Lusatian-Rombardan Diplomacy

[alxeu]

With old competing ambitions over the islands of Arema, Lusatia and Rombardan relations had never particularly been the best. Deciding it was at least worth an attempt to change that, the Lusatian government inquired via telegram whether an envoy sent to discuss future relations would be welcome.

[VoxApocrypha]

The reply arrives a fair while later but isn't outwardly cold or hostile, the tone very formal overall.

An envoy would be allowed into the city of Auran, and they would be welcomed to the nation via whatever means they choose to travel into it by, provided they inform them beforehand so they could make any necessary arrangements ahead of time. It also detailed who would be meeting them and that any expenses would be handled on the Rombardi end once they were in the country.

[alxeu]

The Lusatians confirmed their ambassador's planned arrival by train, citing the comparative travel times between land and sea travel as their reasoning. The Lusatian envoy would be an older, experienced diplomat, and after the choice was confirmed, the Lusatians informed the Rombardans of the expected arrival time in Auran.

[VoxApocrypha]

When he would arrive, the weather would be turning frigid and cold, with rain starting to fall. The people had vacated the streets by now, and the train station would be largely empty save its usual staffing and then the government officials sent to meet him on arrival. When the train came to a stop and he was led off, he would be greeted by a tall fair skinned man with brown hair and a Kithium, both of whom would smile warmly to him, with the man stepping forwards to offer his hand. Both wore a fusion of Western and Eastern business attire, similar to suits but fitted different and aesthetically more in line with Rombardi preferences.
"On behalf of the Ceaser and his nation, we welcome you to Rombarda."

[alxeu]

The Lusatian diplomat took up the handshake, clapping both hands around the Rombardan's, and shaking firmly.

"Thank you kindly for having me. I am Artyom Uliczny," he said, looking over to the Kithium and then back to the man, smiling, "Might I ask with whom I have the pleasure of speaking?"

[VoxApocrypha]

As their hands fall away from each other and they get to introductions, the two Rombardans would stand closer together.
"My name is Marcinto Rew'Carson and this is my partner and wife Edom Rew'Carson."

The Kithium bows her head lightly in greeting and then stands up straight again a second later, picking up for Marcinto when he's done speaking, "I trust the train ride was pleasant? If you would like some time to unwind there's a hotel room waiting for you and a car ready to take you there, but if you wish to get straight to business, we are more than happy to bring you to city hall." Of course we may also give you a tour if you so wish."

[alxeu]

Artyom nodded, "The ride was not particularly interesting save for the mountain ranges I passed through on the way here. I've always had a soft spot for the unspoiled beauty of mountains. Otherwise, I only regret that it has begun raining as I have arrived. As much as I would enjoy a tour of the city, would the rain interfere with our ability to do so? If not, I'd very much like to see what this city has to offer."

[VoxApocrypha]

"While the rain kinda takes away the glitter the city might usually have, we can still do a tour. Maybe if you stay long enough we can visit a few more spots before you have to head back to Lusatia." They'd say, Marcinto turning and his wife gesturing for Artyom to follow, waiting for him to go ahead before she followed behind. They'd lead him to the car, a state-owned limousine, and then open the door and hold it for him, before they would go and sit down inside with him. Off to the far side of them are two soldiers wearing garbs more fitting for ceremonial purposes, and black sunglasses, hiding their eyes from view. The Kithium steps between the two of them and speaks to the driver in their own language, before they then began to merge with the fairly light traffic.

"We'll take you into the city on a more scenic route. It'll take a tiny bit longer but it'll offer a little more for you to see. Better examples of Rombardi culture and design." He'd say. The windows were not tinted all along the vehicle, rather they had what seemed to be curtains over them to provide some measure of security and privacy for the occupants. The vehicle accelerated as they started to follow a curving road into the city proper.

[alxeu]

Artyom nodded, letting the Rombardans guide the conversation.

Once in the car, he noted, curiously, "In Lusatia, when we want privacy in a car, we'd tint the windows. Why use curtains instead?"

[VoxApocrypha]

"In the old days, when we still used horse-drawn carriages for official matters and glass was somewhat of a luxury item and not incorporated into basically everything, we used violet curtains. That and they aren't that interested in replacing the windows with tinted ones yet."

As the car drove through the streets, they'd be able to see archways, of which flew the Rombardan banner off of them. The buildings now that they were deeper into the city had taken on a more modern and clean feel, though they mixed the ancient Rombardan design traits with current ones to create stone and wood homes and businesses, with columns of marble and stone supporting overhead awnings and bridges that went out over the roads. Trees lined the sidewalks and neatly trimmed hedges separated the sidewalk itself from the road, with openings for crosswalks at intersections.

"The last Emperor took a lot of pride in making this city so neat and clean. Modernizing it to such a degree as he did. Until a decade ago, we didn't have skyscrapers in Auran." They'd tell Artyom.

[alxeu]

"Aye, I enjoy the contrasts between the old areas of a city, and the new, modern buildings elsewhere. A constant evolution of culture and technology, which gives a city far more charm than anything built from the ground-up, nowadays," Artyom nodded.

He looked on in awe of the architecture of the city, and seemed to greatly enjoy the tour through the city.

[VoxApocrypha]

"It is indeed charming. I've been to places that felt.. dull, by comparison. Maybe it's dulled for me since I've been here so long." He'd say. "They say cities can have a personality in some circles here. I think that holds very true.." He'd say as he watched out the window.

The car took a turn and they began to ascend up a hill, following the road onto a highway. As they do, they pass a flattened plaza area with a large statue in the center of it, of a faceless man holding a long rifle and wearing the armor and uniform of a Legionary. Around it were circular walls of stone with marble tiles, each with writing on them but impossible to read at a distance.
"A memorial for the fallen. Every city has them and every city has more than one. We write the names of our dead in every conflict and place them there. It is apart of how we remember the dead, and another part of how we record our history." He'd say. Soon they were past it, and driving on. Out the other side, they can see the Auran skyline, and those skyscrapers they mentioned not long ago, reaching towards the heavens.

[alxeu]

The Lusatian would remain quiet for a moment, out of respect for the monument, and after a bit, spoke again, wistfully, "Lusatia is constructing its own share of monuments to the lost, now. Whenever a city is rebuilt from the damage of the war, so too is a monument to the city's lost. War is a tragic thing."

Upon entering the newer part of the city, though awed by the skyline, it was clear that the ambassador was a little less amazed by the sights, presumably having seen similar construction back home, in Lusatia.

[VoxApocrypha]

"War is a tragic piece of history, but a constant. It is only natural." They'd say. "We have many monuments, dating back to when we were a Republic." They'd tell them. "We preserve our history in every way we can. It's part of why the World Heritage Foundation was formed."

[alxeu]

"An admirable mission, certainly," Artyom remarked.

"I suppose with our emergence in the newer, modern portion of the city, our journey to the city hall is nearly complete?" he inquired.