I usually don't do requests, but a friend of mine who reads my London and Maddie's stories asked me to write a small story based on a drawing done by my friend and artist colleague Snowfake, which featured London and Maddie dressed in for a Russian winter. The story itself will take place between chapters 12 and 13 of my "Love Conquers All" fanfic. This was originally going to be only one chapter, but you guys know how I am; when I find an idea that sounds good, I go all out to make sure it becomes something amazing. And now, back to the show.
Chapter 1: Welcome to Moscow
It was a clouded afternoon when the Cessna CitationJet/M2 of London Tipton, nicknamed by the heiress as "Tipton Air One", landed in Vnukovo International Airport, outside of Moscow. Plus, it was also a windy afternoon, which made it difficult for the pilot to land the jet.
"Seems like we're in for a very windy and snowy stay, Maddie." -London said, looking outside the window and contemplating the snowy landscape.
Accompanying her was her best friend, Madeline Fitzpatrick, who was also secretly her girlfriend. London was in the mood for some shopping in Moscow, so she managed to kidnap Maddie and bring her with her, so they could spend the weekend together. Maddie's mom did not like the idea, because that would mean skipping a school day, plus, the candy-counter girl had promised her that she would help her with the housekeeping; but, when London told her that Maddie would bring her something beautiful and expensive for her from their trip, she let it slide and allowed her to accompany the heiress.
"Seems like it." -Maddie said, still a little sleepy. Unlike London, who was used to those long flights and hardly slept during them, the blonde slept through most of the flight, only waking up 10 minutes before landing. –"And I bet it's also chilly. I mean, this is Russia, it's always snowing around here, and we both know that snow is anything but warm."
"Thank God we brought warm clothes." -London smiled. –"Still, even if we hadn't, we could always buy more."
"Miss Tipton, Miss Fitzpatrick, welcome to Moscow." -the girls heard the pilot over the communicator saying. –"Local time is 15:34 pm. Temperature outside is 14ºC, or 57ºF and it's a little bit windy. May I suggest you grab your warmest coats before stepping outside?"
"You heard the man, Maddie." -London said, as she pressed the communicator's button to answer back. –"Thanks for the information, Michael. Have you notified the hangar to have my limo ready?"
"Yes, I have, Miss Tipton. They should be expecting us. Let me just take this to the hangar, that'll open the door for you." -the pilot told her. –"Until then, for your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened." -he said..
"You got it. Just don't take too long." -London answered back. –"Can't wait to get to the hotel."
"Don't tell me you're already tired." -Maddie joked, as she yawned once again.
"Nope, but I want to change into something prettier than what I'm wearing now." -London said. She was wearing a red Louis Vuitton sweater, a pair of black leggings, red Channel knee-high boots, and black gloves. On top of all, she was also wearing a red cute bow on her hair.
"But those clothes are beautiful, London." -Maddie pointed it out. On that moment, she was really jealous of London, because she was wearing prettier clothes than she was; all because, London did not give her the time to change and instead, told her to pack the first things she laid her hands on from her closet into her luggage, promising her that when they got to Moscow she would buy her everything she wanted.
"You can have them, if you want to." -London winked an eye at her.
"Thanks, but no… well, if you want to, you can give me that sweater. It's really pretty and it matches that skirt I bought just the other day." -Maddie smiled. Even though London would buy her just about everything she wanted, the blonde did not like her to do it all the time, and was pretty happy to buy stuff with her own salary.
"It's yours. And you're right, it does match it… I'll give it to you, when we get to the hotel." -London told her. –"Having me for a girlfriend sure has its benefits, doesn't it? Your eye for fashion is getting better and better." -she laughed in a whisper.
"London, don't say that out loud!" -Maddie giggled in a hush. –"The pilot might hear you."
"Don't worry, he won't. that cockpit is soundproof." –London whispered at her.
"Then, if it is soundproof, why are you whispering?" -Maddie whispered back.
"I don't have the slightest idea…" -London laughed, making Maddie also laugh.
It was around 5 pm when the girls' limo stopped in front of the Moscow Tipton. Like most Tipton hotels, which were located near landmarks of the cities they were in, the Moscow Tipton obeyed this rule. Located in the Arbat District, near the Moskva River, the hotel had once been the illustrious Hotel Ukrania. Having been commissioned by Joseph Stalin, the building itself stood 206 meters tall and it was the most impressive of the skyscrapers that made up the list of Moscow's Stalinist skyscrapers. It was bought by London's dad back in 2001 and after a major renovation period, it opened in 2004 with the name Moscow Tipton. It was the tallest Tipton Hotel in Europe, and it was also one of the most ostentatious.
Being excited to be back there, London did not even wait for the driver to exit and open the door for them, opening it herself. Already outside the limo, she and Maddie were both greeted by one of the hotel's doormen.
"Dobryj den'!" -the doormen greeted them.
"Dobryj den'!" -London answered him back. –"There are five suitcases on the trunk. Would you be so kind to give the chauffeur a hand with them?"
"Certainly, Miss Tipton." -he said.
"I forgot that you speak Russian." -Maddie chuckled.
"Well, I do speak it, but not fluently." -London told her, as they both headed to the door.
"Still, you speak more Russian than I do. The only things I know how to say in Russian is Goulash and Do svidanija, and that's from watching old spy movies with my dad." -Maddie admitted.
"Well, don't worry, I'll teach you how to speak Russian, if you keep helping me with my math homework." -London told her.
"Do I have a choice?" -Maddie asked her sarcastically. –"You're smart, but you really do need help with your equations." -she said, to which London giggled, as the other doorman opened the door for them.
Once inside, Maddie's eyes almost popped out of their sockets, as she looked at the entrance lobby décor. It was amazingly different from the neo-classic Stalin-era exterior, reminding her of the ostentation from the times of the Tsars. The walls were all painted in warm shades of red, salmon-pink, golden-yellow and emerald-green, describing ancient battle scenes. The tall ceiling was adorned with multiple chandeliers taken from a fairy tale. The furniture that adorned the hall was similar to the one displayed on the other Tipton hotels. But, if there was one thing that gave the hall that distinct feeling of wonder the Tipton hotels gave to their guests when entering, it would be the magnificent fountain on its centre. Made out of an obsidian-blue stone, adorned with precious gems of other colours, like aquamarines, peridots, ambers and amethysts, the fountain caught a person's eye immediately thanks to the sculpture of a Fabergé egg that laid on top of it. An amazingly beautiful statue that bonded the place together.
"You like it?" -London asked her, since it was the first time Maddie entered this Tipton hotel.
"A little too ostentatious for my taste, but it's beautiful. It certainly screams Russia all over the place." -Maddie smiled.
"According to what Moseby told me, my dad wanted to decorate this lobby with old USSR motifs and such, so it would match the building's exterior, but the interior designers advised him not to do it, because of the whole dictatorship feeling and all, or whatever that means." -London told her.
Hearing that statement, Maddie giggled, thinking on how London could be so brilliant when it came to certain things, and so airheaded when it came to others. Still, thinking about it, that was one of the things she loved about the heiress; and the more she got to know her, the happier she was about being not only her best-friend, but also the girl she fell in love with.
"Maddie? Maddie? Maddie, are you there?" -London asked her.
"W-What?!" -Maddie answered, not realizing she had spaced out for a bit. –"Sorry, I guess my mind was on the Moon."
"Come on, let's check in." -London grabbed her by the wrist and gently pulled her along.
Stopping in front of the reception's desk, they waited for the desk clerk to finish talking to the person in front of them, before saying:
"Dobryj den', I would like to check-in, please." -London said.
"Do you have a reservation?"
"I don't think I need reservation, since my dad owns this hotel." -London sarcastically.
"Oh, Miss Tipton, forgive me, I didn't realize it was you."
"No kidding, buster." -she thought to herself. –"I expect that everything I requested for has been arranged?" -she asked, as their suitcases arrived.
"Yes, indeed. Your suite is ready for you and your friend." -the desk clerk said, as he signalled one of the bellhops to grab the suitcases. –"Is there anything else I can do?"
"As a matter of fact, there is. Could you send up a tray with several pastries and a teapot filled with cocoa? My friend Madeline and I really need a cup of it after the long flight from Boston." -London replied.
"Certainly, Miss Tipton. Oh, by the way, will you and your friend dine at the hotel tonight? If so, I can arrange for a reservation in one of our restaurants."
"Not tonight, no, but thanks for asking." -London said, as she and Maddie made their way to the elevator.
Arriving at the penthouse suite, London tipped the bellhop that brought their luggage, while Maddie got her first impression from the penthouse suite. This one was smaller than London's back in Boston, but it was still quite large. Its décor was clearly inspired by the turn of the 19th century monarchic style, with numerous golden motifs, both in the furniture and the walls. The living area was decorated in a style mimicking the 19th century palaces grand halls, complete with a beautiful fireplace. Still, what caught her eye there was the beautiful glass dome, which depicted the battle between two archangels, Michael and Lucifer, when the latter was banished into Hell. For once, her time attending Our lady of Perpetual Sorrow Catholic School was good for something; otherwise, she would not have identified the Biblical characters so easily.
Taking a seat on one of the couches, she heard London close the door. Turning her eyes to her, the blonde smiled wickedly at the heiress, who smiled back at her. Sating next to her, London cuddled with Maddie, before kissing her on the lips.
"You have no idea of how much I wanted to do that ever since we left Boston." -the heiress, said, as she played with Maddie's hair.
"I think I have a pretty good idea…" -Maddie said, as she kissed her back. –"... because I wanted to do the same since we boarded that jet of yours."
They stood there for a few minutes, just looking at each other. Both Maddie and London could not get enough of one another. Smiling, London broke the silence.
"Aren't you happy that I kidnapped you for this weekend."
"I'm on cloud nine, Princess." -Maddie answered. –"Although, my mom was incredibly angry with the fact that we had to skip school today."
"Don't worry. We'll buy her something nice and she'll forget all about it. And as for school, I paid Courtney and Mary-Kate 500 dollars each so they would do our homework for us, while we spend our time here shopping, kissing, cuddling… and fucking…" -London giggled, as she whispered the last part of the sentence.
"You naughty, naughty girl, you…" -Maddie giggled back, as she kissed her on her forehead. –"Still, I think the way Courtney worships you, she'd do it for free, and Mary-Kate would do the same, believe me."
"Maybe, but you know that the only person I let worship me, is you, because I also worship you." -London kept smiling at Maddie.
"Oh, stop it. All this sweet talk is going to give me cavities for sure." -Maddie laughed, when they heard someone knocking on the door. –"It must be that hot chocolate you ordered."
"Stay here, I'll go there." -London told her, as she got up and went to the door.
Sipping her hot cocoa, Maddie stood in front of one of the windows, admiring the view. Seen from above, Moscow as a city was incredibly beautiful, but it was also amazingly different from Boston. The snow-covered city made it look like a figurine in one of the snow-globes a person sees in souvenir shops next to major attractions or landmarks.
"It's pretty, isn't it?" -London said, as she wrapped her left arm around Maddie's waist.
"It is…It's quite different from Boston…" -Maddie said.
"But?" -London asked her.
"Oh, it's nothing…" –Maddie told her, as she took another sip from her cup.
"Nothing? Come on, Maddie, I know you. You got that strange look in your eyes; you know, the one when you're worrying about something? Come on, tell me." -the heiress insisted.
There was no way to hide anything from London, and Maddie knew it. The heiress had this sixth sense she would use to know when someone she knew was not well. Taking a small breath, she sighed and said:
"It's just… Russia is such a beautiful country, but it's also one of the worst places in the world for couples like us…"
"Like us? You mean…" -London said.
"Yeah, gay and lesbian couples. You read the news and just how people who are different are seen around these parts… I mean, back in our county isn't exactly peachy, but at least we don't have a President, who's against LGBT rights and such." -Maddie said, as she sipped her cocoa. –"In Paris we could disguise ourselves and flirt with one another, while holding hands… in here, not so much."
"It's fucked up, I know, Maddie." -London rested her head on the blonde's shoulder. –"Putin and every other asshole out there who's in charge of this country are all a bunch of homophobic bastards… still, I bet that none of them is a homophobe when they are watching two girls fucking each other in some porn movie."
"Got that right." -Maddie smirked.
"Still, there's nothing we can do about it, right now." -London told her, as she finished her hot cocoa. –"But look, we didn't come here to spend the weekend discussing these things. We came to have fun, to go shopping and to rest our brains, before having to study for all the tests that are coming, and I'm not going to let you get all depressed about something like that. Now, come on, give me a smile."
"You mean, one of my famous smiles?" -Maddie asked her, while making a neutral face.
"Yup, one of those smiles that brightens up the day of anyone who's with you." -London smiled, to which Maddie also smiled. –"Now there's the Maddie I love so much."
"Thanks, Princess. You always know what to tell me to cheer me up."
"Well, I learned from the best, Blondie." -London called Maddie by her nickname, planting a kiss on her sweet lips. –"Now, do you want me to tell you what I've got planned for us?"
"Sure, shoot." -Maddie chuckled.
"Okay. But first, let's seat right here." -London said, as she guided them to one of the couches in the living room. Taking a seat, she signalled the blonde to sit on her lap, which she did. –"Well, comfy?"
"Very." -Maddie smiled, as she planted a kiss on London's nose. –"Now, tell me, what do you have in mind?"
"Okay, let's see… I got a ton of things for us to do while in Moscow. Tonight, we're dining out. I made reservations in one of the fanciest restaurants in this city. Tomorrow, we're going to wake up early and we're going to spend our morning up on the Okhotony Ryad Shopping Centre, and then, we'll visit Tretyakov Drive, where you'll help me get something beautiful for the both of us to wear on our trip to the Bolshoi Theatre late at night. But before we go to the theatre, we'll spend our afternoon relaxing at one of the hotel's spas, being pampered."
"Sounds nice… but, what about Sunday?"
"Well, since we have to go back home on Sunday, I didn't really make any plans." -London told her. –"I know! Since we'll only leave around 9 pm, we'll have most of the day we can go sightseeing… you can choose where we'll go."
"Really?" -Maddie asked her, to which London waved her head. –"Well… truth is most of the things I wanted to visit if I ever had the chance to come to Russia are located in St. Petersburg, not Moscow."
"Then, let's make a promise right here, right now. Next time I have the need to do some shopping in Russia, I'll go shopping in St. Petersburg and I'm bringing you with me." -London stated, putting a smile on Maddie's face. –"But, isn't there something you really want to visit here? I bet Moscow has tons of places that a smart girl like you would want to visit."
"Well, there's the Pushkin Museum, the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, some of the subway stations… and the list goes on." -Maddie chuckled, realizing that there … and for the record, you're also smart, London."
"Maybe, but not as smart as you."
"How many times do I have to tell you? You're smart in your own way… heck, you're smarter than me in things I know I'll never be smart."
"Now who's cheering who up?" -London smiled, this last comment making the blonde burst into laughs.
The girls kept laughing together for a few more minutes. Smirking, Maddie asked London.
"You know what I'm in the mood right now?"
"Snuggling together and watching a movie, before going out to dinner?"
"That… and another cup of hot cocoa." -Maddie said.
"That can be arranged." –London said, as she got up and went to refill their cups. - "Disney or Dreamworks?"
"Disney!" -they both said in chorus.
"We're so in tune today." -London giggled.
"Oh, come on, you don't have to be in tune to pick Disney over Dreamworks, because Disney is way better than Dreamworks." -Maddie said deadpanned, joking about it.
"True... here's hot cocoa." -London said, as she sat next to Maddie and grabbed the television's remote control, which laid on the coffee table in front of them. –"Too bad we don't have any marshmallows to put on these."
"Oh, I see a marshmallow I could sink my teeth in, right now…" -Maddie told her.
"Where?" -London asked innocently.
"Right… in … front… of… me…" -Maddie replied in a low, sensual voice, always smiling. Grabbing London's cup from her hand, she placed both of the cups on the coffee table, before wrapping herself around the Asian-beauty, covering her face with kisses.
"Mmmm… (kiss)… Maddie… what about… (kiss)… the movie?"
"Quiet, London… (kiss)… marshmallows… (kiss)… don't talk back… (kiss)… and as for… (kiss)… the movie? Screw it." -Maddie told her, as she continued to kiss her.
"Yay, me… (kiss)… I'm a marshmallow…" -London said, as she let Maddie take her to cloud nine.