((OOC: Note: Ikrisia and her guest are staying at the resort for approximately one week, even if the RP goes a little longer than that in real-time))
Near Area 12
Subdued synth music played calmly over the loudspeakers and mixed well with the sweet-smelling air that surrounded the resort as the late afternoon set in. The beachfront near the resort was particularly picturesque and pure blue skies interrupted only by a slowly descending sun met the turquoise tides on the horizon, occasionally dotted with small craft or birds. Beige beaches were perfect locales for lounge chairs, hammocks, and small open-air huts and were bedecked with coconut drinks and liquor cocktails. And while it was indeed warm, a soft breeze blowing in from the ocean kept any unpleasantness to a minimum. And, even if the sun did manage to become a bother, the tall, mature palm trees and umbrellas offered just enough respite.
In short, while Shango was known to be a bit odd of a nation, they seemed to know how to make a great resort.
“No offense, but I sort of don’t really… fit in here,” Yensey Nekuslov said. He wore a pair of black shorts with a white stripe down the side - fairly rudimentary for a Vekaiyun. “I’ve never actually been to a place like this before.”
“Don’t worry, I don’t really fit in here either,” Ikrisia replied. She was wearing a one piece swimsuit with swirls and prints of varying shades of green. It was designed for competitive swimming, as most swimsuits in Vekaiyu are designed for functionality. Large shades hid her eyes. “But I learned early on that if one didn’t take time to relax, it was rather easy to burn out.” She set a glass in the sand near some snorkeling gear.
“Yeah, that sounds right.”
Ikrisia and Yensey had managed to keep their relationship out of the public eye since June, but the safeguards they had put in place were beginning to crack ever so slightly. Ikrisia, who needed a bit more time away from Eldura, would find any excuse to travel to Provinsk, as Yensey had yet to make a commitment and move to the Vekaiyun capitol. Perhaps it was good that a new job was on the horizon, as his work ethic was noticeably reduced, especially lately. But he didn’t want to be handed a job; rather, he was looking to move up and wanted his credentials to speak for itself. Still, the prospect of maintaining a relationship with the Premier and consistently delivering with formulation deadlines made for a foreboding situation. It was what he wanted, though.
“Don’t you take vacations often?” Ikrisia asked, peering from her shades.
He shrugged. “Of course. But not like this. I’ve been to the beaches near Calesu, but usually a vacation for me is traveling to Fek, or places near Provinsk. Or even Listonia. I’m… not much of a traveler. I appreciate familiar surroundings.”
She smirked. “Don’t we all.”
“You’re not a traveler?” Yensey asked with bemusement. “You’re the Premier! You’re always going everywhere. Especially when you first started. You were like two people or something, it seemed.”
“I didn’t like it. I just did what I needed to do. That’s what was important.” She shifted in the reclined lounge chair she was resting in. “But I’ve grown accustomed to nice beaches. The previous Minister of the Interior, Vinsent Miloskari, kept pushing me to take time off.” She smiled slightly. “It was so bad that he ended up scheduling stuff for me before I took the initiative.”
“I remember him. He was the native son. He was one of the few that stood up to Selvala.” Selvala McEva, the previous Premier of Vekaiyu, was still serving time in a Carbonis sanatarium.
“He was a mentor to me, really.” She sighed. “I was just a Kral Commodore - I never served in a state position, so I didn’t really know what to do. He taught me how to do much of this. Talking to diplomats. Showing personality instead of just meeting objectives. Heck, having a drink now and then to show I am alive. That sort.” She turned to him. “You would’ve liked him, really.”
“Ma’am?”
Ikrisia turned and beheld a lemurian server wearing a stiff white cotton button-down shirt and stiff white cotton pants - the uniform of the resort staff.
“Would you care for another glass, ma’am?”
“Of course she would!” Yensey replied. He watched as Ikrisia smiled.
“Make that a double… for the gentleman that is my companion.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The two watched as he slowly walked away from them.
“Worried that anyone will know it’s you still?” he asked.
Ikrisia shrugged. “We might be safe here. But I know eventually we’ll have to let it be known publicly. You still like me… right?”
“I do. You know that. When are we planning on letting everyone know?”
“In time. It… has to be the right time.”
