The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring (pLease sign up first)

[Riemaia]

Anneli looked at all the reptiles, and felt a little sense of fear. I was probably the first time in years she had actually seen a reptile, save for a cooked alligator one time while she was at a Croc O'Diles for a quick lunch with one of her friends. "You know... I don't like reptiles," She said with a barely noticeable hint of fear in her voice, looking away from them as Mara pushed her along the path. "Especially snakes, I really really don't like snakes." She continued as she remembered she was bit by a (albeit non-venomous) snake when she was a child, which had made her afraid of all reptiles since. "Has anyone seen Rena, Lena, Elise, or my mom around lately?"

[New Edom]

The Zoo

"You're afraid of reptiles?" Perrin, overhearing, exclaimed with astonishment. "Of all things in the world to be afraid of, reptiles are one of the least you should be concerned with. However don't fear, noble Empress, if one of them threatens you or any of the others here I will defend you." He nodded and demonstrated. "This is not just a dress sword, and I also have a traditional New Edomite fighting knife with me, just in case, and a pistol of course. Don't worry everyone. You play ball with me, and I'll play ball with you. You do your bit, and I'll do mine. We're all part of a team, in a fight for freedom and democracy! Work hard, train hard, play hard, and play the game!"

"Thanks Perrin, what would we do without you?" said Mara sweetly, winking at Annelli. She whispered to her, "Wanna go see the aquarium instead?"

[New Edom]

The Museum

"I'm Olivia, Countess of Lalery--oh I see what you mean." she smiled at him. "I'm New Edom's number one best selling novelist..." she clasped her hands and looked to Heaven. "Blessed, so blessed, thank you! Have you ever read The Pomegranate? The Witch of Padria?, Elwe Captive? Winter Princess? Stormrider? Any of those? A couple of them have been made into movies, you know...oh hang on for hell's sake!" she shouted, and then it was plain that she was responding to her vibrating phone in her purse. "Holy crap, what is it? What? No, the eleventh, the eleventh! Oh...alright well...je t'aime beaucoup aussi, a bientot..." she hung up. "People you know? oh you know all about people. I used to be a lady in waiting. Anyway! My dear Ataman, have your people been written about in a big way since the 19th Century? No, right? Well...how would you like to be? You see you've just given me inspiration for my new novel!"

[Gehenna Tartarus]

The Zoo

Marissa stared at the Loris for a while and then looked at Tia and laughed. “I do not think this one is that interested in us,” she said, as she looked towards the exit that Mara had taken with Anneli. She walked alongside Tia as they made their way to the door and stepped out into the sunlight, blinking against the sudden brightness. “I am glad we went to the zoo, it has been such a long time since I visited one. And they have some very strange animals here.”

Tia blinked her eyes until she could once more see. “It looks like everyone is heading to the reptile house,” she said, looking at the building that Mara and Anneli were heading over to. “If you would rather not go inside, we can have a look at some of the other animals.”

“No, I think we can go inside, it is not as if the snakes and things are loose, is it?” The princess asked, looking a little nervous, just in case they were. “Look at the peacock over there. I really would love to get a dress with all those colours in, perhaps for a masquerade ball or something. I do love that green and purple together.”

“They should be all behind glass,” she said, laughing lightly. “If not, you can run out after me.” She was not afraid of the reptiles like Marissa, but the idea of them walking loose was not something she liked the idea of either. “We can walk through quickly, it is not as if we need to pause in front of each one and get a good look.”

Marissa nodded. “That sounds like a good idea.” She pulled open the door and slipped inside, followed by Tia. She paused in front of the first glass and peered inside. Once she spotted the creature, she moved quickly to the next one. Although she was gazing into the cases, she was leaving some space between herself and the glass.

Her friend took a slightly more leisurely stroll through the reptile house, making sure that she read all the details of the animals, while making sure that the princess did not start freaking out.

[Riemaia]

Anneli blushed as Perrin caught on quickly with her fears, and turned her head to the side. "Yes Perrin... reptiles... please don't torment me with snake jokes and bringing your pet lizard over..." She said as she dug through her purse for her phone, but decided to not pull it out. She looked up at Mara, and whispered back, "That would be nice actually, thanks Mara... you must think i'm a little scardie cat, being afraid of reptiles, bicycles, motorcycles, you know... lots of normal things." She sat there thinking about everything she was afraid of, which was plenty more than what she said. Her largest fear was heights, but also had a very mild fear of bridges, mostly really long bridges with very long falls.

[Hittanryan]

Zoo

Tom wandered over to the next part of the museum. Being the largest thing around, the Megalania caught his eye. As he approached the enclosure, the giant reptile appraised him lazily, then lost interest. Noticing "resident reptile expert" Perrin nearby, he called out "So, what are the odds this big guy breathes fire and has a big pile of gold sitting around in the back?"

Rhea managed to give every bird in the first section at least one good look, but in doing so hadn't really kept up with any of the conversation. She vaguely overheard one of the royals mention something along the lines of 'Can I take one home with me?' "Terrible idea, wild animals aren't pets, and they require extremely specialized care," she thought. "You'd have to hire someone just to look after them if you wanted one of these animals to live."

[United Slavic Nations]

Deciding she had rested enough, Annya stood from her bench, preparing to walk to the zoo, when she spotted Glycal near the portrait of Queen Adah the First. Giggling shirlly, she remembered that the Cossacks were feared warriors, and they would be wonderful allies to have if a war arose. "Yoo-hoo! Glycal! Dobre vecher!" she called in Russian, her native language, and waved. "Kak dela, tovarish?"

[Gehenna Tartarus]

The Museum

There were some people who knew how to behave and there were some who did not, and Prince Hugo decided that the woman who had started off skipping around the museum was one of the latter, and his thoughts were confirmed when she called across the museum to the man standing looking at one of the paintings, with another woman, who was hastily writing something down.

He shook his head sadly and decided that he had had enough of the craziness in the museum and that he would head over to the conservatory instead, where he hoped that grown women were not acting like children.

[Constaniana]

Irene and Maximus had gone over to the reptile section also, and Irene was completely taken by surprise at the sight of the huge Megalania. "Bloody hell Maximus, this thing is huge.." Maximus looked at the enclosure also, hoping they could get this over with. "Yeah, you're right...although a Giant Badger would still win in a fight with this, " Irene rolled her eyes. "Is that how all immature man-children judge how cool an animal is, based on how many other animals it can beat up?" Maximus snorted and grinned. "I'm immature? You make me look like I'm 80!" He replied. He would have continued the mock argument with his cousin, when he noticed the group of people nearby, recognizing one person in particular. He walked over towards them with a smile on his face. "Hey Mara!" He said, straightening his blue tie a little.

[The Shrailleeni Empire]

Havenwalde

"Fruit is nice" Adolf stated with a smile as he looked at the gardens themselves they were something to behold. "This garden is unique at best, more unique then anything i've seen." Adolf added as he sighed, "I actually can't wait to get back home, so much things I have to do. I hope to god my replacement for the time being isn't screwing things up" Adolf said as he rubbed his chin.

"I'm sure that everything is fine," Katara said confidently, attempting to steer Adolf toward the Conservatorium. "Perhaps a walk through the gardens will quiet your mind. After all, there will be time to worry about concerns of state once this evening is done."

---

After discussing some of the finer points of dueling, Teya felt far more at ease than she had earlier. Hoping to avoid a repeat incident and filled with a deep curiosity, she headed for the Zoological Gardens at the behest of the New Edomites, and was almost immediately glad that she had.

The griffins were spectacular. Whatever other strange beasts lay within the park, she knew that she could spend all of her time here in front of this magnificent beasts. She looked like a child beholding a rainbow for the first time, wide-eyed and unable to tear herself away. She heard bits of the conversation of those around her, about the Royal Griffins and the reason for their rarity in the wild. The thought saddened her, and her heart went out to the large birds with their terrifying beaks.

The Shrailleeni archipelago was a place of birds. The flightless kalko of her homeland were a staple of Shrailleeni cultural mindset, they ran through the jungles, forests, and grasslands of the islands in high abundance even in the age of industry. Although these griffins clearly enjoyed meat instead of the vegetarian diet of the kalko, she could not help but compare the two in her mind. The only mammals in the Empire were rodent species and the sturdy forest ponies, both of which likely followed their human cousins long ago. Neither presented a threat to the ground-dwelling kalko, whose communal nests were well protected and whose eggshells were too hard for rats to penetrate.

To Teya, the griffins reminded her of a bizarre blend of kalko and the Shrailleeni Islands' top predator, the mighty Trii-akh. She saw in the eyes of the New Edomite predators the fierce pride of the black-tipped eagles. She wandered close the enclosure, leaning to get a better view of them though cautious of their predatory nature. It was too bad that creatures like these Royals were all but extinct in the wild...she wondered how these beasts would like the forests of her homeland. She blinked, wondering why she hadn't thought of the idea before. The Empire had zoological parks, though they were few in number. Surely Shrailleeni subjects would be interested in seeing such specimens alive and in person?

She made a note to bring the subject up at the embassy. Maybe it would be a good enough idea of offset her earlier outburst.

[Havenwalde]

Havenwalde

"Fruit is nice" Adolf stated with a smile as he looked at the gardens themselves they were something to behold. "This garden is unique at best, more unique then anything i've seen." Adolf added as he sighed, "I actually can't wait to get back home, so much things I have to do. I hope to god my replacement for the time being isn't screwing things up" Adolf said as he rubbed his chin.

"I'm sure that everything is fine," Katara said confidently, attempting to steer Adolf toward the Conservatorium. "Perhaps a walk through the gardens will quiet your mind. After all, there will be time to worry about concerns of state once this evening is done."

---

After discussing some of the finer points of dueling, Teya felt far more at ease than she had earlier. Hoping to avoid a repeat incident and filled with a deep curiosity, she headed for the Zoological Gardens at the behest of the New Edomites, and was almost immediately glad that she had.

The griffins were spectacular. Whatever other strange beasts lay within the park, she knew that she could spend all of her time here in front of this magnificent beasts. She looked like a child beholding a rainbow for the first time, wide-eyed and unable to tear herself away. She heard bits of the conversation of those around her, about the Royal Griffins and the reason for their rarity in the wild. The thought saddened her, and her heart went out to the large birds with their terrifying beaks.

The Shrailleeni archipelago was a place of birds. The flightless kalko of her homeland were a staple of Shrailleeni cultural mindset, they ran through the jungles, forests, and grasslands of the islands in high abundance even in the age of industry. Although these griffins clearly enjoyed meat instead of the vegetarian diet of the kalko, she could not help but compare the two in her mind. The only mammals in the Empire were rodent species and the sturdy forest ponies, both of which likely followed their human cousins long ago. Neither presented a threat to the ground-dwelling kalko, whose communal nests were well protected and whose eggshells were too hard for rats to penetrate.

To Teya, the griffins reminded her of a bizarre blend of kalko and the Shrailleeni Islands' top predator, the mighty Trii-akh. She saw in the eyes of the New Edomite predators the fierce pride of the black-tipped eagles. She wandered close the enclosure, leaning to get a better view of them though cautious of their predatory nature. It was too bad that creatures like these Royals were all but extinct in the wild...she wondered how these beasts would like the forests of her homeland. She blinked, wondering why she hadn't thought of the idea before. The Empire had zoological parks, though they were few in number. Surely Shrailleeni subjects would be interested in seeing such specimens alive and in person?

She made a note to bring the subject up at the embassy. Maybe it would be a good enough idea of offset her earlier outburst.

Adolf walked along with Katara to the gardens as he took a glander at the plants and the beauty of it. "A wonderfull garden it is..." Adolf said as they walked.

[Cossacks]

New Edom, United Slavic Nations- The Museum

This woman was absolutely mad, but she was an artist, albeit an artist of words, ergo, she had license to be perfectly insane. While normally if a women acted so delusional, society would throw them in a mad house, if they called themselves an artist and styled their madness to be artistic genius- then it was not a sickness to be cured, but a gift to be celebrated, a delightfully strange quirk of the world Glycal had always appreciated.

“Well, a lot longer than that.” He said in response to her question, he was somewhat surprised to see she had a cell phone- many in Kazakia did not have them, it allowed radicle thought to spread too rapidly and assaulted the traditional way of Cossack life, then again, she was aristocracy. “You see, according to Cossack culture, history is written in blood and recorded in song- as you can imagine, Kazakia has failed to produce great authors. Poets perhaps, song writers most certainly are titles nearly every Cossack can claim… but authors, no.” It was true, every Cossack was expected to, at some point in their lives, win a battle which would then be immortalized in song to their children and upon Cossack honor one did not change a single word in another’s song. Doing so was looked upon as an equivalent, or perhaps even the greater to murder, it destroyed the history and honor of the dead and was therefore forbidden. “As to your books,” he said as he conjured a polite way to phrase his thoughts, “though I’m confident you are very much talented- foreign books, Edomite literature is not allowed within the borders of Kazakia.”

Before the kind, if not crazed, women could respond a terrible cry pierced the silence of the museum, and worst still it was in Russian. Russian was a prominent language in Kazakia; it was used in ever day discussion and conversation, though the elite of society and in formal circumstances Latin would be used. Still, this was not Kazakian Russian, and was heavily accented by Glycal’s standards. It had come from a woman, another mad woman. Still, if he was to maintain cordial discourse with these dignitaries, he would have to respond- he gave a motion that suggested the author may follow him if she so desired and he approached the Slav slowly.

“Privet Comrade Stranger,” The Ataman responded quietly after he had approached the women, he knew she had caused a scene and attracted undesired attention, and no furthermore that this interesting women and writer he had been entertaining himself with would find little pleasure in listening to a conversation in Russian and so he continued. “For the guest here, I suggest we limit our speech to populi lingua, the common speech of the Edomites.”

[New Edom]

Zoo

"Hey there Max, how you like the zoo so far? Pretty cool huh? Annelli here really wants to see the aquarium area, and we were gonna head over there, you're all cool if you hang out here if you like, but we're gonna motor over there, do a little wheelchair jousting along the way." Mara had changed into a cherry colored tunic that mimicked Perrin's except hers didn't come with trousers and showed off her slim legs in her low high heeled boots. "And I think I saw Mike and Rena...gettting caught up behind a palm plant in the reception hall actually, and I'm pretty sure that the others are getting wasted in one of the ladies rooms near the same." she whispered to Annelli. She began to wheel her out of the reptile house and towards the path again.

As they walked Perrin whispered to Tia, "Do you know that I'm picturing you naked again? Walking along the paths, your hips swaying your smooth back, and I imagine your hair teased in the wind? My lovely Tia, I'm tired of this--would you like to see more zoo or slip away for a bit?" he asked, his breath caressing her ear.

The Aquarium

The Aquarium area was a large area almost like a zoo in and of itself, and in a seashell pattern the enclosures were laid out, including a building that was at the 'hinge' of the seashell' and which contained those fish whose tanks were enclosed from the sky above. One of the first things they all saw was an area for seals and other beasts--but a strange seal that was extinct everywhere else was one of the first they saw; Nestor's Seal, only five feet long. It had a curiously long neck, flippers that seemed small and it had to hunch its back, power swimming through the water. Another lay on a big rock, sunning itself lazily, big nostrils flaring.

In one pool, which reeked not unpleasantly of an algae-grassy stink, was a pair of shaggy beasts out of another time--marine sloths. Their enclosure was huge, and the water rippled around water plants which the beasts were harvesting and munching steadily.

In another, Bara Catfish swam in a shoal, you could go and look at the tank at the bottom by descending some steps or stand on a gallery and look down at them.

In the indoor tanks, one of the most unusual fish was the New Edomite Manefish, with its huge startled eyes and giant dorsal fin, swimming slowly in its waters, goggling at anyone who approached.

But of the fish there, the proudest exhibit was the huge tank with the Sabre Toothed Salmon. Up to 9 feet long when fully mature, these enormous fish were actually part of a breed and release program. The largest tank had mating salmon in it, their colors bright and dazzling, the tank cloudy with milt and eggs. A huge visible cage was above the tank--for obvious reasons. Flocks of birds swarmed above, cawing and crying, crows, gulls, ravens, hawks. The cage had stiff brush wires along the bars to prevent them from landing. The birds did not stay long.

[Gehenna Tartarus]

The Zoo

Tia was grateful that she was not someone who blushed easily, otherwise her cheeks might have been a deep shade of red as Perrin spoke in her ear. At the same time, she wished that he was not so easily able to excite her with just a few words. She put that ability down to the fact that they were having a long distance relationship and only got to see each other on occasions when they were both free, which was not often enough in her opinion. She was wanted to disappear with him, but she had promised Hugo.

“I want to go,” she said, lowering her voice a little. “But I am supposed to be escorting Marissa around the zoo.”

The princess, catching her name, looked at Tia and smiled. “If you are bored of walking around the zoo, I can continue on my own. Empress Anneli and Mara are still here, I can follow them around. We are going to the aquarium and I am looking forward to that. I will catch up with you later.”

“Are you sure?” Tia replied, looking a little surprised by Marissa’s response.

Marissa laughed lightly. “I know that you and Hugo think that I am unable to walk around a zoo on my own, but honestly, it is not difficult. And I have been enjoying talking to everyone here so far and I know that you want to spend some time with the Brigadier-General before we leave. I will make up some excuse for Hugo.”

Tia cocked an eyebrow.

“Tatiana, go,” Marissa said, giving the other girl a light shove. “I will be fine.”

The older of the two girls turned to Perrin and smiled, her eyes twinkling with the thought of having some time with him on her own. “I would love to slip away for a bit.”

While Tia was talking to Perrin, Marissa sped up a little to catch up with the others going to the aquarium.

[Riemaia]

The Aquarium

"I love fishies..." Anneli said as she looked at all the fish and smiled, but definitely not at Max. "I have a small aquarium at home with dozens of goldfish in it, I just love watching them eating their little food pellets, watching them swim around with no care in the world... I remember my first goldfish, I won it at my first new years festival, well I didn't really win it, more like pity since I can't throw darts at all!" Anneli was quite unskilled with things like throwing darts, rings, frisbees, baseballs, footballs, ect, ect, but did a least try. "Hey MAra, when i'm not in the situation i'm now, wanna play tennis sometime? I remember you saying you liked to play it."

[Hittanryan]

New Edom

Hittanryan

"Mr. President De Groote, what is your country's relationship with East Klamath?" asked Touchstone. "I take it that it is a subtle one, and that part of your balance of power with the Imperium involves you not expanding power on either side without necessary provocation?" His wheels were turning in his mind, and he was thinking rapidly. Sif knew the signs and spoke to Friedman. "Has any of this been brought up in the World Assembly or with friendly nations there, to seek possibly mediation and investigation? I'd hate to think that all avenues of possibility had not yet been explored..."

"Our relationship? Well, on paper it is a minor regional trading partner, sometime tourist destination, " DeGroot replied to Touchstone's inquiry, "It is of great interest to the AIS due to its large Magi population, proximity to the Imperium's coastline, and strategic location." "You are correct at least in part, Mr. President, about our precarious balance of power," Friedman offered.

"We've both been licking our wounds, regrouping, focusing on other matters, and generally attempting to strengthen our position while we're not engaged in open warfare. For Adiron, that means a lot of diplomacy and cloak and dagger work. For the Imperium...well, it ranges anywhere between charity work and overthrowing governments," he elaborated. DeGroot decided to offer a consolation, "It doesn't look like either of us will be going to war anytime in the immediate future, the Imperial manufacturing base has yet to recover from the final stages of the last war, and I can attest to Adiron's war weariness. When the next war comes, however, it will be all the worse, and we intend to be in a more favorable position."

It was at this point that the Foreign Minister suggested acting through the World Assembly. "We have already approached our international allies. They are reluctant to get heavily involved in what they see as a strictly regional affair for a variety of reasons. Some fear Imperial reprisals, others have sizable Magi constituencies, and so on and so forth," Friedman answered. "In the eventuality of East Klamath falling under Imperial control, we cannot allow their expansion to go unchecked, which is our rationale for approaching regional players such as New Edom with this proposal."

Friedman checked his watch, and noticed other guests starting to filter out of the reception area. DeGroot noticed the same, and turned to Touchstone. "Well Mr. President, we promised not to take much of your time. We should probably wait to continue these talks in a more official, perhaps more confidential setting. Is there anything else you'd like to know for now?"

[Ali-Zebu Union]

Punja gave a friendly smile and nodded to her request. She finally leaned away from the the wall and stood before Ashali. It was apparent that Punja had been rather clumsy as to dressing herself before this party. While her dress being made of beautiful dark mesh with gentle red specular highlights revealing the Herskerstad emblem, as well as a belt holding it together around her middle only to have the rest go down cover all just above the knees seemed both conservative and feminine in it's appearance, she had forgotten to change lab undershirt. In a strange way, it complimented her appearance. Herself, being of the Asari variety had natural long pink hair and oddly enough, two tails instead of one. She also had on the top of her head what seemed like red-tinted pilot glasses, but she had yet to use them. Her skin was pretty much Caucasian and stood lucky to hold a natural beauty of her own, as she could not be bothered to wear makeup aside from some basic lipstick. In a very swift, but friendly way she snatched Asari's hand and gave a swift, yet warm smile. As she once again took initiative to go on a walk. This time the general direction was away from the building they had just visited.

She seemed generally happy at this moment, even after hearing about Ashali's misfortunes. She was bursting with energy, part of her wished to walk faster than Ashali's normal phase, but she was composed enough to avoid doing so. Even though some enthusiasm could be noted as her grip at times tightened somewhat. She turned her head sideways to face Ashali as she said. " I am very happy I meet you Ashali. It is hard to express with words how dull the life in Herskerstad can appear at times. I mean, for some people I can see that it would be a heaven of some kind. Only a modest consumption tax, so corporations thrive, has entire cathedral cities, so tourism and well.... religious humans have it well. I cannot stand the classical choir music, but even I will admit the architecture challenges human creativity. Valleys of water with re-enforced glass plates one will not be able to see just under the surface, to make one appear as if one is walking on water. Valleys with monasteries that have choirs placed in regions which creates a beautiful, faint echo. Architecture from all over the world. Architecture with strict zoning laws, that ensures the cities become great wonders themselves. Yet, beyond the beauty, one can find the beast. Underneath many cities, there are gigantic slums that go many, many stories underground. In their own way, they stand as a monument. There exist no rules or law in those.... pits. The largest one is under the capital, called sin city. Essentially, anyone finding them on the lower end of the lower class tend to be forced to emigrate there. You will find colluseums, brothels, black markets if you can even call it that there, organ sales, even charities and hospital clinics. Again, no law, but a general ceasefire upon good will I suppose..... Even though there is little to be found there. Largely gang controlled, and if I know Baptista right, he will have established all the viable connections to make an economic boom from this sick venture. I once disguised myself to see the just the first two underground levels, and well..... Once I saw an arranged fight, I decided that place was not for me. The man who lost well.... he also lost his face in the most cruel way imaginable. Yet, the crowd was in a grand mood. To see that humans can find themselves supportive or even enthralled by such vile desires... It goes beyond what I am willing to accept as truth, I suppose, but it stands as a heaven, compared to the second lowest level called purgatory I hear. Underneath purgatory is well... hell, and I have only heard rumors. They are as unpleasant as one can imagine."

She stopped for a moment and looked to the skies. A gust of wind caught her hair as she said. " I cannot say I myself have been betrayed like that.... I cannot remember anything from when I was 13. Now I am 27, but unlike the Asari, I live on, I feel I have far too much energy to expire just yet. Baptista, who created me, merely laughed at me when I asked. Saying that I would know when my time arrives. I've learned before hand it is a mistake to go beyond his half-answers. The emperors knows nothing, and while he tolerates Baptista's presence far more than I myself do, I cannot bring myself to believe he for a second never heard of the crusader initiatives, which stood the most brutal divisions in the war. Ruthlessly effective, they sometimes left nothing behind, but rubble, bodies and smoke. I for one managed to catch Godfrey, the leader of the crusader divisions in his wartime armor. It was a frightful sight..... That man hates me in a way far more than Baptista ever could. Yet finding myself alone with him, he did nothing. Other than a frightful stare, we did not associate any further. I think it was painfully clear he hated me for being one of the Sari, yet, he stands a legend in Herskerstad, a cultural icon even..... I do not know where to begin. Yet despite the man's hate for me, I don't feel it returned. Such hatred I saw could only have been created, over a lengthy period of time. And seeing how he is Baptista's personal bodyguard now that the war is over, the cause stands painfully obvious. Yet I fear, that when I was created, Baptista tampered with my systems intentionally in a way which will cause something horrible to happen one day. Perhaps something horrible did happen, the day I lost most of my memory before I was 13. It probably did, but it seems unlikely as I was in attendance with a fairly well-supervised wing that has no allegiance to Baptista, and none account for me leaving my lab.... Yet, Baptista is known for his mastery of deceit, and I dare not confront him anymore, and I do not wish to involve the emperor. The emperor kind of takes care of me, I suppose, but inviting unpleasantness with Baptista is something I swore I would never ask anyone to do. He would know it was I who asked, but I've never really loved anyone either. I did never really enjoy the science in the way that makes most people happy either. It just... absorbs me. Entirely, and without pause. "

She turned around, and this time, her voice was not as much serious, as it was a sight of relief on revealing something. " I don't know what to tell you about faith, really. I always thought Christianity in Herskerstad only was a tool for political control, due to how central Baptista stood in the Church of Herskerstad. The crusader divisions, the cultural war..... Yet, there where 3 events that contradict my life. One came fairly early, when I was 16. I was walking past a very humble office during the defensive war, it did not even look like a monastery. Yet, I saw a man in black clothes which probably had not been washed for some time. He was thin, and his eyes... they did not align. Signaling he probably had a brain tumor or some other defect. I.... walked towards him, my original intent, due to frustration, was to prove him and his faith to be false. I talked around him, many times, giving him questions he did not stand capable of answering. He stood there, his hands trembling as he had lost most of his control over them. Yet, for each rebuke I came with, he only invited me closer. Each time I presented a paradox, he only replied that he knows not the ways of God fully, yet wished me to merely seek him. He tried to invite me in several time, even giving me some of his precious coffee when he stood entirely incapable of making one. Then I asked him why does he confide with this God, who he says is so good, considering all the misfortunes bestowed upon this priest? He replied that he still had a purpose, to remove the pain others had, and bring them closer to God. That their joy, far more than made up for his own suffering, and despite that he could no longer remember certain prayers, or talk with God as he used to, his presence was still felt in the far horizon, and he longs for the day he visits that unknown.... I never accepted his invite, I walked away. He is probably dead now, I could even have paid for or heck, done surgery myself on him, but I was confused, angry, and I've never dared visit that place again... If it even exists anymore, but a man that was so good, despite all the bad he had encountered. That made me think. There was also that time during the war, where I visited a nearby town that had just been bombarded from the air. I was sent there to retrieve some writings from the library, and to my surprise, heard a voice under one of the massive ruins of several shelves.I thought no man, let alone a child could have survived having fallen under one of those, yet, I saw there was a small angle on how it had fell, and true enough, being in the spiritual section, one of the large tombs containing the old testament had fallen, creating an angle just small enough for the child to escape being crushed on the other end. I looked closer at the few books who had made such an odd tumble, and where the book that had the old testament which true enough, seemed ruined after the fall. The new testament, while not having prevented the fall, had a small ray of light on it, and a second ray of light which stood before the rubble which had a small hole in it. I leaned over towards the bible, yet, what I saw was that through the small hole, the voice I had heard, which I presumed was that of someone who was dead, revealed to me the child still alive and trapped on the far end. I called it in quickly, and the child was saved. I never contacted him after the fact, but, had that one ray of light not hit the golden texts, or the old testament not broken the fall just so much near the edge, that kid would have been dead, like so many others. The last event which I can think of really was the visit underground. I never cared much for the priests on the surface, enough riches to make Midas blush and pampered fools who think themselves holier than others, yet, on the underground, there was this one young priest who lived in what could hardly be called a church. I spoke with him, and to my shock, he was in fact formerly a very wealthy man, who had lost his fortunes at the start of the war. He told me that he planned to kill himself, as wealth really was his God, he was still Christian then when he had those thoughts, but once he saw the vile nature in sin city and another area called Freetown, he soon had to fight for his life, but his will was already dead. At the mercy of one of the rare and violent Desari, he decided it was his time, and did not even put up an effort to survive. The sari remarked that he could not kill something that was already dead, and left him shortly after. Yet, in that moment of fear, he felt that his life had purpose. Even in what some would think as negative, he felt life within himself, and indeed, a new kind of wealth. Before long he had become a preacher and he told me some of the most amazing stories, I was not even angry when listening to them, but he really had found something that was beyond the concept of normal life. With danger, and then friends ever present, he used most of his time helping those recently banished to the underworld. I suppose for the first time I really took an interest in the story of another man. And when I saw the vile fight later on, I asked myself that, with war, and the hell humans can create for themselves ever present, how can people survive without something to look up to?"

She paused for a moment. " I suppose my answer when it comes to religion or faith is that I don't know. I am no longer actively trying to disprove anything. Yet, in humble quarters, God seems to be at his strongest should he exist. I truely cannot say, but I've meet people better than me who seem convinced.... Then again, I have also meet rich fools who have not a shred of use, and I hope that when they one day stand before the throne of God, they will find themselves surprised that it is not they who sit in it! Nothing would please me more. Then again, my own nature often has desires towards the misfortunes of others.... mostly impulsive, but still. While I would rarely ever turn to violence or plotting, they still... define much of who I am. An imperfection, flaw, and negative trait sure.... Probably something worthy of what people call hell. Cowardly when others need me, Cowardly towards myself, angry often, disgruntled normally, and when I try to act independent, if it was not for a few close friends, whom I despise openly, but love.... I would not have been able to stomach life. Kind of like Raeder, a man who got so many negative traits I could never count them openly, but at least I know that should I be in trouble, he would act on my behalf. The old, insistent fool that he is. And as far as God goes.... I suppose we are at what one could call a ceasefire. I will admit I talk to myself often when I am alone in my lab, and sometimes, the conversation turns towards God... Well, mostly against him, but it continues and goes on and on. I don't think like a human, so I cannot rightly say what his son or... he was thinking when he faced death among people who openly despised him only to advocate their forgiveness, yet, he must have had the same kind of love that some of those I mentioned earlier had. I cannot associate with it, but I know that such a love, transcends sense itself in a way..... I don't know, at times everything seems mad to me, so I suppose that a love that is there even among all the madness can be a good thing. Humans are as capable as any at creating miseries at the end of the day, and that a person can indeed change his or her nature is good, but I doubt I ever will. I am too cowardly, simple as that."

Ashali was becoming more intrigued with Punja by the second and she was certainly enjoying the casual conversation. It seemed like it had been too long since she had spoken with anyone like this or shared any sort of physical contact. It both refreshed her and eased her heart.

When Punja tightened her grip, so did Ashali and if Punja quickened her pace, so did she. Whenever Punja had a break in her speech, Ashali would make sure to smile. When Punja had finally finished, Ashali looked over her shoulder and spied a bench among the array of beautiful plants that now surrounded them and led Punja to sit beside her on the bench.

“You are a fascinating woman with a fascinating life Punja and I am very glad to have met you. From all that I have heard you say, I have determined that what you need is a break from your life in Herskerstad. To spread your wings and do a little flying.” She gave Punja’s hand a gentle squeeze as she realized something. “You said you work keeps you thoroughly occupied and leaves you much time to think of much else and I suppose that I have been doing something of the same over the past year and a half. It is easy to lose yourself in such things, especially if the alternative is to face some painful memory or another. I now think that perhaps I should stop burying myself in my work and start taking full enjoyment from my life again,” she smiled gently, “Thank you for helping me come to this realization Punja.” She gave another light squeeze. “I no longer simply recommend you visit Ali-Zebu, I insist upon it. And if you then find that you like it well enough, then perhaps you could stay on a more permanent basis. You will always have my hospitality.”

Ashali then looked at the sky and the flowers and other plants that surrounded them. Her words light on her tongue, she again faced Punja. “This is all very beautiful, is it not?” She paused briefly to search Punja’s eyes, “I also think that you are a braver person than you give yourself credit for Punja. I do not think it is beyond your power to change yourself. Perhaps you just need someone to give you a nudge.”

She then looked around her again and then smiled warmly at Punja. “Would you like to sit here a little longer and enjoy the scenery or is there something else you would prefer to do?”

[Nalaya]

At the Conservatory

Ashkhen's last thoughts given, she politely bid her farewell and moved back so that others could still view the plants unimpeded. The beauty of the scene was marvelous but she felt ill-suited to be the eye beholding it. Her hands had long ago dedicated themselves to death and not so much the cultivation of life. Perhaps once she had been a farmer's daughter, but the sands had long ago blown gently across his bones and she herself was now an architect of destruction.

The knowledge of that brought her peace rather than remorse. It meant not only that she could spare the lives of her fellow soldiers, but also that no one else would have to carry the terrible burden. Ashkhen sighed slightly, eyes focusing on the little fern. She could speak of bees as often as she liked, but it would not change the reality of her duty.

She would be needed home. The New Edomites had their hands quite full at present, and she felt it was wrong to impose upon their hospitality. Better to excuse herself politely now and get back to work than continue inserting herself into the business of others.

[TurtleShroom]

By the time TurtleShroom, in its crumbling, and recently surrendered state had learned that one of their last allies was hosting a huge festival of foreign dignitaries, the thing was already mostly over.

The train chugged into the station and ground to a halt. Out of it, two human men stepped out, each dressed radically different from each other.

One man was at least eight feet tall, had brown hair, and wore heavy cokebottle spectacles. He was dressed in a fine, expensive, three piece black suit with a yellow tie and what seemed to be a clerical collar, that was an off-white to show he was a layman. It was immediately visible that he was rich. That watch on his arm was probably ten thousand Americalandese Dollars alone.
This was Bessford Be: oil tycoon, mega-billionaire (once a trillionaire in his nation's poorer currency), monopolist, and heir apparent to the Chancellery of TurtleShroom. Revered by oilmen as a rebirth of the Rockefellers and despised by Marxists the world over, Bessford's power and scope over oil primarily meant that he owned TurtleShroom's economy, which exports oil more than anything else. With his monopoly en route to consuming seventy percent of the oil market, he showed no signs of letting up, and had recently begun phasing in the Truck System (company stores/towns) in some of his newest refineries, saving millions in labor costs. He had suffered the loss of a dear friend and business partner recently, and also lost ten percent of his company to a radical band of Asian zealots and nekomimi.
Draped over him was a purple sash and a golden scepter topped with the calligraphic "T" that was used in the Seal of TurtleShroom.
He looked like he was full of energy, almost like a young schoolgirl, and had a look of innocence normally found on children.


The second man was a more normal height, but still over six foot five. He was blonde and clean shaven, with what looked like normal spectacles over his sparkling blue eyes. He wore a pink robe over him and wore a red bowtie. A red sash with "AMBASSADOR OF TURTLESHROOM" was draped over him, and he was carrying a heavy briecase.
This was Paul Pole: considered TurtleShroom's all-time greatest diplomat with a famous ability to show compassion and kindness to the world over. He was named "the Peacemaker", and while he occasionally slipped up, his gaffes were rare enough that he was dispatched to the absolute most sensitive manners of diplomacy.
He had a warm, serene smile on his face, and his hands were clasped together; he seemed at peace with himself, his faith, and the world, and made a calm contrast to the excitable man to his right, who was looking at everything with a child-like sense of thrill.


"Come on Paul!" said the oil tycoon, "We've already misshed the shhimp-phony, the greetingsh, and mosht everything here. WE HAVE TO GO!"

"We'll get there when we get there, Bessford. We're not in danger." Paul responded in his deep, bass voice. "I was told that this place is crawled floor to ceiling in cops and wiretaps, as if they took lessons from us. We were told to get off the train and wait for the New Edomite disptach to take us to... whatever it is we're doing."


{OOC: New Edom, just take my characters to the most interesting nations possible.}

[New Edom]

The Zoo

Mara gave Annelli a bit of an odd look. What a funny duck her friend was. "Well, sure I like tennis. There's nothing like tennis." Mara loved the game in fact, and smiled at her. "Cheer up babe, you're so melancholy. Are you gonna spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair? You need to exercise more if you're gonna have a baby, you know."

Tia and Perrin

Perrin and Tia walked on a stroll through the pretty pathways that led through the park, past flowerbeds and shrub lined boulevard like arrangements and he paused under a tall willow that sheltered them somewhat, and at last, at last, he drew her into his arms and bent his lips to hers, kissing her passionately, his hands stroking her back, closing his eyes, feeling the bliss of touching her again. There was little that compared, in his mind, to his time with Tia. There were things that were good, things that were better, but he would not give her up for anything.

[New Edom]

Hittanryan

President Touchstone said quietly, "I have little else to say...at the moment. I think though that it might be very wise if we were to embark on trade negotiations but not establish any military alliance at this time. The reason being--it will be easier for New Edom to support the current government in East Klamath without direct involvement, which would probably arouse the Imperium's suspicions. Without your direct involvement then they are forced to see our helping the established government as our independent action, however paranoid they might be."

[New Edom]

The Arrival of the TurtleShroomers

Because the TurtleShroomers had insisted on arriving by train, and since Fineberg and Reme were the only cities that had international airports, it had required them to land in Reme and take a trip by train from the northern most part of New Edom, Etruria Majora, down to the southern penninsula where Fineberg lay at the crotch of. While they were disembarking (at a largely empty station due to the time of day) they saw that there was no one to greet them. However there was a notice up that was one of the first things they saw, which stated that: As of Noon Today, the Compulsory Nudity Laws Are In Effect. Failure to Comply Is a Serious Offense!

There were faint sounds indicating some people were around, the whrring of machinery and an echoing unintelligible loudspeaker voice speaking. "Mv ram ni ve weaving ni net mishin..." mumbled the loud voice.

The station itself was almost a turn of the century piece of artwork; doors had carved archways, a vaulted ceiling showed a painting called "The Feeding of the Five Thousand" depicting the Christ's miraculous provision for his congregation. A cleaning machine was moving steadily by them, a figure barely visible due to the glints catching on the windows of it; it was huge and there were yellow signs on the floor warning that floor cleansers would make the floor slippery in that area. Baggage claim carts stood empty.

Then a figure began to approach them down a flight of stairs. It was a man--a man perhaps in his late forties, balding with strands of dark hair combed across his sweating pate, and as he arrived he quivered like a barely done cake, his paunch bouncing as he hurried towards them, his bare feet slapping the floor. A hairy nest of genitals was clearly visible. He puffed a bit as he approached and bowed. "Excuse my lateness," he said, "Miles Otterneck, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs at your service gentlemen. Mr Ambassador, welcome back. We didn't realize you would not be arriving at Fineberg International. I'm so sorry that we could not have seen you at the Symphony. At any rate, we have a car for you. Will you please follow me?"

[Gehenna Tartarus]

The Aquarium

There was something relaxing about aquariums, or so Marissa thought, as she walked around the darkened building. The fish all swam around at a leisurely pace and the lighting was always beautiful, with most of it coming from the individual tanks, and had an eeriness about them. She preferred furry, cute animals best, but she did enjoy looking at the bright colours of some of the fish and the absolute ugliness of others. And then there were the ones that looked like they were weighing you up for lunch.

It was so tranquil in the aquarium, people seemed to talk lowly and added to the atmosphere of being underwater, which Marissa liked. She was one of those people who could talk a lot when she felt inspired, but also appreciated a moment of silent reflection, or at least, silence while she watch fish swim lazily by the glass.

She heard Anneli mention tennis and she suddenly wished that her dearest friend and cousin was with her to enjoy the sights of the fish, but as much as she had begged Hugo to bring Alyssa along, he would not budge on his decision that she could not come. Alyssa and Marissa often played tennis together, in fact, they often did most things together. She could entirely understand why Anneli was so happy being with Mara.

* * * * *

The Conservatory

Hugo had been enjoying the museum, but he was grateful for the serene tranquillity that the conservatory had going for it. There was no political leader or guest running around and shouting like a child in a playground. He tried not to judge foreigners too much, but there were some that seemed to rile him the wrong way. He found it amusing that the young woman that he had been talking to at the reception was better behaved than someone who was potential a third of her age older.

He wandered slowly around the conservatory, reading the little placards and admiring the different species, even if he knew absolutely nothing about plants.

* * * * *

Perrin & Tia

Tia had slipped her hand into Perrin’s as they walked along, more enjoying being with him than actually looking around the garden. The park was beautiful and if she had been there on her own, she probably would have appreciated it even more. But she was with Perrin and when she was with him, she found it hard to really think of anything else, especially if they were alone, which never happened enough for her liking.

When they reached the secluded spot under a willow and Perrin took her in his arms and kissed her, Tia felt that suddenly the day was perfect. Or at least as perfect as a day could get while keeping clothing on. As their lips parted, she looked deep into his eyes, her own feelings for him reflecting in her gaze. It made her smile how happy she was every time she saw him and how he made her heart race when he was near. She had never experienced such pleasure in just being with someone, until she had met Perrin and she savoured ever second that they were together.

“I missed you,” she said breathlessly, the way she always felt after their first kiss. She raised her hand and lightly caressed his cheek with her fingers, almost as if she was checking he was really there. “It always feel too long since the last time we were together.”

[TurtleShroom]

{OOC: Th-that is.... way too much detail, New Edom. I feels like I just watched pornography.}

Paul and Bessford's jaws dropped. Each turned to each other, then back to the creepy nude man, then back to each other, than back to the streaker.

"OH MY HEAVEN BOUND RAY STEVENS, DON'T LOOK ETHEL!! YOU'RE BUTT FREAKING NAKED!" Paul shouted in a voice so loud that the very structures nearby shook. Bessford's shock was increased. In TurtleShroom, "freaking" was a curse.

Bessford lost his balance as Paul tried to catch him and succeeded, hoisting the collosal man back to his feet. Bessford ripped off his glasses and sighed with relief as his sight completely vanished.

"I'm so sorry for cursing, Bessford." He looked to the streaker, using all his power and tilting his head awkardly to look only at his eyes. "I wish I had as bad a vision as you. Then I woudln't have to look at that MONSTROUS ABOMINATION OF DECENCY!"

Paul's diplomatic abilities fled him as the sheer shock of being greeted by an overaged streaker shook him to the core.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING MAN?!" Bessford shouted. "SSSSSSSSSHHTREAKING UP TO A FOREIGN DELEGAY-SSSSSSSHHHUUNNNN!"

Paul was angered. He covered his eyes with his hand.

"This must be CARLOTTA MOSS' DOING. If she was a guy and it didn't go against my entire raising and beliefs, I'd take a frying pan and smash her in..."

Bessford turned to face a pole, thinking it was the streaking delegate.

"What short of twissshted, demonic tyrant would enforsh MANDATORY SSSSHTREAKING?!"

Paul sighed, hand still over his eyes.

"Listen, I'm sorry. It's not diploamtic of me to act like I did... I just... gosh. Mandatory nudity. Listen. Just get me out of this-"

"DEVIL-INFESHTED DEMONIC PROVINSH" interrupted Bessford.

"Please get me out of the area where streaking is law. I don't care how. Just please, do it. -and no, I'm not taking my hand off my eyes."

[New Edom]

The Train Station

Miles Otterneck raised an eyebrow. "I see--typical TurtleShroomer hysteria. Gentlemen, I'm afraid I haven't got a lot of time for this. If you'd like to come with me, I'll make sure you get to the Gala. If not, I'm afraid the train station is probably closing soon." He glanced at his watch. "In about ten minutes, to be exact. Now gentlemen, I'm aware that you are shocked and concerned, but after all, long before the Compulsory Nudity Law New Edom had the Manifesto of Liberty. One of the aspects of that is that it permits public nudity under any circumstances save where it would be immediately hazardous to peoples' health. At any rate, I'm going to be waiting outside with the car. Gentlemen." he bowed, and departed, his buttocks jiggling purposefully.