Letters from Russia (e-mail and otherwise; images and narration)
TO: F-list (Seniors, friends, Teal Dear, Weiss, Jarod, grads from last year)
FROM: Parker (versaceforever@gmail.com)
SUBJECT: Greetings from Moscow
Hey, guys. Hi from Red Square at just after sundown at 10pm local time. Or rather, Heelo, приветствия. No hot Greek or Russian guys to marry yet, Rory. But it is only my first week, so hey, plenty of time. Sorry I missed saying good-bye to some of you before I left, but see, I'm keeping in touch.
I'm at the Hard Rock Cafe, Moscow, yay free WiFi, with Andre, Olga, Sergei, and Mariska, after hitting Propaganda dance club and FAQ Cafe for drinks earlier. (They're waving to you. Wave back. (and see attached jpg) I hit the Pushkin Memorial, Red Square and Gorky Park this week when I had my afternoons off from business with my dad (the guy in the Pushkin photo is Mr. Valentin, Dad's trade partner here; decent guy, actually).
Today's Last Bell day in Russia-- they all just graduated high school, and are wandering around with sashes and little bells on and getting very, very drunk. I managed to talk the four I'm with now into doing a switch of clothing and some bumping and distracting of Sam-the-bodyguard, and I am free! Free! Freeeeeeeeeeee. Let's see Daddy say I need a bodyguard now, if Sam can't even track me in the middle of a bunch of high schoolers.
Bolshoi Ballet on Saturday, a trip to the Hermitage next week, and oh yes, they won't let me carry a gun. How much does that suck? You'd think I'd shoot someone or something.
Missing you guys, hoping nothing bites you, be it gremlins or mosquitos or anything larger,
Parker
TO: Isabel, Zero, Xander, Anders, Jack wherever he is, Bridge, Jarod, Weiss, River, Angel
FROM: Parker (versaceforever@gmail.com)
SUBJECT: Wish you were here
I think I'm getting reverse culture shock. Is that possible? To miss thinking there's going to be an invasion, or that people will believe me if I talk about magic or advanced science, so much that I want to go back to that Island? Gah. I forgot I had to go back to a world without vampires or aliens or anything interesting, and it's making it hard to take what's happening around me as seriously as I should. Everyone smokes, too, do you know how hard it is not to light up here? And they took my gun, damnit!
I'm fairly certain Daddy and the Centre are trying to screw over the Russians, huge surprise. Mr. Valentin isn't making it easy for them, but the Moscow branch of the company has really done their homework, and while I can't put my finger on what's up, Daddy's just too pleased for this to be a straight deal (natural gas reserves being opened outside the Ukraine, first rights to our Moscow branch). Not exactly the easiest thing, keeping my mouth shut about that.
Although Anton's worse. Remember last summer, Mr. Valentin said he wanted to introduce me to his nephew? I was hoping for a Russian Ralph Fiennes. Instead, I get a Russian Broots. No, he's worse than Broots. Broots isn't obnoxious, just geeky as all hell. This guy acts like we're engaged, keeps glaring at any other guys at the luncheons I've been forced into, and got his uncle to invite me and Daddy to the Bolshoi with them. I may push him over a balcony, if he keeps this up. Grrr. Where are the hot brooding Russians, hunh? I think this is why Daddy won't let me have my gun back.
I'm lonely for you guys, but I'm trying not to be. New friends made today (see previous e-mail) who are taking me to the British Council Library next week. So hopefully I won't feel so... alien, sometime soon.
So? How are the new crazy teachers? Anyone already gone home in their first week? How did the date with Steve-Peter go, Isabel? Anyone got any good ideas of how to get this to Jack? Did Jaye already get to L.A., Angel? (And did you buy her a bulletproof vest yet?)
Dos vidanya, and I'm calling and IM'ing you guys this week, so tell me when is good--
Parker
TO: Jarod
FROM: Parker
RE: *encrypted*
You have to get here sometime. Seriously. These people have the same sense of humor you have. Not so surprising, when you think about it.
Nothing new on various fronts, but I wanted to check this encryption and e-mail in case anything comes up and I need to pass it along. I'm keeping use of this to internet cafes and not my laptop; there's no reason for anyone to run a check on my software, but better safe than sorry.
Miss you, hope you're well, stay safe, drink a decent Diet Coke for me...
Parker
TO: Angelo
FROM: Parker
SUBJECT: *encrypted*
CANDY!
Coming at you from Moscow. Also, any info on Anton Valentin, Vladimir Valentin, the Centre branch in Moscow, and Daddy's latest deal would be great.
Send me a photo of Esme. I want to see that she's okay.
Tell Sydney I said hi.
Annoy a security guard for me!
*Pop-Tarts* Pixie Stix * Coco-Puffs * Cracker Jack
Parker
[OOC: If you're not named in the list of follow-up e-mail recipients, you didn't get those, but if you're a friend of Parker's and you're at all in the first group of email recipients, you got that one. Feel free to reply. ]
FROM: Parker (versaceforever@gmail.com)
SUBJECT: Greetings from Moscow
Hey, guys. Hi from Red Square at just after sundown at 10pm local time. Or rather, Heelo, приветствия. No hot Greek or Russian guys to marry yet, Rory. But it is only my first week, so hey, plenty of time. Sorry I missed saying good-bye to some of you before I left, but see, I'm keeping in touch.
I'm at the Hard Rock Cafe, Moscow, yay free WiFi, with Andre, Olga, Sergei, and Mariska, after hitting Propaganda dance club and FAQ Cafe for drinks earlier. (They're waving to you. Wave back. (and see attached jpg) I hit the Pushkin Memorial, Red Square and Gorky Park this week when I had my afternoons off from business with my dad (the guy in the Pushkin photo is Mr. Valentin, Dad's trade partner here; decent guy, actually).
Today's Last Bell day in Russia-- they all just graduated high school, and are wandering around with sashes and little bells on and getting very, very drunk. I managed to talk the four I'm with now into doing a switch of clothing and some bumping and distracting of Sam-the-bodyguard, and I am free! Free! Freeeeeeeeeeee. Let's see Daddy say I need a bodyguard now, if Sam can't even track me in the middle of a bunch of high schoolers.
Bolshoi Ballet on Saturday, a trip to the Hermitage next week, and oh yes, they won't let me carry a gun. How much does that suck? You'd think I'd shoot someone or something.
Missing you guys, hoping nothing bites you, be it gremlins or mosquitos or anything larger,
Parker
TO: Isabel, Zero, Xander, Anders, Jack wherever he is, Bridge, Jarod, Weiss, River, Angel
FROM: Parker (versaceforever@gmail.com)
SUBJECT: Wish you were here
I think I'm getting reverse culture shock. Is that possible? To miss thinking there's going to be an invasion, or that people will believe me if I talk about magic or advanced science, so much that I want to go back to that Island? Gah. I forgot I had to go back to a world without vampires or aliens or anything interesting, and it's making it hard to take what's happening around me as seriously as I should. Everyone smokes, too, do you know how hard it is not to light up here? And they took my gun, damnit!
I'm fairly certain Daddy and the Centre are trying to screw over the Russians, huge surprise. Mr. Valentin isn't making it easy for them, but the Moscow branch of the company has really done their homework, and while I can't put my finger on what's up, Daddy's just too pleased for this to be a straight deal (natural gas reserves being opened outside the Ukraine, first rights to our Moscow branch). Not exactly the easiest thing, keeping my mouth shut about that.
Although Anton's worse. Remember last summer, Mr. Valentin said he wanted to introduce me to his nephew? I was hoping for a Russian Ralph Fiennes. Instead, I get a Russian Broots. No, he's worse than Broots. Broots isn't obnoxious, just geeky as all hell. This guy acts like we're engaged, keeps glaring at any other guys at the luncheons I've been forced into, and got his uncle to invite me and Daddy to the Bolshoi with them. I may push him over a balcony, if he keeps this up. Grrr. Where are the hot brooding Russians, hunh? I think this is why Daddy won't let me have my gun back.
I'm lonely for you guys, but I'm trying not to be. New friends made today (see previous e-mail) who are taking me to the British Council Library next week. So hopefully I won't feel so... alien, sometime soon.
So? How are the new crazy teachers? Anyone already gone home in their first week? How did the date with Steve-Peter go, Isabel? Anyone got any good ideas of how to get this to Jack? Did Jaye already get to L.A., Angel? (And did you buy her a bulletproof vest yet?)
Dos vidanya, and I'm calling and IM'ing you guys this week, so tell me when is good--
Parker
TO: Jarod
FROM: Parker
RE: *encrypted*
You have to get here sometime. Seriously. These people have the same sense of humor you have. Not so surprising, when you think about it.
Nothing new on various fronts, but I wanted to check this encryption and e-mail in case anything comes up and I need to pass it along. I'm keeping use of this to internet cafes and not my laptop; there's no reason for anyone to run a check on my software, but better safe than sorry.
Miss you, hope you're well, stay safe, drink a decent Diet Coke for me...
Parker
TO: Angelo
FROM: Parker
SUBJECT: *encrypted*
CANDY!
Coming at you from Moscow. Also, any info on Anton Valentin, Vladimir Valentin, the Centre branch in Moscow, and Daddy's latest deal would be great.
Send me a photo of Esme. I want to see that she's okay.
Tell Sydney I said hi.
Annoy a security guard for me!
*Pop-Tarts* Pixie Stix * Coco-Puffs * Cracker Jack
Parker
[OOC: If you're not named in the list of follow-up e-mail recipients, you didn't get those, but if you're a friend of Parker's and you're at all in the first group of email recipients, you got that one. Feel free to reply. ]