ridiculous creature

All the 2025 Carry On Countdown ornaments on my tree!

Little map if you were playing iSpy above:

The man that didn't even call the love of his life by his first name for 8 years.

Oh how important it is that he askes to be called by his first name. Abused kids almost never feel safe in contexts where they have been hurt before, so how brave is this from Ilya. How safe and accepted he must feel for the first time in his life. He has never had such a welcoming family. He's never felt safe enough to be himself in this context but here.

He is making jokes and eating pasta. He is showing a side of his personality that only Shane has seen glimpses of.

The symbolism of him saying this. He's only gotten good vodka in a place where his existence is not accepted and has been threatened to be punished for it. He almost looks confused by the fact that he's getting it here. This is his new home and he's realizing it in real time.