Alarming News at the Office

[demikara]

Balto was more than a little shocked that the Warden had desired a second meeting so close to the first. She didn't much like the court, and the majority of the court didn't much like her, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was her blood status. The Ra didn't have a problem with Dhampirs of course. Milo had, at one point, been one, though he knew that no one was meant to know that, and that Mother had never found out. But most people hated them as abominations and he was well aware of that fact.

Suit clad, as he had been last time, Balthazar sat behind his desk, going over profiles of various female vampires, setting them to one side or another, dependent on what he found. The Ra could not exist long without an Isis, and it seemed like he would now be in search of a wife, regardless of his lack of desire for such a thing. The issue, of course, was finding a powerful woman who didn't crave power and who would make a good leader and had a head on her shoulders for the more domestic and regional aspects of the area. Plus, he had to be able to stand her, which he had relatively low hopes for.

The shrine in his office remained mostly the same, though the offering had changed: A chocolate croissant, a shot glass of ale, some lemonade, and a roll marbled bread. The incense remained the same: myrrh, frankincense, and sandalwood, though this time the myrrh was lit. His Ra statue had a sunflower sitting behind it this time, and there were a few sunflower seeds there as well. Balthazar took his worship rather seriously. He waited patiently for Catherine to arrive, his office door open in welcome.

There must have been some update from the stirrings of war she had mentioned last time, and that he had been careful to shoot down time and again. He had gone so far to have one on one meetings with each of the pack heads to find out and address grievances between the two groups.   That had been a hassle and a half to handle, and of course O'Hara had been the most difficult and surly of the lot. That one needed replacing, and he was already looking through the others pack for someone to champion and support.

[Circe]

Ushered into the office by the other's secretary, Catherine took a brief glance at the shrine sitting unassuming in the corner, noting the few changes that were likely in accordance with a proscribed calendar day. "Feast or fast?" She asked gesturing towards the shrine, not that she terribly cared, but being polite or seeming interested never hurt. Catherine didn't really subscribe to one religion or another, having more than had her fair share of dealings with gods over the years. Alexander still seemed faithful to the Greeks, but she herself only had passing loyalty to even some of the earliest gods known to history. The fae were strict adherents to the old Celtic gods, and many of the druidic customs that came with the changing of the seasons, but their ceremonies were about as far as Catherine had really gone.

Meanwhile, Balthazar's shrine only reminded Catherine that they were hurtling towards a challenging time of year for many of the unseen; that of when the veil between worlds became the thinnest and magic was easily done or undone.

However, despite all of these thoughts, Catherine did have business to attend to. "I had a very... interesting dinner date the other night." She said taking a seat. She too was dressed in a suit as well, with her badge and gun sitting at her right hip. It seemed that she had just managed to squeeze this latest problem into her busy schedule as a Warden. "What do you know of a vampire named Ambrogio?" She asked, curious to see if what Grigore had told her and Scotty lined up with what Balthazar knew.

Catherine wasn't keen on revealing much info, especially not when Grigore was still such an unknown both in risk and character.

[demikara]

"Feast." He answered easily. "Though given the sheer number of feasts, well." He shrugged. He put in new offerings every day. He was a devoted follower, even if he rarely made it out to the main Shrine. Rahal tended that for all of them. Still, he raised an eyebrow and put the profiles away carefully. "I know enough to know that you hearing of Him is incredibly rare. He tends to live largely in seclusion. He receives, hm, a stipend for leaving the court alone." A tribute really so he could maintain his lifestyle and would leave the court the hell alone in the process. "Unless you are speaking of a lesser Ambrogio than the one in Italy." It was rare, but it happened.

Still, very few actually knew anything about Ambrogio or the origins of vampires at all. That Catherine now did spoke of dangers unknown and he was not pleased with the very idea of said dangers. This was not going to be pretty and he didn't want to think of how ugly it could quickly become. "There isn't a fool pretending to be that Ambrogio is there? If so I have to report that, and it's never pretty." The results were terrifying and reminded him why the 'stipend' was paid to keep the Father of All Vampires quiet, calm, and out of everyone's hair.

Some people were better off not involved in the day to day lives of their people and Ambrogio was one of those people.

[Circe]

"The answer to your first question, is no I am not. The answer to your second question is, no there is not." Catherine replied easily, finding herself moderately amused by the poor vampire's sudden suspicion. The Dragon Court truly did seem unable to handle much outside of familial affairs lately, and while it did concern her, it didn't concern her anymore than normal. The court had never been one to play politics or play well with others when it didn't stand to benefit them.

But now the question became how exactly did she explain the dinner guest and his rather unequivocal demands when it came to the court. Catherine had gotten the opinion that she'd likely be participating in whatever it was he had planned, whether she liked it or not. "I do not think that Grigore Constantin would play at being the father of all vampires." She said bluntly. Instead Grigore was more than happy enough to lean, and hard, on being the first generation out from Ambrogio. That in of itself had complicated things for Catherine and only made Scotty more curious it seemed.

[demikara]

"Well fuck." On all accounts. He pinched the bridge of his nose and considered his options. This caused for a second curse, clearly. "Double fuck." At least there was no one pretending to be the father of them all. That would have been disastrous. As it was, he was still trying to get the court fully under his control. The change over had not been smooth, and he had not fully been prepared for it at all, needed or not. It meant there were some, several really, who dissented and were giving him trouble. It also mean that handling anything outside of the court was not going to happen, at all. He had a court to ride herd on; the various fifedoms were still settling down; and he still had to deal with local issues rather than the Isis doing so, because he didn't have an Isis yet.

At this rate, he was going to make Milo take over the Isis duties temporarily. He was being stretched too thin. "Grigore Constantin would not. He is also supposed to be in one of the fiefdoms in Scandinavia, and not in Dallas." The Ra considered an appropriate response. He couldn't find one. Brilliant. "I take it he has met up with you then?" The old bastard. Balto didn't even want to think of why the other was here, but he couldn't think of a good peaceful reason at all.

[Circe]

"Indeed." Catherine said agreeing with the vampire. This wasn't exactly the discussion she wanted to be having with him, or really anyone. As far as she was concerned, it wasn't her job to tell Balthazar how to run or ruin his court. All she was doing was what she considered a social nicety, and warning him ahead of time of what was exactly about to be dumped on his plate. "Yes, I have met with him." She answered plainly. He hadn't asked explicitly what her role in the whole thing was, and Catherine who had been raised by the fae, didn't see the need to elaborate. Truthfulness was more shades of grey than black or white.

"I had not been made aware of much of the fifedoms throughout the world. Unfortunately that is beyond the scope of my expertise." She added, satisfied that she'd been able to at least extract additional information out of Balthazar that Grigore had been mum on.

[demikara]

"I'm not surprised. Father played his cards entirely too close. It's not like it's harmful, you knowing." It couldn't be. There were plenty of people who did know, and it wasn't like it was a major secret. It didn't get talked about outside of vampire circles was all, really. He didn't mind her knowing. If he did, he never would have mentioned it. Still, it appeared she had a conversation with Grigore, instead of just seeing him in passing. "What did the two of you discuss?" That must be why she was here after all.

Catherine hated the court. She wouldn't have come without good reason. Or at least, she better not have wasted his time just to let him know one of the oldest vampires was alive in in a place he shouldn't be. that would have made it to him eventually after all, and he wasn't willing to put up his time being wasted when an email would have done for information like that.

[Circe]

That was a question Catherine hadn't entirely expected, and it took her a moment to determine how best to phrase her answer. She herself would rather play her cards close to prevent further political outrage. "We discussed the matter of his, well allow me to put as such, Grigore is for all intents my sire. So, you can see how this current situation is very politically disadvantageous." She explained carefully. Honestly, she'd prefer to not be placed in the situation.

Catherine detested politics, and had enough of them in her daily job. "Please trust me when I say, I have little interest in whatever either court is offering."

[demikara]

"Well, fuck." That changed things didn't it. He eyed her speculatively and considered how to handle this. "I can see how it is. My court will leave you be, however you'll be accorded the respect of a Zara while you're here." It was the least they could do and he would ensure it didn't get out. "And I will keep your sire very secret." He wasn't about to tell a soul. Still, it did explain why Catherine was incredibly gifted. A child of one of the first vampires, raised by the Fae. She had quite a bit going for her.

He wasn't much interested in her being in his court regardless of who her sire was or anything of the sort. She brought trouble with her, and when she didn't bring it she found it. It may be the nature of her job, true, but that didn't mean that he wanted that in his court.

[Circe]

"Leave me be? It has been proven otherwise in the past, I will believe it when I see it." Catherine replied bluntly. "Remember this Lord Ra, when war is on your door step that I told you well in advance." She added as she stood up from her seat. Judging by Balthazar's reaction, he was very ill prepared for whatever it was Grigore had in mind. More than likely he saw a weakness and was planning on exploiting it.

She had yet to speak with the Council, but in many ways could understand their fear. The pure magic she was able to lay hands on and use frightened even her. Control measures or not, she understood the risks it posed. Raised by the fae, she'd been taught to respect the magic and the gods who had so graciously gifted it. That didn't mean she wasn't hesitant to use it though.

"Respects and accordances aside Balthazar, you are overworked and unprepared for what is coming."

[demikara]

"I'm meant to have a spouse who can help." He admitted. "Without an Isis, this particular Ra finds himself overworked." He pinched the bridge of his nose, unimpressed. "And now I have to deal with an arrogant son of a gun who likely wants to take over, if he's here." That was not going to be pleasant. It would mean a battle and he wasn't confident he could win it. He'd recall Tyrus to the court as a starting measure, and force Milo to take over the Isis duties for now. "I'll do my best to prepare. It'll be tricky, but doable." He was a Ra. He was part of a long line of people who could turn a vampire's own blood against them. There was a reason his family ruled the court.

"And I will leave you be. I honestly have no interest in you or your abilities, no offense intended. Ty is more than enough when it comes to strong arming anyone, or my own abilities are enough." He waved it off and smiled. "I am not greedy, nature and parentage aside. I lead because it is my duty, not out of any desire to. Had I no duty, I would continue to live my life in peace and be much happier for it." His entire existence as a vampire had been one long duty after another. He didn't desire power at all, but he was required to uphold his duty regardless, and he had a duty to the court to lead them carefully and thoughtfully, especially during such unusual times as these.

[Circe]

Catherine wasn't sure if she should be offended or not, she hadn't even brought up much other than the issues at large with Grigore. Never once had she gone out of her way to talk about herself and had in fact expressed concern for his court, despite her misgivings. Raising an eyebrow, she looked at Balthazar equally unimpressed. "I never said you were, and be careful what you wish for Lord Ra. Curses can and will come home to roost." She stated pointedly before turning to walk out. Council and MCU would have been more than willing to provide any assistance they could, but Balthazar was determined to handle things single handedly. If it was one thing Catherine had learned, was if a group stood divided, someone would take advantage of it.