Life of Elichika (HonoEli)
Ah, Russia. A winter wonderland. Home to the elegant Russian people. Their blonde hair, bright eyes, and diverse culture is truly a wonder to the world. This was the mindset Honoka possessed when Eli invited her to spend a holiday at her home. She agreed then, thinking it would be in her home in Japan. When she received the plane tickets, there was no coming back.
On the plane, she was filled with excitement. A land full of Eli. Truly, what a beautiful land.
A day later, she was in the countryside, bundled up in layers of thick wool. The cold was unlike the Tokyo winters she had experienced before. And it was supposed to be summer.
The door swung open. She whipped her head around, seeing Eli walk through the door. “Ah, Eli!”
“Comrade Honoka, are you still bundled under blanket?” Something happened the moment they left the airport. Eli was different to her usual elegance and grace back in Japan. It only worsened when they reached the countryside of her family’s home. A spacious residence, but Honoka can feel the rustic atmosphere.
“You wear tracksuit. It keeps you warm. I ask Alichika to buy one.” Eli said sharply, her voice thick in what Honoka could only guess is a Russian accent. Did she ever have an accent back in Japan?
“B-but, that’s just one layer of clothing!” She whined, gesturing to the tracksuit Eli was wearing. Sticking her arms out from the blanket sent a shiver down her spine, so she immediately retreated in the warmth. “How is that making you warm?!”
“Potato.” A simple reply. One that confused Honoka.
“A... Potato?” At this point, she was afraid of where this conversation will go. Eli nodded, placing a sack she carried with her into the room. She reached in, taking a single potato and tossing it to her.
Honoka barely caught it but doing so made her break from the cocoon of wool. “Eli, how will this make me warmer?” She considered eating it, but that required cooking it.
“Potato can be used for many things, comrade. But most effective is with bottle of vodka.” Eli explained, reaching inside the sack once more. Honoka barely understood her words, but everything became clear when she took out a bottle of clear liquid. Uncapping it and taking a long swig.
She groaned happily when the bottle left her lips. She had drunk a quarter of its contents. A satisfied string of Russian words dripped from her voice, but Honoka could only recognize one.
“Harasho. I’ve missed true potato water, cyka.”
“Uhm... Potato water?”
“Ah, my bad! Here, but leave some for comrade Elichika!” She tossed the bottle, Honoka barely catching it. She inspected the bottle, and slowly removed the cap to take a whiff. It sent her into an immediate coughing fit.
“Eli! T-this is... Alcohol!” Honoka pointed out, quickly capping the bottle. Eli stared on, dumbfounded.
“Yeah... It’s bottle of vodka. It’s good.” A thought struck her, and her words descended into a hard tone of Russian. Honoka could only watch her angry expression. She only fell quiet when her grandmother walked in, but it sparked a rapid conversation, all in a foreign language.
Honoka stayed under the comforts of the wool blanket. Eli raised the sack to her grandmother, who takes it quickly before walking away. With the room silent, she looked up at Eli, ignoring the clanging of pans in the kitchen.
“Babushka is busy preparing supper. For now, I show you fun time in motherland.”
“We’re in the middle of nowhere!” Honoka yelled, looking out to the window. “It’s freezing, too! What are we going to do, Eli?”
The older woman walked to a nearby shelf, nodding her head to the complaints while she searched. She spotted her prize and took it out.
“An... An old music player?” Honoka asked, confused. It looked like those boomboxes in rap music videos. Eli saw the interested look and nodded, walking back to the door.
“Honoka! You said you wanted to see how i dance before, yes?” Honoka perked up. She was still interested in watching Eli do ballet. Umi said her performance was flawless even at a young age. She thought that if she was at home, she might do it.
This was an opportunity Honoka was not going to waste. She nods, standing up excitedly. “That’s right! I always wanted to see you do ballet-“
Eli didn’t let her finish as she threw open the door, producing a loud noise. She walked outside, beckoning Honoka to follow.
“Then come, I show you how to dance hardbass.”