* * *
By the time the Red Arrow Express came to a stop at Moscow's central train station, Naomi and company were MORE than ready to get off. It wasn't that the train ride was unpleasant, or even boring. On the contrary, it was very interesting and the view was terrific. But being cooped up with Nick for three days was no fun for anybody, especially when he couldn't blow off some steam by running. Having super speed on a train didn't do any good. Naomi smiled when she remembered the conductor's almost relived expression when Nick got off the train.
"Welcome to Moskva!" Aeryn said happily. "You showed me your home city, now I'll show you mine."
"Magnificent." Naomi said in awe as she gazed on the spires of St. Basil's Cathedral.
"Stunning." Lara agreed as she looked at Red Square.
"Wonderful." Thomas concurred, looking at the Kremlin.
"Freezing." Nick said, shivering. "Is there any part of this country that isn't either frying or freezing?"
"Nick!" Naomi reprimanded. "Can't you think of anything besides your own petty complaints?" Seeing an argument brewing, Lara decided to head it off.
"Say what do you generally do to relax, Aeryn?" Seeing Lara's intention, Aeryn quickly nodded and said,
"Many things; I read, I take walks, I go to movies, museums, theaters...." She trailed off, trying to think of something to do. She snapped her fingers. "Got it!"
"What?" Thomas asked.
"There's a public recreation center in Gorky Park that's rather enjoyable. There's swimming, saunas, food, massages, games--"
"I don't know Aeryn." Naomi said. "It sounds a bit--"
"It's free."
"--Expensive." Naomi finished lamely. "How can something like that be free?" Aeryn just smiled.
"Once capitalism has been eliminated in your country, you will find out for yourself."
"Riiiiight." Naomi nodded, mentally rolling her eyes. Sometimes, she thought to herself, Aeryn just takes her ideology a bit TOO seriously.
"At any rate," Aeryn continued. "This is one of the many government owned public centers designed as a place for workers and others to come and relax on weekends and after-hours. The same also applies to tourists. If you'll follow me-" Naomi looked to her friends. Lara smiled and nodded in consent. Within moments, the rest of their party were also voicing their agreement to Aeryn's suggestion.
"Okay then," Naomi said to Aeryn. "Which way?"
"Follow me. It isn't far." As she led them through the winding streets of Moscow, Aeryn couldn't help but notice a distracted look on Lara-Su's face. Aeryn shrugged it off, probably just admiring the sights, she told herself. About five minutes later, she came to a stop in front of a building. "Here we are."
"What's that weird sign say?" Nick asked her.
"It's in Cyrillic." Aeryn said, refraining from adding you dolt. "It says 'Moscow Public Recreational Center and Health Spa' it's open so let's go in."
When they walked in they found the place was, if anything, better than Aeryn described. Soft music wafted in the air as they walked into the lounge. From there they could see several hallways, each with different labels. One said Food Court, another Game Room, Pool, Sauna, and more. Well, actually the labels were all in Russian, so Aeryn had to translate.
"What do you want to do?" Aeryn asked them.
"I think I'm going to check out the Game Room." Nick said. "Maybe they have foosball or ping pong."
"I'll go too." Thomas said.
"I think I'll pass on the games right now. I think a nice sauna would be divine." Lara piped up.
"I'm up for a swim." Naomi said. "What about you two? Aeryn? Christopher?"
"I think I'll join you." Aeryn answered.
"Make that, WE'LL join you." Christopher tacked on.
"I'll loan you a bathing suit." Aeryn told Naomi. "Since I'm a frequent visitor, they have some lockers where I keep my stuff."
"Suit yourselves." Nick told them. "Not my business if you want to freeze your tails off."
"The pool here is heated." Aeryn informed him. To Naomi and Christopher she said, "Come on." As the group split up, Aeryn took Naomi and Christopher to the changing areas. After they put on their bathing suits and placed their clothing in a locker, they headed for the pool.
Christopher gingerly tested the water with his foot. "It feels great." He told Naomi and Aeryn. Naomi grinned. "Glad to hear it. As a matter of fact, why don't you go in FIRST!" She shouted as she pushed him in. The poor kangaroo fell in with a resounding "SPLASH!" and came up soaked and sputtering. Naomi was laughing at his waterlogged expression so hard that she thought her sides would split. Her laughter was abruptly cut off when Christopher grabbed her arm and dragged her in. Now it was her turn to look like a drowned kangaroo, or hedgehog as the case may be. Aeryn joined them a minute later and before long, the three of them were simply splashing about, having fun and enjoying the pool.
"This feels great!" Naomi exclaimed at one point. "When I think of Moscow and Russiya, swimming in a heated pool is NOT the first thing that comes to mind."
"I can't say I blame you." Aeryn agreed. "You probably though skiing, sledding, and ice skating. Right?"
"That and the whole 'take over the world' thing, yeah." Naomi agreed. Aeryn practically shook with laughter.
"I like your sense of humor." She said. "Your humor is as dry as the Arabian desert."
"Good thing I'm in this pool then, huh?"
"Yes, I suppose so." She looked around. "Where's Christopher?" Aeryn asked. Naomi just shrugged.
"Right behind you." Came a voice from behind. Naomi twirled around to find Christopher's head bobbing in the water. "You called?"
"Just wanted to make sure you didn't get yourself in any trouble." Aeryn said good naturedly as she shoved his head underwater.
"Thanks a lot." He muttered when his head broke the surface of the water again. "Remind me to stick your head in the sink when we go home." Aeryn snorted.
"I would like to see you try."
"So would I." He muttered to himself.
"So what exactly do you guys--sorry, COMRADES--have planned for us?" Naomi asked them, highly amused by their playful antics. Aeryn licked her lips in concentration.
"I guess that mostly depends on what you want to do. I DID want to show you around Moscow, take you to some of our more historic and impressive areas and take you to 'the sites.' My school, theaters, musical performances, museums and galleries. But its all up to what you want to do."
"I think that sounds cool." Naomi said. "You were right about this place, no doubt about it."
"Spaesbo." Aeryn acknowledged politely.
"What happens after we leave here?" Naomi asked.
"Since it will probably be getting late, I thought we should go to the Kremlin Apartments. That's where most of the Soviet leadership lives." Aeryn explained, seeing Naomi's incomprehension. "Christopher's parents and mine live there. You and Lara will stay with me in my room and Christopher will either have Thomas and Nick at his apartment or will sleep in our apartment's living room. We haven't decided yet."
"My mother thinks she may have a late meeting at home so we'll all probably end up in Aeryn's apartment." Christopher explained. "It'll be crowded, but they do have a guest room the guys can use."
"That's good." Naomi said. "I should warn you though, Nick snores."
"So does my father." Aeryn grinned. "The noise is...disturbing."
"No kidding." Christopher agreed. "It seems like almost every time I sleep over there, it's--"
"You've spent the night at Aeryn's, Chris?" Naomi exclaimed, mocking horror. "Doing what, I wonder?" She teased. "How scandalous!"
Christopher blushed and tried hiding it by lowering his face in the water. Aeryn for her part, didn't seem to get it. Naomi laughed as Chris squirmed in the water, understanding why Lara found this so much fun. Deciding to let him off the hook, she turned back to the still puzzled Aeryn.
"What do you usually have for dinner?" Naomi asked. "Borscht?" She said, naming the only Russian dish she knew. Aeryn shrugged.
"This and that. I eat one thing, my father eats another, and my mother eats something else."
"Fast-food?" Naomi guessed.
"No," Aeryn replied. "Fast-food is a concept that isn't that popular in the Soviet Republics. I mean, we aren't in so much of a hurry that we can't just sit down to enjoy a decent meal. We have restaurants and delicatessens, but fast-food? No." She shook her head. "No offense, but I can't conceive ANY society that is so obsessed with time that they have to grab and eat substandard food pumped full of artificial flavors and poisons that are going to end up killing you by cholesterol. Sorry if I said anything offensive." Aeryn said after her rant.
"No problem. I guess you'll just have to surprise me."
"Be careful what you wish for." Aeryn admonished her. "In the Soviet Union, surprises lurk around every corner. On top of that, no one here is exactly what they seem."
"Not even you?" Naomi said it as a joke, but Aeryn's response was anything but humorous.
"Especially me."
* * *
By the time the Red Arrow Express came to a stop at Moscow's central train station, Naomi and company were MORE than ready to get off. It wasn't that the train ride was unpleasant, or even boring. On the contrary, it was very interesting and the view was terrific. But being cooped up with Nick for three days was no fun for anybody, especially when he couldn't blow off some steam by running. Having super speed on a train didn't do any good. Naomi smiled when she remembered the conductor's almost relived expression when Nick got off the train.
"Welcome to Moskva!" Aeryn said happily. "You showed me your home city, now I'll show you mine."
"Magnificent." Naomi said in awe as she gazed on the spires of St. Basil's Cathedral.
"Stunning." Lara agreed as she looked at Red Square.
"Wonderful." Thomas concurred, looking at the Kremlin.
"Freezing." Nick said, shivering. "Is there any part of this country that isn't either frying or freezing?"
"Nick!" Naomi reprimanded. "Can't you think of anything besides your own petty complaints?" Seeing an argument brewing, Lara decided to head it off.
"Say what do you generally do to relax, Aeryn?" Seeing Lara's intention, Aeryn quickly nodded and said,
"Many things; I read, I take walks, I go to movies, museums, theaters...." She trailed off, trying to think of something to do. She snapped her fingers. "Got it!"
"What?" Thomas asked.
"There's a public recreation center in Gorky Park that's rather enjoyable. There's swimming, saunas, food, massages, games--"
"I don't know Aeryn." Naomi said. "It sounds a bit--"
"It's free."
"--Expensive." Naomi finished lamely. "How can something like that be free?" Aeryn just smiled.
"Once capitalism has been eliminated in your country, you will find out for yourself."
"Riiiiight." Naomi nodded, mentally rolling her eyes. Sometimes, she thought to herself, Aeryn just takes her ideology a bit TOO seriously.
"At any rate," Aeryn continued. "This is one of the many government owned public centers designed as a place for workers and others to come and relax on weekends and after-hours. The same also applies to tourists. If you'll follow me-" Naomi looked to her friends. Lara smiled and nodded in consent. Within moments, the rest of their party were also voicing their agreement to Aeryn's suggestion.
"Okay then," Naomi said to Aeryn. "Which way?"
"Follow me. It isn't far." As she led them through the winding streets of Moscow, Aeryn couldn't help but notice a distracted look on Lara-Su's face. Aeryn shrugged it off, probably just admiring the sights, she told herself. About five minutes later, she came to a stop in front of a building. "Here we are."
"What's that weird sign say?" Nick asked her.
"It's in Cyrillic." Aeryn said, refraining from adding you dolt. "It says 'Moscow Public Recreational Center and Health Spa' it's open so let's go in."
When they walked in they found the place was, if anything, better than Aeryn described. Soft music wafted in the air as they walked into the lounge. From there they could see several hallways, each with different labels. One said Food Court, another Game Room, Pool, Sauna, and more. Well, actually the labels were all in Russian, so Aeryn had to translate.
"What do you want to do?" Aeryn asked them.
"I think I'm going to check out the Game Room." Nick said. "Maybe they have foosball or ping pong."
"I'll go too." Thomas said.
"I think I'll pass on the games right now. I think a nice sauna would be divine." Lara piped up.
"I'm up for a swim." Naomi said. "What about you two? Aeryn? Christopher?"
"I think I'll join you." Aeryn answered.
"Make that, WE'LL join you." Christopher tacked on.
"I'll loan you a bathing suit." Aeryn told Naomi. "Since I'm a frequent visitor, they have some lockers where I keep my stuff."
"Suit yourselves." Nick told them. "Not my business if you want to freeze your tails off."
"The pool here is heated." Aeryn informed him. To Naomi and Christopher she said, "Come on." As the group split up, Aeryn took Naomi and Christopher to the changing areas. After they put on their bathing suits and placed their clothing in a locker, they headed for the pool.
Christopher gingerly tested the water with his foot. "It feels great." He told Naomi and Aeryn. Naomi grinned. "Glad to hear it. As a matter of fact, why don't you go in FIRST!" She shouted as she pushed him in. The poor kangaroo fell in with a resounding "SPLASH!" and came up soaked and sputtering. Naomi was laughing at his waterlogged expression so hard that she thought her sides would split. Her laughter was abruptly cut off when Christopher grabbed her arm and dragged her in. Now it was her turn to look like a drowned kangaroo, or hedgehog as the case may be. Aeryn joined them a minute later and before long, the three of them were simply splashing about, having fun and enjoying the pool.
"This feels great!" Naomi exclaimed at one point. "When I think of Moscow and Russiya, swimming in a heated pool is NOT the first thing that comes to mind."
"I can't say I blame you." Aeryn agreed. "You probably though skiing, sledding, and ice skating. Right?"
"That and the whole 'take over the world' thing, yeah." Naomi agreed. Aeryn practically shook with laughter.
"I like your sense of humor." She said. "Your humor is as dry as the Arabian desert."
"Good thing I'm in this pool then, huh?"
"Yes, I suppose so." She looked around. "Where's Christopher?" Aeryn asked. Naomi just shrugged.
"Right behind you." Came a voice from behind. Naomi twirled around to find Christopher's head bobbing in the water. "You called?"
"Just wanted to make sure you didn't get yourself in any trouble." Aeryn said good naturedly as she shoved his head underwater.
"Thanks a lot." He muttered when his head broke the surface of the water again. "Remind me to stick your head in the sink when we go home." Aeryn snorted.
"I would like to see you try."
"So would I." He muttered to himself.
"So what exactly do you guys--sorry, COMRADES--have planned for us?" Naomi asked them, highly amused by their playful antics. Aeryn licked her lips in concentration.
"I guess that mostly depends on what you want to do. I DID want to show you around Moscow, take you to some of our more historic and impressive areas and take you to 'the sites.' My school, theaters, musical performances, museums and galleries. But its all up to what you want to do."
"I think that sounds cool." Naomi said. "You were right about this place, no doubt about it."
"Spaesbo." Aeryn acknowledged politely.
"What happens after we leave here?" Naomi asked.
"Since it will probably be getting late, I thought we should go to the Kremlin Apartments. That's where most of the Soviet leadership lives." Aeryn explained, seeing Naomi's incomprehension. "Christopher's parents and mine live there. You and Lara will stay with me in my room and Christopher will either have Thomas and Nick at his apartment or will sleep in our apartment's living room. We haven't decided yet."
"My mother thinks she may have a late meeting at home so we'll all probably end up in Aeryn's apartment." Christopher explained. "It'll be crowded, but they do have a guest room the guys can use."
"That's good." Naomi said. "I should warn you though, Nick snores."
"So does my father." Aeryn grinned. "The noise is...disturbing."
"No kidding." Christopher agreed. "It seems like almost every time I sleep over there, it's--"
"You've spent the night at Aeryn's, Chris?" Naomi exclaimed, mocking horror. "Doing what, I wonder?" She teased. "How scandalous!"
Christopher blushed and tried hiding it by lowering his face in the water. Aeryn for her part, didn't seem to get it. Naomi laughed as Chris squirmed in the water, understanding why Lara found this so much fun. Deciding to let him off the hook, she turned back to the still puzzled Aeryn.
"What do you usually have for dinner?" Naomi asked. "Borscht?" She said, naming the only Russian dish she knew. Aeryn shrugged.
"This and that. I eat one thing, my father eats another, and my mother eats something else."
"Fast-food?" Naomi guessed.
"No," Aeryn replied. "Fast-food is a concept that isn't that popular in the Soviet Republics. I mean, we aren't in so much of a hurry that we can't just sit down to enjoy a decent meal. We have restaurants and delicatessens, but fast-food? No." She shook her head. "No offense, but I can't conceive ANY society that is so obsessed with time that they have to grab and eat substandard food pumped full of artificial flavors and poisons that are going to end up killing you by cholesterol. Sorry if I said anything offensive." Aeryn said after her rant.
"No problem. I guess you'll just have to surprise me."
"Be careful what you wish for." Aeryn admonished her. "In the Soviet Union, surprises lurk around every corner. On top of that, no one here is exactly what they seem."
"Not even you?" Naomi said it as a joke, but Aeryn's response was anything but humorous.
"Especially me."
* * *