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Possessing a large frame, an enormous heart and endless ambitions, Ivan is a complex man with simple dreams, striving to make the world a better place through slightly unorthodox means. But then, the only way to truly save a chaotic world is to bring order - even if it's by force.

With Ivan, first impressions can be utterly deceiving, and truly getting to know the man is an incredibly difficult task. He seems simple yet is complex, he looks friendly, yet is capable of quite cruel deeds. Understanding him is not something you are able to do in a day or a year - but if you have the will, you can always try. He would appreciate it.

At first, when he doesn't know you, Ivan is rather shy and possibly even distant. During first meetings, especially in a larger group of strangers, he's not likely to be the one to initiate a conversation. However, you don't need to be around him for long before he turns both talkative and immensely warm - as well as somewhat touchy-feely. He absolutely loves to hear tales about others' days and there's almost nothing better sounding to him than good chit chat over a coffee or a drink, or while taking a walk and admiring the nature. Sure, sometimes when he gets too into a conversation (especially if alcohol is involved - and with him, it often is) he might slip out rather... peculiar things, often scary or disturbing in nature, but if you can, it's best to just ignore these. If you get along with him, you most likely don't have that much to fear.

Even if he does like to talk however, the things Ivan likes to talk about don't encompass everything; he very rarely shares any information one might consider valuable in getting to him, or personal details you might be able to use somewhere later. He has no problem discussing politics and answering simple questions, but just try asking about his past or prying just a little bit too much, and you will find the subject changed faster than you can say paranoid. Ivan knows very well the value of information and knowledge, after all, and isn't foolish enough to sell himself out to even his friends. If you want to truly get to know him, best to either prepare for trouble, or spend years either under him or standing with him for him to grow to trust you enough.

Also, on the topic of conversation, Ivan is a curious case in that he's both blunt - and he is not. See, despite having lived in England for quite some time now, Ivan's English isn't quite on the level of a native yet. This means that sometimes his Russian speech patterns shine through. Not only does his accent make his words sound rougher and even more aggressive at times (without him having no idea of the fact) his word choices can sometimes make him sound very to-the-point and brief as well. He's heard about this behaviour from others, and nowadays tries to help himself a bit by sometimes purposefully trying to sound as round-about and polite as he can - and oftentimes ending up sounding just a bit silly. He likes to discuss language and accents, but please don't make fun of him for his mistakes. He despises being thought of as stupid or somehow unintelligent because of his English - after all, how well did you speak Russian again?

Ivan absolutely loves to see people exhibit emotion; whether it's sadness, happiness, fear or any other strong emotion you can think of, he finds immense joy in watching people express what they feel. Neither of his parents was particularly emotional, and both were characterized by their distinct coldness and distance when it came to the world and their children, and so seeing people freely show what they feel is both fascinating and a welcome change to the Russian. In addition, the years - especially the first few - Ivan spent in the military also affected his own emotional intelligence and stability quite a bit; he was told to always be stoic and serious, and crying or the like even after beatings was sure to get him punished and beaten on the spot even further. The Bratva, too, while not as strict in their views as the military was, don't really take kindly to their members showing their emotions freely. Due to this, Ivan considers watching people express emotion as not only a curious phenomenon, but also a learning opportunity and reassurance that it's okay for him, too, to smile whenever he wants to.

There's also another reason to him enjoying open emotions, and that is that it makes it so much easier to understand people. See, Ivan likes to know everything about those he associates with, both for his work's and his curiosity's sake. He loves people, and he loves to people-watch; following people around, whether physically or just with his gaze, is very common behaviour of him, especially when he has taken a liking to someone. After all, it's only natural to want to know as much as you can about those you like, yes? It's considerate towards them! He can be somewhat creepy in his ways when it comes to this, and sometimes has the habit of popping up in the most random of places; like outside your window or inside your bedroom at night.

One extremely important aspect of Ivan is that he wants - needs - to be in control at all times. He is a control freak through and through, and doesn't hesitate to use whatever means necessary to obtain the upper hand. However, while a small part of this might be just him being power-hungry, most of it is because he’s downright afraid of chaos and things falling apart around him, with him having no control over it. His life, especially his family life and his days in the military were all chaotic and crazy, and so he constantly yearns for stability and predictability in his life, ironic as it might be. He wants to make sure he can pull all the strings to keep things in order and people moving according to his will, so as to not encounter any nasty surprises or disappointments when dealing with others – no matter what it takes. It's best not to try and disturb the order he has created around him or act against his orders, as he will not take kindly to either, and is quick to take action against you. After all, erasing people who seek to cause disturbance is justified, to him; it's for the common good.

This also means that Ivan absolutely loves it when his actions or words affect people. To him, there is no greater testament to one's power than being able to change something - or someone all by yourself, whether it's physically changing them or just affecting their mood. He loves reactions; getting his friends to smile and his opponents to fall on their knees in defeat are both signs that he's been able to affect things, and he enjoys both in equal amounts. Reactions reveal that he did have an impact, be it good or bad, and they make it easier for him to understand what kind of person the other is. He is not horribly knowledgeable when it comes to reading people due to a combination of his simplicity, his lack of emotional intelligence and his instability. Still, you should not take this as a sign that he'd be unable to manipulate people. No, oh no, Ivan is very good when it comes to changing people's minds and getting his way. His stubbornness not to give up before things bend to his will, his large frame and scary aura are ideal for manipulation. It might not be all that subtle, but it is effective all the same. He can also be surprisingly good with words, able to hide hints of danger among normal conversation to both intimidate and see if the other party understands them - although, to be fair, most of the time he does this 'hint dropping' unconsciously, and isn't even aware he's scaring or manipulating someone - or at least, he tells himself so.

See, while part of the man is genuinely unaware of his cruelty, his somewhat twisted world-view and his mind not quite working the way most others' do, part of him is fully aware of this, at least at times. But, to keep himself in check and prevent himself from breaking, he constantly denies and pushes away any such knowledge. He is, deep down, friendly and childish after all, and so accepting and admitting that he might have hurt someone on purpose would be very dangerous to his already damaged mind. No, denying and playing the fool inside his own mind is better, it's safer, healthier for him. It keeps him from grumbling - just like it did in the past.

This is all just a small part of the complex way he operates, and shows that even the man himself doesn't know what's going on in his head a great deal of the time. This makes him extremely unpredictable to all - even to those who can claim they know the human mind well. It’s extremely difficult to say what the Russian’s thinking behind his smiles at any given time, whether he meant what he said or did, or whether or not there were ulterior motives to his actions. And, although he’s not one to slash out completely at random, he’s known to drop threats or casual mentions of violence in everyday speech with provocation and think nothing of it. There’s no telling which topics make his mood grow dark and sour, nor when he misses a sarcastic joke completely or decides to engage in a battle of wits. His mind is a mess and his actions a rollercoaster that you'd be hard pressed not to fall off from. He isn’t exactly an on-off-switch, but it’s always a mystery as to what his next move is; oftentimes even to him. This has given him a rather scary reputation among his peers and those who know of him and his deeds.

However, when those people who have only heard his name meet him for the first time, many of them are surprised; at the very first glance, Ivan isn’t all that intimidating. He's a friendly-looking young man with a big, bright smile and seemingly even bigger heart. What’s there to be scared of? It's only with time that people start to notice exactly what, to start to notice the signs that nothing everything might be right with the man. You will notice that the fact that he's smiling doesn't mean he is harmless or likes you, and that he might actually smile wider when he's about to hurt you. You will notice that big-hearted as he might be, his heart doesn't quite function like yours. You will notice that being his friends doesn't really mean all that much - after all, he considers everyone his friend; and that means, in reality, that nobody truly is. It will not keep you safe. Not forever. It is then that you'll notice that there's almost like an aura around him, one that speaks of danger and threat. Of course, again, most of the time Ivan himself doesn’t realize how scary he is, and contrary to popular belief, his smile isn’t meant to ‘hide anything underneath’ like some say - most of the time. He just likes to smile.

But most importantly, you will notice that he tends to show his affection in rather curious, even possessive ways. He likes to own things. He likes to know that there are things that belong to him and not to you - things that he can hold and that will never leave or hurt him. So when he finds a person who he truly likes, he wants to keep them all to himself, know everything about them as mentioned earlier, and to keep them as close as possible. And if you don't agree to these, he will just try harder and not really listen. This also means that, most of the time, insults and the like will not affect him or anger him, as he thinks you can't truly mean what you say. This is distinctively different from his enemies insulting him - in which case he will notice every slight and return it with one of his own.

It was mentioned earlier that Ivan is very stubborn, and he is also strictly uncompromising; if Ivan has decided to do something his way, he will not negotiate the matter. Pleads, suggestions and compromises will invariably fall to deaf ears - even if it might seem like he's actually listening or considering your points. Of course, he doesn't do this to the point of being stupidly headstrong; if you are able to present an alternative that he considers better, he will listen and possibly use the idea. It just needs to be extremely good one, as Ivan in general isn't good at accepting help or advice of any kinds. He believes that not only does he need to do everything by himself, he's also highly capable of doing so. Despite this, if Ivan is working under someone, he will most likely follow orders, surprising as it might be. He always has his reasons, however. For example, he might obey his current Bratva higher ups at the moment, but it's just until he gets enough power to overthrow them; take the power away from their hands and seize it as his own. It’s the best for everyone, anyway - or so he believes. The thing is that, despite everything mentioned, Ivan is actually a rather well-meaning person. Yes, he is part of the Bratva and yes, that does involve hurting people sometimes. But the reason he joined wasn't to gain fame or money, or to get to hurt people (why would he even, when that is something he dislikes doing?) No, his reason was something far more agreeable; simply put, he’s disappointed in the current world leaders and wants to change things for the better. And make no mistake, he did do his best to try and change the world through speeches and do-good methods at first, he truly did. But as it turns out, the only way to truly bring about change is with force. Bratva provides him with the power to do that.

Thinking that things are most easily solved with force is a very common thing with Ivan. His past taught him that when nothing else works, violence most certainly will, and his present successes have further contributed to that belief, to the point it's drilled so deep into the Russian's brain by now, that it's most likely close to impossible to weed out. He isn’t one to immediately jump to beating people up when things don’t go his way, no, but he does think that oftentimes, violence definitely can solve problems negotiation or bribing never in a million years could. Even so, he will always try threatening before jumping to action, and is very happy if he never has to carry out his threats. Violence isn’t something he particularly likes, again contrary to popular belief.

Really, in general he isn't quite the monster the rumours say, and Ivan actually highly dislikes being thought of as such. He hates being judged by past actions and events as well, particularly so because he is, actually, pretty forgiving himself. Surprising as it might be, Ivan isn’t one to carry grudges for long, not even towards his most disobedient underlings or enemies. If you shoot him in the foot once, he will shoot you back - most likely somewhere a bit more lethal than the foot but still - however, after that he will consider you two even, should you not deliberately try to push him further. Similarly, if an underling of his makes a mistake, he does deliver due punishment - but will then proceed to invite the offender to drink with him afterwards like they were best buddies in the world. Ivan really doesn’t think people should be judged based on their past actions or mistakes but rather their current self, and isn't one to let your past, no matter how gritty, influence his opinion of you any. Everyone has skeletons in their closets, why bring them out? And since he's doing all this for others, he'd rather people offered him the same courtesy of looking beyond his past and focusing on the here and now. Maybe, though, if he just shows he can forgive and forget enough, people will do the same to him? He can only wish...

Of course, that doesn't mean that all the rumors going around about him are completely false, either.
Ivan can definitely be cruel when need be (and surely enough, sometimes even when needn't be). He is neither cold nor exactly sadistic, however. Cold would indicate that he doesn’t feel a thing for his victims, and sadistic would imply he actually enjoys hurting others. The first one is simply not true, and the second one…is a bit more complicated. See, it's not others' suffering itself that he enjoys, but rather knowing he was able to affect them and, through either pain or intimidation, have control over them. Change them. Rule them. As mentioned, he's both a control freak and a lover of seeing emotions, and pain happens to bring him both. Even so though, Ivan doesn’t understand that he’s being cruel or doing something wrong; he doesn’t think it strange to want to hurt those you hate - just like he wants to help those he likes. He’s child-like in that regard, and like mentioned prior, on the rare occasions he starts to understand what he’s done, he’s quick to deny it and feign ignorance if he can’t otherwise justify it. However, nine times out of ten he’s genuinely not aware of the cruelty he exhibits.

Yes, Ivan is undoubtedly childish, as well as oblivious and naïve - at times. It might be a funny thought for someone so highly logical and intelligent to be such a simple man with simple wants and thoughts, deep down, but it's true. Ivan likes to do things that make him happy and wants to stay away from those that make him sad; normal things. He's happy to be able to make his friends happy, and he's happy to be able to shut his enemies up - again, normal things. For another example of his naivety and simplicity, you need not look further than the fact he believes himself to be friends with everyone, and that he thinks it’s possible for the world to live in peace as one, one day, under his control and rule. And before you start throwing the dictator or tyrant words at him, no, he doesn't consider himself either. It's just that sometimes people need to be forced into submission for their own good. And that's the thing; most of Ivan's dreams, if strange, have others' best interest in mind as well, or at the very least, are innocent. Truly, he dreams like a child, and is not willing to let go of his dreams, come what may. They let him move forward and give him a purpose, let him cling onto something better than this world has had to offer him so far.

Despite his childishness, Ivan isn't hyper like a kid. Yes, he's active and all for games and plays, but he also knows when to be calm and still. It's also very difficult to get him “mad” per se, and seeing him yelling red-faced is completely unheard of. He can get angry of course, and being calm doesn't mean he wouldn’t be dangerous when riled - quite the opposite, actually - just that he shows his distaste and anger through mumbling to himself, uttering threats from behind his smiles and through his actions, not by throwing things or spewing profanities. He doesn’t like it when people shout either, and thinks it makes them look weak and immature. Plus, staying calm is a far better intimidation tactic, he's found.

Although Ivan can't claim to be exactly punctual, he is diligent, and very much so. No matter how hard things get and no matter how hard he has to push himself to accomplish a set goal, he will do his best to endure and emerge victorious. He's an avid believer in "if there is no way, make a way" and is very hard-working where it matters. He can withstand quite a bit of stress and shoulder an immense amount of expectations and crazy work hours as well, and he can very often do it with a shrug. Sadly, sometimes he overexerts himself a bit too much and sort of… does a 360 from complaining and being tired to being overly (and creepily) happy instead, complete with having a s kip to his every step and laughing even as his hands bleed. This is somewhat rare though, as Ivan is mostly tough, both physically and, to an extent, mentally. Having been through some extremely rough times when young, he isn’t fazed by a lot of things that would leave others disoriented or panicking, and can sometimes even giggle when others around him faint. Breaking him is a difficult task - partly because he's already broken - however, if you manage to make a crack in the mental shield of sanity he has built to protect himself, he doesn't only break; he truly shatters. His mind is not strong all the way through. Yes, he has, over the years and multiple occasions of almost losing his mind, managed to build a twisted safety fortress around his sanity, yes, but it can come down - and it won't be a pretty sight.

In the end however, despite probably sounding intimidating and even insane at this point, Ivan is generally friendly. When nobody has crossed him and there's no reason for him to act otherwise, Ivan is a very gentle person who would gladly go out of his way to help a friend in need. People will often say that his friendliness is all just a facade or that he hopes to gain something from smiling and helping but really, all that talk is nothing but big men over-thinking small things. Of course Ivan'd be more than thrilled if someone he helped ever returned the favor, but he doesn't really mind if they don't. He generally likes to be nice when possible, and if he were the one to decide, he would never need to resort to violence to solve a problem, as mentioned. Alas...

♥ Making friends || You can never have too many friends if you ask him. Ivan loves meeting new people, and by default most everyone he meets is a friend. You’d have to do something very drastic to be wiped off that list. However, on the flip side, the word “friend” probably doesn’t mean as much to him as it means to many others due to him overusing it so much; anything from general acquaintances to enemies is lumped under that very same word, so nobody gets special treatment.

♥ Vodka || His life. Whenever he has trouble deciding on an action, finding inspiration, or when he just feels like he needs a little boost t his energy, he’ll grab a bottle. More than anything though, he loves drinking with others, as he considers it a bonding experience. Drinking alone is just sad.

♥ Warmth || Ivan loves warmth, be it from the sun, from another person, from a drink or from clothes. His dream is to live in a warm place someday, and when he left Russia he hoped to finally realize that dream. Unfortunately, he landed in England instead, and the weather situation hence didn't much improve. But one of these days he’s going to the Mediterranean for sure!

♥ Ballet / Opera / Theatre || When not on a mission or at home, Ivan can be often found attending one of these. He considers all of them beautiful, and loves nothing like the emotion the performances bring. If possible, he’d like to bring a friend along sometime.

♥ Socializing || Provided he doesn’t consider someone a stranger and be shy, Ivan is very sociable and loves to talk. He especially loves to hear stuff about others, learn their likes, dislikes and fears in case he ever needs to use them to his advantage… the usual stuff you do with friends.

♥ Cute things || Especially if they’re soft and cuddle-able as well. Though, sometimes cute things are also fragile and break easily…

♥ Banya || It’s relaxing and warm, what more can you ask for? Especially great if he has company, as going in alone is sort of depressing in the long run.

♥ Tea / other hot drinks || Ivan loves his tea, even if he preferred what he had at home to the tea served in England. He drinks coffee occasionally too, and especially during cold nights he might be found drinking hot cocoa. Anything to keep him warm.

♥ Unity /Belonging || Group spirit is very, very important to Ivan. He thinks that people coming together to fight and work for a common goal is a beautiful thing, and part of the reason he’s part of the Bratva is to feel like he belongs. His family was never really united, and he could never feel like he was part of it, so it’s good to know he has people who (sort of) care for him now.

♥ Obedience / Order|| He loves it when things go according to plan, and when everyone does what they’re told. It’s the best way to keep anyone from getting hurt, and makes him feel at ease. Life is a lot better when you know what is going to happen next and don't have to fear having to spring up from your seat to quell an uprising every two seconds. Not only that, it's easier for the common folk as well; knowing what you should be doing next makes life simple, and simple life is relaxing!

♥ Bread || Ivan strongly believes that even if he has no other food available, as long as he has bread (and vodka), he’ll live. Perhaps this stems from the poorer years of his childhood or watching his countrymen too much during times of hardships, but he considers bread irreplaceable and places far more value on it than people his age usually do.

♥ Physical contact || Always fearing the cold, Ivan likes to be physically close to people. Whether it’s just sitting next to them, shaking hands or standing back-to-back, he likes to know there’s another human being near him. He enjoys the warmth humans give off, and gets anxious and sad whenever he sees dead bodies, void of life and the warmth it brings. He detests visiting the morgue for any reason.

♥ His siblings || Although Ivan isn’t that close with his parents anymore, and even though he hasn’t seen either of his sister in years, he still considers both Natalya and his older sister close family. He would protect them if need ever arose (though, in all honesty he believes Natalya is more than capable of defending herself – and probably him while she’s at it), and one of the most surefire ways to make him angry would be to hurt or threaten either of the two.

♥ New Year celebrations || Lots of happy people all around, a lot of stuff to drink, days off from work (most of the time, his career is a notable exception), festivities and more! He loves this time of the year, even if it’s usually very cold. His dream is to one day gather his family (his sisters, mainly) to have dinner with him and watch the fireworks together from underneath a blanket, drinking champagne as the bell tolls. It is a family celebration, after all.

♥ Ice hockey / soccer || Ivan used to play hockey when young, but quit upon his father’s orders, and never really had the time to pick it back up again as an adult. Even so, he’s very interested in both sports and watches games whenever possible.

♥ His home country || Well, to be more precise, it's a rather mixed bag, a love-hate relationship if there ever was any. While Ivan does truly love his origins, he can't help but notice all the problems going on with his nation and people, and the lack of communication between the two. He would like to see the situation improved, certainly.

♥ People watching || Ivan likes to watch people, and he especially loves to watch arguments; they fascinate him, the way people act when angry. Of course, the way they act when it comes to any strong emotion is interesting to him, as mentioned earlier. And well, watching people just sit and read is fun too, as is watching them sleep.

♥ Sunflowers || They are pretty and big, and they speak promises of the sun and warmth. He loves walking among them, and to him they are a symbol of everything positive.

♥ His scarf || Not only was it a gift from his sister, it helps both protect and hide his neck; something he's very thankful for. He does sometimes change scarves, mostly when he needs to wash the one his sister gave him, but the one he usually uses will always be his favorite.

▼Cold weather || Being able to withstand cold well doesn’t mean you have to like it. Although Ivan can function in freezing temperatures better than your average person, he gets cold easily and hates it. He thinks snow is very beautiful, but would prefer looking at it from behind a window, wrapped in a blanket with a hot drink of some sort in hand. Needless to say, missions during winter are his least favorite ones, and can sometimes leave him in a somewhat of a sour mood.

▼ Meaningless fighting || Ivan doesn’t get why people have to be at each others’ throats over everything. He understands that defending your homeland, family, your ideals, or just generally trying to do good sometimes requires violence, but fighting without a cause is pointless and ought to be punished (unless it’s his enemies fighting, then it’s amusing to watch). Friends shouldn’t kill friends. This leads to the next bulletin point…

▼ Criminals || Although he’s lawless himself, Ivan holds no respect for criminals who hurt people for no reason at all or even worse – for fun. People like that are nothing but warmongers and scoundrels, responsible for the world’s current, pitiful state. They’re better off gone.

▼The Government / MI6 || They’re always getting in the way and making things more difficult for the Bratva. They’ve also killed few of Ivan’s underlings and colleagues, and losing friends always hurts. That, and Ivan thinks of them as hypocrites, always preaching about their values yet doing nothing to help the common folk in their troubles. Who needs higher ups who are not there for the people?

▼ Being falsely blamed || He gets enough blame for the things he has done, he definitely doesn’t need people accusing him every time a person has disappeared or someone against the Bratva has gotten hurt. He isn’t the only member the Mafia has, and he isn’t the only one doing work for them - you'd be surprised by how many people share the group's ideals in the end. Similarly, the Bratva isn’t behind every single malicious thing going on, and should not be treated as such. They aren’t mindless terrorists out to get everyone that crossed them - at least, he isn't.

▼ Killing || Contrary to popular belief, Ivan doesn’t like to kill people. Yes, it’s part of his job and he has done it before, but it’s not something he enjoys, unless he really thinks the person in question deserved it. And even then, it’s not the act of killing itself he takes joy in; it’s knowing that yet another bad person left this world to make way for the good ones.

▼ Loneliness || Ivan doesn’t like to be alone. He doesn’t mind it if it’s occasionally, but prolonged solitude makes him anxious very fast. During times like those, he often goes to look for his underlings to at least have a chat with them. They rarely run away from him no matter how scary he might seem, and they’re always there and loyal to him. At least, so he'd like to think.

▼ Being told he isn’t liked || It doesn’t particularly matter to Ivan how much an enemy insults or hates him, but when his closer “friends” avoid him or show signs of not wanting to be near him, he gets very hurt and concerned, and will do his best to find out what's wrong and how to make things right.

▼ People touching/seeing his neck || His neck and the scars there are very sensitive - and not something Ivan wants people to see. He hates them, not only because to him they are a sign of failure and weakness, but because he considers them ugly.

¤ To live in a warm place || Sick of the cold and rainy weather of both his former and current homeland, Ivan dreams of living somewhere warm where summers are long and winters unheard of. Even a trip to such a country would bring him much joy, but unfortunately his job has him bound most of the time.

¤ To rule the Bratva || While Ivan is a high ranking member, he is not quite the leader of the Russian Mafia - yet. He is getting there however, and will not let anything stand in his way. If he's not at the top, he can't change England, much less the world.

¤ To get rid of his accent || It still bothers him, if only a little and mainly because people make fun of it. That, and ridding himself of it would make his origins more ambiguous - something that'd surely help with his job.

¤ To get more underlings || Maybe more a want than exactly a dream, but Ivan'd really like to gather more underlings to stand at his side. His underlings, specifically, not the entire Bratva's. He needs people to help him when the time for him to take over comes, after all. He'd prefer it if the people working for him were cute, but he's not picky.

‼ His little sister || Ivan loves his sisters, and is very proud of how beautiful they have become, but his younger sibling’s overt displays of affection just scare him half to death. He hasn’t seen her in a while, so he isn’t sure if her wish to marry him still stands, but he’s a little scared to find out. Still, when Natalya is calm around him, Ivan actually really likes her company. Just not… that way.

‼ Being left alone || Leave him alone for a while and he won’t mind, for a little longer and he will grow sad and lonely, and for even longer and he will start to show clear signs of anxiety and even fear. He's already experienced solitude for one life's worth, he really doesn't want to be put through the same hell he was when young.

‼ Powerlessness || Feeling weak and not being able to accomplish his goal, protect the Bratva, his ideals, himself… All those thoughts terrify the Russian. Due to that, he works very hard to stay strong and constantly grow so as to not have to be subjected to this fear.
 
!! Being strangled || Or just held by the throat. Basically, anything bringing more pain to that particular area of his body terrifies him. Do not try to touch it or injure it unless you want him to go after you.

From the very start, Ivan never stood a chance of leading a normal life - much less staying sane.

Born in Moscow, Russia, Ivan was the second oldest of three siblings. His parents were strict, traditional, and they made it clear from the very start of Ivan's life that they accepted absolutely no mistakes, not from him or his sisters. Children were to obey their parents and do what was asked, and any form of disobedience was quickly met with punishment.

Ivan's parents had been together for years, but their relationship wasn't exactly a warm one; originally married from necessity rather than love, the strain in their marriage was visible even to their young children. They lived almost separate lives, and the birth of the siblings further pushed them to different paths; while Ivan's mother, a cold woman of wealth and beauty, focused on grooming his sisters into fine young women to both follow her footsteps and carry her looks and ideals even after her death, the family's father spent most of his time with Ivan. He was a no-nonsense man and a bit of a drunk, though truth be told, Ivan actually preferred his company when he was intoxicated. The man was less strict, less violent when drunk, and vodka almost seemed to make him happy, somehow. Perhaps that was where Ivan originally got his drinking habits and appreciation for alcohol from, perhaps it was already in his veins when he was born. Nobody knows.

Regardless, when drunk, Ivan's father was a happy man loving to tell tales; when sober, his head was filled with patriotism and military ideals, and he had big plans for his only son to become a fine soldier after him, one he could be proud of. The man himself had hurt his leg and forced to retire, but his ambitions never died - no, they would live on in his son, whether the boy wanted it or not. His son would become the Generál Ármii, a rank inferior only to the Marshal. Ivan? He would’ve preferred becoming an ice hockey player, or taken a career in theatre – he had always had a passion for the arts. But of course, his opinion was neither asked nor accepted.

Ivan hated it. He was a child and would have much preferred to spend his days outside playing in the sun with his friends, or focusing on his ice hockey practice than be dragged through hell every day in what his father called 'preparation for war' - basically a routine of military exercises that always left him sore and exhausted - and sometimes beat, if he had not completed a task or a course fast enough.

In the midst of it all, Ivan often sought solace from his elder sister, and always came to her when he had worries. She was a bit of a mother figure to him, as he dared not approach their real mother. He feared her. It wasn’t that she would have been violent or anything of the sort like their father, it was just that she was so… cold. Distant. It was as if she had been lived in her own world, high above the rest, unconcerned by anything occurring below her. Ivan's father might have been strict and demanding - even violent - but he could at least always feel emotion behind his words. Passion, caring. There was nothing like that with his mother. Nothing behind her icy gaze. And as years went by, Ivan started to feel a little vary of his little sister as well - something in her reminded him of their mother.

As Ivan grew older and became a teen close to the age of entering the army, his father started to focus on him and his training even more. He warned young Ivan of dedovshchina, and told the boy that only the strong could hope to come back from the army unharmed. The weak ones didn't survive. Didn't return. His son would, he would return a hero. As such, rain, shine or snow, Ivan and his father went outside to mimic what the boy would need to do in the military. It was during those endless, cold winter nights that Ivan developed his hatred for the cold.

Much like Ivan himself did with his elder sister, young Natalya often came to him for comfort. Although Ivan was often stressed and not an ideal person to come to, she always sought him out. Not his sister, not their parents, him. Being depended on by someone made Ivan feel strong, big, and warm, and he loved it, attempting to help her with her worries the best he could. He was taught not to show emotion by his father, and he never really did know how to comfort someone, but he always did try. That was, until she… started to feel things no sibling should feel for another, and Ivan's feelings of joy turned into dread. He started to avoid her, feel uncomfortable in her presence, and so for a short while, he was almost thankful when it came time for him to head off to the military.

Of course, that joy was very short lived as well. The dedovshchina he was warned of was every inch as bad as he had heard. It wasn’t especially cruel for him - no, it was the same deal everyone went through, but Ivan wasn’t mentally prepared for it. Despite his father trying to turn him into something else, he was a highly sensitive man, always trying to be positive and kind - the type that was easy to bully, despite his bulk. And so, for the first year or so, his days consisted of being bossed around by the older soldiers and higher ups, getting beat and hurt for no other apparent reason than for the older kids to show off their power. It was during one particularly cruel session that he received the scars on his neck - an event he'd prefer not to talk about if at all possible.

It was a cruel world, and Ivan slowly learnt that the only way to survive in such a place was to be strong. The strong weren't beat - they were the beaters. The only difference between the bullies and the bullied was power. Authority. Control.

Violence.

When he punched a bully hard enough, repeatedly enough, they stopped bullying.

When he repeated it oftentimes enough, they listened to him.

When they listened, he had control.

When he had control, he wasn't hurt.

When he wasn't hurt, he was powerful.

And the circle closed.

Ivan didn't like it. He didn't enjoy hurting the innocent newcomers anymore than he enjoyed being hurt himself, but he had little choice. And with every strike he delivered, with every threat he uttered and with every drop of blood spilled, he cracked more and more, until he couldn't take it anymore. He needed a shield, a mental barrier to protect him from the reality of it all. He wanted out, back home, he wanted to be a child again, innocent and naive.

So that's what he became.

Nobody cared about the misery the country's youth faced when they turned 18, that much Ivan learnt in but a year. The higher ups were part of it. The government did nothing. There was no higher being anywhere out there to save those who needed it. He wanted to change it. He needed to.

And in a few years, such an opportunity presented itself, right in the middle of a drunken night at one of the shadier bars in the city; Ivan met a man, a man who refused to tell his name. He was well-dressed and just with a simple word, he could make people listen. He had power and authority, both things the Russian youth sought.

But above all else, he had an offer; offer to join the Bratva.

Ivan didn't hesitate.

Nowadays, Ivan works for the Bratva as an Avtorityet, commanding a small group of men and working under the Pakhan, Sovietnik and Obshchak. He’s responsible for dispatching men to places they should go to, gathering some information when necessary and, when his men fail to do a job, go do it himself. His reason for joining in the first place? To make the world a better place. To take down – or at least control – governments not fit to lead their people. To make sure no leader ever turns a blind eye when their people are in need.

His father always wanted him to become a great man.

But for Ivan, great isn't enough.

Right now, he’s working with a branch situated in London. He hates the rain.

Ivan gazed up at the huge building in front of him, marveling at its size and design. It had been a while since he had visited a theatre, and due to all the work that had been piled on him as of late, he hadn’t yet managed to visit this place before. To think that he had spent at least a few months in London by now, and only now got the chance to visit the Arts Centre, said to be the biggest of its kind in Europe. As a lover of the arts, it should have been one of his first visits upon arriving. Alas, it was one of the last.

He would’ve never thought, when he agreed to transfer to the Bratva branch stationed in London, that his first months here would be spent learning to speak without an accent, training his men and learning how to get around the city without retorting to asking for directions. It sounded so funny to him, the mighty Russian Mafia, spending their nights practicing pronunciation so as to not stand out among the common countrymen.

He couldn’t suppress a slight giggle at the image. Thinking about it now, it sounded so bizarre, and he did admit they had had fun. At least he had gotten to spend time with his men; usually they were all out on missions.

A woman passing him by raised an eyebrow at the sight of a well-groomed, grown man in a suit giggling like someone one third his age, but Ivan was completely oblivious to her puzzlement. He simply nodded to her as a greeting and smiled like he always did. The woman didn’t reply in kind however, just turned to continue on her way. Huh, how rude. The people here were too stiff for their own good, he swore. He would have wanted to see more smiling faces, more people to have fun with.

Well, he‘d have time to fix that later. He had a schedule for today, and he was already a healthy fifteen minutes late; anymore and he would really need to start rushing. So, running a hand through his hair and making sure his tie was impeccably straight, Ivan walked inside the building, kiddy, excited, yet managing to hide it all underneath a relatively calm exterior.

Which cracked a tad the second the Russian saw the lines decorating the outside of his restaurant of choice.

Dozens upon dozens of people, all lined up and moving at a snail’s speed stood between him and the delicacies he wanted to try before the performance he had come to see began. Ivan had reserved enough time to eat before the show, but not enough time to get through fifty people first. Smile slightly twitching, Ivan fished out a small, wrinkled paper that acted as his schedule for the day. Written down in fancy Russian handwriting were the places and times, telling him he wouldn’t be able to make it at this rate. He couldn’t afford to miss the show, not when he had finally gotten enough free time to come see it. But at the same time, he didn’t want to go with an empty stomach; it rumbling would disturb others and himself. He needed food, and it was this particular restaurant he wanted to visit. He didn’t want to find another. His mind was set, and he would not let a line of people get in his way.

Ivan peeked from behind the line at the people currently buying their food. How many people would need to disappear from the line for him to make it in time? He could probably get past a few by simply asking – friends let each other through when needed, no? – but probably not all of them. Well. He gave a glance at his hip, knowing that that was where he kept his gun, concealed under his long jacket. Would his gun be a better talker than him? But the place was public, and there were people eating, people who hadn’t done anything to him. It wouldn’t be too nice to disturb their meal. Well, he’d try every other option first, he supposed.

So, taking a step forward, Ivan patted the shoulder of the person standing in front of him. He lowered himself slightly to be at their eye-level and smiled the best he could. “Excuse me~” he began in a singy-sangy voice, head slightly tilted. “Could I cut in line a bit? The show I really want to see starts soon, and I wanted to dine before it. I’m starving!”

Before the other could reply one way or the other, Ivan decided he’d better offer something in return in case they decided to comply. That, and he felt like eating with someone today; it had been a while since he had had dining company. So, smiling even wider, he added: As thanks, you can come eat with me once we get our food~!”

Surely enough it was an offer, but it sounded a tad like a demand.

He wanted his dining company.

And more importantly, his dinner.