sofia-plushenko

[sofia-plushenko]

Olivier shook his head. “No, I’ve just heard a lot about the place,” he admitted easily and without reserve. Who cared if a strange woman knew that he (a stranger to her) knew someone in Launceston? It seemed a harmless thing to say in his mind, and his usual smile didn’t falter once. “Unfortunately, though? That’s a shame. At least you’re in London now, where the sunshine is enough to make anyone forget their worries.”

Sofia forced a smile and nodded at his reply, the tone of his voice somewhat putting her at ease, although not completely. “You’re lucky, believe me... if ever given the opportunity to visit, I think you’d be better off running the opposite way.” The gentleman’s relaxed nature and friendly smile prompted a grin from Sofia, shaking off her previous comment as her attention was drawn back to him. “I am - have you been here long? I’ll be honest, I haven’t decided whether or not I’m fond of it yet or not - I’m cautiously optimistic, though.”

So this is London...

[sofia-plushenko]

✉️ → SOFIA PLUSHENKO

Veronika: Please get one of your smart friends to hurry up with the invention of time travel.

Veronika: Oh yeah, they're perfect angels who never do anything wrong. This isn't sarcasm at all.

Veronika: You know what that means, right? That we'll both be temporarily living in the same place for the first time in two years.

Sofia: Yeah... not sure I have any smart friends in that space. I'll work on it though.

Sofia: Uhhhh, duh?

Sofia: Oh damn. London is in trouble. :P

[sofia-plushenko]

Mila turned to give the woman her full attention, something about her face seemed familiar as if seen in passing or a encapsulated in a photograph but she couldn’t place it right at that moment. Though at her question, and the reason for her curiosity she tried to dig deeper for some kind of connection. “Yes, I grew up there and still very much consider it my true home.” She confessed with a slow smile. “What family do you belong to if you don’t mind me asking, perhaps I might know them.”

Sofia’s smile was genuine as she listened to the brunette, her affinity for the homeland more than evident in her expression as she spoke. “It’s a beautiful place indeed - I lived in Vladivostok for my high school years, and I’ve spent some time in St. Petersburg as well.” Sofia couldn’t contain the visible flinch as the slightly older woman asked about her family, although she forced a smile to cover her slip up. 

“My father was Anatoly Kurylenko,” she noted quietly, gauging the reaction she got as she recalled that it wasn’t something that she enjoyed telling people. “I’m not sure if you know the Vorshevsky’s, but Anatoly was Elizabeth’s brother.”

“I’m Sofia, by the way... Sofia Plushenko.”

So this is London...

[sofia-plushenko]

✉️ → SOFIA PLUSHENKO

Veronika: Definitely don't miss city-hopping between here, Launceston and Porto Velho. I send my condolences in the form of coffee. Or tea, rather.

Veronika: I'm still cleaning up wrapping paper and the ripped up packaging from toys. And apparently, there's still more coming.

Veronika: Since you're there for your residency, you'll be staying for awhile?

Sofia: Isn't that the truth? Ugh. It's exhausting to even think about.

Sofia: As it should be - they deserve it, they're all good kids.

Sofia: Seems that way. I'll be going back and forth home when I can, as usual. My frequent flier miles are going to be legitttttttttt.

[sofia-plushenko]

✉️ → SOFIA PLUSHENKO

Veronika: Time changes are a bitch. Jet lag is even worse.

Veronika: Sorry, I realize those messages probably made me sound like a psychotic boyfriend. I was just surprised, that's all.

Veronika: Cara slept with her first aid kit, if that's any indication of how much they loved their gifts.

Sofia: Tell me about it. This is ridiculous.

Sofia: It's okay, you're my psychotic boyfriend and I love you. xoxoxox

Sofia: Ugh, she's an angel. I didn't think it was possible to love her any more than I did.

[sofia-plushenko]

“I can only hope, just got the last few touches to do then we’ll be sorted and ready for the opening. Hopefully I’ll be able to confirm a date by the end of the week. Of course I’ll send an invite your way” Honor explained.  “I wouldn’t do you didn’t know anything about fashion, you always look stunning and on point. You must be doing something right” she complimented, Honor wasn’t afraid to admit that Sofia did and had always looked stunning at the events they had attended in the past. 

She listened carefully as she explained her reasons as to being in London, career moves seemed to be the main reasons other came, that and to care for their families or those they classed as family. For a moment she came distracted, wondering if it was just going to be her and her Uncle living in London or if any other of the Hathaway’s would soon be joining them - she knew there has been talks about it, yet nothing had been confirmed. 

“Wow, that’s amazing. I’m so glad that all that hard work is finally paying off. Aaron and yourself must be so proud, well done Sofia” she congratulated, “from what I remember you really did work hard for it.”

Sofia smiled as she listened to Honor talk about the store - it was clearly something that she was passionate about, and the Russian had seen firsthand the talent that Honor had. “I’m so looking forward to it Honor - it’s going to be marvelous, I’m sure.”

The brunette chuckled lightly and shook her head, a light smile spreading across her features. “You’re so sweet, I appreciate that - I’d never be able to do what you do though - it’s taken me years to understand what’s flattering on me, but you’re designing clothes for all sorts of people, and you’re fabulous at it.”

“Thank you, Honor... I’m truly happy about it. It’s been many years in the making, and I can finally see the light. At least medical school is over, I’m now enjoying the terrible pay and long hours of residency. No matter though, it’s all going to be worth it.”

So this is London...

[sofia-plushenko]

✉️ → SOFIA PLUSHENKO

Veronika: You're in London?

Veronika: When were you going to tell me you were in London?

Veronika: The kids loved their presents, by the way.

Sofia: I am. I just landed yesterday... or the day before? Hard to say with the time change, I'm still not sure what day it is?

Sofia: Now-ish? It was a really sort of last minute thing... my residency transfer just went through. I promise you're not too out of the loop.

Sofia: I'm so glad! I miss them so much.

[sofia-plushenko]

“Thank you, so do you.” Honor smiled. “I wouldn’t say they’re getting that bad but there does seem to be a lot of us coming too London, whether we’re all here permanently, I don’t know.” She shrugged, taking a sip of her hot chocolate she has purchased from a side stall. 

“Honestly, I’ve lost track of how long it’s been. Over a month anyway, but prior to that I was coming back most weekends trying to get the stall ready, that got all a bit too much so I decided to move here. Launceston pretty much manages to take care of itself right now.”

“How about you? What’s brought you here?” she asked. 

Sofia listened intently as Honor spoke, her words bringing to light what she’d already known when Konstantin had approached her about London - there was more than just her family here... the stage was certainly being set for it to turn into Launceston... Honor, however, didn’t seem as uneasy about it as Sofia felt.

“That’s great, I’m sure it will do well here, from what I’ve heard it’s a big fashion town. Although, I’ll admit... I don’t know much about fashion, or about London, so I’m definitely not the person that would know,” the brunette mused, realizing how ridiculous the statement sounded once she’d said it.

“I actually landed a residency at one of the hospitals here, so I’m working on that... I finished up medical school not long ago so I’m finally in the home stretch.”

So this is London...

[sofia-plushenko]

Mila smiled lightly as she brought her to go cup of tea back to her mouth for a small sip, there were few better remedies to ward of the cold. Not that London was amongst the coldest places she’d lived. Though perhaps the wettest. Having lived in the city in her youth the novelty had long since warn of, but she could appreciate the genuine display of joy from the other woman. “Perhaps, but I can’t quite bring myself to place it above Moscow even so.”

Sofia smiled at the woman when she spoke, but her sentiment about Moscow caused the fellow Russian to stop in her tracks. She couldn’t hide her confusion, but as she searched the woman’s face for something familiar, but she continued to come up short. “You’re from Moscow?” she questioned gently, trying not to come off as overly eager, but failing miserably. 

“I’m sorry, my family is from there... I’m just curious, you don’t look familiar.”

So this is London...

[sofia-plushenko]

Olivier was on his way from an errand to work. Early, of course, because that was just who he was. The job was easy enough - making sure the absurdly drunk got an Uber home, and breaking up fights between people mostly half his size. The job itself didn’t exactly pay great, but it kept him afloat, and the location was absolutely unbeatable. As he was making his way to work, he was considering if tonight was the night he should finally dip in on his break to The Underground next door and see if the owner might be a patron at her own bar.

It was remarkably ironic, as the universe tended to be, that just as he was pondering this thought he heard someone mention that town name that he so closely related with the scars and missing appendages or limbs on his friends’ bodies. And that was just the physical damage that came out of Launceston, nothing to say of the emotional or mental damage. “Hello, I’m so sorry,” Olivier said, voice low and gentle in his approach before it returned to a bolder, friendlier tone. “Are you from Launceston?”

The voice that stopped her was quiet and possessed a gentle-ness about it, although there was no familiarity that she could point to it. She made eye contact with the handsome stranger and smiled politely, although it was clear that she was slightly unnerved at his familiarity with the place that Sofia wished she could deny.

“Unfortunately,” she mused quietly as she smiled politely, hesitant to share too much information. “I take it you are, as well?”

So this is London...

[sofia-plushenko]

Now she understood it, why anyone she rant into she knew had this idea that the everyone from Launceston was slowly appearing in London. She couldn’t remember the last time she saw Sofia, and despite being known as the ‘Russian Princess’ Honor always knew she was never truly like the family she had come from, yet her connections did make her someone that Honor found difficult to truly feel comfortable around and trust. 

“It certainly is” Honor replied. “However, if we carry on like this we’ll be turning London into Launceston.”

A light smile spread across Sofia’s face when she heard Honor’s familiar voice; it had truly been years since the last time they’d seen one another, and Sofia had always enjoyed the her company. Her features softened instantly and she grinned lightly, her being relaxing in the slightest.

“It’s so great to see you, Honor... you look fantastic,” Sofia noted with a smile as she placed her hand on Honor’s shoulder lightly. “Oh, my... how long have you been here...? Things are getting that bad already?”

So this is London...

[sofia-plushenko]

“You know, considering I thought I’d behaved fairly well this year, I’m trying to figure out why the fuck the Lord is testing me like this. What are you doing here?”

“You know, considering the last time I saw you I was sewing your bloody head back together so that you didn’t end up with a gnarly scar on your face... I don’t think it’s asking too much for a little more friendly greeting.”

“Nice to see you, too, Laurent.”

So this is London...

[sofia-plushenko]

So this is London...

“I’ve read a fair amount about the city, passed through a few times on different trips, but this...” the Russian’s voice drifted off as she took in the view of the streets as she wandered, albeit somewhat aimlessly, eternally trying to make the best of the situation she’d been given. “It’s something else.”

She paused for a moment as she continued, a thought bringing the smallest chuckle to her as she voiced it, albeit more to herself than to any of the passers-by that seemingly paid no attention to her.

“Certainly better than Launceston.”

[sofia-plushenko]

BASIC INFORMATION:

NAME: Sofia Kurylenko-Plushenko.   AGE: 29. PLACE OF BIRTH: Launceston, Massachusetts, United States. AFFILIATION: The Russian Mob. OCCUPATION: Medical Resident (Emergency Medicine) FACE CLAIM: Nina Dobrev. AVAILABILITY: TAKEN.

BIOGRAPHY:

The nine years spent in Vladivostok had been all but rewritten when Sofia Kurylenko moved back to Launceston, yet, although she was the only daughter of a once-prominent Russian patriarch, her time away had hardly been enough to erase her father’s sins from the minds of his enemies. 

The horrors of the city had been previously unknown to the ‘Russian Princess’ before her return, but even in the first weeks following her arrival, it was more than evident that her life here would be full of more challenges than that of the average young woman. The target that had been painted on her back long ago threatened her existence daily, and although she’d been brought to the brink of death more than a single time, Sofia Kurylenko had proven to the city that she was not willing to abandon the place that she’d always considered her home.

The feeling that Launceston was, indeed, her home, was solidified not only by the memories that it held of her dearly departed father, but of the family that she’d seemingly been re-introduced to in young adulthood; her memories of her aunts, uncles, and cousins were far different than the reality of knowing them. It was more difficult now: being faced with the horrors they masked as their ‘businesses’ directly compromised the things she believed so deeply in, although Sofia continued to love them from arm’s length, the only way she knew how. This knowledge, however, eventually became a driving factor in her decision to fulfill her lifelong dream: becoming a doctor.

There had been more to her life in Launceston that had convinced the Russian to remain in a city filled with such evil. The friendships she’d formed had quickly blossomed into relationships that were far more reminiscent of blood relatives than individuals from opposing sides of the war they were all caught in. Aside from friendships, the relationship that had developed between herself and her assigned bodyguard, Aaron Plushenko, was something that everyone had become envious of. The love that the two shared for one another was something to be rivaled only by tales in a storybook, although the journey to the altar was far from a fairytale. Despite their eventual separation, they welcomed a son that proved the end of their time apart; Andrew was the next era of Kurylenko blood, and both his parents were more than aware of what that would mean for his life in the future.

The most notable threat to the Russian’s little family had always been Alessia Auditore, who had long proven that the vendetta she’d had with Anatoly had not been settled after his death. Sofia had been the object of her fury more than once, yet following the Russian’s attack on the Auditore family that Easter afternoon, it became overwhelmingly clear that the stakes were higher than she’d previously imagined. There was an unspoken bounty on the heads of all Kurylenko family members, and they were picked off, one by one.

The wisest decision that Sofia could’ve made was to leave with her family under the cover of night. With no warning and very few goodbyes, Sofia, Aaron, and Andrew disappeared into the night, forever leaving Launceston, families, and friends behind.

The Russian was thankful that they hadn’t remained in Launceston longer than they had; the demise of the Russians wasn’t something she wanted to witness, let alone become caught up in. It took her small family quite a long time to become relaxed in their new home, far away from the violence and constant threats they’d sadly grown accustomed to. Their new home, nestled quietly in the Western Colorado mountains, was reminiscent of a postcard, and above all else, it was something that Launceston had never been: peaceful.

The new environment provided room for Sofia and Aaron to flourish in their professional lives, in their relationship, and as parents to their son. She continued the path that she’d started at a new university: now in her third year of medical school, she’d finally decided upon her specialty: emergency medicine. It was competitive, without a doubt, but the Russian found it endlessly fascinating. The fast-paced, high-pressure situations were ones that she was determined to feel comfortable in, to thrive in. Aaron, on the other hand, has taken their new environment as an invitation to change directions completely: he built, owns, and manages a restaurant in the town nearest their home. Andrew happily accompanies him after his days of first grade, and the restaurant staff has all but adopted the bouncy six-year-old as their own, much to the approval of his doting mother.

The only person outside random family members that Sofia really kept in touch with from Launceston was Veronika, her occasional visits and consistent Skype calls the only real connection she held with the people that had inhabited her former life. Upon hearing of Marcello’s death, however, their contact ceased for months, the worried Russian placing hundreds of phone calls that all went unreturned. Until, one day, the Italian called. And with the call came a request that Sofia simply couldn’t refuse. Porto Velho was never planned, but Ronnie asking Sofia to assist her in caring for her children after losing Marcello wasn’t something she was at liberty to decline. The year that they spent in Porto brought with it a range of emotions and changes between factions, however, when Ronnie decided it was best for her family to leave the city, Sofia was more than ready to return back to her family in Colorado.

Sofia had settled back into her quiet life quickly; it wasn’t long after her return that she graduated medical school and began her residency in emergency medicine – the area of study that she’d always felt the most drawn to. There had been no interruptions, no threats from her previous life, nothing that indicated that anyone knew of her existence deep in the mountains… until one day, he arrived.

Konstantin Vorshevsky and the small army of Russians that he’d brought with him had welcomed her home from an overnight shift one morning, sitting at the kitchen table with her husband and son as if he’d belonged there. His visit, however unwelcomed, was something she couldn’t protest, and the words that he spoke chilled every part of her being.

“You’ll come to London and work for me. If you choose to forego this, your son will come in your place. This family has sacrificed so much for you, Sofia. It’s time to repay your debt.”

The Plushenkos sat around their kitchen table long after the Russian mob boss had left, turning over possibilities and trying to find a way out of the position they’d now been thrust into. They thought about leaving their home, disappearing into the night once again, starting over somewhere else… but the inevitability remained that they’d be located again, quite possibly by someone that wasn’t willing to extend them any sort of courtesy.

It wasn’t long afterward that Sofia’s bags were packed, she’d said her goodbyes to her family, and left them with the few members of the new Russian mob, much to her own dismay. As the car drove her to the airport, the Russian couldn’t quiet her beating heart, truly wondering if she’d ever go back to her quiet life in the mountains, or if she was destined to always be tied to the family she’d tried so desperately to forget.

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS:

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Aaron Plushenko (husband, unplayable) FAMILY: Anatoly Kurylenko (father, deceased), Andrew Kurylenko-Plushenko (son, unplayable), Aleksandr, Elizabeth Vorshevsky (aunt and uncle, deceased), Konstantin Vorshevsky (cousin), Mila Korshunova (cousin-in-law), Larissa Vorshevsky (cousin, deceased), Yuliya, Katarina Vorshevsky (cousins, unplayable), Arkady Kurylenko (uncle), Maksim, Viktoriya Kurylenko (cousins), Pyotr, Dmitri, Vladimir Kurylenko (uncles, deceased), Sasha Kurylenko (cousin, deceased), Nina Kurylenko (cousin, unplayable) CONNECTIONS:

Veronika Auditore: Best friend. Sofia and Ronnie’s friendship seemed to have been inevitable from the first instance in which they happened upon one another. Coming from families that had been taught to hate each other, nothing about their friendship should’ve survived the stress that it had been put through, yet Sofia had followed her to Porto Velho without question to help take care of Ronnie’s children. Although they’ve both settled back into their own lives since, Sofia and Ronnie have always maintained their tight-knit friendship, even despite the miles that separate them.

Mikhail Vorshevsky: Cousin/good friend. Mikhail and Sofia had shared a bond for as long as Sofia could remember; when they were children, they played together most often, and upon her return to Launceston, Mikhail was one of the only members of the Vorshevsky family that Sofia truly trusted. She hadn’t seen her cousin since her departure from Launceston, but her expectation is that they’ll be able to pick up where they left off, as she’ll surely need the support “rejoining” the ranks of the family she’s tried so desperately to distance herself from.

Laurent St. Pierre: Friend/love of her life. During Sofia’s time in Launceston, she and Laurent hadn’t had many interactions, let alone any sort of decent relationship. The kidnapping that they’d staged to save Aurélie, however, was some sort of a turning point, and in a strange way, established some trust between the two of them. The time they’d spent together in Porto had only seemed to deepen and definitely change the relationship between the pair. It stands to be seen what the Frenchman will think of her arrival in London.

[sofia-plushenko]

@skurylenko: #tbt my last visit with my sister @vma #missyou

[sofia-plushenko]

@Sofia. [text]

Laurent: Obviously. I'm good like that.

Laurent: You're such a fucking peasant. Rum. I can't.

Laurent: Fine. Get rid of any company. I'll be over in ten.

Sofia: Just for that comment, you can add in a burrito. I'll be hungry after I sew your bloody head back together.

[sofia-plushenko]

The look of pure joy on Sofia’s face was all the thanks Ronnie could have ever asked for. The kid’s faces matched, running at full speed to wrap their arms around their pseudo aunt. With all the bullshit that seemed to be flooding Ronnie’s life from every angle, moments like this were ones she had grown to cherish even more so than before.

“Can I get that confession on tape? I just want to be able to play it for Aaron at every possible moment I can.”

When the kids finally released Sofia from their gentle grasp, Ronnie stepped over and wrapped her arms around her best friend. Aside from her own birthday in May, this was the first time the two women had been able to celebrate Sofia’s special day in three years. They’d always sent each other cards and made time for hours long FaceTime conversations, but it could never replace actually being together.

“Alright, we can’t start crying because then the kids will start crying because they’re still too young to understand what ‘happy tears’ are,” Ronnie pulled away from their embrace, accompanied by amused laughter. “But, I did bring cupcakes and you’ve got at least a few hours to spare before anyone will be looking for you. My powers of persuasion know no bounds.”

The brunette couldn’t help but chuckle at Ronnie’s sentiment, the brief idea of Aaron’s reaction upon hearing the admission she’d just made bringing a humorous image into her mind. She held the kids for a moment longer than they were expecting, and couldn’t help but study both their beautiful features as she pulled away from them. Before she had time to voice her thoughts, however, Ronnie had pulled her into another embrace.

It was moments like these that reminded Sofia why she was in Porto Velho in the first place. Ronnie, despite her blood, was and would always be someone that Sofia considered her family, and Ronnie’s surprise only further proved how much that sentiment was shared. After all the time they’d spent apart since leaving Launceston, it was good to celebrate with her family... all of her family.

“You guys are all amazing,” the Russian managed as she pulled away from her best friend, the two children still watching with smiles on their faces. “You really made my day, I’ll tell you that for sure... and when did you both get so good at surprises?!” her question was directed to the children, both of which were beaming at the success of the execution of their plan. “I mean, I really had no idea!”