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Post by demikara on Feb 5, 2020 19:16:11 GMT -6
Both of them had precious little free time. They also had little time to just themselves, so he was rather surprised she had decided the venue of the meeting was going to be her condo. It was a private place away from the court and from MCU and he wouldn't normally have even considered it, but she had sounded tired on the phone. Besides which, she outranked him in multiple ways now. It was going to make this conversation interesting because he had consulted a seer without asking her first. He was so used to just acting, it hadn't even occurred to him to do so before speaking with Xiaolian. Though perhaps he should be more cognizant of the time next time he needed her services. He had a feeling he had woken her. Remembering to be cognizant of the hours now that he needed less sleep was difficult.
He knocked on the door politely and waited for her to open it. He had a folder in one hand and he really hoped that this went smoothly. The court didn't need the people in charge of it stretched as thin as they were, but both of them had other responsibilities that they couldn't put down as well. This was a solution and it was one that had a decent chance of working out.
He wanted to talk to her first though, before they spoke to Grigore, who didn't seem interested in the day to day operations of the court regardless. In some ways it was a good thing. In others, it was a very bad one. There was a balance to be struck, after all.
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Post by Circe on Feb 5, 2020 19:41:05 GMT -6
There was a subtle shift in magic, likely from wards embedded in the door and its frame, as the lock clicked and the door swung open. "Tyrus." Catherine greeted the other.
She had suggested the condo as it was largely free from the potential hazards that came with meeting at the court, interlopers, eavesdroppers, and other disturbances. While courtiers were not allowed in the family quarters, it had never stopped any of them before. Particularly if they were trying to climb through the social ranks of the court, and the favor of the royal family had the ability help or in most cases hinder their efforts.
Seeing the folder in his hands, she scowled. "I only have one day off this week mage, this had better be good."
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Post by demikara on Feb 5, 2020 19:48:15 GMT -6
"Court business, like I said. But if it works out, we both get more free time out of it." That should be incentive enough. He come inside and smiled at her. It was best to just get to the meat of the matter with her, and he knew it. "It's good to see you. I've got a proposal that will make both of our lives easier." Hopefully at least. He got out of the doorway. "How attached are you to having every little thing go through your hands or mine?"
That was the question. Exactly how precise did she want to be when it came to the court. He just wanted to know if she was open to delegation. Because ultimately this meant a lot more delegation. But it also meant trusting others.
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Post by Circe on Feb 5, 2020 19:56:42 GMT -6
Catherine shut the door behind Tyrus and considered his question. She wasn't terribly interested in half thought out ideas and half constructed plans that were more than likely to go awry. Given that she knew him to act before completely thinking something through, she was suspicious to say the least of his proposition. "The last time you came here propositioning me, I ended up with absolutely no control over my life for nearly a year." Catherine was obviously still sore about him approaching the Council and then being stuck with him in the fae realm for a significant period of time. She was not nearly as cheerful as Tyrus was about whatever he was fixing to suggest.
"But, I'm not terribly attached to anything with the court, both you and I know it."
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Post by demikara on Feb 5, 2020 20:05:02 GMT -6
"I know." And he pretty much regretted the damage to their relationship, if not the actions. "Neither of us can handle the court and our other duties." He pointed out. "And frankly, we both prefer the other duties." He handed her the folder. It was full of resumes and profiles, including a picture of each candidate. "Grandfather" he had been ordered to refer to Grigore as that in private and he wasn't about to chance the other finding out anything other than by his title or the name. "well. Grandfather isn't one for the day to day and even the two of us together can't handle everything."
"I admit I consulted a seer. But the answer was simple. For the success of the court, we have to delegate. I brought along a few possibilities." Assuming she agreed.
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Post by Circe on Feb 5, 2020 20:25:23 GMT -6
"I don't have the where-with-all for this today Tyrus." Catherine protested as the folder was shoved into her hands. The main case at MCU was proving more problematic than she had originally thought, and to add Izaak's request and what Chrysanta had given her the other day, her plate was more than full enough. "But no he isn't... father assumes that his heirs will be competent enough to run things in his stead." Truth told, most of what Grigore had been doing was ensuring the Florentine court was satisfied when or if they decided to come calling. There were other things that required his attention, and most of those things were not day to day.
"Let me guess... Lieutenant Boyuan." She sighed, not sure if she wanted to put stock in whatever Xiaolian had told Tyrus. It wasn't that the woman had ever been wrong, but there was something deeply disturbing to her about how the woman manipulated magic.
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Post by demikara on Feb 5, 2020 20:30:05 GMT -6
"She was at hand." He admitted. "She suggested five total, between my needs and the court. I'm going out on a limb and saying just one of those is for me." Still, if she wasn't feeling up to it, she wasn't feeling up to it. "If you'd like, I can make the selections myself." He wasn't really up for the task either, not when it came down to it, but he'd have to be wouldn't he?
Someone had to make the choices after all. "And his heirs are competent enough to run things in his stead. It's a matter of time more than anything else." Neither of them had the time to devote themselves to the court like the court required. It meant that something got neglected and he wasn't in a position where he could neglect anything and risk it falling apart.
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Post by Circe on Feb 5, 2020 20:43:16 GMT -6
"That sounds more like an admission of guilt than an apology." Catherine remarked, ever the cop and never the pampered royal. She just couldn't find herself settling into that position, it rubbed and chaffed to put it simply. Her role wasn't supposed to be as some spoiled and pampered princess. She had been brought up to be independent and eventually take Sir William's position as a knight, which while there was some politicking involved, it was nothing like now. Flipping through the folder he'd handed her, she realized that all of this had reached new levels of insanity that she hadn't wanted to think about previously.
"Define competent because I'm damn sure failing at one job or the other here." She pointed out. Catherine could either be Grigore's heir apparent and run the court, or she could continue in her position as Dallas's only warden and fulfill her obligations to the Council. "You know more about this than I do, pick someone." She added tossing the folder onto a table that still had yet to be cleared of clutter and junk.
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Post by demikara on Feb 6, 2020 9:28:28 GMT -6
"Hence the need to delegate." Tyrus pointed out and took the folder again. "Neither of us can keep up with the court and our other duties, and neither of us can leave the other duties. So the court is going to have to be where the give is." Which meant delegating. "I know I can't keep up being the principe and being the director of Broadmoore. I'm running on around four hours of sleep a night and still falling behind." He imagined she was in a similar situation too. It was maddening, but it had been why he sought out help. "And with the chaos of the pack spilling over like this...it's a good thing the alpha won't last the year."
Hopefully the next one would ride herd on the damned wolves, because this was ridiculous. The only reason the city wasn't at war right now was Grigore didn't desire it, but at some point, he'd have to actually respond or be perceived as weak. And that would be a serious issue for all of them. He did not want to see Dallas go to war because the local pack couldn't keep things together like they should be able to. It was going to drive him insane if he had to deal with a war. Especially given he'd be expected to end it, quickly. Tyrus knew what his value to the court was all too well.
"How are you wanting to divide the duties up between the four?"
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Post by Circe on Feb 6, 2020 18:33:33 GMT -6
Catherine sighed seeing that Tyrus had absolutely no intention of letting up on this issue. Whatever Xiaolian had shown him had him spooked but good, and that alone had spurred him into whatever action he intended the both of them to take. "Only four? My aren't we ever still the spoiled princeling... you'll get used to burning the candle at both ends. I certainly have." She taunted. It was obvious that no one had ever leaned very heavily on Tyrus, expecting things other than his magic or connections. Catherine meanwhile had, and while she could take the pressure it was generally contingent upon having a functional team at work; something she did not currently have. Maria was still very green and there appeared to be some sort of fall out between Xiaolian and Molly; the team that normally could function quite well and idependently of any instruction from her if necessary.
"But I am very well and painfully aware of my duties. The last week of engagements and having O'Hara practically beating down my door, was less than thrilling. Damn dog.." The sooner she didn't have to talk to him the better, as far as she was concerned he was implicit in his association with Emily's death. But meanwhile, Tyrus was doing a very good job of jumping on her last nerve, and given her week it wasn't exactly difficult to do either.
"Since this was your idea, why don't you tell me how we're going to do this. Because I don't trust anyone in that court, even the ones you handpicked for that file." That much was true, Catherine barely trusted anyone outside her immediate family and even recently that had lead to a very painful lesson learned.
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Post by demikara on Feb 7, 2020 17:08:23 GMT -6
"At this point, I spoil myself." He gave her a grin. "Grandfather certainly wouldn't dream of spoiling me. Though I'll never deny my own parents spoiled me thoroughly, as did the entire court." Or else. The or else was usually implied fairly heavily, even now. The court would continue to spoil him or they'd deal with his wrath. It was easiest on all accounts if they just kept giving him his way.
"There are a few trustworthy people in the court. The were seconds to my family, but could easily be seconds to the two of us. Though of course, always be wary." Everyone was in it for something. That was simply a part of court life. "I was thinking of dividing it by finances, court affairs, judicial affairs, and a sort of information role. Someone who would get back to the family with important information we need to know." Hopefully that would work out well. "I'm not completely sold on any of the roles though, if you feel they need changing."
He really hoped she wouldn't fuss over the idea of someone else handling the financial aspect. "I would continue to oversee the more martial aspects of the court." That was a lower stress position, assuming they weren't on war footing. And while it was close, they weren't yet and frankly he was well aware that he counted as an army on his own. "You'd have a supervisory role over each of us. Both you and I could serve as the court's public face."
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Post by Circe on Feb 7, 2020 19:09:35 GMT -6
Catherine did not return the smile or look anything close to amused, in fact she looked worn down and tired. The only saving grace about it was that she had been there before and could manage if necessary. While Grigore wasn't eager to spoil Tyrus, he had however been eager to dote on his two daughters; something that neither seemed terribly interested in tolerating. Both had had a father or father figure long before he had ever entered the picture, and while at least one of them had grown receptive to something of a relationship with Grigore, they didn't see him as a father. "I find trustworthy hard to believe." She replied crossing her arms and leaning back against the counter top of the small kitchen island.
Catherine's condo wasn't exactly a cheap place, given the money she had received in the divorce settlement, it stood to reason that the property was quite the investment. It was well appointed two level with a southern exposure that promised warmth in the winter and cooling shade in the summer. "Especially given that they were part of the court before this one, which I might add had its own problems. But if you are so terribly certain, why don't you have your seer look it over and then plumb the depths of their minds." She was being obstinate and difficult as always. Court business had never terribly interested her and Grigore had been adamant that she be placed in charge over the day to day operations of such, especially given her status as heir apparent. Perhaps it was because she would have never leveraged her status unless necessary or because he felt that his oldest daughter still had some things to learn, it wasn't entirely certain. What was however, was the quick and immediate withdrawal from court life after Brandon's trial.
"I don't want to be a public face of the court Tyrus, I'm a warden first and foremost, and we do not make friends. We make enemies."
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Post by demikara on Feb 7, 2020 20:20:46 GMT -6
"Your father isn't giving you a choice. If you can talk him around, I'll be the public face." He offered. He couldn't really handle that as well, but she was right. "But you'll make enemies as la principessa as well. Having enemies is part of being in your position, regardless of what position we're talking about." He pointed out. "We can't trust Scotty as the face of anything. She'd leave the unseen entirely if she could." He pointed out. "I've been a public face of the court before. Though it was a different court then." And he had been the day time face more than the public face.
"The director of Broadmoore can handle it more than a warden can. Especially if I go ahead and take another assistant." He had already been steadily divesting of his responsibilities. He sighed. "I can find the most trustworthy people we can. No one is completely trustworthy but compensate them well enough and treat them well and they'll be loyal enough." That would have to be enough, wouldn't it?
"And a seer isn't an answer for everything. Besides, she was worn out by the one session. Asking more so soon wouldn't be wise." She'd need more time to recover.
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Post by Circe on Feb 7, 2020 21:03:05 GMT -6
She knew he was right, "Same pretty promises and platitudes as always mage.. But I know what Grigore wants, Grigore gets, and I yes agree that damnable sibling of mine is not trustworthy." It wouldn't matter how much pleading, begging, persuading, and even bribery she attempted, once he had set his mind on something that was that. Catherine did supposed that she was like her sire in that regards, once she had made up her own mind about something very little could change it. Catherine was perfectly content to deal without the formalities and wardrobe associated with the court, even though Grigore had so generously paid whatever it cost to turn his eldest daughter out attired appropriately. Catherine had hated to see what some of it had cost him, given that her own wardrobe had been severely lacking for some time now. She couldn't help that most of her time was spent at work or the rare occasion she was summoned to appear at a Council trial to give testimony. "I will say this, if I am to be a public face of that court then the court and the rest of the unseen will just have to accept the fact that I am not some damsel in need of rescue or that I need to be married off to the first suitable man." She had a very good idea of how courts used to work close to 600 years ago, but anything past that was where the gaps in her knowledge were. While Sir William had never pushed about her marrying anyone from the fae or human realms, he hadn't been surprised however when she and Izaak had announced their marriage. It was a good match politically, but it was unheard of for the bride to be so much older than the groom. What wasn't unheard of however, was the bride being asked to take a more mundane lifestyle upon her marriage. "And I am not going to apologize for my job as a warden or quit." That was something that often tended to rub people in the court and the rest of the unseen the wrong way. It wasn't rare to have others question if there wasn't a conflict of interest between the two. "But, pray, tell, what exactly is appropriate compensation?" She asked skeptically. Tyrus could mean a lot of things by that, and a lot of things that could either be good or bad for the court. "As for Boyuan, that doesn't surprise me. She seems to struggle with anything outside of the null fields."
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Post by demikara on Feb 8, 2020 9:30:54 GMT -6
"I don't think any court practices that. It's a distinctly human trait, as far as I know." He pointed out. "My parents ruled together because they were in love. There was no pressure for them to marry of for any of my brothers and I to marry. I doubt Grigore plans on changing that policy." It wouldn't make sense, as far as he was concerned. It would mean he'd have to trust someone not of his blood and that was a tricky proposition for any vampire. "And part of the reason I suggested aides was so that you don't have to apologize for your job or quit." So neither of them had to do that. It was something he was adamant on. Broadmoore still needed his attention, much like Dallas and the entire district still needed Catherine's.
They weren't giving up those positions, and frankly couldn't give them up. Which meant the court had to be the part that gave, not their other positions.
"As for compensation, I meant a salary. Possibly benefits for any human dependents. Some vampires like to keep humans, after all." He considered what else. "There will be political jockeying of course, but in general, pay them well enough and they'll be loyal enough." Greed was a powerful motivating factor and he knew it. "Treat them well enough as well. The same as any other employee, ecept with a heady dose of fear if they mess up." Mess up bad enough and they'd be killed, after all.
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