The Orphanage Chapter 28- a story told in drabbles

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

link to chapter 27: http://section7mfu.livejournal.com/49492.html
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Many Russians considered giving sharp objects as gifts to be taboo. Natasha was not thinking of that when she gave the knife to Illya.

He was not superstitious but if he were, it was too late to give coin; the supposed taboo could have been avoided by giving money, making it a trade instead of a gift.  This symbolic gesture could circumvent  disaster if he believed in such an anathema.

The knife proved to be a boon and not a curse after Illya used it to defend himself against Lyov. It would be treasured, along with his memories of Natasha.

Comments

[avery11.livejournal.com]

It took me a long time to work up the courage to read your story. Many of the pics were quite somber, and I guess I envisioned a horrible, graphic saga of suffering children. Violence against children really pushes my buttons, so I tend not to read those types of stories. However, I finally took a chance, and was relieved to find that things were not as graphic as I had feared. (breathes huge sigh of relief)

The readers' comments have been very interesting--I've never heard of any of those traditions--wallets and coins and sharp objects. How fascinating that they extend cross-culturally.

My apologies for not getting to your story sooner. :)

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

Yes I know I have a reputation for darker stories, but this one I skirted about the worst of what could have happened to him. I had briefly covered some of this in my story "Beginnings" and this filled in some of the details here. A little violence, but more of an initiation into a seedy world of thievery, gambling, drinking smoking and so forth.

Natasha was his ray of light who was the one who put him on the right path. Though the bad habits he learned in the orphanage became handy as a spy later on in life. He succeeds thanks to her TLC and friendship.

No apologies necessary, and glad to started to read. Yes the cross cultural comments were very cool and quite enlightening.

Theres a few more chapters to go in this drabbke story.

Thanks for catching up and commenting! :D