NationStates Jolt Archive

Nianki glided gracefully into her shipboard sitting room, turning and smiling to the lord and lady. The room was simple but elegant with finely upholstered and comfortable lounge chairs circling an finely woven rug. The queen sank into her seat as servants in gold and green livery entered, bowing to the nobles. Nianki smiled ever so lightly. "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"No thank you, my lady," Isabella said, "The champagne from earlier quenched that paticular thirst."

Isabella gathered her skirts and allowed Monroe to help her into her chair, before he took a seat beside her.

They were both facing the queen.

"What a beautiful ship you have her, madame."

Nianki smiled a little. "Thank you, lady. Though it is the High Queen's ship. I am merely using it. This is actually my first time off of Earth."

She shifted ever so faintly in her chair, folding her hands demurely in her lap. "Do your people often travel the stars?"

"No, your highness," Monroe replied smoothly, "Our nation is very new to space flight and we do so rarely. This occasion was seen as a suitable journey, for we are young and felt the exposure was needed."

Isabella stepped in and explained.

"This is true even more if you consider Poseidon as a God we too worship."

Monroe picked up an another comment she made.

"High Queen, your majesty? What is the system behind that?"

Nianki inclined her head. "Then we are rather in the same boat. How do you find outer space so far?" She smiled reassuringly. "In any event, I am sure your further diplomatic endeavors shall go much better."

Nianki simply nodded to Isabella's comment, having no particular reply beyond what she had previously said.

She turned to Monroe. "The High Queen is the queen of queens on the Danaan High Kingdom. I owe my fealty to her. She is also my niece and her name is Agwene, which is why the name of your people's older god struck me so."

"What an interesting coincidence," Isabella murmmured, folding her hands delicately in her lap.

"And we understand such arrangements, for we have a simillar one ourselves. The heads of the individual islands are ruled by the Arbiter, which means the judge in the old tongue.

"It is said the original Arbiter gained his position by having the best taste in clothing, but that is just a legend."

She said the last with a half smile, lips twitching. There were many stories of the same type, all more comical than the last. Elegantians didn't revere their ancestors, they viewed them as close friends. Able to be mocked just as thouroughly as anyone else, save the gods.

Never the gods.

Nianki laughed liltingly. "That is a rather amusing anecdote. We actually do remember how our first High King became High King, however. It was a mere five centuries ago and still in living memory."

"Oh, my queen, we remember as well. It was merely a diplomatic affair, to end the constant quarreling," she said.

"But the story is so much more interesting. Life, in its most amusing fashion, is just a series of stories."

She paused and her fan fluttered by her face.

"But that is unappropriate levity. Of what diplomatic matters would you like to discuss?"

Nianki tilted her head. "Might I ask why? What shame is their in levity in friendly company?"

The queen smirked faintly, glancing off a moment. "Well, we have already agreed to embassies. What else would you propose?"

*bump*

Isabella shifted in her chair, drawing herself upward.

"One of our country's most vibrant industries is tourism, for our beaches and forests are beautiful and our people friendly. In order to facilitate that and to increase good-will admist our countries, I believe it would be muturally beneficial to end any requirement for visas- or your country's equivalent between our two countries, and instead, we would only require valid ID."

She paused, considering something, "However, to prevent this systom from being abused, we'd probably need some sort of system of information sharing, in order to catch wanted criminals. Does that interest you?"

Nianki pondered a moment. "It is something we could consider. Still, while it sounds like a rather minor agreement, it is a lot to ask. There are important security reasons why visas are required for foreign visitors and we have not at present lifted these requirements even from citizens of our closest allies. Perhaps there is some other program to benefit mutual tourism that is...less ambitious in nature that we could agree to?"

"That's valid and I respect whatever decision you come to," she said, cordially, sounding sincere.

"Other possibilities range from accepting eachother's currency to merely a government statement saying that Elegantiae Arbiter is a fun place to be and vice versa."

She said the last with a certain sort of wry humor.

"But, do you have any ideas or requests of your own, m'lady?"

Nianki nodded. "We do have all sorts of tourist information we could give you on Shieldcrest. And we'd be happy to pass out the corresponding information to our citizens as well. It's rare that we find a place with the potential to attract any large number of Danaan tourists, but from what you tell me it sounds as though Elegantiae Arbiter might be able to do so. We're not talking about huge numbers, of course, maybe a few hundred thousand a year."

"That is understandable and perfectly acceptable. If you would be so kind as to supply us with the information, we would give you things of a similar type to distribute."

She smiled, "We know our islands growth will be small, but even the numbers of which you speak are vast growth and we appreciate your friendship."

"Do you have any requests?"

"We would like to trade with you, but, as we have free international trade, there are no governmental arrangements that need be made for that to happen, at least not on our part. Beyond that. well...we do have certain needs but I'm not sure it would be quite appropriate to ask so early in negotiations. I believe we have quite a good agreement going for opening relations between our nations: An exchange of embassies and the active encouragement of mutual tourism." Nianki folded her hands in her lap, smiling radiantly.

Her smile was infectious and even the typically stoney faced Monroe had a grin.

"Indeed, your highness, it is a most beneficial start. We are honored to be treated with such hospitality."

"Of course." Nianki answered simply. "We are always willing to offer hospitality to potential friends."

((OOC; Can we consider this finished, you think?))

Nianki smiled again, waiting a while in silence before she rose. "I am sure you need to get back to your ship. I'll have all the paperwork and other technical details forwarded to your people once we return to Terra."

FIN