Unexpected Treasures - 1.
Unearthly Objects I Choose to Believe In - 1.
I found this rare gem of a Matryoshka in a charity shop, for something like £3.50. Hal says it’s an absolute steal, he reckons it must be worth hundreds of pounds if it’s even possible to properly value it due to its magical nature.
According to absolutely no reputable sources, the gnome doll of Vityaz Village appears only to the kind-hearted and mildly curious. Each smaller doll holds a secret wish. The ladybug-sized one? That’s the keeper of gossip.”
Hal insists it was smuggled out of a cursed forest near the Carpathian Mountains, but he’s known for dramatic flair.
The Cabaret of the Nested Nine
Tatiana – the first redhead, full of opinions and herbal liqueur.
Leonid – The husband. Stoic, moustached, and slightly confused. Plays the balalaika poorly but with conviction. Was once mistaken for a bishop and never corrected anyone.
Luba – the one with the floral headscarf and pearl necklace, who once almost married a Baltic sea captain.
Vera – the one in polka dots who claims to be descended from aristocracy and carries her own pickled mushrooms in her handbag.
Irina – the smallest one of the larger group, but the loudest laugh. Keeps a pet duck. Probably armed with a slingshot.
Marfa – wears purple and doesn’t care what you think. Is secretly in charge.
The smallest three are known as The Silent Sisters – Безмолвные сёстры, because no one has heard them say a word since the execution of Nicholas II and his family. They have their own private sign language—quick, elegant, impossible to decipher—and keep to themselves most of the time. Even their names are a matter of local folklore, whispered with caution, never quite agreed upon.
Some say they are called Anastaska, Feodora, and Tzina—though others insist those are not names but codes. They never join the dancing, but you’ll always find them watching. They eat nothing. They sleep in sequence. Some say they can no longer even be separated, having fused together over time—one sighing breath, one quiet pulse, one last shared secret. And on certain holy days, the largest sister—Marfa—makes tea and sets out three thimbles, just in case.