Serbovia
Establishing Nation
62 Vapaudenkatu
Itälinna District
Free City of Kontula
The Fennian Union
"Our Father in Heaven...", Peter Ruusula begun, his palms closed against each other and the rest of the eaters arrayed around the kitchen table having done the same.
"We humbly receive this bread and drink that you have given us, and we humbly ask you to bless this meal in your name and in the name of Jesus Christ the Savior", the Ruusula family patriarch continued, ending in an "Amen" that was echoed by the other diners.
Mikael Leikola was proud of how he had managed to cover his distaste for such an antiquated ritual as the food prayer, though he had been prepared given the advance warning that he'd received from his girlfriend Liisa that her parents Peter and Leila were rather old-fashioned, to say the least. Though, with his way of thinking and the reality of life in Häyhist Fennia, someone such as Mikael had to cover a great deal of himself to avoid being ostracized by the broader society or even being subjected to the attentions of the feared Security Department. Still, he did wonder if this was all self-deceit, a sacrifice of himself for the sake of appearances.
It was something he'd been pondering about for a long time. If he'd privately express a belief that the Bible was a work devised by tribal elders to provide explanations to questions in a time when science couldn't answer to them, and that since then it had become a tool of control and power, and that the Fennian Union itself constituted a thoroughly illegitimate structure of repression, but if he still said went to church and professed outward loyalty to the regime, could Mikael truly be himself anymore? Then again, in his interaction with Peter and Leila Ruusula he was also deceiving himself.
Both highly class-conscious and traditional members of the Fennian upper middle class, they'd have likely had heart attacks had they known of his background as the humble son of a dockworking family in Vapaasatama who had used his wits to gain an academic scholarship on behalf of the Fennian Mission to the Christian University of Kontula. Liisa was in on the innocent deceit of presenting her love as a bright and devout university student from a middle-class family of merchants, knowing the old-fashioned character of her parents. Mikael thought that the lying was utterly ridiculous, but he'd gained practice in that art for a long time. Besides, it was the only way how they could be together.
"Something on your mind?", Peter Ruusula asked Mikael as the latter was absent-mindedly piling salmon, potatoes and salad to his platter. Mikael could sense the distrust of the greying family patriarch towards him, though then again it was only the first time when they had invited him to their home. And it had been almost half a year since Mikael and Liisa, fellow students at the university's Faculty of Medicine, had started their relationship.
"Just the studies", Mikael replied, coming out of his thoughts, "The last spring exams and all coming up next week."
"Yes, Liisa tells you you've been studying a lot", Leila replied with a faint smile, "It's good of you to do that."
"Mikael got five out of five for all of his most recent courses", Liisa added with a proud tone. Though the idea struck him as a bit vain, Mikael knew that the reason Liisa had been attracted to him in the beginning had been his intelligence.
Now at the age of 24, he had been studying medicine for three years, having commenced immediately after the completion of his obligatory military service in the 3rd Infantry Division. In his mind, conscription had been just a form of state-organized slavery, but he'd preferred that to being sentenced into a work institution as a conscientous objector. Every young man in Fennia knew that attempting to cheat a release from service would inevitably fail at the draft board, and the label of an objector was utterly disastrous for any future ideas one might have held about studies and finding regular employment.
"Mikael wants to go to the Protected Territories to work in a charity hospital once he graduates", his girlfriend added, "I think that it's great."
"A waste of time!", came an exclamation from Peter Ruusula, "My father - your grandfather, Liisa - was a veteran of the Swana Uprising, and he saw first-hand what level of gratitude those savages gave us, and will give us. We came there to give them civilization and to protect them from each other, and we built schools, hospitals and railroads. What did they give upon the first opportunity? A stab in the back. That's going to happen sooner or later. You ask me, we are giving them way too much."
Mikael suppressed an urge to lash out, wondering how something as smart and beautiful as Liisa could be the daughter of such an old, grumpy man. Peter Ruusula was a stern Christian, and on top of that a local activist of the National Unity Front, holding employment with the Interior Office in Kontula. And loyal to Fennia's sole legal party to the point of having a large portrait of the dictator Häyhä in their house's living room.
"Medicine is such an opportunity for you, anyhow, don't waste it. That's what I've been always telling my daughter. You could earn well even in a regular hospital, and even more in a private practice", Peter continued.
"Mikael", Leila cut in, and he sensed a desire from her to change the topic, "Liisa told us that there's a renovation going on in your dormitory at the university campus. Must be loud, so maybe you could stay in our guest room until the builders are done with the building?"
Mikael Leikola was taken aback by the suggestion. Though he'd met Liisa's parents on previous occasions, this was the first time when he was even in their house and they were already inviting him to stay over? It did occur to him that they were interested in evaluating a possible son-in-law candidate, especially so for a suspicious old man like Peter, though it would've seemed discourteous to deny that offer.
"Of course, thank you. I'll just need to get some things of mine from my room."
Itälinna District
Free City of Kontula
The Fennian Union
"Our Father in Heaven...", Peter Ruusula begun, his palms closed against each other and the rest of the eaters arrayed around the kitchen table having done the same.
"We humbly receive this bread and drink that you have given us, and we humbly ask you to bless this meal in your name and in the name of Jesus Christ the Savior", the Ruusula family patriarch continued, ending in an "Amen" that was echoed by the other diners.
Mikael Leikola was proud of how he had managed to cover his distaste for such an antiquated ritual as the food prayer, though he had been prepared given the advance warning that he'd received from his girlfriend Liisa that her parents Peter and Leila were rather old-fashioned, to say the least. Though, with his way of thinking and the reality of life in Häyhist Fennia, someone such as Mikael had to cover a great deal of himself to avoid being ostracized by the broader society or even being subjected to the attentions of the feared Security Department. Still, he did wonder if this was all self-deceit, a sacrifice of himself for the sake of appearances.
It was something he'd been pondering about for a long time. If he'd privately express a belief that the Bible was a work devised by tribal elders to provide explanations to questions in a time when science couldn't answer to them, and that since then it had become a tool of control and power, and that the Fennian Union itself constituted a thoroughly illegitimate structure of repression, but if he still said went to church and professed outward loyalty to the regime, could Mikael truly be himself anymore? Then again, in his interaction with Peter and Leila Ruusula he was also deceiving himself.
Both highly class-conscious and traditional members of the Fennian upper middle class, they'd have likely had heart attacks had they known of his background as the humble son of a dockworking family in Vapaasatama who had used his wits to gain an academic scholarship on behalf of the Fennian Mission to the Christian University of Kontula. Liisa was in on the innocent deceit of presenting her love as a bright and devout university student from a middle-class family of merchants, knowing the old-fashioned character of her parents. Mikael thought that the lying was utterly ridiculous, but he'd gained practice in that art for a long time. Besides, it was the only way how they could be together.
"Something on your mind?", Peter Ruusula asked Mikael as the latter was absent-mindedly piling salmon, potatoes and salad to his platter. Mikael could sense the distrust of the greying family patriarch towards him, though then again it was only the first time when they had invited him to their home. And it had been almost half a year since Mikael and Liisa, fellow students at the university's Faculty of Medicine, had started their relationship.
"Just the studies", Mikael replied, coming out of his thoughts, "The last spring exams and all coming up next week."
"Yes, Liisa tells you you've been studying a lot", Leila replied with a faint smile, "It's good of you to do that."
"Mikael got five out of five for all of his most recent courses", Liisa added with a proud tone. Though the idea struck him as a bit vain, Mikael knew that the reason Liisa had been attracted to him in the beginning had been his intelligence.
Now at the age of 24, he had been studying medicine for three years, having commenced immediately after the completion of his obligatory military service in the 3rd Infantry Division. In his mind, conscription had been just a form of state-organized slavery, but he'd preferred that to being sentenced into a work institution as a conscientous objector. Every young man in Fennia knew that attempting to cheat a release from service would inevitably fail at the draft board, and the label of an objector was utterly disastrous for any future ideas one might have held about studies and finding regular employment.
"Mikael wants to go to the Protected Territories to work in a charity hospital once he graduates", his girlfriend added, "I think that it's great."
"A waste of time!", came an exclamation from Peter Ruusula, "My father - your grandfather, Liisa - was a veteran of the Swana Uprising, and he saw first-hand what level of gratitude those savages gave us, and will give us. We came there to give them civilization and to protect them from each other, and we built schools, hospitals and railroads. What did they give upon the first opportunity? A stab in the back. That's going to happen sooner or later. You ask me, we are giving them way too much."
Mikael suppressed an urge to lash out, wondering how something as smart and beautiful as Liisa could be the daughter of such an old, grumpy man. Peter Ruusula was a stern Christian, and on top of that a local activist of the National Unity Front, holding employment with the Interior Office in Kontula. And loyal to Fennia's sole legal party to the point of having a large portrait of the dictator Häyhä in their house's living room.
"Medicine is such an opportunity for you, anyhow, don't waste it. That's what I've been always telling my daughter. You could earn well even in a regular hospital, and even more in a private practice", Peter continued.
"Mikael", Leila cut in, and he sensed a desire from her to change the topic, "Liisa told us that there's a renovation going on in your dormitory at the university campus. Must be loud, so maybe you could stay in our guest room until the builders are done with the building?"
Mikael Leikola was taken aback by the suggestion. Though he'd met Liisa's parents on previous occasions, this was the first time when he was even in their house and they were already inviting him to stay over? It did occur to him that they were interested in evaluating a possible son-in-law candidate, especially so for a suspicious old man like Peter, though it would've seemed discourteous to deny that offer.
"Of course, thank you. I'll just need to get some things of mine from my room."