That vague thought in his mind, he returned the shaving soap to the dish and took up the shaving brush. He took a moment to loosely shake off the excess water; the task completed, he whisked the bristles over the bar, watching as a thick white lather formed over the bar and in the dish. It was almost fascinating to watch, and rather mindless… Almost soothing. He scooped up the lather with the bristles of the brush and, after a moment's pause, started to brush the foam over his beard.
It was warm, and when he applied it to his upper lip it tickled his nose. His brow furrowed at the sensation but he pressed on. By the time he laid the brush aside, the lather made it look like he had a full beard once more, only now, instead of cutting it down with a pair of scissors, he would be cutting it down with a straight razor.
He turned the opened razor over in his fingers, watching the light glint on the blade before holding it up to his cheek, gauging where we was willing to start passing the blade over his skin. Just in front of the ear. That should be good. Willing his hands to be steady, he pressed the blade against his skin and brought it down in a single swipe before inspecting the damage. A swatch of smooth skin peeked out of the lather.
Vsë normalʹno5, he thought, wiping the blade clean on a dry cloth before going for a second pass… and then a third… and a fourth. The process continued on both sides of his face, then on his throat (being mindful to not cut himself while keeping his head tipped back to access the skin there was quite the feat) and finally around his mouth.
Russia couldn't say for sure how much time had passed; it couldn't have been more than ten or fifteen minutes, he mused as he wiped the last of the shaving cream and cut hairs from the blade. He took a moment to make certain that he'd thoroughly cleaned the blade before folding it closed and laying it aside. When he looked at his reflection, he barely recognized himself without his beard—he looked much younger, like a little boy who had crawled into his father's clothes to play.
He reached up and brushed his hand over his now-smooth cheek. It felt… strange, and would certainly take getting used to. In the distance, the bells in Peter and Paul Cathedral marked the hour—two o'clock, nearly dinner, a meal he was expected to attend. Getting used to this new look, this new practice, would have to be put on hold for now.
---------- Translations 1 Samyye prekrasnyye kachestva – The finest quality 2 Ozherelya – A separate collar attached with buttons or ties or worn over a shirt 3 Koshulia – An outer shirt 4 Sorochka – A tunic like undershirt 5 Vsë normalʹno – All right, okay
Re: Modern Conveniences – Russia [1b/1 - Complete]
It was warm, and when he applied it to his upper lip it tickled his nose. His brow furrowed at the sensation but he pressed on. By the time he laid the brush aside, the lather made it look like he had a full beard once more, only now, instead of cutting it down with a pair of scissors, he would be cutting it down with a straight razor.
He turned the opened razor over in his fingers, watching the light glint on the blade before holding it up to his cheek, gauging where we was willing to start passing the blade over his skin. Just in front of the ear. That should be good. Willing his hands to be steady, he pressed the blade against his skin and brought it down in a single swipe before inspecting the damage. A swatch of smooth skin peeked out of the lather.
Vsë normalʹno5, he thought, wiping the blade clean on a dry cloth before going for a second pass… and then a third… and a fourth. The process continued on both sides of his face, then on his throat (being mindful to not cut himself while keeping his head tipped back to access the skin there was quite the feat) and finally around his mouth.
Russia couldn't say for sure how much time had passed; it couldn't have been more than ten or fifteen minutes, he mused as he wiped the last of the shaving cream and cut hairs from the blade. He took a moment to make certain that he'd thoroughly cleaned the blade before folding it closed and laying it aside. When he looked at his reflection, he barely recognized himself without his beard—he looked much younger, like a little boy who had crawled into his father's clothes to play.
He reached up and brushed his hand over his now-smooth cheek. It felt… strange, and would certainly take getting used to. In the distance, the bells in Peter and Paul Cathedral marked the hour—two o'clock, nearly dinner, a meal he was expected to attend. Getting used to this new look, this new practice, would have to be put on hold for now.
----------
Translations
1 Samyye prekrasnyye kachestva – The finest quality
2 Ozherelya – A separate collar attached with buttons or ties or worn over a shirt
3 Koshulia – An outer shirt
4 Sorochka – A tunic like undershirt
5 Vsë normalʹno – All right, okay