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Cetatsenia-Demoness Meeting
Topic Started: Nov 18 2013, 07:41 PM (8,315 Views)
Cetatsenia
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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.
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Cetatsenia
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"I can only imagine how difficult it must be," Gavril said sympathetically, "For nearly its entire existence Cetatsenia has been secular and mostly religiously homogenous. No Voivode has ever had to deal wiz such an issue."
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Demoness
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She chuckled. "Believe it or not, it is very difficult to be the head of a country and a religion. If you think it's hard to know what to do as a leader, you should try to communicate directly with your God." Though she said it in a joking manner, there was the feeling that she was serious. After all, she was the liaison of the people to the Goddesses.
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Cetatsenia
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Gavril chuckled a bit at Jia Li's comment. "I ca not imagine ze burden," he said, "And I wouldn't exactly be ze best person to do so. I am not exactly ze most religious person."

"Hey, you are still a hell of a lot more religious zan I am," Gavrila said, "At least you believe in somezing."

Gavril thought for a moment, and then smiled. "Well, yes. I suppose zat is true," he said laughing, I do not even want to imagine you at ze head of a religion. It would be awful."
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Demoness
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"It could happen," Jia Li replied. "You could have a religious epiphany. I did." She shrugged.
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Cetatsenia
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"I zink zat ze only religious epiphany I could have would be to go full-azeist," Gavrila responded, "As it is, I simply just do not care about religion. At all. Zere might be a God or Gods. Zere might not be. I just do not care."

"And I am not an unreligious man," Gavril explained, "I very much believe in God and his Aspects, and zat Heaven and/or Hell await ze souls of ze dead. But it is not a particularly important part of my life."
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Demoness
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Jia Li nodded. "I was like that for a long period of my life, but they say that there are no atheists in foxholes. Let's just say that every time my life has been threatened, I've had an epiphany..." She turned contemplative as she trailed off. She gave a sideways glance to her husband, and then smiled sadly. Her mood seemed to stump even Xel, who could only think to wrap his arm around her and frown confusedly.

He kissed her lightly on the head before adding, "It is good to have that kind of freedom. Before I became this, it never crossed my mind because it wasn't important. My job was important and it was, in a way, my religion."
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Cetatsenia
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Gavrila could only smile as she watched Xel and Jia Li; she found it absolutely lovely the relationship they seemed to have with each other. But there was a hint of sadness to her smile as well, not just at what her previous marriage had been like but because of lost possibilities. She oftentimes wondered what her life would be like if she'd decided to marry the lowborn boy she had actually had feelings for instead of the Knez's son her parents desired for her. Perhaps they'd be like the Empress and her husband, Gavrila liked to think so at least.

"Awww, you two are so cute togezer," she said playfully, "I wish I had a husband who cared about me like zat."

Then her face took on a more serious, but not too serious, expression, "And I suppose I should be zankful to have ze freedom to not care for religion. And zat I have never been in ze position to have an epiphany because my life was in danger."

Gavril smiled and nodded his head in agreement, "Yes, I suppose we have been fortunate in zat regard."

Then Gavrila gave the Imperial couple a sly grin. "And I mean it, you two are absolutely adorable," she teased.
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Demoness
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Jia Li flushed and giggled and even Xel seemed to gain a little redness in his cheeks. "Thank you," she said sincerely. She wanted to kiss him, but she knew his limits on public affection and after years suppressing their feelings, they had enough of a secret language to express it more subtly. She separated from him slightly, allowing the distance to ease his slight embarrassment.

"And it's not like I stumble into danger every day," she continued lightly, purposely drawing attention away from him, and laughed. "I just happened to be nearby when some unfortunate events happened and, actually, the first time it happened my sister and I were able to reconcile with my father."
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Cetatsenia
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Gavrila's smile grew even broader as she watched the couple's reactions. It was funny, and seeing Xel embarrassed was funny as well. Gavrila enjoyed messing around and teasing people like that, in ways that weren't actually hurtful.

Then her smile fell, and her expression turned uncharacteristically somber when Jia Li mentioned her reconciliation with her father. Somber with a hint of anger and hatred beneath the surface. It reminded Gavrila of her relationship with her parents, or rather her lack of a relationship. Her younger twin brother Carol had always been the favourite, as he was the heir. Gavrila's parents barely paid any attention to her except to tell her how much of a disappointment she was. It didn't even stop when Carol died, and it got even worse in some ways. There were several times that her mother accused Gavrila of killing her brother out of spite, and Gavrila didn't know whether it was the grief over losing her favourite child or whether she truly believed it. And the only reason her mother resigned and didn't keep the title of Knez until she died was because her health grew worse and worse, and she thought she was going to die. Gavrila and her parents had never reconciled. Never even come close in fact, and Gavrila was certain that they never would; she hated her parents for the way they treated her, and that wasn't an overstatement.

And Gavril noticed his cousin's change in demeanor and moved to put his arm around her. But Andreea got there first, putting her arm across her shoulder and gave Gavrila a small smile. It was a rare and touching moment between the two.

Then Andreea looked up at Jia Li. "Zat is still more often zan any of us have faced danger," she said, "Our lives have been razer safe. And it is good zat you were able to make peace wiz your fazer, right Gavrila?"

The Knezinja looked up at Jia Li and gave a tentative smile, "Da. It is good zat you were able to reconcile."
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Demoness
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Despite the apparent obliviousness Jia Li at times displayed, she could pick up on moods; even though her father had rarely come around in a good mood and she'd always been quickly shielded from his tantrums, she had learned how to read body language. Her mood was made clearer by Andreea's empathy, but Jia Li would not ask; their culture limited social interaction by degrees of intimacy and Gavrila had not broached the topic.

"It has had its downsides, but I'd say it's been worth it," Jia Li replied. "And he tries to make up for lost time in his own way."

"After he had some sense beat into him," Xel added quietly.
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