It stays in the Family (Regalia in Listonia)

Roleplay Library
21

— Begin quote from ____

Premier Evesuni,

I will be honored to attend your regalia to represent the glorious state of Fortuna. Accompanying me to the regalia will be my assistant, Diana Colombo. We will do our best to arrive on time, but in case we don’t please excuse our late arrival. We hope to have a wonderful time at your new casino.

Sincerely,
Susan Locke
Second Commander of Fortuna

— End quote

[hr]
Just as the Premier’s opening speech came to close, Susan Locke rushed into the casino with her assistant in tow just in time to applaud along with the others. As the cheering started to calm down and the crowd began to disperse, Susan and Diana stood still and quietly looked around in similar fashion. From a distance the two of them would look alike with the same dark green dress and their hair tied back in a bun. The major difference was that Diana was the only one wearing glasses and her hair color dark brown compared to Susan’s blonde. Diana was also more reserved than Susan who was already looking for something to do.

“So, where’s the drinks?” Susan asked humorously as she looked at Diana. Seeing that her assistant was not that amused, she turned back to stare around the room. “Fine, I’ll get drunk on the trip back.”

“I think that would be a smarter choice, ma’am,” Diana replied nervously. Travelling out of Fortuna was not something new to her, but she was always a bit weary of unknown foreigners. From a young age, as many other Fortunans, she was taught to be careful of outsiders. Yet here she was, but thankfully it was with one of the few people she trusted the most who apparently was already indulging herself into a drink.

“Ma’am, where did you get that? And what is it exactly?” she asked her mistress in a concerned voice.

“I have no idea,” Susan replied as she held the drink up, “whatever it is, it’s delicious. Anyways, let’s go and socialize.” With her free hand, she grabbed Diana’s arm and pulled her along towards where everyone else was. The first person that caught her eyes was the one and only Premier of Vekaiyu. “Mrs. Levinile, it’s an honor to meet you. I’m Susan Locke, Second Commander of Fortuna, and this is my assistant, Diana Colombo.”

22

Evesuni looked and noticed other individuals who had joined the fray in addition to the delegation from Emberwood. He paused, not quite sure which nation they were from, nor understanding why someone would bow to him. “Welcome to Listonia,” he said in Unonian.

Kesia Ayestrovuyey, his interpreter, spoke in Codexian. “The Listonian Premier welcomes the delegation from Tuvaltastan.” The mentioning of the nation was close enough in Unonian where Evesuni finally caught on. She began to translate for him. “Was the flight alright? I know sometimes travel into Ye’leli can sometimes be difficult. The city grew very fast but we’re still getting used to it.”

23

Ikrisia stopped when she noticed a group from Fortuna step up to her and Yensey. Fortuna, of course, was important enough to listen to as they guarded several trade routes into Iskelevyu, which had become Vekaiyu’s main source of sea trade (it was easier to travel there and move across the Yasterian Highway System than it was to loop around Yasteria and arrive at a Vekaiyun port, depending on where capital were entering the union).

Ikrisia smiled, but her ears twitched at her title. “Oh, we’re not married, - we are merely… seeing each other.”

“Yensey,” he said as he shook their hands, having learned of the non-Vekaiyun way of greeting individuals. “I see you’ve got some Islovium to drink. Is it the Listonian kind? It’s not as strong what we get in Vekaiyu, but the jaku flavors are a little different in Listonia. Kind of almost like there’s some rye in it.”

“Yensey is a chemist working in Vekaiyu.”

“Yeah, I’ve developed a potion to make myself more appealing. I mean, it’s worked on her so far, right?” He looked over at Ikrisia.

She scoffed. “Perhaps I brainwashed you instead?”

“Mutual attraction,” he said with a smile. “She wipes my mind, I poison her. It’s a match made in Vekaiyu, really.”

Ikrisia suppressed a smile. “At… any rate, the honor is all ours, truly. While I have no part in the construction or opening of this casino, I do hope you and your assistant are treated well here. We do respect your nation and have enjoyed keeping the waters safe.”

24

— Begin quote from ____

“The Listonian Premier welcomes the delegation from Tuvaltastan. Was the flight alright? I know sometimes travel into Ye’leli can sometimes be difficult. The city grew very fast but we’re still getting used to it.”

— End quote

The moment the interpreter said “Tuvaltastan,” both Noskovs became ever so slightly annoyed in that passive aggressive way that only rich people seem to have a knack for.

“Uh…Yes, the flight was rather long, but we nonetheless had the comforts of home! I’ve heard about Ye’leli’s growth, what do you suppose is driving it? Exports? Services?” Although smiling, the Noskovs’ eyes contained the glare of irritation.

25

Evesuni knew that look. It was a look of superiority, but not simple superiority - it was like a recipe of wonderful kikale drowned in hot sauce to ruin the dish entirely. It was superiority mixed with disgust. He listened as Kesia interpreted for him, feeling a bit small in the process.

“Yeah, well, there’s farming, lots of cheap industry, some mining to the south, and we’re kind of at a lot of crossroads between roads, railways, and rivers. I mean, they probably have the same kind of business in Tuvaltastan. You know?”

He watched as she began to interpret what he said to them. This was no longer a friendly conversation as far as he was concerned. It was a way to show that he was more than whatever the world said about him. He could be cordial, he could be someone that would make it seamless.

26

Susan and Diana listened attentively as the two vulpines awkwardly flirted with each other, or that was what the two assumed was going on.

“Well they’re a… cute couple,” Susan whispered to Diana in Fortunan as she took another sip from the so called Islovium. Diana merely shook her head in agreement, eyeing the Susan’s glass suspiciously after hearing the mention of poison.

“Well the respect is mutual,” Susan said as she returned her attention to the vulpines. “Hopefully we will have built up a stronger, more beneficial relationship in the future, but we should probably hold that off for another time. Right now we’re here to celebrate the opening of this magnificent casino, might as well enjoy ourselves while we can. And… Yensey, right? You must treat me to some Vekaiyun drinks, I’m always in the search of new and exciting stuff.”

27

— Begin quote from ____

“they probably have the same kind of business in Tuvaltastan.”

— End quote

This man was trying to get into their heads, and the Noskovs could tell. The two simply smiled, Nicholas responding with “Yes. Yes, of course. We do do business within Tuvalt borders, but I must inform you that we reside in Kostromastan, and not Tuvaltastan.” Vera stopped smiling, looking at Evesuni to attempt to predict his next move.

28

Stapen provided a soft shrug after hearing what the man had said, his lips thinning as he grimaced. “I mean, you know, they’re kind of the same place when you think about it,” he said. He watched as his interpreter made a slight face, then repeated what he said. She wasn’t about to question him. She had already failed him once this night. Now her goal was to ensure he got enough drinks in him to make him forget.

“Ahm jayst brayken bahls!” he said in Codexian with a smirk as a server handed him a drink. He winked as the tattoo around his eye socket deformed throughout the entire procedure. He switched back to his native tongue. “Seriously, though, I kind of figured as much. I mean, you know what they say about us vulpines - we all look alike, you know?” He paused to let his interpreter speak. “Anyway, maybe we go for a drink, right?”

29

— Begin quote from ____

Stapen provided a soft shrug after hearing what the man had said, his lips thinning as he grimaced. “I mean, you know, they’re kind of the same place when you think about it,” he said. He watched as his interpreter made a slight face, then repeated what he said. She wasn’t about to question him. She had already failed him once this night. Now her goal was to ensure he got enough drinks in him to make him forget.

“Ahm jayst brayken bahls!” he said in Codexian with a smirk as a server handed him a drink. He winked as the tattoo around his eye socket deformed throughout the entire procedure. He switched back to his native tongue. “Seriously, though, I kind of figured as much. I mean, you know what they say about us vulpines - we all look alike, you know?” He paused to let his interpreter speak. “Anyway, maybe we go for a drink, right?”

— End quote

The Noskovs had been fooled by a simple trick, and they were ashamed. They laughed in a sheepish way, and replied, “Of course! Yanking our chain, so to speak. A drink sounds rather preferable at the moment.” The two followed Evesuni in his wake to the bar.

30

Iriney Yashkin leaned against the wall and sighed, ears flat against his head. This wasn’t his idea of a good time.

It had started out so nice, too. Sem’ya got offered a slice of the profit from the casino in exchange for a little more cooperation between the Listionian/Vekaiyuan mobs and the Stratarin-based Sem’ya. He was sent over, probably due to being a Vulpine, and immediately found himself alone and surrounded.

Sure, he was a gangster, and sure, he was a Vulpine, but there was a noticeable rift between him and his temporary coworkers here. The slightly longer fur and Strataric accent marked him distinctly as an outsider, and he was for the most part treated as such.

What made the matter worse was the Emberitian and Setznan higher-ups here. In Iriney’s mind, they were little more than accesories of the Strataric government to stomp all over organized crime. He lined President Verlhan up with a finger gun and pretended to put a round through his head.

After staying put just a little longer, he started meandering over to the bar. “I don’t suppose you can mix up a Mirovgrad Mule?” he asked the barkeep, painfully aware of his own accent.

31

“President Verlhan,” he said, nodding towards William. “I am Justinian Kalivas, Imperial Exarch of Kaeliv. My two companions are Constantine Palmaras, Imperator of Kaeliv, and Asklepios Castellanos, Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

“Ah, it is an honor to meet you” said William, Velhanz stood idly by, looking for an exit.

32

“It is an honor to meet you too, Sir.”

33

“Of course!” Yensey replied. He smiled as he motioned them to the bar closest to them. “There’s plenty to choose from, though I think the vulpine pallet is a little different than other species. It goes without saying I guess, when we’re all built differently after all. But maybe I could have them fix you something with a little clove?” He called for the barkeeper. “Excuse me, four drinks of Kurantoveye, please.” He turned to the two guests. “Kurantoveye kind of tastes like a cross between mint and clove, if that makes any sense. It’s pretty good, actually.” He watched as the bartender made the drinks. “So what kind of drinks do they make in your nation?”

34

Evesuni walked with Noskovs, trying to walk as casually as possible. Though his body ached, he knew giving any sort of weakness away could change how people viewed him. He was not a weak individual. He was used to being made fun of for his lack of eloquence, perhaps even his lack of intelligence from time to time, but he was not a weak man.

Rather than down his drink, he was careful not to get too inebriated. He was never one to get drunk, and when he did he was never physical. That just wasn’t him.

“What do you have a taste for?” he asked as his translator translated. She was careful to avoid drinks, but eyed the bartender, hoping to catch his attention for her boss and her leader. “We have a full stocked bar and everything.” When he leaned against the bar, he caught himself slightly, but made a point to avoid Yensey over on the other side of the bar.

35

— Begin quote from ____

Evesuni walked with Noskovs, trying to walk as casually as possible. Though his body ached, he knew giving any sort of weakness away could change how people viewed him. He was not a weak individual. He was used to being made fun of for his lack of eloquence, perhaps even his lack of intelligence from time to time, but he was not a weak man.

Rather than down his drink, he was careful not to get too inebriated. He was never one to get drunk, and when he did he was never physical. That just wasn’t him.

“What do you have a taste for?” he asked as his translator translated. She was careful to avoid drinks, but eyed the bartender, hoping to catch his attention for her boss and her leader. “We have a full stocked bar and everything.” When he leaned against the bar, he caught himself slightly, but made a point to avoid Yensey over on the other side of the bar.

— End quote

“I’ll have a Bakan whiskey, and for the missus…?” Nicholas turned to Vera, who responded with, “Absinthe, please. Smaller glass; don’t want to get too tipsy.” Vera chuckled at her own comment.

36

Nico looked at everyone suspiciously. They were all here to make friends, right?

Well, not him. He took out a cigarette and smoked it.

37

“It is an honor to meet you too, Sir.”

“This place is marvelous, isn’t it?” said William.

38

Justinian nodded, “It is indeed marvelous. I feel inspired to host my own. If I do host my own, it would take a lot of planning of course. Actually, in case I do host one soon, I want to extend an early invitation your way for you and your family.”

39

“We’d be glad to accept your invitation”

40

“Nothing special to be honest. Historically drinking has always been looked down upon until recently. Locally the most popular beverage I would have to say is beer with your average ingredients of rice and wheat, but I’ve grown rather tired of that. That is why I usually have all my drinks shipped in from around the world to fulfill my thirst.” Susan paused for a second and giggled. “Glory to Unus, I sound like a drunk. But yeah, my nation is not that special concerning drinks except for one example. Our science department thought it would be a great idea to try to turn seaweed into alcohol, and as the “national taste tester” I can say that their final product was… interesting to say the least. Not something I would drink again, but points to them for trying. They’re a bit weird like that, trying to use seaweed for everything.”