video; un: lodge (with special guest alucard)

[refashioned]

[Happy Valentine's Day, Club Ophelia! Naturally, this guild is neither a club nor really in a place to pass around cute Valentine's with fantastic puns, but one could consider this a spectacular day to publicly broach a specific issue: marriage.

No, not among the various members of the lovely guild, but the Empresses themselves. Love is in the air, isn't it? Or it could be. In time.

As it is, incoming Veronica and a beautiful vampire man by the name of Alucard. Thankfully, no one will be announcing any murders here, accidental, in self-defense, or otherwise.]

Hello, Guild Ophelia! [That's Veronica. She's as chirpy and confident as ever.] Alucard and I have a proposal to make. Let's just say "proposal" is a fitting way to talk about precisely how we want to approach the rest of this mission. Some of you have already heard what I have to say about this, but I think it's fitting if we hear it from another party.

[Alucard, on the other hand, is calm and keeping his usual regal approach.] In addition, I thought it best to ensure everyone heard what we had to say. Veronica’s idea is a wise one: there will be persistent unrest with all people in both regions. If they are unable to agree to one ruler, there is no reason to not revere both as ruling parties. It would be an ideal resolution.

This could be arranged easily by marriage between both Empresses.

[Veronica is seen nodding in response to this, pleased that this is coming together.]

I know a number of you think a peace treaty might be the answer. I don't disagree, but we're here to ensure that there's a more permanent solution moving forward. The union of these two women is the best way for both of these societies to have their cake and eat it, too. Their combined resources and culture can only make them both better. And we're not left desperately trying to make Doro be the one in charge … or someone like him. We know he just doesn't suit the unique nature of this world. [One that Veronica herself is rather fond of!]

So, let's discuss team.

Comments

[refashioned]

Sometimes you can have a happy and functional marriage with someone you don't love.

[Which is. Veronica's experience. Whoops.]

[eyedrop]

I won't try to predict it. But, you know ... we did deliver two letters.

[ And they don't know what the other one said. ]

It's possible that the other letter was personal correspondence.

[refashioned]

The Flowerlands are out because of Doro's connection to Nama.

The best solution may be to suggest that they would have to determine that themselves. So it doesn't seem like we're attached to our agenda, just in helping them find peace.

[refashioned]

Don't worry. I'm already on it.

[eyedrop]

[ He runs a hand through his hair, sighing. ]

Yeah? Maybe.

[ He's never actually observed that to be the case, and it's not something he'd want for himself. But that's why he isn't leading a country. ]

Either way, happiness isn't everything.

[datapoint]

No, I'm saying-- arranged marriages for women might not be acceptable. I was told that Youmi's brother's marriage was decided by Youmi and his future mate. He had to agree, but... [It didn't sound like he was involved in the planning process. At all.]

Political partnerships -- for women -- might not exist. Women might have the luxury of only partnering for love.

[refashioned]

What I mean is—no love isn't the same as no respect. There's a sliding scale on this, and I can tell they respect each other already.

[Do they? Is Veronica in the land of wishful thinking? Maybe.]

[tenthousandmiles]

That might work. But in that case, we need to be prepared for the matter to be raised as an objection, for why marriage would be an unworkable proposition. We may need arguments on hand for how to convince them.

[Arguments he doesn't have, because he ain't a Negotiator. He once got locked in a storage shed by angry villagers because he told them burning down their whole fucking mountain was a stupid idea and they needed to stop acting like frightened monkeys.]

[eyedrop]

Not sure I'd assume that far.

We'll have to get them together for a face-to-face meeting. See how it goes.

[refashioned]

Fair point. [She's sincere on that front. It shows in her voice.]

I think the unfortunate thing is that these women know that they've been in a position to never marry for love. They're Empresses.

Either way ... it's not really arranged if they propose to each other, is it? [Wiggle room? Wiggle room!]

[refashioned]

I think we'd need to offer them protection and a place to meet. Our Bruisers have already shown their mettle and interest in preventing conflict. We can handle security detail.

[eyedrop]

I'm good for that.

[ 'Cause he's a bruiser. APPEARANCES ASIDE. ]

[tormado]

Oh.

[...]

Do we know either of those things, though?

[tormado]

I see...

...if it was, though, do, uh, we know either of those things?

Like, hypothetically, if it was relevant?

[reposing]

I would expect nothing less.

[reposing]

No. Why would we know that?

[rhinostagros]

It might ease some of the tension. But no matter what, I think there's going to be people that are unhappy. Still, I... I think it's... worth proposing the idea...

[ Awkwardly trailing off in his last several words... ]

[reposing]

A fair point, though we certainly don't know for certain as of yet.

[reposing]

I think that you are right in that. No matter what decision is made, there will always be those are displeased with it.

Still, I appreciate your thoughts.

[sololoquy]

[Pause.]

I am not inclined to believe that royal blood will make a difference, in this instance. We are still foreigners.

[rhinostagros]

Someone powerful and... kind...

[ And beautiful too!!! Like Nama-- he did say he doesn't really like talking about romantic stuff, but this is to help the mission. ]

Um... are you saying this situation might be like a "romcom"?

audio; un: simonprime

[theseuschip]

If we end up needing more, I’m pretty decent at pearl diving. Wouldn’t know if the ones I’ve found are dowry quality, though.

[ he’s just really good at collecting a shitload of oysters. ]

audio; un: simonprime

[theseuschip]

[ he already mentioned it to Veronica, but ]

I’m pretty sure Nama already wants to meet Youmi. The second letter she had us deliver was a ‘personal’ note to Youmi that she’s been anxious to hear back about.

[datapoint]

These are about the size of an eye. [The visible part of an eye, she means. Not the whole thing.]

So... pretty large.

[theseuschip]

They just handed those over to you? Wouldn't that be a huge catch for them?