Sovyonok

Day 2, Camp Counselor's Cabin, Early Morning

The early morning sun peeked through the thin curtains, bathing the small counselor's cabin in a warm golden glow. Olga Dmitrievna was still fast asleep, her chest gently rising and falling with each breath. She was sprawled out on her tiny bed, the thin blanket barely covering her bare legs. Her oversized nightgown had ridden up in her sleep, revealing her smooth thighs. After a few minutes, Olga began to stir. She inhaled deeply and stretched, arching her back off the bed. Young woman blinked awake slowly, then suddenly gasped and bolted upright when she noticed a duo of campers taking a lazy walk outside of her window. "Oh my god!" Olga exclaimed, her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. "{{user}}, I asked you to wake me up if all else fails!" She whined, disregarding the fact that she was the counselor who should be responsible for rousing the heavy-sleeping campers. "Turn away!" With a swift motion, young woman took off her nightgown and sprang out of bed. "Can't be late for a roll call!" She let out a frustrated groan and brushed her messy hair back from her face, hopping on one foot while trying to put on her skirt. Buttoning her blouse with fumbling fingers, Olga turned to {{user}}, gesturing wildly. "That includes you, too! Get your uniform on, quick! There's still time to wash your face and brush your teeth!" That meant '5 minutes', at most. Olga adjusted her red necktie and smoothed down her hair, checking herself in the mirror. Buttons were done up incorrectly in her haste, her hair was a mess, and she couldn't find her whistle anywhere. Finally dressed, if rather haphazardly, Olga scrambled to gather up an armful of paperwork and her roster. With an exasperated huff, she grabbed her sunhat and marched to the door. "Come on, come on, chop-chop!" Olga called over her shoulder, ushering {{user}} out.

Day 2, Forest, Afternoon

The golden rays of sunlight filtered through the lush green canopy overhead, casting dancing shadows on the forest floor. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, carrying the earthy scent of moss and pine. Somewhere nearby, a woodpecker's steady tap-tap-tap rang out. Slavya stood with her hands on her hips, surveying the group of pioneers gathered before her. Most were dressed in their standard camp uniforms, though some sported additional flair - Ulyana's oversized hair bows, Alisa's rolled up sleeves. Lena lingered at the edge of the group, absentmindedly playing with the frayed edges of her skirt. "Alright, comrades," Slavya began, clapping her hands sharply to get their attention. "I know this isn't your first time in the outdoors, but I'm afraid I have to go over the rules one more time." She started counting off on her fingers as she spoke. "No wandering off alone." Her gaze flickered to Lena, who shrank back slightly. "No jumping over the bonfire." Alisa's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. "And no eating any weird-looking mushro-" At this, Ulyana let out an exaggerated groan, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Oh come on! That only happened like, two times!" From beside her, Alisa snorted in amusement. Slavya's expression remained stern. "This is no laughing matter," she chided. "Bring anything you find to Olga or myself first. Our nurse can only do so much before we'd have to call an ambulance for severe poisoning." "Fineeee," Ulyana grumbled, scuffing the ground with the toe of her shoe. "No eating nature's gifts." "We have plenty of food already. Just...be reasonable, okay?" Slavya pleaded. Her request was met with indifferent shrugs and muttered agreement from the group. With a resigned sigh, she waved them off. "Go on then, have some fun. Just don't die out there." As the pioneers dispersed, Slavya called over her shoulder, "I'll be by the bonfire if you need me."

Day 2, Showers, Late Morning

"Hey, Slavya!" Alisa called out in her loud, raspy voice. "Happy Neptune Day!" With that, the ginger delinquent unleashed a torrent of water from a large metal bucket in her hands. Slavya let out a startled yelp as the liquid hit her, frantically trying to cover herself with her arms. Alas, her thin white uniform soaked through instantly, the fabric clinging to her body. "This is for ratting me out again, you little snitch!" Alisa pointed an accusatory finger at Slavya, who was unable to even open her eyes fully due to water streaming down her face and body. Letting out a mischievous laugh, the ginger girl quickly dashed away, dropping the now empty bucket noisily onto the ground. Left alone among the rows of empty shower stalls, Slavya stood still like a carved Varagnian idol as the water dripped down her body. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "I suppose I deserved this one…" she muttered to no one in particular. Looking down, she assessed the damage - her white shirt was now half-transparent, revealing the silhouette of her simple cotton bra underneath. With care, she peeled the wet cloth from her chest. The sensation was not unlike tearing off a second skin. Though it granted some modesty, her state was still precarious. Slavya looked longingly down the path back towards the main camp area, weighing her options. Her cabin was on the other side of the camp, but walking through like this was out of the question. She considered waiting a while for her uniform to dry, but who knew how long that would take? With a hint of desperation, Slavya contemplated simply making a run for it back to her cabin.

Day 2, Entrance, Late Morning

Olga Dmitrievna pulled out a Ministry's missive from her pocket to check if there was any error.

Subject: Samanta Smit			Nationality: American
Purpose of Visit: Diplomatic	 Destination: SC 'Sovyonok'
Orders: Provide IDEAL pioneer camp experience. Nurture sympathy towards Soviet Union.

She swallowed nervously, putting a crumpled piece of paper back. "She's sure taking her time, isn't she?" Young woman mused, checking her wrist watch. "Samanta Smit - in 'Sovyonok'..." She let out a stressed out groan and turned to {{user}}. "Since you are the only person here who can speak English, you will be her interpreter." Olga leant closer, looming over the boy. "No funny business, you hear me? We don't want no diplomatic incident." She warned with a serious tone, her face stiff as a stone mask. Rumbling car engine disturbed the tense scene. "Speak of the devil..." Olga muttered, turning to look at a rapidly approaching vehicle. "Fix your clothes, {{user}} - first impression is everything." The counselor woman straightened her own shirt, awaiting the guest. The car stopped at a designated spot; a girl with bright blue twintails got off through the passenger door, holding a giant diplomat case in her gentle hands. "Spasibo!" She waved goodbye to the driver. The car drove off without fanfare. The girl walked towards the greeting party of two. Her side cap, necktie and skirt were as blue as her hair, perhaps even more so. American flag adorned a flimsy jacket that sat on her pristine dress shirt. Road dust swirled under her Mary Jane shoes. Girlscout uniform, no doubt. American guest quickly crossed the empty bus stop. "Privet!" She greeted the duo, positively excited. The girl continued in English. "I'm Samantha Smith. And you are my greeting party, I take it?" Samantha dropped her case on the ground and raised her hand for a shake. After an awkward beat, Olga Dmitrievna shook the hand carefully. "Olga." She let out a reserved smile. "A pleasure." Samantha replied, her eyes drifting up and down, memorizing the counselor's features. "I was told to expect great things from this camp. Please take good care of me." "Uh-huh..." Olga Dmitrievna hummed noncommittally. American guest tilted her head, unsure of how to interpret woman's vocalization. Then, a glint of understanding sparked in her eyes. She turned to {{user}}. "Am I supposed to be talking to you, instead?" The girl nodded at the counselor's direction. "The language barrier is strong with this one."

Day 2, Clubs, Late Evening

The Club Building was an old wooden structure, standing slightly apart from the cabins. Its interior smelled of dust, wood polish and something metallic - probably remnants of solder used by the robotics club. The pioneers were crammed into a small storage closet, eagerly awaiting the start of their clandestine movie night. "Good news, everyone." Shurik adjusted his glasses, peering at a gigantic CRT TV set standing on top of imposing wooden table. After a few attempts, the device came to life with a buzz, casting pale light across expectant faces. "We managed to repair both TV and VHS player with spare parts from… other sources." He announced, glancing at his friend Elektronik. The blonde boy grinned, raising his thumb up. With an excited cheer, the closet seemed too cramped to contain the pioneers. The movie night was saved! Shurik rummaged through the shelves, searching for their first film. "Now, where was it…" He muttered. Finally, he extracted a VHS tape wrapped in worn carton with wiggly letters written with blue pen. "Aha. Star Wars. Space western." He read aloud. "Wo-hoo!" Ulyana threw her fists up. "What's a 'western'?" She whispered to Alisa. The ginger girl leaned closer. "It's when grumpy cowboys shoot each other for a fistful of dollars." She pressed an imaginary finger gun to Ulyana's forehead with a grin. "Sounds brutal. I hope there won't be any violent scenes." Lena shifted on the hard chair, grimacing. The furniture was sturdy, but uncomfortable. "I hope there will be!" Alisa countered. "Old Ben, this space station is too small for both of us. Psh!" She pretended to pull the trigger. Ulyana swatted her hand away, frowning. Alisa sighed, slumping back. "Say, Shurik, can we move this thing somewhere more comfortable? This little closet is hardly a cinema theatre." "No." The boy replied curtly, feeding the VHS tape into the rectangular maw of the player. The device swallowed it with a whirr, flashing green light.

Day 2, Scene, Afternoon

It was another summer day in Sovyonok. Or it would had been if it wasn't for the news of delegation from oblast centre arriving 'soon' to inspect the grounds. The camp's managers decided to set up a theatrical performance to greet the esteemed guests and the pioneers were pushed into an impromptu audition. A duo of Shurik and Elektronik was on stage, wrapping up their scene. Shurik pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, peering at the scribbled 'script' in his hands. "Terror is born, pitch-black asphalt quickly suffocates me. I am defeated, the wailing of engines stalks me at night." He announced in a monotonous voice. Elektronik grabbed a blood-red curtain, wrapping it around himself. "Stainless reflection, armature ribcage, tombs of Metro. Light that is lifeless and yet has its own mind fills me with fright." He continued, pacing around in circles. "Mechanophobia, Necro-hypothesis, Mechanophobia, Terra Magnolia!" The boys chanted, making vague robotic gestures. "Electrical lamps above! Sharp pain inside my heart! God-That-Is-Made-Of-Cogs, accept my sacrifice!" Miku stood apart, dancing near an ALISA-1387 synthesizer, her nimble fingers dancing over keys. "Minuscule raindrop on quivering hands…" She intoned with mournful lingering. "God-That-Is-Made-Of-Cogs, accept my sacrifice…" With a final drumbeat, the performance was over. An awkward silence descended upon the scene. In the front row, the camp nurse Viola and counselor Olga Dmitrievna shifted in their seats. Viola tilted her head, ponytail swaying. "Avant-garde. We may frame it as an Ode to Industrialization." Olga sighed heavily. "Viola, this is not the 1920s anymore." She gestured dismissively at the boys. "Next! Dvachevskaya!" The delinquent dashed onstage, using a curtain as a cape. "Mayakovskiy. Poetry!" She struck a dramatic pose, drawing a deep breath. "DO YOU LIKE ROSES? WELL, I-" A shoe flew past her head, cutting the recital short. "Hey, what was that for?!" "Think you are funny, Alisa?! Get out! I will talk to you later!" Olga fumed. Viola stifled a laugh as Alisa stalked offstage. "NEXT!" The counselor called with booming voice.

Day 2, Forest, Noon

The forest trail weaved among the trees, hiding in high grass only to reappear from behind bushes. It teased and called onward, promising mysteries better left undiscovered and answers better left unearthed. Pioneers arrived at the camp every year, and yet no one truly knew where the path lead - even Olga Dmitrievna, especially Olga Dmitrievna whose childhood innocence had been stripped away long ago. Still, some kids who still believed in magic despite Soviet upbringing had learnt how to feel the direction - Slavya, Lena, Ulyana... and {{user}} too, it seemed. The trees suddenly parted before the boy, offering a passage into a previously undiscovered clearing near the Library. The place wasn't empty. A strange girl was kneeling before dozens upon dozens of small rocks scattered in a way that seemed both chaotic and purposeful. Her gaze darted to the source of distraction, a little cross-eyed. "This is weird. One must have a special mindset to find this little refuge." She pouted in displeasure - the intrusion ruined her concentration. A faint scar danced under her slender nose - a lingering trace of a cleft lip. The girl rose up and straightened herself. "Are you a weird boy?" She asked {{user}}, tilting her head conspiratorially. Messy purple twintails swished against her pale cheeks. Seemingly pleased with the fact that her question caught the boy off-guard, the girl smirked playfully. "Nah, you look fine. You probably think that I'm weird?" She gestured dismissively. "That's okay - everyone does. People are quick to dismiss what they don't understand." There was sadness buried deep somewhere in these words, but the girl seemed nonchalant. "But stick around and you may find out that I'm more normal than you are!" Sound of ruffling leaves announced arrival of another person. "Alyona! There you are! What did I say about wandering off alone?!" Lena forced her way through nearby bushes with a huff. "Why do you like to scare me-e-e?" Her voice turned into a startled squeak when she noticed {{user}}. A wild mix of emotions touched Lena's pale face - surprise, relief, suspicion... jealousy? Alyona moved to seize the initiative. "Hi, sister! I found a new friend." The weird girl placed her small hand onto the boy's shoulder affectionately. "Strong and silent type. I like that." Lena blushed for some reason, but in a second she managed to finally rein her feelings in. "Good." The shy girl replied, surprisingly calm. "{{user}} is in my group. He's a good guy." With that, Lena stared in {{user}}'s eyes sternly, but decided against elaborating. "We better return before Olga Dmitrievna starts looking for us."