An Examination of Oktotheio (Closed, TG for Entry)

[Oktotheio]

"Ah good, I hope you'll be successful in convincing them~" Berenice replied, continuing "Hmm, I don't think there was anything else, but less one of you girls have something else to say?" while turning towards them, but after a moment of thought they all responded with some form of "no". "Alright then, you may return to the limo to head to the hotel suite we've provided for you whenever you wish; if you want to meet with our goddess though she's actually free tomorrow morning, so I can tell her you're coming and accompany you there first thing."

[Sombreland]

"I am very glad to hear that your Queen will be kind enough to grant us an audience," said Prince Galo with a slight bow. "Well, thank you all. That was a splendid luncheon. We will head on to our hotel, and relax and talk amongst ourselves, and prepare our recommendations.

"As to the KTO: do not worry. Though our membership is fairly new, our envoy, Prince de Hulfe, and our Princess-Regent have been very persuasive and are gaining influence by the moment. A core group are most likely to heed our advice and take it very seriously."

The Sombrelanders exchanged bows (or handshakes) with the women who had met with them, and went down to meet with the car designated to take them to their hotel.

[Oktotheio]

The limo sat wating for them as the sun disappeared below the horizon, waiting until all the Sombrelanders had entered before driving off to the 5* hotel they'd be staying at known as "The Golden Lemon Hotel", complete with amenities like a indoor pool, a public gym and spa, and of course, super soft beds.

---

The Next Morning...
Berenice stood waiting outside the Golden Lemon's front door with the limo, ready to double as a tour guide once the visiting party stepped out.

Sorry this is probably shorter than you were expecting, but I really wasn't sure what to say

[Sombreland]

The four Sombreland gentlemen emerged from their hotel in formal dress, showing any decorations, like civil service medals or military decorations, on their chests, in formal razor pressed trousers, mirror shined shoes, jackets brushed and neat. General Pron looked splendid in his blue Royal Air Force dress uniform, his gold buttons flashing, ribbons and braid set off neatly.

Of course, this also felt strange. As they went through the lobby and went out to thee waiting car around them were the Oktotheians, without so much as a piece of handkerchief sized cloth on their bodies. It was as though the gentlemen had wandered into a set of changing rooms where no one was dressed yet. Fortunately, they had been advised that it was courteous to stare. It was not even lust at this point, not even for the General, though he was looking forward to seeing the lovely ladies who had dined with them yesterday. It was more curoiusity and fascination.

"Madam," said Prince Galo, upon seeing Berenice. "How nice to see you. Are there any final points of etiquette in a presentation to your Queen that we must observe?"

[Oktotheio]

"Nice to see you all as well, you're looking fancy~" Berenice smiled back, then answered "Hmm, well you need to bow of course, and also the title she prefers visitors to call her by is 'Oktotheio's Lady Sulfur Sapphira Frasch', but since that's a bit of a mouthful just 'Lady Sulfur' is fine after the first time you say it."

[Sombreland]

"Thank you, that is kind of you to say," said Prince Galo. "We are dressed in our best..." he smiled a bit self deprecatingly, glancing at Berenice's lack of dress.

The men gave serious nods in response to the courtly etiquette.

"I am somewhat relieved, Madam," said Prince Galo. "Sometimes courtly etiquette can be very complex. Well, I am most looking forward to this. Shall we?"

[Oktotheio]

"Indeed we shall~" Berenice nodded before they climbed into car, getting whisked over to the palace in just 10 minutes flat. As they got close they'd see a line of people, mostly nude, leading towards a side door, and a few of them were making the most of this time to get intimate.

"Now, the way to the throne room can be a little confusing to first timers, but it's it mostly a straight shot so it's not too hard to remember." Berenice started explaining as they got out. "You just need to recall where the stairs are and which ones to use, and we'll be there before you know it~"

[Sombreland]

“Goodness, gracious!” exclaimed Andeson. “I see it! People who are being intimate!”

The others could not help but stare a moment. Gaves cleared his throat; Pron coughed into his fist; Galo’s smile became a bit fixed.

Prince Galo almost shook himself. “Err, yes, stairs.” Then a thought occurred to him, and he said, quietly, “Is this a receiving day or a levee or something?”

[Oktotheio]

"Hm? Oh, no, that's the line for tours of the palace. Of course, as our guests you're not going to need to wait to get in or meet the queen, so if you'll follow me..." Berenice explained as she lead them all through the front door and along the many long halls covered in golden gem-encrusted décor, until they reached a huge set of double doors with a pair of guards posted in front.
"Hi~ I've brought the Sombrelanders for their meeting with Our Lady Sulfur, can you open the doors please~" she asked, and in response they nodded and slowly pushed them open, revealing a huge room even more lavishly decorated than anywhere else, and at the far end sitting on a throne with a heart shaped back was the queen herself, and standing next to her was another woman wearing a smaller crown and with pink ribbons in her hair.

[Sombreland]

“There is a tour going on?” wondered Gaves. “Why?”

“Are such tours…normal?” asked Andeson.

Regardless, they moved through the corridors. Following Berenice was…interesting. Prince Galo reflected that normally this would be undignified. Here, it was normal. Though he suspected that as with many foreigners, dignity was a fuzzy concept that the Oktotheians probably didn’t entirely take seriously except on certain occasions. The Sombrelanders entered with the careful pace and dignified bearing required of court in their own country, and bowed deeply upon seeing the Queen.

The men said nothing at first, though Prince Galo was prepared to if need be. Instead, they held the bows and waited to be addressed before they said anything.

[Oktotheio]

"Yeah, it's totally normal, both citizens and tourists love seeing where our queen lives and works, as well as the National Harem's halls where debates and such go on that's also here."

Sapphira giggled as she watched them bow, saying after a few seconds "Thank you, you may stand up now. It's good to finally meet you all~" before looking at the Prince and adding "I assume you're Prince Galo?"

[Sombreland]

The Sombrelanders were slightly disconcerted by the laughter, worried that they had done the bowing incorrectly, but when addressed, they straightened up. The Queen spoke, and Prince Galo replied, "Yes, Oktotheio's Lady Sulfur Sapphira Frasch. I have been sent to act as the Princess-Regent's ambassador to Oktotheio. May I say it is a great pleasure to meet you at last."

[Oktotheio]

"Indeed, the same to you, you're even more lovely in person then I imaged~" Sapphira smiled back, then asked "How have the four of you found my nation to be so far?"

[Sombreland]

“Thank you, Lady Sulfura, we appreciate your waiving of your mandatory laws for foreign officials,” he said with a smile.

“For one thing, your country is very modern. It has many conveniences, many modern comforts, and a lot of skyscrapers. We did enjoy a meal and it was delicious, though strange to us.

“There are many differences between our two countries that were noted, but nothing that would get in the way of trade, we think.”

[Oktotheio]

"Ah, you're welcome dear prince." Sapp blushed. "I understand that it'd hard to make people want to visit if they had to strip as well, so I let them keep their clothes so long as they're nice to my citizens about their lack of them."

"Ah yes, I pride myself on having a nation where my people can live well, work hard, and party even harder, but of course it's thanks to their dedication that any of that is possible in the first place~"

"Ah, that is good to hear~ Hopefully soon our nations can share in each other's prosperity~"

[Sombreland]

"Ah, you're welcome dear prince." Sapp blushed. "I understand that it'd hard to make people want to visit if they had to strip as well, so I let them keep their clothes so long as they're nice to my citizens about their lack of them."

"As far as we have seen," said Prince Galo, "There is no reason why any of our people should not be kind and friendly to yours! We have experienced nothing but kindness and generosity since we have arrived! We were positively spoiled! And we can only imagine that our ordinary persons would no doubt experience the same friendliness. How could it not be returned?"

"Ah yes, I pride myself on having a nation where my people can live well, work hard, and party even harder, but of course it's thanks to their dedication that any of that is possible in the first place~"

"Party...ah yes..." said Prince Galo. "Their dedication is evident in the efficiency and cleanliness and cheerfulness seen everywhere, Lady Sulfur..."

"Ah, that is good to hear~ Hopefully soon our nations can share in each other's prosperity~"

"We hope soon as well, Lady Sulfur. Indeed, we have been preparing regulations on friendly relations," said Prince Galo, gesturing to his companions. "We are ready to recommend a trade agreement, as well as a nonaggression pact. That is right away. Of course there are other possibilities in time."

[Oktotheio]

"As far as we have seen," said Prince Galo, "There is no reason why any of our people should not be kind and friendly to yours! We have experienced nothing but kindness and generosity since we have arrived! We were positively spoiled! And we can only imagine that our ordinary persons would no doubt experience the same friendliness. How could it not be returned?"

"Ha ha, my thoughts exactly~ It is good to hear you have been enjoying yourselves."

"We hope soon as well, Lady Sulfur. Indeed, we have been preparing regulations on friendly relations," said Prince Galo, gesturing to his companions. "We are ready to recommend a trade agreement, as well as a nonaggression pact. That is right away. Of course there are other possibilities in time."

"Ah, that's wonderful news~! I truly hope that this will be the start of a long and beautiful friendship between our nations~" Sapphira beamed before the woman next to her spoke up. "Agreed, the things I've heard you're willing to offer us will go a long way towards making Oktotheio even more of a modern wonder~" "Ah, I'm sorry, I almost forgot to introduce you all." Sapp replied with a embarrassed blush. "This here is my lovely wife, Crown Princess Meghan Wetterhahn~"

[Sombreland]

"Ha ha, my thoughts exactly~ It is good to hear you have been enjoying yourselves."

"The luncheon in a skyscraper was most remarkable," broke in Gaves. Galo glanced at him and Gaves said nothing further. "Yes, it was pleasant, quiet and pleasant."

"Ah, that's wonderful news~! I truly hope that this will be the start of a long and beautiful friendship between our nations~" Sapphira beamed before the woman next to her spoke up. "Agreed, the things I've heard you're willing to offer us will go a long way towards making Oktotheio even more of a modern wonder~" "Ah, I'm sorry, I almost forgot to introduce you all." Sapp replied with a embarrassed blush. "This here is my lovely wife, Crown Princess Meghan Wetterhahn~"

The Sombrelanders were polite people, but this strained that deep rooted politeness, and their smiles seemed to broaden. Prince Galo bowed. "Princess Meghan. Such an honour.

"Of course, Lady Sulfur, there was mention of an alliance..that would have to be explored more carefully. A very serious commitment. But I do assure you it will be discussed. Though..we do notice that there is not an evident threat to your country, more of...an existential one."

[Oktotheio]

"Awww, thank you, it's a honour to meet you too~" Meghan blushed cutely, doing a bow of her own in return.

"Ah yes, even so that's important too." Sapp replied. "I do not wish to have to cause such fear and panic among my people again as I did when your so called "noble" allies were making threats. Don't take that as an insult towards yourselves however, from what I heard you're what they wish they could be."

[Sombreland]

"Awww, thank you, it's a honour to meet you too~" Meghan blushed cutely, doing a bow of her own in return.

Prince Galo was almost dismayed by this, though he concealed it with a smile. For, to him, what was the point of marriage between two women--or two men--in that they could never produce a family, or unite one? She seemed a very pleasant young woman, and this was why it pained him somewhat.

"I wonder, Your Highness, how this marriage came to be? Were you part of the, err, Royal Harem before, or was it some other circumstance?"

"Ah yes, even so that's important too." Sapp replied. "I do not wish to have to cause such fear and panic among my people again as I did when your so called "noble" allies were making threats. Don't take that as an insult towards yourselves however, from what I heard you're what they wish they could be."

"There was a lot of jumping to conclusions: about what threat your nation poses to general common good, and to what response was required. Our government dealt with the latter first. We had also raised the concern that war was not justified, as your country was not aggressively poised to take any action. While war can grip people as a possibility...after all humanity can be violent when feeling provoked...it is always an expensive option and not easily withdrawn once begun. The Kingdom of Sombreland has been guided for centuries by men and women who believed that. It has led to us being somewhat isolationist, which is unfortunate, but on the other hand, it has also required rigour and self discipline from its leaders." said Prince Galo proudly.

[Oktotheio]

"I wonder, Your Highness, how this marriage came to be? Were you part of the, err, Royal Harem before, or was it some other circumstance?"

"Ah, I can answer that." Sapphira replied. "Simply put, she was my first girlfriend, and we've been in love ever since. Many lovers have come and gone but she's still my number one~"

"There was a lot of jumping to conclusions: about what threat your nation poses to general common good, and to what response was required. [...]

"Ah, how interesting... I agree that it's unfortunate, isolationism can seem tempting, but humanity can only truly grow by sharing and cooperating, so that makes me even more grateful your princess chose to reach out to us." Sapphira continued.

[Sombreland]

"Ah, I can answer that." Sapphira replied. "Simply put, she was my first girlfriend, and we've been in love ever since. Many lovers have come and gone but she's still my number one~"

Prince Galo almost choked. "That is quite a long lasting relationship," he said diplomatically. "Are most...err...marriages for romantic love in this country, Lady?"

"Ah, how interesting... I agree that it's unfortunate, isolationism can seem tempting, but humanity can only truly grow by sharing and cooperating, so that makes me even more grateful your princess chose to reach out to us." Sapphira continued.

"Well...our Kingdom's policy for some time was to preserve. In the belief that there are times when protection and preservation are necessary. This for instance enables a seed or living creature to endure times of great difficulty, weather them, and be ready to emerge in good conditions. Of course, there are challenges. A lot of the most modern technology we have is simply purchased from other economies, which has made us somewhat dependent upon them. This requires us to have diverse trade arrangements. We are also having to retrain much of our labour force..."

[Oktotheio]

Prince Galo almost choked. "That is quite a long lasting relationship," he said diplomatically. "Are most...err...marriages for romantic love in this country, Lady?"

"Ha ha, of course they are Prince, how can you force someone to feel something that doesn't exist?" Sapphira giggled. "The right to choose who to spend your life with is a fundamental right of this nation~"

"Well...our Kingdom's policy for some time was to preserve. In the belief that there are times when protection and preservation are necessary. This for instance enables a seed or living creature to endure times of great difficulty, weather them, and be ready to emerge in good conditions. Of course, there are challenges. A lot of the most modern technology we have is simply purchased from other economies, which has made us somewhat dependent upon them. This requires us to have diverse trade arrangements. We are also having to retrain much of our labour force..."

"Ah, those are indeed some tough obstacles, but take solace in the fact many nations before you have faced those same problems and come out as some of the greatest worldwide, and with our resources I'm sure you can do the same~!"

[Sombreland]

"Ha ha, of course they are Prince, how can you force someone to feel something that doesn't exist?" Sapphira giggled. "The right to choose who to spend your life with is a fundamental right of this nation~"

"With the greatest respect, Lady, in Sombreland, marriage is..." Prince Galo quickly searched his thoughts for a diplomatic way to put it, "Marriage in Sombreland is conducted by matchmakers. It is done according to caste, according to compatibility, and according to familial preference, with the desires of the potential couple taken into reasonable account of course. Sometimes this is taken to extremes of a kind that is gossiped out--huge age gaps, no regard for looks or common interests--but most of the time, it is done with great care. There is not much passion at the start of such marriages, but they tend to turn out rather well, and they tend to last for decades, health of the couple permitting of course. There are many get togethers during courtship; all chaperoned, of course, and...well...different approaches for different societies."

"Ah, those are indeed some tough obstacles, but take solace in the fact many nations before you have faced those same problems and come out as some of the greatest worldwide, and with our resources I'm sure you can do the same~!"

"That is, indeed, Her Majestic Highness' intention, Lady; to pursue the careful opening up of our Kingdom and to balance the harmony of our way of life with embracing new things." replied Prince Galo.

[Oktotheio]

"With the greatest respect, Lady, in Sombreland, marriage is..." [...]

"Hmm... I guess I can see where you are coming from dear prince, and if it works for your nation then so be it..." Sapp started before concluding "But with all due respect to you too, the best person to decide who someone will be partnered with for life is that person themselves, no matter how much data you have."

"That is, indeed, Her Majestic Highness' intention, Lady; to pursue the careful opening up of our Kingdom and to balance the harmony of our way of life with embracing new things." replied Prince Galo.

"Brilliant, and as much as you are doing that we hope to do the same. Although, if I may be permitted to ask of you a possibly odd question, there's something I've been wondering. It seems to me somewhat odd that a Prince has been chosen to be your nation's ambassador, that is, I'm not sure what your relationship to the Princess is."