The Life and Times of Vlad Masters

America, the land of opportunity. A place where everyone was supposed to be treated fairly and equally. A nation entirely made up of people from all around the world.

At least that what America was supposed to be. There were always going to be people contaminated with the disease of prejudice and the highest form of ignorance known as racism.

There would also be people just consumed with hatred for anyone or anything that wasn't their definition of 'normal and correct." As hard as it is to accept the truth of the matter? Sometimes their minds can't be changed or find enlightenment.

Therefore, you take the good with the bad and hope good prevailed. That people did become enlightened and didn't give into these deadly diseases. One could only expect that the words of Martin Luther King and his "I have a dream" speech would be remembered and that people learned to be accepting and open-minded.

U.S. immigration law is complex, and there is much confusion as to how it works. Immigration law in the United States has been built upon the following principles: the reunification of families, admitting immigrants with skills that are valuable to the U.S. economy, protecting refugees, and promoting diversity. This fact sheet provides necessary information about how the U.S. legal immigration system is designed and functions.

The body of law governing the current immigration policy is called The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The INA allows the United States to grant up to 675,000 permanent immigrant visas each year across various visa categories. On top of those 675,000 visas, the INA sets no limit on the annual admission of U.S. citizens' spouses, parents, and children under the age of 21.

Also, each year the president is required to consult with Congress and set an annual number of refugees to be admitted to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Process.

Once a person obtains an immigrant visa and comes to the United States, they become a lawful permanent resident (LPR). In some circumstances, non-citizens already inside the United States can obtain LPR status through a process known as "adjustment of status." Lawful permanent residents are foreign nationals who are permitted to work and live lawfully and permanently in the United States. LPRs are eligible to apply for nearly all jobs (i.e., jobs not legitimately restricted to U.S. citizens) and can remain in the country permanently, even if they are unemployed. After residing in the United States for five years (or three years in some circumstances), LPRs are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship. It is impossible to apply for citizenship through the normal process without first becoming an LPR. Each year the United States also admits a variety of non-citizens temporarily. Such "non-immigrant" visas are granted to everyone from tourists to foreign students to temporary workers permitted to remain in the U.S. for years. While certain employment-based visas are subject to annual caps, other non-immigrant visas (including tourist and student visas) have no numerical limits. They can be granted to anyone who satisfies the criteria for obtaining the visa.

To qualify for U.S. citizenship through naturalization, an individual must have had LPR status (a green card) for at least five years (or three years if he or she obtained the green card through a U.S.-citizen spouse or the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA).

There are other exceptions, including, but not limited to, members of the U.S. military who serve in a time of war or declared hostilities. Applicants for U.S. citizenship must be at least 18-years-old, demonstrate continuous residency, demonstrate "good moral character," pass English and U.S. history and civics exams (with certain exceptions), and pay an application fee, among other requirements.

As it was right now, a young newlywed Russian couple was trying to get through a mountain of paperwork with government officials to become citizens of the USA.

A middle-aged bald man was going over all the documents the couple gave them. Looking up, he began asking them to clarify if this was accurate.

The tall and majestic looking woman who had the poise of a dancer ice blue eyes glanced nervously at him. Her hair was as dark as a moonless sky in intricate braids and rolls. Around her neck was an expensive-looking necklace of rubies, pearls, and sapphires. She seemed to favor the color pink as she entirely dressed in that color. She clarified her name was Anastasia Alexandra Noskov Masters was born on June 18. She was from Saint Petersburg and was currently 26 years old. She knew how to speak both English and Russian correctly. She had a teaching degree. She never been in trouble with the law and was in perfect health.

Her husband, Igor Nicholas Masters, had also been born and raised in Saint Petersburg. His birthday was on June 28. He also knew how to speak both English and Russian correctly. He had no health problems and no criminal history. He had a master's in business and mathematics. And as the officers could see, he matched his I.D. Having short light brown hair with a well-trimmed beard and dark chocolate-brown eyes. As they continue to wait for everything to finish being processed by the American government, their thoughts drifted to the homeland they'd left behind.

Modern culture in Russia not so different from Europe. Everyone could at least make roast eggs and spaghetti. Cafe and fast food weren't everyday stuff. Most people loved pork and chicken, but not everyone likes to eat fish.

A majority of the population had their own garden plot where they grew vegetables, potatoes, cabbage, and tomatoes. This is why there was a great love of homemade preserves: pickles, jam, sauerkraut. Many go to the forest for mushrooms and berries.

Their most common food? It consisted of meat dumplings, borscht, pancakes, pies, salads, and various cereals like buckwheat, rice, and barley, with vegetables with milk and jam.

Anastasia's favorite dishes were fried potatoes, eggs, and recipes with mushrooms. During the summertime, they'd drink compotes, kvass, and kefir, sometimes soda during the winter they had hot tea with lemon and jam, cocoa or herbal decorations.

Many foreigners are surprised at how much attention people pay to clothes and makeup. Young women will never go out to take out the garbage in home clothes. She will dress and make up for this.

The older generation is more indifferent about such stuff, mostly married women. Not every woman knows how to apply makeup correctly. Which the result can sometimes look silly.

Simple hairstyles, braids, tails, bunches, sometimes haircuts. A lot of girls with long hair. Guys, on the contrary, mostly cut their hair is as short as possible. Not many men wear beards, but light unshaven is a common occurrence. Girls often dye their hair, men seldom.

Everyone dressing pretty standard. But winters are cold, so even in the south, everyone has at least a couple of knitted sweaters. In Siberia, without a warm coat with a hat, you can't survive, although many girls manage to wear a short skirt with kopron tights at -30 degrees.

Women, regardless of age, prefer high heels. A lot of girls walk on stilettos or sneakers. Men prefer sneakers or leather shoes.

They had many churches, but the younger generation is not particularly religious. There are many shopping centers, many foreign cafes, and eateries such as McDonald's, KFC, and so on. There were countless parks and green squares. A lot of sculptures and monuments. A lot of museums and theaters.

In villages, things are much worse. Sometimes there is no water and electricity, as well as work. Many communities became abandoned because of this. Young people move closer to the cities.

It's not customary to just smile at passers-by and come up to talk. Many people swear and talk rudely. This is not out of a desire to offend. People often get tired and stuck in their thoughts and problems. But for the sake of family and friends, they're ready for much.

Some laws are dumb. A person cannot defend themselves. Because if they injure or kill the attacker, they will put in jail the one who was attacked.

Even worse, if someone else comes to rescue you. He is 100% in danger. So most people will either try to bypass or call the police, instead of immediate help.

"No, corpse, no case" is all that we get if someone threatens to kill us. There were several cases when relatives of judges hit children by a car and got nothing for it. So yeah, the legal system in the deep ass.

At last, they'd gotten through everything and were allowed to leave the Department of Immigration. Yes, it would take a few years to become proper citizens of America, but for now, they're allowed to live in the country while awaiting their green cards and eventually citizenship.

The young couple settled down in the state of Wisconsin. The state was well-known for more then its water parks and people being zany cheeseheads for the state's football team.

There were plenty of commercial enterprise possibilities, an outstanding education system. Rather renowned for student activism. A fondness for badgers was also well noted. The people seemed friendly enough, and overall it seemed a safe place to raise a family.

The settled into a modest apartment in Madison, and Igor tried to start up his own enterprise while Anastasia stayed at home for the time being. She was anxious to get a teaching occupation secure for herself. However, there were no openings then.

Now given the fact they were brand-new to the country and just trying to get on their feet, it wasn't a surprise that some of their neighbors desired to lend them a hand.

Anastasia had no difficulty when it came to making friends or fitting in general. Her bubbly personality, benevolent smile, and is very much a social butterfly she had no problems fitting in.

People were drawn to her like a magnet. As soon as the beautiful woman walked into a room, everyone frowns instantly turned upside down, and everyone was having a good time.

Igor had a little more difficulty making friends. On the one hand, the man was hard-working and ambitious with the goals he wanted to achieve in life. But he couldn't help but brag and show-off to other people. Also, he had a nasty temper that you didn't want to be on the receiving end of.

Three years into both their marriage and shortly after become legalized citizens of America, the couple had another reason to be blessed. They're expecting their first child!

Of course, that meant for Anastasia; she would have to put her dreams of teaching on hold for a little longer. While it meant for Igor, he had to try and make his business more prosperous to provide for his family. He had started a small company that manufactured and distributed sanitation items throughout the city.

On July 17, Nayda Tatiana Masters was born weighing seven pounds and 13 ounces. Two years later, the couple welcomed their second child.

Vlad Alexei Masters on May 25, weighing eight pounds and 14 ounces.

At the moment, the little family was enjoying each other company as Anastasia tried to rock her restless son to sleep. He'd only been home from the hospital for a week. In that time, he'd never once slept through the night.

"Shush, it's okay. Nothing is going to hurt you. They're nothing to fear when I'm near," as she stood in the infant room, attempting to coax him to sleep.

"Can't you make that stupid thing shut up, Anastasia?! I've not got a decent night sleep in a week because you can't keep him quiet!" growled her husband, only further stressing the newborn out.

"Igor, please! He's only a week old, and he's a baby. They don't follow other people's schedules. They need attention and a lot of patience," as she hurried past him to make a bottle.

"Just get it to stop crying so I can get some sleep!" he snapped angrily as he slammed the door to their bedroom shut.

Anastasia sighed as she gave the bottle to her son. She didn't know what was wrong with her husband. He'd been more good nature when they had their daughter. Recently he seemed to be getting into more foul moods.

She was also starting to worry about other things. He was complaining he couldn't sleep at night because of the kids. But then why didn't he even get back from work till 2:00 in the morning?

Deciding to worry about it later, she just made sure her son was fed and got some sleep before checking on her daughter. Thankful little Nayda was sleeping as peaceful as Sleeping Beauty had been.

Four years later.

"Nayda? Hurry up, or your going to be late for school!" her mom called to her daughter as she finished getting breakfast ready.

The six-year-old came tearing into the room. It was clear the six-year-old took after her mother in looks other then getting her daddy's brunette hair.

The pretty little girl today was dressed in her favorite colors; teal and magenta. Today attire was a magenta jumper over a teal short-sleeved shirt.

Anastasia smiled with pride at her daughter because her daughter, even at age six, had shown some prodigy skills. The fact she could sew as well as she did was a testament to that.

But it was her daughter's abilities in fine art that genuinely stood out. All children spend time drawing and coloring. That was a normal part of childhood. But Nayda's skills were far behind a child her age.

You only had to glance at the walls of their apartment. Then you see all the beautiful sketches she had done. Also, she'd created all their figurines herself.

"Morning, Mommy! What did you make for breakfast today?" she asked in an excited voice.

"Go wash your hands first, sweetie. I've not quite finished breakfast yet. And please see what is keeping your brother. I've got a busy day ahead of me, and I need to get you both to preschool and school in the next half hour."

"Okay, Mommy!" as she dashed back to the bathroom to wash her hands and then called out for her brother. "Vlad! Where are you, little brother? Where are you little badger?" she called him by the nickname she gave him.

Her brother, even at age four, was a fan of what Americans called football. He liked watching both the guys in green and gold but also another football team whose name had badgers in them.

It's why for his birthday she'd sewn him a badger doll for his last birthday. He called the thing Packy. She just smiled as she got to her brother's room.

Like any ordinary four-year-old room, it was a mess, with clothes and toys all over the place. She could barely make out her brother under his bed.

"Vlad? Little badger? Time to come out of your burrow! Mommy making breakfast, and we got to school!" she called from the doorway, and there was a yelp.

Her little brother came crawling from underneath the bed with a small goose egg on his forehead. Even at his young age, he resembled his father, except he had his mother's coloring. Both his mother and sister agreed he be quite handsome by the time he grew up.

"Nayda! That hurt!" he pouted to his older sister. He was so adorable whenever he got mad. Unlike their scary father, Vlad was just so cute.

"Sorry, little brother," his big sister apologized as she kissed his forehead. " Now, what are you looking for? Have you lost Packy once again?" she asked kindly as he nodded.

"I can't go to school without him! He's my only friend! The other children are such meanies!" he exclaimed in much distress.

"I thought I was your best friend?" his sister asked in the mock offense to which her brother scoffed. "You're my sister. Brothers and sisters can't be best friends!"

"Brother and sister can be friends, Little Badger. Now let me help you find your little badger, so we don't stress Mommy out more."

It took a little over ten minutes but eventually unearthed the plush hiding in the dirty laundry. So they went to eat breakfast, which their mom had finished making.

"I do hope my little princess and prince have a good day. Please remember to be on your best behavior and listen to your teachers."

"We know, Mommy! Its as you told us. There is a lesson to learn in all of us, so please be kind to those around us!" Vlad recited his mommy lessons.

His mommy was so smart. She always knew the right words or how to help them understand things that most children their age wouldn't understand at all.

"You're such a clever boy, Vlad. I can't wait till you are in a proper school. With your sharp mind and thirst for learning? I know you'll be a star pupil like your sister!"

"I want to be smart like you, Mommy!" he clapped his hands with happiness at her praise. Vlad would do anything to make his mommy smile.

"I say if we both keep doing those workbooks together that Mommy got us, then I don't doubt we'll both be geniuses, little brother!" Nayda exclaimed with glee as she hugged him.

Once again, their father was more often than not around due to working long hours; he wasn't as involved in their lives. On the other hand? Their mother did have a teaching degree. As a result, she took her children's education seriously.

Therefore she was continually doing anything to encourage their minds and help them get a head-start in learning. So she began teaching them the basics before either had even gone to preschool.

After she dropped the kids off their school, which was preschool to fifth grade, she began to run her errands. The first thing she knew she had to do was go to the bank.

However, she got a bit of a nasty shock when she got the bank. They informed her that her husband's checks were bouncing. Not to mention he was overdrawn for the last few months.

Not understanding how their finances were in such dire straights, she requested all the bank papers and went to figure this out. Seeing how she couldn't do anything without money, she was forced to go home and look at their finances more carefully. What she found displeased her much.

She decided to confront her husband about it when he got home that night. After she made sure the children were in bed and fast asleep, she confronts her husband.

"Igor, we need to talk."

"Later. I just want to sleep."

"It cannot wait."

"Leave me alone, woman!"

"No, I won't! Avoiding or ignoring a problem doesn't solve it! It only delays the solution. And seeing how we could lose our home for failing to pay rent or have our power shut off, I suggested you come to the kitchen right now!"

Growling, he followed his wife to the kitchen, where she had everything nice and organized. "I couldn't get money at the bank today because your checks all bounced. And they told me we were overdrawn.

I checked with a few other places, and it turns out we owe some money. I don't understand how we could be in debt. So I want to know where the money is going and what is going on?"

"How dare you go through my personal papers and question me about money! That is not your concern!"

"If we don't have a roof over our head and the kids don't have food and clothes, it becomes my concern! So Igor tell me what happened to the money?

And if you lie or tell me you touched the children's trust fo so help me..."

"So help you what? Its my money. I can use it as I want!"

"What are you using it on then?!"

"That's none of your concern! I'm done talking about this!"

"Igor, please. Just talk to me. Is everything at work, okay? What's going on that we are missing money?"

Getting angry, he slapped his wife so hard she fell to the floor. "Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong! Its my job to make money. All you are supposed to do is your womanly duty!

Be a pretty but obedient housewife! That's all you are suitable for! Now get out my sight!"

Anastasia was left on the floor, crying for hours. She knew there be a massive bruise on her face the next morning. She wasn't sure what to do about her family or her growing concerns with money. But she do the best get could for both.

Three years later.

That first night was only the start of the abuse in the Masters's family. Igor only got more abusive. He was always in a bad mood, and he takes it out in different ways.

With his children, it was mostly left to verbal and emotionally abusing his children. It was his wife who took the physical abuse. She'd been trying for years to get help, but nothing she did work.

She'd gone to a battered woman shelter with her kids one time. He found them and dragged them back home in the middle of the night. She had tried to file a restraining order, but that didn't do any good because he didn't care what the police did.

But the worst part was the money was getting shorter as the abuse when on. Anastasia was at her wit's end. It wasn't till her son's seventh birthday party that it all came to a head.

She'd planned a fantastic party for her son. She had themed it after his favorite thing; the Green Bay Packers. She and Nayda both made all his favorite foods, a couple of pizzas and Nayda had made the most outstanding cake.

They couldn't wait for all their friends and their families to get there. Vlad was so happy it was his birthday, and he just knew this be the best birthday ever.

Unfortunately, the party never happened. Igor, who once again ignored the restraining order came and destroyed everything his wife had done. Then he beat her up till she was unrecognizable and was in the act of harming his children when suddenly help came.

One of their neighbors happened to be an off-duty cop. He and his wife and their children were coming to the party and arrived early. He quickly subdued Igor and booked him while his wife took Anastasia and the children to the hospital for treatment.

It was while they're in recovery that Anastasia finally learned the terrible truth about her husband. His business had been failing for years, which had led partly to the debt.

With his business failing and the demands of a family had made, Igor makes a terrible choice in how to deal with his stress.

He had gotten hooked on heroin. His habit only added to financial problems and abusive.

Anastasia at the moment only cared about her children's safety. Her friend told her that Igor would go to jail for quite some time with the drug and domestic charges on him. Not to mention his financial problems also would keep him jail for a long time.

Either way, she asked her friend to help her begin the divorce paperwork. It was a good thing in her mind that her neighbors were a cop and a lawyer.

In about three months, Anastasia had divorced her husband and legally changed her name back to her maiden name. After all that was settled, she relocated her family and finally got a job teaching philosophy at the renowned college.

As for her children? Being a good mother, she found them the best therapist to help them with their mental scars. She also continued to encourage them to follow their passions and never to neglect their education.

So by the time both finished high school, they'd graduated with honors. Nayda was going to school on a scholarship to study art. Her son had earned a scholarship from his good grades so he could attend college without worrying too much about money.

So it was time for college, and who knew what that be like for everyone involved? Only time would tell...

The Masters family

Anastasia Alexandra Masters: Voice- Meg Ryan, who played Anastasia in the animated movie. Birthday June 18, (Same birthday as the famous Anastasia) Job- Philosophy teacher at the college.

Nayda Tatiana Masters: Voice- Kristen Dunst- birthday July 17 (Date of Anastasia's death)

Igor Nicholas Masters-Voice John Cusack- Voiced Demetri in Anastasia- birthday June 28.

All the information on Russia was given to me by a friend on DA named LemmyKlain. She is from Russia, so she was perfect for getting information. She also has done my current Fanfic ID Avatar. My O.C. for Avatar Akiko.