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Adlez smirked. “Wine huh? You’re making this too easy...” She drinks more wine.
"Hey, I would get vodka, but this is a mess hall on a ship in the middle of the galaxy. I think wine is the best we're going to get." Markos says, grinning and downing his whole glass.
"So while we're here in a drinking competition, want me to give you that rundown on Byzantine History?"
“Sure, why not? Better do it now before you pass out.” She finishes her glass as well.
"Heh. Alright, let's do this. So there was once this pretty cool ancient nation called the roman empire..."
For the next few minutes both drink their wine glasses and Markos gives his very oversimplified rundown of the history of the Byzantine Empire and Republic.
“Sounds like a hey grew too big and couldn’t keep themselves sustained,” Adlez replied as she started on her third glass.
"No idea what a Hey is, but the rest sounds about right." Markos says, halfway through his own third. "So yeah, after the Arab invasion, the Byzantines lost the Levant, Egypt and North Africa.."
“So...Earth was it called? It has a lot of different religions I take it?” Not surprising, though it sounded like these ‘Arabs’ had some similarities to the Leitandi as far as religion.
"Yep. The Byzantines used to be part of a religion known as "Orthodox Christianity.", but now a decent amount of the population is non-religious." Markos says, sipping out of his wine glass.
“I take it you’re not a religious man?” She wasn’t bothered by that prospect but she was curious of his reasons.
"You could consider it that. I suppose we'll have to work on a body that's capable of processing food at some point, so that we can have that dinner... but that's for later. For now, yeah, I'm ready to go."
She gets up, and stretches her arms out.
"This time, I'm prepared. I'll fasten my metaphorical seatbelts, and hopefully not panic."
“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t even think about letting go.” Penny then picked her up, a lot more gently this time before she lifted off and headed back towards their apartment.
"Yeah, not really. The idea of a god doesn't really make much sense to me. It's tough to explain, but I guess one of the reasons is that most of the myths surrounding them don't exactly match up with what science can tell us about our universe. What about you?"
KASAI RIVER | Aszaryin
"It has been a pleasure to meet you Varist. My name is Dr. Argyris Vlachotis, but you may call me Argie." the anthropologist replied.
Throughout the night, the two men conversed over brandy and lamb chops while the 2 infantry squad leaders made banter with the other 2 Yonai tribesmen. Argie hypothesized that, through Varist cryptic manner of speech, that the Yonai and the rest of the Aszaryin hivemind operate through the pheromones of their respective queens which are in-turn "instructed" by queens of higher order who are possibly all controlled by a High Queen (OOC: correct if I'm wrong lol). With the relatively warm welcome by the Yonai and their martial prowess reminding Argie of his time among the Erimoans during the initial colonization of Erimos, he figured it would be worthwhile for Cymiopolis to pursue deeper relations with this faction of the Aszaryin.
"Varist, my friend, would it be possible you to lead us to your settlement so we may extend this friendship to your Queen and the rest of the Yonai? Perhaps you and your comrades may ride along our ship if it would be faster."
“The Goddess Hylia is said to be described as a young woman with long blonde hair. It’s said she united our people against the Demon King Demise. Her champion, a young man who people say she fell in love with, died in the grueling battle after slaying the Demon King. In her grief, Hylia gave up her immortality and was reborn as a mortal. As for Demise, they say his spirit can never truly be destroyed and every few generations he manages to take on a new form, his only purpose to destroy the Goddess and her champion...”
Markos sits there for a second, thinking.
"..is it just me or does your mythology sound like the lore of a famous video game on earth?"
He thinks for a second more, downing the rest of his third glass.
"Ah whatever, it's probably a coincidence."
"Wow, we got off track with this. Uh, so after the Arab Invasions, the Byzantines were subject to Arab Raids, with their forces sieging Constantinople twice. This went on until the rule of Leo III, who managed to hold the Eastern Line against the Arabs. However..."
Adlez wasn’t sure what a video game was but he didn’t seem that impressed. She shouldn’t have been surprised though.
A few more minutes go by with Markos continuing to summarize Byzantine history, and both competitors drinking their next glasses of wine.
"So now we come to the reign of Basil II, and the apex of Byzantine Power during the Medieval Era." Markos says, now on his 5th glass.
“Um Markos...I don’t think we’re gonna make it all the way through at this rate...”
Heidrun didn't start shouting this time, and merely took the time to get a look at Arcburn from above as they flew. It was a view she hadn't seen often, and while being carried through the sky by an ambassador who was also a robot built for combat wasn't the way she'd have expected to see it, she was happy that it was. At the very least, meeting Penny had given her a chance to let loose a bit more than usual, what with the karaoke and rooftop dancing.
It was a good time, and she hoped there'd be more moments like that in the future. Which was likely, considering they were going to be living together for who knows how long.
A strange setup, but it'd work.
"...great view from up here."
“Indeed. You want to stay up here for a moment?” It was strange in a way she was being so open to someone, but maybe it was because Heidi wasn’t a normal person, she was a lot like her and they had a lot in common. It also made her wonder if she was going on a little strong, if she was making her uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I'd love to. Seeing what I've helped flourish from up here is an experience I don't want to miss, like I did the first time. And you're able to stay in the air for a while, right?"
“Mhm, do not worry, I’m able to stay in the air for hours if needed. As long as you’re okay being up this high.” She had to admit, she was kind of enjoying this herself.
"Hmm.. alright, I'll go faster."
Markos starts talking rapidly, and gives brief summaries of Manzikert, the Kommenoi, the disastrous 4th Crusade and the ensuing wars, the reclamation of Constantinople, the rise of the Ottomans, the many sieges of Constantinople throughout the Renaissance and Early Modern Period, the reclamation of Anatolia following WW1, Byzantine Victory in WW2, participation in the Cold War, remaining neutral during WW3, and finally, getting to the period of Byzantine Space Colonization and the modern day.
"So, what do you think?" He says, finishing his glass.
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