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
Cetatsenia-Demoness Meeting
Topic Started: Nov 18 2013, 07:41 PM (8,318 Views)
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

If one was to take a place from the nation of Demoness to Cetatsenia, one would most likely see the dichotomy that the nation was rather known for. In the southern parts of the nation one would notice the highlands, heavily forested and almost untouched by man aside from the winding roads and the occasional town. But further north, the terrain would give away to the lowlands of the Centric Basin. This land was flat, and lacked the expansive forests, though there were smaller isolated forests. But the main difference one would notice would be the level of development, it was dominated by a large amount of farmland as the lowland soil was incredibly fertile, but there was also the occasional city, bustling with people.

Albraustana-zid was one such city, and it was the primate city of Cetatsenia, the richest and most populous and most important of them all. It was built along both sides of the great Albastru River that ran through much of Cetatsenia, though most of it was on the southern bank of the river. This was because of the simple fact that Albraustana-zid had begun life as three separate forts and settlements built along the river. Albrau and Stana had been built on the Southern bank, and over time had grown together until they were finally united into Albraustana. And while Zid would eventually become part of the greater whole, for a long time it was simply considered a city separated from the capital only by the river.

Since it had grown organically over the numerous years, and had once been three separate cities, the streets and roads had a habit of being winding and could be complicated to navigate for those unfamiliar with them who had no map. Though the roads had over time been widened and revamped in order to accommodate cars, and the newest sections of the city on the outskirts actually had a gridded street plan. As it was the middle of the day, the streets were currently filled with cars and buses, and the sidewalks filled with pedestrians, while the newest addition to the city's transportation network, the subway system, ran below the streets.

While there was a number of attractions in the city, such as the museums and baths, one of the most prominent is the Palatul Regal, the Royal Palace. The site of the original settlement of Albrau and lying atop a hill, it has been torn down or otherwise destroyed and then subsequently rebuilt several times throughout history. The most recent being the ascension of Ioan I to the throne of Cetatsenia, though it has been renovated and updated since then.

The Palace itself is surrounded by a wall that rings the entirety of the hill, with only a single gate leading up to it. The wall is patrolled by a special corps of Cetatsenian soldiers, easily identified by their bright blue ceremonial uniforms and ornate, pointed helmets. After that, a road lead up to the palace proper, an expansive building with a stone exterior that shared more in common with a medieval castle than what one thinks of when they hear the word 'palace'. It was home to a fair number of servants, as well as the guardsmen, and a small number of government officials. Most of those lived out in the city, and worked in their own buildings. It was absolutely huge, and in front of it was an expansive pool of water. Overall, it was an impressive sight that could be seen from a good portion of the city.

At the moment, however, Voivode Gavril IV Suveraneshti was not at his home in the palace. Rather he was at the airport, which had been cleared of any citizens besides him, the guards arrayed with him, and those who worked there; all flights to this airport had either been delayed or rerouted to other nearby airports. Today was an important day, as this was the decided upon day of Jia Li's visit to Cetatsenia. As two nations whose relationship could be accurately described as "mutually neutral", this was a rather important meeting, and Gavril did not want to mess anything up. So he stood alongside his older sister Andreea, the Steward of Cetatsenia, in the airport, ready to head out onto the tarmac to greet the Empress as soon as her plane set down.
Edited by Cetatsenia, Apr 22 2014, 09:58 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Replies:
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

"Well, I am not really one to pay attention to famous people and the stupid shit zey get into, even in Cetatsenia," Gavrila said, "So that is why I have never heard of her. And yeah, zat does sound pretty bad. I mean, zere are attention whore celebrities here in Cetatsenia, but even zey don't get into issues wiz ze law particularly often."

Then Gavrila stopped and thought for a moment, "Zough zat's probably because zey know ze Knez would end up having zem zrown in jail if zey did break ze law."

"While I agree zat it does seem bad, and zat being an 'adrenaline junkie' is not a valid excuse in ze slightest, surely she cannot be as bad as you say," Gavril said, to Xel in particular, "I do not zink zat zere is anyone in ze world zat is truly worzless."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

After Jia Li's previous plea, Xel looked to her before responding and she reluctantly nodded her assent. "Perhaps," he replied begrudgingly. "However, she is worthless if rumors are true. Our cousin will not acknowledge it, but it is strongly suspected Eris slept with our cousin's husband. That cousin is also Eris' niece, so you can see how why I would judge her so harshly." Jia Li shook her head; it was clear she also believed this even had occurred, but she didn't hold a grudge. After all, Yuri still married him and it seemed to have improved their relationship.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

At the mention of the supposed adultery, both Gavril and Andreea looked to Gavrila worriedly. This was one subject that they preferred not to bring up around her, as her reactions to it could be rather strong. The reasoning behind it being that while her relationship with her ex-husband had never been good, it was the discovery of his rather extensive adultery that was the final nail in the proverbial coffin, and is what directly caused their divorce. As such she didn't look favourably on anyone who was knowingly involved in adultery, or wives who stayed with cheating husbands for that matter.

"Oh, well zen I would have to say I already do not like ze curvă," Gavrila said, an edge of anger in her voice, "And why in ze hell would your cousin not acknowledge it? What ze hell kind of sense does it make to stay wiz a man who would do zat?"
Edited by Cetatsenia, Dec 9 2013, 01:42 AM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

The two of them shrugged. "In all honesty, neither one of us is quite sure. Yuri's mother had a history of adultery that ruined her childhood, so it's not likely she would have stayed with him if she believed it to be true," Jia Li replied. "However, circumstances surrounding the 'event' indicate that it probably happened.

"They also had a daughter together at the time, so it's possible she had something to do with it, but they are fine now. I think." The latter part was not said with much confidence. Yuri had once been very close with Jia Li - a complementary protector for Xel - but they had drifted apart over the years after Yuri began college and became enamored with her work. They checked in annually and occasionally at functions and so Jia Li had to speculate about her cousin's life. Dodgeson had disappeared for several months during Yuri's pregnancy, only to reappear with no explanation. This of course caused discord in their relationship and had resulted the rumored coupling of Dodgeson with Eris and Yuri with Ned Davion of Fenwick. For whatever reason, Yuri returned to Dodgeson's side and married him shortly thereafter, but their marriage remained tumultuous throughout the interceding years until Yuri's sudden and mysterious hospitalization in 2010 halted all dissonance. After that incident, their relationship seemed to have been entirely repaired.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

"Ugh! I just do not understand woman like zat!" Gavrila said, by this point pacing back and forth angrily, "Why? Just, why? And how can she just deny it like zat? And if zey had a daughter zat just makes what ze pizda bulangiu did even worse! What ze hell kind of man does shit like zat? And-"

Gavrila's rant most likely would have continued on, but was stopped as Gavril grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face him. "Ce vrei?" she said, irritated at his interruption.

"Nu este aici. Nu acum. Nu fac acest lucru," Gavril replied, his expression and tone stern, "Acesta nu este adecvată."

"Dar-"

"Nici un dar," Gavril said, and then his face softened a little, "Gavrila, am înțeles cum te simti, dar este o cultură diferită. Lucrurile se fac altfel acolo, sunt pe partea cealaltă a lumii. Asa ca te rog, nu acum."

Gavrila looked down at her feet for a few moment, before grudgingly responding, "Bine, bine. Cred că ai dreptate, voi reserva pentru un alt timp." Then she turned to the Demonessians. "I, uh, I may have gone a bit overboard zere; adultery is sort of a touchy subject wiz me, I will admit."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

"I'm sorry we brought up a sore subject. I didn't realize it would cause such harm," Jia Li apologized sincerely. Perhaps understanding some of their language, or perhaps just their tones, she added, "It's not a cultural norm, especially in Clan marriages, though I will admit that their relationships are more complicated than in other cultures." That is to say, Clan marriages allowed adultery: it was an arranged marriage and neither partner was expected to love the other. They were, however, expected to have legitimate children with their spouse, but lovers were accepted...so long as the relationship was discreet and the spouse's family never "officially" found out. If a spouse's Clan found it, penalties were severe for the insult and often resulted in grievous injury or death. Yuri's marriage been voluntary - arranged with her lover against Clan norms - so it was possible the marriage continued out of deference for the sacrifices already made to make it happen. Alternatively, Yuri truly did believe her fiance had been faithful.

Non-Clan marriages, however, frowned heavily upon adultery much like any other culture, though Jia Li had reintroduced Blood Morante's version in which marriage was only a temporary partnership - one which either partner could end at any time. However, this was still being assimilated into the cultural norm and regardless, "cheating" was not the same as "ending" a relationship.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

Gavrila shrugged and smiled, having seemingly already gotten over her previous tirade. "Eh, it is no big deal. You had no way of knowing what my ex-husband did," she said, "But zat is why I hate arranged marriages, because of stupid shit like what my ex did happens." Then she muttered underneath her breath, "Aș vrea să am niciodată căsătorit care nemernic."

And Gavril nodded as well, "It is understandable. I personally find zat sometimes ze strangest zings about ozer cultures can be in ze way zey treat relationships such as marriage. So sometimes zings like zis happen."
Edited by Cetatsenia, Dec 9 2013, 08:33 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

Jia Li was certainly grateful she hadn't needed to submit to an arranged marriage or even having a closed pool among Clan bachelors; their families were competitive and jealous and it was better to strike a balance rather than choose sides.

"What other sort of things have you learned about marriage?" she asked curiously.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Cetatsenia
Member Avatar

"Well, it is simply zat it is different in many places," Gavril replied with a shrug, "Zere are some places where polygamy is accepted and some where gay marriage is perfectly acceptable. In ozer places adultery is never acceptable and in ozers it is acceptable as long as it is kept secret. And ozer ways of doing zings can be strange to someone from, for example, Cetatsenia, where ze typical marriage is monogamous and, well, extramarital relations wiz ozers in not tolerated."

"And zat is how it should be," Gavrila said quietly, rolling her eyes.

Gavril simply ignored her comment; he agreed with her 100%, but he was more open to other cultures' ideas of marriage. Perhaps it was because he hadn't gone through what she had, but that didn't particularly matter.

"I guess, to put it simply, since it is generally such an important and integral part of someone's culture, people tend to find it strange when it differs in some major way," he said.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Demoness
Member Avatar

Jia Li nodded. "That is true. We hadn't even heard of the concept of 'homosexuality' or 'gay marriage' until prolonged contact with outsiders and that was an interesting transition period," she said, referencing the fact that gender played no part in common marriages; it was only in marriages where offspring had to be produced that anyone differentiated between the sexes.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Archive · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Theme Designed by McKee91