NationStates Jolt Archive

((OOC: Meant to actually do this on Valentine's Day but...better late than never.))

February 14th, 7 A.R.

About a month ago, the Endeavor, the flagship of the First Fleet of Mists was given a rather strange mission in the dreaming. Of course, all ships in the Fleet of Mists had the necessary Gematria overhauls for using tech in the dreaming but the mission was still strange and not at all fit for a warship. The region it was sent to was known for its wonders, for its vast fields of flowers, its cotton candy clouds, and other happy, cuddly types of scenery.

Now, just before dawn, the ship was flying towards Hera. All hails were answered only with the Empress's own personal security authorization. Its cargo and its mission were a mystery to all others, even her husband.

Meanwhile, Aiwyn woke up, sliding out of bed in her gossamer nightgown. She smiled radiantly, despite the hour, and moved towards the balcony with a radiant, glowing smile, beckoning her husband to follow.She leaned forward, looking up at the dawning sky.

Draconis was a bit surprised by Aiwyn's rather energetic mood, grabbing a robe and following her out onto the balcony. Yawning slightly, he commented.
"It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day. And speaking of beauty, love, you seem particularly radiant this morning."

Aiwyn just smirked at first, though she colored a little at the comment, smiling coyly. As they looked, the Endeavor passed overhead, slowly unleashing its cargo. Rose petals fell slowly over the island, reflecting first kiss of dawn off their light red surfaces. They fell and fell for a full hour, bathing the morning in radiant light of a reddish hue. As they reached the ground, the ephemeral dreamstuff of which they were made seemed to dissipate, leaving only a small sense of romantic feeling. Millions upon millions of such small touches of romance was, of course, more than enough to fill the island with the spirit of the holiday.

Aiwyn turned to her husband, taking his hand in hers. "Happy Valentine's Day."

*bump*

OOC: Sorry, I first saw this thread at like 2:00 AM and totally forgot about it. :(
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For a long moment, Draconis simply looked up in wonder at the spectacle unfolding above them. Feeling Aiwyn's hand upon his own, he turned to her, smiling.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Aiwyn."

He drew himself closer to her, giving her a long passionate kiss. It was some minutes before he spoke again.

"I am afraid my Valentine's gift to you may prove somewhat belated in its arrival. I would have given you the world, but seeing as the world would not agree to being given, I had to settle for something a bit less immediate. You remember that lovely stretch of beach we visited in Akaton, don't you? I had been thinking of how you love the green places and living things, so I had the lands around that beach reclaimed from the wasteland. It is now home to trees and grasses, the air filled with the sounds of bird song. A little spot of green perfection just for you."

Aiwyn kissed back, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close. "Silly world." she quipped lightly.

Then she grinned quite brightly at his words. "That's the most beautiful thing...Thank you so much, Phaeton. I couldn't have asked for anything better. Maybe we can..."

Aiwyn frowned a little, looking down. "I'm a little worried, love."

Draconis's smile faded into a look of concern.

"What's wrong, dearest?"

"Our people seem further apart over the last few months. It's just a feeling but it's beginning to bother me a little. It's like after they signed the Treaty my sister and Lady Alexandra just set the terms in the background and stopped being all too actively concerned with one another."

"Lady Alexandra is still young and relatively inexperienced. She has shown remarkable potential, but there is a large difference between ruling a city and ruling an entire empire. In time, once she has established herself as regent, I imagine she will spend more time on relations between our people."

Aiwyn nodded slightly, pulling her husband's hand to her lips and kissing it slightly. "I'm sure she will. I'm sure she will."

She smiled lightly at him as her bright eyes looked him over with a love and devotion that had only grown since they'd wed. "What would I ever do without you?"

Draconis looked into Aiwyn's bright eyes, seeing in them the love he knew they shared.

"I could ask you the same thing, but let us hope that we never need find out."

Aiwyn pressed her warm body close again his as she kissed him. "I hope with all my heart we never do."

As Aiwyn pressed against him, Draconis embraced her, and returned the kiss.

He closed his eyes, and for a moment, found himself three centuries in the past. The scene before him was all too familiar, one he had seen played out again and again in his dreams. It was the last time he was to see his family alive. In his mind, he was walking towards the balcony where Mother, Father and all the rest waited. In the background, he heard a crowd cheering. It was all distant, like a dream. He already knew how it ended, how they died, and didn't need to see it again. He opened his eyes, and the scene faded back into memory.

He hugged Aiwyn closer for a moment, feeling her warmth, reminding himself that she was real. As he spoke, the look in his eyes said what the words could not. They conveyed both limitless happiness at the present and a deep, distant sorrow.

"As do I, Love. As do I."

Aiwyn looked deep into his eyes and smiled faintly. Her soft hands found his, squeezing them tightly. "So tell me about Lady Alexandra. I feel like I barely know anything about her and out fates are rather entwined with the way the treaty is organized, rather uniquely among treaties."

Feeling Aiwyn's hand upon his, a smile returned to Draconis' face.

"First of all, Alexandra is a vampire, though I imagine you already knew that. She was born into a well-respected noble family, though she has grown increasingly distant from them since she was turned, an event of which she does not speak. Since I first met her, some decades ago, she has shown great ambition and skill as a leader. When the former lord of Archenhiem perished without an heir to his title, she seemed like a perfect replacement. Since then, Lady Alexandra has increased efficiency dramatically, perhaps at the expense of the lower classes, but that is still a matter of much debate. In all honesty, she does not really have enough experience to be regent, but since Count Yuri's betrayal she is the most competent ranking noble available for the job."

Aiwyn inclined her head. "Well...I am sure she will grow into the job admirably. Not everyone is as ancient and experienced as you are, darling. Perhaps we could have some kind of Mists conference at some point in the near future?"

Draconis made a face of mock sadness.
"Ancient? What could you mean by that?"

He laughed, smiling.
"I am only in my late four hundreds, after all. But, in all seriousness, I certainly wouldn't mind a Mists conference. Any issue in particular, or just the normal mingling with nobles and discussing policy?"

Aiwyn laughed. "Maybe I'm just trying to trick you into forgetting that you're sleeping with a woman half again your age?" She leaned up and kissed him lightly.

Aiwyn pondered. "I think foreign affairs might be a good issue. Agwene and Alexandra seem to move in uncomfortably different circles these days."

Draconis smiled at the kiss.

"I suppose you have a point there. A funny thing about immortality, isn't it? Anyway, I agree that foreign affairs sounds like a good topic. Alexandra and Agwene do seem a bit distant, a conference like this could be just the encouragement they need to work together more closely."

Aiwyn nodded. "I think it would do them both good. And as for immortality, it got a lot more exciting when I discovered I'd be spending eternity with you."