Big Yellow Taxi (Closed; TG for Entry. Warning: Mature )

[Hittanryan]

Tom was jostled awake as Mara stirred. She didn't seem to notice him open his eyes briefly, just enough to watch her stretch, stark naked, before she got out of bed entirely. Just as he was nodding off again, she was back, kneeling at his side, caressing him and whispering in his ear to get up.

"I'm up," he replied groggily, "just not exactly awake." He kissed her tenderly before sitting upright in bed. "Why so early...?" he thought. It had been a long night; Mara gave as good as she got, and once they got started it wasn't like anyone could've stopped them...unless a fire alarm went off, apparently. "Well, you certainly have my attention," he said with a smile.

[New Edom]

Returning the kiss tenderly, Mara smiled at him, stroking his hair. She was deciding she liked him. Without thinking she had sat so that he could see easily the smooth curve of supple back to swelling hip, the rise and fall of bosom, her chestnut hair artlessly falling to her bare shoulders, the slight clench and relax of her tummy as she breathed. "Because I need to check to see if there's anything I need to be briefed on, and I can relax after that. Notes from the Foreign Office, my staff, possibly from the President, and other stuff..." she trailed her hand down his chest to his stomach. "And there's breakfast. There's a robe for you if you like, we can eat a little, I can check all my messages, and if there's nothing pressing for my appointments, we can just go back to bed."

[Hittanryan]

"Man, work...you make a strong case for unemployment," he replied, running his hand up her back. "But you're right. I'd better take a look to see if there's anything I need to take care of too." He brushed the hair out of Mara's face before stroking her cheek. "Let's make sure no wars have started or the economy hasn't collapsed, then we'll grab breakfast," he said with a grin.

With that, Tom rose, grabbing the bathrobe as he did so, and looked around until he spotted his pants, which had been rather hastily removed the previous night. Fishing around in the left pocket, he retrieved his smartphone and saw there were mercifully no missed calls, no emails, and no texts.

Of course, upon checking the international news, Demodand's arrest was right up there near the top. In the interests of national security, his own safety, and attempting to maintain his blossoming relationship, Tom knew he'd have to play dumb. If the Inquisition figured out Radiatia had passed Imperial state secrets to the AIS, and discovered Tom had a role in it, well, he didn't have a cadre of bodyguards to hold them off. There was also the significant but comparatively minor issue of how Mara would react, as well.

[New Edom]

Mara slipped into a robe of her own--a spiderweb of black lace that shadowed her body and didn't really hide it, merely veiled her prettily, and flipped up her laptop and hummed along with the little starting jingle, then activated her encrypted email program.

"Okay...let's see...resolutions....resolutions...thank goodness I have staff for this...no more proposals for me to look over--oh my gosh, and I've been appointed Regional Ambassador to Lago Azul or some place like that, some little place...hey Tom did you know that our countries are planning talks regarding some kind of extraordinary trade deal or something? I'm supposed to be in on that as well--though I'm not sure how yet, I guess because I have a contact..." she winked at him. "Well nothing much--holy shit...they arrested Kurt!" she gaped at him, and looked back at her laptop screen. "What the hell?! They arrested him? That was a..a...sting or something? Did you know about this?" she demanded, looking at him, eyes narrowing.

[Hittanryan]

Tom looked up from his phone as Mara broke the news. In truth, he hadn't expected the arrest to happen so soon, so there was genuine surprise in his voice, "What?! When? Let me see that..." he said, glancing over her shoulder at the laptop. It was from a different news source, the RPNN World News, so he actually did have to read through it, reading some of it aloud. "...Ambassador to the World Assembly...extradited...from the Adiran Embassy?! What the fucking hell?"

Tom paused, seemed to stop and think, then looked Mara dead in the eye. "I told you, I told you there was something else going on! The men in the embassy last night...must have been RSOD."

He grabbed his phone, punched in Friedman's number and didn't hit send. "Fucking Friedman...sending me...probably wanted a dupe or a fall guy..." Tom pretended to listen for a ring, then hung up. "No answer, let me check something..." He looked up an Adiran state department webpage on his phone, before saying "Thought so. We don't even have an extradition treaty with Radiatia...how'd they pull this off? What stake do we even have in this?"

He looked Mara in the eye again, "I don't know what happened, but I intend to find out. I might not be the Demoman's biggest fan, but I'll be damned before they use me like this." The story and performance was waterproof, and he'd even get her confirmation, "I know someone in the AIS, I'll get hold of him, see what he knows."

[New Edom]

Mara was suspicious, but she wanted to believe Tom. Frankly, she liked the idea of having a boyfriend for a while, especially someone who wasn't intensely complicated to be involved with like someone of equal social rank, and she liked him personally. She had her arms folded and was nodding, her posture a little remote at the moment, because she was suspicious but wanted to be convinced. So she said, "Okay, you find out, thank you." she sighed. "I'm going to take a shower." she went into the bedroom and closed the door, as the bathroom was en-suite. She went to the shower and turned it on, slipped out of her silky revealing robe and stepped into the shower, wetting herself thoroughly and very quickly, but at the same time opened up a panel in the shower stall and took out a small device like an i phone and put it to her ear as she stepped out of the shower's stream. She spoke a code quickly and heard a click, then heard the ambient sounds of the sitting room. It was a large enough stall that there was a bench, and it could be turned into a steam room if need be. She sat on the bench, gasping as the cool stone touched her bare bottom, as she listened.

[Hittanryan]

"We need to keep this from getting back to you. The Inquisition doesn't play around. If they think you know anything, anything at all, they'll be on you like shit on Velcro."

"Lovely...wait. There's a good chance Mara's with him, too. We need to protect her as well. She can't have any part in this."

"Agreed, she needs to think you weren't involved, and she needs to remain an ignorant bystander."

"We might have to convince her."

"...I'll tell her, if it comes to that. Now whatever you do, don't trust your phone, play dumb. Call me in the morning after the story breaks. I don't care if you're all the way back in Adiron, stick to this story..."

That was the conversation in the car the previous night. Dutifully, Tom dialed Rob Glenn. He picked up his coat, and started picking fuzz off of it from the carpet. He was also reading off a script he scrawled out in the car. Given New Edom's authoritarian tendencies, he suspected someone was listening in. "Good," he thought, "if the Inquisition picks us up, we might have evidence from a neutral party that I didn't know what was going on."

"Alvarado? What's up?"

"Golf, what the fuck?"

"What?"

"You know what. Yesterday, at the Adiran embassy. No way Adiron would let RSOD use us without supervision. This was AIS work."

"Tom, that's not my department..."

"Bullshit. You told me the AIS has inter-department communication to keep itself from tripping over its own feet. You know about last night. You knew something was going to happen at the embassy."

"...fine. What did you expect me to do? Can't exactly announce black ops to the world. What's the big deal?"

"They sent me out to retrieve him. How about requesting that the AIS not use me as a pawn? Letting me know what's going on?"

"...if you knew, you'd be a target."

"Target? Who? The Demoman? I can take him, what's he gonna do, hire assassins?"

"Not him, Ivy Quebec."

"...how are they involved?"

"We traded Demodand for Radiatian intel. That's all I can say."

Tom sighed, then continued. "You know that means you put a bystander in danger too. I don't think she believes me. If she goes digging..."

"That's not going to happen. You two know nothing, got it?"

"When I knew nothing, she thought I knew something. I'm not letting her put herself at risk because of me being out of the loop."

"Why do I get the feeling she's more than a bystander? I'm taking a risk here, but for Echo Company...fine. If she still doesn't buy it, I'll explain the whole thing personally. Call me back if she doesn't believe you, her life's in danger as long as they even think she knows something."

[New Edom]

Mara couldn't make out what all that was about, but it was not really so much putting her fears to rest as putting them on the shelf for later. She resolved to see what her security chief said about it later on, she knew that the recording would be forwarded to whatever agency that was within the CP that did that cloak and dagger stuff. There were two kinds of CP operatives--the thugs who barely spoke human speech and the clever ones that you sometimes never knew were CP operatives. She began to dry herself and walked out into the sitting room again. "Hey, what did you find out?" she asked pleasantly, folding the towel under her bottom and sitting there, lifting one of the warming trays off. Underneath one of them was a selection of sliced fresh fruit--kiwi fruit, blueberries, strawberries and peach, as well as two bowls of corn flakes. Then under the other was strips of toast with two soft boiled eggs. "Oh yum..." said Mara cheerfully, pouring them each a cup of mint tea. "My favorite breakfast--but I wish they wouldn't give me toast and cereal at the same time. Eat my toast if you want it."

[Hittanryan]

"You're sworn to secrecy on this. I think just my calling might have put us at risk and I probably shouldn't tell you more than I have to, but I don't want this to be a thing between us," Tom said soberly. "I don't know all the details, but somehow the Adiron Intelligence Service, the AIS, offered a trade to RSOD. They get Demodand on Adiran soil and extradite him in exchange for...intelligence."

He paused to think as Mara started to dry herself, now rather distracted, all things considered. "Radiatia knew something that the AIS wanted. They didn't tell me anything last night, I was a gopher. Apparently they're keen on avoiding any of this getting back to me, and you, now. It'll put us both at risk if someone thinks we were in on it."

"Boy, now I'm awake," Tom said wearily as they sat down to breakfast. He was surprised, though plenty thankful, that Mara still declined to put anything on. "So is naked breakfast a regular thing in New Edom or is it reserved for special occasions?" He wondered if he should drop his own robe, but remembered the maid buzzing in and out. Tom grabbed a few strawberries and blueberries and threw them in the cereal before mixing it up and starting on it.

[New Edom]

Mara laughed. "Depends on who you ask. If you ask Mara Obed, she'll tell you that she never wears panties, shorts or pants, that she likes being naked and air dried after a shower, and that she's at heart a traditional tribal Baran--either dressed to the nines if possible or naked. That's how we used to do it. Working clothes was often nudity, back before we got baptized and made into good Christians. I'm just being...traditional. Of course we rarely wore NOTHING...usually paint or decorations or something. Why, do you mind or something?"

[Hittanryan]

Tom laughed. "Do I mind? What are you, crazy?" He got an impulse just then, "Let me put it this way..." he said as he loosened his robe and dropped it to the floor. "So you going commando last night wasn't just a one-time thing? That's good to know, better watch out for subway vents though..."

"I hadn't heard about any negotiations between Adiron and New Edom, I'll have to look into that." With supreme effort, Tom brought himself to check the time. "Well, I'm already late for work, so no reason for me to rush, how about you?"

[New Edom]

To: Kurt Demodand
From: Mara Obed

Hi Kurt,

I just wanted to write to you to apologize for the crappy way I treated you. I tried sending you an email before but it bounced a couple of times, so I figured that maybe you couldn't get it in prison or something. Anyway, I'm very sorry and if you'd like to see me I thought maybe we could meet up somewhere. I'm currently staying at my country house in Gloria Regis (which is a Protectorate in New Edom) which is just on the outer edge of Sixington. If you hate me and never want to see me again, I understand.

I had a wonderful time with you. I was really hurt and felt like you were just dismissing me, treating me like a kid or something. I feel like you're right, we're both unhappy people, and I was holding back from talking to you. I feel very much like seeing you again. Please at least write to me to tell me to go fuck myself or else to say you'll come.

sincerely,
Mara

[Radiatia]

Kurt Demodand sat alone in a cafe at Xerconia International Airport, drinking cappuccino from a paper cup.

Although his face was in all the newspapers, he wasn't recognised by anyone - partially due to most Radiatians being almost completely ignorant of politics, and mainly due to his decision to stop shaving and dress in a hoodie, rather than the usual lavish costumes he was accustomed to.

As hellish as the last few weeks had been, they time in jail, the trial, the media circuses weren't the worst of it.

The worst of it was the realisation that he was completely alone in the world. His friends had betrayed him. And that didn't even take in account the vicious hounds like that Tom from the WA.

Throughout the whole trial, the only person even remotely interested in his well being, ironically, was Lena Toriah - despite her being his political arch enemy.

She had visited him a few times while he was in prison, awaiting trial. She emotionally supported him better than anyone else. She even made public statements that she felt he was innocent.

The fact that he was returning to the WA was her doing too. Sure, it was a political move to get rid of him, but it was also a compassionate move, a vote of confidence in him, a way of saying "He should not be punished if he's done nothing wrong."

In a weird way, Kurt had come to like Mrs. Toriah, even though he remained diametrically opposed to her political views.

Everyone else had betrayed him.

The lawyers did a good job, but they weren't interested in him, they were just doing a job. That was the problem with Radiatians - people do what is required of them, but ultimately no one gives a shit about anyone else.

His former employees at R-SOD... well he knew they'd try and take him down. Having been in charge of the Radiatian Special Operations Division for four years, Kurt had learned that despite what the government claim, R-SOD were as much a bunch of communists today as they were 40 years ago. He knew that there was no way those old commies would let the arch-capitalist "Demoman" get away without tainting his reputation.

Soden Larssen had also betrayed him by testifying against him. Kurt had been taken aback - sure he and Soden had had a few arguments, but he liked Mr. Larssen, and respected him hugely as a Minister and as a politician.

Likewise Bill Alyaha, who was instrumental in gaining Kurt the Conservative Party leadership position all those years ago, had failed to speak favourably. Perhaps he was annoyed that Kurt had only made him a junior Minister.

No he knew the real reason - Bill and Soden were going to be running for election soon, and they had to distance themselves to save their political hides.

With no friends apart from his arch enemy, and a number of anonymous political supporters - none of whom knew Kurt as a person - Kurt flipped open his laptop to try and distract himself from the lonliness.

He was surprised to notice an email from Mara... the Princess he banged on the night of his arrest.

He read the email. On one hand he took heart at the fact that she had bothered to email. On the other, he was still bitter about the whole scenario.

She seemed like she genuinely wanted to see him, but on the other hand.....

He started typing furiously.

DAMN RIGHT YOU SHOULD GO FUCK YOURSELF, BITCH. I HOPE YOU DIE. I HOPE YOU AND TOM BOTH GET YOUR FACES DISFIGURED IN A FUCKING CAR ACCIDENT AND DIE A PAINFUL FUCKING DEATH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!

He sighed and then deleted it, and briefly considered ignoring the message altogether.

But eventually, he came to a decision and found himself doing something that went against every political instinct of his:
He decided to tell her the truth.

To: Mara Obed
From: Kurt J. Demodand
Subject: Re: Apology

Dear Mara,

Let me ask you: Have you ever been betrayed?

Have you ever had everyone you've ever trusted turn against you, try to smear you, accuse you, paint you as a villain?
Have you ever been left alone, and been so utterly without hope or friendship that the only person even remotely friendly to you is your arch enemy?

If so then maybe you might have some sort of an idea as to how shitty I feel right now.

To be honest, I was surprised to hear from you. I'm grateful, but I certainly didn't think you cared.

As for me, well, I'm heading back to the WA. I have a job to do. Maybe I'll head to New Edom and see you sometime. I'd love to.

But not now. Work comes first and after all I've been through over the last few weeks it's the only thing I want to do.

I never thought I'd miss politics, but having dealt with actual people recently I think I prefer the unreality of politics to the reality of normal every day life.

Keep in contact, don't be a stranger.

I'll see you when I'm ready.

Until then, I am forever yours,
Kurt

He hit the send button just as he heard the call to board his plane.

Part of him considered skipping the flight, and heading to New Edom. He heard the psychotic President had brought in compulsory nudity. He rather liked the idea of being nude with Mara once again.

On the other hand, he had a job to do.

And he was glad to be leaving Radiatia. After everything he had done for the country, all the changes that had been made, the country was just as repressive and depressing today as it had ever been, and no amount of flashing neon signs or outward displays of wealth could change the fact that at its heart it would always be a cold, unfriendly, authoritarian hellhole.