"You wouldn't come here unless you had something considerable to impart."
Ilarion let his hand rest on the padded arm of the wing chair, easing along it slowly, back and forth.
"By which I mean, this is not a social call."
It was no excuse not to have a drink over it.
Lasha shrugged negligently.
"Still, even business should be treated like pleasure at every opportunity."
He glanced over Irinarhov's head, at Oleksei, where he loitered menacingly like a living telamon.
"Taras," he called, mildly. "Our rustic friend here, as I recall, does not prefer our manner of sweet, sweet poison. Will you pour him a vodka? Bottle's in the valise. New one."
no subject
"Nichevo," he said, smoothly.
Then a significant pause.
"You wouldn't come here unless you had something considerable to impart."
Ilarion let his hand rest on the padded arm of the wing chair, easing along it slowly, back and forth.
"By which I mean, this is not a social call."
It was no excuse not to have a drink over it.
Lasha shrugged negligently.
"Still, even business should be treated like pleasure at every opportunity."
He glanced over Irinarhov's head, at Oleksei, where he loitered menacingly like a living telamon.
"Taras," he called, mildly. "Our rustic friend here, as I recall, does not prefer our manner of sweet, sweet poison. Will you pour him a vodka? Bottle's in the valise. New one."