02-09-2026, 04:31 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-10-2026, 01:44 AM by Ivan Sarkozy.)
The last few months had been busy. Ok that was an understatement. For real. He had a family, now. He and Danya had found a bigger apartment, one that had plenty of room for them and for Zara- and the mountain of toys mom and pops had rained upon her. First grandkid and all that.
His brother had joined in the fun, and, Ivan privately suspected, also gotten revenge on him for some thing or other he had done when they were younger. The damn stuffed bear was as big as he was. Maybe bigger. Moving it out of the way was not easy. And it was always in the way.
Yeah, definitely revenge.
So now Ivan wasn't the bachelor anymore. Suddenly, he had a girlfriend and a a child. And while he was excited, it wasn't easy. Habits dont change just like that. Some were easy. The drinking every night. The desire to go out to the bar. Stuff you did as a single guy to occupy the time, flirt and have fun. That was never gonna be a permanent part of life.
But some of the others were harder. The routines were new. The parent teacher conferences, the homework checks. And the clothes. It seemed like they were forever doing laundry, folding it and putting it away. Jesus....just never ending.
Anyway, life was now very different. And how he did his work was different. He was always aware he had a family to be there for. He still did his job, even when it was dangerous. Lots of people had families while putting their lives on the line. But neither was he as cavalier as he used to be.
Today it was to take over a case of death by mysterious circumstances. He'd seen the preliminary report, of course. Definitely Domovoi case. But the cases were as unique as they were the same. The morning was slightly warmer than normal. Or rather, the air felt still. The clouds he could see were black and gray. He couldnt tell if it was gonna get warmer or colder.
Once at the precinct and through the front, they were introduced to Detective Guerro. Dorian made the introductions and Ivan shook her hand. "Ivan is fine." Dorian was the lead so Ivan didnt say more.
But her work was good. None of the jurisdiction pettiness you might expect. He knew how she must feel. There was a Major Case guy who they called "The Vulture" because he always swooped in and grabbed cases that were 90% complete. Taking that last 10% is the hardest part he'd brag to those who would listen. Definitely an asshole.
So he appreciated what Dorian was doing.
His brother had joined in the fun, and, Ivan privately suspected, also gotten revenge on him for some thing or other he had done when they were younger. The damn stuffed bear was as big as he was. Maybe bigger. Moving it out of the way was not easy. And it was always in the way.
Yeah, definitely revenge.
So now Ivan wasn't the bachelor anymore. Suddenly, he had a girlfriend and a a child. And while he was excited, it wasn't easy. Habits dont change just like that. Some were easy. The drinking every night. The desire to go out to the bar. Stuff you did as a single guy to occupy the time, flirt and have fun. That was never gonna be a permanent part of life.
But some of the others were harder. The routines were new. The parent teacher conferences, the homework checks. And the clothes. It seemed like they were forever doing laundry, folding it and putting it away. Jesus....just never ending.
Anyway, life was now very different. And how he did his work was different. He was always aware he had a family to be there for. He still did his job, even when it was dangerous. Lots of people had families while putting their lives on the line. But neither was he as cavalier as he used to be.
Today it was to take over a case of death by mysterious circumstances. He'd seen the preliminary report, of course. Definitely Domovoi case. But the cases were as unique as they were the same. The morning was slightly warmer than normal. Or rather, the air felt still. The clouds he could see were black and gray. He couldnt tell if it was gonna get warmer or colder.
Once at the precinct and through the front, they were introduced to Detective Guerro. Dorian made the introductions and Ivan shook her hand. "Ivan is fine." Dorian was the lead so Ivan didnt say more.
But her work was good. None of the jurisdiction pettiness you might expect. He knew how she must feel. There was a Major Case guy who they called "The Vulture" because he always swooped in and grabbed cases that were 90% complete. Taking that last 10% is the hardest part he'd brag to those who would listen. Definitely an asshole.
So he appreciated what Dorian was doing.