NationStates Jolt Archive

Foxtrot News
Today, it was announced that President Kowalski has broken off with his long-time girlfriend, Miss Jenna Browning, and is looking for a new one. The President plans to hold a ball next week for all those interested (and his staff lets in). If you wish to attend, please send your contact information here: XXXXXXXX

Biography on Mike Kowalski
Born: Jan 1, 1990
Entered Military service: Jan 1, 2008
Military record: Entered Service in Gadsden, Alabama with his two brothers. Graduated boot camp and AIT with superb ratings in Physical fitness. Qualified double expert on the M29 (OICW) rifle and was squad leader all during boot. After AIT, Kowalski and his two identical brothers entered the hills of North Korea in the same unit, as machine gunners. Served with honor and valor, earning the Medal of Honor for charging twelve machine gun nests alone with only his OICW and four grenades, killing all enemies inside and capturing their guns. Rapidly promoted because of this, even given a battlefield comission of Captain after this incident. Recalled back to America in January 2009, days before the split of America and CM at the inaguration of Hilary Clinton. During the Secession Wars, earned five Naval Crosses, six Purple Hearts, ten Silver Stars, Fifteen Bronze Stars, and given the rank of Colonial due to his leadership in the battle of Gatlinburgh, the Siege of Nashville, and the Hunt in Houston. He also participated in the mission to capture Osama Bin Laden with David Miles. Made Commandant of the Marine Corps when David Miles became President in 2025 and elected President of Crazed Marines just recently in 2027. Seen as a kind leader, Mike has passed many pro-business and military laws. He is beloved by his people and hated by his country's enemies. His suspected financial holdings are over 75 billion USD.

bumpola

"Well, you coudl always go," Fortier told Anna, who looked through the press release. "The polls always like a married First Speaker."

Anna Fratelli, First Speaker of Imitora, shook her head. "My dad'll kill me if I dont marry Italian. What about you rlittle friend, Holly?"

"What about your little friend Amstoker?" Anna sighed at the comment.

"Well, their both taken, so what do we do? Be nice to get someone out there." Anna looked out the window. In the distance, a bilboard for Fortier's buisness, Northampton Import Automotive Performce Specialties loomed over the freeway. "Say, didn't you just hire someone new at the shop?"

Fortier had walked over to a table, pouring himself a glass of water. "Yeah, her name's Lauren, she's Andrew's and Hollys youngest sister. Man, I should call up Andrew, haven't talked to him...no, you can't be thinking that."

Anna turned. "Why not? She's young, cute, funny girl, and single. Perfect person to send to one of these things."

"She has no diplomatic training, and I hired her becuase we need help down at the shop. I'm not gonna getr rid of new work for your want of diplomatic relations."

"I'll give you the 3rd's Mechanical and Logistic unit for your shop if you let her go."

"Those wrench heads don't know the difference between dirt and dog shit, unless its on a 'Hog or a Hummer." Fortier sighted. "I'm not gonna win this one, am I?" Fratelli shook her head. "Fine, I'll tell Lauren, and hire someone knew. You owe me for this."
____

President Kowalski,

While our two nations have never had a chance for previous relations, I believe this could be the opening opportunity for opening the door. At your permision, a personel friend of mine, Lauren Lutz, will be attending your ball. I have enclosde a picture of the young lady, as well as some personel information that you may find usefull. I wish you the best of luck in finding a bride, and hope that no matter who you choose, you will always live in happiness. With respect,

Anna Fratelli
First Speaker, Imitora


Lauren Lutz is a 27 year old Imitoran from Croton, in Northern Imitora. She graduated in the top of her class at Teilhousen Prepratory School for Girls in Southampton, before attending the University of Western Imitora in Northampton. She majored in Political Science with a field study in religious terrorism, but decided not to persue a carrer in the field after graduating 132nd in her class of 750. She choose not to attend a graduate studies school, and spent the first three years out of college working for her father's buisness, a situation advisory firm to companies operating in post-combat war zones. After this, she was hired by a friend of the family, Robert Fortier, former first speaker of Imitora, to work at his private buisness, along with her brother.

Lauren is a smart, witty girl, and very attractive by Imitoran standards. She has had four previous boyfriends, but no long term engagements or relationships. Like most Imitorans, she is stauchly conservative, and as most Imitorans, does border on some facist tendancies, but never anything more than strong nationalism. She is pro-buisness, pro-government, and a Virgo. She regularly attends Church, but not as often as most, and enjoys motoring, walking the beaches in Northampton, and reading. She has recently started taking horseback lessons.

Clicky for a Piccy (http://www.angelfire.com/va/sinpelosen/images/jordana.jpg)

It would be an honor to have Ms. Lutz attand.
-Bob Schumaker, President Kowalski's military aide

OOC: Awesome. Is it gonna be in this thread, or in another and this is just the invite thread?

OOC: Awesome. Is it gonna be in this thread, or in another and this is just the invite thread?
It'll be this thread. You'll probably win since she's young, conservative, attractive, and she's the only one who's coming...lmao...

YES! The odds are in my favor, lol...

bump

OOC: Do you accept advanced technology and/or magic? I'd like to attend, but my nation runs on both.

earned five Naval Crosses, six Purple Hearts, ten Silver Stars, Fifteen Bronze Stars, [and a Medal of Honor]...

Do you give people the Silver Star just for showing up to parade on time?

Isabelle chuckled, reading the announcement. Well, this should be... Amusing. She really couldn't believe what she had read... It sounded like a dream (Granted, soldiers weren't really something she was interested in, but then, why not? She needed some fun.), like... Oh well, she guessed that it was a dream.

Being the president, he should be quite capable of arranging... Well, deception is a virtue, I guess.

Smiling, she made a note.

And once she was finished... Yes, the contact information.

She smiled softly as she send her data to the contact address. D cups, blonde, blue eyes, 168cm tall, ivory skin, interested in guns and capitalism, nineteen years old, inheriting a few billion MC... Oh, right, the bachelor in economics... Richard's University.

Pressing send, she did, eventually, finish. All that remained was buying the necessary clothing.

Oh, god, the money this will cost...

The sound of her whip cutting into the slave's flesh invigorated her to new heights, her arm recoiling to strike yet again.

"What is my name?" she asked, in a low, threatening voice.

"M-m-mistress?" came the unsure reply.

THWACK! Another crack of the whip, and another yelp of pain.

"Again."

"MISTRESS! MISTRESS!" the desperate words were quickly drowned out by the death-rattle that came from him, as the beautiful woman drew a long dagger across his throat. She wiped the blood off the blade on the now-dead slave, and sheathed it at her side.

"I'm bored..." she mused, "...bored and horny."

Leaving the gore splattered cell, she went directly to her chambers. As she entered, a young servant approached her, clutching a sheaf of papers.

"M'lady, these are todays missives...the more interesting ones are on the top." she smiled helpfully.

Grabbing the documents but otherwise ignoring the servant, she entered her chambers, slamming the solid door behind her. Glancing at the first page, she noticed the invitation. Smiling darkly, she knew that finally, she had something new to occupy herself. Her acceptance letter was direct, cold and to the point.

Inform President Kowalski that his new Mistress will be arriving within 24 hours. Tell him to save his energy...he'll need it.

Signed,

Evita Darkmorn

Do you give people the Silver Star just for showing up to parade on time?

No, combat in the Secession Wars. In CM, a medal is harder to get than in the US, but he got those for mainly, charging an enemy MG nest each campaign.

-Ferris-: Come on it. Our neighbor Crystal Ireland is deep in magic

Official Response to Monetistan and Gawdly
Welcome to CM. Hope you like it...lots of shiny objects and the like...

In CM, a medal is harder to get than in the USDuring the Secession Wars, earned five Naval Crosses, six Purple Hearts, ten Silver Stars, Fifteen Bronze Stars,

Does... not... compute...

Crazed marines

The flight had been a pleasant one, and Isabelle enjoyed the sunny weather... Better than her hurricane- plagued home, that much was certain.

Keeping a copy of Raftwarrior IV to herself, and chuckling a little at the astonished guards (However, as astonished as they were, her passport/ visa confirmed her identity), she went to check in, hoping that the hotel would be, well, acceptable.

Her ressources were, after all, kinda limited.

I really wonder how he is, close up... How he really is, that is.

Well, soon enough, she would know the truth. For now, she needed a place to rest and a new dress. Easy enough to get, sure...

If one actually has money.

The flight was long and monotonous, and Evita slept most of the way, reclining in her fur-covered seat. Her arrival went flawlessly, her paperwork allowing her to slip through customs easily...and when there was any questions, one of her servants would slide a thick wad of cash to the questioner, ensuring that the Mistress would not be impeded in any way.

Evita and her retinue of slaves marched majestically through the terminal, forced to mingle with the low-borns that skittered around like the vermin they were. Suddenly, her eye fell on one who looked different from the others, a young beauty who was looking around as if she was new to the area. She was stunning, with an innocence of youth that appealed to the regal woman. Evita stopped, turned and approached the girl.

"You seem...lost. Perhaps I can be of service?" she purred, promise and sexuality in her voice.

Does... not... compute...

OOC: It does if he has the stones to sink a battleship. Now please stop spamming

IC:

Miss Isabelle of Monetistan, Miss Lutz of Imitora, and Mistress Darkmorn of Gawdly were all written on three different slips of paper held by three different drivers of three seperate limos. Each one was an armored Cadillac that was twenty-five feet long, and in stylish black. They would take all three to any place they wanted to buy what was needed for the ball, on President Kowalski's tab. Afterwards, they would be taken to the Nation's most luxurious hotel where they would spend the week before the ball, to do whatever they pretty-mch pleased under granted diplomatic immunity.

"We should send someone, Grandfather," Benjamin told the old man, "Think of the opportunities!"

Alexian leaned forward in his chair. "Oh? And who would you propose, grandson? Diana?"

Benjamin spluttered. Of the unmarried women of the First Family, Samantha was too yong, Leda too old, and Diana - well, Diana was young enough and pretty enough, but utterly unsuitable. One couldn't marry a madwoman to some foreign potentate.

"No? A unit of the Gestalts, perhaps? You never know, this Kowalski might find the machinery grafted to her spine attractive. A zombie?"

"I - I was thinking of a dryad, Grandfather."

"A dryad?" the allied species wasn't entirely unsuitable, and the tree-women were certainly comely enough ... "I will put out the word, grandson. And you never know, boy ... perhaps someday soon, we'll be finding some girl for you."

---

The Lady Aui (Tree Lairataui, Grove Sairatelais) stepped down the carpet of the carpet of the CM airport terminal, feeling utterly out of place. The simple black dress she wore scratched annoyingly at her skin, and the shoes pinched at her toes, but Matriarch Aiset had explained that certain other nations were uncomfortable with a dryad's preferred garb.

The ultimate goal was the expansion of the Forest, of course, and the Hives of the First Family, as per the old alliance. Two First Family Iron Hand police followed Aui through the terminal, long trenchcoats swinging as they walked. Back in Sairatelais, the chatter of their gestalt machineries would have been a roar in the back of her mind; here, with only the seed hanging around her neck to link her to the voices of the trees, Aui heard it as a distant murmur.

One day, with a little luck, that seed might grow to a mighty tree in the soil of Crazed Marines ... and the song of the forest would be absolute.

Northampton, Imitora

The shop at the corner of State and Amsterdam was, as usual, busy. Christmas was approaching soon, and everyone wanted to get gifts for their car fanatic friends. In the front of the shop, parts were mounted on the walls to show what you could put on your car, and glass cases held turbo chargers, superchargers, and other toys for the motor. Exhausts hung from the ceiling, and a few cars were also parked in the main room, a Audi S4 and a second generation Eclipse. In the back, however, the pristine white floor gave away to dull concrete, and the music over the store stero setup went from modern pop and rock to a mix of rap and the sounds fo power drills.

Lauren Lutz was underneath a black Nissan 350Z. An oil pan, full of oil sat next to her as she reached up into the engine, which was hanging pecariously over her head, looking for a bolt. She found it, twisted it with a wrench, and then slid out as the intercooler from the turbocharger slid out. She caught it, and placed it on the table next to the elivated car. There was a dime sized hole in the unit, and she sighed. That wasn't good.

However, a voice behind her caused he to refocus her attention. "Hey, Lauren." It was the voice of Roebrt Fortier, the owner of Northampton Import Automotive Performance Specialties. "Whats up with the Williams car?" he asked, refering to the Z. She sighed.

"I guess that becuase we build thse cars, the owners think we don't know anything about them. Remeber how we told him to not run more than 10psi till we got the new piping?" He nodded. "The boost control is at 22psi."

He stuck his hand, with disregard for his suit, into the oil pan, and pulled out an oil covered yet still somewhat shiny metal object. "He ran ectra boost, and his piston pieces are in the oil. Got sucked through the engine, ripped everthing up, and hes gonna need a new motor, right?" he asked.

She pointed over to the turbo, which looked like it had a bomb dropped on it. "I'll handle this, we need tot alk..."
______

Four hours later, Lauren was on a Gulfstream V bizjet heading for Crazed Marines. She was dressed conservatively in a tastefull blouse and tight fitting, yet also tastefull Kahkis. She ahd read the info Robert had given her about Kowalski. She felt the aircraft descend, and she looked out the window to se the ground slowly comming up at them.

The plane landed gently, and taxied to an assigned gate, where Lauren grabbed her bag, and exited the aircraft. She walked down the terminal, and saw the sign with her anme on it. She walked over, and introduced herself to the driver, who informed her of the plan of events. She thanked him, and the walked out to the car, where she placed her bags, and slid into the backseat.

OOC: CM, I'm home from college for XMas, so my posts wont be more than two or thre per day, but I promise I'll try to stay involved best I can. Also, if John Kerry won three Purple Hearts, how is it so hard to believe that Kowalski won what he won?

OOC: That's fine. It's finals for me this next week, so my posts might be limited as well. And Kowalski was wounded at least once every time he charged a MG nest (9 out of the 10 silver stars). He charged six in a rowf or his MOH but only got one Purple heart. He also got wounded each time he got his Naval Crosses for clearing an entire enemy pillbox with a flamethrower and grenades. I'll post the AARs and citations later when the women actually get his service record.

IC:

The driver of Ms. Lutz found a place preffered by most of the top brass' wives. It had the latest trends from New Exodus, Crystal Ireland, New York City, and other famous places including itself. There were a few nymph and dryad trends, but they were mainly from CI. The driver was fond of this store as his sister owned it and knew the store by heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Another driver had a sign saying The Lady Aui of -Ferris-. He picked her up and said abruptly, "You people do know that there are many Nymphs and the like here in CM, right?" as he pulled back his hair to reveal that he's an elf, "I believe that President Kowalski will actually prefer if you wore what best suits you, and not what you were told would be best. He's that kind of man." The driver then informed her of the schedule and asked, "Where to? I have a lot of places in which you can go, I just need a certain style you prefer."

OOC: You can take the dashes off in RP, they're basically just there because some now inactive schmuck had "Ferris" registered already. Grr.

"Oh! Aui replied, "I didn't."

She recognised his species from crumbling statuary around her home nation. The elves there had become extinct thousands of years ago, but their works remained. Only the dryads remained, of the non-human species which had populated the Kingdom of Bellantyr; the Bellantyri had killed the last giant centuries ago, and the goblins had been wiped out after the rise of the First Family, as had the dwarves. Only the dryads had been foresighted enough (or, perhaps, amoral enough) to ally themselves with Alexian and his creations.

The Iron Hands - two of his more successful creations - slipped into the limo after her without a word. They were charged to guard her, and would do so with single-minded ferocity if pushed. Aui disapproved of them somewhat, but the alliance was the alliance, and could not be overturned.

"He would? Oh!" Aiset's information had been sadly lacking, then. "In that case, I have my - my national costume, I guess? In my bags. We can go straight to the hotel."

"Very well, M'Lady. The hotel it is..." the driver said, his Irish and Scottish accents just now becoming apparent with a slight Southern draw.

They reached the hotel just minutes later and the driver said, leaving, "If ye need anything', don't be 'fraid to call me. Good day Ma'am." At that same moment, twenty hotel employees took her luggage and showed her to the penthouse she was to stay in. It was a lavish room with anything and everything a woman could ever want.

I wish the best of luck!

"Thank you!" Aui kissed the driver politely on the cheek, before following the attendants up to the penthouse suite. The Iron Hands followed silently as always.

The myriad staff showed her around the suite, even unpacking her bags. Almost all of Aui's clothing was new, provided by the First Family before leaving for Crazed Marines. When the employee came to the one item that was not, Aui snatched at it protectively - what would they think, these humans?

"That's -"

The employee winked. "We'll just put that down the back, then?" she took the tan leather and hung it right at the back of the wardrobe, out of sight from prying eyes.

Once the assistants had departed, the Hands took up positions on either side of the door. They could, and would, remain there for some time. Unlike zombies, they would need to sleep, and eat, and excrete at times, but also unlike zombies, bits wouldn't fall off them, and their brains weren't rotten.

Aui was glad to remove the shoes and dress and lie back on the bed, one hand holding the seed on it's chain.

The song is so quiet here!

Already she found herself missing her sisters of Lairataui, and her cousins of the Grove. But distantly came the reply;

Not forever.

Lauren thanked the driver for bringing her to a store, she needed to pick up some shoes that matched the dress she had purchased at home. She found a good pair, and bought them on her credit card. Fortier was covering the trip for her from home, and he told her to get whatever she needed when she landed.

Lauren looked at the driver as she placed her new bag in the backseat. "So," she asked quietly, "when are we going to meet the President?"

Isabelle smiled at her driver, even though he was seemingly... Awestruck by her whole appearance.

Most certainly not what he expected, I guess. Oh well, men.

Quickly arriving at... Suitable locations, she did then begun her... Shopping Spree. Unlimited ressources... She sure knew how to use them.

"This... Yes, exactly. A wonderful dress, don't you think so?" She asked her driver, giggling like a schoolgirl as she tried it on, almost needing to force him to watch her wearing it. "Come on, really. Don't be so shy."

A kiss on his cheeks.

"See? Much better."

And one more, and one more...

Here, some lingerie, there, a couple earings. Another (expensive) shop, a necklace. Shoes, six pairs. Heels, of course, even though Isabelle wasn't entirely certain if they would manage it.

"I have to say... Your president's generosity is... Fantastic. He must be a wonderful man."

Another giggle, a smile... A bit of shaking hips and a blowed kiss. Yes, Isabelle had fun. However, after a couple hours and a significant amount of CM's GDP spent on buying many such things Isabelle deemed to be useful, they did, eventually, arrive at the hotel. Blowing her driver (Who was busy carrying a few tons worth of products to Isabelles suite) another kiss, she waveed. "It was wonderful, dearie... Of course, I can't do more, I would make your wonderful president all jealous. Oh, I'm sooo curious of him. I can't wait to meet him." She giggled, again, eventually concentrating on the next issue at hand. "I will need an entire freighter for all this stuff."

ooc: Yes, this post does include some slight exaggerations.

"Well Ms. Lauren, you'll get to meet President Kowalski in three days for the ball. I'll be back at your evening meal tonight to provide you with his service record from the Marine Corps. We have dug up as much as possible on him and I hope you will see just what he will and has done for his country and family." the driver explained as the hotel staff helped him unpack her stuff.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"That will be sixty-seven thousand, three hundred and fifty dollars and six cents." The clerk chimed in as the driver handed her a note showig who to send the bill to.

The tw obegan to walk, well at least the lady as the driver was stumbling with her packages and looking for a forklift.

"Miss Isabelle, we shall meet the President at the ball. However, you will get to meet his adopted children tomorrow. They are werewolves, but can control the mutation, so you need fear not. My cousins are pretty nice kids, but under no circumstances should you play and physical activities against them."

Lauren smiled. "Excellent. Thanks for all the help," she said, placing her clothes in the drawers of a dresser near the bed. She would have to call Fortier, as she really didn't understand most of the military intricacies. He would be able to clear things up for her. "Well, thanks," she again said, handing him a decent tip.

"Thank you Miss Lauren. I should also tell you that about a year back, President Kowalski adopted three werewolves by the name of Kaylan, Jond, and Phelopon. They have all three learned to control the transformation, however, and they are pretty nice kids." The driver said, leaving.

OOC: I'll try and post his record sometime this week.

The young woman had simply ignored her, and ran off to a waiting limo...one of three that were parked in a line. Evita saw her name printed on a card, and nodded towards her servants.

"My bags go there."

She approached the driver, looking him up and down, walking a small circle around him with a considered look in her eye. Finally, she squeezed his biceps, and smiled languidly.

"You'll do."

The stunningly exquisite woman then broke into her own tongue, barking out a rapid string of commands to her servants. Some started to fill the trunk with bags, while another went and positioned herself by the drivers side. The chauffeur raised an eyebrow, and was about to walk away when he felt Evita's strong arm grasp his, pulling him towards the back seat. He fell into the plush leather, a look of surprise and questioning in his eyes.

"I wish to be welcomed appropriately." Evita purred, reaching for him as the car drove off.

ooc: Ack, this took me some time >.<

ic:

Isabelle nodded, still smiling, no, beaming with anticipation. Giving the (Reluctant) man a kiss on his cheeks (Well, another one, anyway), she grinning a little. "Oh, don't worry, I'm good with anim- Oh, People."

Once he was gone, she ddi eventually place herself of the bed, giggling a little, and, eventually, undressed in order to sleep. Well, after 'testing' some of the available outfits, still amazed by the low pricesin CM... At home, it would have cost her... Ten tiems the sum she paid here.

Have to remember this as a tip for my friends...

With that, she did, eventually, fall asleep, her amazing body rolled together on the bed.

The next morning would come soon enough, anyway.

President Kowalski was watching the video feed from one of the two buggd rooms in Isabelle's penthouse, "Well, another thing to worry about. One war, another one brewing, the leaking of our plans, and now women. Mind you, this one is very attractive and has spirit.....Ah, John, thanks for that..." The President finished, recieving a file about what each woman had declared when she entered the country. Isabelle: no weapons, Lauren: nothing, and Evita: a "few" knives. Well, Mike had hoped that each woman would not learn of the bugs in her bedroom and living room. He specifically told the men, however, not to bug anywhere that people would be nude normally such as the bathroom.

"Thank you Miss Lauren. I should also tell you that about a year back, President Kowalski adopted three werewolves by the name of Kaylan, Jond, and Phelopon. They have all three learned to control the transformation, however, and they are pretty nice kids." The driver said, leaving.

OOC: I'll try and post his record sometime this week.

Lauren nodded. "I'm looking forward to meeting them." She watched as everyone left, and then collapsed back on her bed. She pulled a set of ear phones out of a drawer, and plugged them into a cd player, setting the alarm on her cell phone to wake her up in an hour. She drifted off to "The Outsider" by Perfect Circle, letting the lyrics carry her off to sleep.

Mike, hearing this music, muttered, "Well, at least I can agree with her music choice..."

Isabelle slept reasonably well (Of course, she could still be seen naked, since she did, like most other people, undress in the bedroom, rather than in the bath, but then, such things wouldn't have worried her, anyway. She did, after all, like men who adored her somewhat unusual beauty.

Indeed, had she known that President Kowalski did, indeed, adore her beauty, she wouldn't even had lied about her appearance.

Of course, her body was still pleasing the president. Which was, in a way, only fitting. Even though she was, what? Twelve years older than him, but that only added experience to her capacities. And her true body... Oh well, there was simply more to be loved, more than other women could offer. Indeed, Isabelle was beautiful, in her own ways, sensual beyond comparison (Which could be noticed by the hidden cameras, too, in the early hours of the next day), and standing up the next morning, dressing in some of her beautiful new clothes, she could hardly wait for the wild adopted sons of the president.

And rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, fondly remembering this beautiful dream involving her, the president, and a pink negligé, she was ready for another mindboggling experience in this nation, a nation that was really, truly fulfilling her wildest dreams.

Really. I gave hints in the previous posts. And there was a reason I didn't reply to Gawdly.

As they approached the hotel, Evita looked down at the empty shell in front of her. Smiling, she reached down and patted the driver on the head.

"You'll be happier now, meat. Come when I call."

The chauffeur's eyes cleared up, and sentience returned as if he was waking from a long dream. Looking at Evita with an adoring stare, he nodded and replied.

"Yes, Mistress Darkmorn...I exist to serve you."

When the limo came to a stop, he jumped out, holding the door open for her. The other servants began unloading her luggage as she strode into the lobby, past the front desk and moving directly to the elevators. All eyes were upon the stunningly beautiful woman, male and female alike. She WAS sexuality unchained, and no one was immune to her aura. One of her servants was getting the room information, and negotiating the rental of the whole floor. Mistress Darkmorn liked her space, and her privacy, and no expense would be spared to provide her with those.

Entering her suite, Evita's nose wrinkled disprovingly at her surroundings. Considered opulent to most visitors, to her jaundiced eye the room looked like a ghetto flophouse. She walked to the center of the room, turning in a circle to look at her temporary home. She stopped, her eyes staring at the spot where the hidden surveillance camera was. She smiled her famous smile, the one that sent countless countries to war, and brave men to foolish deaths.

"Tsk, tsk. No peeking." she said with a grin.

Suddenly, every bug and camera in the room ceased transmitting. They were still functional, but all that they could now pick up was pure static and white-noise.

Meanwhile, in the nation of Crazed Marines, three people, two men and a woman, a blonde, to be specific, with particularly good looks, approached the hotel. She looked around with moderate disdain, and said something to her compatriots. She was there to court the president of Crazed Marines. Officially.

Unnofficially, she and her compatriots worked for the Centre, a secret division of the Imperial Security Agency, tasked with counter-terrorism. And it had been leaked to them that a woman who was wanted for instigating any number of wars and international fueds was staying here. Her name was Evita Darkmorn, or so she claimed. Their mission was to locate her and gain 'intel' on her activities for the impending retreiveal operation that would, supposedly, catch the elusive 'Mistress Evita.'

((Hah, that's what you get for "her famous smile, the one that sent countless countries to war, and brave men to foolish deaths."))

Lauren awoke in the middle of "Three Libras" and sat up. She clicked off hte alarm on her cell phone, the nap was mildly refreshing. Standing, she placed the headphones on a bed table, and slid into the bathroom, where she undresed, and slid into the shower. While the other patrons were out abusing the men and budget of Crazed Marines, she simply took advantage of thier hot water, and made sure that the shower, one of the more relaxing she had taken, lasted a good hour an half.

She dried off, and dressed, and headed down to the lobby. She had noticed a resteraunt downstairs, and like most people, the post-nap munchies (non drug induced, to be remindfull) had siezed her. Has she walked through the lobby of the hotel, she noticed several other women checking in. Must be the others, she thought to herself. She looked them over, all were much better looking than her. Lauren was, well, plain. Not in the bad way, more like a girl next door look. These girls were super models. She sighed, and made her way towards the resteraunt. Instead, she stopped at the bar, ordered a local cabernet, and sipped it while glancing up at the TV occasionally.

Dryads had dreamed, once, through the long winters, spinning out the memories of summer to warm them beneath the snows. Now they did so no longer. The Lady Aui's sleep was silent save for the whispers of the Forest.

She woke rapidly, and was upright before her mind caught up. Aui showered with the water frigidly cold, but it was not the same as the rains which had fallen on the Grove (which were hard and sharp and stinging, all through late Winter and the Spring). Not the same at all. But this is what I have to live with; this is what I have to grow with. Given time and proper guidance, it could be just like home.

To wear she chose a simple white dress. I have to live with this as well, for now. Her national costume hung at the back of the wardrobe; she wouldn't take it out before the ball.

Awake, showered, and dressed, she made her way down to the hotel resturant for breakfast. Some of the other women were already there; Aui said nothing, but watched them intently, her deep green eyes taking in the competition.

President Kowalski was walking into the security control rom of the Hotel California. He was watching the women eating breakfast and looked at Miss Lauren.

"She looks like a gearhead. I want to haveher meet me at my Garage today at noon, I've got a '58 Corvette and a '37 Dodge coup that both need a little work. Ask her if she's interested."

"Yes Mr. President!" The Marine Lieutenant beside him said, running in his Dress Blue uniform. He reached her at the Bar.

"Miss Lauren?" the Lieutenant started.

"Yes?" she replied sweetly.

"Do you like classic cars?"

"How did you know?"

"I didn't. The President noticed and invites you to meet him at noon for lunch and a day's work on a few classic cars. Are you interested? If so, the Driver will meet you at your room at 11:15."

Lauren nodded. She was more of a classic car girl, even though the oldest car that Fortier's shop had ever worked on was a 92 Nissan 240SX. She thanked the gaurd, and walked back to her room.

At 11:15, just as told, the driver arrived at the door. She greeted him, stepping out dressed in a pair of jeans and a baby blue tshirt. She followed him out to the car, and sat back on the ride to the lunch.

The driver lowered the rear-view window.

"Miss Lauren. You're in for a treat. Mike just found a '37 coup like his friend David. Those two cars are gonna be great side-by-side. He loves that new garage of his. I hope you do too.....oh, and by the way, I'm Mike's brother, Joe, Commandant of the Marine Corps."

The driver winked and drove on for another ten minutes before reaching a ranch with a fairly large mansion and a two-story garage, two hundred feet by fifty.

Lauren stood in awe. The land was beautiful, and so was teh house. She couldn't wait to get into the garrage. She thanked Joe. "Your brother is very lucky. I live in an apartment, so I I'm happy with a covered space. This place is beautiful."

She lay back on the chaisse-longue, her glorious form naked and without shame, languidly tossing fresh fruit into her mouth while three of her young attendants bustled around her, preening and primping her for the new day. Evita suffered these fools gladly, simply because they were beneath her notice. She glanced quickly through the morning newspaper, stopping once to focus on one of the stories. A small smile split her face as she read the headline, buried on page four.

"Homeless Transient found Dead"
An unidentified male body was found by city workers earlier today, in a covered alley near Main Street and 4th. Police are investigating for foul play after discovering that the corpse had been completely drained of blood. The man had no identification papers on him, and his body is being held pending the discovery of his identity.

Evita stood suddenly, throwing the paper to the floor and sending her servents scurrying. She walked majestically to the big window, looking out over the waking city. The rising sun danced and darted across her lithe body, highlighting her stunning beauty for any that could see. Without looking back, she spoke aloud.

"Go now, and tell the meat I am ready to see him."

Adele, the oldest of the servants, immediately turned and left the room. Arriving at the front desk, she hurridly composed a note which she handed to the floor manager, who assured her that it would be delivered to President Kowalski's people, which it was. The note said simply:

"Mistress Evita Darkmorn requests the honour of your presence, at your earliest convenience."

OOC: Gawdly, take no offense to this. I'm just whittling down the "applicants"

IC:
John Kowalski, Mike's other brother and Secretary of Defense, was watching Evita's. He heard this comment about his brother.

"Lieutenant, does she have full diplomatic immunity?"

"No form of it whatsoever."

"Good. Have Recon Team 6 arrest and deport her. I will not let her use any member of my family. If she considers him meat, then she is not deserving of his time."

"Yes sir. What should we use as our cover?"

"Knock-out gas and flashbangs. If she resists, shoot her. If the Press protests, plant some cocaine in her room and call it a drug bust. She's definately not the type we want around here."
~~~~~~~~~~~

Mike opened the door to Lauren's limo, and met her warmly. He had his buddies prepare all the tools with him as well as some good liquor. Jack Daniels, notably, followed by some beer and Vodka. He hoped she would like to drink, if not he would just have his friends take the booze. He led Miss Lauren to his dining room, simple but eloquent, with a round oak table for seven. They went inside and their meal was brought in before them, Southern-style fried chicken with honey and hominy (a type of corn, cooked to where it ends inside-out), whatever they wished to drink, and biscuits. A true Southern meal.
~~~~~~~~~~~

"This is Six Lead, we are preparing to enter the subject's room. Let in the gas." the leader of the ten-man strike team said over the radio.

"Roger that Six, gas flow initiated." the response came as sleeping gas poured in thru every vent in the, fortunately soundproofed, penthouse. The raid went fairly quickly, and all of Evita's servants and Evita herself were captured, asleep from the gas. They were taken to the airport while a "clean-up" team planted all the "evidence" should this become public.

Lauren smiled, thanking Mike warmly. "This place is beautiful," she said. The land really was. It reminded her of Southern Imitora, before she had moved to Northampton on the coast. She thanked him again for inviting her out to the ranch.

She enjoyed the meal, it was almost what she was used to. Her father was German, but her mother Spanish, and they only ate studle once a month, usually enjoying home cooked fajitas and other traditional Mexican and Spanish dishes. She ordered one of her favorite drinks, a Jack and coke, enjoying the tangy soda and whiskey.

Halfway through the meal, she brought up the cars. "I'm enjoying the meal, its delicious, and I hate to rush, but I need to ask. When I'm I gonna get to see the cars," she said, placing down her fork and smiling. "I've always been a fan of the older makes. I'm in the process of restoring a GT-350." She smiled sweetly, a trait that ran in her family.

Mike smiled. He knew this was coming and said, "Well, after the meal is done, we'll work on the Coup. My friend and former President, David Miles, has one. I'm wanting to drop a 450 Chevy in it and a Allison tranny today. Possibly put the electrical in as well. We'd be lucky to finish by midnight." He then took a fairly large chunk of the drumstick out and chugged it down with a swig of Coke. Lauren could see a scar on the side of his neck when he did this, and also realised that he was favoring his right arm, his left shoulder looking a little atrophied.

I'll try and upload a pic of what the Coup is supposed to look like.

Lauren smiled. "Sounds great. I'm used to working late nights, I'm looking forward to it." She smiled again, and took a bite of the corn. She noticed the scar and the arm favoring, and was about to bring it up. She then thought it possibly a touch harsh, but enjoyed his company and talking to him. She threw caution to the wind, and asked.

"I noticed that you seem to favor an arm, and that scar on your neck. Is that from the war?"

Mike began to laugh. "You seemed hesistant to ask. Frankly, I was wondering when you would. I got the scar on my neck from a Chinese Sniper twenty klicks out of Beijing. My left arm can only be raised 87% as high as it should because I caught a bit of shrapnel in Gatlinburg that pinched the nerve. If I walked through a metal detector in the Airport, they'd think I'm a cyborg because of all the metal I'm carrying. I think I have thirty-seven scars from the war. Five from my own Ka-Bar being sharpened and nicking my finger a few times." Mike then shows a scar on the left pinky where it was surgically attached twice. He then finished off his food and drink. He was waiting for Miss Lauren to finish as of now.

OOC:
AUGH! Photobucket won't upload my pic even though it's a jpg file.

OOC: Here's a pic of a 1937 Dodge Coup taken at a local car show
http://www.4mhrc.com/coppermine/displayimage.php?pid=320&fullsize=1

Lauren nodded as he told the story. She admired the scars, she found the stories behind tehm intresting. She ate as he spoke, and finished shortly after him. "The meal was excellent, my compliments to the chef." She finished her drink, and gently pushed the plate away. "You must have a good tolerance for pain. I get squemish around needles," she chuckled.

"Well, I'll tell my Grandmother you like her fried chicken." Mike said, helping Miss Lauren up and walked her to the garage.

"I can take bullets and knives and burns, but needles actually scare me as well. I never could take it. Anyways, let's get to the cars and maybe I'll tell you a few stories." Mike finishes as they reach the garage, with five cars already in it. The cars were a 1976 Corvette Stingray, a 1958 Corvette, a 1958 MGA, the 1937 Dodge, and a 2005 Corvette C-5. On the way, there was a Humvee with a mounted M2 machinegun, a Deuce and a half, a Wiley's jeep, and an Abrams tank.

"Yeah," Lauren replied. "Somthing about having an extra hole in my boddy. Ya know, I was born with this many, I don't think I need anymore." She laughed.

As they approached the garrage, Lauren admired the military vehicles. Upon passing the Hummer, she smiled. "I just cant stand the new ones. The older models look so much better."

Upon entering the garrage, Lauren almost went wide eyed. She caught her breath looking at the classics. She stopped on the MGA. "First car I ever worked on was a MGA with my grandfather. My last car was a British Racing Green MGB." She then looked over at the Stingray. "Now theres a nice car," she said, admiring the curves. "This garrage is amazing."

Mike laughed and spoke a minute later, "I'm actually holding those MGs for David while he's on Yavin. As for the Humvee, it's an actual Military issue one I scavenged a piece at a time as a Sergeant, armor and all. Maybe I'll think about buying a few MGs..." Mike then begins to laugh as he picks up a creeper and his overalls. He takes his shirt off to reveal six-pack abs, a few scars on his arms, an American flag tatooed on his Right arm, and a back riddled with scars and shrapnel wounds.

Lauren looked aorund the garrage, and looked at Mike as he pulled off his shirt. She caught her self staring, and quickly looked away. Now thats hot,she thought to herself. The blue Tshirt and jeans she wore were the ones she often wore while working on her own car, and some of the cars at the shop. She caught herslef glancing at him again, and once again, quickly looked away. She walked over to the coupe, and checked under the empty hood. "So," she said, walking over to the 450 hanging on a mount, "lets get this thing in."

OOC:Served with honor and valor, earning the Medal of Honor for charging twelve machine gun nests alone with only his OICW and four grenades, killing all enemies inside and capturing their guns.

I'd like to point out that no man would have survived that sort of reckless suicide run, and that your Public Relations department has over-padded your military records by quite a large margin.

Mike caught her staring from the corner of his eye. He sensed something but said nothing as he neared the engine hoist.

"Get some PB catalyst and a 5/8 ratchet and help me loosen the engine from its mount, would ya?" Lauren did so and they eventually loosened the engine from its rusty mount thanks to the PB lubricant.

"That PB's great, ain't it? I've seen it take care of 50 years of rust in 5 minutes. I use it for my guns and cars." Mike finished as he hooked the chains to the hoist and started to pull the old engine up.

OOC:

I'd like to point out that no man would have survived that sort of reckless suicide run, and that your Public Relations department has over-padded your military records by quite a large margin.

We have adressed this already, and I'm asking you to stop beating a dead dog. Leave the thread while you're at it, please.

Lauren nodded as she watched Mike lift the motor. Damn, she thought to herself, watching him pull on the chain. "I've never had to use it, but we have a good amount at the shop. That and bondo. Can't go wrong with bondo." She smiled thinking about home, and work. She watched as the motor came up, and then helped Mike wheel the mount into place.

OOC: last post tonight
IC:
Mike finally got the old engine out and hooked the 450 in. He hauled it up. Thanks to the hydraulics in the hoist, the lift wasn't that hard and he quickly dropped the engine in while Lauren placed a few bolts in place to hold it until Mike could get the pnumatic air gun to put it into place. They finally secured the engine, hooked up all the lines and were about to hook up the electrical when Mike realised that over an hour had gone by.

"How about we take a short break. I'm thirsty. Want anything?" Mike said, grabbing a Mountain Dew from the fridge he had in there

It didn't take Isabelle all that long to dress, in this particular case using a rather short, white dress, revealing... Enough of herself.

Well, more than enough, really.

All that remained was to wait until someone would, eventually, introduce her to the werewolves she had heard about. And indeed, she could hardly wait, the idea thrilling her in rather pleasant ways.

Eventually walking down the stairs, back to the lobby, looking a little bit closer at the various opportunities around her, chuckling more than one time, seeing some random war heros or equivalents thereof (CM must be a rather heroic nation... Or at east that's what they seem to believe...), she waited on, wondering if she had just turned into a persona non grata.

It was a definite possibility, even though a neutral observer would note that peeping at her wasn't the nicest possible treatment, either.

we just legalized government regulated prostitution :D

<<OOC: Very, very slight offense taken...but here is my revenge.>>

Evita awoke on the plane, quickly realizing what had happened. How they found out that she was more than she claimed escaped her, but that was in the past. Mistress Darkmorn was not a women that accepted being scorned, especially by low-born meat like the worms of CM. Weaving her fingers in an intricate dance, she cast a final spell, a going away gift for the man that could have had it all...his own kingdom, and hers.

The spell was subtle, and very hard to detect. It was very simple...in the future, whenever President Kowalski's amorous emotions began to rise, it would make him immediately nauseous as if he had the worst case of sea-sickness. This would prevent him from ever consumating a relationship with anyone...except Evita herself. If Kowalski thought about her, he would be filled with a desperate lust unlike any he had ever felt before.

She expected that he would be calling her shortly.

With a number of surprised glances, the group formerly in the floor below of the hotel, still busy monitoring Darkmorn's activities, though this time by simply having semit illicitly - it involved large amounts of cash, former passengers and good luck - boarded the plane the Crazed Marined had dumped her on - with guards no less - took note of her latest action. This expalined a few things, and meant that extra percautions would be required when bringing her in.

we just legalized government regulated prostitution :D
Please, everyone, stop the spamming. Don't post unless you are part of this thread or are hoping to join. Thank you.

IC:
Thankfully for the President, David had pulled a favor with Queen Stefini of Crystal Ireland and the Arch Bishop in New Exodus to have all future presidents blessed by the Arch Bishop and protected magically to save them from such curses. He felt a little uncomfortable warmth in his chest, but nothing worse.

Meanwhile, back at the Hotel California, the three children were ushered in to the dining room and the other two women were brought in as well. The drivers were also in the room, sniggering at what would happen. The only children who really knew what was happening was Kaylan (14, male) and Jond (9, male). Phelopon (4, female) was really too young to understand.

OOC: Waiting for Imitora to post.

OOC: Woulda posted earlier, but its been a busy day. I've been out looking at exhausts for my car, turns out UUC is trash, Dinan is gonna set me back $1,108 and the only place remotley near me that carries Rouge Engineering is in Houston, so that was a fun eight hour drive to Houston and back just to find out that it'll take them a month to get the part...damn.

IC;

Lauren wiped a small amount of sweat from her forhead. She looked at the motor in the car, and nodded. "Sounds great," she said. "I'll have whatever you have," she said, turning to face him.

Mike handed her his half-full Mountain Dew while he drew schematics for the new electrical system to include the new stereo system and the rearward cut-off switch.

God, this is hilarious XD

Isabelle entered the room, cheerfully, although she was surprised by the sons being so... young.

I didn't think I would come over, babysitting...

Sighing, she sat down, nodding towards the children. "Hi, little ones. So, you're... Beasts?" She smiled, seemingly amazed by the supernatural, although she had to admit that the three were rather cute. Turning towards the drivers, she snorted.

"And stop sniggering, the poor children... You can't blame them for what they are."

She was, of course, quite aware that the children weren't really the reason, but why not playing along?

Aui rubbed her hands together nervously in her lap, and wondered what to do. She who could hear the song of the Forest and speak all the languages of birds had not the slightest idea of how to speak to children. Children were something that happened to humans, while dryads came fully-formed from their trees.

She stared uncomfortably, and the youngest (so strange, so utterly alien!) stared back at her. Aui found those eyes - possessed of an innocence one could not possibly find anywhere in Ferris - disquieting in the extreme.

God, this is hilarious XD

Isabelle entered the room, cheerfully, although she was surprised by the sons being so... young.

I didn't think I would come over, babysitting...

Sighing, she sat down, nodding towards the children. "Hi, little ones. So, you're... Beasts?" She smiled, seemingly amazed by the supernatural, although she had to admit that the three were rather cute. Turning towards the drivers, she snorted.

"And stop sniggering, the poor children... You can't blame them for what they are."

She was, of course, quite aware that the children weren't really the reason, but why not playing along?

"BEASTS?!?!?" Kaylan yelled in outrage, "For your information, we are the last of our kind in Crazed Marines. We are a bright new future for our country. We can change at will to our wolf form. If you consider us beasts, then you know naught about our country. Our country is VERY fond of wolves, dogs, wolf-dogs. We are the logical progression of that, and are very proud of that. If you cannot see that pride, than you do not understand our country."

Jond was just eating his whole chicken while this was going on, just his head transformed into its were state. At one point, he gobbled a full drumstick, bone and all.

Luren took a swig of the soda while looking over the plans for the electrical system. It was, compared to the Nissan she had been working on, fairly simple. "It looks like a goid install, should't be to hard." She handed Mike his drink back.

Isabelle sighed, softly. "Now, now, don't take everything so negative. Even a beast can be cute and admirable. I mean, just to think of my cats- You don't mind cats, do you? I hope not. Anyway, don't take it as an insult. I mean, you're such a nice little boy..."

She glanced at Jond. "Ai, someone's hungry... Must be tasty. Oh, were was I? Ah, right. So... Since we're all together, what do you intend to do? I know a few fun games... Ever heard the term 'Poker'? Assuming you have sufficient amounts of pocket money..."

"Well, it would be simple if I wasn't gonna have the fusebox, battery, and stereo system back there later and I have to weld new floorpans in there. Bondo just won't cut it here, no offense or anything if you're a bondo fan."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
"Cats....yummmmmm....." Phelopon said, meekly.

"Yeah, cats are pretty tasty." Jond agrees

Kaylan says, "Sorry about that, instinct. As for Poker, nobody can beat me."

Lauren nodded. "Bondo's great for when ya need it, but thats it. Like duct tape. It has a hundred uses, but only a hundred." She picked up a wiring harness. "Well, lets get started."

In less than an hour, Lauren and Mike had finished the wiring, added the fusebox, and prepared for the stereo. They then dropped out the old floor pans and welded new steel in its place. Next, they prepared to mount the steering column, seats, stereo, and then carpet the whole car. After this, all that was needed was the chrome and paint and the car was finished.

Lauren wipped some sweat off her forhead as she placed down the torch. She was now glad she had gone the extra mile to take wielding classes. She smiled as she looked at the near complete car. "Shes comming together nice. Its gonna be good when its done."

Mike wiped the sweat off his and Lauren's forehead, and kissed her gently. He then grabbed a Mountain Dew, killed it, and grabbed Lauren one as well. He then grabbed her by the waist.

"Well, I see you like this idea. Here's another one. I want you to stay here, possibly help me with these cars permantly..." He stammers out as his cheeks go numb.

Lauren felt the heat rise in her body as he pulled her in. She heard the question, and thought about it for a few seconds. "Well, my reservation in the hotel is only for a week, and I would need to call..." She stammered off as she realised what he was asking. "Oh."

Her body went numb and she blushed. Her words stammered at first, but she soon found them. "That...that sounds like a great idea. Yes," she finished, beaming.

Mike then kissed her passionately, and then took her into the house. They went up to the upstairs trophy/gun room. Mike went behind the skin of a Grizzly bear hung on the wall, and pushed his thumb on the panel of a safe. He then got a velvet case out of it. He then went to one knee and opened it for her. It was a beautiful 6 karat princess cut diamond, with threeother 1 kt diamonds on each side all around a pure 24 karat gold band which fit her perfectly.

Lauren shivered as Mike slid the ring on her finger. She looked at him teary eyed, then pulled him in, kissing him. She pulled away and smiled brightly. "So, I guess I should call my sister and tell her I wont be home anytime soon?"

Mike smiled and pointed to a satellite phone on the other side of the room, by a tiger skin and a Russian made Ak-47. Mike then picked up his cell phone and called his brother Joe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Commandant Kowalski...hey Mike...yeah...Really? Well then, plan B. I'll tell John." Joe then walked up to John and whispered something into his ear. John's eyes peerked up and he walked into the dining room and went to the end of the table.

"I'm sorry ladies, but my Brother is no longer in the running. However, I am a bachelor as well..." John said with a smirk.

Lauren made teh call home informing her sister of the engagement. Holly was a little less than over joyed, having just recently ended a relationship with her long time boy friend, but managed to be happy enough for her sister to call her parents, and inform them as well. They received a call a few minutes later from Lauren, and they too rejoiced at the good news.

Lauren hung up the phone, and turned around, looking at Mike. "So what was it? The amazing weilding skills?" she asked, walking over to him, and wraping her arms over his shoulders, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Well. everything just seemed to fall in place with you. You're the kind of person who I want to spend the rest of my life with. I could sense more honesty within you then the rest of the women who came, combined." mike replied, kissing her.

Aui frowned. "My brother is no longer in the running." The President has ... chosen someone else? Is dead? Is no longer in the running. "I am a batchelor as well ..." He wants one of us to marry him? Who is he anyway?

"I will need to contact my homeland about this," she said aloud.

"Certainly. A phone will be available for you all." John said, pushing a button and a phone appeared beside each of the women's plates.

Lauren just blushed. "Thanks," she said, kissing him back.

The Dryad woman picked up the telephone and dialed a number. Halfway around the world, a phone rang on the desk of Benjamin of the First Family, followed a moment later by a cellphone in the handbag of Matriarch Aiset of Grove Sairatelais.

"Yes?" Benjamin sounded annoyed - doubtless Aui had pulled him away from some revelry.

"This is the Lady Aui." she spoke the Dryad language, keenly aware of the President's brother, his lycanthropic adopted children, and the other woman in the room with him.

"Aui baby!" the Matriarch gushed. "How are you? Have you met that little human man yet? Is he tasty?"

"This is the problem..." Aui replied. "He is no longer in the running - I think he's elected to marry one of the other women. I haven't even met him yet!"

"I see." Benjamin sounded more grim than annoyed, now - the Forest only knew how Alexian would react.

"He has a brother," she added, "Who is avaliable. Who has made it plain that he is avaliable. He is the consolation prize, I think."

"Im-possible, darling!" Aiset said. "We're the best! We deserve the best! I won't have one of my descendants fobbed off on some second-best human."

"It would not look good," Benjamin agreed, and sighed. "It's not going to look good whatever I do. It would look worse if we had to take this "consolation prize"."

"So that's a no?"

"Definitely, baby."

"Yes. I mean, that's a no. We'll get you out of this thing."

"Thank you."

"Take care, darling!"

The line went quiet, and Aui put down the phone.

"I'm sorry," she told John. "They said no. I need to get home."

John simply replied, "Ok, M'Lady. I hate to see you off so soon. Well, I hope the forest wishes you well."

"Now, as for myself, I'm second in Command of the whole Military, I'm thrid in line to the Presidency, likely ot become president in a few years if things go right, and we have a beautiful war game scheduled for Tomorrow. Do the rest of you wish to stay?"

Lauren just blushed. "Thanks," she said, kissing him back.

"You're very deserving of the praise." Mike replied as an idea hit him.

"Say, you haven't said a thing about your family. How about we go to your home and I meet then?"

Lauren nodded. "I think that would be the best idea. I'm sure my parents would like to meet the man I'm going to marry, and Robert would like to know who he's loosing me too. I don't think he wants to hire his new girl toy," she laughed.

Grargh. I know, I was a little lazy. Boosting the process a little. Sorry >.<

Isabelle looked up, not terribly surprised. The games of poker had been reasonable (She had even abstained from cheating, which was quite unusual, for her), and it didn't really matter who won or lost... After all, the president [i9would[/i] cover her expenses, and she was pretty certain that he would do the same with his adopted 'children'.

Nonetheless...

"Ahem. I guess this means I will be leaving... Tomorrow. I hope I can hire a merchant ship to transport all the stuff I bought. Nonetheless, errr... Third in line to become president? I mean, uh... Last I checked,'Presidents' are elected, no? I wasn't aware he was an actual king..."

Kaylan said, "We do elect Presidents. However, if the president dies, then the Commandant of the Marine corps becomes the next President. If the Commandant and President both die, then the Secretary of Defense takes over. If he dies, then the Commander of the Space Fleet, then the Secretary of the Navy, then the Secretary of State, then Homeland, and it then goes down from Senior members of Congress all the way to Military members and finally the Agriculture's Secretary's junior adjuant. All in all, there's 1500 pus people and the Military in line. And of course, to hold an office here, you have to be in the military at one point. We're pretty intricate like that. I'll raise you 150,000 bullets." he finished, laying down fifteen red and gold chips, hiding his Royal flush of spades.