Country of Romance

[Shave N Haircut]

The backdrop is the beautiful city of Orleans, a small city in Central France with a small population and a rich history, pivotal to the survival of France at times, the center of its culture at others, and extremely well kept now that the nation's capital is there. The Empress of France, as she often did, had dressed herself in civilian attire and went on the town. None recognized her, or else no one cared too much.

 

She stood at la Pont Royale, leaning on the rail and making a call on her personal phone, "Come on Kazzy, pick up." she muttered under here breath as she looked out over the river.

Edited December 11, 2014 by Shave N Haircut

[Mogar]

Kazuko was on board the Mitsubishi Hayabusa along with Katsuro, somewhere over the Arctic Circle, heading to Orleans, her phone began to vibrate on the pink ivory wood table, seeing who it was she looked pleased with herself as she answered the phone, Katsuro rolling his eyes as she did. "Hello Jeanne, we're on are way, is something wrong?"

[Shave N Haircut]

"Nothing's wrong, just making sure you're on schedule." she looks at her watch, "How's the arctic? How's the lovely little boy I'm going to meet in a couple hours? And how's the beautiful woman I'm going to make passionate love to not so very long afterwards?" She smiles, assuming that her lover knew well enough the naughty expression she was making into the phone.

[Hereno]

ooc: e: whoops, wrong thread

Edited December 7, 2014 by Hereno

[Mogar]

"We should be, this new plane handles like a dream." She would reply, "Katsuro likes it more than I do, he is looking out the window and probably plotting on which of these chunks of ice he is going to visit next." she said a sarcastically, Katsuro giving her a glare that was colder than the air outside the plane. "I am looking forward to visiting my second favorite city in the world, it's no Tokyo but France has its own charm. It's been far too long since we've been together, I'm sure Katsuro has plenty of questions for you as well."

[Shave N Haircut]

"Excellent, I can't wait." she says with a smile, "I might be in the middle of a conference when you get to the palace but don't let that stop you from going in, the sitting room door is always unlocked and all the staff know you already so it should be fine. Gotta address the Germans before they start revenge killing or something, I don't want a catalyst for further violence or any more fuel for the separatist movement."

 

She sighs, "But that's not what this is about, this is about finally meeting my son." she takes a deep breath, "I'm nervous Kazzy, what if he doesn't like me?"

[Mogar]

"I gotcha, I am having trouble with the Chinese in my own domain, according to Taiwan the Cantonese want to rejoin our Umbrella, but I am not certain I want to spend the trillions it would take to fully restore the province considering how quickly they turned against us in the last war." She said, sticking out her tongue at her son who huffed and went back to his own computer, though she knew he would be listening in closely. "I doubt you have anything to worry about, what is the phrase... The apple does not fall far from the tree, besides it isn't as though he has gotten to go on many vacations, he spent the first half of his life in Aisu-shō, and now goes back and forth from Shiberia and Tokyo. I'm sure Orleans and perhaps Paris will be a healthy change of pace."

[Shave N Haircut]

She looked at her watch again and sighs, "I hate to make such a short conversation but I just needed to make sure you'd be here when I got out of the silly speech business." she looked around, "I've got to go, the coordinators are probably wondering where I am and my stylist is probably hyperventilating in his chair, it wouldn't be the first time I'd found him passed out from too much oxygen." she rolled her eyes, "So I'll see you in a couple hours."

[Mogar]

"Until we land darling. Try to relax before you have to give the speech, you'll be great!." she said cheerfully, "Goodbye Jeanne."

[Shave N Haircut]

The Empress headed back to the palace, walking casually and sighing heavily on occasion, regretting that she had to preform the duty she was about to have to engage in. She entered through the garden, as she often did when she was going out on these little adventures, and proceeded up the steps to the house itself, where she was immediately accosted by an aide who insisted that she follow him, else she miss the prescribed time.

 

[hr]

After about thirty minutes of intense preparation, she was ready for the shoot, which would be broadcast on most French News channels and any other channel, national or international, which really felt like airing it. Another thirty minutes of preparation and rehearsal they were ready to start. Jeanne thought how close Kazuko must be and read over what she'd written again.

[Mogar]

While she rarely ever gave Katsuro a say in governance, Kazuko decided the bill she was currently reading was one he should have an opinion on. A new device, able to effectively blackout an wide area of wireless signals and create interference in video capture had been created several months ago. The Imperium had finished trials and the device would be incredibly effective as a method of shutting down protests, at the cost of personal freedom and what amounted to an expansion of the government's power over the people.

 

A few key presses and the bill would pop up on his own screen, he looked over at her. "You'll be in my shoes one day, what do you think I should do here?" she asked, curious to see if he was idealistic or a realist.

 

Katsuro spent a few minutes reading over the outline of the device and the proposal itself, which would provide for several thousand of them to be spread across the Imperium, with the majority to end up outside of Japan proper, the outer regions of the Imperium were far more likely to hold protests and wish to rebel after all. "Well mother, the real question is which is more important to keeping the Imperium together, the strength of the individual people who make it up, or the governments that bring them together? Providing the governments with the tools to crack down on rebellions before they become widespread is of value, but the cost of that may mean causing a larger rebellion in the territory." 

 

He brought up intelligence reports of all known separatist groups and their membership numbers, locations, and the like. "I believe such a device would be of use, especially if we intend on returning Canton to the fold." She scowled at the mention of the province. "Over my dead body." He frowned, her ability to hold a grudge was something he'd never be able to fully comprehend. "If you keep up that attitude, it might just be. The Chinese were always just barely under the Imperium's control, the longer you hold this grudge for their government's actions, the more likely we will never return them to our fold and they join one of our neighbors, carrying that grudge against you with them."

 

She chewed on her lip for a moment, contemplating his words, "I do not fear Shanghai or Druk Yul. We have existed for years before they came to be, and we will remain long after they are gone."

 

"Perhaps, but why fight yet another war? Billions have died in no small part to your decisions. I would rather we end that cycle and begin something new." He turned on one of the screens behind him, bringing up an ad for Ascension Cybernetics. "We don't live in a nation like the rest of the world, they grow old and die, East Asians can become gods if we choose. I have no interest in ruling a dead world, I do however have plans to not live in your shadow once I take the throne."

 

Kazuko held back tears at his words, and he quickly realized he had broached one of the taboo subjects, so he quickly switched topics. "I would pass this bill, but I would be careful on when it is to be used, an abuse of power could topple the Imperium, and you want to make sure I end up with an Empire and not just the Home Islands, right mother dearest?" he said teasingly, hoping to warm her mood.

 

"You'll be lucky if you inherit Elba at the rate you're going, brat." She retorted, digitally signing the bill, and one to the next.

 

[hr]

 

They arrived about an hour later, a police escorted motorcade taking them through the city to Jeanne's Palace, she would begin watching it on television in the limousine, Kazuko took the chance to ask Katsuro, "You know, most kids are lucky to even meet a single famous person in their lives, you're the child of two leaders who will be written into history books, children for hundreds of years will remember both of your parents. I realize sometimes I am hard on you, but you will have truly massive shoes to fill when you are ready to take the Chrysanthemum Throne, or perhaps after you meet Jeanne, you'll want to stay in France and I'll have to find myself another heir."

[Shave N Haircut]

Jeanne straightened her uniform a little, it'd become somewhat untucked in one of her more grandiose gestures during the speech, which wasn't terribly noticeable but she always wanted to keep the thing impeccable, even to the most discerning eyes. She looked at the film crew for confirmation that the speech had been well delivered and that it required no near followup. Verifying that her presence was no longer necessary, she stepped down from her podium and stretched a little. The work of the hour was done, she could spend the rest of the day getting to know her child.

Katsuro. She'd let Kazuko name him because, as she'd predicted, she wouldn't be able to spend as much time with him as Kazuko would be able to. As a more Absolute Monarch she was required to practically micromanage the affairs of France to ensure that nothing was awry, Kazuko simply had to sign bills, Jeanne had to write most of them herself.

She was nervous about the child of course. She knew her lover, with all her quirks, would do a rather good job of raising the boy, but the thought of if he was going to turn out as anything approaching normal was another large concern of hers.

 

Of course, she had no plans on allowing him to inherit the French Throne, it would be a disaster to even suggest it. The nation had a tense, delicate balance as it was, suggesting that not only did Jeanne conceal this from the public, but that she intended him, a Japanese raised child of the Japanese Empress to essentially bring France into the Asian Sphere of control would fracture the nation.

She had no intention of allowing that, despite how much she might end up caring for the child. She exited the room and shot Kazuko a text, 'Meet me in the Grand Hall when you get here.'

[Mogar]

Something! :P

 

IC: The trip through the city was short, Katsuro had spent most of it listening to his other mother give a speech while admiring the architecture. It was so strange to him that the Akasaka Palace could be transplanted here and look entirely at home. "So why has it taken you so long to let me meet her anyway?"  he finally asked his mother, she looked out the window for several moments, having practiced the answer to this question but not amount of preparation made her feel ready for this conversation.

 

"Jeanne and I started off as friends, the incident with the Twin Chinas had meant we had to work together closely and I preferred a more direct line of conversation with my allies during that crisis. We soon found out that we had much in common, besides the obvious of being the only female monarchs to arise from the chaos that was caused by the war between Athens and Tianxia.

 

We both had lost our parents in that war and know of the stresses of leadership, as well as prefer to handle business ourselves, I do not have you trained in various weapons for your health, you may need to know how to use them one day.

 

We gradually became closer and then while on a vacation to Tahiti we just knew. As for how you came to be, I needed an heir and wanted you to have another parent who loved you just as much as I do. Jeanne has a delicate balance just as we must do within the Imperium, except her rule is absolute, to have it come to light that she was anything other than heterosexual would lead the conservatives within France to revolt, they are far more fanatical about religion in Europe than we are. I also believe that you would represent the possibility of being able to hold several thrones, thousands of miles from one another. There are many who would dislike that, to say the least.

 

I might look young enough to be your older sister, but I will be too old to lead eventually. Heirs are important in monarchies, they establish a clear line of succession, without one, who knows who could come to power?" She remarked as they walked into the building, they'd be escorted to the familiar sitting room, not that Kazuko needed any assistance remembering its location. Jeanne's speech had ended as they exited the car, Kazuko didn't expect to have to wait very long.

 

Katsuro was quite nervous, his mother was certainly quirky, he had honestly just believed she wasn't sexual at all, the revelation that she happened to be a lesbian and he was lab created was still shocking to him, but he quickly got over the lab part, the process was becoming the norm within the Imperium, designer babies with perfect DNA, early childhood diseases had been nearly eradicated due to how widespread the procedure was.

Edited December 10, 2014 by Mogar

[Shave N Haircut]

Jeanne walks down a hall that was meant to be reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors, portraits of all of her favorite monarchs adorning the walls where the large, perfectly smooth panes of mirror didn't cover. She looked at them as she walked along until she saw her lover and her son walking towards her, no doubt on their way to the sitting room they normally met in.

 

Her heart fluttered even as she smiled brightly at them. What if the child didn't like her? What if he resented her for not being there? What  if he had somehow managed to be raised a brat despite her lover's best efforts. Such thoughts flew through her head, her expression not showing any of it as she approached them. She spread her arms wide, grinning at Kazuko. It'd been a long time since she'd seen her, it would be appropriate to greet her first.

 

"Kazzy, you can't imagine how long I've wa-"

 

The room filled with a roar, the pop of a distant gun following close on the heels of the sound of shattered glass. Blood spattered a portrait of Henry IV and Jeanne fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of her from the bullet that had taken her under the arm and gone clean through her lower chest. She stumbled, hitting the nearest wall hard and falling, coughing violently, blood dribbling from her mouth as she struggled for breath, panicked. She just needed a little air, something, anything.

[Mogar]

The sound of the glass clinking against the floor filled Kazuko's ears acutely aware of the noise even as the crack of the rifle still rang within her eardrums. Her mouth had begun to drop as he face curled from happiness to horror, before she had even begun to process what had happened she had already shouted "Toubib! Medic!" and pushed Katsuro down "Stay there!" she shrieked at him, the boy now in shock, moving with lightning speed to Jeanne, hands moving to her sides, putting what pressure she could onto the wounds, the left side she could hold, but blood began to pour over her other hand, the exit wound was a mess, it did not look good she knew, but reality was hard to accept.

 

She looked down into Jeanne's eyes, tears beginning to form, "Just hold on, help is coming, we still have so much to do Jeanne, you can't just leave me here."

[Shave N Haircut]

Jeanne looked up at her only a moment, nothing showing in her eyes but fear before they shut tight and she coughed again. She clung to Kazuko desperately, squeezing her tight and burying her face into her shoulder, her fingernails digging into her lover's back viciously as she grasped at her, deliriously trying to hold onto anything that would keep her there for longer, anything that could give some hope. She couldn't breath, her lungs simply wouldn't move anymore, locked up now, her head pounded, her vision beginning to go dark from blood loss and lack of oxygen.

 

Guards burst in and a call was made immediately for medical staff, but each and every one of them could see that the Empress wouldn't make it long enough to see them. Her face flowed with tears and her grip loosened as she started to lose consciousness, a hand raising to touch Kazuko's face, she wanted to know she was there, unable to see anymore for her vision clouding over. She just needed some air.

 

It was so cold.

 

Jeanne went limp, her hand falling into her lap, her legs splayed before her and her head dropping to her chest, the once dignified uniform covered in blood, the woman who kept the nation alive, now could lead it no longer.

[Mogar]

A few of the guards eventually pried Kazuko away from Jeanne as the medical staff came in, it was too late of course, she knew what death looked like. Her formal robes now covered in blood she made no attempts to clean herself off, still in shock for a several moments, as the head of the guards began to walk away she grabbed him by the shoulder, adrenaline flowing through her, she was much stronger than he realized. Kazuko grabbed him by the chin, the fresh blood smearing against his skin as she pushed him against the wall next to the door. His feet began to leave the floor as she looked at him with fire in her eyes. "You will find who did this, alive. If not, you will take their place and I can promise you do not want to." She spat, letting him go and accessing the Imperium's networks. 

 

One of the remaining guards stood on the other side of the doorway, she glanced at him and looked down at Katsuro, "Arrange for him to be escorted to the airport, I want him on my aircraft within 20 minutes." she said quietly, the Hayabusa's staff having already received orders.

 

[hr]

 

At the airport the drone aircraft carried within the Hayabusa would be launched, sent upon wide patrols of the city and surrounding area. It was unlikely they would find what they were looking for, but the Imperium had a vast array of weapons and tools, and every single one of them would be brought to bear within France in the coming hours and days.