NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: If anyone has anything worthwhile to add, then you may post.

IC: Kigari walked to the hotel room, dressed in her Inquisitorial robes. She sighed as she stood in the elevator. "Why is it that... where-ever I look I see his face staring back at me?"

OOC: Are they together right now? :?

OOC: Almost...

IC: Kigari knocked on his door. She practiced to herself. Okay. I say, "Hello, Nova. Remember? I'm here to show you around Roania.

Nova answered the door. "Hey, Kigari. We're supposed to go sightseeing, right?" Am I the only one who realizes that I did this just to get away from that ass Alex?

Nova answered the door. "Hey, Kigari. We're supposed to go sightseeing, right?" Am I the only one who realizes that I did this just to get away from that ass Alex?

OOC: Alex is having similar thoughts, though on a different line.

IC: Kigari grinned. "Don't be like that." She said, kissing his cheek. "I'm meant to show you around. What would you like to see?"

Nova laughed. "It's just talking to that Prince of yours is like shoving your head in a meat packer. People just shouldn't do it."

"Well... I don't know. Wherever you think is a good place to go, ne?"

Kigari blinked, looked around, and then allowed herself a giggle. "Well, the Cardinal gave me a list of approved sights. The question is, do you want to follow the tour, or see the city?"

"Heh. Knowing him, it'd probably have the interesting places left out."

"Heh. Knowing him, it'd probably have the interesting places left out."

"The city it is. I think you'll like the markets, Nova." She dragged him towards the lift. "Just a 5 minute walk."

She grimaced as her cape got caught. "Damn it... why did I decide to wear this?"

"All right... but would that be all of this city?"

"All right... but would that be all of this city?"

"We have a week, Nova!" She laughed.

"Oh... yeah..."

10 minutes later...

"Well, Nova, here we are. The bazaar."

http://www.thetasteoffrance.com/images/markets.jpg

The crowd tripped to move away from the Inquisitor. "So, Nova... what do you want? You can get almost anything in the Roan City Markets."

OOC: Sorry... gotta go... see ya! ^_^

OOC: Sorry... gotta go... see ya! ^_^

C'ya

Nova was more puzzled as to why the crowd made a small opening for them.

"Hey, Kigari..." He said as he walked around, looking at the people who were walking to make room, "What's up with this?"

She sighed. "Yes, I look like I'm on duty. They're giving me a wide berth because they think that I might be looking for something illegal, and they want to make it clear they are innocent." She shook her head. "I'd go to my apartment to change, but... I'm meant to show you around the city."

She walked forward. When it appeared she wasn't going to arrest anyone, the citizens returned to shopping.

They wandered around. Kigari stopped in front of a candy stall.

Nova: "Hey! Sweet! They have Reeses'! I haven't had those for so long!"

Nova: "Hey! Sweet! They have Reeses'! I haven't had those for so long!"

Kigari smiled, and looked at a large box of chocolate. The salesman looked at Nova. "Of course. $1.30 for the Reeses. $100 for the box."

Kigari sighed, and put it back.

Nova: "Hey! Sweet! They have Reeses'! I haven't had those for so long!"

Kigari smiled, and looked at a large box of chocolate. The salesman looked at Nova. "Of course. $1.30 for the Reeses. $100 for the box."

Kigari sighed, and put it back.

"I'll pay for both... that'd be $101.30, right?"

"That is right, sir." The man takes the money.

Kigari leaves with Nova. "You didn't have to do that, you know."

Nova: (apparently having no explanation) "I wanted to." (smiling) "Here... these are for you..." (still smiling)

Kigari stared blankly at him. She blushed. "Thanks... Nova." She smiled and kissed him. As she turned, she tripped over her cape. "That's it... Nova, I'm going to have to go to my apartment to change. It will only take a few minutes." She lead him towards a magtrain station.

Nova: "Okay." (follows)

As they walk, a man wearing a dinner suit shouts at a laborer carrying a pane of glass. "What are you doing! Careful with that!" The businessman looks angry, but Kigari shoos Nova past quickly.

On board the train, large signs say clearly, in 15 languages, that "Graffiting government property is a capital offense."

----------------

Finally, they reach Kigari's apartment. She opens the door, and blushes at the smallness of it. "Be it ever so humble..."

Kigari's apartment, while consisting of only 4 rooms, was also well decorated, though in a functional sense. A couch sat in front of a television, and a small TV guide was nearby. ((Closer inspection would reveal that the channel choices were 1. Roania Government Broadcasting, 2. Diety Broadcasting, and several assorted children channels, history, and news.))

A bookshelf stood on the far end of the room, near the small kitchen. Kigari looked around, and sighed.

Nova looked on in slight wonder, not fully comprehending what the businessman was angry about, but before he could, he was shooed away...

Kigari sighed. "Take a seat, Nova. I'll only be a minute." She walked into her bedroom, and closed the door.

"All right, then." Nova sat down, and checked out a copy of the TV Guide. The first thing that jumped out was that Roania had its own broadcasting service. Nova threw the guide back on the table and sat silently in his own anger.

How much longer will it be before these people have the confidence to stand up for what's right, not what their Prince decrees?

Kigari sighed as she removed her Inquisitorial robes. I wonder why Nova is so angry... she thought, standing naked in front of the mirror as she pulled some of her clothes out of the dresser.

Soon, she was clothed to her satisfaction in a tight fitting black blouse, and skirt. It will pass... She thought, as she walked out of her room.

Nova's anger subsided, and he turned to look at Kigari (in a tight black blouse).

...aaaaaaaaaaaaaand....

:oops:

OOC: Yay!

IC: Kigari looked at him, and then followed his eyes. She blushed herself.

OOC: You just love him being shy, don't you?

"I... uh...

...

Where are we headed to, Miss Kigari?"

OOC: I find it amusing, yes.

IC: Kigari coughed and straightened her blouse. "Um... what do you want to see? Almost everything can be found in Roan."

"Hm... perhaps we should see a movie?"

"A movie?" Kigari asked. "I thought you wanted to see the city."

"I'm actually fine with anything... it doesn't matter. I'd prefer seeing both."

"Well... which movie would you like to see?" Kigari asked. "There really aren't that many."

"I don't really know... I'm not familiar with this place. What would you prefer?"

"Well..." She grabbed the newspaper and looked in it. "Beautiful Roania is playing... according to this the informational film Roanian Supermen are your superiors is playing in the academy before being shipped out to the conquered worlds... Return to Krondor, and Legend of Zelda: Cup of Life are playing at the Roania Pharmaceuticals Theatre, along with Lord of the Rings: The Hobbit..." Kigari sighed. "Nothing interesting."

Nova laughed. "Agreed. Maybe we should skip the movie?"

"Then the question is, what do you want to see?" Kigari asked again, sitting down next to him. "Museums? Memorials? Mansions? The Cathedral?"

"The Cathedral? Is a religious institution really so important?" (thinking out loud)

OOC: Leaving... sorry... see ya! ^_^

"The Cathedral? Is a religious institution really so important?" (thinking out loud)

OOC: Leaving... sorry... see ya! ^_^

OOC: C'ya!

"Of course!" Kigari said, smiling. "They pay my wages, its where the Inquisition has its Roan Offices..."

"Ai. I'm expecting it to be quite grand, since that castle was amazing as well..."

Haven't these people heard of separation of church and state?

"It's... average." Kigari said, wrinkling her nose. "Back in my home city of Port Agua is a truly grand Cathedral."

"Well, then, where should we go?"

"Considering the general dullness of Roan..." She began, "I would suggest we take a tour to one of the other city-states, or even another Plains Village. The only problem is that the Council doesn't like foriegners outside of Roan and Port Agua, and that many villages will be closed to us as a result. And I don't even want to try to get into Derricks."

She walked over to an atlas and opened it. "The northern states are interesting, but distant and close-minded, the desert is uncrossable at this time of year, and the jungle is... well, once you've seen one jungle you've seen them all."

She tapped a finger to her lips, considering possibilities. "I might be able to take you to another town within the plains..."

"Why doesn't the government allow people to visit other places?" Do I really need to ask?

"Well, where would you like to go? I really don't know where to go..."

"Because you aren't Roanians, is the logic used, I believe." She picked up a dart and threw it at the map. "Okay... we'll go to Tarnagin. That's a nice, peaceful place. You'll be able to meet the common folk, though for the life of me I don't understand why you would want to." Her brow wrinkled. "It's only 20 minutes outside of the city by mag-train, so I'm sure I won't be in that much trouble if I take you there."

"Hm? What's wrong with the common folk?"

"Nothing, Nova. I just don't see why you'd want to." She stood up and took a deep breath, stretching. "We can catch a mag-train if we move fast." She helped him up.

"Well, I believe that everyone should be listened to." Getting up, he stretched his arms out. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

*takes Kigari's hand and runs out to a mag-train station*

The train begins to pull out of Roan Stronghold. Outside, the grey buildings of the city give way to the grass of the plains. The distant mountains to the north become visible as the train starts to head towards the city of Tarnagin.

On board the train, Kigari and Nova are packed in with a lot of burghers and officials, all of whom are politely trying to avoid staring at Nova's hair.

OOC: Well, it's not like it's dyed... that's natural blue...

IC: "Kigari? Is everyone... uh... this nervous on a train?"

OOC: In Roania everyone is either blond, blonde, or black haired. A blue haired person would stick out like a sore thumb.

IC: "I... don't think so." She smiled. Eventually people started to act naturally. One of the burghers moved up to the pair.

"Ah, pardon me, sir. A traveller? You and your young lady?" He said, sitting down across from Nova. "Where might you two be heading? I don't think I've seen either of you before."

"Heh, well, I'm new here. This is Miss Kigari, she's from here... she's showing me around. I'm Nova Starfighter."

Kigari grinned at the words "and your young lady". She smiled at the Bergher. "We're going to Tarnaqin, honored Merchant."

The Bergher looked taken aback. "Why? There's nothing in Tarnaqin... full of the middle class! No sights, and I heard that they have more Aguan blood then proper Roanian." He sniffed, deprecatingly.

Kigari grinned. "Nova, here, is a reporter."

"I a...?" Nova began to ask. "I... uh... yes! Yes, I'm... um... a reporter for the... uh... Tiburonese Central Times, and I'm... um... doing a piece on... uh... travel spots..."

Humor twinkled in Kigari's eyes. "In fact, he's also looking into a piece on how Roanian Merchants cheat customers... would any of you lovely gentlemen like to say something?"

The Berghers all began to find excuses to leave the carriage. Soon, only some sleeping Polizei and taxation officials were left. Kigari smiled, and sat down next to Nova. "Merchants. Filthy Derricksmen, the lot of them."

"What was that all about? Do those people really cheat customers or something?"

"Of course! They are all Roanian merchants." She smiled. "And the people try to cheat them, so they have to be smart." The train began to pull into the station. "Well, here we are. Tanaqin." She gestured in several directions. "Directly to the north are the Central Mountains, to the south are the other plain cities, to the west the Aguan cities, and to the far east the desert."

"Tanaqin? Doesn't look too bad... it's actually quite nice."

"I've never been here before." Kigari looked around. "It seems nice enough, yes. Peaceful..."

http://www.valencialife.net/Directory/Bocairent/pics/town.jpg

Kigari looked around. "If you want to find a common person, let's go look for one." Taking Nova's hand, she walked out of the station.

Nova looked up in wonder. "Amazing... it looks exactly like a medieval city..."

"Well, that's because it is. If you'll listen to the natives, they'll spend years telling you how this was the first city built in the southern plains." She rolled her eyes. "Place was burnt to the ground by Rasputin Macchiavelli, and they rebuilt it exactly the way it was before."

"...Why would they do something like that? Wouldn't they want to change any problems thay had with it earlier?"

"Ha! They did it to spit in his memory. No, they only modernized it when Prince Edward told them that unless they did so, he would burn it to the ground, salt the earth, and put everyone in a camp." She grinned. "Still, Prince Alex seems content to leave them alone provided they pay taxes and don't revolt."

Her eyes darted along the crowd. "There's a common person." She indicated a man walking towards a farmer's stall.

Nova took Kigari's hand and ran towards the common person. "Hey! Hey, you!"

The man turned his head towards Nova, and started staring at Nova's hair.

The man closed his slack jaw. "Um... can I help you, sir, ma'am?"

Kigari knudged Nova. "My friend here wants to ask you a few questions."

"Um... yeah, I just wanted to know, what's it like for you? You know, daily life? Also, what do you think of the government? Is it doing a good job?"

The man blinked. "Is that my job? Are you officials?"

"I'm not an official from Roania... I'd just like your honest opinion on how Alex is doing."

The man rubbed his chin. "Well, I reckon the Prince is a fine man, to tell the truth."

"All right. Just two more questions: how do well you think the government is doing? And do you agree with their policies?"

"Well... it's not for me to judge... I'm just a laborer." The man looked at a clock. "And I have work to get to... ma'am?"

Kigari nodded. He ran into the building.

"Well... it's not for me to judge... I'm just a laborer." The man looked at a clock. "And I have work to get to... ma'am?"

Kigari nodded. He ran into the building.

But... they have to judge, right? It's their government, after all...

Nova looked at Kigari inquisitively. "What did he mean, 'It's not for me to judge'? Who is to judge, then?"

"Just that! He's just a laborer! If Prince Alexander wants to do something, who is he to comment, or care, so long as his life doesn't change?"

There was a commotion as a limousine with Roanian flags on it began to drive down the street. "Shoot. It's the Squire of Tanaqin."

The limo slowed as it passed Nova, and from inside a Japanese businessman looked at Nova's hair. He said something to his companions, and they all laughed as one. "Mr. Anime!" The Squire said to Kigari as his limo drove off.

OOC: Sorry... I was gonna respond to that one, but then the server acted up...

IC (First Post): (emphatically) "But... but he has to care! It's the common person that makes up the country, isn't it? The people should rule the country! If the country rules the people, then more people get hurt!"

Nova then turned to look at the limo. "Hm? Is that a bad thing?

IC (2nd): "Nani!? * :evil: * *starts chasing the limo*

OOC2: Sorry, gotta go...

Kigari followed after him, lost in her thoughts. How could anyone be so... idealistic?

OOC: Cya.

Nova eventually stopped. Bastards.

He turned around. * :( * "Kigari... what was that all about? What did I do to them? And who is this Squire?"

Kigari doubled over in laughter. "Mr. Black appointed Iyyesori-san Squire twenty years ago. He was surprised by the resemblance your hair had to an anime character's hair." She grinned. "I like it, though. It's different."

Nova sighed and smiled again. "I'm glad you think so..."

Kigari reached up and messed it around. "It's nice. Do you want to find another common person to speak to?"

"No... I don't think so... those people have been told not to have any opinions..."

Kigari looked sad for a moment. "If you want, we can go talk to the polizei. I read somewhere that the polize," she paused, trying to think of an english word, "police are always good signs of a nation's political vitality."

"... How? Police have nothing to do with politics... the police are just there on hand if someone does something wrong... if the government forces people to do something by the police, what is the point of government at all?"

"Yeah, but they'd no the laws and things. I'm an Inquisitor, I don't have to deal with common people." Kigari said, somewhat sadly.

"Still... it isn't the laws that make the people, it's the people that make the laws... if only I could find a common person who would have a definite answer, who would say that, yes, this is a great nation to live in, or no, I'd like to move, then..."

OOC: Leavin'... see ya... ^_^

OOC: Cya!

IC: Kigari looked sad. "I... don't know where I'll be able to find someone like that. I'm sorry to disapoint you, Nova."

??_?? Did you post, or didn't you? It says you did, but I don't see it!

I did... and I don't see it either! 0_0;

I'll just post again...

Nova seemed content. "That's okay... you know, I don't know that much about you... perhaps we should go to Port Agua?"

I didn't expect it to be any different, anyway...

OOC: Why doesn't he just ask her?

IC: Kigari blinked back tears. She hit him, gently. "Damn you, Nova. Since I met you, I always seem on the verge of tears." She smiled. "Port Agua? We'd have to take the train back to Roan, and fly there."

OOC: You know how shy he is...

IC: Nova looked away bitterly and sadly. "Really? I'm really sorry... I just want you to be happy, ya know?"

OOC: Yeah... but she'd answer.

IC: "It's actually..." she started, and blushed. "It's actually nice..."

She walked with him back to the train station. "In Agua, we'll be almost in another country."

OOC: Okay. So the only question is... ask her what?

IC: "Thank you..."

"Really? What it is like there?"

OOC: What she thinks of the government.

IC: "You'll see... right now, though, it's getting late... we might as well grab one of those all night trains to Port Agua." She showed her card to the ticket woman, who nodded.

"I'm sorry, sir, madame... but there's only one sleeper..."

Kigari looked at Nova, slightly embarrased.

The ticket woman started. "But there are two beds in it!"

Nova smiled a bit. "It's quite all right. I can comfortably sleep even when I'm sitting up."

"Okay. Here are your tickets, sir, ma'am." The ticket woman passed Nova the tickets, and he and Kigari walked onto the train.

"Can you really? Sleep while standing up?" Kigari asked, concerned.

"... if my back is against something, yeah. It's all right... you take a nice rest, all right?"

Kigari smiled. "Thank you, Nova." She opened the room door. "Wait out here while I get changed, okay?" She asked, closing the door.

OOC: Good oppurtunity for him to ask someone the questions without her staring at them questioningly.

OOC: Good point.

IC: Nova walked around the berth, trying to find someone that was awake. He got to the middle of the car, and noticed someone looking out the window.

"Um... excuse me, sir? Hello, I'm Nova Starfighter. I'd just like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind..."

OOC: Leaving.. see ya...

EDIT: Stupid keyboard...

The man nodded. "Okay, sir. What would you like to know?"

"For starters, how well of a job do you think the government is doing?"

"Them? Oh, they're all right for Roanians." The man snorted. "We Aguans could run a better government then them, though. They put a Derricksman in charge of Foriegn Affairs. And their nobles spend most of their time planning for duels, or watching other people duel."

He rolled his eyes. "I heard that even the Prince gets into the bloodsport act... though of course I'm sure it's just a rumor, and you didn't get it from me."

"Well, then, do you think your nation needs more freedoms?"

The Aguan looked at Nova strangely. "More what now?"

"Freedoms... you know, the ability to determine what kind of government you have, the ability to criticize it..."

OOC: Leavin'

OOC: Cya

IC: The man looked puzzled. "Well... I reckon not. The Roanians wouldn't support an Aguan government, and there would be a civil war."

"But better a nation is free and in ruins than intact and a slave of someone else!"

The man looked as if he was dealing with a madman. "I've a family to support, and I don't need Port Agua to be wiped out by the Roanian Legions, and the Roanians don't need The Stronghold to be blasted by the Aguan Guards... an entire half of this continent is almost devoid of life from the last civil wars. I don't know where you come from, stranger, but around here we like the quiet."

OOC: 11 months... ^_^
OOC: Sorry, but I'm leavin' after this. I still have a large amount of work to do... sorry...

IC: "I see. This country must have been war-ravaged at one point..." [to the stranger] "Ai. I come from a peaceful nation, one with relative freedom. That may be why..."

OOC: 11 months? What?
OOC: Cya

IC: Kigari poked her head out. "Okay, Nova... I've changed."

<bump>

OOC: 11 months of being a country.

IC: Nova looked back. "Nani...? Hai." <turns to stranger> "Thank you. I now have most of the information I need." <walks towards Kigari> "Hey, Kigari. So... what do we do on one of these things? What is there to do?"

Kigari sat back, in her pyjamas, and pondered. "Really not much... it only takes 16 hours... if you want, you could get a drink, or something..." She rested her head against the wall.

Kigari sat back, in her pyjamas, and pondered. "Really not much... it only takes 16 hours... if you want, you could get a drink, or something..." She rested her head against the wall.

"Well, we could look at the countryside... There's a lot you have to show me of this place.."

"Okay..." Kigari opens a window, and they look out at the rather boring and repetitive Roanian plains. "It's really not that interesting, though, Nova." She looked at him, speculatively.

Nova, not noticing this, continued to stare out the window, now seemd to be doing more thinking than looking.

The people know what's right and wrong... but they still don't do anything about it...? And why am I so interested in this girl? She's an enemy, right? Right. But, still...

Kigari smiled, and decided to be honest with Nova. "Nova... I heard what you and the man were talking about... is there anything you would like to ask me?"

Heh. And I thought that Darquis was idealistic...

Nova sighed and stared off wistfully. "There is in fact so much I don't understand about you or this place... but for right now, all I'd like to know is, how could someone so kind as yourself be not only living and accepting of but even supporting a government such as this?"

Kigari stared, blankly. "But... I really, really can't understand what's wrong with this government. It works... what other ways are there to do things? Tell me, and I'll tell you." She asked him, smiling sweetly.

Nova smiled emptily, but then looked very hurt. "Why can't the government be accepting of the opinions of the people? Isn't the government made up of human beings, just like the common person? Why can't the government actually listen to the voice of the common person? Who made the government officials superior human beings to normal peoplr?"

Kigari thought for a while, and then laughed. "If you'll listen to members of the Council of Nobles, or the Council of Burghers for a while, you'll realize they think that they're superior to the commoners *because* they're in Government. They're all rich, half of them can trace their bloodlines back hundreds of years, most of them pay the salaries of almost everyone on the island..."

She shook her head. "Arrogant bastards, the lot of them."

Nova looked at her with a confused expression. “Then why do you support them by becoming an agent of their internal terror?”

Kigari stared in confusion. "Nova, out of all the people we've met or seen today, did they seem terrified? The only truly bad person in the Roanian Government is...," She shuddered and touched her arm.

"That's not important. I should get some sleep." She turned, and not looking at his eyes, just slipped under the sheets. Kigari closed her eyes, and started to drift off to sleep. "Good night."

< A little bump. Tib, respond to this and the other one, and you can join the civil war.>

Nova turned and looked at her and smiled again. "Good night."

No, they didn't seem fearful at all. They were too used to misery to be fearful.... good night... He went to sleep as well, still sitting up.

OOC: He just don't let up, do he?

OOC: Not particularly. He still holds onto his beliefs. But he's finally given up.

OOC: What he'll see in Agua will drive him batty.

IC:

The train pulled into the station. Kigari silently walked over to Nova and kissed his cheek.

OOC: In what way?

IC: Nova slowly woke up. "Nani?"

"Hm? Kigari? We've arrived, ne? I'd love to see this place... this is the town where you were born, right?"

Kigari paused. "I... this is the town I grew up in." She deliberately avoided answering his question. "And I'll show you everything. The Cathedral, the Markets... the..." she continued to run down a list of sights to see.

As they left, they saw a massive telivision screen. The Royal Sigil was on it. Then a voice boomed out, "All stand for the royal proclamation for this week!"

Around the entire train station, everyone began to move inwards, standing in military precision. Kigari tugged Nova out of the way. "It's early this week..."

Alexander appeared on the screen, sitting behind his desk. "My loyal citizens."

A cheer rang up from the assembled people. Alexander's next words were obscured. When his voice could be heard again, he was saying, "my friends. I advise you all to avoid taking the law into your own hands. The Council of authorised religions meets next week. There, I shall put to them the question about whether or not Mormons deserve to live in Roania. Until then, do not attack them. That is for the Inquisition to do when they are found to be heretical."

Angry voices filled the air. A man standing near Kigari and Nova muttered, "the boy's gone soft... of course they're heretics... and they should die."

Alexander continued. "Meanwhile, in answer to Mr. Roderick of Port Agua, citizen code #2417625, yes, there will be a purge of communists, no, I'm not sure when. Any communists are advised to hand themselves in. Now, return to your daily works."

The screen blacked out. Aguans began to filter back to their original locations. Nova could make out words like, "too weak; needs a vacation in order to get back to normal; bowing to international pressure.'

Nova, who was holding a now empty soda bottle, had been watching the video and the reaction with increased anger. As Alex said the words "citizen code", he had squeezed it so hard that cracks began showing on the glass surface.

These people... they just accept it? The accept the whole dictatorship, killings and all? What is wrong with the people of Roania?

After he had seen the reactions of the people at the end of the broadcast, had had reached his (or, rather, the bottle's) limit, and the glass bottle shattered in his hand.

These people... don't even deserve democracy... they deserve nothing but destruction...

When will there be a person who will stand up against this person? A Roanian, at least?

At the sound of the bottle exploding, everyone in the station turned, and looked directly at Nova. They stared, surprised. Kigari ran in front of him, speaking quickly in a language that Nova could barely pick up. Her fingers flickered in front of her, forming intricate patterns in the air.

Everyone laughed, and started to return to their business. She sighed, and said in English, "What would you like to see of Port Agua?"

Nova looked back from the people to Kigari once again. "Ah... I... um... I don't know. I don't know this place that well..."

Kigari thought for a second. "Okay... how about the Pana Sophia? You could meet the cardinal, and everyone!"

Nova, quickly hiding his hand so the drops of red that had formed wouldn't show, asked "The cardinal? If this is that Richelieu guy... I'd rather not... but I definately would like to meet everyone else..."

Kigari smiled, and lead him to the street. Outside, they were met with a what was, to Nova, a frightening sight. Massive religious icons decorated almost every space. Crosses, both Roman and Greek, mingled with Stars, Crescents, 8 wheel paths and idols to Shiva. Various groups of armored soldiers stalked the streets. Inquisitors in their full battle gear, silver crosses decorating their capes and weapons. Legionnares in grey kevlar bodyarmor, each of them fingering an assault rifle. Polizei in their trademark black military-jumpsuits watched from every intersection. Naval ratings formed loud, racuous masses in the centre of the street, arguing about the merits of various ships.

Through it all, a huge mass of humanity rushed through, going to school, or to work, or to pray. Port Agua had a total population of 25 million. And it seemed that all of it was right in front of the train station. Kigari smiled, happily. "Home at last..."

Strange words floated through the air of the language that Kigari had spoken in, alongside English, and the harsh native dialect of the Roanians. Kigari stood stockstill, faced a blank mirror, and made a series of complicated hand gestures. The glass slid aside, revealing several armed guards. They conferred, and nodded. The window closed again, and within seconds a black tinted car had appeared in front of them, a cross on the front.

Kigari looked up from her watch. "Fifteen seconds. A tiny bit late." She opened a door, and gestured for Nova to enter.

()

Ouch. Well, sorry to hear that. Hope your parents weren't being too, too serious.

4 months? A bit harsh...

Tell me about it. Do me a favor... when I come back, can you update me as to what happened while I was gone?

Meh, since I'm here and avoid my grounding...

IC: Nova looked around, amazed at the scene that was much different from the bustling but planned out life in Crystal City and the serenity of Emerald Waters City.

Noticing the excess of police, Nova asked her as he stepped inside the car, "Are all of these police really necessary?"

OOC: That's the spirit.

IC:

Kigari smiled. "What police?" She asked, leaning her head against him, enjoying his touch. Soon, they arrived at the Cathedral. She opened the door and helped Nova out, taking advantage of his distraction to brush one of her breasts against his arm.

After a while, Nova finally noticed where his hand was. "Nan... oh... um..."
He started turning red (again... -_-;) and took his hand back, thinking she was offended. "Sorry about that..."

(Basically... ^_^; )

OOC: Wow. I'm writing about a city that's currently floating in some ghastly other dimension in my current time scale.

IC:

Kigari blushed herself, and then opened the door to the cathedral. Almost as soon as they stepped in, a ghastly scream rose up from some subterranean level.

Kigari looked a bit sad for a moment, but she regained her balance. "Welcome... to the Pana Sophia!"

Huge stained glass windows decorated this entry vestibule. Crucifixes and crosses decorated every corner, and a chandelier lit the room with harsh glow.

Over the door into the Cathedral proper was the name of the organisation that called this building home, "Heilige Roanian Inquisition für die Reinheit vom Glauben".

Nova looked scared for a moment as the scream subsided, and moved his hand to his sword in instinct. After it passed though, he looked at the cathedral in amazement at the size and explosion of color.

"Wow....

...

Kigari, what does 'Heil eige Roanian Inquisition for de Reinheit vom Glauben' mean?"

Kigari wrinkled her brow. "Um... Holy Roanian Inquisition for the Purity of the Faith." She looked around, and then winced as another scream filtered from some distant dungeon. "Nova... um... maybe we shouldn't be here... I might get in trouble..."

Nova looked around, this time not nervous but determined to find the source of the scream. "What was that? Kigari, what's going on around here?"

Bump

OOC: Man, do you need to be on more often... I shut the Inquisition down last week, and turned Roania into a constitutional monarchy three weeks ago.

IC: Kigari didn't say anything, instead quickly dragging him into the main prayer-room, which was inconspicuosly sound-proofed. "Um... ambience?" She said, sitting in an empty pew.

OOC: Damn it! I missed that!? :x

IC: Nova looked at her hard. "Kigari... I'm no fool. Please don't give me that..."

He turned away and ran out of the room as another scream rose up. "Whoever you are, don't think I'll get intimidated by you! I'm gonna find you and destroy you!"

Several armoured figures moved through the chapel, and into a door. Kigari blushed. "Well... how about we go and find Richelieu?"

Nova looked at her once again, this time much more softly. "You're just trying to get my attention away from that, aren't you?" *sigh* "All right, whatever you say..."

She smiled mischievously. "Nova, if I wanted to get your attention, I have so many other ways of doing it..." she said, ruffling his hair. "I just think that while you're in Agua, you should meet with the Cardinal."

Nova laughed, not realizing what she really meant. (He's like that.) "I've already met with him." Sarcatically, "And wasn't that just so much fun?"

"Really?" She asked, confused. "Strange... well, you should meet with someone. And the Grand Duke is in Roslin right now, so you might as well meet with Richelieu... he'll answer your questions." She looked up at him, and then 'accidentally' rubbed her chest against his on her way out of the pew.

*sigh* Nova smiled. "All right. But please let me go down there. I just want to help out."

Bump of a beautiful thread...

(OOC: Off for about a half-hour. I'll post my response to the other later.)

TAGation

"Of course you do, of course you do..." Kigari mumbled, taking his hand. "And...the best way you can help is by not going and getting yourself in trouble. Please?" She kissed him to keep him quiet when he opened his mouth to respond.

"Is there a problem, my child?" A small, quiet little priest dressed in a long flowing robe asked when he slid in through a back door. His eyes widened when he saw what was happening.

Kigari pulled back so fast that she almost got whiplash, and coughed. "F-father! P-President Nova wanted...um..." she prompted Nova to speak, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

Nova was at a loss for words. He'd never had this... particular... experience before, although he'd had a few drinks with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the memory of which was quite close. "I... uh... was... um... wondering where... ah... that shrieking sound was coming from?"

Kigari, blushing deeply, grinned a little. "Um...just...people in the medical wings, Nova." She quickly answered him, taking his arm and dragging him someplace with a hurried apology to the Priest. As soon as they were someplace quiet, she collapsed against his chest giggling like a schoolgirl. "God, the expression on his face..."

The young woman looked into Nova's eyes, and smiled weakly as she reached up to kiss him once more.

Nova began laughing slightly at the memory, gazing at Kigari distantly all the while. "Heh. Feel sorry for him." He met her kiss, then looked slowly around the ancient structures, vestiges of a feudal era long gone. He began speaking to himself, but gradually got loud enough for her to hear with clarity. "You said this was your birthtown..."

"Can you show me more of this place, Miss Kigari? It's quite interesting..."

Kigari blushed bright red. "I...I...I'd be glad to," she said, pinkly. "What would you like to look at? There's the museum and the palace and the markets, wait, you've already seen the markets..." She stuttered into insensibility, then tried again.

"The harbour?"

Nova tightened his embrace, closing his eyes. He took a deep breath- the delicate fragrance of Kigari filtering in all the while. He looked at her for a few moments- her soft embrace, her tender eyes... there was no way she could be associated with the Roanian Inquisition. He just knew it.

He smiled gently. Hai.

"Okay, we can go to everything!" Kigari's smile widened and she dragged him off through the double-doors, back into the tropical sun. "Come on!" The young woman almost skipped with Nova along the sidewalk, pulling him along to a huge gate. "This is where the Emmanuel family lived until the formation of the empire, when they moved to the former palace of the Drakharns up in Roslin. The cadet branch of the family stayed here until Emperor Alexander's father had them exiled to the Isles of Sleep."

Kigari glanced up at Nova as she tried to catch her breath, then collapsed against his body, nuzzling at his chest lightly. "And we can go in and look around if you want?"

Nova nuzzled her head softly in response. He had no idea what much of it meant- although he certainly knew who the Emmanuels and Alex were, he had no clue where the Isles of Sleep or Roslin were, or who the Drakharns were, and it showed ever slightly on his face. ...Regadless, he smiled and replied softly, "Here, there... you can take me around anywhere, if you'd like." Then, realizing he never actually answered the question, added, "It would be terrific."

Kigari smiled, and then looked up at him. She reached for his face and gently ran her small, but strong, hand over his cheeks and chin. She blushed slightly. "Nova? I think I'm falling in love with you." She leaned up and kissed him on the lips. "I was brought up in this palace, you know." The young woman said, changing the subject quickly as she also started to blush, almost as red as Nova did.

Still with one hand pressing against his stomach, she pulled open the gate. "...my guardians were the Emmanuels, you know. B-before..." She took a deep breath. "Never you mind. This is one of the most beautiful palaces in the Imperium. It's more than 300 years old. If my cousin is here, we'll be let in for a tour.

~~

Grand Duke Adrik Alexei Adrian Black was, indeed, present, and was introduced in a brief conversation to Nova by Kigari. This, combined with the fact that his father had evinced a marked dislike for the Tiburonese president, disposed the Prince to like him. Kigari was thus provided with a set of keys and given the run of the palace before Adrik Alexei returned to his coffee and girlfriend.

As Kigari pulled Nova down the large hall, Adrik Alexei could be heard remarking to Adele, "Do you think Kigari's boyfriend dyed his hair blue? Or is he just a weird...thing?"

Kigari blushed and tugged him up up the stairs. "Don't listen to my cousin. I think your hair is very sexy." As they reached the second floor, though, she swayed and fell silent, thoughtful for a moment. "..." It passed, and then she smiled again, tapping a foot gently on the floor. "Before this carpet, this used to be mother of pearl carefully ground and set into the tiles. Maintenance costs got too high, however." She slipped out of her shoes and put on a pair of provided slippers, then indicated for Nova to do the same. "My old room still has the original flooring, though."

She walked down the hall, pointing out paintings and things as she did, then slowly opened a door that was still familiar to her. "T-this is..." She looked inside. It was still the same as it had been. "..." Slowly she slumped back down to the floor.

The reaction was noticeable. His eyes grew wide, and he rushed over to pick her up, to determine what was wrong. Surprise wouldn't accurately describe his reaction- more like being shit scared. He stayed with her, trying to find out what was wrong, and, when he did, laid her down more comfortably and sprang back up. He had to push these thoughts out of his head for now. Water. He raced back down to the kitchen and wet his hands, and as almost an afterthought, filled a small glass with moderately cold water and ran back up. It must not it will not it cannot. He didn't know whether it actually worked or not, but it didn't matter. He dipped his fingers in the water and gently stroked her eyes with the water. Everything'll be fine she's just tired it will end soon. He continued.

Kigari shook a little in his arms, wordless whimpers echoing from her throat. Her face turned from side to side. Then she shuddered, and slowly woke up, then leaned forward to bury her head in his chest. "D-don't look at me." She whispered, trying to hold back a sob. Her body was streaked with sweat. "I...I'll b-be better soon."

A youngish woman with slightly pointed ears poked her head around the corner. "Everything all right, Kigari?" She said, smiling weakly and looking away from Nova shyly.

Kigari brushed some moisture away from her eyes. "N-no, Adele. M-my clothes are all messed up. C-could I borrow some of yours?" She coughed and glanced up at Nova, plastering on a weak smile. "I...I'm sorry I worried you." She leaned up and kissed him on the lips. "Thank you." Then she ran to join the other woman. "Oh, Nova?" She smiled. "Could you go to my cousin and ask him to book us a hotel room? Just the one, mind." She blew him another kiss, then walked off.

Nova nodded for a few moments before registering her words, and went (ran, really) with consternation to Adrik. After a few moments to calm down, he performed the task at hand. "Adrik, Kigari wanted to ask you to book a hotel room for a single night." And then in sotto voce, "Adrik... she fainted when she took a look at her room, and something's been troubling her all day. It's not like her, and I'm concerned. What is going on, exactly?"

Adrik Alexei frowned at being called Adrik, then dismissed it as typical foreigner stupidity. With a slight smile he sat back on his chair and looked up at Nova. "I can arrange a hotel room, if you're sure, 'President'." He seemed puzzled by the use of the foreign title. "And if Kigari isn't going to tell you, it certainly isn't my place."

The Grand Duke politely refrained from asking how his cousin, whom he had always felt to have so much common sense, could have wound up with Nova. "Perhaps my father might feel otherwise? I could contact him for you..."

Nova was rather exasperated. This was clearly going absolutely nowhere. If he was to find and settle the facts behind the matter that seemed to force Kigari's very existence to skirt around it, much as matter did with a spinning black hole, always on the edge of being crushed by incredible forces in a precarious existence, he would have to do it on his own. And he would find and settled this matter. He owed this much.

Recognizing the myriad dangers of having Alex Black involved, Nova thanked Adrik Alexei for his room reservation while respectfully nodding in appreciation, and rushed back to Kigari to determine her current situation. At least he's better than Alex. The streak of arrogance that came with nobility would remain- it always would- and it would always disgust Nova ever so slightly. It always would.

Kigari came down a few moments later with Adele. She took a deep breath, and went to bury herself against Nova's arms. "...thanks for helping me." She whispered to him. "I...I think I need to get out of here. Where would you like to go?"

Nova nuzzled her head gently and replied in a familiar tone- soft and low, as would be expected in such a situation. It was an intimate and private moment, after all. "Wherever you go, I'll follow. As long as we're together like this, I can go anywhere without hesitation." He smiled and added, "I suppose that doesn't really answer the question. Well, this is your country. Wherever you pick, I'm sure it'll be excellent."