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He's 18-19 here, closer to 19 probably. You know how in the song "Learn To Do It," Vlad and Dimitri taught Anya everything she needed to know about royalty? Well, he wasn't born knowing all that stuff... ;D And Vlad has a slight idea for his boy, but the cupid suit just won't fit... XD Read on.
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"All right, my boy. If we're going to do this, we are going to do it right."
Dimitri gaped in awe at the giant stack of books Vlad was in the process of dumping on the table. "So, we're doing it by...memorizing the history of the world?"
"No, no, of course not," Vlad laughed. "How do you expect to teach a girl the royal ways if you don't know them yourself, hm?" He gave his younger counterpart a triumphant look. "I will find supper tonight. You start reading."
Vlad had his overcoat on and was heading for the exit. Dimitri was out of his seat in two seconds flat, blocking his path. "Wait a second, now; what about you?"
Vlad shrugged. "I know already." And just like that, he was gone.
With a defeated sigh, Dimitri turned back to the mini-library on the table. This was going to be a long night.
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"Who shot Potemkin?"
"Kropotkin."
"Good. Who had a cat?"
"Count Sergei."
"Marvelous. Uh, let's see...ah. Who enjoyed his vodka a little too much, if you, uh, if you catch my meaning."
Dimitri looked up from his pathetic excuse for a sandwich and shifted his eyes to the clock. It was nearly midnight---they'd been at this for going on six hours. "Hey, Vlad---can I ask you something?"
Offering a nod, he replied, "I'm listening."
"Why is it so important for me to know all this? Won't you be there?"
"Well, yes, of course I will, it's only that...that...." Vlad found himself suddenly tripping over his words for just the right way to put it.
"Yes...?"
"Well, I just assumed that it would be more pleasant for our...our protègè to discuss these things with you, that's all."
"Oh, brother." With a sigh, Dimitri ran a hand through his hair. "Vlad, do not get any ideas, all right? I am fine. And I'll be a lot finer once we've got ten million rubles in our pockets. This is business."
"No, no, of course, you're right, you're right." Vlad shut the photo album and spent a moment searching for his glasses before realizing they were on his head. "You mustn't get involved with this girl."
"Involved? Who said anything about involved?"
"No one, no one. A simple mistake, that's all. Now. The vodka?"
It took Dimitri a second to realize he'd changed the subject and gone back to the question. "Uncle Vanya," he exhaled, resigned.
"Wonderful." Standing up with a stretch and a yawn, Vlad blew out one of the candles on the table. "Finish the album if you like. It wouldn't hurt you to get some sleep, either."
The shadow retreated toward the room, and in the light of the last half-burned candle, Dimitri stared at the photos pasted in the book. Sure, he reasoned, Vlad was crazy, but he was right---well, half right, anyway. It would help to know the material. Reluctantly, he turned the page, and spent one more hour committing the scrapbook to memory.
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I do LOVE reviews....
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