AWWA-Yesterday, Today, and Forever(IC-Closed)

[Shrillland]

May 1, 1897
Buckingham Palace
London

The Good Queen Victoria was in her most regal attire today, as her dear nephew was expected to be arriving from Japan today. It was a big month for Britain and her Empire, as it was the Diamond Jubilee of both rulers. The Empire had been rebuilding nicely after the Great War, and although Ukraine-Romania was in the midst of chaos, and the British in Guyane were becoming increasingly truculent, it seemed that at last, there would be peace and stability in a new golden age.

The New Orleans conference had led to the creation of a new organisation called the United Nations, and many safeguards had been enacted to govern the conduct of man in peace and war. Now affairs would have to be settled by negotiation rather than by conflict, and this led to the disarmament of many nations and a focus towards the arts and humanities. Social ideals were growing throughout the Empire, and a new Labour Party was on the rise to address the social ills in Britain.

Yes, for the first time in many years, it looked like the world was finally a tranquil place...

[Unicario]

May 1, 1897
London

The IJN Circumstance, a seventy year old ship that had once carried Emperor Alexander across the globe, made it's final voyage to London, where, upon it's return to Tokyo, it would be forever retired and turned into a museum ship. The ship itself sailed into London Harbor, the Five Bands of Freedom flag flying high and free in the wind. Crowds of people had shown up to wish well the elderly Emperor of Japan. This year marked his sixtieth year of reign. While he hadn't been officially coronated until 1838, His reign was considered to have started on December 25, 1837, the day his father was slain.

With a beaming smile, the elderly Emperor walked off the boat, waving to the British people. Following him off the ship was Princess Elizabeth and Prince George. Three generations of Japan's royalty had arrived at Britain to pay homage to Alexander and Victoria. A fourth person followed the trio of royals, Ferdinand Eichemann, the world acclaimed author, had been contracted by the Japanese government to write an account of the 1897 celebration for publication. He was followed by his sixteen year old adoptive son, Ludwig Eichemann.

Eichemann was carrying a briefcase for the Emperor, in which lied a gift from Alexander to Victoria to commemorate the events. He was whisked off to Buckingham Palace with his entourage, and when they arrived, they were brought to Victoria. The doors opened, and a guard announced. "Presenting his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Alexander of Japan, Duke of Kent, Strathearn and Gloucester, and his entourage, Princess Elizabeth, Crown Princess of Japan, Lord Toyohara, Prince George, as well as Lord Taiyoshi, Ferdinand Eichemann, and his son, Ludwig!"

Alexander entered the room, leaning a bit on his cane. He grinned at his aunt, "Vicky! It's been far too long since we've seen each other!"

---

He wasn't the only one arriving in London that day. To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, many people had come to Britain to commemorate the reign of one of history's most memorable monarchs. Empress Iulia II of Rum, along with her eldest son Prince Mehmed had arrived onboard the Classis Alexandria, a top-of-the-line naval ship in the Rumite navy.

At the same time, the seventeen year old Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, along with her regent, Emma, had arrived as well, onboard the Willem III, to celebrate. Wilhelmina was unhappy to be forced to attend along-side her regent, even though she was 17 and more than capable of running the Netherlands without her. She intended to ask Queen Victoria the best advice on what to do at this point.

Maritza of Tawantinsuyu happily attended as well, despite her being very pregnant. She was accompanied by her husband, a Central American businessman named Ángel de Domingo.

[Bojikami]

Kiev, Ukraine-Romania

Tsar Oleksandr himself felt a sense of accomplishment. His pogroms against the Crimean and generally islamic populations drove these people from the safety of the cities and into the settlements that he had prepared for the people on the borderlands of the Empire. Soon, he thought. Soon the final solution for the Crimean menace shall come to fruition.. He himself received angry letters from commoner and leader alike for his actions, some stated he was preparing to kill these people, while most seemed so think it was just Ukraine-Romania being its old self. That minority, however, would not be able to fathom how right they would be.


Rome, Roma Italia

It had been a few years since the horrible plot devised by Consul, or "Il Duce" Benito Mussolini and Horatius' son Titus succeeded and Horatius was forcibly removed from power. Since then, Mussolini and Titus, sharing the same ideology and same goals, used their combined power over the senate to outlaw multiparty elections, roll back civil and political liberties, and they began to designate certain provinces for certain ethnic minorities. The "Pacificazione" plan saw the Jews in Italy moved to isolated areas in Sardinia, the Germans and French, however, saw no form of forced migration, as Mussolini was fine with them keeping to their own regions, so long as they spoke Latin, which was officially spoken by 86% of the population. The other 14% mostly consisted of the Jews and the lower classes whom still spoke Italian.

Much of the plan was kept in secret, however. Mussolini himself wanted to keep amicable relations with the Nigerians and the Rumites. He knew that Oleksandr, one of Mussolini's close friends wouldn't care for the policy, as Ukraine-Romania had done something itself with its minorities.

Caracas, Venezuela

Meanwhile in Venezuela, there was joy and prosperity. Esteban Lopez, of the Venezuelan Communist Party was elected president, and shortly after he began a policy of increased regulation on the economy and loosened electorate restrictions in the government. Now it was that Men and Women, age 18 and older can vote. As for his foreign policy, Esteban wished to make Venezuela more self-reliant. He raised tariffs on Confederate goods to inspire more goods being manufactured on Venezuelan soil, but he also pushed for better relations with Tawantisuyu and Guyane, to promote South American unity. He did not, however push for better relations for Brazil, a nation that both he and the Venezuelan people detested.

Horatia, Nigeria

Nigeria itself was an economically and politically stable nation, something that could not be said for its neighbor, the Empire of Chad. Nigeria and its close ally, Roma Italia had been deeply involved in the civil war over in Chad. Other than that, Nigeria had been at peace. The multiple tribes themselves that were once long ago independent, were now federal subjects and had their own councils to preside over their designated territories.

[Shrillland]

"It has been far too long, Alex!" Queen Victoria said as she embraced her nephew, whom she had not seen for many years. "You are wll to come here, we can celebrate our jubilees together." She then went to the other members of her entourage, who she treated like her own children, all of whom were present. Young Victoria of Prussia, Crown Prince Edward, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Dutchess of Argyll, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Princess Beatrice, and their children and grandchildren who now had worked their way onto most of the European royal lines. Even Leopold and Alice, she felt, were here in spirit. After all of these greetings, she went to the Eichmanns, who she considered some of the greatest authors of the age, on par with the Lichts.

"I have long wanted to see you, and I hope we'll have more time on your visit, but now I must go back to the fair Emperor."

"Now, Alex, I see that Mr. Eichmann is carrying a briefcase, shall I have taken up to his rooms?"

[Unicario]

"It has been far too long, Alex!" Queen Victoria said as she embraced her nephew, whom she had not seen for many years. "You are wll to come here, we can celebrate our jubilees together." She then went to the other members of her entourage, who she treated like her own children, all of whom were present. Young Victoria of Prussia, Crown Prince Edward, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Dutchess of Argyll, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Princess Beatrice, and their children and grandchildren who now had worked their way onto most of the European royal lines. Even Leopold and Alice, she felt, were here in spirit. After all of these greetings, she went to the Eichmanns, who she considered some of the greatest authors of the age, on par with the Lichts.

"I have long wanted to see you, and I hope we'll have more time on your visit, but now I must go back to the fair Emperor."

"Now, Alex, I see that Mr. Eichmann is carrying a briefcase, shall I have taken up to his rooms?"

"Actually, not, Vicky." He cleared his throat, took the briefcase from Eichemann, and opened it up. He took out a small medal and a sheet of paper. Unfurling it, he said, "On behalf of the Empire of Japan and commemorating the memory of Her Majesty, Empress Meiji, and the sixty year reign of Her Majesty, Queen Victoria -- The Empire of Japan formally bequeaths upon Victoria Alexandrina Yamato the honorable Diamond Meiji Badge for sixty continued years of just and fair reign."

He affixed the small badge to his Aunt, before smiling. "A small trinket from Japan, just to make sure you haven't quite forgotten about us yet, " He winked, the smile never leaving his face.

Ferdinand Eichemann smiled, "Your Majesty, I am assigned by the Japanese Empire to commemorate your two Majesties reigns by writing a book about the Diamond Jubilee and your reign, if this is amendable to you."

[Ruridova]

Charleston, South Carolina
May 1, 1897

Hayim ben Tziyon stood behind a podium with the Star of David on it, in the building that served as the headquarters of the Zionist World Congress. The ZWC now boasted nearly five million members globally; it provided services for Jews across the world, and had become internationally prominent. And he was its founder, yes, and the person who imagined it in his book the Hope, respected by the global Zionist community, and at least tolerated by the anti-Zionists for his firm commitment to equality and pacifism. He had served as the ZWC's president for five years now, and there would be an election soon- in 23 days. At present, nobody had dared nominate themselves for the presidential race, out of fear that it would mean running against him. To run against Hayim ben Tziyon as a Zionist was to oppose George Washington as a Confederate, or disparage Akiko Meiji in Japan. That wouldn't do, though. He knew he wouldn't live forever, and that the ZWC would have to live past the death of its founder. He wouldn't wait for his death, though. he had to make sure that the ZWC could survive without him at the helm, within his lifetime. They expected him to run again; he had other plans.

He had invited the press, aware of the unfortunate timing- the Diamond Jubilees of Japan's Alexander and Britain's Victoria were both soon, and were likely to take up a lot of the press. Binyamin Herzl and L.L. Zamenhof, two of his first followers, were also present. Herzl, a German Jew, was by far the most faithful and obedient, and agreed with ben Tziyon on nearly everything. Zamenhof, a Polish was also a firm Zionist, but he and ben Tziyon fought often, over language. Ben Tziyon was a firm advocate of the resurrection of Hebrew, the old language of the Jews. Zamenhof, however, had a constructed language of his own, known as Esperanto, which he dreamed would become a world language, spoken by everyone across the globe. Zamenhof thought that the ZWC should be Esperantist, in addition to Zionist, whereas ben Tziyon remained totally in favor of focusing on Hebrew.

The press came in, and filed in to the seats below the podium. Members of the Z'roa HaHaganah, the ZWC's private guard force, stood at the doors. Ben Tziyon cleared his throat, and began speaking. "With the second election in the ZWC approaching rapidly, I feel that it is necessary to make it clear that the Zionist World Congress must learn to survive without me. There will be a time when I am no longer here, and the Zionist World Congress must continue to stand for justice until Israel is again in Jewish hands. I cannot remain in this position forever, and this fine organization must remain to advocate for righteousness. It is my opinion that opening the seat of the presidency to others is the only way to guarantee that this can be the case. As a result, I will not be running for President in this upcoming election, and opening the position up for future leaders. Thank you, and have a good day."

He then walked off the stage, ignoring the shocked faces of Herzl and Zamenhof both, and pretending that the press was not in a furor at the surprise announcement. Better that they panic now, rather than later, if the Zionist cause was to survive.

Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, Confederate States

The plantation house owned by Gabriel George Light was the home of the family after all the flight and wandering, he was sure. Light had never exactly been a farmer, but they had purchased the land, and there were several sharecroppers, primarily freed slaves, living on the land who grew cotton and sugar on the land. The von Lichts were kind to them, far kinder than the neighboring plantation owners, though the sharecroppers still did not live as well as the von Lichts; they let the sharecroppers keep a greater amount of the crops they made, and would pay for repairs and such if the sharecroppers could not. The income from the farming allowed him to survive without constantly writing, allowing him to spend his time with his new family. The house itself was a beautiful example of 1800s Confederate architecture, a neoclassical building, surrounded by white columns, with two stories, located in near the Jewel of the Confederacy, New Orleans. It was surrounded by its fields, themselves dotted with sharecropper's cabins. It was the perfect place for someone who was a second-generation exile; it was a place to rest.

Light had been born in Russia, to a German, and now lived in the Confederacy. His wife, Harriet, was a native Confederate; and his children were Confederates as well. There were three young von Lichts set to inherit the prestige of the literary dynasty; Robert Lee Light, two years old and going on three, his twin sister Charlotte Calpurnia Light, and their younger brother, Matthew Sylvester Light, barely a year old. Though Gabriel Light had no way of knowing, they would all become authors in their own right, as he dreamed. For now, though, Gabriel was the sole writer in the family, though he hadn't written many major works in a few years, focusing instead on his family. He'd had a book in the works, a legal thriller, but it wasn't complete yet- though it was approaching the day where he could publish it.

For now, though, he had children, a wife, a family. He had a home where he could stay. He had money, both from writing and from farming. He spent his days dividing his time between raising his children, helping his wife, and trying to assist the sharecroppers on his land in whatever ways he could. He only wrote occasionally, when he had nothing else to do. Maybe he would return to his former activity once his children were grown up, but for now, he was largely content with his life as it was.

[Luziyca]

May 1, 1897
Pichegru, Guyane
President Albert Robespierre looked out the window. The city had grown dramatically, with neoclassical architecture and wide boulevards everywhere. Pichegru is a major port of call, and Guyane was not isolationist anymore. The arch from the Pichegru Conference that partitioned Ethiopia and settled the Suez Canal problem still stood, though it was dwarfed by a statue of President Pichegru. Only old timers will still call it "Ville de Liberte," but the rest called it Pichegru. It had about 300,000 people, with the country having about 4 million people in the eastern wing alone, as well as 170,000 settlers. Most followed either Anglicanism or the Temple of Reason, with the latter being dominant in the east, while in the western wing (as many called the condominium), Anglicanism was dominant.

He had heard of the Jubilee, and decided to send the Director of West Guyanese Affairs, Gabriel Dieudonne from Georgetown or as it was known among the settlers, Ville du Guerrier Marat (City of Marat, in honor of one of the Temple of Reason's saints or guerriers, Marat), to Britain to attend the festivities. Indeed, Robespierre had reflected upon his success: several years ago, the first of the natives have become full citizens, having been assimilated into Guyanese culture.

[Unicario]

May 1, 1897
London

Wilhelmina van Oranje-Nassau was the descendant of generations of Dutch leaders. The sixteen year old Queen was far eager to become a leader in her own right and push away her mother, who was exercising far too much control over her. The last thing she wanted was to wait until 31 August 1898 to lead the Netherlands, she wanted to be a leader now and not later.

Emma watched her pace back and forth waiting for Queen Victoria, and Emma commented, "Why are you so edgy?"

Wilhelmina cast an eye in her mother's direction and said, "I just wish to see her, is all."

Wilhelmina sat down and plotted the removal of her mother -- one way or another.

[Unicario]

May 1, 1897
Ōjashi, Japanese North America

Ōjashi was perhaps the oddest place in North America. During the First American Rebellion, the undeveloped land on Long Island called Brooklyn Heights had been leased out to Japan in perpetuity, and has remained as such for over 120 years. Ōjashi was, infact, the only Japanese territory that had no legislative power in the Japanese parliament. The city, however, burgeoned with Japanese people who had made their home there, either as ex-soldiers, or searching for a new start. Beyond the Japanese settlement lay Queens, a Canadian city, and Manhattan.

Ōjashi was enclosed by a border fence which served only to delineate the border between Japan and Canada. The road system traversed freely at a checkpoint gate out. The finest example of Anglo-Japanese cooperation stood to connect Canada to Ōjashi. Alexander Bridge connected Manhattan and Ōjashi via the East River, and had been opened some 14 years earlier.

Ōjashi was governed by Governor Kurou Mori, a representative of the Japanese Social Democratic Party, which the majority of the settlers supported. Governor Mori formally submitted a petition to Tokyo, requesting the recognition of Ōjashi as a Metropolitan Province, and it's joining the Imperial Japanese Diet, formally.

A letter was dispatched to Canada's government to inform them of this plan. Governor Mori was unsure if the Japanese people of Ōjashi would accept joining Canada when the lease expired on the territory... but that was more than thirty years away. He could wait.

[Shrillland]

Buckingham Palace
London

"Indeed it would," Victoria said, "If one was to write a history of my reign, I believe it would've been either you or a Light, and I am honoured that you are doing this. If you need anything, I will gladly give you all the information I can." She then went back to Alexander and his family and asked, "Now, Alex, shall I see if I can provide you with your rooms? They've been waiting for your return for so many years."

She noticed young Queen Wilhemina's impatience, and would go to her presently.

Georgetown, West Guyane

The Director had gone to London, and in the meantime, things were changing rapidly in the West. A couple of years previously, the West Guyanese Communist Party, which trumpeted itself as the final perfection of the revolutionary ideal, had gained 35 seats in the Western assembly, making them the chief opposition party. Now their leader, an Indo-Guyanese woman named Pratibha Kapoor, had marshaled a private party army that included officers of the West Guyanese Army in preparation for a planned seizure of the key offices in the west. They planned to launch a Communist coup on May 10.

Albany, District of Carteria

With both Prime Minister Theodore Roosevelt and the Governor-General in London at the jubilee, it was up to Secretary of State for Canada Elihu Root to read the Japanese request. He sent a reply to the effect that Canada would support any move that allowed the Japanese of Ōjashi the right to govern themselves and be represented in the Diet.

[Unicario]

May 1897
Ōjashi

Izumi Guerra was a happy woman, at least, as happy as a Yakuza oyabun for the city of Ōjashi. The Yakuza did odd-jobs for the government, and as long as they didn't step out of line, they wouldn't be wiped out... which she figured was a fair deal. She was married to an Italian man who had been in town barely a year. He wouldn't tell her why he had come to Ōjashi, only that it was "important business".

She always wore a conservative dress unless she was working. On her upper arms were a whole bunch of tattoos indicating her status as an oyabun, an impressive status to achieve at 28.

While she was preparing dinner on the first of May, she recieved a letter from one of the local mail carriers. He was a Yakuza man too, and was a useful stooge in delivering letters from Tokyo to Ōjashi. Reading it carefully, she was informed to "late tonight, you will meet with the Italian mob to discuss a beneficial arrangement that we have worked out ourselves. Best regards."

She folded the letter up and put it in the pocket of her apron. She hummed to herself as she continued dinner. That night, she would meet the man intruding on her turf... Unfortunately, because the bosses mandated that she cooperate with him for some unknown reason, she couldn't have him disposed of... they probably wanted to stir up trouble in the Confederacy, which had recently banned alcohol. God knows that banning things just causes problems.

She shrugged.

[Bojikami]

May 1987
Ōjashi

Leonzio Guerra was a fairly busy man, both before and after he arrived in Ōjashi a little under a year ago. Leonzio, or Leo as some of his friends called him was a fairly tall man with black hair and tanned skin. At just 29 years of age he became a trusted member of the Mafia and was sent on the organisations first attempt at an overseas operation. He and his brother Guliano stuck out from the mostly Japanese population of the city in ways of physical appearance, other than the business suit he often wore. Leonzio and his brother joined the Mafia when they were just kids, around 19 or so years of age. They both got pushed into the crime business by the poverty back in Sicily.

Today, however he received his first assignment ever since he was sent to the city, he was to meet up with a member of the Yakuza to discuss a deal that had been brokered between the two factions. He himself assumed it would be about the prohibition issue in the CSA, something that both the Mafia and likely the Yakuza looked at with interest.

He walked calmly down the street, to his home. He and his brother had another "meeting" with the Don back in Guliano's apartment. That is where Leo was given his assignment, and Guliano was told that he would be moving over to the CSA as soon as a deal was worked out. Leo opened the door and greeted his wife.

[Unicario]

May 1987
Ōjashi

Leonzio Guerra was a fairly busy man, both before and after he arrived in Ōjashi a little under a year ago. Leonzio, or Leo as some of his friends called him was a fairly tall man with black hair and tanned skin. At just 29 years of age he became a trusted member of the Mafia and was sent on the organisations first attempt at an overseas operation. He and his brother Guliano stuck out from the mostly Japanese population of the city in ways of physical appearance, other than the business suit he often wore. Leonzio and his brother joined the Mafia when they were just kids, around 19 or so years of age. They both got pushed into the crime business by the poverty back in Sicily.

Today, however he received his first assignment ever since he was sent to the city, he was to meet up with a member of the Yakuza to discuss a deal that had been brokered between the two factions. He himself assumed it would be about the prohibition issue in the CSA, something that both the Mafia and likely the Yakuza looked at with interest.

He walked calmly down the street, to his home. He and his brother had another "meeting" with the Don back in Guliano's apartment. That is where Leo was given his assignment, and Guliano was told that he would be moving over to the CSA as soon as a deal was worked out. Leo opened the door and greeted his wife.

Izumi smiled and greeted her husband at the door, "Hi, dear!" She took his coat and briefcase and set it in the corner, as he took off his shoes and crossed into the Japanese architectural home. She served dinner, a typical Japanese meal with an Italian flair. She smiled as she and her husband dug into their food. "Itadakumasu!"

After the meal was finished, she said, "Honey, my book club ladies have asked me to come out tonight for a meeting. We're discussing The Great Dictator... I hope that's alright? It won't take too long, I hope." She scratched her neck as she served second helpings to her husband and herself.

[Bojikami]

May 1987
Ōjashi

Leonzio Guerra was a fairly busy man, both before and after he arrived in Ōjashi a little under a year ago. Leonzio, or Leo as some of his friends called him was a fairly tall man with black hair and tanned skin. At just 29 years of age he became a trusted member of the Mafia and was sent on the organisations first attempt at an overseas operation. He and his brother Guliano stuck out from the mostly Japanese population of the city in ways of physical appearance, other than the business suit he often wore. Leonzio and his brother joined the Mafia when they were just kids, around 19 or so years of age. They both got pushed into the crime business by the poverty back in Sicily.

Today, however he received his first assignment ever since he was sent to the city, he was to meet up with a member of the Yakuza to discuss a deal that had been brokered between the two factions. He himself assumed it would be about the prohibition issue in the CSA, something that both the Mafia and likely the Yakuza looked at with interest.

He walked calmly down the street, to his home. He and his brother had another "meeting" with the Don back in Guliano's apartment. That is where Leo was given his assignment, and Guliano was told that he would be moving over to the CSA as soon as a deal was worked out. Leo opened the door and greeted his wife.

Izumi smiled and greeted her husband at the door, "Hi, dear!" She took his coat and briefcase and set it in the corner, as he took off his shoes and crossed into the Japanese architectural home. She served dinner, a typical Japanese meal with an Italian flair. She smiled as she and her husband dug into their food. "Itadakumasu!"

After the meal was finished, she said, "Honey, my book club ladies have asked me to come out tonight for a meeting. We're discussing The Great Dictator... I hope that's alright? It won't take too long, I hope." She scratched her neck as she served second helpings to her husband and herself.

He looked up at her. "That's no problem. Guliano and I were actually thinking of playing some poker with some of the guys. I'll see you when you get back." He said as he began to eat the second serving.

[Unicario]

Izumi smiled and greeted her husband at the door, "Hi, dear!" She took his coat and briefcase and set it in the corner, as he took off his shoes and crossed into the Japanese architectural home. She served dinner, a typical Japanese meal with an Italian flair. She smiled as she and her husband dug into their food. "Itadakumasu!"

After the meal was finished, she said, "Honey, my book club ladies have asked me to come out tonight for a meeting. We're discussing The Great Dictator... I hope that's alright? It won't take too long, I hope." She scratched her neck as she served second helpings to her husband and herself.

He looked up at her. "That's no problem. Guliano and I were actually thinking of playing some poker with some of the guys. I'll see you when you get back." He said as he began to eat the second serving.

She smiled, took her own plate away, and cleaned up before grabbing the bag out of one of the closets in the home before giving her husband a kiss on the cheek and walking out of the door. Walking down the street, she shook her head. The poor sap didn't have any clue of her true nature. Good, let's keep it that way.

She climbed climbed into a black carriage waiting for her at the end of the street. Her assistant, a girl named Noriko, said, "Greetings esteemed oyabun... we're taking you to the building where the bosses in Tokyo say you'll be hosting the distillery." Izumi smiled and said, "Thank you, Noriko." She slipped off her housewife dress, revealing the assortment of tattoos on her upper arms, the tattoos having various styles. Dedications to the Empress Meiji, whose kanji name was embossed on her harm, a serpent creature curling around her bicep, so on and so forth. Noriko averted her eyes when her boss got completely naked and started changing into her Yakuza outfit.

"Noriko, you can look now." Izumi said, exhasperated at the girl's shyness. If she ever hoped to become a Yakuza oyabun, she'd have to learn to deal with things. She smoothed out her black vest which was over her white men's shirt. Pants were something the Yakuza encouraged -- easier to walk in and less likely to be tripped, even though they insisted the female oyabun wear heels for some deranged reason.

She drew two things out of her uniform vest pocket. A tube of crimson lipstick which she applied to her lips, and a cigarette. Sticking the cigarette behind her ear, she pulled her hair up into a stern bun, before lighting and taking a long drag from the cigarette. She pulled a military rifle from her bag and examined it. A gift from the higher ups, it was a newly deployed Type 60 rifle, standard issue in the IJA. "Fate" was etched in kanji on the butt of the gun. She loaded it and smiled at Noriko, "Insurance, just in case these mafia types try to overstep the boundaries we allow them."

[Bojikami]

He looked up at her. "That's no problem. Guliano and I were actually thinking of playing some poker with some of the guys. I'll see you when you get back." He said as he began to eat the second serving.

She smiled, took her own plate away, and cleaned up before grabbing the bag out of one of the closets in the home before giving her husband a kiss on the cheek and walking out of the door. Walking down the street, she shook her head. The poor sap didn't have any clue of her true nature. Good, let's keep it that way.

She climbed climbed into a black carriage waiting for her at the end of the street. Her assistant, a girl named Noriko, said, "Greetings esteemed oyabun... we're taking you to the building where the bosses in Tokyo say you'll be hosting the distillery." Izumi smiled and said, "Thank you, Noriko." She slipped off her housewife dress, revealing the assortment of tattoos on her upper arms, the tattoos having various styles. Dedications to the Empress Meiji, whose kanji name was embossed on her harm, a serpent creature curling around her bicep, so on and so forth. Noriko averted her eyes when her boss got completely naked and started changing into her Yakuza outfit.

"Noriko, you can look now." Izumi said, exhasperated at the girl's shyness. If she ever hoped to become a Yakuza oyabun, she'd have to learn to deal with things. She smoothed out her black vest which was over her white men's shirt. Pants were something the Yakuza encouraged -- easier to walk in and less likely to be tripped, even though they insisted the female oyabun wear heels for some deranged reason.

She drew two things out of her uniform vest pocket. A tube of crimson lipstick which she applied to her lips, and a cigarette. Sticking the cigarette behind her ear, she pulled her hair up into a stern bun, before lighting and taking a long drag from the cigarette. She pulled a military rifle from her bag and examined it. A gift from the higher ups, it was a newly deployed Type 60 rifle, standard issue in the IJA. "Fate" was etched in kanji on the butt of the gun. She loaded it and smiled at Noriko, "Insurance, just in case these mafia types try to overstep the boundaries we allow them."

Leo peeked outside the window and waited for his wife to disappear into the carriage. He quickly walks over to the bedroom, and to his desk where he kept his pistol incase some police officers came looking for him. He tucked the Beretta under his belt and closed his vest over it. He peeked outside again to ensure that his wife was gone and he hurried down the steps.

Around the corner Guliano and a few other men from the Mafia waited for him. "Ciao fratello." Guliano greeted him. Leonzio nodded in acknowledgement. "Still wearing that old officers jacket?" Leo joked. "Well, you know. These Yakuza types have a good deal of military background. I just thought they'd show more respect is all." Guliano responded. Leo chuckled and the men got into the carriage that awaited them.

While the carriage made its way down the street, Leonzio rolled up his sleeves, revealing a fasces tattoo on his upper arm with LEGIO XVI written below it. Then suddenly, the carriage made a stop infront of the building the two were supposed to meet. "Alright men, let me make this clear. We leave the Ukrainian guns, and the molotovs here. We don't want to appear aggressive." Leonzio stated as he walked out of the carriage. His men obeyed his orders and only brought pistols and Guliano brought a Carbine. The group of eight entered the building as Leo lit a cigar that he had sticking out of his mouth.

[Unicario]

She smiled, took her own plate away, and cleaned up before grabbing the bag out of one of the closets in the home before giving her husband a kiss on the cheek and walking out of the door. Walking down the street, she shook her head. The poor sap didn't have any clue of her true nature. Good, let's keep it that way.

She climbed climbed into a black carriage waiting for her at the end of the street. Her assistant, a girl named Noriko, said, "Greetings esteemed oyabun... we're taking you to the building where the bosses in Tokyo say you'll be hosting the distillery." Izumi smiled and said, "Thank you, Noriko." She slipped off her housewife dress, revealing the assortment of tattoos on her upper arms, the tattoos having various styles. Dedications to the Empress Meiji, whose kanji name was embossed on her harm, a serpent creature curling around her bicep, so on and so forth. Noriko averted her eyes when her boss got completely naked and started changing into her Yakuza outfit.

"Noriko, you can look now." Izumi said, exhasperated at the girl's shyness. If she ever hoped to become a Yakuza oyabun, she'd have to learn to deal with things. She smoothed out her black vest which was over her white men's shirt. Pants were something the Yakuza encouraged -- easier to walk in and less likely to be tripped, even though they insisted the female oyabun wear heels for some deranged reason.

She drew two things out of her uniform vest pocket. A tube of crimson lipstick which she applied to her lips, and a cigarette. Sticking the cigarette behind her ear, she pulled her hair up into a stern bun, before lighting and taking a long drag from the cigarette. She pulled a military rifle from her bag and examined it. A gift from the higher ups, it was a newly deployed Type 60 rifle, standard issue in the IJA. "Fate" was etched in kanji on the butt of the gun. She loaded it and smiled at Noriko, "Insurance, just in case these mafia types try to overstep the boundaries we allow them."

Leo peeked outside the window and waited for his wife to disappear into the carriage. He quickly walks over to the bedroom, and to his desk where he kept his pistol incase some police officers came looking for him. He tucked the Beretta under his belt and closed his vest over it. He peeked outside again to ensure that his wife was gone and he hurried down the steps.

Around the corner Guliano and a few other men from the Mafia waited for him. "Ciao fratello." Guliano greeted him. Leonzio nodded in acknowledgement. "Still wearing that old officers jacket?" Leo joked. "Well, you know. These Yakuza types have a good deal of military background. I just thought they'd show more respect is all." Guliano responded. Leo chuckled and the men got into the carriage that awaited them.

While the carriage made its way down the street, Leonzio rolled up his sleeves, revealing a fasces tattoo on his upper arm with LEGIO XVI written below it. Then suddenly, the carriage made a stop infront of the building the two were supposed to meet. "Alright men, let me make this clear. We leave the Ukrainian guns, and the molotovs here. We don't want to appear aggressive." Leonzio stated as he walked out of the carriage. His men obeyed his orders and only brought pistols and Guliano brought a Carbine. The group of eight entered the building as Leo lit a cigar that he had sticking out of his mouth.

A voice rang out from the darkness. "Drop your weapons. There are about 18 rifles aimed at your party. We are here to conduct business. We see everything in this town. Your insurance won't do you much good... Ukrainian made?" The woman laughed and the tip of a cigarette lit up in the darkness before the sound of a woman exhaling. "If you drop yours, my men will put theirs down."

[Bojikami]

Leo peeked outside the window and waited for his wife to disappear into the carriage. He quickly walks over to the bedroom, and to his desk where he kept his pistol incase some police officers came looking for him. He tucked the Beretta under his belt and closed his vest over it. He peeked outside again to ensure that his wife was gone and he hurried down the steps.

Around the corner Guliano and a few other men from the Mafia waited for him. "Ciao fratello." Guliano greeted him. Leonzio nodded in acknowledgement. "Still wearing that old officers jacket?" Leo joked. "Well, you know. These Yakuza types have a good deal of military background. I just thought they'd show more respect is all." Guliano responded. Leo chuckled and the men got into the carriage that awaited them.

While the carriage made its way down the street, Leonzio rolled up his sleeves, revealing a fasces tattoo on his upper arm with LEGIO XVI written below it. Then suddenly, the carriage made a stop infront of the building the two were supposed to meet. "Alright men, let me make this clear. We leave the Ukrainian guns, and the molotovs here. We don't want to appear aggressive." Leonzio stated as he walked out of the carriage. His men obeyed his orders and only brought pistols and Guliano brought a Carbine. The group of eight entered the building as Leo lit a cigar that he had sticking out of his mouth.

A voice rang out from the darkness. "Drop your weapons. There are about 18 rifles aimed at your party. We are here to conduct business. We see everything in this town. Your insurance won't do you much good... Ukrainian made?" The woman laughed and the tip of a cigarette lit up in the darkness before the sound of a woman exhaling. "If you drop yours, my men will put theirs down."

Leo froze, as did his party accompanying him. He turned to his men. "You heard the lady, drop your guns." The men behind them proceeded to lower their rifles and pistols and set them on the ground. "There, all disarmed. Now, may I please know whom I am speaking to?"

[Unicario]

A voice rang out from the darkness. "Drop your weapons. There are about 18 rifles aimed at your party. We are here to conduct business. We see everything in this town. Your insurance won't do you much good... Ukrainian made?" The woman laughed and the tip of a cigarette lit up in the darkness before the sound of a woman exhaling. "If you drop yours, my men will put theirs down."

Leo froze, as did his party accompanying him. He turned to his men. "You heard the lady, drop your guns." The men behind them proceeded to lower their rifles and pistols and set them on the ground. "There, all disarmed. Now, may I please know whom I am speaking to?"

"The oyabun. The leader of the Yakuza organization in the City of Ojashi. Now sit." She snapped and several Japanese men set out chairs in front of the desk. She leaned back, her face covered by shadows. "Come sit." She raised an eyebrow though, because the leader of the Mafia guys looked a lot like... nah, she was just crazy.

[Bojikami]

Leo froze, as did his party accompanying him. He turned to his men. "You heard the lady, drop your guns." The men behind them proceeded to lower their rifles and pistols and set them on the ground. "There, all disarmed. Now, may I please know whom I am speaking to?"

"The oyabun. The leader of the Yakuza organization in the City of Ojashi. Now sit." She snapped and several Japanese men set out chairs in front of the desk. She leaned back, her face covered by shadows. "Come sit." She raised an eyebrow though, because the leader of the Mafia guys looked a lot like... nah, she was just crazy.

Leonzio looked back at his brother and the men behind him. He shrugged and approached the chairs, his men behind him. She sounds an awful lot like Izumi... but that's impossible... he thought to himself as he took his seat in front of the desk, as did his brother and his men. "Do I know you from somewhere?" Leo began. "I swear you sound awful familiar..."

[Unicario]

"The oyabun. The leader of the Yakuza organization in the City of Ojashi. Now sit." She snapped and several Japanese men set out chairs in front of the desk. She leaned back, her face covered by shadows. "Come sit." She raised an eyebrow though, because the leader of the Mafia guys looked a lot like... nah, she was just crazy.

Leonzio looked back at his brother and the men behind him. He shrugged and approached the chairs, his men behind him. She sounds an awful lot like Izumi... but that's impossible... he thought to himself as he took his seat in front of the desk, as did his brother and his men. "Do I know you from somewhere?" Leo began. "I swear you sound awful familiar..."

Izumi simply raised her eyebrow as she realized that is definitely my husband. She grinned and said, "I may sound familiar. I get that often." She leaned forward into the light with a sly smile. "Hi, lover."

[Bojikami]

Leonzio looked back at his brother and the men behind him. He shrugged and approached the chairs, his men behind him. She sounds an awful lot like Izumi... but that's impossible... he thought to himself as he took his seat in front of the desk, as did his brother and his men. "Do I know you from somewhere?" Leo began. "I swear you sound awful familiar..."

Izumi simply raised her eyebrow as she realized that is definitely my husband. She grinned and said, "I may sound familiar. I get that often." She leaned forward into the light with a sly smile. "Hi, lover."

The cigar dropped out of Leo's mouth and there was a somewhat stunned look on his face. "Well, um, this is quite the book club you've got yourself here." Leo said as a grin spread across his face. Guliano sat, frozen in shock. Never did any of them expect something like this.

[Unicario]

Izumi simply raised her eyebrow as she realized that is definitely my husband. She grinned and said, "I may sound familiar. I get that often." She leaned forward into the light with a sly smile. "Hi, lover."

The cigar dropped out of Leo's mouth and there was a somewhat stunned look on his face. "Well, um, this is quite the book club you've got yourself here." Leo said as a grin spread across his face. Guliano sat, frozen in shock. Never did any of them expect something like this.

"Interesting place for a poker game, Leo." She lit another cigarette and blew the smoke in his direction. "I'm not just a dainty little housewife, you know. She moved closer so Leo could get a glimpse at her tattooed arms. With a smirk she said, "So, seems like we're going into business together, love." She grinned and pulled out a deck of cards. "Poker then."

She kicked the table and it folded out into a full-sized poker table. Putting the cigarette between her lips, she shuffled the deck and passed our cards. "We'll be playing with real money, gentlemen and ladies..." A few women dressed similarly sat down at the table while others offered alcohol. "We're in a wet city, sake, whatever booze you'd like." She grinned and pulled her pocket book out of her vest and placed a crisp 50 yen note on the table. The yen note bore the portrait of Thomas Jefferson. "You thought I actually was spending money on book club stuff? Please... me and my girlfriends would rather throw some goon into the East River than sit around acting dainty reading whatever shit the von Lichts or Eichemanns piss into the wind." She snorted.

[Bojikami]

The cigar dropped out of Leo's mouth and there was a somewhat stunned look on his face. "Well, um, this is quite the book club you've got yourself here." Leo said as a grin spread across his face. Guliano sat, frozen in shock. Never did any of them expect something like this.

"Interesting place for a poker game, Leo." She lit another cigarette and blew the smoke in his direction. "I'm not just a dainty little housewife, you know. She moved closer so Leo could get a glimpse at her tattooed arms. With a smirk she said, "So, seems like we're going into business together, love."

"I knew there was something special about you." He smiled more and looked up at her. "Well then I suppose I should tell the truth too. Guliano and I aren't just poor immigrants. We both fought in the Great War, joined the Mafia and came overseas to branch out, you know?" He sighed. "Well, if I'm going to go start up some major crime syndicate, I'm glad it's with you."

[Unicario]

"Interesting place for a poker game, Leo." She lit another cigarette and blew the smoke in his direction. "I'm not just a dainty little housewife, you know. She moved closer so Leo could get a glimpse at her tattooed arms. With a smirk she said, "So, seems like we're going into business together, love."

"I knew there was something special about you." He smiled more and looked up at her. "Well then I suppose I should tell the truth too. Guliano and I aren't just poor immigrants. We both fought in the Great War, joined the Mafia and came overseas to branch out, you know?" He sighed. "Well, if I'm going to go start up some major crime syndicate, I'm glad it's with you."

Izumi rolled her eyes, "I knew there was something you weren't telling me, love... But hey, I was much the same way. During the Great War, I served as a soldier in South China. It was an easy job, considering we rolled up and spit them out without batting an eye. My commander almost raped me in a drunken stupor. Fortunately I'm well versed in the Anything Goes school of Martial Arts, and I'm Yakuza. My oyabun at the time would have had the commander's legs broken, and his life ruined." She snorted and gestured to her left arm. A tattoo bearing the symbol of the Eighteenth Infantry Division which served in South China was on her upper arm. "After South China, me and my squadmates were shipped south to Indochina to fight the Americaners -- was a pain in the ass, but doable. After the war, I came back and was sent here as an oyabun." She waited for everyone to put into the pot before putting down her cards, "Four Kings."

She grinned, "The Yakuza is a very patriotic organization. When draft cards came up for young boys and girls through out the syndicate, the oyabun made us go or else they'd break our legs. The bosses don't look very highly on draft dodgers and those who are unpatriotic for the Empire... they're rather welcoming of people who hate France and the CSA."