[War] Romania-The Demon Bands of Jebediah Pan

Sun Aug 17 16:12:55 EDT 2008

"The Demon Bands of Jebediah Pan"

President Antanasia Danesti

With the transferral of funds for Romania's entry into the ANDA proposal
send and received so that with luck the beginning of work on the new nuclear
generators for power would be starting soon.  As far as Antanasia was
concerned, couldn't start soon enough since she amongst others were eager
for any step to bring the country on par with the rest of the world.  The
aside to have some figurative ammo to fling towards Russia in 'nyah we can
do better than you so there' was as the Americans would say, pure gravy.

The Azerbaijan situation was progressing well as to be expected.  Preznan's
family was crowing like mad to the press and all over his medal and
heroism.  One of the recent reports had a squad of Iranians surrendering to
a private who'd been looking for somewhere discreet to relieve his bladder
as his unit was busy distributing rations and medicines to some very
greatful civilians.  With luck, that would be over soon so the rebuilding
could take place and then things would be back to whatever passed as normal.

As Antanasia approved the last batch of papers at her desk, she leaned back
with a sigh.  Perhaps today would be one of those blessedly rare slow days
where she could actually take some time for herself.  She ran a hand through
her hair, trying not to mull over how old she was and how time seemed to
just fly by.  It seemed like only yesterday the American President was
sending out the official notice of his son's birth and here it was almost a
year later.

Gah, I'm getting old, she thought to herself.

Not helping was Metropolitan Damien of the Church discreetly squeezing in
any reminders possible of her unmarried status at her age even with her
rebuttals that she was married to her country and there'd be plenty of time
for other things later when she was out of office.

Granted the friends she'd grown up with were long since married with
children, and when she'd look in the mirror she'd notice a few more strands
of silver shot through the black, a couple more laugh lines around the
eyes.  The rest of her was in good shape thanks to regular exercise and
salad pitas on the go.

"That's it. No more maudlin thoughts.", she spoke to the empty office, "I am
stepping out of here, out of the city for some quiet time in the country."

Determined, Antanasia stepped out of the office which had been more or less
home since the Azerbaijiani thing and notified an aide of her plans.  Within
an hour she was in comfortable clothes of jeans and a sweatshirt with her
hair pulled up in a ponytail and two security guards ready to leap into
action.

The small group ended up off for a quiet drive outside the city limits.  As
the radio played and the windows down, Antanasia felt years younger as she
let her daily worries slip aside for the moment.  That she was in everyman's
clothes and not her usual smart attire of a dress suit didn't draw attention
as her usual appearances would.

"Next town, we stop for lunch.", she told the guards, looking forward to
something heavier than her usual fare.

The guard driving nodded silently, taking a turn off for a small town that
looked like it had been unchanged in centuries.  The streets were still
cobblestones with the old style gaslights that had long since been rewired
for electricity standing as they always had.  A small cafe fit the ticket
quite well and while the suited guards drew a raised eyebrow from the
waiter, they were soon seated.

"I apologize if service is slow today.", the waiter said as he began to take
their orders, "New American film is shooting nearby and everyone with their
grandmother has gone over to be extras or crew."

Antanasia more than understood, with the push for those very nice American
dollars, making it easier for filming location parts for the studios had at
this point made most of the country able to list being an extra or crew
flunky on a resume be they a business executive or a sheepherder.  If she
remembered rightly, the Minister of the Arts had done more than his share of
portraying the sagely innkeep that warned travellers of the monsters that
lurked in the night in many a film.

With their order placed, Antanasia decided after they'd eaten that they
would drive by to see the filming as she'd yet to see one.

While the guards had some reservations about it, on the scale of things it
did seem relatively safe.

The drive to the film shoot for The Demon Bands of Jebediah Pan was quiet
and it did seem much as the waiter had said, everyone possible was over
there working.  Even children were hurrying about with giving directions on
where so and so's trailer was or helping some of the actors in heavy makeup
navigate around.  Antanasia and group didn't raise an eyebrow as they left
the car and casually walked around.

A few of the shoot's security recognized her and silently relayed word that
she and her companions were okay.

The general 'feel' of things confirmed that she'd made a good choice in
advocating this path even of the main Hollywood studios wailed about it to
President Williams.

It was only the calling out by one of the assistant directors that pulled
her from her pleasant reverie.

"You.  You with the uni sweatshirt.  We just had one of the eye candy twist
her ankle and we need a new runner for the chase scene.  Get to wardrobe
they're waiting for you."

Antanasia blinked and motioned for her guards to keep silent.  Something
about that, especially considering how the day had gone, made it have some
merit.  Not to mention it sounded so impishly improper yet fun.  "On my
way.", she said with guards in tow.

When all was said and done between wardrobe and makeup, Antanasia was clad
in the stereotypical peasant girl outfit with artfully ripped skirt exposing
more leg and cleavage than she'd even show in one of her granny gowns she'd
sleep in.  Her guards ended up getting drafted too, one being fit in a
rather cheesy rubber demon/gargoyle suit and the other as one of the
obligatory torch bearing mob.

The scene itself was simple, she had to run down the street screaming with
the aforesaid monster chasing her then grabbing her off as the mob followed.

Soon as 'Action' was called, Antanasia threw her all into it.  It was an
effort not to smile as she ran with just the sheer insanity of events and
she thought she nearly had a breast pop out of the blousy shirt as well, but
her guard 'demon' scooped her up with a low whispered apology if he grabbed
something improper.

Afterwards since it went off well with just the one take much to the AD's
delight, Antanasia and group discreetly snuck out to return to the city as
it had only been a matter of time before pressing matters came to the fore.

She was still laughing like a schoolgirl as they arrived as Iordan was still
apologizing if he'd been improper with scooping her up as he had.

The light mood that persisted made the rest of the paperwork go much easier
and she made a mental note to see about playing such hookey again in the
future.

----------------------------------
ACTIONS

1) Moving things along for the ANDA deal
2) Recognizing proper Preznan's medal
3) Showing some light on the film industry in Romania even if it means
footage leaked to the youtubes and any resulting laughs or whatnot
4) A little reflection character development for the sole unmarried female
leader in game

-- 
--I know there are no lifeguards in the gene pool, but damn, there ought to
be at least a few sharks in the water.
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