|
Post by demikara on Oct 30, 2019 18:47:51 GMT -6
He had not been looking forward to this at all. It was inevitable. It was going to happen. It was this or possibly be killed and replaced and while he was strong, he didn't think he was invincible. Kasimir headed into the bowels of the court, headed straight for the Ra's office. Only one person in the court could actually summon the councilor, the representative for vampires on the Council. For anyone else, he could choose to come or not come, and he had been exercising that choice since the new Ra took over. He had been summoned now though, and he didn't look forward to what was about to happen. There was a good chance he was walking to his death after all.
He had known of the change in marching orders from Ra. He had known and knew perfectly well that the tact he'd have to take in the council was about to change wildly. And he accepted that. That didn't mean he much wanted to hear how he was to change, what his new orders were. Somehow, he doubted they would be to play nice like they had been. Some how he doubted that playing nice was going to be part of his life at all from now on.
At least he no longer had to rely on a network of donor blood. Hunting again after so long of a proper hunt being forbidden had been exquisite. He had missed the thrill of it all. The excitement of choosing a victim of finding the perfect meal was back again. Perfect.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Oct 31, 2019 14:43:13 GMT -6
A fledgling had been attached to Kasimir as he moved through the court, seeing that he would not be delayed in his meeting with Grigore. At least that's what they had told Kasimir when they greeted them at the entrance to the court.
Any vestiages of the previous monarchs had either been defaced or removed as the new court transitioned into power. The rich black marble floors and walls remained, lending the whole court a dark and empty appearance. Further in however, more was visible with subtle nods to the new court's Florentine origins. Carved and painted objects had been replaced with ornate, gilted, elegantly designed furnishings of a high quality. Rich jewel toned colors, and elaborate tapestries covered the walls. It was a clear depature from the previous Ra and Isis of times now past.
"Il re drago attende." The fledgling instructed opening an heavy wood door for Kasimir and bowing quickly before making themselves scarce. Rumors were already circulating about the court on how a vampire had dared to resist a summons from the new ruler.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Oct 31, 2019 14:57:47 GMT -6
The court no longer appeared to be leather and lace and he rather approved of the changes at least. And presumably he wasn't going to deal with blood magic first thing he entered and he stepped inside and stepped forward, bowing without looking. "Esteemed Ra. I apologize for my tardiness." It wasn't going to happen again. he had already heard horror stories. His blood may not boil in his veins, but there were worse things out there. The new Ra had no patience for fuck ups.
It was not the esteemed Ra who was there however. Grigore had left his daughter to handle the councilor, having decided to go on a hunt for his meal in lieu of dealing with a councilor he wanted little to do with. Let his daughter handle the council. She had been trained in that after all.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Oct 31, 2019 15:10:34 GMT -6
Catherine was more than happy to handle the bulk of the daily operations within the court, only leaving a few more serious matters to Grigore's final say. He had made good on his promise after all, and had soon installed her in almost a co-regent position more than fitting of her title as La Principessa. In many ways, she found herself continually surprised to not find someone constantly questioning her sanity or presumable lack there of.
"Sit down Klein," Catherine ordered pointing a long slender finger towards a chair in front of the desk. "You're already making yourself look even more a fool than you already are." She stated bluntly. Klein in her opinion was cowardly, avoidant, and obstructionist. He had grown unbelieably soft in his position on the Council, easily cowed by others.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Oct 31, 2019 15:14:51 GMT -6
Oh hell. Kasimir took a seat. Catherine. The Ra would have been a better choice than Catherine. "La Principessa della Caterina. A pleasure to see you again." This was not going to go well at all and he knew it. With Grigore, he stood a chance. With Catherine, there was history there and it wasn't a positive one at all. Well, this was further proof that the court wasn't changing too much. The heirs were being put in charge of things here to. Or rather, the heir.
He wondered if there would be another to match her at any point. He doubted it. The fact that she was the only one so far lent itself to the idea that she would remain the only heir. "I hadn't been aware you were handling this part of the Ra's duties. I apologize." Twice in five minutes. This was going great. And this was Catherine sans any sort of leash whatsoever. He really didn't want to think what his punishment was about to be.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Oct 31, 2019 15:37:28 GMT -6
Catherine was silent as she watched Kasimir flounder and struggle with coming to grips what was sitting right in front of him. "My father has placed an enormous amount of trust in me, something that I would like to believe is well founded." She explained slowly. Grigore had even admitted as such, claiming to be baffled by these new roles of representatives, laws, and rules. He had decided that while necessary to deal with, he would not be the one to do so. "I've been asked to handle any duties related to the Council and our representation there as such. My father prefers to let experience lead and speak for itself." Catherine added.
Looking over Klein where he sat, she could almost hear his racing thoughts, and knew if he had had a heartbeat it would have been just as fast. The man was nervous, and likely for good reason. He knew he was out of line in his refusal to attend to the new Ra and his court. "Now could you please explain to me why you refused my father's invitations and summons? I do not believe that the Council has you so busy you cannot attend to such matters."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Oct 31, 2019 15:48:54 GMT -6
He could admit the new Ra terrified him. That was true enough. But he wasn't going to say that. "I have no excuse, La Principessa. It will not happen again." Assuming he survived this. Somehow, he had a feeling that any duties relating to the Council including his position on the council and not her in charge of him. This was going to be bad. "Please, forgive my impertinence."
There was no forgiveness in the Dragon Court. He well knew that there was no forgiveness in the Dragon Court. This was about to be incredibly painful. If he survived this, he'd make an offering to the Gods for sparing him. Quietly, he said a mental prayer to be saved. This was not going to be pretty at all.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Oct 31, 2019 16:24:41 GMT -6
"Good." Catherine said as she rose from her seat behind the desk. The dim lights had cast strange shadows, often making it difficult to determine on first glance who was sitting at the desk. A deliberate thing designed to suggest power, control, and set the occupant in the opposite chair at ill ease. "See that it doesn't."
Crossing the space between them, Catherine's heels made a measured click on the cold marble flooring. Stopping at Kasimir's shoulder, she smiled coldly as she looked at him. Any trace of the previous glamour or even wardrobe was gone. Attired in a black skirt, and filmy white silk blouse open at the neck to display a gold necklace with a Roman coin. Her hair had been left long and loose in lazy curls, something she would have never previously done. Grigore had been more than happy to finance his daughter a new wardrobe and look befitting of her station.
"This is your last chance Klein. Both of us know it." She said leaning over him from the side, the scent of her perfume dark and redolent with the scent of silks and dark incense.
Her hand wandered lazily across his shoulder and around his neck. "Because..." Catherine purred in his ear as her grip tightened around his throat, knowing it did nothing but emphasize her control. "I will have you exiled from this court and hunted. If you survive that, I will have you defanged and left to starve." She continued, dark under currents readily apparent in her voice. "Do you know how painful that is?" Catherine asked patiently moving her grip up around to his jaw. Turning his head, she forced him to look her in the eyes, their bright unearthly silver hiding little of the contempt she had for him. "No? Would you like me to demonstrate then?"
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Oct 31, 2019 16:33:43 GMT -6
Kasimir stayed very very still, his pupils contracting into small dots. He swallowed at the threat, knowing she could feel it. "There's no need, la Principessa. It won't happen again." There was no where he could hide and he knew it. It was behave or die. He met her gaze, terror clear on his face and in his eyes. "I will do as you say." And be terrified the entire time. He really shouldn't have avoided this at all. How arrogant had he gotten.
He served at the court's pleasure. The court could see him dead just as easily as they instated him.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Oct 31, 2019 16:49:32 GMT -6
"Good then, it's settled." She said releasing her grip on him with a very human looking smile. Broadmoore had defanged her and done all manner of injustices against her, and she would get retribution in time. For now though, she had gotten at least some amount of satisfaction from Kasimir's terror and misery. Although part of her wanted to exact the policy of an eye for an eye, but also wanted to let him sit and agonize over what could be. "You will inform either myself or my father of any initiative or piece of policy that concerns this court." Catherine explained moving to stand behind Kasimir. So far in her opinion, she had been quite forgiving and lieniant in her dealings with him.
"But, in turn I expect you to fully represent our interests. Can you do that Kasimir?" She asked, leaving her hand to rest on his shoulder. "Or will you need a reminder?" Catherine pondered. Violence outside of the line of duty had never been something she'd participated much in, the Seelie Fae having a more pacifist nature than not.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Oct 31, 2019 17:10:11 GMT -6
"Yes La Principessa." He agreed at once. "I will see to it that the court's interests are fully represented." He'd do a damned good job of it too, given this was not Balto, who had been lax. This was quite possibly, stricter than Tariq and Belphegor had been, given they had progressed straight to defanging as an option. The fact that he and Catherine had a negative history was right now definitely getting in the way.
He was about to be on his absolute best behavior for the next century. Hopefully by then she would hopefully be a little less angry at his existence. Somehow, he doubted that. This was going to be a nightmare of a job now and he knew it.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Oct 31, 2019 17:22:30 GMT -6
"Excellent." Catherine replied. It hadn't taken much to put Kasimir in his place, and even less to remind him who he owed allegiances to. While she didn't mind getting her hands dirty, she saw no reason to do so with Kasimir yet. However, it was yet to be seen if or how he would follow his instructions.
For now, she had choosen to largely ignore their history, and instead for the most part was carrying out Grigore's instructions on Kasimir. He was more than upset about the percieved slight that the other had dealt him by refusing to answer the summons, and ignored the gala.
"You are dismissed Councilor."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Oct 31, 2019 17:37:28 GMT -6
Kasimir stood and offered her a bow then left swiftly lest he incur her wrath. And he had no doubt that he would be on thin ice for a solid century. If she was going to lean into being a vampire now, and embrace that, well. A vampire's grudges would come with that.
Nearly an hour later a very confused knock came at the door before it opened. Brandon was on the otherside, thankfully cleaned up though he had missed a spot of clay near his temple. He stepped inside, thoroughly confused. "Hello? I was summoned here..." He was pretty certain he was supposed to be banned from stepping foot in the court ever again. He was pretty certain that was the only reason he was alive and he had no clue why he had been summoned.
He didn't keep up with the happenings and rumblings of the court. It was better to avoid the entire thing as far as he was concerned, and there was no love lost between him and the new Ra, given he had been defanged by the new Ra personally.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Oct 31, 2019 17:51:24 GMT -6
It wasn't that she had embraced what she was, it was more that everything was out in the open. Catherine no longer cared to be either human or fae, seeing that neither of those had ever bought her safety. Grigore had been able to track her to the fae realms, and even among the mundane. For now, she had decided that cooperating was better than continuing to fight a loosing battle. She'd already held a grudge against Kasimir, and a few of the Councilors for their treatment towards her; so it was only expected that if the opportunity presented itself she would take it.
That opportunity had been Grigore, who had been more than pleased to see his daughter join him. Even if it had taken a bit of effort to on his part to convince her to do so.
"Yes, I summoned you."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Oct 31, 2019 17:55:27 GMT -6
"Aunt Catherine?" Now he sounded really confused, and a good deal worried all at once. "Aunt Catherine, you're going to get in so much trouble summoning someone to the Ra's office. The new Ra isn't exactly merciful." His fangs, where they had been, still hurt. Absently he rubbed his jaw. "I'm banished too. De-fanged and banished and told never to come in again, so I'm a little confused right now." His mind at least would be thankfully silent.
His shields were top notch after all. They had to be, to have lived with her. He offered an uncertain smile. "Not that I'm not thrilled to see you, because I am, but this is not safe for either of us." He had definitely not gotten the memo on who was in charge of the court now. He knew, roughly, that he had been spared because he was her nephew. Or at least, she was the only aunt he could think of who might have anything to do with the court, but he hadn't realized she had joined the court fully yet.
|
|