|
Post by demikara on Nov 1, 2019 16:48:43 GMT -6
"Well. I'm no longer banished. So I should probably be good to ask around I guess, see if anyone can help. There's got to the the unseen equivalent of a dental surgeon right?" At least the infection wasn't too bad right now, but he was doing everything he could to keep it clear and sterile as possible given it was in his mouth. And there was probably the equivalent of a dental surgeon for the unseen. He'd bother some people he knew about it.
There had to be some way to repair his mouth. And hers. "At least I can still feed, even if its not conventionally." He'd rather feed conventionally. It was much neater. But the open quorum on feeding meant he could handle his side business a bit more openly as well.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Nov 1, 2019 17:22:50 GMT -6
"Hm.. yes there are some advantages to how the court is structured currently." Catherine conceded thoughtfully. Being out in the open while not always comfortable, was less anxiety provoking in some ways than hiding in secret; and the backing of a strong court helped ease the transition. "But go ahead and ask around, if you get any grief send them to me." She added. Catherine wasn't about to send her nephew seeking an uncommon and strange remedy to a problem that didn't plague most vampires without some sort of trump card. She knew first had how vicious a court could be.
"It was good to see you Brandon, but if you'll excuse me I have other pressing matters to attend to." Those matters were dealing with the previous court's mage and her own tutor. This wasn't exactly an appointment she was going to enjoy, if only because the mage would find a way to play twenty questions of the worst sort.
There was also the matter of assessing the damage to Mezar out in the rural areas west of the city; which could technically be considered an asset, if only due to the mage attached to it. Catherine found herself recalling the searing heat of the fire, opressive magic, and smell the air thick with the scents of ozone and smoke. Ultimately MCU's stance had been that a lightening strike had caused a large fire, burning a good 10 acers before it was put out and that no buildings or people had been harmed.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Nov 1, 2019 17:27:54 GMT -6
Brandon left with a cheerful goodbye and a promise to look around for a solution.
At Mezar, Tyrus inspected the damage with a frown on his face. The fire had eaten ten acres of the ranch by the time it was put out. He was lucky it wasn't more than that. He was luckier no to lose any cattle or workers to it. His luck had run out however when it came to his house and his possessions.
The house stood, but was blackened with smoke. The contents of the house were coated in it and he had no clue how to handle it. The anti-fire wards had done their job. The house wasn't harm by fire. But there was a lot of smoke and heat damage all the same. The mage stepped outside of the house and frowned. His study had been untouched, so his magical tomes were fine and in one piece. Or at least the ones at the house were.
At least he still had a home, he reminded himself, even if it wasn't in the best condition right now.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Nov 1, 2019 17:45:13 GMT -6
Catherine arrived shortly after Tyrus stepped out of the house, opting to drive instead of take a mirror or other means of transportation. From what she recalled, there wasn't even a mirror linkage to the ranch, which was likely deliberate on Tyrus's part considering the man's paranoia about things. To her it looked like any other grass or forest fire she'd seen, reeking of smoke and burnt vegetation. Thankfully however, permission had been granted at Council level and the scene ordered cleaned up with all evidence of MCU removed from the property. Any additional study would have to be done on what they had and no more, the Dragon Court wasn't likely to grant any new permissions to accessing the property.
Stepping out of the black SUV with it's dark tinted windows, Catherine squinted slightly behind her sunglasses as the setting sun reflected off the bright white gravel driveway and glass in the house. The hours she was having to keep to deal with both the nocturnal and dinural members of the court was wearing thin. But, this one last task had to be checked off her list before she could rest and take care of herself.
"It could have been worse, you could be dead." She ventured as she moved to stand next to him.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Nov 1, 2019 17:53:14 GMT -6
"It could have been a lot worse." He agreed. "I have no clue how to clear out the smoke damage, but if it can be done, someone has found a way, right?" he hoped. If he was lucky, there was a spell for it. If not, he'd hit up the mundanes. "About the only survivors of my reagents that are still usable are the stones and metals. Everything else is smoke damaged or would react weirdly not that they been through...whatever it was whats his face put it through, with the frost." He didn't know the officers name, but he did quick work.
"Think I can requisition some vampires to clean the shrines?" It was not a job for a single person. He'd need aid to be able to clean them entirely and that had to be done by hand regardless. That was going to take ages. He wasn't looking forward to that either.
There was so much damage and he was lucky.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Nov 1, 2019 18:01:02 GMT -6
"Possibly. You do have several grimoires last I knew." Catherine shrugged. The theoretical end of magic wasn't exactly something that had interested her, and the practical application lessons had only kept her attention for so long. She had done what she needed to do to stay out of trouble, but that was about it. Calling herself a good or even adequate student was likely far from the truth given how much grief she had given Tyrus. "Metals and stones do tend to not be as affected by environmental hazards like liquids are."
"I'm sure my father would be more than happy to lend support in clearing the property and cleaning the shrines." More like whatever she asked for within reason was given to her. It was something that Catherine was still growing used to, having spend decades within MCU with their short falls and impossible budgets. There had been times when she had had to furnish her own equipment to meet the agency preferences and standards, which weren't exactly cheap.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Nov 1, 2019 18:12:54 GMT -6
"That would be excellent." He admitted. The extra hands would be put to good use and the mundanes who worked for him couldn't even see the shrines. There would be nothing done if he didn't get unseen hands to help out. He sighed. "Everything else is...slowly happening. The mundane aspects of the ranch came out fine. No cattle lost. I haven't seen everything, but the workers tell me the damage isn't as bad as it could be." It could be a lot worse and he knew it.
"What brings you out here? You're no longer with MCU after all." And he wasn't exactly expecting a personal visit given how far out he lived from the city and from the nearest mirror port. He liked his privacy and keeping people from being able to just mirror in meant he got to keep it.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Nov 1, 2019 18:24:25 GMT -6
"That is true, I am not." Catherine acknowledged. Her meeting with Kasimir had smoothed quite a bit over and for now she had absolutely no intention of going back if she could help it. The Council had a great deal to do in regards to agency reform, especially when it came to their specialists. They tended to do everything they could to hamper them from actually doing their job, and acting as a warden wasn't any better. "They are right though, it could have been a lot worse. Thankfully Walther's... assistant Hildebrand and Igor were able to tap a spring on the property for water and that little circle of yours ran itself down." She said making a circular motion with a well manicured hand.
La Principessa was a sharp contrast from being Warden Dumitrescu, she looked put collected and together instead of harried and scattered. "You pledged yourself to the service of the court, in return the court does what is necessary to keep you in our service. If that means I have to drive all the way out here, then so be it. I was curious to see how you were getting on after the fire, and if you needed anything... father's idea not mine. Also, I had a question for you."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Nov 1, 2019 19:07:05 GMT -6
She looked happier. Perhaps her initial trip wasn't willing, but the court suited her well. Being la principessa suited her well. "I have been in the service of the court since I was seven months old." He said simply. "I don't think I'd know how to handle not being in the court." He had never had that freedom. He had tried in the past but the most he had ever gotten was a longer leash. And this time. This time he handed the new Ra the leash himself.
What a good little puppet he was.
"I'll see about installing a mirror at the edge of the property. I can keep a few four wheelers there so people can get out here." He wasn't going to actually give direct access to his property. On the edge of it was as good as it got. He didn't actually want visitors after all. He much preferred his peace when he was out this far. Even Catherine coming out wasn't all that welcome and she was essentially his friend. Or at least, as close as it got in their world.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Nov 2, 2019 12:51:16 GMT -6
Catherine peered at Tyrus for a moment, her expression unreadable behind the dark glasses. "I did not know that, but I'm sorry that you feel that way." She said, uncertain how exactly to respond to this new piece of information. His past was usually something he kept silent about, and that Catherine wasn't interested in pushing about.
In the unseen, everyone had a secret or two. The world practically operated on the assumption that there was always something that wanted to use you as a means to an end. Because of this, revealing secrets was dangerous.
"A mirror at the furthest edge of the property is fine. If anything, you've earned a bit of privacy."
"
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Nov 2, 2019 14:27:21 GMT -6
He damn well had earned his peace twice over. "Thank you. And don't worry about it. The old Ra and Isis...they were my parents. They loved me in their own way. But I can't ignore that I was kidnapped for their use." Not forever. On dark days, he wondered who his family actually was. He didn't know anything about them, didn't even know what race he was. Not white was about as far as he could tell.
"I'll have one installed...probably next month. They take time to set up." It would be restricted access, but it would exist and that was as good as the court got out of him. It was worth it, to get the shrines cleaned up again. He knew how the game was played after all. Even between friends there would be give and take. He ran a hand over his hair. "If you'd like to come in, I have some fresh tea. It's not smoke damaged, at least." His kitchen and everything in it was spotless and untouched by everything.
Bringing mundanes in would lead to some comfortable questions. Such as why the smoke damage was so inconsistent. Hopefully there was a spell or an unseen company then.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Nov 2, 2019 15:22:05 GMT -6
"I don't foresee the court chomping at the bit to have you render your services to us quite yet." Catherine commented. At least not that she was able to predict. While she had many talents, seeing into the mists and miasma surounding the uncertainty of the future wasn't one. "Take your time, if anything needs to be set up right it's those things." She added. One wrong rune or intonation when setting the spell work could wind up sending someone clear across the world without a chance to return. It was like a one way ticket, with no return trip had booked.
"Tyrus, I can't even pretend to begin to understand the logic behind your parents actions. I don't think anyone really can." She reassured. The previous Ra and Isis had always been problematic, and often moved to action by their own greed or desires. This always put them at odds with the rest of the court and at times their own family.
"And I would love to come in, that is if I'm not imposing too much."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Nov 2, 2019 15:51:35 GMT -6
"It's no trouble at all." He said and headed inside, holding open the door for her. "And I know the logic. They wanted a powerful, devoted child. So they performed a ritual to guarantee the power and raised me to gain loyalty. I was told the why a long time ago." He knew it and knew his lot in life. It wasn't exactly the nice peaceful life he would have chosen, had he a choice, but it looked like it would be a bit more peaceful.
He led the way to the kitchen and smiled. "I have a quart of cold sweet tea and hm," he checked one of the cabinets, "oolong, earl grey, green, black and chamomile for hot teas." Odd, he could have sworn he had some lady grey in there too. He must have run out.
Oh well. He'd get some the next time he was at the store.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Nov 2, 2019 16:09:20 GMT -6
"The logic was flawed, but here we are." Catherine pointed out as she stepped inside and removed her glasses, sliding them into the pocket of her coat. The days had suddenly turned colder, and out away from the city the wind scoured the landscape with it's sharp biting edge. In another month it would be the solstice and the last day of the year where the veil was thinnest, and the magic strongest. Then they would plunge into the darkest days of winter; what had been a time of uncertainty and scarcity once upon a time.
"That is quite the selection of tea you have there, however Chamomile would be lovely." She added.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Nov 2, 2019 16:27:14 GMT -6
He pulled down two cups and flicked the electric kettle on. He chose some green tea for himself and got the honey down as well to sweeten the drinks with. He pulled his sugar bowl out as well, and two smalls spoons. "Is court life treating you well? You seem less stressed at least." and that was always a boon. The others thought something was wrong. Molly was adamantly campaigning that they do something, anything, to make things right again.
But every time he saw her, her burden seemed that much lighter. And even if he wasn't thrilled to be in the court again, so far his duties had been light, much lighter than he had thought. Being a deposed prince came with, apparently, plenty of free time. Or rather, freer time given he still had his work at Broadmoore to do.
|
|