Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
New to the forum? Check out our Introduction Page and New Members Guide! 1.1: Statistical Updates have been completed for the month.
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 5
  • 72
A Not-So-Subtle Matchmaker
Topic Started: Jan 13 2014, 08:57 PM (3,929 Views)
Demoness
Member Avatar

Despite being the dead of winter in the northern hemisphere, all was not gloom in Demoness. The season was called Second Summer and was indeed more like its counterpart than an opposite. The weather was warmer and slightly humid, though the latter was due to the shower was predicted to visit Sacred Rock later that evening. For the time being, the weather was overcast as Ned Davion descended into the airport. He would soon be followed by Gavrila de Sud, but he was not quite aware of that fact yet.

Visits between Fenwick and Demoness had become more than routine, with the prince representing his country more often than his father, and they had lost all their formality; a simple phone call announced his arrival and a car would meet him at the airport with little fanfare. He was admitted to the Plateau and after a little witty banter with the Guardian of the Gateway, an ex-girlfriend, he was led into Jia Li's private solar.

Though technically a solar, it was more specifically a library and Jia Li lounged with her legs across her husband's lap; a chitael, either Nemesis or Aphrodite, lay in hers. She propped up a book on her chitael's head, reading happily while her husband reviewed something on a tablet. She looked up as Ned entered and smiled. "Hey, Ned-mitsu," she greeted. "I'd stand but..." She indicated the hundred pound animal purring on her lap. "When did you get in?"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Replies:
Fenwick
Member Avatar

Ned nodded in agreement. "Capable, yes, but it's not the military itself that is the reason for the policy. The rule is traced back to Unification. Basically, what it boiled down to was the fact that the first Emperor said that in order to rule your people, you should be willing to die for them. Perhaps a bit out dated, but it generally makes us put our money where our mouths are." He rocked his head back and forth as if rolling the idea around in his head. "So to speak. Hence why you don't see us in safe desk jobs. My father was a naval combat pilot and my brother is also in a combat role. It also tends to make us a little more cautious about entering conflicts. It's not quite like other nations where it's the poorer members of society who go off to war. The leaders fight the wars that they get their country into."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

At Ned's last sentence Gavrila smiled and laughed. "Ha, zat reminds me of Cetatsenia during ze Second Great War. Quite a few of ze nobles who did not bend zeir knees to ze Intermarines fled into ze forests and fought as insurgents and guerrillas," Gavrila said, ignoring Aurel's mumbling of 'Trădători mizerabile...' when she mentioned some nobles surrendering to the Intermarines.

"But anyway, ze point is some of zem had not been in ze military prior to ze fucking war; it did not mean zat zey were unwilling to die for zeir country," she said, "And some of ze greatest Cetatsen leaders had never even touched weapon."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

Jia Li frowned, thinking she should intercede, but it was difficult to know how; she was as used to the Fenwicki tradition as Ned's country was used to her clans. Xel, noting her fretting, interjected. "That may be true, and it is even true of some of our leaders, but both of our countries were founded on military tradition. Fenwick expresses their heritage differently than we do and it works." He invited them to both sit. "Perhaps we can discuss the merits of military service over some tea rather than dissecting the necessity of compulsory service," he suggested.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

"Eh, Fenwick can do whatever ze hell zey want, who am I to judge? And if I actually zought it was terrible and bad zen you all would know. Trust me on zat," Gavrila said, grinning as she took Xel's offered seat, "And do you have anyzing else to drink? I hate tea." While she may think compulsory military service was bad, Ned didn't seem to mind that he'd had to go into the military and the Knezinja was aware that cultures differed. Plus Gavrila was the kind of person that just enjoyed debating.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

Xel nodded and called for one of the servants. That was a difference that Gavrila would certainly notice between Demoness and her home: the Demonessian servants were quite deferential, even the well-dressed ones - such as Chihiro - who would otherwise appear to be too important for such a display. It was difficult to tell if this was simply for the Empress' benefit - after all, she was the nation's ruler - for Gavrila and Ned's, or another reason entirely, but even Ariana, whom Gavrila would realize here was in charge of the entire facility's security, acted as if she were no more important than a new hire.

Gavrila was offered a variety of drinks, though the menu leaned toward tea and coffee and after that, alcohol; sodas were available, of course, but juices and water were listed first, and of the alcohol wine was offered, and then mixed drinks, but no hard liquor. While Demonessians didn't reserve judgement for hard liquor either way, it had been banned from the palace grounds some years ago due to the alcoholism of a certain person and the suspected alcoholism of another two.

Xel held his wife's hand as they sat around the table. "You are quite vocal about your opinions," Xel said, agreeing with Gavrila's previous statement. "But it really isn't necessary to remain standing either. A good debate is better had after a few drinks." He smiled diplomatically.

The solar was different from other rooms in another way: Demonessian homes tended to have furniture on the floor, with soft rugs and pillows and low tables, but Jia Li's room had a large, overstuffed couch and a circular table with regular chairs in addition to a personal desk. The room was more in a Western style than traditional, though her logic was that she found the couch was better for her back and, unfortunately, she also tended to conduct business here rather than treat it as a private retreat; therefore, it was better to furnish the room like an office, even if she did relax here. None of them had been required to remove their footwear either.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Fenwick
Member Avatar

"I am rapidly discovering that you do indeed speak your mind," Ned said with a laugh as he took a seat. He requested a glass of juice when asked rather than taking tea. "So tell me a bit about your country. Usually when I meet someone I have enough heads up to have some time to do a bit of research, but I must admit I'm a tad in the dark."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

Gavrila took the wine when the alcohol was offered, silently lamenting the fact that there was no vodka for her to drink. Then when Ned asked her to tell him about her country, she laughed. "Could you ask somezing a bit more specific?" she said, "Zere is a hell of a lot I could tell you, and quite frankly I do not know what you would care about."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Fenwick
Member Avatar

"Hmm... perhaps any big cultural no-nos that I should be worried about in our meeting," Ned said with a laugh. "Though maybe just the first thing you think of when you think of home?" He sat back in his seat. "For instance, most would think that the first thing that I'd think of is New Aedmon because that's where Davion Palace is. But it's more the city of Deseret, right along the coast. It's a massive city, but an incredible place to visit."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

"When I zink of home, I zink of trees," Gavrila said, "Jia Li and Xel would not know what I am talking about because Albraustana-zid is in ze basin, but Sudest is in ze Sudic Highlands. Even in ze capital if you look out ze window you are bound to see at least one tree. My palace is surrounded by trees and zere are just trees everywhere."

Then Gavrila laughed, "And you do not need to worry about offending me unless you are an asshole. And I do not zink you are."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Fenwick
Member Avatar

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'm that asshole friend that everyone has that's somehow redeemingly lovable," he said with a grin. "Do you enjoy heading out into the forests to hike or do any horseback riding?"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Fully Featured & Customizable Free Forums
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Archive · Next Topic »
Add Reply
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 5
  • 72

Theme Designed by McKee91