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Post by Circe on Oct 27, 2019 17:35:46 GMT -6
Xiaolian coughed as she stiffled a laugh at Tyrus's remark about her partner's propensity to pick a fight. "Just play it cool, and we'll be fine." She said to the other. She wasn't interested in becoming someone's meal for the evening, and would rather have things go smoothly. But then again that depended on if their host was going to cooperate. The court could be almost an entity unto itself whenever its ruler wanted, and tonight looked like one of those nights.
"But I thought the Dragon Court was european?" Xiaolian asked now slightly confused. All the data she'd been able to dredge up said it's origins were somewhere in Europe, and that the title of Ra was a misnomer. She didn't like how little they had to go off of in this situation.
Meanwhile, as Tyrus lead the pair deeper into the fray of the party, their host had already been informed of their arrival. For now though they were being watched.
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Post by demikara on Oct 27, 2019 17:43:54 GMT -6
"Sort of." He said and shrugged. "You heard them call me al-Amir Khuenre. That's ancient Egyptian. It was more...of a mesh between Greek and Egyptian under the old Ra and Isis. So european, but different than this." He didn't know how to put it. "This is...more Italian. A bit more modern from the same region. The new leader of the court may choose to call themselves something other than Ra, this time." Change happened, however slowly. He glanced around and smiled, taking a glass from a nearby waiter and holding it up. "Red wine. Considerate."
He had drunk blood before, though only when there had been no other choice. He was rather glad to not have to drink it again. It wouldn't do to be see without a glass.
Molly hesitated and took a glass as well, sniffing it suspiciously. "Well. We did hear about the change in...eating habits required by the new Ra. So I guess it makes sense." Maybe it meant there were other non-vampires here as well. Either that, or the non-vampires were somehow marked by the waitstaff.
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Post by Circe on Oct 27, 2019 17:51:53 GMT -6
Xiaolian shook her head and passed on the wine, she would prefer to keep a clear head given the fact that they were in a room full of predators. Some of them had already been sizing her up as if to say they would like to have her for dinner, and that didn't mean as a guest either. "Ancient Egyptian, who knew." She replied wondering how long it was going to take her to write the report on this one and if she was still going to have to contact the Council.
"Aren't you supposed to be under some sort of court imposed sobriety Tyrus?" Xiaolian asked as she watched the wait staff circulating about great hall. Glasses from the tray disappeared one by one and the empty tray was soon filled again and came around again. At some point someone forced a glass of wine into her hand with the admonishment that such a beautiful woman shouldn't be empty handed, she didn't drink it though.
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Post by demikara on Oct 27, 2019 17:56:37 GMT -6
"I don't plan on so much as a sip." He admitted. "But it's more an image thing anyway." It made him look more engaged and more part of the gala. Not having a drink in hand would be considered rude, even if he didn't plan on having any of it. There were often ridiculous rules as part of the court and that was one of them. "Rest assured, I will remain sober. This is a terrible time for a drink any way."
He had never drunken at them when his parents were in charge of the court either. He certainly didn't plan on changing that now, especially given they didn't know who was the new Ra yet. This was no longer the relatively safe battlefield he grew into. It was a much more uncertain one.
Molly sipped at the wine curiously and wrinkled her nose. "It's really not worth it any way." It tasted terrible to her, along like it had a copper tint to it.
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Post by Circe on Oct 27, 2019 18:03:32 GMT -6
Xiaolian eyed Tyrus suspiciously, finding it hard to believe him. "That I believe Bronson..." She muttered holding the glass up in the dim lighting. It was slightly cloudy, with almost two distinct layers in the glass. Something told her that despite the fact that they were guests, they weren't going to be catered to or regarded as much other than fancy pets. "I think we've all learned lessons about drinking at the wrong time and how much." Either way, this wasn't going to be a fun time had by all and instead would only be had by some.
Soon the crowd turned its attention turned towards the throne and voices human and non-human alike fell slient except for hushed whispers furitively exchanged. Something was about to happen, and everyone seemed to be filled with anticipation.
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Post by demikara on Oct 27, 2019 18:30:46 GMT -6
"The show is about to begin." Tyrus whispered and turned his attention to the throne. Molly moved so she'd have some view of the action and frowned up at the throne. A man, young well built and confident strode to the throne. He looked the court over and his eyes landed on their small group. A cruel smile grew at the sight of them. Everything was coming together as far as he was concerned. The confidence was a little off putting.
"Welcome to the fire All Hallow's Eve gala since I took control of the court. For those of you who do not know, I am Grigore Constantin, and I am your new Ra." There was no hesitation. It was a statement of fact and one that most of the court already knew. There was still some uncomfortable shifting in the crowd. "I look forward to ruling over you and bringing our kind back to its former glory, one not controlled by a council who would limit our feeding and our numbers." There was some louder murmuring now, of approval.
"Finally, it is my pleasure to introduce to you my heir, Catherine Dumitrescu."
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Post by Circe on Oct 27, 2019 18:54:51 GMT -6
A woman emerged from the crowd, moving with an unhurried and fluid grace took her place on the dias at Grigore's right hand. This signified to the court that she would serve as both heir and proxy to the Dragon Court, and that no one was to be her equal. By setting her above the entire court as the heir apparent, a clear distinction of hierarchy had been made.
Clad in a gown of darkest red silk with a set of rubies at her throat; the gown with its figure hugging cut and plunging neckline the most of its wearer. Her stark white hair had been deeply parted and set in elegant waves, ruby earrings contrasting sharply. It was clear that Grigore had intended for his heir to look her best. There were no glamours tonight, and Catherine looked starkly different from anything the Specialists or even Tyrus had ever seen. She was stunning, with an unearthly beauty all her own.
Adjusting the train on her gown, she bent over to take a glass from a platter held up. "Mio padre, il mio re! Long may he reign!" Catherine exclaimed with a smile.
Something didn't add up, especially given her known hatred of the vampire courts. For her to be proposing a toast to the new Ra was out of the ordinary.
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Post by demikara on Oct 27, 2019 19:00:09 GMT -6
"Long may he reign!" Came the response from the crowd and everyone held up their glasses. Tyrus held his up as well mostly by instinct and then lowered it and stared in shock. Molly wasn't doing much better either.
"Catherine hates the courts." Molly whispered, eyes wide. "She hates politics and the courts and anything to do with vampires at all." Vampires were complicated. What was she doing. This was not right. At least they had found Catherine, but this was not at all what she had been expecting. A younger looking Catherine who didn't pass as human at all right now. What was happening.
Tyrus rather felt like a swift wind would knock him over and was really having a hard time not knocking back the entire glass of wine right now. "Let's...see if we can get close enough to have a conversation with the princess." Because that's what she was now. A princess.
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Post by Circe on Oct 28, 2019 16:42:11 GMT -6
"This is bad..." Xiaolian agreed. Something had to have happened to so easily cause a change in the other woman's thoughts on the way of life in the courts, and especially that of the vampires. The woman that had stood in front of the entire gala was not the same woman who had so readily gone to bat for her officers, instead she exuded a magnetic charisma and confident laissez faire attitude. "She's an entirely different person, something changed and I can't put my finger on it." She added.
As far as Xiaolian had known, her boss was human or at least one of the more human races. But then again, MCU was a bit of a don't ask and don't tell work environment; especially given many of the cultural attitudes towards other groups.
"You can have a conversation with the princess. If anything tonight's taught me, is rank gets you somewhere and you're a prince am I right?"
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Post by demikara on Oct 28, 2019 16:51:57 GMT -6
"Stay close. And stay quiet. I'll move closer to talk to her. I may be a deposed prince, but I am still a prince." And it looked like the court was going to acknowledge that too. He would have the best luck out of the three of them talking to another person of rank. And given there hadn't been an attempt yet to kill him, it looked like he was going to keep his rank too. What a tragic sort of honor, to lose his family yet keep his title.
The mage led the way, moving close enough that he would be able to speak to Catherine and waiting for the princess to join the court and its guests. With luck, they'd actually come to them. without luck, he'd have to move them closer.
It was some minutes before Grigore joined the court away from the throne to mingle. Music began to play lightly in the background and the new king slowly worked his way towards Tyrus, having marked him easily.
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Post by Circe on Oct 28, 2019 17:03:50 GMT -6
Xiaolian nodded and motioned to Molly to stay with her a few steps back from Tyrus. This would at least give the appearance of Tyrus having abandoned his companions in favor of the company of the court, and for now the two could pretend to be interested in something other than the new king and his heir apparent. Hiding her discomfort with the situation would be easy, but she didn't know about Molly. The other tended to wear her thoughts and emotions on her sleeve, making her an easy target for the court tonight as it seemed that all manner of creatures were present tonight to welcome in the new era.
With the veil at its thinnest during All Hallows, those who drew power from it would easily have the upper hand with near god like magic; and the new king and his daughter were no exception to this rule. Tyrus would have to tread carefully if he wished to keep himself and his companions alive for another day.
Catherine was not far behind Grigore, staying close by as the ever charming and dutiful daughter. The pair circled back and forth through the crowd, greeting and speaking with new and old alike. It was a game between the two and also a test to see who was loyal and whose loyalty would be tested in the coming days, weeks, and months.
It didn't take long before the pair approached Tyrus.
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Post by demikara on Oct 28, 2019 17:09:59 GMT -6
Grigore greeted Tyrus like he was an old friend. "al-Amir Khuenre. I'm pleased you could make it." He offered his hand expectantly and Tyrus bowed over it and kissed the back, knowing the role all too well but not liking the moment of vulnerability it forced on him. Still, he had a role to play and he could play it all too well. Grigore looked incredibly pleased by the gesture, taking it to mean a promise to the court. "You have met the principessa of course. I believe the two of you used to work together."
Tyrus offered Catherine a bow as well. "Of course. It's an honor to be here Ra. I look forward to seeing the new direction of the court. I'm afraid I was unaware that Principessa Catherine was leaving her role as Warden however, so I was quite shocked to see her." Shocked was an understatement. He had expected this to be a rescue operation, not whatever this was. He wasn't sure anymore, but doubted there would be any rescuing tonight.
Carefully, his mind remained shielded the entire time.
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Post by Circe on Oct 28, 2019 17:39:13 GMT -6
Catherine returned Tyrus's bow with an enchanting smile, "al-Amir Khuenre, it is a pleasure to see you here tonight." Her words were formal, and she had used his title instead of calling him by his name. "You are alone? How surprising." Catherine mentioned off-handedly. She had half expected him to drag many of her former co-workers into whatever little half baked plan he had.
But he did look worried, and as much as she wanted to brush the edges of his mind, she knew that it was out of the question. Grigore had spent the last few weeks rigorously instructing her in what was expected as his heir. Simply reaching out and taking whatever she wished from the mind of another during the gala was certainly not it. Such behavior was to be frowned upon during this event celebrating the birth of this new court.
"And yes Father, we worked together... briefly." She added as a darkness briefly clouded her bright silver eyes. Her most recent interactions before Grigore had not exactly been positive, given his grand idea to haul her before the Council for something she hadn't even wanted.
The person standing before Tyrus had clearly left any and all vestiges of humanity or fae kind in her previous life as the Warden. Instead the woman standing in front of him was no longer caring or bothering to pass as human, and had wholly embraced the vampire. Haunting in beauty with white hair, silver eyes, and alabaster pale skin; Catherine could easily rival any of the other women of the Dragon Court.
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Post by demikara on Oct 28, 2019 17:49:56 GMT -6
"I had the sergeant and lieutenant with me at one point, since we were on the same invite, but I appear to have lost them." Not that they were far. They were probably only a few yards away. "Court life suits you Principessa." He had caught the darkness. The mage took a sip of his wine, noting the taste of blood in it. Well, it wouldn't be the first time. This entire situation definitely required a significant amount of alcohol and the sip was all he was going to get.
And there was blood in it, which was not his favorite drink out there. "I have been watching the new direction of the court with interest. It's a steep departure."
Grigore offered a fanged smile. "It's a return to our roots. I believe it will be a stronger direction than your parents took it." And shots were fired. The real question was how to respond to the situation. There was no right option and the new Ra knew he had him cornered. "But I'm sure that matters little to you. I trust you have no interest in court politics."
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Post by Circe on Oct 28, 2019 17:59:44 GMT -6
"Father has decided that the new direction will benefit the court with less showy dramatics and a more practical approach to things." She added, ignoring the comments about court life. She knew it suited her, as here she was valued for not just for what she could do, but who she was. It was a far cry from the 9 to 5 grind of her role in MCU. The fae court may have been home, but it had always been an awkward fit for her; neither unwelcome or welcome either, many saw fit to question the politics of her adopted family. Here in the Dragon Court though, no one dared question or whisper behind one's back about the politics. Out in the open, it was a refreshing change from the political back biting and fueding of the cloistered fae courts.
"Last I was aware, al-Amir Khuenre was more entertained by taking on human students than court politics." Catherine knew Tyrus was no threat, and could more than likely counter anything he decided to attempt magically. She had been one of his students after all.
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