(OOC: Collab post between myself and Vulshain, the last in this thread.)
Cecilia nodded. “Well, Stu and I have a good understanding about our duties and that we both have responsiblities to take care of.”
Konstantin nodded. “Will you be staying in Vulshain or moving back to Laiatan?”
“Depends. I may have to move back and forth, but at the moment, we are discussing setting offices both here and in Laiatan. One for Stu and the other for me. That way we both can continue our duties.”
“I think he’ll be alright for his job. Luckily the Republican Guard falls under the Air Force, so it isn’t like he’s Chief of Staff. He’d have to give up his position if that was the case,” Konstantin continued.
“That or be promoted,” Cecilia replied
Konstantin laughed. “I don’t know where he’d go, he’s in charge of the Republican Guard, and the Chiefs of Staff are the heads of their branches.”
“Well, he could become one of the Chief of Staff. Anyhow, what do you think of Vulshain’s mech technology research? I’ve heard that many in Laiatanese military believe we should stop doing that research.”
“It doesn’t work like that, he’s in the Republican Guard, not the Air Force, Army, and so on,” Aleksandra said. “Anyway,” Konstantin continued, looking back to Cecilia after turning to listen to his wife. “I agree that the research shouldn’t be done to an extent you’re doing it. It’s just impractical to have massive mechs when you can have a hundred tanks, or fifty jets.”
“Yes, I have had the same thoughts lately myself, especially after looking at our budget.”
“Not to mention they’re hard to move around.”
“Agreed. Although we are experimenting with some laser weaponry, especially in terms of missile defense and anti-aircraft capabilities. Our siege tanks would be more effective actually as they proved themselves when took the Rygardi capital.”
“I’ll have to schedule a SITO meeting soon, though, especially in regards to Rygard,” she added.
Konstantin nodded in agreement. “I’m just glad that war’s finally over, and the troops have moved into a policing role.”
She nodded in reply. “It will take some time to do some cleaning house especially what with the corruption in Rygard’s military. Luckily, the Rygardi police were about the only ones who gave a damn about the civilians.”
“Perhaps you should consider putting the police above the military - temporarily, of course.”
“I’ve actually thought about that. The police were quite helpful when we were over there, so it makes sense actually.”
Konstantin nodded, and got ready to speak again before receiving a phone call. He pulled it out, and looked at the screen. “Ah, excuse me one minute.” He stepped away, leaving Aleksandra with Cecilia.
“So, how were the first years of starting a family like?”
“They weren’t too bad, actually. By the time I was pregnant the first time, we had plenty of money saved up and were able to support the child. That’s another reason it’s custom to wait, be sure you’re financially secure.”
“I see. Well, I don’t think I got to worry about my finances. I was always quite responsible and careful with my money.”
“And you’re also the Premier of Vulshain,” Aleksandra said with a laugh. Most people don’t have that problem in Laiatan anymore, but it’s just custom. It started back when the middle class was finally starting to grow in the hundred years or so before Yuri."
Cecilia smiled and laughed as well. “That too. It’s custom here too, but sometimes people fall in love, but that’s life.”
Aleksandra nodded. “Of course, of course.”
“Sort of what happened with me and Stu I guess. Anyhow, what do you think of Vulshain?”
“Oh, it’s a beautiful country. The people seem nice enough, especially here. Kind of humorous, if you think about it. Less than two hundred years ago, we hated each other.”
Cecilia laughed. “That is true, but time heals all wounds I guess.”
“Yeah, that’s true. Rivers taking power probably helped, too. We felt sympathy towards you considering we effectively had the same thing, only hundreds of years before.”
"It is true. You had Yuri and we had Rivers. Even though we’ve had a few bad rulers, none of them were like Yuri or Rivers.’
“That’s true. After Yuri, he became the guide on who was truly a bad leader,” Aleksandra repsonded, nodding in agreement.
"It is the same with any similar leader. Hitler, Stalin, Mao for example. "
“Yeah, there’ve been a couple ‘bad’ presidents, but nowhere near Yuri. They’d have been impeached and removed from office.”
“That is true. Scandals and really bad decisions would force any leader to step down.”
Konstantin returned to the two women, slipping an arm around Aleksandra. “So what’re we talking about?”
“Oh politics and history,” Cecilia replied.
“Always fun,” Konstantin said with a grin. “What part? Kosma, the Lai’s? Or are we talking more modern?” Aleksandra rolled her eyes, laughing softly. “You’ll have to excuse my husband, he’s got quite the interest in history.”
“Oh about bad leaders and things. And don’t worry, I have a strong interest in history myself. I’ve been quite interested in Laiatan’s history prior to Yuri.”
Konstantin nodded. “Set the whole stage for what Laiatan is today.”
“Indeed. I’m actually quite interested in Korolina Katherine I.”
“Ah, one of the actually good korolinas. What do you know about her,” Konstantin asked.
“Well, that she was instrumental in strengthening relations with our country as well as introducing many freedoms to her people.”
“She was also the longest reigning and most often called the favorite pre-Revolution leader.”
“I see. She reminds me of Queen Sybilla Merririn. She was a patron of the arts. She implemented many reforms including the construction of sewer systems. It is said that her policies help strengthen our nation’s love of the arts, in fact making us quite popular for visiting artists all across the world. In fact, many artists who were critical of Zukov fled to Vulshain rather than face the
noose.”
“Interesting,” Konstantin replied. “Do you know how many artists fled?”
“I’m not sure, but a good many. Musicians, dancers, painters, and others fled to our nation. Vulshain was very open and willing to aid many who wished to escape Laiatan when Zukov rose to power. Of course the thing that has always been a problem between Vulshain and Laiatan has been the gypsies. Vulshain has laws protecting their nomadic lifestyle.”
“Prior to King Konstantin Arkadyon’s reign, gypsies were looked down upon, and some tried to force them to give up their culture. However, when a gypsy piper played for the Court of King Konstantin Arkadyon, he was so amazed by the performance that he abolished many unpopular anti-gypsy laws and implemented a good many that protected the gypsies, one of which allows them to move from province to province without having to register. There aren’t many gypsies, but there are a few left, mainly near our two borders. The main reason for the issue is I don’t think Laiatan recognizes the gypsies’ nomadic ways.”
Konstantin nodded. “I know a bit on this. There aren’t really any laws protecting them. The only ones I know of are laws forbidding their travel on private land. And movement between provinces is open and free anyway, so that doesn’t particularly matter.”
“Well the thing is we allow them to set up outside of cities or in public squares and parks where they can set up festivals and markets. It is their way to make money and help increase tourism for the city. However, I don’t think Laiatan allows them to do that.”
“They’re usually fine as long as it’s government land and isn’t in use, or say something like ‘No Trespassing’.”
“Well, they tend to just go in and set up, which can be an annoyance at times, but some gypsies will at least let someone know that they are setting up somewhere. They tend to be picky where they set up though.”
“Like where?”
“Well, they tend to set up in parks and also, if more than one gypsy band sets up, it can be a problem as they will request that the roads be blocked off so they can set up roadside markets, although we are working on a solution on that.”
“Laiatan doesn’t have many gypsies anyway, except for really the ones moving across from Vulshain. I do know we require them to have a paper that allows them to come into the country.”
She nodded. “Well, in the past it was something a problem between our countries, but I think we have worked things out though.”
“I think so. I haven’t heard much complaining,” Konstantin replied.
“True. Anyhow, Queen Sybilla Merririn was a devote follower of the Den Mother, although she was criticized a lot for her…promscious actions. She was known to have quite a few dalliances with artists and dancers.”
“Ah, I see. Did this continue through her reign,” he asked.
“Unfortunately, yes, but not as much as prior to it.”
“When was she in power,” Aleksandra asked.
“1771 to 1812,” she answered.
“So then we were already a Republic,” Konstantin said.
“No wait, she ruled from 1671 to 1712.”
“Oh, okay. Those were the good years in the Koroldom.”
“Indeed. The same with us,” Cecilia added.
“They were all good up until about Yuri’s coming to power.”
“That is true. Our leaders attempted to warn Yuri that he was shooting himself in the foot, but well, he didn’t listen.”
“Yeah, Yuri was hard headed like that.”
“Indeed. If you will excuse me I think Stu and I are due to cut the caek now.”
“It was nice meeting you both.”
“Nice to meet you too,” Konstantin and Aleksandra replied, heading off in another direction.
She met up with Stu. “So, ready to cut the caek?”
Stu nodded, smiling. “Sure, let’s do it.”
She smiled. Sam handed Stu and Cecilia the sword to the caek. “It’s traditional for the bride and groom to cut the caek with a sword.”
Stu took the sword and held it with Cecilia, ready to cut the caek.
They then began to cut the caek, accompanied by several people taking pictures with cameras or smartphones or recording it to show others who couldn’t make the wedding. Everyone cheered for them as Cecilia smiled and gave Stu a kiss on the cheek.
Stu smiled as he pressed a kiss to Cecilia’s cheek.
She took some of the icing and put on Stu’s nose, causing everyone to laugh.
She joined their laughing.
Stu laughed with them, taking a bit more icing and rubbed it on Cecilia’s nose.
Cecilia wiggled her nose as she laughed too.
Stu continued laughing as he served Cecilia and himself caek, someone else taking over for the caek cutting.
“You know this is something out of a storybook wedding,” Cecilia told her husband.
Stu nodded, staying close to his wife. “It is, isn’t it? Everything seems so perfect.”
“Indeed.” She smiled. “Let’s sit with the others.” They soon found Stu’s parents, the Queen Dowager, Sam and Cecilia’s other siblings.
Stu smiled as he pulled a seat out for Cecilia, and took a seat next to her.
Cecilia smiled as she sat down next to him. “So,” she turned to Stu’s parents, “are you two enjoying the wedding?”
Frederik and Natalia nodded, a great big smile on their faces. “Yes, very much. And we’re also very proud,” Frederik said, smiling over at the two.
“Thank you both,” Cecilia said. Sam smiled. “We’re proud of her too,” Taisyia said.
“Thank you, everyone,” Stu replied, beginning to eat his caek.
Cecilia smiled and began eating her caek as well. “So, where are you two going for your honeymoon?”
“We’re going to go visit northern Laiatan. Go around, see the sights, enjoy nature.”
“I look forward to it,” Cecilia said.
Stu nodded, taking a drink of water. “It is lovely up there,” Zak said, walking over with Tanya.
“I guess you two went there,” Erik asked.
“I lived in Orholva, Severitsa until I was 18,” Zak replied. “And we did go up north for our honeymoon as well, check out all the Revolution stuff.”
“You have to tell us some of the most popular sites then,” Cecilia asked.
“You definitely have to check out the campsite of his army when they were first getting built up. It’s incredible how they fit several thousand people in a small little location.”
Cecilia smiled and wagged her tail. “Stu, we have to see that.”
Sam chuckled. “That’s Cecilia for you: always the history buff.”
“Nothin’ wrong with it,” Zak said with a grin. “History’s a pretty important thing.”
“Indeed,” Sam said. “You two will probably have a lot of fun out there,” he added
“You’ll also have to go see oh… what was the name of it… Oh! Fort Vysokaya. It’s one of the forts built by Zukov after the Revolution to protect the borders from any foreign power. It’s built into a mountain.”
“Probably built to keep an eye on us. We did help many nobles escape when he came to power.”
“It’s actually one of the more northern forts, so I doubt he built it for that reason,” Zak replied.
“Oh okay,” Natalka said.
“Anyway, it’s pretty cool. It was actually stationed by a unit from the Strategic Missile Troops from the 60s to about the mid 70s.”
“Wow. Go on,” Cecilia asked as she continued to eat her caek.
“They stationed some SAM batteries up there before they had built a new site, so they decided to just use one that had been built beforehand.”
“I see,” Cecilia said. “Well, what other sites are there?”
Zak thought for a moment. “I’m sure there were other sites, but I can’t recall there names right now.”
"It’s okay. I’m sure we’re find out when we get there. Stu, you got a little bit of caek on your nose.’
Stu laughed, taking his napkin and wiping it off. “Thank you,” he said with a grin.
She gently kissed him on the cheek. “We do have to take care of a few things before we leave for our honeymoon.”
“Of course, I wasn’t expecting us to immediately go on it,” Stu said with a laugh.
She laughed as well. “Although, you two probably won’t be getting any sleep tonight,” Anna joked.
Stu rolled his eyes, laughing. “I’m sure we will.”
Cecilia shook her head. “Well, I don’t think we’ll be complaining,” she teased her husband.
Stu laughed, nudging Cecilia. “Remember, my parents are right here.” Frederik was laughing to himself a bit, Natalia shaking her head.
“Oh,” she said, blushing. “Sorry.”
“We were expecting it, just not expecting it’d be talked about openly,” Frederik said, still laughing.
“Well, I might be a bit tipsy,” Cecilia admitted, still blushing
Stu laughed, hugging his wife from the side.
She smiled, wagging her tail. “Your son is very sweet.”
“Thank you, we hope he is. That’s how we raised him,” Natalia said with a smile.
“He is. And he is safe hands,” Cecilia said.
“Good, we hope so.”
“Oh Zak, I need to eventually set up a date for the first SITO meeting,” Cecilia told the Laiatanese President.
Zak nodded. “Alright. Sometime in April will do just fine on my end. Just call and let me know.”
“I will. I also need to set up a meeting with your military liasion to discuss some things as well.”
“Alright. You should be able to call him directly, you have his number, correct?”
“I think so. I don’t have my phone with me right now. This is my wedding of course.”
“Of course, I was just being sure.” Zak laughed, patting Stu on the back.
“Stu will have to come along as well, he is the head of the Republican Guard,” Sam added
“Would you prefer the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff?”
“Well, we’ll have to think about that now,” Natalka said.
“If it’s military related between our countries, they’d be the ones to invite if you’re inviting Stu. They head all the branches of the military.”
“Hm…that makes sense, I guess. We’ll set up a date in April or early May to see when we can do this,” Natalka replied.
“Alright, perfect. Just send me all the details.”
“We will.”
“Are there any members of the Joint Chiefs who were well, not happy about the SITO,” Sam asked.
Zak shook his head. “No, not really. They’re all very vocal, and nobody said they weren’t happy with it.”
“I see. Anyhow, any updates on the elections?”
“Still showed winning by a landslide. That’s from all news outlets and parties, not just us.”
“That’s good,” Taisyia said.
“So, there shouldn’t be any surprises,” Zak said, putting his arm back around his wife.
“Well, be careful. We had a politician who was sure to win, until, a sex scandal, drastically swung the polls against her just days before the elections ended,” Sam warned.
“Well, I don’t plan on committing any scandals, and there isn’t anything scandalous I’ve done in my life that’ll effect the results,” Zak said, laughing a bit.
“That’s good. I guess your wife is the reason for that,” Cecilia teased.
“Let’s just say you wouldn’t be talking to him if he had committed anything… scandalous,” Tanya teased, holding Zak close.
Sam laughed. “Oh, maybe we should have done the ball and chain joke on Stu.”
“What do you mean,” Stu asked with a laugh.
“Oh Sam had this idea of coming to your bachelor party and asking your friends to put a ball and chain on your leg. You know the ball and chain joke when a man gets married.”
“Ah, right.” Stu laughed a bit, finishing off his caek.
Cecilia chuckled.
“You two are probably going to love this,” Sam smiled.
“Later tonight, we are going to shoot off fireworks in honor of you two,” Anna said.
“Really,” Stu asked, a smile on his face.
“Really,” Natalka replied. “You two deserve it. Besides, Cecilia is our sister.”
“Well, thank you. We really appreciate it,” Stu said, taking a drink of his water.
“You’re quite welcome,” Sam said.
Soon the wedding party was ending. Cecilia grinned as she tossed her bonquet of flowers in the air behind her. Every women rushed to get it! The one who caught it was Erik’s girlfriend, Coline.
“Hurry and take off her garter,” a Laiatanese officer yelled, which resulted in some laughter.
With a laugh, Stu knelt down next to Cecilia and removed the garter. Standing back up with it in hand, he tossed it behind him to the group of waiting men.
Erik nearly fell over as he caught the garter. “Yes!” His Vekaiyun grandfather sighed. “By the Almighty, boy, this is a wedding! Not a Laiatanese football game!”
The men in the group laughed, helping Erik maintain his balance. The group clapped for him, since his girlfriend caught the boquet.
Sam smiled. “Stu, you take good care of my sister!”
“Or we will turn you…into…into…a poodle,” Taisyia yelled. Everyone laughed.
Stu laughed, waving to Sam and Taisyia. “Will do, she’s in good hands.”
“Besides, I can’t see you looking like a poodle.”
“Yeah, I’d rather keep all my hair,” Stu replied with a laugh.
“You and me both!” She waved to everyone as she kissed Stu. Anna was crying. “My little sister has gotten married!”
Sam smiled as he patted Stu’s father on the back. “You raised a great son.”
Frederik smiled, nodding. “Thank you, Sam. It means a lot. I know your sister will be in great hands.”
He nodded. “And Stu is in good hands too.”
“I believe it,” he responded.
They all watch as Stu and Cecilia got back in the coach to head back to the palace. “So, looking forward to the fireworks this evening?”
Stu nodded, relaxing a bit in the couch. He placed his arm around her, pulling her closer.
“So, we now begin our new life together as husband and wife.”
“And mother and father,” Stu said, placing a hand on Cecilia’s stomach.
She smiled, leaning her head on Stu’s shoulder. “We are going to have to tell your parents about that and me being Yuri’s descendant. Don’t know which one your father will freak out more to.”
“I think he’ll be okay as long as we don’t call him Yuri, if its a boy of course,” Stu said with a laugh, resting his head on Cecilia’s.
“Well that’s a relief.” She was quiet for a bit. “Seriously, he’ll be okay as long as we don’t call the boy Yuri?”
“I’d assume so. He knows I love you, and he’ll just have to accept it.”
“That is true.” She held his hand. Their two wedding rings touching each other.
Stu smiled, looking down at his. “Incredible they were able to make rings like this so long ago.”
“Indeed,” she replied. “So, what do you want in your office when we get it ready?”
“Eh, let’s worry about that when we need to. It’s our wedding night.”
She nodded. “I’m going to love being your wife,” she said with a smile.
“I’m going to love being your husband,” Stu responded with a smile.
Later that night, Cecilia and Stu were on a balcony of a fancy restaurant not far from the palace. “Fireworks should be getting ready soon. I can’t believe Sam got us reservations here. This place is almost always hard to get reservations. Even government officials have trouble getting reservations.”
“Well, when you’re the king I don’t think you’ve got an issue,” Stu replied with a laugh, looking up in the sky.
“Well, he probably had to book the reservation months in advance,” she replied.
“Could be it,” Stu replied, smiling at his wife.
Their food arrived. Cecilia had ordered shrimp alfedo. As soon as the waiter had left the first firework went off, lighting up the night sky.
Stu grinned as he placed his napkin in his lap once his chicken alfredo arrived. He looked up into the sky to watch the fireworks, before returning his attention back to Cecilia.
“Beautiful isn’t it. Seems my family really went all out to celebrate our wedding,” she said.
Stu nodded, smiling. “I appreciate it so much.”
“Same here,” she said. “Besides you’re part of the Rainard family too.”
“And you’re part of the Riskotov family, too.”
“Well, this food isn’t going to eat itself now,” she said chuckling before she began to eat. “Oh my!” She said as one of the fireworks had lite up the sky with a heart with Cecilia and Stu’s names in the center. It read, ‘Cecilia and Stu Forever.’
Stu looked up and smiled as the firework disappeared, looking back over to Cecilia and leaning across the table, kissing her.
She kissed him back. “Let’s eat now.”
Stu nodded, gently taking her hands and saying a quick prayer to the Den Mother. He began eating, smiling at Cecilia.
She smiled and began eating as well.
She was very happy. And she knew Stu was too. Besides, their family would eventually have a few new members