"Visualize this..." for the Short Affair 2/20/17

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Challenge: The Short Affair

-Prompt Word #2 – Bet

-Prompt Colour – Purple

Author: mrua7

Title: “Visualize this…”

Word count: a little over, but I couldn't help it.

For jantojones who asked for ‘just a little something to distract me from the miserable weather” Here it is cuz!

“Where are you taking me Illya?” Solo was seated in the passenger seat of the silver Impala while his partner was doing the driving.”And why did you have to take the convertible? It’s freezing outside, and the canvas top doesn’t exactly…”

“By your complaining, I would say that you are starting to sound like me,” Illya chuckled.

Solo squared his shoulders. “You are not rubbing off on me; I just find it odd you’re not telling me where we’re going. You know I don’t like surprises.”

“We are almost there.”

“Where is there? We’re heading down the Belt Parkway and...wait. Are we going to Brighton Beach?”

“I was wondering when you would guess.”

“Going to eat at the Odessa? You feeling homesick for all things Russian?”

“Not all things, but there is something I have been wanting to do and decided this would be the perfect day for it. I thought you might enjoy joining me..”

Napoleon screwed up his face, trying to think of what that could possibly mean, but gave up as soon as Kuryakin announced their arrival at their destination.

He peered out the car window, looking at the snowy sidewalk; finally his eyes drifted upwards to the sign on the front of the building.

‘СОБИ в Баня.”

'Sobi's Bathhouse' in parentheses written beneath it in English.

“A banya?” He’d never been in a real Russian bath house before."

“As close to a banya as one can find here,”Illya replied. “At home they are a often a separate housing constructed near a river or lake. Here is not possible. The ocean water is unsuitable, only fresh water is.”

“Suitable for what exactly?” Solo warily asked.

“You will find out my friend. Now come, it is early and will not be very busy so we will not have to engage in any unnecessary socialization. Most people come here after work to relax and it becomes a place for communication. During breaks people walk out to a separate room to cool down, relax and converse about life, ideas and beliefs with one another.”

“Okay,” Napoleon thought to himself,” a steam bath isn’t so bad. Still, they had one back at headquarters plus a lovely female masseuse, so why did Illya have to bring him all the way to Brooklyn for a steam and his company?

After paying the manager and getting their large white towels they proceeded into a room called a predbannik or pre-bath. Here there were pegs to hang up clothing and benches to rest on. The walls were made of rough hewn wood, making it look quite rustic.

There the men stripped and wrapped the towels around their waists.

“This way,” Illya beckoned.

They walked into the washing room. It had a hot water tap which used water heated by a steam room stove and a vessel or tap for cold water to mix water of a comfortable temperature for washing.

The heater had three compartments: a fire box that was fed from the entrance room, the rock chamber, which had a small hole to throw the water into and a water tank at the top. The top of the water tank was closed to prevent vapour from infiltrating the banya. Water to be thrown on the rocks was be taken from the tank as this made better steam than if cold water were used.

Illya placed his gun in a towel beside himself and Napoleon followed suit, it was never a good idea to leave one’s self vulnerable.

Kuryakin then used water from a nearby bucket, pouring it over the heated rocks in the stove as and Solo sat on the benches.

“Getting a good sweat on before using water is preferred to using steam right away, as the sweat is thought to protect and condition the skin from the steam,” Illya explained. He sighed as the hot vapors swirled around him, feeling stiffened muscles throughout his body relax as he began to perspire.

Illya handed Napoleon a bunch of wrapped branches.

“What’s this?”

It is called venik. They are leafy branches bound together as a small broom,

usually made from birch or oak, or sometimes eucalyptus.

“And what exactly is it used for?”

“For fanning the heat. Once your body becomes hot and the temperature is high, rhythmic smacking of the venik all over the body makes for a good massage.”

Napoleon chuckled. “ I’d much prefer Ingrid’s massages at headquarters.”

“My friend, will you just relax and go with it? I bet you will enjoy it. Now this is how it is done,” Illya  draped a towel over his head covering his face, and he began to gently hit his back and arms with the venik. “Doing so helps to improve your circulation. Try it.”

Napoleon did and he could detect the scent of the eucalyptus, and feeling it on his skin. The sensation was quite stimulating.

They sat steaming themselves for quite a while until Illya finally announced they were done.
“Now for the next step, follow me.” Napoleon traipsed after his partner, going through a door that led... outside?

“Illya are you out of your mind? It’s freezing out there."

“No. Here we complete our bath by taking the plunge.” He pointed to a small concrete swimming pool that had bits of ice floating it it. “Sadly this one is partially heated as there is no running current to keep it from completely freezing over.”

Kuryakin stripped off his towel and stood there naked, the steam rising from his glistening body.

“And now to plunge.” He jumped into the water with a splash, going under and then rising back to the surface to gasp for air, more steam from his exposed head and shoulders rose in the air. He looked at his partner still standing there. Napoleon had removed the towel draped over his head and wrapped it around his shoulders.

“Come on it is your turn. I assure you it is quite invigorating.”

“Not on your crazy Russian life!” Napoleon barked.

Illya reached up and grabbed Solo by the ankle, pulling him into the water.

Once Napoleon surfaced, he cursed. “Jesus Chri...you call this heated?”

“Now now, you must not speak like that in front of owners of the banya,” Illya pointed to two men who were just about to take the plunge themselves.

“Good morning to you Vasha, Michail,” Kuryakin called.

“And to you and your friend Illya. It is a good day for this, da?”

Napoleon saluted his greeting with a shivering hand.

Seeing as Solo's lips were turning a purple, Illya called for them to exit the pool.

“Could we go back to the steam room please,” Solo’s teeth chattered.

“No, we are finished. Time to dry off, get dressed and go back to headquarters.

He picked up their towels, including the ones disguising their weapons and handed one in which Napoleon could wrap himself.

No need for Illya to show the way, as Solo scurried back to the dressing room while his still naked partner followed. Illya didn't seem to mind umm, dangling in the breeze so to speak.

Napoleon was dressed in no time, while Illya was still drying off with a towel. “Mad at me? I sincerely thought you would enjoy this my friend.”

“No not mad, but next time you feel like doing this count me out. I’ll stick with the sauna and Ingrid’s massages back at headquarters.”

“Suit yourself.”Illya shrugged. He neglected to tell Napoleon of the masseuse they employed here at the bathhouse. She was a buxom blonde named Svetlana.

Kuryakin had a date with her on Friday night and was looking forward to his own private massage from her...among other things.

Comments

[lindafishes8.livejournal.com]

Napoleon doesn't know what he's missing. My one and only "polar dip" was when I was !4. Never again, thanks.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Well not in the case of Svetlana the masseuse.... but poor NS found out about the plunge the hard way. lol.

Me? I never did one and never will..

Thanks for reading.

[ssclassof56.livejournal.com]

Nice bit of distraction. :) Napoleon's being a tenderfoot again. And smart Illya to keep Svetlana on the down low.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Honestly I don't blame Napoleon preferring the sauna and Inga's massages in headquarters compared to jumping in an ice filled pool in the middle of winter...for fun?

Mmm, yes Svetlana is Illya's little secret isn't she? "D

Thanks for reading and commenting. Waiting for JantoJones to read, and hope it's a good 'distraction' for her.

I can't complain about our weather, almost 70 over the weekend here, 50's today and in the 60's through the weekend. I can handle this kind of winter for sure!

[ssclassof56.livejournal.com]

We're back in the low 80s during the day. Blech! I was hoping winter would hang on longer, but it looks like summer is muscling its way back in.

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind 80's as long as it not humid. That's the killer. You don't exactly get dry temps where you are.

I'm thinking we're going to have an early Spring. We're not getting much rain or even snow so the water tables will probably be low, we were in a bit of a drought last year, doesn't look good again this year either.

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

A very nice distraction :-)
I'm with Napoleon. I just don't see the enjoyment in this sort of thing. I think Illya was right to keep Svetlana a secret :-)


(Ps, sorry it took so long to reply. My sister has been for a visit.)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Good! Hope you liked that image of a naked Illya with glistening skin as the steam rose from his body....sigh.

Thank you and no worries!

[jantojones.livejournal.com]

Oh yes! Believe me when I say it brought more than a smile :-D

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, then my work is done. "D