((No worries~))

Ivan smiled bashfully when Alfred voiced his chipper approval, colouring slightly when the American perched himself on the same seat. This closeness was still new to him, and he wasn't sure he'd been so close to someone - and so continuously - for a long long time. He shuffled over a little on the chair, trying to ensure that Alfred wouldn't fall off, only to nearly lose his own balance when his boyfriend nearly took a tumble. Those peals of laughter, though, and because of something he had started - it was beautiful. He quickly noticed what it was that had caused the hilarity - Penny joining in the fun, and he giggled. It really was quite entertaining to play with the cats so, and the felines themselves seemed to be enjoying it.

He felt Alfred's arm moving to rest along the back of the chair, Alfred leaning, Alfred's hand on his wrist - he turned his face towards the other male's and treated him to a warm smile. "Ooh, that sounds good~" He giggled, allowing Alfred to direct him as he responded to the suggestion. "Hah, da - the feline pride is legendary." He added, his smile becoming a crooked smirk that told of amusement. Vodka seemed to have decided that it was a competition, and was attempting to corner the point of light, appearing quite astonished at the ease with which it flew out of his reach. The ex
pression was quite funny, and Ivan had to chuckle. "This is fun~" He declared happily, perhaps a little childishly, as he watched his kitty begin to spin.

Alfred's grin gre as he glanced over at Ivan, unable to keep himself from leaning down and pressing a kiss tot he Russian's lips when he was looking towards him. "I've said it before and I'll say it again. You're absolutely adorable," he stated with complete and utter certainty, as well as a wider grin than before. How could this get any better, he wondered. He was getting through college okay, now he had a (very adorable) boyfriend, and he even had a job at a cafe that was pretty okay. Life was absolutely wonderful for him right now and he intended to make the most out of the chances he was given to make his life as wonderful as possible for as long as possible. He wouldn't do anything that could jeopardize what he had, or let anyone else ruin how happy they both seemed to be. He was going to try to protect this by entrusting Ivan with parts of himself that nobody else could have. Parts of himself he only trusted with Ivan.

I could watch him smile all day. Ivan thought, seeing the expansion of Alfred's grin, before the American in question brought their mouths together in a sweet, spontaneous gesture of affection. It seemed as though the sprightly blond was a rather affectionate sort, and good at surprising him with kisses. "A - ahh... Spasiba." He mumbled, when he was told of his adorableness. To be honest, it wasn't the words that touched him deepest, but the way that they were spoken. He could hear it in the tone of that light voice so suited for laughter, he could see it in the cast of those cloud-worthy blue gems his Shcheenok called eyes - those words were truly meant, and that made him feel warm inside. "It - ahh, it makes me feel wobbly warmness in me when you say such things to me." He added, trying to put his thoughts into words, and guessing that he probably made no sense.

He was rescued from his awkward by his contemplation of what else had been said, and his ex
pression brightened from bashfully flattered to eagerness and childlike delight. "Ahh, that sounds like fun~ Perhaps we could make those shirts that you put rubber bands on and dunk in dye?" He suggested, tilting his head a little. He hadn't forgotten the game they were playing with the cats, and had currently got the dot dancing around like a house fly, but his mind was on Alfred at the moment. Perhaps they could dye shirts for one another? Then, he could wear something that Alfred had made for him - and Alfred could wear something he had made for him. That would be very nice indeed. Ahh, Solnyshka, how did I live without knowing that I would find you? The past seems so dark to look upon, now that you brighten today. He mused silently, sneaking another look at the smiling one beside him. I cannot lose you - whatever happens, I will be with you. He promised, the words echoing in the confines of his head.

((Mmkay I'm really sleepy and got two hours of sleep before this so I'm gonna sleep and then I'll respond when I wake up ;v;''))

((No probs, you get some good rest now. :3))

Alfred nodded almost resolutely, soon carefully moving to deposit himself once again upon Ivan's lap, his legs dangling over the arm of the chair and his grin still present. "Sorry, sitting on the arm was hurting my tailbone," he said, squirming a little to get in the best position to simply relax. "And I'm glad I can make you feel that happy," he added, reaching up to mess with Ivan's still-damp hair. The huge surge of affection from him felt like it had been building up over the years, and now that he found Ivan he felt the need to show him as much affection as possible while they were together, and hoped it was together they'd stay. Ivan was the missing puzzle piece in his life, he knew it and felt how easily the Russian had fallen into place here with him, and he was going to make sure nothing happened to them.

"Ahh, is okay." Ivan mumbled, pinking - and feeling a little frustrated with how easy it seemed for his cheeks to begin burning. He didn't want Alfred to think he was a shrinking violet or something. "I would rather you be comfortable than not, and I - ahh - I like it when you are close to me, so... I do not mind being cushion." He added, twitching the laser dot some more as he spoke, and attempting to ensure that he could cuddle Alfred without causing the dot to wind up on the ceiling or someplace else impossible. That would ruin the fun for the kitties. Feeling fingers moving softly through his slightly water-flattened hair, Ivan made a little sound in his throat that was not unlike that of a creature happy to be petted. He felt embarrassed the moment he heard it, but he couldn't deny that he liked being shown such affection. Besides, he was Alfred's Kitten, wasn't he?

He wasn't quite sure what to think of Alfred's head resting on his chest, though he knew it to mean that the American was listening to the pulse within - was this a sign of affection or a seeking of reassurance? He decided not to think too hard - it was nice, and Alfred didn't seem to be bothered by anything, so why spoil a sweet moment with maybe-needless worries? He felt vindicated in this opinion when he heard his Shcheenok's sigh, and he decided to plant a little kiss on Alfred's ear - partly out of affection, partly out of mischievous curiosity as to what reaction that would garner. "Of course you make me happy - ty moi chouda." He murmured, trying to express how he had come to see the sunny person currently sat upon his lap - but without the tongue-tied chaos he felt would be all too likely if he tried to wax eloquent. After all, he couldn't always pull off poetic, and there were a lot more feelings than he was sure he fully knew how to put into words. He'd noticed that Penny had begun to pounce Vodka, but the tom seemed to view it as an extension of the game, so Ivan didn't see any need to say anything of it - it seemed like they were having fun, and his mind wasn't really on the cats.

((Ty moi chouda - you are my miracle.))

Alfred nestled that much closer to Alfred, continuing to stroke his fingers through Ivan's hair since he seemed to rather like it. And he rather liked the little sounds Ivan tended to make. They were absolutely adorable and Alfred wanted to hear more of them. Though, they usually happened when he caught the Russian off-guard. He should do that more then, he decided with a smile.

If he'd been a cat, Ivan would probably have begun to purr, what with the closer cuddling and the continued ministrations his hair was receiving. As it was, though, he simply sighed happily - sort of like Alfred had not too long ago. His eyes were tinged with mirth at Alfred's reaction to his ear-kiss - while it hadn't been pronounced, it was good to know that Alfred hadn't minded, and better to hear him laugh.

Ivan hadn't been entirely sure whether to expect Alfred to understand his words, when he'd spoken in his mother tongue, but he'd suspected as much. The blush rising to tint the American's complexion ruddy seemed to indicate that his sentiment had been heard loud and clear, and Ivan wasn't sure whether the silence following was a good thing or not, but he could tell that he'd gotten a reaction. "Ahahh, you look so cute with the colour in your cheeks~" He giggled, deciding that the nuzzling that was tickling his neck probably meant that Alfred wasn't put out by his words. "Ahh, have I embarrassed you?" He asked softly, giving the other a slight squeeze that he hoped would be reassuring if that was the case. If not, well, it was still affection. He didn't mind Alfred's silence, though it did leave him a little uncertain - he thought that the reaction he'd got was sweet. It was almost as though they each had their own turns to be bashful - was this how all relationships were, or was this just them?

((... Did he just render Alfie speechless? That's adorable. :3))

Alfred let out another quiet sound as he tried to re-find his voice. It was usually so easy to find, so why could he not use it now? He bit his lip lightly as he fought to regain his ability to speak, and when he did his voice was oddly quiet and unsure. "Am I really...able to be classified as a miracle?" he asked, probably muffled by Ivan's scarf. It was a rather difficult concept for him to grasp onto, given how much trouble he'd likely given other people over the years. He was, after all, usually quite the handful. Was it really fitting to call him a miracle? Yeah he could be pretty damn full of himself, but the farthest he'd really gone is sometimes jokingly referring to himself as a hero. Never a miracle...

He makes cute noises too... It is good to know that it is not only me. Ivan mused to himself, switching off the pointer so that he could direct his full attention to Alfred. After all, it really wouldn't do to accidentally shine the laser in a cat's face due to inattention. This apparent insecurity, or whatever it was, struck a chord in Ivan. It wasn't how he usually thought of the American, but it was as endearing as the boldness and the bright grins - just in a different way. Alfred was showing him vulnerability - that had to mean that he held trust with him, that meant something. Something in the hero enthusiast's tone made Ivan want to just bundle Alfred up and hug him close, while his heart felt as though it could swell. He felt protective, but without the prickling of imminent danger, and at the same time afraid to disappoint with an ill-worded answer.

"Da, Alfred." Ivan murmured, his voice low and mellow and soft. "I lack the correct words to tell you properly - my tongue is not silver. Ahhh, but... I know that the word is not a bad fit." His arms were too full of sunshine-man to allow him to fidget with his scarf, but he would have done so otherwise. "Is... hard to explain. Was dark, now is full of sun - your light. I was cold to my bones - not a frost-cold, but a coldness that can remain in summer. Ahh, a coldness of the soul... Now I am warm, and it is because of you. Is that not enough? Is not moving mountains - littler miracle, more real... I hope that I have not mangled your language too much... My grammar is less good when I am awkward."

((It's short, yes, but aifbaifbkijdfhb so sweet~))

Alfred gently reached out to take hold of a part of Ivan's scarf, his touch of course careful as he gently rubbed the worn fabric with his thumbs, still seeming rather sheepish with a very red flush to his cheeks. "You're not mangling it all," he responded softly, glancing up at Ivan again with a sheepish little smile, his gaze lowering to the scarf again a moment later. Insecurity wasn't something he brushed against very often. He was a fairly confident young man, so this was entirely new territory. "And..and it is enough, yeah," he added softly, resting his head against Ivan again. "If it's enough for you...then it's enough for me, yeah." He smiled a little bit, hugging the small amount of scarf he'd been messing with, his movement super careful to avoid tugging it hard enough to tear it or possibly end up choking Ivan. "It's still a...pretty heavy thing to live up to, being called a miracle, and I know I call myself a hero sometimes, more playfully than anything else...I'm just hoping I can keep your opinion of me high like that. That I can really...really live up to being called your miracle..."

Ivan noticed it when Alfred took hold of his scarf, though the action was almost gentle enough for him to miss, and he regarded both the fabric and the man with a small smile and with warm eyes. He treated that scarf as though it was a part of him, and it seemed as though Alfred knew it - his treatment of it seemed almost reverent in its gentleness, and Ivan appreciated that. It was... touching. "That is reassuring." He mumbled, when assured that he wasn't mucking up English too badly. The American was still red - so cute - and Ivan hugged him closer. The sheepish smile he saw before Alfred looked down stirred something in his mind, and he realised that he had smiled that way for the fellow in his arms quite often in the time since they'd met. He was more used to thinking of Alfred as brimming with enthusiasm and bubbliness, so this sheepishness was a little disorienting, but certainly not a bad thing.

"Then... that is good, da?" He asked, relieved that  his explanation had gotten through. He noticed that his scarf was being cuddled, and his smile crept a little wider for it - there was no denying the cuteness of that. He hadn't expected such humble words as Alfred responded with, though perhaps he was a little more surprised that he should have been. That humbleness from Alfred somehow felt both flattering and slightly dissonant - as though it was from out of the blue. Perhaps it was in the wording? His brow furrowed a little as he considered the use of the word 'heavy', and he wondered whether he had gone too far in telling Alfred how he saw him. "I - I would not wish to put a weight on your shoulders." He assured the blond on his lap, a little concerned. "You are hero enough in the happiness you have shown to me - and did you not rescue me from the monster in my sleep?" He murmured, "You do not need to live up to anything - simply being you is enough. Please, do not burden your mind."

((So I'm reading a fanfic where Alfred is kind of a stalker and Ivan is kind of stlaking Mathew but then Alfred is stalking Ivan now and I'm actually really entertained. It's called Stadium Love and I can't really link it because it's kind of naughty but uh. -coughs- Alfie's a spazz.))

((On second thought don't read the fic because wow um it's a bit nuts at the end ._.))

((I think I've heard of that one in passing... Not really into the whole sports thing, so I never looked it up. Nuts, you say? I should probably leave that one be, then. I should probably be recommending something to you around about now, but all the titles are blending together in my head... Have a  couple of links to fluffy pictures instead~ http://blumeshullman.deviantart.com/art/Please-take-care-of-me-207889892 and http://mcmitters.deviantart.com/art/Origin-of-the-Cool-Stetson-205723517))

Ivan was relieved by the sight of Alfred's smile, reassured by its existence that the other was not distressed. He could not see very much of it at present, but he could tell that it was there, and that was what mattered. "Hmm? I suppose that it would be surprising, if you had not expected me to say something like that..." He conceded, acknowledging the point. "I did not mean to - ahh, phrasing... throw you a curve-ball? I... simply wished to let you know, without tripping over my tongue too much... I did not expect to cause you feelings of humbleness, though I am flattered that my choice of words could be reacted to in such a way." It seemed that his scarf was providing some form of reassurance for Alfred, just as it did for Ivan, considering that the younger male was still caressing it. Ivan didn't mind - he knew that it was soothing to do so, though he had not let another discover that before. He was happy to share that with Alfred. "Ahh, and I am very glad that this is real~" Ivan responded, giving Alfred another squeeze. He was a little pink again, after hearing what the American had to say, but he didn't know whether Alfred could even see that - with the position of his head, and all.

"I am sure that you will do just fine." He breathed, feeling a little squirmy warmness gyrate within him at the realisation that Alfred was worrying about treating him right. "Even if there are moments that are... not as smooth - well, that is a part of realness as well. Even the most beautiful of things cannot be totally without flaw... I do not think that you would be able to cause a big enough flaw to make me unhappy to be with you, do not worry. I should warn you, I am quite clingy~" Never mind that he himself had worries on the same topic, but in reverse. Perhaps it was normal, being worried about messing up? That would make sense. "I am touched by your words..." He continued, "It makes me feel happy that you have such thoughts of - of keeping me happy and safe. I - ahhh - I wish to do the same for you... though, you are not running from the cold." Alfred wanted to protect him? That was a very nice thought to tuck away in his mind - a warm and glowing one. He liked thoughts like that. "Thank you." He finished, with another brief tightening of his hold. This is all that I have wished for.

Alfred, still teetering in that area of insecurity, moved so he could weasel his way into yet again sharing Ivan's scarf with him, taking comfort in the smell and warmth of the other plus the added soft fabric proved to help be something of a soother, allowing him to properly relax against Ivan once again. Yes, okay, this was good. "I'm sorry for ending up...acting a little over-the-top, but, ah, yeah..." He smiled sheepishly. "Thank your thinking so much of me though. That'll probably help me keep my butt in gear so I don't end up slacking off," he murmured, not quite ready to let go of the piece of scarf he'd been rubbing. It was soft under his fingertips, and it would give him something better to do than simply fidget. He just had to be gentle. Make sure not to rub too hard. This was one of Ivan's most beloved things, so he had to treat it as such.

When he realised what Alfred's aim in squirming was, Ivan used one hand to assist the American in looping scarf around his neck. He thought it was quite sweet of Alfred to seek scarf-sharing as a balm to his moment of insecurity, if that was the reason. It would still be sweet if it had no reason at all, though. "Nothing to be sorry for - is normal to have worries. After all, humans do not have emotional range of turnips, da?" Ivan responded, trying to amuse. "You are most welcome." He added, not sure how else to reply to Alfred's thanks, and the comment about slacking off. It was nice to see that his scarf could have a soothing effect on someone who was not him - perhaps he ought to look into getting Alfred a scarf soon? A nice and fuzzy one, maybe, or at least one that was soft. Blue would be nice...

"Hmm? I have? Hahh, I suppose that I did make an impression~" He giggled, when Jacob was mentioned. "I would be glad to be an encouraging influence - I like to be helpful~" He added gleefully, wondering what Jacob's ex
pression would be like if Ivan got the job, and the guy only found out when he actually showed up to work. That could be funny. His ex
pression softened with the nuzzling he received, and he made a small humming sound, smoothing Alfred's hair idly with one hand. This was kind of like what his mother used to do when he was upset about something, though he didn't actually realise that he was slightly mimicking her. He hadn't soothed anyone for some time, so he hadn't realised he'd picked up the behaviour. The cats seemed to have calmed down as well, from what he could see - at least, Vodka had. He couldn't see Penny. It seemed that the game was over.

Alfred smiled a bit more genuinely when he was sharing Ivan's scarf with him, nodding slightly in agreement. "I guess you're right there. It'd suck having the emotional range of a turnip," he said with a soft little laugh, moving to wrap one arm around Ivan while the other still had a gentle hold on part of the scarf. "This scarf is really soft," he stated softly before he moved to hunker down and just take a little bit to relax where he was, taking this opportunity to be comfortable with Ivan before he had to go to work and possibly have to deal with grouchy idiots. He'd love to stay right where he was forever, but unfortunately he knew he couldn't. "We should bake cookies or something when we get home," he said with a grin.

((What would you say to the idea of Ivan at some point trying to bring Alfred somewhere on a date - maybe some aquarium he looked up - and getting lost? Just a random idea that hit me.))

Alfred seemed happier now - that was good. Chuckling a little, pleased by the other's reaction to his turnip joke, Ivan nodded slightly. It didn't matter that Alfred might not see it, he did it anyway. It was... kind of automatic. Then, he could feel an arm moving to hug him, and he smiled, noticing that Alfred still held his scarf. "Da, it is. Always has been. I do not know how old it is, but I think that it is older than I am... so I do not know how it is still so soft, and not thin, but I am certainly not complaining." He responded, glad of the moment in which he could be content and hold the American. It was slightly scary, how soon they had come to this point, but it was good, and he felt happy. "Cookies? Ohh, I like cookies~" He replied, brightening at the thought of home-made cookies - those were always good. "I definitely like that idea, Alfya - what kind of cookies?" He asked, deciding that this topic would be a good one to settle on, and, well, he was curious. He was glad that Alfred was calm again now, that sigh the other had released an indicator that all was well again, and he was relieved that he didn't have to feel guilty about making Alfred upset. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction to being called a miracle. Were expectations a problem for Alfred? He wouldn't know, really, but he would be there for him if they were - whoever it was who was setting the expectations. Even if it was him.