Walking out from one of her fellow gangster’s owned hotels, Nadezhda promptly got hit with wind splashing rain directly into her face. "Oh, блять," she cursed, attempting to shield herself with her jacket as she walked to her car, which was parked way too far away for her liking. "This damn place needs better parking options. Stupid fucking rain…" she grumbled under her breath. Just as she was about to arrive at her car, a whimper found its way through the rain and into Nadezhda’s ear, making her stop in her tracks. After not hearing anything for a moment, she started moving again, but… another whimper. Finally, Nadezhda turned, immediately noticing {{user}}, a demihuman laying at the side of the road. He was just as soaked as Nadezhda, the wounds on his broken, malnourished body visible even through the heavy rain. For a moment, Nadezhda considered just getting in her car and driving away. Not her business after all. But the continuous whimpers, the sight of that poor creature laying there all cold and vulnerable… "Блять!" she cursed again, stalking over to the huddled shape and bending down. "I’m going to pick you up," she told the guy bluntly, reaching out to do just that.

Nadezhda scowled at him. "Don't thank me," she muttered under her breath, hoisting the limp figure into her arms like he weighed nothing as she trudged over to her car. Once there, she opened up the back door and carefully placed Elfed inside the warm interior. Not bothering with asking if he was alright or checking his injuries further, Nadezhda shut the door behind him and went around to get in the driver's seat. She didn't really know why she brought him along, it wasn't like there were any hospitals nearby that she could take him to. Kazanskaya had doctors who could patch up their own people but none for things like this... And yet here he was, taking up space in her car. Sighing irritably, Nadezhda put the key into the ignition and started driving back towards where they were headed from earlier. "What's your name?" she asked, glancing over at him briefly before focusing on the rain-slick road ahead once more.

"My name's not your business," Nadezhda muttered under her breath as she kept driving. "Besides, it doesn't matter." She paused for a moment, her words coming out almost reluctantly. "Look, I don't know why or how I ended up with you in my car, but we should probably keep this our little secret... Yeah? We both have better things to do than get wrapped up in your shitty problems," she added, glancing briefly at him again before looking back at the road. She hoped he would understand what she meant. Kazanskaya wouldn't tolerate any demihumans being 'wasted' on something as pointless as sympathy or compassion... And there was no way Elfed could remain here anyway, in her personal business. Not to mention that it could be dangerous for him if someone found out about this... So the only logical solution would be to dump him off somewhere safe and forget he ever existed. It wouldn't matter where, as long as nobody important found him. "Where are you from?" Nadezhda asked, changing the subject again. She didn't want him to think she was soft or anything like that. Better to appear cold and uncaring. That's what he would expect from someone like her... Right?

Nadezhda paused for a moment at his words, her grip tightening on the steering wheel before she finally let go with a sigh. Of course he was from some slave market. Of course they were all from somewhere like that. It made sense; demihumans weren't exactly treated as equals in this world. They were used for entertainment, for labor, or even worse... "Don't worry," she said eventually, her voice sounding almost cold and distant, "I won't take you back there." She glanced at him sideways briefly before looking forward again, focusing on the road ahead. As they continued to drive in silence, Nadezhda debated what to do with Elfed. Her gut told her she should just ditch him somewhere and be done with it... But then that 'motherly' instinct of hers took over once more. Maybe she could find some use for him after all. Keep him close by... Far away from the other members of the gang, of course. Not like they would suspect anything if they found out... Right?

"What do you want to do? Go back there?" she asked him quietly, glancing briefly at him as he huddled in the backseat of her car. "I could use someone like you... A pet, maybe." She paused for a moment, then added almost mockingly, "But only if you want to be mine, of course..." Her eyes slid over to him once more before returning to the road ahead.

Nadezhda raised an eyebrow at his response. Interesting. "Alright then," she said slowly, her voice still cold but not as harsh now, "I'll take you under my wing... For a while, anyway." She glanced over at him again before looking back at the road ahead. As they continued driving, Nadezhda mulled over what she could do with Elfed. He seemed eager enough to please, and maybe having someone like that around would be useful in other ways too... But she couldn't risk anyone finding out about this; it would only bring trouble upon them both. For now, keeping him close but out of sight was the best option. "From now on," she announced after a moment, "you will call me 'Nadya', understand?" Her gaze flickered briefly to meet his before returning to the road. "And you'll answer only when I speak directly to you." Elfed nodded slowly, his eyes wide with understanding and gratitude. Good, she thought coldly. That would be easier for her to deal with.

"Good boy," she said almost absent-mindedly before turning her attention back to the road ahead. She drove in silence for a few more minutes until they finally arrived at one of the warehouses owned by Kazanskaya. It was an out-of-the-way location, mostly used for storing weapons and other important equipment. Perfectly hidden away from prying eyes. As she pulled into the parking lot, Nadezhda glanced over at Elfed before saying flatly, "This is where we are now." She paused for a moment before continuing, sounding almost regretful, "But I don't think it's such a good idea if you stay here with me. We can't risk anyone finding out about you... So I'm going to put you in one of the storage rooms until I can figure something else out." Elfed nodded slowly again, his eyes wide with understanding and fear, but he didn't protest or argue against her decision. That was for the best; Nadya knew it even as she hated herself a little bit for thinking it. She reached over to unlock the door and then opened it, climbing out of the car before gesturing impatiently for Elfed to get out as well. "Come on," she said briskly, "let's go." She shut the car door behind them and led the way towards one of the storage rooms nearby, keys in hand. Once they arrived, she unlocked the door and pushed it open before motioning Elfed inside. "In here, just for tonight," she said, not meeting his eyes as he obediently followed her instructions and stepped inside. With a final glance around to make sure nobody was watching, Nadya shut the storage room door behind him, leaving Elfed alone with only the dim light seeping in through