if you would like to take some of his tea; though it may not be to your taste, but tea is still tea, yes?

would be eternally grateful if Ivan were willing to sacrifice some of his tea. He's not worried about the flavour-he knows, from the brief

time he's spent with you, that you have decent taste. Should he come and pick it up? He's honestly desperate to do anything, at this point.

Possibly even trade with the frog, and that would just make him ill.

would not mind if you came over! Having visitors is always a nice feeling to have when one lives so far away. Nonetheless, he suggests that

you wear many layers as his heater seems to have broken at the most inconvenient times-- it would not do if you were to get sick. People

would only blame him and he doesn't want that...

probably just hurriedly throw on a coat or two...actually, he's pretty sure he's got a portable heater lying around somewhere. If you like,

he could bring that over with him? And perhaps his old chess set, too...he hasn't had a decent match in quite some time, and he's heard good

things about the strategies of Russian players.

you really should exercise more caution-- his land is not as giving as your own when it comes to the cold. But yes, it would be very

kind of you to bring your portable heater. He has not had a chess match in quite a long while; they hold all the principles of...ah, former

Soviet man. But he will not refuse a match, and for the sake of keeping his country's good reputation for the game, he will not go easy on

you.

would be more aware of that, and most likely more thoughtful about it, if he wasn't in such a hurry. Nonetheless, he'll probably learn his

lesson once he steps off the plane and into the frigid cold. He looks forward to the match, then, as he hasn't had anything resembling an

actual challenge in quite some time-it's all paper-pushing and hassled meetings these days. Quite a let-down compared to the old days,

really.

Well, if you end up catching a cold on your way here, then you cannot say he did not warn you. Because he did. And well, chess used to be

a social etiquette, before the days of the internet and computer, no? Nonetheless, he will set up the board and tea for your arrival.

that he will be much more likely to get sick out in the cold than he would be in his dreary office pushing papers without the comfort of a

lovely cup of tea, so it's certainly worth the risk. And indeed, he remembers those days-it's a shame that the times have changed so much,

and the idea of 'social etiquette' seems to be almost nonexistant, particuarily among the youth.

...didn't know that you had such deeply-ingrained issues with paperwork, but he does agree that tea always seems to make things better

somewhat. There will be no worries of being called "old" tonight, for he will not judge you and nor will you, him. How much longer do you

think there is before you arrive?

he didn't, but such is the duty of a nation as...ingrained in world affairs as himself. Sometimes makes him wonder about the amount of

responsibilities Alfred must have to deal with...n-not that it worries him, of course. He's sure the bloke just shrugs them all off without

a second thought. He is rather relieved by that reassurance, though-most people aren't half as kind as you are, and tend to chuck insults

at him like candy. And according to the stewardess, he ought to land in...oh, perhaps an hour or so.