inviting. One of the things I truly enjoyed about impressionists, is their masterful use of color, combined with various brushstrokes. I was very fond of impressionists, and never seen their stylen up until recent year, when they became more recognised in the Soviet Union. Sometimes I wish I would try and paint in that style, maybe one day" //[[Gallery 2]] // (set: $score to $score + 0.5) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan, headed home, inspired to write a painting, he rushed home from the pub, through the cold wind. Upon arrival, he rushed up the old stairs, which had paint peeling, holding on to the railing to not fall over. He reached his door, an old piece of metal, starting to rust from the moisture in the air, he opened it with a key. After entering the apartment, he was greeted by the short hallway, with barely any paint, plaster walls, and with the old bricks showing through it. He took off his coat, shoes, and rushed to his studio. The room, which he used in painting, was there as he left it, with brushes beside a large canvas, which was already prepared. He grabbed the colours, and started mixing then. The smell of oil and mineral spirit grew stronger in the room, with a small light above him, which allowed him to barely see at night, he started laying color on the canvas. //[[Start Painting]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

This was the introduction to Ivans new parent, Arseniy. What followed was what Ivan would call, genuine happy life. Arseniy took Ivan under his wing, with his wife passing away, and Arseniy, always sorrow that he was never able to have a child with her, found an opportunity in Ivan. His life transformed, he always came to work with Arseniy, but was never forced to do brutal work. He was homeschooled until he was able to get into school, and, after showing an interest in the mosaic Arseniy was working on, had begun his art lessons, which later made him choose and Institute focused on Architecture. But he will always remeber the day he left to study. As during the first semester, he would recieve a letter from a an associate of Arseniy's, notifying him that, Arseniy, who worked on a mosaic in Novgorod, has been taken away by the police, for discrediting the government. //[[Gallery]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

“This religious crap is useless. I’m glad that I was raised in a family of atheists. Soviet people, people who understand value of human work and its need for the greater good of our society. Our churches spend millions to build mansions and palaces, golden domes, diamonds, for what? Just for it to be stolen and later sold on the auction house. Stolen by the people who are in need, starving people, people this church is supposed to be helping in the first place. A circle of hypocrisy fueled by this millennia old narrative. We need new ideas and new stories to build our future…” //[[Walk away from the statue|Architecture]]//  (set: $score to $score + 0) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

“ I was always amazed by how much depth is carried within the iconography of Jesus. Billions of humans throughout history have heard of him, seen him through depictions of painters like myself, and each took something inside to carry within for their whole lives. One man, a single lifetime, but how many more has he altered. His pain and his sacrifices are immeasurable to the amount of joy and hope he brought us all. Here I stand in front of him, the crown is nowhere near - your suffering has concluded my brother, we have reached prosperity, you may rest now… “ //[[Walk away from the statue|Architecture]] //  (set: $score to $score + 0.5) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan, in desperate need of fresh air, finds himself on the sidewalk of a park near the church. The winter has not been kind to the city this season, and snow covers scattered benches and monuments alike. Looking out over the white plain, Ivan observes a man sitting alone at what is presumably a concrete chess table disguised by the freezing white. The man is adorned in a heavy wool hat and fur coat, yet his face remains completely bare. He is wrinkled and old, a sign of a life of work, and perhaps no reward of play. In his lifetime, Ivan thinks, there will never be any play. Lurching above the man are trees, weighed down not only by sheets of snow, but also by the sullen, still air of the city. There is no wind blowing, and no sound, except the faint ramblings of the seated man. Ivan can’t make out what he is saying, but in his isolation it is clear it is senseless. The incoherent voice is accompanied by the crunching steps of Ivan’s boots in the snow as he departs the safety of the sidewalk to investigate the man at his post. //[[Chess with old man]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

You walk up to the barman, big salam, ask for a beer Ivan walked inside the pub, the good old sound of loud conversations filled the room. It was a nice place, people that were would come from different backgrounds, but one thing unified them. That is an enjoyment of a drink in the evening, after a long day. Ivan stood in the middle, surrounded by beautiful wooden posts, tables, and booths. Looking for an open seat, he decided to not go for a booth, as he usually does, but found a place at the bar. He sat down, and was greeted by a barman, that knew him, as he was a local. "Ivan! My friend, what can I get you today?" - he exclaimed after approaching Ivan. The bar was beautiful, a hidden gem in the city, Ivan considered it. It was a simple place, but it had minor details which made it stand out for him. The trims of the bar were wooden carvings of old historical events. Most prominently which would be recreated from concrete as per soviet brutalism, here, it became a juxtaposition. Comemorating the people, unity, and strength of the struggling nation. Always enjoying to be suprised by the drink, Ivan decided to ask the barmen what would be new on the menu, between a stout and a lager. //Barkhatnoe [[Stout]] Zhigulevskoe [[Lager]] Vodka [[Vodka]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

(set: $score to 0) [[Choice 1|Choice1]] [[Choice 2|Choice2]] ::Choice1 (set: $score to $score + 0.33) You chose Choice 1. [[Next|Next]] ::Choice2 (set: $score to $score + 0.5) You chose Choice 2. [[Next|Next]]

(enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8)))) (if: $score > 3) [ Ivan, putting the paint on the canvas, created a mix of light colors, He took veridian green, yellow amber, titanium white. The colors he used to start assembling his painting. He used large strokes to lay the background, and start assembling a face, its shape, and its emotions. The face was looking down. Adding more detail, tha face was becoming clearer, it was a portrait of Ivan, himself, looking down. He captured the emotion of imagination, and remembrance, with tears rolling down the face, it could be called despair, a person stuck in the past, and in the eyes of the protrait, He saw himself. ] (else-if: $score >= 2 and $score <= 3) [ Ivan, putting the paint on the canvas, created a mix of dark and light colors, He took veridian green, crimson red, and yellow amber, which he mixed with titanium white to add brightness. He used large strokes to lay the background, and started assembling a face, its shape, its hair. The face was looking up. Adding smaller and smaller details, the painting became more clear. It was a self portait of Ivan. His face looking up, at a light, his facial features clear. He painted the eyes, and a single tear going down them. The eyes spoke of hope, faith, and despair. The vulnerability was captured, the man in the portrait, looked at a future, a bright future, where perhaps, he can feel happy again. And in the portraits eyes, He saw himself. ] (else-if: $score < 1) [ Ivan, putting the paint on the canvas, first mixed dark colors. He took veiridan green, crimson red, yellow amber, and started laying a figure on canvas. He used large strokes to assemble a face, its shape, its hair, and its fade into the background. Adding smaller and smaller details, the painting had started to become more clear. It was a self portrait of Ivan. He hid half of his face behind a shadow, having added barely any light, the features of the face could hardly be seen. He focused on eyes, capturing the negative emotion in them. Depression, fear, and tears, almost like looking at a monster, and in the reflection, of just one eye that was visible, He saw himself. ]

The crown of thorns is missing, that’s what. Ivan is a classically trained painter - he has done multiple paintings of Jesus before as a part of his art studies. Being a generational atheist himself Ivan was surprised by how clear he could recall the image of the man, every minute detail he studied, tens of hours spent perfecting the portrait. And even though iconography and religious painting was foreign to him, was still surprised by the absence of such an important, what he has thought attribute. Spikes bitting into the scalp of a man. A beautiful metaphor for our struggles and commitment. A torture device. An element that could not have been forgotten, so has to be intended that way by the sculptor - thought Ivan. He then noticed a few scratches along the temples of the head. Was the crown there before? Did it fell off? Is it perhaps in restoration? Was it a simple wooden curvature or a fully golden disk, with diamonds and other gems? Maybe it was stolen by one of the church servants, or a beggar sitting on the stairs leading to the place? A smaller object of immense monetary value - a radical act of thievery he would have not judged harshly given the conditions of live in his neighborhood. Ivan takes out his notebook to write a few comments. The missing crown leads him to new grounds… //[[Mindless Story|Mindless Story Darker]] [[Pain and Sacrifice|Pain and Sacrifice Lighter]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

"I'll get a Stout" - Proclaimed Ivan. The barmen takes a second, and pulls out a beer called Barkhatnoe. "We just got this, don't know much about this one, but give it a try, I'd like to know what you think of it." Ivan took the beer, and as he usually does when he drink a beer, first takes a sip, then a larger one, and then a bigger one. For Ivan, that is the process of tasting a beer, as you are able to feel not just the state, but the way it sits in the mouth, goes down, and you are able to get a taste of the whole beer. Ivan drank it, took a second to process it. It had a sweet taste, yet some bitterness to it, a strong chocolate taste persisted throughout, but was followed by slight hints of coffee. Ivan was delighted at the taste, and thanked the Barman for the suggestion. //[[The Pint arrives]]// (set: $score to $score + 0) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))////Italic Text////

As Ivan was enjoying his beer, and taking in the atmosphere at the bar, a man suddenly grabbed his shoulder, and walked up to the bar. The man looked angry, but he was definitely from the military, his cothes were clean, the shirt straights with no fold, and with a bold face. He looked courageous. Having the end of his hair wrinkled, and a square jaw, he looked at the barman. This was the first time Ivan would see a man that went by the name of Zhrinovskiy, who would later be able to alter the course of Soviet Union, and the people that lived there, but it wouldn't happen for another twenty years. "Look! Look! Good place, good beer, good people sitting all around." He exclaimed with power. "First time I am here, and I am greeted by hardworking people, people that make this nation prosper!" He was shouting, but the pub held it conversations, except for the barmen and Ivan. "Its places like this that make me proud of the country. There is not enough of them here! Look at the fine gentlemen I am standing next too. Raggy clothes, tired, and enjoying his beer, alone. I can tell right now he is a hard worked, and had done his part for the Union, but what he recives in return, Nothing! " Ivan was suprised at the man mentioning him, and as he continue his violent shouting, the people calmed down, and slowly started to listen. "We! People of this place! Hard workers, who get fuck-all in return, uphold the nation. I, the representative of the council of hard workers in this area. Want to expand places like this, and comemorate workers like the one I'm standing next to! Bullshit is the rules they place upon us to follow, There must not be chains around us, we should be able to speak our mind, and find our own ways to prosper, and make the Union stand up from its knees. " He grabbed a drink that the barmen placed near him! "I, Vladimir Zhirinovksiy, will venture out into the world of politics to represent the people sitting here. To fight for you, and your workers rights, and make the changes necessary in the country, for us to have bread, for us to have food, for us to speak our mind, for you, for the people!" He exclaimed raising his drink up, and the whole bar erupted saluting his speech. Ivan, astounded by what he just heard, look at the man again, and thinks... //[[What a load of crap]] [[Interesting Points made]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

The street was dark, empty, and lifeless. The snow, already consumed the street, made Ivan feel welcomed. The vodka warmed him up, and his drunken mind, felt warm. Taking off his coat, Ivan fell to his knees, and had started to cry, he remebered, remebered the warm summer days. The days of his childhood, the day Arseniy picked him up. The day everything changes, the day he was taken away, the day he became homless, The man slapping a girl. It was too much for his mind. He layed in the snow, shivering, not thinking about anything, the alcohol, the warmth it gave him made him feel good, but the mind was on fire, crying in the snow, thinking about what he had become in his life, made him feel soulless. He continued laying in the snow, alone, as it slowly started to cover him, fallen asleep, he layed, as he allowed the snow to cover him, alone. Until it was black, and Ivan had become part of the cold, the cold made him lifeless, part of the regime, part of all the dead bodies that the city was built upon, all the suffering of the people, and all hopes and dreams of a bright future died there, in the cold, with him, and just the alcohol in his body, telling him, that he was warm.

"Let me have a Vodka" - Proclaimed Ivan Having a rough day, he felt the need for a drink, and as the barmen gave him a shot, Ivan took it instatly. Feeling the sweet posions curl down his stomach, he enjoyed the burn, he allowed it to consume him, the medicine, the poison felt good. He continued drinking, up until the very closing of the bar, when it was empty. The barmen, politely asking Ivan to leave, was met with a man who was not himself. "Get the fuck off me, I'll get home myself!". The barmen, inclined to help, decided to avoid the fight, and let Ivan go . //[[The walk home]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Upon coming to his home street. It was already dark and cold. A fine snow was falling from the sky, slowly covering the streets. The pub, which attempted to be done in an english style, but still had tp fit in with the aesthetic of the union as to not raise any suspicions, was one of his favourite places. He came up to the entrace, and a name that always humoured him welcomed into the warm place. He stood in front of it, "Swine and Rose" said the sign at the top of the entrance. He smiled and walked inside of it. //[[Pub]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

At the construction site, the building was planned to have a beautiful mosaic on the side of it, which is where he met Arseniy, a government architect who was responsible for creating mosaics comemorating Soviet leaders. Their introdcution happened when Ivan was tasked with bringing mosaic tiles to the workers starting to assemble it. Upon arriving at the construction site, he remebered the first time he met Arseniy. "Who the fuck brough a kid to the construction site!" were the first words spoken as he got to the site. Arseniy came up to the kid and told him "Put the tiles down, stay here, and I'll be back". Ivan put the tiles down and waited, leanred already to follow others orders, he complied. After some time, Arseniy and one of the workers that had shared his food with Ivan came up to him. Arseniy and the worker were in a conversation with eachother, whilst Ivan stood still, waiting for the next assignment. From what he was able to make out, the worker was explaining Ivans situation to Arseniy, and after they finished, Arseniy, came up to Ivan. "I will take care of you." //[[Memory of a new Parent]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan exited the church, and continued down the beatiful street. The hint of French architecture were present in this city. The building had 5 stories to them, with a beautiful yelowish-white stone stood strong, with a canal in the middle of the street. The windows were all closed, with dark wooden frames. With small local stores selling various things, paintings, antiques, grocery stores, and pubs. He headed down the street, he knew he was heading towards an old park of his, which has become one of his favourite places to spend time at. //[[Park]]// (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

"The state of this city, and country is in shatters. Bread is barely available to the basic population, and we had just been released from rationing. All the poeple hear are promises of increasing the food output, the quality of life, and the prosperity of our country, yet all we get is a spit in the face from the government. The bastards that sit at the top are probably choking on their gluttony, whilst the regular folk suffer, the hard workers that uphold society, and what do we get? Intead of spending their money on helping the working comrades as they have promised for years, they now build churches, monuments, and tall government buildings for their so called "Comemoration of our Leaders", the leaders, which have done nothing except focus on their own well being. This church stands on this principle, the years it took to construct this could have been spent making buildings for the people that wait years for their apartment, only to be given one room which doesnt have heating." //[[Exit Church]] // (set: $score to $score + 0) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))

Ivan, after hearing the man speak, was astounded. His courage of speaking out, in such manner, was brave to say the least. But Ivan stood by his stubborness. Living in the country, under opression which had taken his closest family twice, made an impact too strong on him. Having to evade the government, and accepting social standarts, and silencing of people, which he had done for so long, made him forget what it is like to have a free voice with people. Although trying to be a good person, the pressure on the shoulders always folds. He was already too far surviving in the system to look for light, he had become, part of the system. "People are like cockroaches, they will adapt to anything." //[[Leave the Pub]]// (set: $score to $score + 0) (enchant:?page,(bg:(gradient: 0, 0,#000000,0.0246,#000000,0.9953,#888888,1,(hsl:58,0.2131,0.2392,0.8))))