NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC (Out-Of-Character):

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This thread tells the story of how Augustus Drake, future Praetor of Drakonia, and Jolené Sutherland, future Queen of Drakonia, were married. The plot runs from their engagement to their marriage.

Invited Nations Drakonian Imperium
Tersanctus
Lavenrunz
Glorious Humanity
Revenia
Menelmacar
BritmattiaAll further posting will now be,
IC (In-Character):

The car sped down the empty coastal road as the sun started shedding the horizon in a rainbow of color. The clouds in the distance were red, orange, pink, and purple. Colors reflected on the great deep blue sea below those clouds. And through it all the sun burned bright yellow slipping lower and lower in the sky.

The coastal road was situated above the beach, perched on the rough hills that stood like sentinels. Above that road cut into the side of the mountainous hills those sentinels loomed. Green adorned them, greens of trees, greens of grasses, and greens of lichens.

It was majestic, it was amazing, and it was beautiful, and that was why the small sports car was on the road.

Inside the car there was laughter as it's two occupants joked to each other. The beauty of their surroundings was not lost on them, it filled their being and enhanced and strength their feelings toward each other. They were in love.

The driver gestured to the falling sun and the far off watery horizon, as he steered the car down the winding road. The passenger next to him looked out on it and marveled at it's beauty.

"How can one not look at that and believe in a divine creator," she wondered aloud.

The passenger was a young woman of exotic beauty. Her skin was a luxurious shade of light ebony brown and it complimented her elegant features with something that could not be described by words; youth shown on her smooth skin and in her wondering amber eyes. She was shapely, but not overly thin, and the man next to her could marvel on her for days on end, if only life would permit him.

"I do not know," the man replied, eyes darting toward her and then back to the road.

The driver was a strong ruddy man. He also was young. Well-built with muscle the way he held himself spoke of a military background and pride in his past, but it also hinted at his humility, his love for others, and his strong commitment to morality, honor, and duty. His skin had a tanned ruddiness and was a contrast to the ebony women next to him. His hair was mixed light and dark brown. He looked every much the part of the fantasy knight in shining armor, as the woman had observed.

They were happy together.

There was a spurt of random laughter from the passenger's seat, causing the driver to look over. "What?" There was a hint of joviality mixed in with the curiosity in his question.

"We did it," she replied, firm in her belief.

His response came quickly. "That we did." There was a second of silence before he spoke again. "What was it again that we did," he asked.

She shot him a playful glance at the driver's comment. "Escaped, Silly."

"Ah, that." There was mischief in his voice. "That was nothing. Didn't I tell you I used to do that as a kid, all the time."

"You have." The woman smiled. "My little escape artist."

The driver glanced up from the wheel. "You're the one thing, I think I can't escape from."

She leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Oh, I'm sure of it."

The car rounded another bend and moved on, on the road.

OOC: Tag, Post Pending.

"... (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2905714#2905714)It's Amazing."

They came around the final corner on the coastal road and move along the last straight stretch of road before their destination. The setting sun beat down red along that road, as it slid down toward the horizon. Across the sky though it was not just red, purple, pink, and orange all decorated it, reflected in the sporatic puffs of cloud. It was an amazing sight, as the women had commented.

"It is," the driver replied, a smile creaping high on his face. "Which is why I wanted you to see it and enjoy it. They get the best sunsets down here."

The car reached it's destination and turned off the high coastal road, going down toward the beach on a side accessway. The car jostled barely on the gravel as it moved down the slope. The driver pulled to a stop just before the beach.

It was spread out before them in a great panorama. The dusty yellow sand. The great blue sea, which reflected the chromatic revelry in the skies, as the Sun's journey of the day ended for one part of the world. For a few moments they just marveled at it all.

"Monsieur, Mademoiselle, if I may?" The man had appeared from someone, the women, Jolené Sutherland, wasn't sure of where. He was dressed in a crisp black tuxedo and was quite young, only still a teenager, but she recognized him as the driver's brother. He had a charming chiseled face and a winning smile, and at the moment was asking to open Jolené's door.

"You may, good sir," Jolené replied playing along. The teenager opened her door and helped her out. There was a quick smirked glance shot at the driver, as he himself got out and came over to her.

"Take good care of the car, please." He commented, smirking himself as he handed over the keys.

Augustus Drake was enjoying this game he had set up and so far it was going perfectly. He smiled at the lovely women he had driven out her and walked her out onto the sands of the beach.

The teenagers, "you got it," was a out-of-character, but at that point it didn't matter. Besides, he knew Edmund Dantes, his younger adopted brother, was going to take the car out for a spin and a moment later, when his car engine reved it was confirmed.

Augustus smiled to himself. He was heir to the family, which ruled Drakonia, and moments alone (or not so alone) like these were rare.

They walked to near the water's edge and sat down on a small flat bit of rock, which appeared among the sands. It seemed like ages past as the Sun's journey ended, but they were ages of such happiness and contentment that nothing in life could compare.

Finally, the sun was gone and they stood. Augustus gestured down the beach to where a small dinner table was arranged and visible in the waning light. For spoke for the first time since they had strolled out on the sand. "Our meal awaits."

There was a wondering glance was from Jolené. Out at the table, what appeared to be a butler (also in a tuxedo) was lighting the lanterns arrayed around the table. Augustus simply smiled knowingly in reply; his brother wasn't the only person he had brought in on this.

They reached the table and Augustus beat the would-be waiter to pulling out Jolené's chair for her. They sat down.

Arrayed on the table was a meal that caused a stifled laugh from Jolené's favorite, but it seemed out of place for the setting. Heat rose from a hot extra cheesy pizza. Root Beer Floats took their place as the couples drinks and a grapefruit was halved as a side dish.

It was a motley meal, but Jolené understood intently. She had told Augustus it was her favorite meal, because state meals she was forced to attempt rarely allowed her to eat such unprepared a meal. In fact, neither of them regularly got such luxuriously simply foods and Augustus knew it. Which made it all the more special.

They ate the meal with fervor, discussing the things lovers usually talk about, anything and everything. Enjoying each other companionship, company, and love.

Then when they were finish and simply talking, he took his chance. Standing from his chair and coming around the small table to Jolené, Augustus knelt, producing a small box.

Jolené gasped, as he opened it. It was a ring. Gold inlayed with platinum in the form of two dragons coming together to hold an amazing violet diamond in their mouths, two more jewels declared their eyes, shining white diamonds, made up the most astounding ring Jolené had ever laid eyes upon. It seemed to almost have magical power, but such things are impossible. Jolené was truly stunned.

"Jolené Minerva Venus Amba Sutherland," Augustus spoke clearly, but he shuddered with a nervousness as he had never felt before. "I respectfully request your hand in marriage."

Jolené shuddered with the statement. She didn't know how to respond, what to say.

It seemed like forever before she spoke. To Augustus it was eternity. But then Jolené finally found her voice. "Yes," she said. "Of course, yes!"

Augustus slid the ring onto her finger where it was hard to tell which was more beautiful. The lovely soft ebony skinned woman, with luscious long black wavy hair, and jewel-like amber eyes or the gold and platinum dragon ring encrusted with diamonds. Augustus knew which, the one he was to marry.

They came together and kissed. Passion like they both had never felt apart, but only together, passed in that long kiss.

Finally, they broke apart, hands still clasp together. For a while, they simply looked into each other's eyes and considered what had just passed. They were to be married.

It was Jolené who broke the silence. "Let's go away for a while."

A smirk crossed Augustus' face. "Go away," he queried.

Jolené smiled. "Yes, on a vacation. Get away from it all. We could go...skiing."

Augustus did not have to ask. He knew why. The two were always in the spotlight. Augustus was the grandson of the ruler of Drakonia. Jolené was daughter of the Imperial Senate Speaker. Both came from families of extreme import to Drakonian history. The Press hounded both and their relationship had only made that worse. It had been their romance that had won the hearts of Drakonia and the news of their marriage would be talk of everyone. Which is why Jolené wanted to get away. She wanted to get away from that for a while, just to have some peace and Augustus agreed.

"Sure," he replied, still smiling like a love-struck schoolboy. "Where to? Lavenrunz, maybe? The Hartz Mountain are amazing this time of year."

"Perfect." Jolené was as lost in her love as Augustus.

And with that it was decided. They were escaping to Lavenrunz for a time.

"Well, have you found them?" The elder man the Praetorian Guard Officer had approached seemed annoyed and a bit angered at the Officer, but his anger was not directly aimed there. Rather it was aimed at those who had so childishly fled those sworn to protect them. One of whom was that Praetorian Guard Officer.

Unfortunately, the Officer did not know this. "No, Sir." The Praetorian Guardsman faltered. "My Praetor, Sir."

"You had better." It almost sounded like a threat, but it wasn't. The angry man was not a vengeful or cruel man. He was a compassionate loving man who had rebuilt the depressed and revolutionary Drakonia into the recovering nation it now was becoming. The man was, William Drake, grandfather of Augustus Drake and Praetor of the Imperium.

It was his brother that had sped the end of Drakonia's past glories. His failures as Praetor had brought about a economic recession and then depression that had destroyed the nation in Civil War. It had been William that had to undo his brother's foolish leadership and save the nation. It was a task he had not wanted, but was thrust on him by his heritage. He had saved the nation from destruction, only to see his brother murdered by an angry mob.

"Yes, Sir." The Guardsman went back to his job and his duty. He knew there was no threat to himself. Other than that of his job, only secure by his lack of incompetence.

As he sat there, in the Jet Liner, looking at her sleep, his mind wandered. Why was she here, with him?

He had no real answer to that question. He knew why he loved her, it was something he could not limit to words or even one single thing, and there were dozens of reasons, hundreds. But, why she loved him? He had no idea.

He marveled at her as she slept. She seemed so amazing, so beautiful. Did he deserve her love? No! He definitely did not.

His father used to say that "the first step to becoming a True Ruler, is realizing that you are not better than anyone else, especially those you rule." He wondered what his father would think of him now.

His father was next in line for the position of Praetor (leader) of all Drakonia, when he and Augustus' mother were murder by a radical fanatic in Tersanctus. Augustus, a teenager was left in the care of his godparents, Tersanctans, who had close ties to his family. They had been the closest friends of his parents and his grandparents. Although, he did not spent much time with them (as he was often shuttle back to Drakonia to stay with his grandfather, the Praetor), they were still family. Almost the only he had. Then they too had died.

It was then that Augustus had announced the thoughts he had long hidden. He did not want to be the next Praetor; his grandfather would have to choose another. There had been much discussion and argument, but in the end Augustus had won out. He would not take on the responsibilities of the high office; he would not become the next Praetor.

Of course, he was "not better than anyone else", he was worse. He had forsaken his duty.

"Sir." The Praetorian Guard Officer had returned to report to the Praetor. "I've have a pair of people you might want to speak to."

The Praetor embroiled in affairs of state was all to happy to set aside. He looked up from behind his ornate desk, in his ornate office. The Praetor was an old man, well in his sixties, but still with great vitality. Even at his age, he still exercised frequently, and it was clear in his person. His hair was white, his skin aged and leathery. He had been a royal prince, a naval officer, a leader of men, and then the Praetor of a broken nation.

He had seen much. He had seen wars, he had seen the tapes of his daughter and son-in-law's death, and now he saw his rebellious grandson had run off with his girlfriend. It was funny, his wife would have found the whole situation amusing. She would have seen the danger, but it would have been the wild stunt that she enjoy most. It was just like her.

He stared down the two people before him. "Just what did you think you were doing?"

Both were still crisply dressed in tuxedos. The "butler" from the previous seaside meal was standing crisply at attention. He, Richard Lippert, a Lieutenant in the Imperial Drakonian Military and thus required to show the proper respect to his superior, in such situations. Edmund Dantes was a bit more relaxed, but still mildly tense. Both recieved the question without response.

"Where are they?" Praetor William Drake emphasized every word carefully and strongly. He gave them a second to answer before he continued. "Well," he prompted. Again, no answer was offered.

"And where is the other miscreant of your group during this incident?" The Praetor refered to the gang of friends that had formed since childhood. Augustus, Richard, and there was another; Edmund and Jolené were welcomed members by their relation to Augustus. But there was still one missing.

"Away on business." Another young man entered the room, dressed sharply in an impressive new black business suit. He was tall, with short very dark brown hair and a hawk-like visage. There was also a peircing look of intelligence in his eyes and almost an air of superiority to him, the air of a very successful businessman. "What's happened?"

The Praetor turned on the new arrival, Nathan Lamb. "Do you know where my grandson has run off to," he asked, his voice still strong and demanding.

"I do not, I was away," Nathan replied frankly.

William Drake then turned on the other two. "Where are they," he questioned firmly.

"We were ordered not to tell, Sir," Richard finally answered. He still stood stiffly at attention, eyes forward, body straight.

"You know as well as I, Augustus is no longer an officer in the military." The Praetor paused for maximum effect. "Now, you will tell me where they went, or I will make it an order."

"Veii." Richard surrendered. "They drove to Veii, where they were going to fly out to Lavenrunz. To go skiing."

"Skiing?!" The Praetor was shocked. "What were they thinking?!"

Yes. His wife would have found this whole situation hilarious, utterly hilarious.

"Will your stay be for business or pleasure?" They had arrived in Lavenrunz and were working their way through customs. The Lavenrunzian woman currently checking their passports.

"Oh, Pleasure, definitely," Augustus replied, smiling and hugging Jolené closer to his side.

"We're on our Honeymoon," Jolené offered joyfully.

"Congratulations and welcome to Lavenrunz, Herr and Frau Krade." The woman handed back their passports. They seemed much different then her. She had blond hair and soft peach skin, where Augustus' skin was tanned a very light bronze and he had contrasting light and dark brown hair. Jolené stood out further with her darker ebony skin and black hair. The couple were obviously foriegners.

"Thank you very much, Fräulein." Augustus replied, trying to sound educated and culture appropriate. "Guten Tag."

"This is crazy. You know that," Augustus said, when they were out of hearing distance of the woman. He was implying their use of fake IDs to gain access to the country unnoticed, as well as their running away in the first place. It seemed so random and...crazy.

"Of course, I do." Jolené smiled. She was enjoying this. "That's why its so much fun." And why not? So was he.

"Honeymoon," Augustus questioned further. He too was smiling and his happiness could be heard in his voice.

"Our Engagement Honeymoon," the reply was frank enough, a hint of humor penetrating her amazing melodious voice.

"Close enough," Augustus commented. "Honeymoon, huh." He said the word as if he were running it through his mind as he was testing in his mouth. There was also a playful twist to his words and Jolené knew clearly and exactly what he was implying.

"Don't get any ideas," she joked back.

William Drake let out a sigh. Sometime he wondered about his grandson. The poor kid had been through so much. Then Augustus would go and pull a stunt like this. It was like he had never grown up properly. And maybe he hadn't.

Augustus had been young when his parents were killed in an bombing by radicals in Tersanctus. Afterwards, he had lived with his grandparents and godparents. If anything it was the Dantes' family of Tersanctus, close friends of his parents that had raised him. Still he could be a bit of a problem child, and while they had cared for him for a while, he soon joined the Imperial Drakonian Navy. It was that dashing naval officer who had swept his childhood friend Jolené off her feet.

William sighed again with regret. He had not been there enough during his grandson’s childhood. Pulled into healing a nation that had just endured a civil war and the major depression, all the while strengthening and building relations with the nation’s longtime enemy Tersanctus, he had little time for a grandson. His wife had been there for Augustus, but now she too was gone.

Yet, he was sure of the character of the boy. Excepting childish outbursts like this disappearance, Augustus was a person of great character and ideals. He upheld all that it was to be Drakonian. Honor, Justice, Integrity, all were thing he had clearly displayed. Given commendations by his superiors in the navy, and widely respected by a nation looking for heroes and role models after a dark time, Augustus was a good man.

Or boy, William corrected his thoughts.

The rapping at his door interrupted further thought on the subject. "Enter," William commanded. In came a Praetorian Guard officer, he straightened and saluted, slapping his fist to his heart. "Sir, the Intelligence believes they have located your grandson and Miss Sutherland. They believe at this time they left the country for Lavenrunz under the assumed identity of a Mr. and Mrs. Krade. It appears they have booked a stay at a ski resort there."

"Thank you," William replied, processing the information. "Dismissed."

The officer left, leaving William again to his thoughts. Mr. and Mrs. Krade? An interesting choice, he pondered. For a moment he considered his options. If he was going to go through with his plan, he would need to go Lavenrunz. Here to making an international incident out of things...

William let out one final sigh. "I’m getting too old for this," he said as he flipped on the intercom to his aide. "Janice, I’m going to need to speak to the director of Diplomatic Corps., I’ll be taking a trip to Lavenrunz."

It had to be the absolute worst day for skiing. The day had started deep with powder, a soft thick layer of snow that made skiing in it, to say the least, interesting. It had only gotten worse as rain had poured down on the slopes of the Hartz Mountains, and the powder had begun a mucky slush that made skiing into swimming. Yet, it had to be the best day of skiing Augustus had had in his life.

The couple had started the day early, getting to the ski slopes just as the large tracked snow crawlers were setting out to begin the monumental task of compacting the mighty layer of powder that coated the surface of the ski slope. Sailing down the pristine ski runs, the lower halves of their legs concealed under the snow as they sped along down the mountain.

At one point Augustus had cut in close to Jolené as he sailed past her, only to trip up and collapse into the powder in front of her. The accident could have been much more damaging as Jolené crashed into him as he roll/crashed through the snow. In the end they ended up in a laughing heap together.

And when the rain came down before the snow plows could flatten the ski runs, they had had a terrible time of getting down the slope in the slush the powder became. But the couple enjoyed every second of it, laughing together at each others inability to ski through the muck. They returned to the lodge totally soaked through and shivering with laughter.

The rest of the day had been spent by the burning hearth of a fireplace, together watching the rain come down, drying the water that had permeated their cloths. It was the most fun and enjoyable experience for the both of them. And they talked.

"What will we do, Augustus," Jolené asked, snuggling closer to Augustus.

"Well," Augustus pondered. "I was thinking of getting some more hot chocolate."

"After we are married, silly," Jolené chided him, tickling him lightly with her fingers.

Augustus had been avoiding thinking of such things as the future during their vacation focusing only on Jolené, his love for her, and the present. The question brought more pressing matters to his mind. Things he really did not want to think about.
It was a question that had bothered him greatly of late. The couple had, of course, discussed the topic before. They had not however come to a satisfactory conclusion.

Jolené had planned on administrating her family’s investments in Royal Trinidad Oil and Royal Trinidadian Cruise Lines, but she also wanted to do humanitarian and environmental work. She also hoped to do some fashion work as a designer, modeling on the side.

Augustus had no such concrete designs on his future. It had been assumed from his birth that he would someday be the Praetor ruler of the Imperium and representative of the people. He had been prepared from birth for that role. No one had thought to ask what he wanted.

He had rejected that future after the assassination of his parents. They had not even had the chance to assume the role before they were killed. Augustus wanted to make his own future, not be destined to it.

He had family assets that would support him whatever he became, even if that be simply a philanthropist. Businessman, he was not. Furthering his career in the Imperial Drakonian Navy would keep him long away from the woman he love and would demand much of him. Nothing seemed to fit perfect with what he wanted. Even if he was not entirely sure what that was.

"I do not know," was all Augustus could say to her question. All he could conclude himself. "You could further a career in business," he ventured.

Jolené pondered his reply. This was the same conversation they had had before. "Augustus," she started. "We must decide. We are to be married, we cannot simply venture ideas."

Duty, it hit Augustus like a ton of bricks, the great weight that tugged at his heart. "I will not do it," he insisted, he knew what she hinted at--"I will not sacrifice my dreams for the Praetorship."

--and she knew that it weighed on him to reject that which he had been raised to become. The duty to the people of Drakonia was great, more so that his own wishes and the struggle between them tore him apart. "Yet, you cannot even decide which of those dreams to follow as a career," she reasoned. "You must decide. Our future now depends on it."

That point had not occurred to them. They were to be married, their futures were now intertwined. She would be his wife. None of it had set into his consciousness. He frowned. It was so great a burden. He had hoped to forget that burden on their vacation, now here it was, again.

Will I ever be free, he wondered darkly. "I do not know," he repeated. It was all he could say.