Asiana

Argent wrote:

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!! <3

Ditto.

Argent wrote:

Appearing from the shadows as the Prince assumed he was hiding, Jin-ho made straight for the bar in the room as he answered the Prince, "To be blunt, your highness, yes. Yes, he is trying to kill you."

Opening the bar and quickly finding the good baijiu with a smile Jin-ho starts pouring two glasses, "Maybe not actively, mind you, but he is certainly setting you up for failure."

"He knows that the situation is bad. Very bad. So bad, that he and you both are not likely to fix it without serious external help; likely from the Imperial Army." Jin-ho returns the cap to the bottle and places the expensive liquor back in the bar. He walks over to where the Prince sits and offers him a glass. "A call which he will not do in order to save his own skin."

Sitting himself down next to Zixin, Jin-ho continues, "Summoning the full might of the Colonial Militia would draw too much attention as well." The agent takes a quick sip of the baijiu and gives an audible sigh. "That's good."

"So, he is setting you up to be the fall guy. If you fail at Sana'a then you can be blamed for the entirety of the situations severity because you were too incompetent to win or manage the war. Then he can ride in ahead of the Colonial Militia or the Imperial Army sweep the insurgents aside in glorious Imperial fashion." He declares sweeping his hand through the air before turning it into a fist. He turns back to his drink and takes another sip.

"He'll be hailed as a hero and you'll be cast down again as a failed upstart. Or you'll be dead. Win-win for him." Jin-ho sighs as he shakes his head, "Even if you succeed, he takes credit for providing you with forces. Minimal though they be."

The man then jumps to his feet and downs the last of the baijiu in his glass before making for the bar again. At the bar he takes the bottle out and this time decides to take it with him back to his seat next to Zixin. Before he sits he gives Zixin a wicked smile, "What we need to do is out maneuver him in an embarrassing fashion. A coup de grâce."

Zixin begrudgingly takes the glass offered to him and takes a small sip; not really interested in drinking, but equally disinterested in being completely sober. As Jin-ho elaborates on Governor Xiong's motives, Zixin hopes it will throw some water on the angry inferno building at the notion of this fat, aged governor standing in his way.

The drink does not help as Jin-ho continues to speak on the Governor's motives and two faced nature which only fuels the fire. He propels himself to his feet and paces about erratically for a moment, hoping to dispel some of the agitation at Jin-ho’s mention of being "cast down as a failed upstart." The word 'fail' echoes in his head as heat bubbles in his chest. He can feel the warm flush of anger working its way up his neck, and it takes everything in his power to contain his emotions and to not lash out. He breathes heavily through clenched teeth. His knuckles turn white in his balled fists.

Once his ire is successfully curbed, for now, the young prince turns to silence Jin-ho on the subject when he notices the Argentian agent's smile. Zixin knows the wicked smile as a sign that Jin-ho has a plan.

"I like embarrassing. I’d prefer utterly ruining, but embarrassing will do." Zixin retrieves his still- full glass and finishes it off in a few short gulps, enjoying how the warm burn of the alcohol spreads across his chest and literally melts the tension throughout his body. The prince raises the glass to Jin-ho for a refill. "What do you have in mind, my friend?"

United Gulf Sheikdoms Celebrate National Day

On this day on april 9th 1989, the 12 sheikdoms that form the country united to form the United Gulf Sheikdoms. The area was originally part of the Ottoman Empire then became a French protectorate in the 20th century and was a patchwork of sheikdoms with the most important being Doha and Manama as well as 10 other on the arabian peninsula. In 1971, they gained independance seperately from france and most of them quickly became rich thanks to their oill reserves. By 1989, pan arabism was rising in the Sheikdoms and the Emir of what was now Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, had a vision of uniting the sheikdoms and managed to do so after negotiations. He is now regarded as the founding father of the country. Today also marks another important date. Last year, at the same date, the current ruler shocked the country by winning a lawsuit against the government preventing it to elect a new dynasty to rule the country and becoming the first female reigning monarch in the country, which greatly empowered women and sent shockwaves through the arab world. Aisha Al Thani now rules the country hoping to improve the lives of her people. While the country is rich, its economy is mostly reliant on Oil and Natural Gas exports. To celebrate, a large military parade was held in Doha followed by shows and massive fireworks.

Trans-amur wrote:

The ambassador exited the plane smiling and waving. Upon meeting Minister Cao he too bowed in respect before shaking his hand rather enthusiastically and also rather tightly without knowing it. When he realized just how tight his grip was he instantly let go and apologized for his mistake.

"Haha. Sorry about that Minister Cao I did not mean to hurt your hand."

After hearing the concern from Minister Cao the Ambassador laughs and smiles. Finding the whole ordeal to be a rather fun affair. He takes a shot of vodka after getting in the vehicle. The bodyguards decline the offer.

"This whole ordeal has been the most fun I've had all my life, I almost want it to happen again. Alas though, I understand your concern for me but I believe the escort won't be necessary. The Republic has deployed it's most elite forces to clear the areas of.. Troublesome fauna. I do hope these talks prove more fruitful though than my trip, though I suspect things might be harder than I'd like to think."

He takes another shot as he looks out the windows at the festivities.

"It's nice and peaceful, the air is fresh and the people are happy. Not like home. Home is hard, people are harder and life is somewhat tough but it is the life we make do with." He laughs abit before smiling and turning to the Minister. "How are things with you? My good Sir."

(im sorry for the length again XD)

Retrieving his hand from the ambassador, Minister Cao held it limply in front of him with a joking smile, "A strong grip from a strong man! It makes me wish for the days of my youth when I was not so skin and bones."

As Vadinkov told his story and enjoyed some vodka, the Minister too enjoyed a few shots of liquor from the bar as he listened; preferring the traditional Baijiu liquor from the bar. He gave a hardy chuckle when the tough Russian had mentioned enjoying the whole affair actually.

The Minister looks out the window at the city streets of Beiping that is full of people enjoying the festivities made for this summit. "It is nice and peaceful now, but this city knows too the hardships of difficult life. A mere decade ago this city was largely empty and half in ruined because of the wars with Choson. Today it is alive and vibrant because of hope and hard work. No small part being played by the Crown Prince himself."

He let's out a heavy sigh as his memories play back scenes of warfare and suffering people. Shaking his head and taking a shot of the Baijiu to clear his mind he continues, "That is why we thought it best that Beiping be the place for our summit. This city and its people can relate to the hardships you face. Together we can form a bond to make each others lives stronger and more prosperous."

"With me you ask? Oh, the sands of time keep ticking by as the joints stiffen and the grey hairs grow." He lets out a hardy chuckle while stroking his largely white beard that has only the stray few black hairs remaining. "But I do so enjoy coming out of my office to personally conduct some good diplomacy!"

They finally arrive to the imposing front gates of the Palace. The walls and gate house tower nearly a hundred feet above them with the archers towers flanking the gate house rising another 50 feet on top of them. They pass through the gate house and out the other side into a large and spacious courtyard of cobblestone.

The entourage pulls up before a short marble staircase that leads to another, albeit much smaller gate in a much shorter ring wall. Minister Cao leads Ambassador and his men out of car and begins walking up the stairs. "This is Beiping palace complex. It was once the mightiest fortress in north China. It has been retrofitted as a civil palace since then. The outer walls and gate were kept for posterity."

Passing through the smaller, but intricately designed gate, they enter yet another cobblestone courtyard. Dominating the courtyard is a double-eaved white and red hall sat on a marble platform. Flanking the walkway to the hall are Imperial Guards with Imperial Standards and the standard of the Trans-Amur Republic. After crossing the courtyard between the stone like guards and climbing the two sets of staircases, they enter the hall.

The floor is polished marble which reflects the red columns and red rafters. Standing at the center of the room, just in front of the platform where a throne sits, is Grand Prince Wei speaking to some of his ministers. His long black hair is largely down with only enough tied up to hold his gold princely crown in place. He excuses himself from his ministers when he spots Minister Cao and Ambassador Vadinkov.

Walking toward the men, the light of the day time sun makes the golden feathers, that cover the shoulders of his outer robe, glisten.

"Ambassador Vadinkov, a pleasure and honor to meet you in person." The Grand Prince says with a warm and happy smile before bowing his head with his hands folded together and outstretched in front of him. Minister Cao immediately bows his head lowly and salutes the Grand Prince with his own hands folded and outstretched above his bowed head.

"I hope your flight here was far easier than your first?" The prince asks raising his head and then bowing to the Minister. Wei then gestures for them to follow him.

He leads them past the throne and through the hall. They exit the hall into the daylight again where they find a covered bridge that leads to a 3 story triple-eaved palace surrounded by a large moat of water. After crossing the bridge and entering the palace they finally reach another bridge that leads out to a pavilion that sits on the small man made lake which feeds the moat around the palace proper. The lake is in the palace's park where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the air is full of their sweet scent.

Sitting at the table and chairs provided at the pavillion, the Prince lets out a sigh, "Ah, finally." He chuckles, "That feels longer everyday as I get older. I think I am feeling Minister Cao's pain."

The Minister chuckles too, "You have not yet begun to feel the pains of age, your highness!"

Letting out a few laughs, Wei returns his attention to Vadinkov, "Ambassador, welcome to my home. I have to say, you have seen so much of my city and my palace. Sadly, I know very little of your country. Please, tell me about Vladivostok. Tell me about Trans-Amur." He cheerily asks while servants arrive to provide various drinks, teas, and small appetizers of dumplings, spring and egg rolls, wontons, and more.

Firenze, Florentinz

Argent wrote:

-snip-

Queen Alexandria strokes the long red cape hung from her back, staring from the balcony of her manor across the sun-baked city streets. By midday, the sun beat down relentlessly on the Italian peninsula at a smoldering 29°C. Despite this, a cool breeze, picked up from the Arno canal that beautifully swims through the city, breezes across her face— whisping strands of untucked brown hair from under the Florentine crown.

“Your Majesty,” the old, yet soft voice of Verecondo Carone comes from the open doors of the cartography room just behind her. She turns, breaking her passionate glare across the city:
“Mister Carone.” she replies shortly, acknowledging the scheming master of Florentine’s intelligence agency.
“A beautiful day, is it not?” he notes.
“Quite. The weather is nice— Summer is approaching.”
“We still have to get through the Spring.”
“Ah, but there is no Spring in Italia. There is either bitter cold or boiling heat.” she says with a half-hearted laugh, still somewhat breaking out of her earlier trance.
“That there is not, La Duce.”
“What brings you here?”
“I come with news.”
“As I would imagine, that is your job as I remember.”

Verecondo takes a few steps forward, handing the Queen an envelope. While modern technology was in public and private hands across the nation, Florentinz would never lose its flair of traditions from its classical past. Her eyes glance over the letter’s contents, before returning her gaze to Verecondo’s spider like face:

“There is someone to see me?”
“A foreign dignitary. Dythia Ylad of Argent.”
“Dythia… The Emperor’s sister, no?”
“I believe you two have met before.” he says, now placing his hands on the balcony himself and glancing over the mesmerizing scenery of urban Florence; the sun painting the streets, clad with the Italian tricolour, in a golden bath.
“We have, in Veince. Perhaps... a year ago? She spins webs, like you… Except she’s much better at it—” she adds with playful sas, turning to him with a bitten tongue.
“Perhaps so,” he laughs, “it truly takes a master of intrigue to be the Imperatrix of Argent.”

A brief moment of silence ensues, a dark feeling grows between them as the words leave his mouth. They both knew the dangers of their Imperial neighbour, and despite the relative neutrality of the Florentine-Argent relations, Dythia Ylad arriving for diplomatic purposes was something to tie a knot in anyone’s stomach— friend or hardened foe.

“Bring her to me then.” she says finally; Nodding in confidence.
“Yes, your Majesty.”
“Offer her the best amenities. We want to make good, honest impressions for our guest.”

A letter, sealed with the stamps of both the Royal Assembly and the House of Acordolo

TO:
The Diplomatic Office of the Royal Imperial Guard of Greater polaris

Her Most Serene Majesty, La Duce Alexandria Acordolo, understands the Imperial Guard's disquietudes in concern of the social stability of Greater Polaris.

The Royal Assembly, each of accounted, agree in absolute confidence: Emperor Jeremiah the Fifth and his Imperial House along with his unrecounted base of support, including private citizens, the Imperial Guard, and organized/unorganized Loyalist militias, are the unquestioned, legitimate rulers of Polaris.

In accordance with the wishes of Her Majesty the Queen, we hereby offer you our collaboration in counter-intelligence and clandestine operations against those wishing to upset the balance of power in the Polarian state; via the tools and tactics of the MdV (Ministero della Verità).

It has been made clear by all members of the Royal Assembly that safeguarding the Polarian regime and Royal Family is of the utmost importance. Please forward further inquiries directly to the house of Queen Alexandria Acordolo, and Verecondo Carone of the MdV.

Regards,
Her Most Serene Majesty of the Florentine, Greater Italian, and Aegyptus realms, La Duce Alexandria Acordolo.