Welcome, Kilian!

[Angela]

It had been an extremely rough year for Danil and Peter, but now things were really looking up. They signed up to be a host family again, and while their marriage still needed work, they were at least living together again and going to counseling regularly. Danil was also back on the ice, and Peter was now teaching twelfth grade English at the local high school. The kids thought it awesome to be studying under someone close to gheir age, though some of them knew that he was gay and really gave him a hard time about it. He wasn't taking any crap from them, though, and regularly scolded such students for their behavior.

Today was a special day in the Andropov house. They were welcoming another exchange student, this one a girl from Germany. They had taken the opportunity to give her the same treatment as they did for Kyo; throwing a party with everyone in attendance. However, one person would be absent from this party who was not absent at the previous one.

Danil and Andrei still had not spoken to each other. It was over a year now since their fight. Danil had no intention whatsoever of reconciling. As per Parker's advice, however, he did enjoy keeping his relationship with Lily and Iris still in tact, especially Iris.

Danil had not announced his future comeback to the world as of yet, but in the meantime, he had been training rigorously both on and off the ice in an effort to gain back his previous physical form. His therapy was going much better than it previously had. He was dealing with all of the horrors he had faced at Shotsky's hands, and was happy to notice his change in attitude. He would be more physically intimate with Peter by now had his husband not had the affair.

In general, things were going well. Danil and Peter were thrilled to open their home to another exchange student. The previous experience had been so rewarding. They still kept in touch with Kyo and his family.

Nic was still staying with them too. He was a great comfort and source of strength for Danil during his solitude. It brought them closer together, with Parker and Zhenya also helping him.

On his way home from practice, Danil went to the airport to meet Kilian. Peter was still at work, so he was the only one to get her. But things were ready at home for her. He asked an employee where the plane from Berlin was landing, then hurried over to meet it. He couldn't wait to see her. He had a nice big card with him, made by the whole Zemeckis, Andropov and Potemerenko families (with the exception of Andrei... whom Danil wished to exclude for obvious reasons). Each member had written a message or drawn a picture or printed one out, and signed their name on the inside. On the outside were the words "WELCOME, KILIAN!"

He stood at the gate, waiting to welcome the girl with an eager, loving smile.

[blitzy]

The flight from Berlin had been a rather uneventful one; most flights were, she had discovered, especially between countries that were allies and had no hostile nations near one another. The "interesting" flights were the ones that went near hostile countries - such as the flight that she had taken to South Korea during her time there. On their final approach to Seoul, she'd seen a flight of four North Korean MiGs, on full afterburner, streaking towards the big seven forty seven. The passenger jet changed course though, and the next things she saw were two flights of South Korean F-15's - one that headed to their side of the border, and the other began acting as their escort.

Similar things had happened when she'd gone to other countries, such as China. It was a nice country with friendly people and a rich culture, but their military was just about as high strung as North Korea's - acting like they had something to prove to the rest of the world when everyone knew that they were a big, powerful, first-world nation. She was glad thought to finally be coming to the country that her father had been born in though. It was strange, or so she thought, that she had dual citizenship with the United States and Germany due to the statusof her parents, but she had never been to the country before It was both exciting and... well, she wouldn't quite say scary... but it was certainly new to her.

Along with her was a young man, a couple years older than she was, that had been denoted as her 'handler' by her parents when it came to going to places outside of Germany. He was only her escort to the place and to the people that would be picking her up at the airport. His name was Ernst Eindekker, and he'd known her for the last couple of years. They were friends, and often when he started to try and show more bravado than he needed to, she cut him off at the knees by reminding him that she didn't need a bodyguard, and that she could whoop him in a fight if she ever had to.

However, for the moment, he was acting more as a pack mule - of his own accord of course. He also had the whole 'chivalry' thing down to an art.

"You know, Eindekker, you really don't have to carry those bags for me." She said with a soft giggle, looking at him carrying the two duffle bags full of hardcover books, and the bookbag on his back that was full of documents for her personal projects - most of which would arrive later after being shipped so she could continue her work on them.

"And what? Let a young lady heft such things around? Nonsense!" He smiled as they came to the gate.

"Einny." She said - and yes, it was her nickname for him, "I'm a big girl now." She snached on to the bags, away from him and hefted it up to hang from her shoulder. "I can carry my own bags."

"I just wish you'd learn to get a rolling one." He said flatly. Chivalrous he may be, but that didn't mean he really enjoyed toting them around. Rolling them would have been so much easier on him. "Hey, I think I see your new keeper." he snickered.

"Where?" She asked, looking to him.

"Try the guy with the big card over there that says 'welcome Kilian' on it." He laughed, thumbing toward the man.

"...Shush. I knew that." She said, and began heading toward said man with a friendly wave.

"Suuuure you did... Right..." Ernst snickered softly.

[Angela]

Danil grinned and strode over to her. "Ms. Kilian Qatar? Did I pronounce that right?" he asked. He held out his hand. "Danil Andropov. It's a pleasure." He gestured to the card. "From our family. Some of them wished to be here in person, but I'm afraid the airplane schedules conflicted with their work." He chuckled. "You will meet them later tonight, of course," he added. "May I help you with your things?" he asked, raising his eyebrows as he saw the man with her.

[blitzy]

"As a matter of fact, you did." Kilian replied with a smile, taking Danil's hand and shaking it. "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Andropov." She smiled politely, and then warmly as she looked to the card, nodding as he said that she would get to meet them later tonight. "I look forward to getting to thank them for their well wishes." She looked to Eindekker as Danil asked if he could take her things, "No, but thank you for the offer. I can carry them."

Eindekker shook his head as he handed her things over to her. "She's like a mule, my friend." He chuckled then. "She could be stuck under a car that fell off a couple jack stands, be asked if she was in need of help, and say 'oh no, I'm fine, I can feel the jack handle'." For that Kilian poked her tongue out at him.

"I'm not that bad." She paused, "Usually." That actually made Eindekker laugh.

"Well, my return flight leaves in about an hour, so I'm going to go find some food." He smiled at the two, then looked to Kilian. "Behave yourself, kiddo."

Kilian chuckled as he started to walk away. "Always." She replied, and flashed a V-sign with her fingers, watching as her old friend walked off to find the food court. Glancing up at the sign, she noted that he was going the wrong way, and grinned. "Oh dear... he's going the wrong way... again..." She shook her head and looked to Danil, "I'd tell him, but he really needs to learn to look at signs more often." She stretched a little. "So... what now?"

[Angela]

Danil laughed, watching the two interact. He assumed by their behavior that he was something of a friend. He didn't expect that, but it was nice that the girl had company on the way here.

"Well, now we can get the rest of your things and head home." He raised his eyebrows again. "You're sure your friend will be all right?" he asked.

[blitzy]

"Sounds like a plan to me." She smiled, then chuckled and nodded, "Oh yes, he'll be fine. Eindekker is my bodyguard back home, and my escort overseas, but he only ever stays long enough to drop me off and get a bite to eat. He's used to doing this sort of thing."

"So, how long have you lived here?" She asked curiously, adjusting one of the bags as she felt something jabbing her in the side. When she felt it jab her again, she realized what it was, and unzipped the bag - pulling out her black wooden bokken. A Japanese training sword, and it was actually from Japan. However, aside from the Japanese symbols, it also had her family crest imprinted on the hilt. Zipping the bag up, she slid the bokken through her belt and let it hang there, smiling as it felt right having it at her side.

[Angela]

"All right, I understand," Danil said with a nod. He had been briefed by a lot of people about security concerns. It was slightly unnerving, but he could handle it. He just hoped that her family would be all right with the way he lived.

"I have lived here since 2002," he replied as they strode to get the rest of her bags. He paused when she stopped, and blinked at the training sword. "Wow, a bokken," he said, impressed. "I had a Japanese exchange student a few years ago. We spoke about them a little," he explained. He chuckled as she just wore the bokken in her belt. She looked like she was a natural fit for it. "So, I take it you fence?" he asked.

[blitzy]

Kilian smiled softly, "I suspect my parents and their security personnel had a lot to say about security and such?" She commented off-hand and then looked to him from the corner of her eye, "Believe me, don't worry about it." She winked, "I'm my own bodyguard." She grinned. More often than not she got situations handled before someone else had to come 'rescue' her.

"Are you from the US or did you immigrate?" Even being from a foreign power, perhaps especially being from one, she knew the signifigance of that year. The belt had been tightened, so to speak. She smiled proudly when he recognized the training sword, and nodded as he asked if she fenced. "I do. I'm a student of the martial arts and philosophy, both eastern and western." She chuckled, "People associated with either tend to give me funny looks when they find out I know Chinese Wing Chun and French Savate, or Japanese Kenpo Katate and British Bare-knuckle Boxing." She chuckled, "I learned rapier and foil fencing in Germany and Spain, along with various other types of swordfighting. Rapier, longsword, short sword, saber, cutlass, katana, and various lesser-known sorts. Of course, martial arts is second in my list of importance. First is academic proficiency. After all, I have a company to inherit one day."

"Of course," She began as they headed for the baggage claim, "I could never hope to do the sorts of things I've heard you're capable of." She smiled to Danil, "I can hardly rollerskate, much less be so nimble on ice. You have a hell of a talent."

[Angela]

Danil chuckled. It was the first time he'd been "mistaken" for an American. It amused him. True, his accent was not so thick that one couldn't understand him at all, but it was still there. "I'm from St. Petersburg, Russia, originally," he told her. "I have my green card, but I do not intend to seek citizenship..." He sighed. "Russia was my home, my heritage, I just can't see myself giving it up. Besides, it takes so long to skate under another federation, and that would mean, possibly, never competing in the Olympics again. Call me crazy, but I want to make it to 2012." He shrugged. "You seem like an extremely well-traveled, well-cultured and well-learned young lady, Kilian. I'm very impressed," he continued, nodding at all of her accomplishments and interests. "It's very refreshing," he added. "As for your family, I'm just glad they're accepting of you living with a homosexual couple. It proves they are as open-minded as you." He smiled once more at her as they reached the area.

[blitzy]

Her mouth gaped ever so slightly when he said that he was from St Petersburg. She had to stop herself from letting out a squee. She'd been there before, and she loved the city. She'd actually spent one semester there ebfore transfering to a military school in Moscow. Oddly, it had been her choice to do that. She did the same in other countries that had such schools as well. She'd spend a semester at a civilian oriented school, and a semester at a military oriented one. However, she wouldn't be doing that here in the States, as she felt that in her senior year it would be best not to switch. It did strike her as odd that he didn't want citizenship, and it made two questions come to her mind. "Is there any way that you can get dual citizenship?" She asked. She was a curious thing by nature. "Though if you don't want that either... why did you come to the States? I mean no offense, it just seems odd to me to live somewhere that isn't your first choice." At least it certainly sounded like the US wasn't his first.

"And I wouldn't call you crazy, though personally I want to make it to 2013. I'm not really a believer in the 2012-end-of-the-world myth, but... just in case... hey, I'm ready for it." She grinned, patting the hilt of the bokken. Yeah, all that training and knowledge she had gathered over the years meant that if there was an end of the world scenario that she lived through that she would probably be not only a survivor, but perhaps a leader in a post apocalyptic world. She smiled and blushed very faintly, "Well, thank you very much, Danil. I don't really think much of it though. I mean... in my opinion, people should strive to learn about eachother's cultures and beliefs, rather than just saying that it's different so it must be wrong. I mean... I've been to the land of my forefathers - Saudi Arabia - and while it's very different there from what I'm used to... there's also a charm to it and the rest of the nations in the Middle East. Arabia, Iraq, Israel... I've been to them all in more recent years. There's a lot of fighting, but the average person isn't bad. There are a lot of good people, and while religiously they may have different views in some areas, they have much more in common with eachother and the rest of the world than most people think. Their ideology simply hasn't changed much in the last two hundred years." She stopped herself then, "Sorry. I tend to start ranting on that topic." She chuckled.

"As far as my parents go, well... let me put it to you this way." She began, waiting for her bag to come along on the conveyor, "My grandfather on my father's side was pureblood Saudi nobility, raised in the ways that are to be expected of such a man. He came to the United States to go to college, and while he was here, he met a young woman about his age that was pureblood Apache indian, and fell for her. He knew his family wouldn't approve of an 'outsider', much less a savage, so he didn't tell them he had married her until after he was married to her and she was pregnant with his child. That's how my father came into being. He was raised by my grandparents to be accepting." She shrugged. "On my mother's side, I come from a line of German... well... history books will paint some of them as villains, but I like to think of them as war heros. Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the 'Red Baron'. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, known to some as 'The Desert Fox'. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg - the man primarily responsible for Operation Valkyrie; the nearly successful coup-de-tat in 1944 designed by the German Resistance to overthrow the National Socialist regime by assassinating Hitler and pinning it on the Waffen SS. To that end I suppose you can say my mother's side has had tolerance ingrained into their genetic coding." She chuckled softly.

"There is of course the fact, also, that I'm bisexual myself and have had five girlfriends and no boyfriends." She smiled as her two bags came around - these with her clothes and basic other little things. Snatching them up she shrugged a bit, "What're they gonna do? Say 'no, you, a young woman with a preference for females cannot go live with a homosexual male couple'?" She chuckled, "I mean really, how silly does that sound? Even if they were against it, there's no logical way of justifying being against it. Living with a single guy that was bi or straight, that they could argue easily, and for very obvious reasons, but a couple homosexual guys? Hardly."

[Angela]

Danil smiled, nodding as she regailed her family tree and history. He waited to answer her questions about citizenship for later, partly to ponder the answers himself. It wasn't as if Russia was welcoming of him, despite all he had done for them. Why did he refuse citizenship? Perhaps it was the whole idea of "renouncing" Russia, to quote the oath that he would take if he did choose to try for citizenship. Russia was his homeland... It was where he and his family had lived, where his mother was murdered, where his mother was buried.

Dual citizenship was a nice thought, but could he represent two countries at the Olympics? He didn't think so.

"You have a most impressive family lineage, and I think it is wonderful that you are that interested in it to know all of it and take pride in it," he said as she grabbed her things. He smiled and said, "Well, let's go!"

As they walked through the airport, Danil continued. "I don't blame you for thinking of your mother's family as war heroes. They accomplished great things. You should be proud of them, and I see that you are. My mother was Slovakian, my father Russian, but neither of them had any famous or historical people whom they were related to." He chuckled. "Really, I was just a poor Russian boy. I came here to train with my coach, Parker Jansen. I didn't want to, initially. I didn't know English, which meant I couldn't read or write in this country, I couldn't even understand my coach. We developed a small hand signal system at first, and the more Parker spoke as he used the signals, the more I understood, and eventually we didn't need them anymore. My husband is descended from Lithuanian refugees who imigrated here during the turn of the twentieth century; they were Jewish. Once here, oddly enough, they converted to Catholicism." He shrugged. "So, you're bisexual, ah? Well, I wish you every happiness. I honestly once classified myself as bisexual, simply because I dated girls." He laughed softly, shaking his head. "I only dated them because I thought it was what a 'normal' sixteen-year-old boy should be doing with his spare time." He sighed. "I realized it wasn't for me though. I'm glad your parents are so accepting of you and of other cultures." He shrugged. "I never though of dual citizenship. I'd have to look into that to see if I can still compete in the Olympics if that were the case." He shrugged. "I do not believe in the apocalypse of 2012 either, but I... well, I don't know if I want to compete in 2014. I may, because it is in Socchi, but I would be quite old to still be competing at the time." He shrugged. "It takes years to attain citizenship, and until that time I could not compete at the major international level until I got my citizenship. I just wouldn't feel right about competing under another nation's flag." They reached the airport exit. "My brother has full citizenship, though," he continued. "He took his vow last year." He smiled at her. "His mother has not yet stayed here long enough to get her citizenship, but his wife took hers at the same time." He paused, and explained, "Zhenya is my half-brother. We have the same mother biologically, but the one I am referring to is his adoptive mother."

He walked with her to his brand new 2011 blue BMW. He opened the passenger side for her, so that he could remove the items he left on the seat; a bunch of CDs and papers. He set the papers in the glove compartment and put the CDs in the armrest compartment. He then opened the back door and helped her put her things in the backseat.

"I've got it, it's fine," he said with a smile. Once that was done, he waited until she sat down in the seat before shutting the door, then went to the driver's side and put on his seat belt. "Welcome to America," he said with a bright grin.

[blitzy]

"My heritage is a long and old one. It dates back hundreds of years. Couple that with a love of history and... well... seems natural to take an interest in my own, yknow?" She smiled.

"I'd say everyone's history is interesting really, no matter who they are related to or how poor or wealthy they started." She smiled and listened as he told of his heritage and his husband's heritage. "Yep, I'm bisexual. I tend to lean more towards girls though. No idea why I like them more but..." she blushed, thinking of possibilities, "Something about girls just really grabs my attention." She chuckled then, "Guys like hanging around me just to be able to look at girls with me." She laughed. It was true, and it absolutely tickled her. She nodded when he explained about why he had once thought of himself as bisexual. "My parents actually encourage me to discover more about others and myself. It's a nice feeling to know they're behind me." She raised a brow when he said he'd be old to still be competing in 2014. "Old? You're what... twenty two, three, four maybe? It's only another three years. That's not old." She smiled, "Though I can understand not wanting to be under another flag. Technically I have dual citizenship, but I've always thought of myself as German." She nodded when he explained about his half-brother and said man's adoptive mother. "I see."

She beamed when she saw the German car. "Good taste." She said offhand and gave a wink. She liked German cars, but she'd always wanted an old American Muscle Car. She smiled warmly as he helped her. Such a gentleman. Once she was in the car, she buckled herself in and beamed, "Thank you very much." She grinned then. "I just hope you know what you're getting into."

[Angela]

(MUSIC: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD_WZ4643Nc)

"Thanks!" Danil said happily. "It was just something I picked up. My Mercedes was nice, but I decided it was time for a change." He laughed. "Well, so far you seem like a very nice young lady. You seem mature, cultured, well-educated, outgoing, open-minded. I'm not sure if this will mean anything to you, but-" He took off one of his necklaces which he always wore around his neck. It was a pure gold cross and chain, with an engraving on the back in Cyrillic: "To L S From HIM N A R II" "Accprdomg to my father, my great-uncle was Leonis Sednev, a kitchen boy in Nicholai II's court," he explained as he began the drive home. "He was actually with the Tzar and his family when they were imprisoned in Ekaterinburg. He was sent away the very day of their murder." He shrugged. "Apparently, they felt the other four servants and the daughters of the Tzar and Tzaritsa were 'expendable,' but not the fourteen-year-old kitchen boy." He huffed a little. "At any rate, that's my little historical anecdote." He looked at her and smiled.

The CD player was playing a CD of ballet adagios. It was currently playing "The Last Farewell" from Prokofiev's ballet "Romeo & Juliet." Danil looked at Kilian, slightly guiltily.

"I could put something else in the CD player if you prefer. I was just trying to find something to skate to for next season." He laughed slightly. "I suppose it's rather silly, to start thinking about such things in March, when I wouldn't compete until October at the very earliest..." He chuckled, thinking of her earlier comment regarding his age. "I'm going to be twenty-four in May. The next Olympics are next year, but in 2014, they're held in Socchi in Russia, and I will be twenty-five... It's not that old, but it's rare that a skater places well when they're that old." He sighed. "Besides, I have not been on the ice since last February." He cleared his throat. "Personal... obstacles," he told her with a shrug. "At any rate, everything is fine now. And we're very happy to have you in our home."

He paused at a red light, and sent a quick text message to Peter.

"Picked up Kilian, coming home. C U soon! xoxo!"

As the light changed, he put the phone down and concentrated on the road.

[blitzy]

Kilian blushed softly as he spoke of how she seemed. She was often complimented on how she was by others that she stayed with, but it still didn't stop her from blushing at the sound of it. Hearing the tale that he told enraptured her, and for those moments her mind was stuck on the story he told. "Wow..." She said in a soft tone. She was giddy on the inside, hearing this little gem of history. "It's very interesting." She smiled, "As see! You do have a tie to someone big in history!" She beamed.

Kilian smiled warmly. "No need. It's very pretty. I did ballet when I was younger, though it wasn't where my interest truly was. I still enjoy the sorts of music though." She shook her head. "Not silly at all. The longer you practice, the better you'll be." When he said personal obstacles, her hand instinctively went to his arm and gave a gentle squeeze. She knew what that meant - at the most basic anyway. It meant something bad had happened. She smiled warmly then, "I'm happy that I get the opportunity."

"So, I'm curious, what does your husband do?" She tilted her head slightly.

[Angela]

Danil smiled, glad that she enjoyed the music. "Peter is actually a high school English teacher. He just started this past semester." He looked at her and winked. "He will be your teacher, so you'd better work extra hard in his class. He won't take any excuses or give you any leniency just because you live with us," he told her with a chuckle. "He will, however, give you all the help you need, I'm sure," he said, turning back to the road. "So you studied ballet in the past, ah? So did my brother and I. In fact, his father danced with the Bolshoi in the '70s," he said with a grin. "My mother taught at the Kirov, so did Zhenya- that's my brother - his father when he moved to Petersburg. Ballet and skating go hand in hand, as they say."

[blitzy]

She laughed softly. "First time I've ever lived with one of my teachers." This was going to be interesting, "Oh, believe you-me, I'm a hard worker." The fact that she'd always had straight A's, no matter where she went, was proof of that much. "I don't doubt that he will." She smiled. She doubted she'd need help with english though. After all, she learned english in England... and Japan... and half the other countries she went to. "I did, but that was before I even hit puberty. Mostly because my mom wanted me to. It was never my thing really." She'd done it when she was young, but when she started getting more homework in school and doing more things in school, she used that as leverage to stop. "That they do - only skating adds cold, speed, more slip potential, and blades under your feet."

[Angela]

"Ahh," Danil replied with a nod. "I don't blame you for quitting, then. There is no reason to do something like that unless you want to. It can be quite torturous if you get serious about it. Eating disorders, aching, bleeding, infected feet..." He shrugged. "I've known a lot of skaters who have had to deal with those things too." He sighed. "I actually struggled with eating in my own past. I starved myself because of stress, though, it wasn't anything to do with weight." He glanced over at her. "I am much better now, don't worry." He was quiet for a minute, concentrating on the road once more. "I hope you enjoy living with us," he said finally. "We live in West Mifflin. It's just outside of Pittsburgh. We'll be home in about fifteen, twenty minutes if the traffic is okay. It's a nice, big, isolated house. We have a hot tub, if you are interested," he continued. "We also have a very large front and back yard, enclosed patio, which we use all year, plenty of different sporting equipment. You will never be bored, I promise," he said with a laugh. "We have various nets for volleyball, badminton, things like that, we have a pool table set up downstairs, a basketball hoop outside, plenty of bats and balls, and you could use the yard to train with your bokken any time you wish. We're also five minutes away from the YMCA and ten from a gym. Though we have plenty of great workout equipment at home. The only thing we don't have is a pool, so anytime you wish to go swimming, you could either go to my brother's, or to the Y." He paused and winked at her. "My brother's is free, though, while the Y is ten dollars a day. Not a bad price, but compared to free? He lives about twenty-five minutes away. I'm sure he would welcome you anytime you wish to visit. We have dinner every Sunday together. You'll meet him and his family this evening too."

[blitzy]

Kilian smiled softly, "I'm more of a warrior than an artist, as my father once said of me." It was true too. She was more like an ancient hero than a ballerina. Looking at him, she smiled, "I'm glad you're better now. I'd have to force feed you if you started that." While it was meant as mostly a joke, there was something under its tone that spoke of the fact that she would actually do it.

Her mouth hung agape for a moment as she listened to all that there was to do at or near their home. "Good gods..." She said softly, indeed meaning for the word to be multiple, "There's more to do here than anywhere else I've been. The closest is probably during my stay in Japan, as I often went to the dojo and Shinto shrine that were in the area." Aside from school and hanging out at the arcade and amusement park, that was about all there was to do there, until holidays rolled around or carnivals were set up. "Interestingly enough," she spoke softly, "it was actually a Miko at the shrine that taught me to use the bokken. Her name was Saeko - and she was also the Captain of the Kendo team at school." She smiled, "I look forward to meeting your brother and his family." She smiled, "You know, there's more to do here than there even is back home. Funny considering I live in the capital. You'd think there'd be more there entertainment-wise, yknow?"

[Angela]

Danil laughed softly as she spoke. "Really?" he asked. "Well, we're very active people. Practically every member in our family is an athlete. Oh, by the way, we also live about five minutes from the local amusement park, Kennywood, and about fifteen minutes from another one, Idlewild, but if you prefer wild rides, you'll prefer Kennywood," he told her. "The other is more for little children and grandparents." He laughed, then shrugged. "Though they do have a few fun rides, the Wild Mouse, the Spider, and the Tilt-A-Whirl... They're worth going there for, and it is a beautiful park. Kennywood is also beautiful, and a ton of fun. They should be opening soon. Idlewild also has a water park, and we have another park nearby, Sandcastle, that is dedicated exclusively to waterslides and pools. They're all a lot of fun. There are also various festivals and carnivals coming up in the area. You will never be bored here, I guarantee it," he continued. "In the winter there is skiing and outdoor sports in Seven Springs, in October they have Oktobrefest, I'm sure you will appreciate that," he added, glancing to her with a grin. "I'm sure it is nothing compared to the celebrations at home, but it is still an authentic celebration. There are a lot of German-descended people in this area, Pennsylvania Dutch they're called. My friend Angie tells me of an annual celebration in her hometown of Perryopolis, that is about fifteen minutes away, they have a Pioneer Days weekend in honor of the founding of the town. There's lots of arts and crafts, people in costume, cuisine, all sorts of things. Later this summer there is a Renaissance Festival, Peter and I go every year. It's wonderful. Plus there are plenty of malls and restaurants, arcades and movie theaters. It's truly a wonderful place to live." He grinned at the yellow arrow sign that said Kennywood on it. "You see? We're almost home," he told her with a chuckle. "So, you studied in Japan? May I ask what city? I go there almost every year for NHK Trophy. I never get tired of going there. It's an amazing country."

[blitzy]

Kilian beamed happily as she listened to all that was here to do and see. This would be a lot more exciting than home. Of course, she had to admit that growing up somewhere probably made it automatically less exciting than someone that you've never been. "Sounds like this place is going to be plenty of fun." And more than enough to keep her busy. Whether it would keep her out of trouble or not... well... that was to be seen. It was also rather doubtful. She was like a mischevious Nancy Drew at times.
.
"Oh, I was in a few during my time there. I have to say, Tokyo was the one that really blew me away. I got to go to Tokyo University to visit while I was there. The place is amazing. Tokyo is also where Tsukino Saeko, the miko and my old Kendo Team Captain, lives." She paused for a moment and then looked to him, "NHK?" She asked with a tilt of the head, "Sorry, I don't really know all that much about skating - aside from that ice is slick and skates can cut like a katana."

[Angela]

Danil grinned at her, nodding as she spoke. "Oh, NHK Trophy is a competition annually held in Japan. It is part of the Grand Prix Series, six competitions each year, plus a final held later for those who qualify for it. Skaters who went to the previous year's World Championships have the option to compete in three of them. I am only going to be in two of them this fall, because I am not competing in the World Championships this year. After the World Championships, skaters will be invited, up to twelve in ladies, men, pairs and ice dance, to compete in two or three of these six events. At every competition, skaters earn points depending on where they place. If a skater chooses three events, one of them must be a non-scoring event. At the end of the series, the top six in each discipline will get to go to the Final, with a few alternates chosen in case some skaters end up withdrawing from it. The competitions are Skate Canada, Cup of China, Grand Prix of Paris, Cup of Russia, Skate America, and NHK Trophy in Japan. I'm sure the Russian Federation will invite me to Cup of Russia, but I don't know where else I will go." He shrugged. He didn't know if he explained it well enough. He chuckled. "By the way, the skates are sharp. I remember one time, I was in competition and I did a Biellmann spin- that's a spin where I put my leg over my head- and I actually cut my finger right in the middle of the performance!" He laughed, shaking his head. "I skated for about two minutes with my finger cut," he continued with another laugh.