The head of Hotel Moscow in Roanapur.. Balalaika

So, I do have a request for you if that's okay?

How do you think Balalaika would behave and such with a reader whom she's romantically interested in? Like, pre-relationship, so it's sorta a crush type of situation?

I'd love to see your interpretation on this

(⁠*⁠＾⁠3⁠＾⁠)⁠/⁠～⁠♡

Tysm!!! And thank you if you do end up taking this request

I LOVE THIS IDEA ᐠ( ᐢ ᵕ ᐢ )ᐟ Here's how I think Balalaika would act around someone she has a crush on, Pre-relationship.

Pre-relationship with Balalaika

• Balalaika’s eyes keep tracking back to you. When you catch her looking she doesn’t look away. She simply raises her glass of vodka in a silent slow-burning toast.

• She has invited you to sit on her right side, the spot usually reserved for her highest-ranking officers or the people she needs to keep under a direct eye. Her leather boot occasionally brushes yours under the table and she makes no effort to move it away.

• When she speaks to her subordinates, her voice is a cold and authoritative rasp but when she turns to ask how your week has been the cold edge vanishes. Her voice is still deep and commanding but it carries a softer melodic warmth meant only for your ears :<

• She doesn't play dating games. If you notice her feelings towards you and ask her directly how she feels she will look you dead in the eye, take a puff of her cigar, and tell you exactly how highly she values you, waiting to see if you have the courage to match her intensity. She won't try to hide her feelings or be shy about it, she's direct and all clear.

• She is very deliberate. She might place a heavy yet reassuring hand on your shoulder or let her fingers brush against yours when handing you a glass. Her touches are slow, lingering and loaded with intent to see how you react. She tests your boundaries, learning what you're comfortable with and what you're not.

• If you get hurt after a mission; Balalaika will sit in the chair right next to your bed, she'll gently take your uninjured hand into her own scarred palms. Her touch is heavy yet warm and grounding. She will squeeze your hand gently to remind you that you are safe now. Balalaika prides herself on absolute control so she will genuinely blame herself for not protecting you well enough. I think she might say something like "I gave orders to keep you safe," or "The failure is mine. It will not happen again."

• She will personally oversee your recovery. If the hospital food is terrible (it is) high-end meals from the best restaurants in the city will start arriving, if the room is too loud or uncomfortable she'll have the entire wing cleared out just so you can sleep. After you heal she'll start to watch you even more closely, not letting you get out of her sight even for a moment.

• As for dates, since you two are not in a relationship yet she'll try to make it look like as if it's something formal and necessary but it's obviously not.. She'll make sure everything is perfect and nothing will go wrong. She will close down an entire high-end establishment for the night whether it is a luxury French restaurant on the upper floors of a Bangkok hotel or a private seaside villa outside Roanapur. She ditches her usual military uniform and draped trench coat, instead she'll wear something more nice and suitable for the date like an elegant dress, I think.. And she absolutely loves to see you dressed up for her.

• After she confesses her feelings in a direct and blunt yet completely honest way, and you accept her (obviously I mean who wouldn't), she'll genuinely get so happy and relieved, I believe she'll give you a genuine and warm smile and take your hands into her own.

• When she is doing paperwork or planning operations at her massive mahogany desk you are always welcome. Actually she prefers you sitting right there. She will hold your hand or rest her boots against yours while reading top-secret intelligence reports.

• She drops all remaining walls. She will tell you her real name (Sofiya Pavlovna), talk about her childhood in the Soviet Union and share her deepest vulnerabilities. You become her only true safe haven from the horrors of her job.

• As a partner, Balalaika is intensely devoted, highly possessive and surprisingly affectionate behind closed doors. If anyone looks at you the wrong way her eyes freeze them to the spot. She loves wrapping her arm securely around your waist or shoulder in public and silently let every one know that you belong to her.

• She has access to immense wealth. You will find yourself flooded with high-end gifts like tailored clothes, luxury watches or rare imports. If you casually mention liking a specific food an entire crate of it will be delivered to your door the next day.

• In the privacy of your shared bedroom, the terrifying Balalaika completely vanishes. She becomes Sofiya, a woman who just wants to hold you close, run her scarred fingers through your hair and fall asleep listening to your heartbeat, finally at peace.

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(I'll assume you mean as a ship)

Either the bitterest of enemies or respected temporary allies.

Would absolutely flirt mid meeting; Balalaika has a habit of commenting on other women's appearances and Integra fingers her employees on the clock.

Mayhaps Integra hired Hotel Moscow to take care of some vampire problem, however that would even work considering their geographic differences. If they're well prepared, I'm sure Hotel Moscow would take care of regular vampires no problem (they already dealt with Roberta who's even worse). But I feel like if anything happened to her men, Balalaika would hate Integra.

They would cigar-kiss.

Balalaika would be quite impressed that someone as young as Integra is running this kind of business.

That being said, all of the above could be very tainted by the fact that the British secretly intervened against the soviets in the Soviet-Afghan war in the 80s. Balalaika is patriotic and might have prejudice against Integra for that.

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