A Night to Remember (Victor, Tarlan)

[Victor Katz]

[Mayor Victor Katz and Natasha Rachmaninoff - Tarlan's House at Makhachkala]

Time quickly passed by. After the assembly, Katz felt triumphant. He felt like he could become the Prime Minister, despite Karimov having the same desires. He couldn't do it alone, though. He needed help, and Tarlan Elkanov was the perfect man. He was quite confident that Tarlan needed his help, too. Karimov was too conservative on his social views, and Victor knew that Tarlan always spoke of homosexual rights and gender equality. Those were the exact same topics Victor talked about in his debates before he became Mayor. He was quite sure that Tarlan shared his socially liberal views.

Katz was quite nervous, unlike his usual self. The Liberals were a large and powerful party, and could make either Katz or Karimov the Prime Minister. He had prepared a bottle of fine wine. It was expensive enough to show appreciation of Tarlan's invitation, yet not too expensive. He didn't want the wine to look like a bribery, because it was not. He held Natasha's hand, as he knocked on Tarlan's front door. He coughed twice, and knocked on the door.

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[tpc]

January 28 2007, 18.30
[Magmoudali Rahmanovich Aliev and Tarlan Elkhanov - 2 Pushkin Street, Makhachkala Downtown East]

Tarlan poured water into the pan. The combination of butter, meat residue, and water emulsified into a meat jus to complete the steaks he had cooked. This was the second dinner he had with Victor. Tarlan had learned of Victor's liking of meat last week and both had agreed on steak for this week's dinner. The steaks had been cooked to medium-rare perfection in the oven, then seared to create the perfect crust, and then basted with butter. With the assistance of his daughter, Tarlan had also cooked up some pan-fried potatoes and vegetables to go with the meat. The jus would bring a meaty flavor to the potatoes and vegetables, further intensifying the steak. That was the last and most important part of the dish - creating something from the scraps of the steak that would unify the dish.

That, Tarlan supposed, was his part in the coalition - creating something from the scraps of the two larger parties (N and P) that would unify it. The Liberals had expected to be the smallest party in the coalition. Their base was the urban population, but business and the intellectuals were only a part of it. The unions and youth that Katz had drawn support from were comparable, if not slightly larger, than Tarlan's base. That was discounting the rural population, larger than the urban populace and split between N and P. Thus, neither party nor Tarlan had expected to win enough seats to be Prime Minister. This, however, had its own advantages - the Liberals' support could throw the contest between Karimov and Katz for the Prime Minster's office in either one's favor. Tarlan had to bring together P and N, establishing the most strategic position possible for his party while he was at it.

He heard a knock on the door.

"Magmoudali, do answer the door for me."
Tarlan gestured to his 15-year old son, pointing at the door. His son had been setting up the table for the guests. After hearing Tarlan's request, Magmoudali rushed to the door. He opened the door to find Victor and Natasha.

"Come in."
Magmoudali turned to Tarlan, increasing the volume of his voice so it would reach the kitchen.

"Dad, it's Mayor Katz and Miss Rachmaninoff."
"Come in, Victor. You too, Natasha. I must congratulate you on an election well won."
Tarlan presented himself, still wearing his chef's apron, to the two.

---

Victor Katz

[Victor Katz]

Victor made a gigantic smile and thanked Tarlan for his kind words.
"Ah, thanks a lot. I'm glad to see a democratic government rolling."
Victor could smell the smell of butter and steak. His mouth was watering because of the smell. He was very touched by Tarlan's consideration of his liking of meat. Sofia followed Victor through the door.
"What a pleasant smell, Mayor Elkanov! I never knew you were an excellent cook!"
Sofia exclaimed. Victor smiled, and looked at Magmoudali.
"Last time I saw you, you were this big. Now look at you, young man!"
Victor gently said. It's been a few years, indeed. Victor then said,
"I've brought a bottle of red wine to drink with the steak, if that's OK with you."