Conversations in the Garden (Jon)

[Mari]

Things were changing and even though Mari was happy her husband was back she worried about him. The warm evening made her restless and so, with Vlad away tending to the needs of the kingdom she found herself wandering the garden. It had occurred to her that she could leave but it would do her no good. She had children to care for and even if Katia all but hated her she was still her mother and needed to be there for her. Ingeras was a bit more stable emotionally than his sister but he needed to know there was someone like himself in this place

And so, here she was, free to travel and yet not. The magical bindings had fallen away and she knew it years ago but she had stayed to keep the kingdom from falling into Chaos. The Council didn’t appreciate her – she was sure of that much. She had kept them on the path that Vlad had set before disappearing and had refused to waver in her resolve that her husband would return. The future of his royal line was at stake and she would not tolerate any suggestion that she forget him and move on.

Now of course they saw her wisdom. Vlad would be able to pick up the reigns easily and without too much difficulty. Now the Council would find themselves in a good position compared to what they might have been if she had let their blood lust take over the realm. If it was up to some of them they would have killed off the humans and werewolves and found themselves without food to sustain themselves. For her part she was trying to develop a blood substitute but it was difficult at best. The spark of life that blood had could not be fully replicated. That took the hand of the Creator and wouldn’t be something a laboratory could manufacture. The best they could do is a blood substitute that would keep hunger at bay for those vampires that had little to no control of their lust for blood.

The manufactured blood could sate the warriors who were addicted to the adrenaline of their victims but it would have to be monitored. She was glad that the vampiric veterans wouldn’t be mustered out and left to wander the streets. She had seen THAT on Earth and it hurt her. She had achieved the honor for these men and women that many had not gotten on Old Earth. It was then that she began to pick up on a presence and she turned to see who it was. Her crown was modest and delicate and the dress she wore seemed to float as she looked over at the person who had entered.

TAGGED: Jon
WORDS: 468
NOTES: Meeting with Jon
OUTFIT:OUTFIT

[Deleted]

Jon made practically no eye-contact whatsoever with any of the servants, guards he walked past on his way to Mari's garden. Still, it was mostly Angelique once he made eye-contact with her for a second, who he didn't give any more attention than that, his eyes conveying the message quite clearly in his own opinion when it came to trying to tell her more than obviously how just like always, he only expected her to show him the courtesy as he deserved by announcing him as her job was, before letting him and Mari get to business that was not meant for her ears. Still, it was a tricky arrangement, since he was still pretty sure that there were still things about Angelique's motives, that he knew a lot more than Mari seemed to, or she just didn't let on, he wasn't sure.

As the door opened to the garden, his eyes shortly went around, as usual taking in any potential changes in the garden that he could remark upon as a compliment or something, before his eyes went in front and he already smiled for a moment when he saw the figure of Mari standing there already more in the middle of the garden. Angelique shortly seemed to be throwing him a glare, before she looked in front of her and stood straighter, looking in Mari's direction. "Your Majesty, sir Jonothan is here for another visit." She said, her voice as neutral as possible, but there was enough of an underlying tone of something else in it, to make Jon look at the other vampire for a moment, a subtle threatening look hidden in his eyes.

Jon definitely also noticed soon enough how Angelique seemed to intentionally be waiting for the Queen to dismiss her, ignoring the look that Jon gave her as it wasn't the first time they went through this drill of him coming by to talk to Mari, and the girl making it clear that she didn't really care much for what he wanted or expected from her at all anymore, and that she would take Mari's orders over his in a heartbeat, so to speak at least. "Well... Anything particular you are waiting for, girl?" He couldn't help but mutter a little impatiently as he watched her in the corner of his eyes, noticing just a slight twitch of obviously restraining herself in her body language, but her not giving off any other clear signs of actually listening to him.

[Mari]

Turning slightly, Mari smiled warmly, "Thank you, Angelique. Would you mind having some tea brought here for his Grace and myself?" She sensed the hostility radiating from both parties and was uncertain what it stemmed from. Jon was known to be charming when he wanted something and abrasive and cruel to those he felt were beneath him. It would be wise to try and calm the situation if she could. She waited till Angelique was out of earshot before she spoke. Jon would not have snapped at the other woman had he wanted her there.

Moving forward slightly she curtsied to the Duke who stood before her, "You honor me with your presence your Grace. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" The smile on her face was genuine. She was trying to calm her guest and it would not do any good to show any sort of discord. "I'm afraid Vlad is out inspecting the troops today but he should be in shortly if you wish to speak with him." She would not presume to think Jon wished to speak to her. "You are free to wait here and have tea with me or you could wait in the library. It is quiet there and we just got some new books in that might be of interest to you."

It was small talk, inconsequential and quiet. Mari wasn't the type to be rude unnecessarily. The warm evening air made the roses in the garden sway ever so slighly with the willow tree that was in the corner. When Angelique returned she smiled, "Thank you, Angelique. This looks delightful. I think his Grace wishes to speak with me in private so would you mind waiting inside? The guards are around if anything runs amiss and I think your expertise will be needed for the event we're throwing next week." She wasn't the type to shove someone aside. She did her best to make sure that her servants felt valued and needed and that they could stretch their creativity when they needed to.

Once Angelique had left she looked quizzically at Duke Radcliff, "Now what is it you really wanted to speak with me about, Your Grace?" her gentle eyebrow raised in curiosity, "You know I no longer have the power to act as I have been with Vlad coming home. Things will no doubt go back as they were with loyal followers being rewarded for keeping with the status quo."

TAGGED: Jon
WORDS: 423
NOTES: Meeting with Jon
OUTFIT:OUTFIT

[Deleted]

Jon smiled as he listened to what Mari said to him, bowing his head a little and smiling more at her. "You honor me with your words." Grins as he lowers his arms again, thinking for a moment as she asked him what the purpose was of this visit. "I realized that it had been some time since last we had the chance for a good conversation. And honest and open one, I mean. That since I basically saved the council and my responsibilities increased. I did also not want you to think that I had forgotten about you since then." Smiles charmingly as he walks a little and looks around the garden for a second before back at her.

Jon chuckled softly and shrugged innocently, as he shook his head and looked at her again. "I do kind of like the innocence, but I have a different date for a meeting with Vlad, I assure you." He said, calmly hinting on purpose how he wasn't here for him, as he calmly sat down, his eyes shooting at Angelique as she came back in, having opened his mouth to say something, but closing it instead as he waited for her to leave. "Of course, your Majesty. If there is anything else I can do for you, anything at all, you know where to find me." Angelique said, putting on a bit of a sweet smile, bowing a little, before making her leave.

"It appears your Lady Angelique still hasn't exactly taken much of a liking to me." Jon said dryly, with an innocent smile as he looked at the tea. He looked back up at her, listening to what she asked him and then followed up with, about her not having the power to act as she had before now that Vlad was back, and what she followed up to that. "I already realized that, but it is also a very... Common thing to say to me, it almost comes out of you as if you rehearsed it in front of the mirror since he returned." He remarked, raising an eyebrow in a studying way.

He shrugged again, taking a slight sip from his tea, his eyes staying on her though in the process, lowering the cup steadily. "I do suppose that one good thing is, that with him back, it means that whoever this sneaky ally of yours is, it will make it harder for them to get to you." he said, his look becoming more serious for a moment, putting the cup back down. "Isn't it funny, how in the last few years it seems that this... 'Contact' and defender of yours and this Black Butterfly, seem to have some certain things in common?" He asked her innocently, pretty curious to her reply to that.

"Hm... Well, we both here know that I am a very loyal follower. Although, we all know that things change, and Vlad's return... Plainly put, doesn't exactly do away with all that I have accomplished. As I said, you and I know that I will be loyal, and take the rewards. But, I have come to realize, that for the better of our species, there will have to come a day, possibly after a storm, who can say, that I will help our species rise again." He eventually decided to tell her boldly, a charming smile on his face, but her reaction to it would give him quite a few answers to some of the questions he was wondering about, of the situation here, and how he could subtly try and pull the strings in his favor eventually.

[Mari]

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“Indeed, Your Grace. There are few here who wish to converse with me save for you and those whom have no choice.” She was honest in her words and saw no reason to hide behind them. The council generally disliked Mari because she was not a vampire and in their minds could not understand their ways. “It is kind of you to speak with me at all. I know there are many who would never bother to do so.”

His comments of how he saved the council made her nod quietly, “And we are forever in your debt, Duke Radcliff. Indeed had it not been for your decisive actions after the king’s disappearance I would have feared for my life and the life of my children.” She wondered why he had done such things, “I wonder why you did it. Many sought the throne themselves. Why did you not place a bid for the crown yourself?” There was no malice in her words just curiosity as she tried to figure out his motives.

“Innocence?” Mari was legitimately confused by his words, “I’m sure you and Vlad will soon be back to discussing the running of the kingdom in short order. There are no doubt many things to discuss.” Her face grew sad and she felt her throat catch for a moment. Pausing she gently took her cup in her hand and sipped it. It hurt that she would go back to being discounted and ignored. She knew she should not care but in this mortal coil with it’s emotions she found that the hurt of rejection never quite left her. Even her own daughter hated her it seemed these days. Even though she knew that Katya was meeting with folks that were far from savory. She knew that forbidding her would be far worse than hoping the younger woman would see any manipulation for what it was.

“I am fine, Angelique. I thank you for your kindness.” She said warmly to the other woman. The edge of sorrow around her seemed to just hint around the edges of her words but she said nothing. Shifting in her seat lightly she forced herself to focus on her guest and not be a wet blanket. “She is very…protective. In the early days when I first came here there were those that were less than kind and she has not forgotten how others can be cruel to those that are not like themselves.”

She raised an eyebrow, “Why wouldn’t I say the occasional common thing to you, Your Grace? It’s true. I do not have the power I once did and I will not pretend that I do. Vlad had not been here five minutes when two people broke my foot.” There was no point in lying to him about it and the more it was out in the open the better. “My ally simply makes sure that I am defended when things are dire, Your Grace. As to who my ally is I know not and I prefer to keep it that way for both our sakes.” She said simply as she smoothed her gown and tried to relax.

“Indeed your Grace. I think in that regard you and Vlad have that much in common. He returned with new purpose and I have every confidence that the two of you shall be brothers in arms once more in a common cause. Vlad remembers and rewards those who aid the royal family. I have no doubt that your services will be remembered and sung about by our best bards of the realm.” She assured him. She knew the man was bloodthirsty and had expansionist dreams that he wanted to make happen. She just failed to see what good she could do in that regard.

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Tagged: Jon
Words: 647
Notes: First meeting with Jon
Outfit: OUTFIT

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[Deleted]

Jon smiled a little, making a shaking motion with his head to indicate that he didn't really agree with that statement. He did notice however how honest she was in it, but he also meant it that he thought it wasn't exactly true. "As always you seem to highly underestimate the value of your company. But I cannot say that being kept here does much good for that." He said, giving her a kind, understanding smile, even though he did obviously not really agree with the situation itself.

"And of course, in so doing, also making sure that there was no harm in you, in Vlad's absence from other ambitious individuals. But that hasn't stopped just because he has returned now." He said innocently, as he smiled gratefully for her acknowledgement of it, but not being able to resist to point this out as subtle, but as clear as he could. Even if she already said so basically. As he heard her question and noticed her curiousity, he stepped closer calmly and cocked his head to the side as he looked at her. "I wonder when you'd allow yourself to ask me that. Truth is, I simply knew it was not the right time, I had to set priorities first. And if they realize it or not, what would the vampire community be without you?" He said and asked semi-rhetorically.

Even after leaving the garden, Jon could almost feel it in his bones how Angelique was probably still close by, just in case. It did impress him though how Mari didn't seem to fully realize the other girl's intentions for her at the moment, which would probably keep going until someone truly caught her attention again. "I suppose that protective is a good thing, although I have to admit I get the feeling that it is not all that she is after." He said, before innocently shrugging for a moment. He did nod, his look a bit more serious as even he definitely knew how right those words were that she spoke.

Jon sighed, looking thoughtfully to the side for a few seconds, before his gaze found his way back to her. "Truth is that I still believe that you have a tendency to put yourself in a background where you do not belong. Fragile or not, you shouldn't let yourself be shelved away like an old forgotten book." He told her honestly, keeping his eyes on hers. "Let me just say then, that if I am correct about the possible connection with this ally, that there have been plenty of vampires who lost their lives." He couldn't help but say, his eyes narrowing for a split second, before softening his expression again.

Jon smiled, making a slight bow of his head, as if showing gratitude for those words, even though for a man like himself, it was still a nightmare sometimes to be in someone else's shadow, especially when that someone had been gone, then returned and thought it could just go back to how it was. "Yes, and I am sure I will give him plenty of reasons to reward me graciously. I just want you to keep in mind, that if it were to happen again that he were to dissapear, as I said, my protection is still there."

[Mari]

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There was no point in giving up the game it would only bite her in the end and so she shrugged her shoulders in disinterest. "I was not brought to this place because the king valued my opinion." She said gently to the Duke before her. Her job wasn't to offer advice. It was to give comfort and to hold things together when the king had need of such thing. It was hard to know how sincere Jon was in his compliments. She received many of them from the very people that would replace her if they could.

"Of course not. There will always be those who think that they can step on others to get ahead. This is nothing new to me, Your Grace. You forget just how old I am." she teased him gently with a smile and wink as if they both knew something the rest of the court did not. "I just age well."

"They would be happier knowing that there were no more outsiders knowing their business for one." she said dryly as she looked over at him, "And I ask because we both know you had many opportunities given to you to take over in the interest of "keeping the kingdom together" and yet you did not. And so it leaves me to wonder what your longer plan is. I'm sure your allies are quite put out at your stalling."

There was no point in appearing to be totally ignorant of the world. "You remember as well as I do that when I first arrived here I barely spoke and wandered these very halls completely disinterested in politics. I remember how you caught me staring at the pattern on a tapestry. I'd been studying it for nearly four hours when you arrived and yet you never once asked why that was. Neither did Angelique. While I am not certain of all of Angelique's motives, she has, as have you, been kind to me when you did not have to be. And I have not forgotten that. And so, for the moment, I choose to not delve too deeply into the motives of that kindness because it would be insulting to you both after all you have done."

It was a very circular speech and did nothing to indicate how aware she was of either of their motives but it let both of them know she was watching if nothing else. "The best books are those that are as of yet undescovered, Your Grace. The thrill of knowledge is it's own reward. It is a pity so few choose to look beyond the cover to see what lies therein."

"Tis indeed a shame that that has come to pass and yet I would think one such as yourself would appreciate the culling of those who have neither the talent nor skill to do their jobs adiquitely after all, if they were skilled they would not be such easy targets." He was too proud to have less than the best around him so he should be happy that Agatha was culling the less skilled from his army. "One would almost think you were amassing an army. Tell me, what is it you worry about, Your Grace?"

"Indeed. We cannot forget the help you have been to the crown. Though I fail to see what else we could give you that we have not. You are the head of the Council and a Duke." She moved gracefully and took a sip from her tea. "You have all of the power and very little of the responsibility. What else could you possibly want?"

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Tagged: Jon
Words: 613
Notes: I love this thread.

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[Deleted]

Jon cocked his head to the side, finding it interesting how Mari obviously decided to keep up the game, but the words she used to do so, were somewhat interesting as well. "Interesting choice of words, considering you'd think you were here for more than just being pretty and something he can somewhat fall back on. It seems a little demeaning, considering all that you are." He said, choosing his words carefulyl as he grinned innocently while making eye-contact with her.

A soft chuckle came from Jon as he nodded to her slight teasing, before he shrugged casually. "I do not forget such things, but you are a little correct. However, one such as I does have to look at the bigger picture, who is worth more than another, and even than they think so themselves." He said, before he took a calm look around the garden, as if he wanted her to let the words sink in for a moment, before he eventually looked back at her again.

"Tact." He said quite simply with a smile, before he took a sip from his tea, putting it back down and looking at her again. "It is something most vampires lack, even if they think they do not. A longer plan isn't something you create and then abandon when you suddenly get a chance you did not consider to begin with. Even then, you have to keep the bigger picture in mind, think of the different outcomes. Do not get me wrong, as I made my allies abundantly clear, I know my time will come, and that I will make us vampires truly strong again." He said, a smirk crossing his lips as his words were genuine and filled with determination about it. She asked, so he was willing to give her that answer.

Her words about him and Angelique were pretty right, something that kind of bothered him for a few seconds before he pushed it away and thought about it more. He did wonder though if Mari was truly ignorant about his former dealings with the other vampire, or if she knew but just accepted it like she pretty much showed to do with the rest she obviously knew, of both of them already. "I see, I have to say you should not forget your own kindness, in doing so." He said, as he gave her a kind smile on purpose.

He also made it quite clear that he recognized the way she said it carefully, and that he appreciated her managing to do so, where he knew that plenty people didn't expect her to be able to do so. "How about a book you did try to look past the cover, but were disappointed by the outcome?" He asked her, as he smiled innocently, as he intentionally did hint a little at the former alliance between the two, to try and judge her reaction to it.

His eyes narrowed, a certain sharpness in them for just a second as he took in her words about the Black butterfly and what she eventually asked him with how it almost seemed he was amassing an army. 'In this world, and these times? There isn't much I don't worry about. And even some of the weaker links, are links, and it will be in everyone's interest if we can have a force of our own when comes to it, a day I feel is getting closer and closer. Let me ask you, what will happen when this individuals desire to protect you for the greater good, conflicts with your own desire for doing something?" He told her, and then countered immediately with a question of his own.

As Jon finished his tea and watched her moving gracefully as she drank from her own tea, he eventually cocked his head to the side again as he put the cup down. 'Hm, I think that is something for me to know, and possibly someday, for you to find out. But not today." He told her mysteriously, as he smiled teasingly a little and winked at her as well.

[Mari]

“I have two children that I love. I hardly think that I have been suffering all these years, Your Grace.” She said simply with a smile, “When my first husband died and then my first child was stolen away I didn’t think I would ever be happy again but like the rain, the sadness passed and I found a purpose again.” She said with a soft smile. She would always miss her son, Micah. The loss of him had devastated her for almost millennia. Only the births of Katya and Ingeras had helped heal the wound in her heart from having her firstborn taken from her.

“Well then I shall hope that I hold enough value to you that you do not wish to be rid of me.” She smiled innocently enough. She did hope whatever his motives that he would not harm anyone she cared about. “Indeed. War is on the horizon; Your Grace and you would do well to prepare for it. There is unsettling news from Firegorge Mountain. Talk of a new foe. It is mostly whispers and stories but then there are tales of how Vlad came down from the mountains as a vampire because men needed to fear monsters.”

At the mention of her own kindness she shrugged, “I am doing what I was created to do, Your Grace. I do not forget kindnesses given to me. Indeed I’d say that my purpose is to remind others of the kindnesses they receive.” She gave a half smile to him. She’d given long hints to him and hoped he could figure them out. He would be the one managing the news when it hit the council.

“Even those books we do not like serve a purpose, Your Grace. They help form us into the people we are as much as by shaping our character as those tomes we adore. The world is not milk and honey and often the hardships one faces show more clearly the kind of person they are then all the joys in the world.” “At very least you know your own mind and that is no small thing. Many people spend their entire lives never having one independent thought of their own.”

The mention of Agatha brought a smile, “I doubt that will happen but if it does I’m sure the Creator will step in.” She shrugged and smiled at him warmly. “I see well then I guess you shall have to surprise me, Your Grace. I only hope that it is a pleasant surprise.”