Talons and Tea (Dyste)

[New United States of Columbia]

In the years following the Fort Perry Incident, things rapidly began to change in the Empire. With the discovery of magic and several new sentient species, social unrest and turbulance became a major problem. For the first few years, economic downturn followed in the coup attempt (thankfully limited to the “decapatory strike” in the Capital) and the shock of near nuclear attack. However, following careful investments and negotiations with allies new and old, the economy began to return to being in the black by Year 4 of Juvon’s stay as “de facto ambassador” to Columbia. With this, the unrest died down for a while as it was hard to stay angry when your cupboard and fridge are stocked and the daily 9-5 grind pays adequately. With this, Foley began his attempt to create “New Patriots” as he termed the newfound immigrants.

With this plan, the High King began a several year campaign to change his subjects thoughts and view on the likes of Draconids and Orcs. While he was harsh on the immigrants with restrictions on who could enter and how many could with a strict yearly cap of around 100 immigrants from Dyste, he did attempt to make them better viewed. After a much viewed confessional from Juvon, who vowed to use his “gift from God” for the good of the Empire and Civilization, he began a press and publicity tour, starting with Juvon’s enlistment and training in the Army. From there, his highlights in putting down rebellions, helping the poor and needy, and generally coming off as a role model for the youth helped improve his image in the minds of many. With this, Foley had also been attempting to “nudge” Abigale and Juvon in the right direction regarding their marriage.

Much schemeing and manipulation was needed. Careful crafting of narratives, carefully curated and staged photos, having Juvon show up in the right place at the right convenient time. Foley couldn’t look at himself in the mirror each morning as he did his morning rituals and not feel a sense of disgust. But, he would figure later, it was necessary to keep the Empire held together. The needs of the many outweighed the needs of the individual, after all.

Imperial Palace, Omaha, Columbian Mainland

---

As he finished one morning he saw a new print come from the propaganda and information center. Looking at it, he saw it was a propganda poster. The image showed a stylized version of Juvon and a “standard” Columbian soldier, stoic and fierce looking, holding up a large billowing flag together with the colorful words in bold declaring “UNITED WE STAND!” above and “UNITED WE WIN!” below. He smiled before he turned upon hearing Juvon enter the private sitting room. The monarch couldn’t help himself as he showed the print from the PIC and said “I think they got your bad side, son.” Upon getting a reaction from the young mage and son-in-law, he set the poster on a nearby table and looked the Draconid up and down. He sighed as his face became crestfallen.
“Guess you’re sick of the ‘tour’, eh? Can’t blame ya. But it’s needed, as I’m sure your tired of hearing me say over and over again, though it’s true. Without it, I hate to imagine how the reaction to your kind would be at this point.”
Finishing, he sat in a plush armchair and saw a sculptur Juvon’s father, Hylam, had made. The human smiled as he examined it and an idea popped into his mind. Striding over and carefully picking up the stone object, he asked the mage a question he was certain he’d be happy to hear uttered.
“With the marriage solidified and the public relations of your kind now firmly in the up and up, for now, I don’t suppose after seven years here you’d be happy to visit your old home, would ya? Consider it a few weeks long honeymoon for you and my girl.”
He then added quietly “As well as a chance for me to finally get some relations started with Tyroth and his kingdom. I just hope it goes over well..."

[Dyste]

Imperial Palace, Omaha, Columbian Mainland

When Juvon Infernos had first arrived on accident in Columbia, the young Fire Draconid wanted nothing more than to go home. Even when things had settled down from all the action, he had still nearly chosen to take the opportunity to flee this land. Only a few things had managed to keep him there; one being that his parents were willing to move to this land to support him, and also the aid of the king, who in spite of technically being younger than him was acting as a father figure. And of course there was Abigale. Of course, things were rocky right from the start, but as time passed and they got to know one another better, they fell in love for real, causing their marriage to be more than just a political one and have some genuine happiness. That said, things were always busy for him, it seemed, to the point he barely got any time to sit back and consider his place here.

By this point, Juvon had learned to tolerate human clothes, albeit he still wore a sapphire-blue cloak over it as a sign of his heritage. He gave a sigh when Foley asked him about the tour, "Yes, I understand that is was necessary, but I could really use a break from all this... I have barely gotten a chance to enjoy my marriage..."

It was then the king brought up the opportunity he had been waiting for. Juvon had gotten used to Columbia during his time there, but he had sorely missed Dyste's verdant fields and idyllic plains. He let out another sigh, though this one was of relief rather than exasperation, "Truly, we can visit Dyste!? This is something I have been waiting for years to do! And yes, it would be good to start relations with my home country, considering I am supposed to be its ambassador and all," he gave a wink, it seemed he never did the usual work one would do under those situations. "I am certain Abigale would love it, though it is quite a ways away, so I hope you have worked out our transportation?" It wouldn't do good for them to run out of fuel midway through, after all!

[New United States of Columbia]

Foley beamed seeing Juvon’s reaction. Stroking his long mustache, he seemed to be in thought. Muttering to himself, he nodded and began to pace, his habit it appeared when he wanted to talk an idea through.
“Yes, we can arrive by sea or by air. I’d say by land is an option but, considering the last time I went through teleportation... I’d rather we keep that option off the table. If you wish for us to go by sea, it’ll take some time to prepare. Well, either option would, so you, your folks, Abbi, and I have plenty of time to pack. I’m sure she’ll want to hear about this so I’d suggest you find her pronto. You can find her at the pictures.”
After he told Juvon where to find her, he handed him a few silver coins, saying while there he might as well get some confectionaries while seeing the picture. Once out and about, Juvon got what would be for him a rather unusal sight. The streets were lined with automobiles and people, of course, but also, it seemed, a lot of the new arrivals from Dyste had quickly moved to the capitol, perhaps figuring they’d be more tolerated and considered safe there. Walking down the street, the young mage saw a lot of posters, many of them advertising and propaganda. A few showed Foley’s other attempt at getting better thoughts for the new immigrants. One of the larger and more elaborate posters was, unsurprisingly, one invoking Anti-German sentiment. It showed a small group of German soldiers in dress uniforms, with Pickelhaube helmets, aimming rifles at two Columbians, one a man in seemingly ancient colonial garb, a rifle slung across his back and a modernized tomahawk in hand, the other, an white ice draconid who seemed ready to blast the “huns” with it’s magic. Above and below the image were the large bold words: “Remember Boston! Never forget!”. Others showed paratroopers landing in France with Draconids divebombing alongside them, announcing how the Army Aerial Assault Corps was looking for volunteers. A third was an advertisment for men’s deoderant, showing a male Draconid smiliing happily while being loving careeses by a human woman saying “With Foxhorn Deodorant, any romance is possible!"

Finally arriving at the theater, and entering, the mage would find Abigale at the rearmost seats facing the large screen, currently playing advertistments, with a group of friends. Among them were Samantha Foley, her sister and the youngest of the four royal children, along with...
“Juvon!”
The white and bushy mustached face of Officer Delano greeted the red dragon. Several audience members hissed that the man be quiet. The shock wearing off and a dumb smile spread across his face, he said in a much quieter manner “God it’s been forever since I saw you! Helluva adventure, eh? Like some old fairy tale I’ve been reading to my kids, only, well, the Dragon’s the one who gets the Princess and Prince title...”
As the policeman returned to his seat and soda, the Princess smiled at her husband and gestured for him to take his seat. Once he had done so, she returned to the movie screen adn sighed.
“More stupid ads...” she muttered bitterly. Once the screen went black, her face perked up and she leaned forward before slumping back and growling in annoyance. The ads went away only to be replaced by a short piece of propaganda from the Army. It was entitled “Earning Your Wings! The Journey to joining the Aerial Assault Corps!”

The short propaganda film followed two friends, Columbian Connor and Dystian immigrant Darak, who were going about their usual day when they came across one of the posters Juvon had come across. Once Connor pointed it out to Darak, the two thought for a few moments and decided to join up, viewing it as the opportunity for adventure for Connor and a guarenteed path to citizenship for Darak. Once they were sworn in, training began, with Darak having a few comical failures in getting fitted for a uniform. After a few scenes showing the two going through basic and espite de corp forming between them and others from their training unit, the film moved on to them having successfully joined the AAC. The camrea cut to show a large transport plane high in the sky with Connor and Darak aboard. Darak and several other large Draconids were closest to the rear ramp while Connor was among the other twenty humans. The jumpmaster barked orders to get ready to jump. Connor and the other humans stood up, adjusting each others gear before giving a tap on the shoulder and a thumbs up. Darak and the Draconids stood up as well, checking their own gear. Red lights shined all around the planes interior.
“Twenty seconds!” The jumpmaster shouted.
The ramp lowered and soon four huge colorful Draconids leapt out of the plane, wings spread, as they began to fly around the area with the twenty human occupants leaping out after them with large white parachutes opening up and having the troopers begin their slow descent. The camera cut to below showing a crew of “Germans” manning an anti-air battery, first attempting to shoot down the paratroopers before they turned their sights to see Darak, dive bombing them, crushing the barrell of the cannon as he landed on it and letting out a roar. The Germans comically fled, tripping over themselves while shouting in fright. With Connor and the rest of Darak's squad safely touching down, they linked up and the scene changed to show an award ceremony with the duo finally "earning their wings.”

The propaganda piece was finally over. Samantha woke Abigale who fell asleep as it played.
“Oh! Did I miss anything?” She asked. Samantha shook her head and pointed. The mystery film had begun to play. The Princess smiled before she looked over at Juvon and began to nuzzle his arm.
“Is there anything you wanted to say? You look like something’s on your mind."

[Dyste]

Juvon was well-acquainted with cinema, having starred in a propaganda piece himself for the sake of promotion during his time in the armed forces, so was looking forward to seeing this show, "Well, I suppose by air would work best, then; I can fly, of course, but my wings do have their limits, so please make sure to get enough fuel for this trip so I do not have to carry everyone." He was mostly joking, of course, but the Draconid's rather formal tone made it hard to tell at times.

Regardless, when they reached the theater, Juvon was about to meet with Abigale when he saw an familiar face. "Delano?! I did not expect to see you here..." he had mixed feelings on the actual events that led him to meeting the king, but in the end things turned out for the best, so ultimately he felt good about what happened as a result of a teleportation accident. "I hope you enjoy this picture, I think they will make for better subjects than what I did during my time at least..." regardless, he took his seat with his wife and put a claw on her shoulder; he was glad they were at the back so his larger frame didn't block any views.

The propaganda itself was basically what Juvon was expecting, but he did enjoy the production regardless; it was good to see his own kind being utilized well in armed forces, usually their different traits were seen as a hindrance but Columbia was eager to recruit more Draconids, so having a propaganda video like this was a smart move.

After it was over, Juvon nuzzled his wife, "Come now, wake up dear... the show is starting." When she asked him what was on his mind, he tried to speak in his softest tone to not speak over the movie, "Well... I have been speaking with your father, and well... how would to visit Dyste? I owe you a trip for our honeymoon, after all..."

[New United States of Columbia]

Abigale smiled upon hearing his question. She had only heard of Dyste when she'd ask him about his old home. Hearing about the wonders of their capitol, the various races and species that lived their, the wonders of magic, she had been dying to find an excuse to go.
“I’d love to go.” She said simply as she nuzzled him, admiring her husband’s build.

When the film was finished, Delano said his goodbyes to the Royal Family and hailed a taxi to take him back to the hotel he’d be staying at. Shortly thereafter a limo came to pick the princess’, Juvon, and their escort up to return them safely to the palace. Once there, they were greeted by Paul and Juvon’s parents who gave them a warm smile.
“I’ve arranged for us to travel to Dyste in about a week. I’d suggest you start packing your things. Juvon, you know the land well even if you’ve been gone for... well, a long while.”
He then turned to face Kyra and Hylem.
“I don’t suppose you’d be able to help us prepare for the journey?"