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A Day In Paradise; Open
Topic Started: May 15 2014, 11:14 PM (2,348 Views)
Demoness
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Feoras is a land of great beauty and great sorrow. In ancient times, the isolated island was its own world, warring, celebrating, and living by its own rules. Its first contact with the outside world was violent, but it resulted in the assimilation of the invader culture into its own. However, this would not be the trend and the next encounter ended with Feoras being the assimilated party. For centuries, it was subjugated by Demonessian masters until the modern age brought with it change: enormous destruction, followed by brief freedom and then patronizing stewardship.

The island suffered from poverty, but there was still beauty to be found. While its five remaining ethnicities live in an enforced peace, the tourist areas benefit from the economic boon and generate a false sense of wealth. Tourists are attracted by Mauna Inaka, the volcanic center of the island, and the black sand beaches she generated. The gentle slope of the continental shelf allows swimmers to wade into a seemingly endless sea and walk up to boats parked in the shallows. Its coral reefs are untouched in certain parts of the island and the fauna found there are unmatched.

With the economy centered around the tourism trade, it is hard to leave the main areas. However, the adventurous tourist may find other ways to pass the time. The Genfiotes in the south control the tourism areas, making sure they are clean and presentable, as do their neighbors in Ahi'iana. The Genfiotes, however, present a curiosity: their religious leaders, known as the Undying. These leaders dress entirely in grey and cover their faces with a mask and veil. When they speak, they speak as if they are not an individual; they speak as if they are from a collective consciousness, which can be unnerving for some. In Fuwoku, one can find the farmers, who toil away in the dirt and respect animals as much as humans. For the adventurous, there is Kain, a land of warriors where the leader is determined through battle prowess. While Mpali represents the industrialized portion of the island, Isis certainly fairs the best as the seat of the former colonial masters.

Humanitarians may seek to provide relief from poverty and criminals may find a new foothold, but tourists, explorers, and travelers may find adventure.
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Cetatsenia
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In an expensive hotel suite in one of Feoras's coastal cities, two men who were rather well-known and, some might say, famous in their home country stood. The tropical sun was high in the sky, and the hotel itself overlooked one of the beaches of black sand. Down below the men could see people milling about on the beach or wading through the water, and even a few boats sailing a ways off the island's coast. These two men were Vlad and Andrei Suveraneshti, Princes of Cetatsenia and the eldest brothers of Voivode Gavril.

The two looked almost the same, which was the be expected since the pair were identical twins. However, there were certain key differences. Both had dark brown eyes and pure black hair, with rather prominent noses. Vlad was quite thin, and his wavy hair fell down nearly to his shoulders. He had light stubble on his jawline, alongside a solid goatee. In contrast to his twin Andrei was more muscular; the muscles weren't massive but they were definitely noticeable. His hair was buzzed short and his face was completely shaven. Andrei was dressed in a simple white t-shirt and jean shorts, but his brother had on a garish button-up shirt detailed in geometric pattern of almost painfully bright hues of any colour you could name.

"This place is absolutely wonderful," Vlad said in Cetatsen, a smile on his face as he looked down on the beach below, "I cannot wait to get down on the beach, I have never seen black sand in real life before."

"Yes Vlad, it's very pretty. But why exactly am I here?" Andrei replied, his expression far less enthused than his twin.

"Simple, I didn't want to travel here alone."

"Am you couldn't take someone else?"

"Well, I asked Gavril but he was busy with Voivode things. Andreea had made plans with her husband and kids. Octavian was busy up north with priest things. And Gavrila said that after her visit to Demoness she was busy with Knezinja things. So the only one left was you!"

"And what if I was busy with military things?"

"Well, you could've said 'no'," Vlad said, his smile turning into a grin, "But you didn't."

At his brother's response Andrei couldn't help but crack a small smile. "No, I suppose I didn't," he said, chuckling as he put one arm around his brother's shoulder and pulling him close in a half hug for a long moment. "Speaking of Gavrila, how did things go over in Demoness?" he said, "I haven't spoken to her yet."

Vlad just shrugged, "Dunno. She didn't say when I spoke to her. And I didn't really feel the need to bring it up."

"Huh, that's weird. You'd figure Gavrila of all people would be loud about how things went with that Prince no matter how it went."

"True. Maybe she was just focused on work."

At that Andrei's face finally broke into a grin and he let loose a booming laugh, "Gavrila? Focused on work? Ha, I'll believe that when you start wearing shirts that don't look like a rainbow threw up."

Vlad smiled and laughed along with his brother, before clasping him on the back. "Alright, let's get everything unpacked and then we can head down to the beach."

Andrei nodded in agreement, "All right; if I'm here I might as well enjoy it."

"That's the spirit!" Vlad replied with a grin as the two made their way over to their several suitcases and began to unpack the belongings that they'd brought with them. And it wouldn't be long before the pair was finished and heading down to the beach.
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Demoness
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The largest and most popular of the coastal cities was Ryen Shiradhi, the capital and the seat of the protectorate government. The ancient city had seen many changes over the years, from expansion to revolution, to industrialization and modernization, and now it was the crown jewel of the tourist industry. The streets were clean, the people were friendly, and plenty of activities dominated the day and night life. It was easy to believe the whole of the island was like that and few ventured from the area to prove otherwise.

The black sand beaches were no exception. The unsullied sand was comprised of small, smooth pebbles that were easy on the feet, and the waves were gentle in the pre-hurricane months. Feoras' lax nudity laws allowed exhibitionists to strip down on the beach. There were sunbathers and sun worshipers taking advantage of the sun on the beach while snorklers took in the coral reefs. It was hard to find surfers and jet-skiers, simply because the shallows went so far out from the island, but they were still a determined few that could be seen in the distance. A few people were playing volleyball on the beach while children built sandcastles or chased each other around.

Traveling to the island in mid-May had some disadvantages: several holidays had occurred in the first week, so they had missed out on the special activities planned for the occasion: the sacrifices on Eie Rock and the celebration of the weakening of the veil between life and death when spirits are chased away or invited into one's home. On the other hand, people were also less likely to realize who the Cetatsens were simply because they were another face in the crowd.

As the Cetatsens took the scene in, a volleyball landed at their feet.
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Cetatsenia
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Once they had arrived on the beach, they both took in the view. They had both changed into swimming trunks and neither were wearing shirts. Vlad's trunks were much like his shirt, brightly coloured to an almost obnoxious degree, while Andrei's were simple black with a blue stripe down either side. Neither of them really noticed those who were stripped down, as such a sight was common on Cetatsenian beaches. Though Vlad was thoroughly interested in the sand that was currently beneath his toes. He was on one knee, watching a handful of the sand flow through his fingers when the volleyball landed next to them.

Vlad simply stared at it for a moment, as though not quite comprehending what exactly it was that had interrupting his sand-watching. Andrei on the other hand bent over and picked the ball up, holding it in one hand as he looked around for who it belonged to.
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Demoness
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There was a group of men and women several feet off. They were playing around a net that had been set up, but it was obvious that the boundaries of the court were improvised. The women who played opted to wear some sort of top for support, but it was rather hot and all players were sweaty. The woman who approached them wore a red bikini and looked quite Genfi. In fact, all the players were Genfiote, though it was difficult for non-natives to truly tell ethnicity. The Genfiotes had a lighter skin tone, a sort of olive complexion, and relatively light-colored hair; instead of the black of some other races, it was a light brown that flirted with blondness, yet never reached it. This woman in particular had a full, curvy figure, common to her people, and large, dark eyes. She had a small button nose and when she smiled, her teeth were unnaturally straight. She was most likely from one of the richer families. She put her hands out and indicated the ball. "Please?" she asked. Her accent was pronounced, but it was difficult to tell from such a small sentence.
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Cetatsenia
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Andrei took a moment to glance at the woman and take in the sight; he didn't think his wife would him just looking. And he had to admit that the woman was rather attractive and exotic. Meanwhile Vlad had stood up, looking from the ball to the woman as he rubbed some of the black sand off on his trunks. He supposed the woman was attractive as well, though not really his type.

Then as Andrei tossed the ball to the woman, Vlad spoke up and asked, "So, do you all have room for two more?"

At that Andrei gave his brother a sideways glance, "You want to play volleyball?"

"Sure, why not?" Vlad said with a grin before looking at the woman expectantly as his brother just shrugged.
Edited by Cetatsenia, May 24 2014, 02:59 PM.
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Demoness
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"I think we can accommodate. We have been playing all afternoon and some of us are very tired," she replied. Indeed, she did have a heavy accent, but she spoke English well and her accent was a mixture of Demonessian English and mostly likely that native language. "Isn't that right, Ankon?" she called teasingly.

"I think Femion is having more difficulty!" a taller brown-haired man answered. While he was muscular, it was likely that if he were clothed he would have been described as pudgy rather than fit.

"Kekahi la!" answered another man who was similar in build but slightly shorter.

The woman laughed. "If you split up, our teams will be even," she replied, pointing to both sides. "My name is Kakia, by the way." She pointed out other individuals and named them as well, but it was quickly and it was evident she didn't believe they'd remember them. Two individuals did decide to step out, stating they'd catch up later, and held hands as they walked down the beach. At least one of the women giggled and said something in Ni'ihau, one of the many languages of the island.
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Cetatsenia
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Vlad and Andrei nodded, not really minding the foreign woman's accent. After all, they were hardly accent free; it was a common stereotype that Cetatsens were incapable of pronouncing 'th', the reason behind it being obvious to anyone who has ever spoken to one. The twins did their best to pay attention as Kakia introduced the names of everyone, though neither remembered more than one or two. Vlad didn't notice the giggling woman, and Andrei noticed it but didn't particularly care.

"Well, zank you," Vlad said with a grin, "My name is Vlad, and my exceptionally chipper half here is Andrei."

"A pleasure to meet you," Andrei said, nodding his head. The man didn't often smile in public, leading people he wasn't familiar with to often view him as an exceptionally serious and taciturn individual. Which was true, but not to the extent that some thought.

Then Vlad took a step forward, towards Kakia. "Anyway, it is time to play, right?" he said, then turned back to Andrei, "Which side do you want to be on?"

Andrei just shook his head, "I do not care eizer way."

"All right, fine by me," Vlad replied, turning around again, "Alright Kakia, I will be on your team. My brozer will be on ze ozer."
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Demoness
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Kakia smiled. "Excellent. The score is eight-six-"

"Eight-eight!" Femion answered.

One of the other girls laughed. "Stop trying to cheat. You can't score before we even start playing!"

He pointed. "Ankon was paying attention when I served."

Kakia shook her head. "Eight-six and we play to fifteen. You must win by two points and it is unfortunately their serve." She offered the ball to Andrei. "Would you like to serve? They were about to rotate."
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Cetatsenia
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Andrei took the ball from Kakia's hand and nodded. "I do zink zat I would," he replied simply. Once everyone was in their place, Vlad having to ask where exactly he was supposed to stand, Andrei served the ball. It was a rather impressive serve; the ball's arc took it just above the net, and it fell towards the sand incredibly close to the net. Andrei's eyebrows rose a little bit once he realized how well he'd done; he wasn't really expecting it. It'd been a while since he'd played volleyball, but he kept busy with other sports so he supposed that did help. Vlad on the other hand was more inclined to more artistic forms of recreation, and it showed in his performance. He wasn't exceptionally bad, but he most assuredly couldn't be considered 'good' either.
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