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Post by demikara on Jan 28, 2020 18:43:33 GMT -6
Tyrus was not fond of outsourcing his magical needs, but he could recognize when he needed to. And now was one of the times where he would need to. The court had an asset who could help with what he wanted though. He needed some sort of path forward. He needed a view ahead, even if it wasn't much of one. The court needed it. He had never seen the court so unsteady before, even with his parents death. With Catherine withdrawing and Grigore's disdain for the day to day runnings of the court, combined with the suddenness of the take over and Brandon's idiocy, and the court wasn't in a good place right now.
Between that and a few personal questions, he needed some help to make decisions. Luckily, said asset was guaranteed to be discreet and was tied to the court in more than one way. He had sent for Xiaolian Boyuan to come do a reading for him. It wasn't ideal. He preferred keeping troubles under his hat, but right now, it was a path forward.
Hopefully she'd give him an answer concerning that idiotic pack as well. He needed to figure out how to stop the attacks or they'd end up with war in the streets of Dallas and the unseen couldn't handle that, not with the mundane knowing now. It wouldn't be as easy to pass off as gang violence as it had been in the past. All of which meant that he'd have to deal with this himself. Not having his brothers to lean on was difficult at best and having Catherine pull back like she had meant that the remaining heir was suddenly under siege both at court and not.
He had no time to himself and was having to have blood and food delivered to him, regardless of Grigore not liking the idea of donors. He didn't exactly have time to hunt and magic used energy which meant he needed more blood than most vampires did.
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Post by Circe on Jan 28, 2020 18:54:30 GMT -6
Xiaolian hadn't been happy to agree to the request, but also knew that there technically wasn't any way she could say no either. Not without causing too much of a problem for her and anyone else. But it was better than dealing with Molly's malicious compliance, which in recent days had gotten more and more aggravating. Just because she happened to be a guardian, didn't give the other a reason to be even more of a pain in the ass than she had been.
Arriving at the court, she had made sure to be good to her promise about being discrete and providing service to the court upon request. Xiaolian just hadn't expected that request to come at 3am in the morning, when she would have liked to be sleeping, and much less from the prince who should have been able to do such things himself. But falling back on her training as a guardian, she asked for time to pull herself together before arriving.
Still slightly groggy, she waited for Tyrus to be fetched while she stood in the ornate marble and tapestry covered hallway. "Pft... over blown and gaudy.." She muttered to herself, disapproving of the taste and conventions of the current Ra.
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Post by demikara on Jan 28, 2020 19:02:07 GMT -6
Tyrus caught that and snorted. "Isn't it? I can't say I like his tastes." He assumed she was talking about the decor at least. "It's very...european." and old fashioned, but he was very used to old fashioned decor. The mage gave her a smile. "Thank you for coming. I know it's not the most convenient hour to arrive." It wasn't ideal as far as he was concerned either, and tomorrow he'd be functioning on coffee and energy drinks. Until the court stabilized some, that was what he'd be functioning on all around. Grigore did not seem to understand that his heirs had non-court duties as well.
"Follow me, please. My office should be fine for this. Unless you need a ritual room?" They had one after all, though he doubted she'd need it. He should have everything she needed in his office, and if not, it would be nearby.
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Post by Circe on Jan 28, 2020 19:12:07 GMT -6
Xiaolian colored and immediately fell silent, she had known better than to say such things where they could be heard. "Forgive me Principe Eliodoro, it is not to my tastes... they run my simpler than il Re's preferences." She mumbled quickly offering a deep bow of a apology. Just because she could disappear and reappear at will across the planes, did not mean that she could always freely speak her mind. It was now that she realized that she had allowed herself to become entirely too comfortable with this plane and its inhabitants. Something that most of her cohort of Guardians would undoubtedly scold her for.
"It is no problem, I am after all pledged to the service of the court." Xiaolian then spoke louder. But how he had found out about the divination skills, she didn't know. That was something that had been a one time thing for O'Hara and after that she hadn't spoke of it again.
Following Tyrus through the labyrinthine passages of the court, no doubt designed with safety in mind, she took everything in. After all she had only seen a small portion of what housed the court, and that was only during the gala. "A ritual room isn't required.. but if it would make your highness more at ease, then we can use it."
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Post by demikara on Jan 28, 2020 19:18:14 GMT -6
"My tastes run simpler as well." He admitted and opened the door to his office, stepping in. He waited until it was closed behind her before smiling at him. "And please. In my office, at least, call me Tyrus. I'm still getting used to Eliodoro." He was much more used to Khuenre, but that had been in the past and now he was Eliodoro because Grigore commanded it. And what Grigore wanted, he got. "We've worked together before I was Eliodoro. And to my king's dismay, I am not as formal as he would like." But he didn't get his ass kicked for it, so there was an advantage.
"I should have anything you need in the room attached. If not, I can send someone for the ingredients, though we'd have to wait." He gestured to the open chair in front of his desk, and took his spot behind it. "Please, sit."
He wasn't nearly as close to her as he was to Catherine, but he had worked with the specialists before, and really didn't want them calling him your highness when the situation didn't call for it. And in the privacy of his office, the situation didn't call for it.
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Post by Circe on Jan 28, 2020 19:26:55 GMT -6
Xiaolian looked around, scrutinizing the office and its inhabitant as she took a seat as instructed. "Briefly, yes." Was her only response. She had gotten the opinion that he had worked with Dallas long before she had even joined it. Often she was the odd one out, spending time at the range or keeping late hours, Molly only stuck around when she felt like it. It often reminded her very much of a childhood cat her parents had had; one who was only there because it wanted to be and often her and her siblings were reminded, painfully, that the cat would do as it pleased.
"Forgive my... boldness Rahal, but what precisely are you needing from me?" She still refused to call him by his first name, they were not that familiar.
"You were not terribly informative when you requested my services." He had more magic than she could ever dream of. Despite being a Guardian, she was relatively untalented when it came to magic, often being forced to rely on other skills. In a way she had learned to be content with this, but there were times when she felt very much outclassed and untalented when compared to who she worked with.
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Post by demikara on Jan 28, 2020 19:32:03 GMT -6
He'd take the Rahal. "A reading. I'm not skilled in divination magic." He said simply. "And it something you have to have some skill in to be able to do. I was informed you did have some, and I'm hoping it will be enough for me to...find a path forward, so to speak." He gave her a smile. "I hope I can count on your discretion of course. Some of it is court business, but some of it is personal."
He would likely start with the court business, as that would be the easier one, he hoped. Still, she needed more context, probably. Most people did to see anything accurately. "Have you heard of the business with Principe Bertrando?"
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Post by Circe on Jan 28, 2020 20:00:28 GMT -6
Xiaolian did not return the smile, she was slightly distrustful of those who pulled her out of her bed at ungodly hours. But also smiling belied familiarity, something that she did not have with this mage and something that she found herself quite accustomed to having with most people. The Guardian's were taught to not form many bonds outside of one's family, as they often found themselves uprooted and moved on never to be heard from again. In those instances, family was quite often one's only comfort as they moved from place to place.
"I have heard... some things..." She answered slowly. "But from what I have observed.. Principessa Caterina has thrown herself back into her work again." The Warden was passionate about her job, but there where times when even Xiaolian, usually the first to volunteer to stay late, was concerned. It seemed that the woman had taken to her previous habits of working long hours and doing little else with herself. While it was good for MCU, it wasn't good for the few personal relations she had. "She will not speak of the court or say much of what has happened, but it is not my business to know such things." Xiaolian added carefully. The royals of any society could be cagey and private when it came what transpired between them, and the vampires appeared to be no exception.
"I know some divination yes... but it's the stuff of parlor tricks and a young maid's fancy. I doubt that your are seeking to have your tea leaves read."
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Post by demikara on Jan 28, 2020 20:16:14 GMT -6
"It was a public spectacle. Principe Bertrando was discovered to have misused court resources to hide being a serial killer and was made to undergo a trial by fire. He survived and has taken a step back from his duties and the court until he is deemed fit again. Principessa Caterina took a step back as well, and with the youngest principessa not taking part in court life, that leaves me on my own." He confessed. "The king handles greater matters of course, but la principessa Caterina handled a good deal of the day to day running of the court." And that job had fallen squarely in his lap. He was glad to help Catherine of course, but he hoped she'd recover from the shock soon.
He doubted she would though. But the day to day running of the court, plus Broadmoore was too much. Add in the classes with the children and his own need to hunt and perform magic and he wasn't able to handle everything and sleep too. "I had hoped you would help me find a path forward through divination." He wasn't running at 100% here after all. "Between my positions and the latest troubles with the werewolf pack in town, I'm finding it difficult to chart a path without aid."
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Post by Circe on Jan 28, 2020 20:42:06 GMT -6
That had explained why the vampire attacks had quickly diminished, and why many now were actually willing to cooperate with officers. "If that is what you seek, then we will need to use a ritual room. You are asking not for the simple ritual of tasseomancy, but something else." Xiaolian sighed. She hadn't expected this and if she were honest, she by far wasn't prepared for this either. But, she would do what she was able and to the best of that ability if necessary.
"I do wish to remind you that the future contains many paths, and that they are something yet not determined by the will of Heaven and that I can only see so far as I have never been a terribly powerful diviner." She warned Tyrus. Many were just grateful to see what possibly lay ahead so that they could prepare for it, and others just found novelty in the ritual.
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Post by demikara on Jan 29, 2020 10:04:17 GMT -6
"Of course. I know the future isn't set in stone. Like I said, I'm just hoping for a path of some sorts." If nothing else, for how the hell to handle his current workload. He was being driven mad by it. He'd need to hire an assistant for the court as well if this kept up and finding a trustworthy one would be hell. It had been difficult enough finding Carter and Cruor and even then there were days he second guessed himself there. Not their loyalty no, but their focus was patchy at best.
He wasn't supposed to be handling the court at all. Or if he did, it was meant to be light duties, not what he was currently going through. At least he knew everything that was needed to keep the court running, even if most of it had been mother's job and then Milo's. There was a need for a strong second in command in the court and right now, he supposed he was it. But he'd kill to get Catherine back at least to share the burden. She needed time though, and he was trying to give it to her. Brandon's actions had been a shock for all of them, but she had raised him. It would have hit her hardest.
"Will you need any supplies?" He had a room just off his office, for when the court asked him for magic.
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Post by Circe on Jan 29, 2020 19:17:40 GMT -6
"I understand, and I will try to provide you with what you so desirously seek." Xiaolian replied. There was no telling what would come out of this, as it was him asking her to do something that she had only successfully completed one or two times.
"My supplies? They are few, a charcoal brazier with incense, a piece of paper with your intent written upon it, and three coins." She added. Technically this was something that all guardians should know how to do, and her family had especially excelled at it. But for Xiaolian, she had yet to figure out how to excel at anything except being a null.
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Post by demikara on Jan 30, 2020 15:46:52 GMT -6
Fairly standard. Which meant the storage area next to the ritual room would have everything needed. Except for the paper with his intent on it. Tyrus considered how to word it before pulling a piece of printer paper out of his printer and in his best handwriting, writing his intent. 'I want to know the way forward to help the court reach stability.' There. Hesitating he wrote on the lower half of the paper a more personal wish. 'I want to know the best way to handle the responsibilities I have, that will still leave me with time for my own emotional and mental needs.' It was best to be specific. He cut the paper down to size and gave her a smile.
"The coins may be the hardest part." They didn't have a snack machine down here after all. Tyrus stood and searched his coat pockets, finally coming up with a quarter, a nickel, and dollar coin. "Will these do?" Hopefully they would. He hadn't even been aware he had one of the Sacajawea coins still, but apparently he did. He could sacrifice it to magic though. "If not, I can probably send for ones that will." That would be an interesting thing to send out for.
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Post by Circe on Jan 30, 2020 16:36:08 GMT -6
Xiaolian started to add one more thing she thought might be necessary, but then thought better of it. The ritual would have to suffice as it was, and without any additional tools. Looking at the coins, she sighed in mild annoyance. Generally she liked them to be three all the same, as the difference could alter some of the parameters of what would be revealed. "It will do. Have one of your... aids bring a pot of tea the kind that doesn't come in a bag." She admonished Tyrus taking the coins from him. Feeling the weight of coins on her palm, she considered how she was going to pull off answers to such questions. "Then we will begin."
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Post by demikara on Jan 30, 2020 17:06:05 GMT -6
Tyrus nodded and picked up his phone, dialing in a number by memory. "Mr. Travers, please bring a pot of loose leaf tea to the ritual room in the east wing for me, along with a set. You can leave it on a tray outside." Aids was a polite way of putting servants, he supposed. Most people were more than a little uncomfortable with the fact that the court came with servants. Or at least, most modern people seemed off put by it. "Yes thank you, that sounds excellent." The tea would be there after them, but that would be fine. He couldn't expect water to boil faster than it took to get to the ritual room.
He stood and came around his desk. "Please, come this way Lieutenant. The east wing ritual room is this way." It was a bit of a walk, but the court was not exactly a small place.
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