10-12-2022, 07:32 PM
New Riga, Eiria
October 12th, 2022
Metotoa and Cihitlina strolled down the street, hand in hand. They had been living in Eiria for over a year now, since their decision to defect from the Xiomeran Olympic team during the IDU Olympics. In that time, the two of them had gone from being friends to significantly more than friends. They had started a new life in Eiria, and with each other. While they still missed Xiomera on occasion, they could never really call it home as long as the XCP and the Empress continued to rule there.
Cihitlina had stopped in front of a store window. "I really like those," she said, pointing to a set of tables. "Wouldn't those look good in the living room?"
"We already have perfectly good tables in the living room." Metotoa sighed, tinged with laughter. "Can't we just rearrange the furniture again instead of redecorating?"
Before Cihitlina could reply, a soft cough echoed from behind them. When they turned around, a young Eirian man was standing behind them. "Excuse me. Aren't you Metotoa and Cihitlina? The two athletes who defected from Xiomera?"
"That's right," Metotoa said in a friendly tone. Cihitlina simply nodded in response. She still worried about Imperial retaliation for their defection, but Metotoa had always laughed and said that after a year, there was no way anyone would bother. He was always the outgoing type, she mused as Metotoa continued chatting with the young man.
"I've always admired both of you for your bravery in standing up to that horrid regime. Could I shake your hands? It would be an honor."
Metotoa didn't hesitate; he eagerly shook the man's hand. Cihitlina only hesitated a moment, before doing the same. It was just a handshake, and she didn't want to be rude. They were both grateful to Eirians for giving them shelter when they defected.
"Thank you so much!" the young man said. "I hope you both have the life here that you deserve," he added, before disappearing into the crowd. "Whoops. I never even got his name. But wasn't that nice?" Metotoa smiled.
Cihitlina smiled back, as the two of them walked down the street to do more browsing.
---
An hour later, the two of them were in a cafe sipping coffee. Metotoa seemed distracted; Cihitlina laughed and waved her hand in front of him. "Hey, big guy. You listening?"
Metotoa smiled back weakly, before his eyes suddenly rolled back into his head. Slumping into the chair, he slipped off and fell to the ground. Cihitlina jumped out of her chair, screaming for help. As the staff and patrons around them rushed to assist, Cihitlina suddenly felt weak herself. She struggled to stay by Metotoa's side, but couldn't help herself. She slumped onto the floor also, as everyone around looked on in shock.
---
While this was happening, a young man was calmly leaning back in his seat, on a small boat already speeding away from New Riga into the open sea. Raimonds Priede was, indeed, Eirian - at least by descent. But the Priedes had actually lived in Xiomera for several generations. And this particular man had found a career for himself - in the service of Imperial Intelligence.
Job well done, he would soon be back in Tlālacuetztla. Word of the fate of the defectors would spread, to all of those living in exile. There was no refuge outside of Xiomera for traitors, no place where IIA would not pursue them. The Empire did not forget.
October 12th, 2022
Metotoa and Cihitlina strolled down the street, hand in hand. They had been living in Eiria for over a year now, since their decision to defect from the Xiomeran Olympic team during the IDU Olympics. In that time, the two of them had gone from being friends to significantly more than friends. They had started a new life in Eiria, and with each other. While they still missed Xiomera on occasion, they could never really call it home as long as the XCP and the Empress continued to rule there.
Cihitlina had stopped in front of a store window. "I really like those," she said, pointing to a set of tables. "Wouldn't those look good in the living room?"
"We already have perfectly good tables in the living room." Metotoa sighed, tinged with laughter. "Can't we just rearrange the furniture again instead of redecorating?"
Before Cihitlina could reply, a soft cough echoed from behind them. When they turned around, a young Eirian man was standing behind them. "Excuse me. Aren't you Metotoa and Cihitlina? The two athletes who defected from Xiomera?"
"That's right," Metotoa said in a friendly tone. Cihitlina simply nodded in response. She still worried about Imperial retaliation for their defection, but Metotoa had always laughed and said that after a year, there was no way anyone would bother. He was always the outgoing type, she mused as Metotoa continued chatting with the young man.
"I've always admired both of you for your bravery in standing up to that horrid regime. Could I shake your hands? It would be an honor."
Metotoa didn't hesitate; he eagerly shook the man's hand. Cihitlina only hesitated a moment, before doing the same. It was just a handshake, and she didn't want to be rude. They were both grateful to Eirians for giving them shelter when they defected.
"Thank you so much!" the young man said. "I hope you both have the life here that you deserve," he added, before disappearing into the crowd. "Whoops. I never even got his name. But wasn't that nice?" Metotoa smiled.
Cihitlina smiled back, as the two of them walked down the street to do more browsing.
---
An hour later, the two of them were in a cafe sipping coffee. Metotoa seemed distracted; Cihitlina laughed and waved her hand in front of him. "Hey, big guy. You listening?"
Metotoa smiled back weakly, before his eyes suddenly rolled back into his head. Slumping into the chair, he slipped off and fell to the ground. Cihitlina jumped out of her chair, screaming for help. As the staff and patrons around them rushed to assist, Cihitlina suddenly felt weak herself. She struggled to stay by Metotoa's side, but couldn't help herself. She slumped onto the floor also, as everyone around looked on in shock.
---
While this was happening, a young man was calmly leaning back in his seat, on a small boat already speeding away from New Riga into the open sea. Raimonds Priede was, indeed, Eirian - at least by descent. But the Priedes had actually lived in Xiomera for several generations. And this particular man had found a career for himself - in the service of Imperial Intelligence.
Job well done, he would soon be back in Tlālacuetztla. Word of the fate of the defectors would spread, to all of those living in exile. There was no refuge outside of Xiomera for traitors, no place where IIA would not pursue them. The Empire did not forget.
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