Big Dicc Marty
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[Continued from Finance and Frustration: Talks, involving darkfox202 (Asteri), Jack Pine (Heinrich) and @Madison Ešterra#3306 (Aliset)]
Now with freedom and nobody to watch over her, Alloy was prepared to work until exhausted. As she breached into the hall, her eyes immediately caught the duchess waiting outside. She only lingered on her for a moment before gazing away to the rest of the party, a hodge podge genetic mess. Alloy’s smile hid the confusion at the various species before her and all of the questions that followed, replaced now with a simple, “Hello. I am Alloy, the Gem of the Collective. It is a pleasure to be here in your palace. A distinct lack of obsidian and tapestries. Hopefully I can learn from you all.” The faux friendliness was almost staggering to herself, the things that brief training course taught her were still fresh and novel.
"A pleasure to meet you, Asteri. I am glad that fine taste runs in your husband's family." Aliset gave a soft bow to Asteri, and a warm smile before she turned to Alloy's voice. The inward twist of disdain was quickly crushed under the xenopolitician's acceptance of a friendly greeting, one that demanded an equal reprisal. "Good day, Alloy! I am Aliset Soren, one of the Shuristan xenopolicy advisors assigned to bringing this world safely and healthily into the greater Galactic Community. Your escort is among the best in the business among the many worlds I know, and I can think of no better, aside your own competent care to guard her safety and privacy. Would you like to join us for a meal? I'll be doing Shuristan traditional spinefish and cannonfruit greens!"
Asteri gave another smile at Aliset’s greeting, letting loose a small chuckle at her praise and extricating herself from Heinrich in order to face the Senti, though she did peck Heinrich on the cheek. “Some might debate that- I know Gale tends to wonder why Belm- er, Heinrich, and I have started to visit the trinket shop recently.” She gave another small bow to Aliset, struggling this time without Heinrich’s arm to aid her- she put a hand on her side to help stand back up, saying slightly confidently to Aliset: “Kits. If they’re already like this now, I can hardly imagine what they’re going to be like running around!” At that, the foxgirl gave another giggle, tilting her head and brushing out a strand of orange hair.
Though, her smile did turn more strained upon hearing the...friendly...compliments the two Sen- er, Aliset had asked the other one be called a Tsulrati. Annnyways, the compliments they were giving each other were just…. Yes, they sounded friendly, but… Well, the other Senti, Alloy, her praises were very.. General. And vague. And short. And Aliset’s own response was an almost opposite response: too eloquent and flowy. Some might even call it too.. Verbose? Yeah. Verbose was the word…
Wait. Did she just say Spinefish? Asteri had no idea why, but the concept of eating spinefish with mayonnaise was just really appealing to her right now. “Hopefully you have room for two more?” After practically exclaiming that, Asteri turned around to face Heinrich and looked at him, giving the most pleading expression she could muster.
“Let’s get away from the meeting room, leave them be for now. Knowing my representative, she hates company.” Alloy began to step away from the door as she began to search for interesting areas to drag the Duskerians to, “I would be happy to enjoy Senti cuisine, as unappetizing as spinefish sounds. No offense.” She moved with complete carelessness. While her representative seemed very thoughtful on every movement and every word, Alloy was cocky and seemed to claim this palace as hers even if she were staying for only a short time
Aliset ignored the guard's tasteless comment, growling a soft, musical curse in Shuristan as she took the lead. "Miss Spark has gotten quite proficient in the making of soup dumplings and use of Shuristan cooking equipment. I am sure she would have been a Chef, rather than a Civil Servicewoman."
“Maybe if not born a soldier, like a number of our family. Fighting is undeniably in her blood, but her wife has definitely been a good equalizer for her. I much prefer the life of a scholar myself, granted I will still fight if absolutely necessary. And since we’re talking life paths, perhaps you could tell us about your studies Asteri? I know your father has been quite proud.” Heinrich hoped she would forgive him for using her to lead on the subject, but hopefully understanding of why. If he was going to be here, he would like to lead things to less negative bickering as it seemed to be devolving to.
Asteri blinked upon hearing Heinrich’s question, tilting her head in his direction. After a moment’s silence- well, not quite, as the woman took a deep breath. She had to collect her thoughts, after all- Asteri brightened back up and enthusiastically answered her fiance’s question: “Of course Be- er, Heinrich! Currently, I’m in university at the moment to help develop my role as the crown prince’s personal mage, and magical advisor! Right now, I’m finishing my studies in Life magic- in general, using it to actually heal, as opposed to using it for research- as I was being taught a different avenue back at my home planet, Andraste- though I’m fully expecting when I’m done with that, I’ll probably begin a crash course on all the other magics.”
Asteri paused and took a deep breath, before continuing on in a breathless manner: “Of course, I don’t expect to actually be able to use most of the other magics, as attuning yourself and your DEF caster to more than one element is incredibly difficult, but knowing how they work in theory is always good! Besides, magic in general is a pretty wondrous thing- I can give you a pretty good example on my homeplanet, actually! Y’see, Andraeste is actually…” The fox girl stopped when Heinrich pulled her in slightly, and reddened slightly. “B-but yeah. That basically summarized my role to Heinrich. Aside from being his future wife. Which, of course, is just as important as being an advisor, as you can see.” At that, Asteri grinned slightly and pointed at her extended stomach. “Kit- er, kids and all that.”
Asteri then turned to face Alloy. “If I may ask, how did you end up with the Druhvians? They seem awfully proud of you, if they call you the ‘Gem of the Collective.’ Would it be too intrusive to ask?”
“Too far back to remember. I was adopted as a baby. I simply grew up in the Collective as a foster child. Once I was old enough, I joined the Berserker military.” Alloy slowed her movement once she was being followed. Her eyes caught onto the other ruler as she roamed. It was a cautious stare and observation. He smelled weird when he introduced himself. Probably some bio-engineered evolution of these weird smooth skinned things. Fellen said the NDC file names them humans. She’d have seen more.
“Drhuvs have this tradition during training. I should say challenge. The goal is to steal the flag of your training facility and then your commanding officers cover. It was my first claim to fame. A Senti, butt naked, sneaking around the base covered in a flag and wearing her officers hat. He uh…” She paused to stop that cold sense from rising on her skin. It took a long breath for her to regain her voice. “Anyway, they let me keep the flag. Got it turned into souvenirs. Wearing them now.” The gem managed a clean grin to conceal the violent memory.
She turned away from the Archduke posted at his throne and to the three behind her. “You all have magic? Do not answer, Senti. I know you do. But the NDC has… magic? The fictional thing? It is not just an exaggeration by salesmen claiming their new technology to be magical?”
"Duskerian magics are fairly interesting in their elemental properties, I'll admit," Aliset smiled in defiance to the Gem. "It is far different from those used by many cultures, but similar in many ways. Like Senti magics, the knowledge and power needed to twist local reality to your whims are channeled through a medium. For Duskerians and for Andraesti, that medium is the caster. For others, it may be an ancestral material or object. Others may utilize a form of contract with eldritch or cosmic entities. But, Asteri, I would recommend speaking with your sister-wife, Sutessetu. As I remember, she spent a couple decades with Vaigarin medical mages, and is widely considered to be the mother of modern Senti medical magics, despite her youth of only seventy or eighty years."
“Cryo has a tendency to make me feel old everyday when someone mentions 70 being young. Chronologically pushing somewhere around two hundred and thirty.” Heinrich chuckled, mentally rolling his eyes at the petty display of the two bickering passively. “To answer your question however, yes we do. What most cultures call mana is our main source of power for such abilities. However, most of the power is drawn from environmental examples of the element in our surroundings. That being said, most require an assistance device to do it properly, a DEF caster as my wife put it. But some can do it without one, through arcane formal training that have been passed down in their families.”
The prince was happy to answer the topic, his mind oddly wondering what she meant by souvenirs. Military training games were not much his thing, but he couldn’t help but be curious. His mind settled on a couple possible items with how she spoke of wearing it, and wondered if perhaps Gale was starting to rub off on him more then he realized. “I myself am a gravitational based caster, meaning I can influence the gravity of objects when planet bound. But in space with no atmospheric filtering, or gravity to influence my own, I can affect areas instead of specific objects.”
Asteri tilted her head in Aliset’s direction curiously, before continuing on: “Yes, as part of the NDC, we’re trained to use DEF casters- and how to maintain them as well! And I may try, ma’am-” This was addressed to Aliset- “-but I’m quite busy trying to learn NDC’s modern medical magics myself!” She thought a moment about elaborating, but then Heinrich joined in with his input. She smiled at him, only interrupting him right after he said he was a gravitational caster to chirp in: “I’m focused in the school of Life!” Thankfully, she had the sense to stay quiet until her fiance finished speaking before continuing on with the explanation of magic: “This ‘mana,’ as Heinrich calls it, or the more proper and technical term ‘Élan,’ can take a variety of forms… hence our schools of magic! These schools of magic are furthermore broken down into disciplines- for example, while I’m in the school of Life, my focus is on ‘Vita,’ or the application using magic to heal and..or.. manipulate the physical properties- and sometimes mental-slash-psychological-slash-magical interactions to the body. The other major discipline is botanical, which is focused on the same application, except towards plants.”
Asteri was really wishing she had glasses and a teaching stick at the moment. “So, even though I’m skilled in healing people, I’m not quite as good as manipulating plants, though that doesn’t mean I can’t learn! We do disciplines in order to specialize and produce greater results! And these two are just the ‘major’ lines of thinking in Life. There may be other lines of focus in manipulating life energies, but if there are, they aren’t a major course in NDC’s university.”
She paused for a moment, trying to think of anything else she missed; however, during her mental review, something popped in her head. “Alloy, do the Druhvs not use magic? Oh, and I’m also not talking about any sort of shenanigans such as super advanced technology or whatever that third rule of Clerkson? What was it, Belmes? ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic?’ or something like that?”
“No. We do not have magic.” Alloy’s eyebrows furrowed until a sneer carried the fangs evolved to accommodate the near carnivorous diet of a Drhuv. It took a moment of processing, the silver face flush with a blue rage was justifying her next actions. Alloy asked for magic from these duskerians, not from the Senti who she already knew had magic. The expression softened, the tide of anger subsiding with a huff that finally relaxed her shoulders and ended in a quiet chuckle.
“Aliset! Nomad!” Alloy took a step forward, her rested body allowing a swing. She wasn’t looking to control her weight much. She was looking to approach with a frightening comfort. The gem’s voice was almost blissful. She dared to treat this insolent and disobedient thing, prey even, as an old friend she finally caught up to. “Apollyon.” Like the slow tension of muscles coiling into a pounce, the voice turned low and aggressive at the cursed title she branded the black and gold armored woman. “You are very fortunate!” It rose again as the distance slowly cleared and the harsh emerald eyes grew more clear with intention. “You are in the place to know several different forms of magic. Both from steel and from the world.”
Alloy finally halted in front of Aliset, uncomfortably close, nigh leaning into her. The Drhuv raised her hand and extended the claw of her index and thumb, acting quick as to grab the offender's jaw. “It is unfortunate that despite this, you cannot learn nor cast self-preservation.” The sharp tips of the claws finally pierced the iron skin of the duchess, clearly disregarding the two close by that would come to arms in defense of their royalty. The cold stinging scent of fear slowly permeated off of Alloy. Manually triggered as to add more overwhelming force against the Senti representative that had caught the crosshairs of this Hunter. “I did not ask for your voice. Do as you rust skins do and sing your naïve lullabies to all that you lay. I am not fond of your games.” The previously concealed fangs revealed themselves again as the guard spoke. It was a learned method of aggression, speaking with her fangs.
“I will bleed your neck with my teeth next.” Alloy finished her belligerence by pushing Aliset’s face away and keeping her feet firm on the ground below. Her actions processed, having mostly acted on an learned instinct. It was invigorating to prey on prey and not be defending against predators but she knew the two beside her would soon retaliate after the fog of confusion cleared.
Instinctively, Aliset locked her mag boots, securing herself to the metal reinforcements below with powerful magnetic fields. Turning to the side allowed her to shift the force of Alloy's push over her shoulder, a hand casually resting on the knife on her hip. "Do not jeer your sister for her family, rusteater. You may be Drhuv, but your Tsulrati is showing."
Aliset's lip turned up in a sharp, aggressive click of her tongue, her mind racing with what horrible things could have given this guard fangs like that. It seemed all three sets of her cuspids had lengthened, becoming weapons to rip and tear meat. She dared not search for weld burns. "You'll find my taste as mine for you, so test me not, little guardian. You shall quickly find yourself in my waters."
There was a faint yet unsettling sound of shifting flesh, before a strong magnetic force would soundly bring Alloy a greater familiarity with the nearby wall. Anyone turning to look at the others, would find a less-than pleased expression on a more draconic looking Heinrich. Some scales had shown more, his own teeth now visibly much sharper, as well as eyes that narrowed in predatory slits of irritation. His hand that was slightly raised in gesture, which had caused Alloy to find herself gravitationally bound to the wall, was now more claw than human hand.
“I suppose I should apologize for that, but I won’t. You do not draw blood here, especially not that of a royal.” A deep growl emanated from his throat, something that even surprised himself, as well as the sparks he noticed coming from his own mouth. The instincts of this new body were very strong, another new part of himself he was learning to adjust to. However, it was also strong enough to be influenced by his base emotions as well, a glance to his other hand showing his arm around Asteri went unchanged thankfully.
“To be frank, for someone who’s meant to be a political guard. I find you severely lacking in common sense for such a job. Your handler will be notified of this minor transgression.”
Asteri, meanwhile, had rushed over to Aliset and was already putting one of her spellcards in her DEF caster. Admittedly, it wasn’t her main, fancy one, but Asteri suspected that a fancified card-holder with seven slots wouldn’t exactly fit for an occasion like this. Anyways, Asteri had already begun casting the healing spell on the Senti, a green aura emitting around the claw marks on Aliset’s jaw and closing the wounds, and Asteri idly, acidly, remarked: “There were other ways to see my healing magic in action, aside from actually hurting someone!”
As the fox-girl was concentrating on the matter at hand, she really didn’t pay attention to what was occurring on the other end of the room. At least, until Heinrich spoke- rather, growled. She turned her head back, and looked at Heinrich, taking stock of the situation. “Belmes, dear?” Asteri’s voice was slightly strained. “Do let her go.” Her healing was finished. She moved next to her husband-to-be, and attempted to place a hand on his shoulder- though, he was so tall now, she had to reach a bit. Anyways, she spoke in a low voice to him. “Belmes, stay calm. I do agree separating them was a good idea, but we’re supposed to be a neutral party, remember? No favoritism.” At that, she stepped back, and looked at the two Senti- Aliset’s request be damned at the moment.
“My husband does speak sense. Alloy, you are here for diplomatic reasons, as in, you know, peaceful talking without bloodshed? I know Aliset has been needling you, but please, be the stronger ma- er, woman- and disregard such comments, instead of trying to ruin the entire point of this meeting!” After glaring at Alloy for a moment, she turned to face Aliset. “And you. I see you dislike Druhvs, but please, please, stay reasonable and stop trying to bait and taunt the person you are trying to make a deal with. As I said to Alloy, the entire point of this meeting is for diplomatic talks.”
Asteri sighed. “Please. Don’t make the NDC another of your petty little battlegrounds, since it seems you two can’t stand each other and have been through this before. Now, let us be civil again, and if anything like this happens again, I’m certain the crown prince will not hesitate to throw BOTH of you out of here.” After her reproachful dress-over, she slumped into a chair and placed a hand on her stomach, and wearily asked Heinrich: “Belmes? D‘you think you could call a servant over? This entire thing has made me want something to eat.”
The pinned guard began to shift uncomfortably as she listened to the two talk. She'd only been pinned by her bones once and it was no more pleasant than now. Nevertheless, her chin raised and she grinned defiantly. "I'm doing my job! Not one person here is worried about my representative, no?" She cackled like a witch as her eyes descended on the claws and fangs of the man who loved to get around. "Still learning, huh? You look a little uncomfortable with those big fangs. Do not threaten me, I am well trained with mine."
Alloy turned her eyes to the woman she just scratched, then rolled them at the unimpressive conflict. "I'd offer for you to drown me in these so-called waters but it seems you'd rather get the entire court to do it for you. Are you scared, your highness? Does this brush with danger need to be eased with a massage? Senti are such hard workers too, shame you were groomed from it. Even worse, you still dare wear their skin. With pride, I might add." The guard was making her "political training" obvious. Her job there was disruption. By being a bigger target than her representative, she could ensure the meeting went as planned. But besides this, the duchess was a particular favorite of the intruder. There was no greater target for a Drhuv than a Senti, hundreds of years of feuds and fights bred such perfect malice.
The fanged woman looked to pull her arm free from the magnetics, groaning as her own bone slowly pulled her back. An ugly pop forced her to stop trying, the pressure and constant movement having forced her shoulder to contort into a constant twist against the wall. She regretted that the only access to her combat stimulants were on her right hip, as the ability to numb the long seething groan coming from her throat would be priceless. "Get me from this damned pin and show me what still remains of your work ethic, Apollyon. Maybe even be different from the rest and stop fleeing from danger."
Aliset grinned, now angry at the guard. "Alright, little skydas. Let us see what little you can do against me!"
Waving Asteri off, she strode towards the wall Alloy was stuck to, not quite intent on gloating. "Release her, Heinrich. Her goal here is to prove me unpredictable and dangerous, discrediting me with her actions by my own speciesism. Release her so I may handle this personal insult myself. I know Mark sees this through our son's eyes, Alloy. Your disruptive nature will derail talks faster than if I, myself intruded upon them."
“I think you fail to understand the level of tact required in your job, guard. Every transgression you commit here, will only draw more attention to your party as a whole, as both of you will be held responsible for any damages. If this is the kind of behavior we can expect from you, then you will have forfeited any right to linger.” Heinrich subconsciously scared himself as he felt the slight heat of flames lick his own lips, as they rolled from his throat with the sparks. “I will not release her until she has given proof of her tame nature, and self control.”
She was right though, the very glow of his irises should have been the sign to all who knew, that his geist was running one of it’s more intensive functions. A deep heated sigh came forth though, as he attempted to ease himself down, unhappy with how the situation had baited his fresh instincts. His hope at this point was that talks would still continue even if somewhat now stressed by what had just happened.
The silver skinned woman suppressed a chuckle, trying not to insult the group with an uncaring demeanor. Watching this dragon prince become enraged was amusing to her, to say the least.
“You are outraged, though I think for more than you should.” Alloy spoke, attempting to contort the situation to her advantage. Her eyes descended upon the Senti before her, just ever so close. “She is a Senti Representative. While you may not be fond of my treatment of her, it is natural and standard.” The guard looked back up to the prince that held her. “Were she in your colors, your clothing, your emblems, I would not have acted so. However, she is dressed in honey and black. She is not your duchess now. She is a representative of her culture. She even stated so herself.”
Good beginnings, Alloy decided to relax in the hold she was subjected to. The twisting of her arm slightly gave. “I do not insult you, prince. Nor the lovely woman at your side. Us and the Senti have long known and established how we handle meetings with each other. Welcome to our tradition. I offer you three approaches. You may allow the Drhuv and Senti to handle each other as standard and as your Duchess orders, She may renounce, temporarily, her current position as representative to the Senti and become Duchess or I can do as most Senti would to escape a situation. One I am certain your Duke is common with…” Alloy cleared her throat and breathed deep as she prepared for the worst she had to offer. Once she had exhaled, her eyes looked to Heinrich and a small whine trailed her voice and piercing aroma of copper, “Harder, daddy~”
Asteri’s eyebrow rose higher and higher the longer this Alloy spoke. She glanced at her fiance, before looking back at Alloy. “Uhm. So, what you’re basically saying is that the entire point of this peace talk is to just use it as an excuse to beat up and essentially, wage war on the Senti?” The fox girl’s brow furrowed in confusion. “If you’re insisting on fighting, why even participate in the peace talks? The only consequences I can think of, about you trying to, y’know, injure the other diplomat, are the opposite of peace.” Asteri then placed a hand on her chin, clearly flustered. At what, Asteri had honestly no idea what to define at the moment.
"That is what it would seem, isn't it, Asteri?" Aliset gave a deep sigh. "Look, Drhuv, I am willing to put my speciesism and my people's propaganda aside for the sake of my husband's country and peaceful relations with your kin. But your personal insults and jibes I cannot abide. I am not sure you are the best candidate for a peaceful forward movement. You disturb me on an instinctive level, your aggression indicates your fear of becoming prey in a place where the dynamic doesn't exist… Please, put a leash on your traumas."
Her voice softened from its raging growl to a calm, almost maternal tone as she spoke, though her rage was barely contained, arcs of power flowing across her armor as minor magnetic and gravitational anomalies started to mount, spacetime starting to destabilize around the Senti in a coming storm.
Heinrich had not released his hold, and had not planned to, his gaze fixed sternly on the troublemaker. However, that changed as the decision in the meeting was made, taking on a more “ouch” sort of expression. “Hate to interrupt, or sour this any further, but you seem to have been tossed under the bus. You’re staying here to be detained for this mess, your own boss’s orders, and that of the archduke. My condolences, the guards will be here shortly.”
What?
The face of the previously cocksure guard fell into despair, then a haze of confusion as she attempted to wrangle and rationalize what the prince had told her. Alloy’s emerald eyes slowly lost the gleam of confidence.
Her first struggle was to try and release herself from the binding magnetism that had ground her very bones to the wall, her arms began pulling, twisting and contorting in every attempt to gain control. She wanted to grapple onto some wall, some other area and wretch herself free of this invisible hold or get her hand to inject the mix of toxins that pulled her from reality and let a hysterical strength loose for combat.
Finding that she didn’t have her pillar of strength and complex tactics that had been seared into the inside of her skull, it came down to the idea that, maybe, Fellen had something planned. Drhuvs work in packs, however complex that may be in this modern era, they were still sisters. These Duskerian fools didn’t know anything about the Collective, about us. Her confidence returned and she relaxed again. Alloy knew something they didn’t. She fucked up, sure, but her councilwoman was there for her. She just needed to stay put and let her handle things. Yeah, surely.
The emerald eyes gained tranquility. This was saveable. Dumbass prince and her duchess don’t know what is coming for them. The Drhuvian council was behind her!
"What?" Aliset's head whipped in Heinrich's direction, the rage and distaste now fully directed at that news as the power arced across her body, searing the floor with the plasma kiss of a minor electrical anomaly. "They would abandon their Gem? A proud and innocent warrior loyal to her people above her own species? No. Alloy EšDrhuv shall not be arrested. She has been reassigned as my personal envoy. I will return her to her homeland and meet the leader that would put such a shameful excuse for a political ploy in her rightful place as worth less than derelict alloys. She will see justice. Not simple punishment for performing her duty."
“...Uhm. Ali? I don’t think… attempting to kill you unprovoked… Or whatever you want to call that move- which drew blood, I may remind you- is part of the duty of a guard.” Asteri’s face was a strained deadpan. “I mean, if you want to be a punching bag for Alloy, be my guest. Just be aware, I prooobably won’t heal you, since I can’t outheal stupidity.” Asteri put her finger and thumb on the bridge of her nose upon saying that.
“Besides. I don’t think that making her your personal envoy is your decision to make. Because, y’know, the archduke made her a prisoner; she is the archduke’s to handle, not yours.” Asteri’s finger pinch became a face rub as she began thinking, though she did cast a sympathetic glance at Alloy from time to time. “With that being said, I don’t think we should full-on imprison her. Based on what Alloy has spoken of in her time with the Druhvs-” At that, she cast another sympathetic glance at the Senti- “I don’t think the Druhvs prize…discipline… very highly. Perhaps some sort of rehabilitation or boot camp would help there?”
Another thought had Asteri twitching her eye in annoyance. “Also. Another thing. Getting rid of this idiotic racism between you two, despite the fact that both of you are Senti.” She looked at Aliset, and said: “And no, I won’t call her Tsuralti, because that’s quite frankly overcomplicating it.” She turned her head to look at Alloy. “And you, hating an entire race and nation just because of bad blood with your own is stupid.”
Asteri put both fingers on her temples, before spreading her hands out in exasperation. “This entire situation stems from the fact that Aliset hates Alloy for being a Senti while she was also a Druhvian, and Alloy hates Aliset because Druhvs apparently hate Senti? That’s not a good line of reasoning, at all!” At that, Asteri calmed down a bit, still muttering to herself; but then she leaned towards Heinrich, wearily whispering to him: “Are diplomatic talks always like this?”
“Thankfully no. The last two were lighthearted with food.”, he replied, thankful for the distraction to focus his thoughts. Giving a measured sigh of frustration, Heinrich began to compose his shape once more, now that he was calm. The expression he gave his step mother was stern, “I’m sorry but that’s not possible right now. No one is above the law, not even you, or me. The crime is committed and due must be paid, but if she complies and comes peacefully. We can justify lightening her sentence, and with the reminder mother, that you are also a representative of this nation and its people.”
His tone was firm and sure, not budging on the situation as he continued. “Your actions reflect on this nation, and you are too respectful of our laws. Your emotions take a backseat, and handle yourself with grace. Handle your differences in your own free time, and not in a place of law and order.”
Though pinned and with little to say, Alloy could only smirk at Aliset being told no in such an outright way. Especially by her own son.
"And under such graceful representation of my people, she has been abandoned by her own. Under our laws, she is a refugee. And I'll make it my personal responsibility to find somewhere she can call home." Aliset crossed her arms, just as firm in tone and body language. "I also promised her a meal already. That shall be her first meal under your watchful eye. If you'll excuse me, I have galley duty tonight."
Aliset turned on her heel, beginning to stalk off with shoulders tight, the gravitational and magnetic anomalies swirling around her as the energies grew unstable.
“Then after her time is done, she will be left to your care as acclimation to her new citizenship.”, Heinrich added only briefly as the guards anxiously waiting, were finally waved in. The prince didn’t begrudge them being nervous of a spat between royals, if even could be called such.
Now with freedom and nobody to watch over her, Alloy was prepared to work until exhausted. As she breached into the hall, her eyes immediately caught the duchess waiting outside. She only lingered on her for a moment before gazing away to the rest of the party, a hodge podge genetic mess. Alloy’s smile hid the confusion at the various species before her and all of the questions that followed, replaced now with a simple, “Hello. I am Alloy, the Gem of the Collective. It is a pleasure to be here in your palace. A distinct lack of obsidian and tapestries. Hopefully I can learn from you all.” The faux friendliness was almost staggering to herself, the things that brief training course taught her were still fresh and novel.
"A pleasure to meet you, Asteri. I am glad that fine taste runs in your husband's family." Aliset gave a soft bow to Asteri, and a warm smile before she turned to Alloy's voice. The inward twist of disdain was quickly crushed under the xenopolitician's acceptance of a friendly greeting, one that demanded an equal reprisal. "Good day, Alloy! I am Aliset Soren, one of the Shuristan xenopolicy advisors assigned to bringing this world safely and healthily into the greater Galactic Community. Your escort is among the best in the business among the many worlds I know, and I can think of no better, aside your own competent care to guard her safety and privacy. Would you like to join us for a meal? I'll be doing Shuristan traditional spinefish and cannonfruit greens!"
Asteri gave another smile at Aliset’s greeting, letting loose a small chuckle at her praise and extricating herself from Heinrich in order to face the Senti, though she did peck Heinrich on the cheek. “Some might debate that- I know Gale tends to wonder why Belm- er, Heinrich, and I have started to visit the trinket shop recently.” She gave another small bow to Aliset, struggling this time without Heinrich’s arm to aid her- she put a hand on her side to help stand back up, saying slightly confidently to Aliset: “Kits. If they’re already like this now, I can hardly imagine what they’re going to be like running around!” At that, the foxgirl gave another giggle, tilting her head and brushing out a strand of orange hair.
Though, her smile did turn more strained upon hearing the...friendly...compliments the two Sen- er, Aliset had asked the other one be called a Tsulrati. Annnyways, the compliments they were giving each other were just…. Yes, they sounded friendly, but… Well, the other Senti, Alloy, her praises were very.. General. And vague. And short. And Aliset’s own response was an almost opposite response: too eloquent and flowy. Some might even call it too.. Verbose? Yeah. Verbose was the word…
Wait. Did she just say Spinefish? Asteri had no idea why, but the concept of eating spinefish with mayonnaise was just really appealing to her right now. “Hopefully you have room for two more?” After practically exclaiming that, Asteri turned around to face Heinrich and looked at him, giving the most pleading expression she could muster.
“Let’s get away from the meeting room, leave them be for now. Knowing my representative, she hates company.” Alloy began to step away from the door as she began to search for interesting areas to drag the Duskerians to, “I would be happy to enjoy Senti cuisine, as unappetizing as spinefish sounds. No offense.” She moved with complete carelessness. While her representative seemed very thoughtful on every movement and every word, Alloy was cocky and seemed to claim this palace as hers even if she were staying for only a short time
Aliset ignored the guard's tasteless comment, growling a soft, musical curse in Shuristan as she took the lead. "Miss Spark has gotten quite proficient in the making of soup dumplings and use of Shuristan cooking equipment. I am sure she would have been a Chef, rather than a Civil Servicewoman."
“Maybe if not born a soldier, like a number of our family. Fighting is undeniably in her blood, but her wife has definitely been a good equalizer for her. I much prefer the life of a scholar myself, granted I will still fight if absolutely necessary. And since we’re talking life paths, perhaps you could tell us about your studies Asteri? I know your father has been quite proud.” Heinrich hoped she would forgive him for using her to lead on the subject, but hopefully understanding of why. If he was going to be here, he would like to lead things to less negative bickering as it seemed to be devolving to.
Asteri blinked upon hearing Heinrich’s question, tilting her head in his direction. After a moment’s silence- well, not quite, as the woman took a deep breath. She had to collect her thoughts, after all- Asteri brightened back up and enthusiastically answered her fiance’s question: “Of course Be- er, Heinrich! Currently, I’m in university at the moment to help develop my role as the crown prince’s personal mage, and magical advisor! Right now, I’m finishing my studies in Life magic- in general, using it to actually heal, as opposed to using it for research- as I was being taught a different avenue back at my home planet, Andraste- though I’m fully expecting when I’m done with that, I’ll probably begin a crash course on all the other magics.”
Asteri paused and took a deep breath, before continuing on in a breathless manner: “Of course, I don’t expect to actually be able to use most of the other magics, as attuning yourself and your DEF caster to more than one element is incredibly difficult, but knowing how they work in theory is always good! Besides, magic in general is a pretty wondrous thing- I can give you a pretty good example on my homeplanet, actually! Y’see, Andraeste is actually…” The fox girl stopped when Heinrich pulled her in slightly, and reddened slightly. “B-but yeah. That basically summarized my role to Heinrich. Aside from being his future wife. Which, of course, is just as important as being an advisor, as you can see.” At that, Asteri grinned slightly and pointed at her extended stomach. “Kit- er, kids and all that.”
Asteri then turned to face Alloy. “If I may ask, how did you end up with the Druhvians? They seem awfully proud of you, if they call you the ‘Gem of the Collective.’ Would it be too intrusive to ask?”
“Too far back to remember. I was adopted as a baby. I simply grew up in the Collective as a foster child. Once I was old enough, I joined the Berserker military.” Alloy slowed her movement once she was being followed. Her eyes caught onto the other ruler as she roamed. It was a cautious stare and observation. He smelled weird when he introduced himself. Probably some bio-engineered evolution of these weird smooth skinned things. Fellen said the NDC file names them humans. She’d have seen more.
“Drhuvs have this tradition during training. I should say challenge. The goal is to steal the flag of your training facility and then your commanding officers cover. It was my first claim to fame. A Senti, butt naked, sneaking around the base covered in a flag and wearing her officers hat. He uh…” She paused to stop that cold sense from rising on her skin. It took a long breath for her to regain her voice. “Anyway, they let me keep the flag. Got it turned into souvenirs. Wearing them now.” The gem managed a clean grin to conceal the violent memory.
She turned away from the Archduke posted at his throne and to the three behind her. “You all have magic? Do not answer, Senti. I know you do. But the NDC has… magic? The fictional thing? It is not just an exaggeration by salesmen claiming their new technology to be magical?”
"Duskerian magics are fairly interesting in their elemental properties, I'll admit," Aliset smiled in defiance to the Gem. "It is far different from those used by many cultures, but similar in many ways. Like Senti magics, the knowledge and power needed to twist local reality to your whims are channeled through a medium. For Duskerians and for Andraesti, that medium is the caster. For others, it may be an ancestral material or object. Others may utilize a form of contract with eldritch or cosmic entities. But, Asteri, I would recommend speaking with your sister-wife, Sutessetu. As I remember, she spent a couple decades with Vaigarin medical mages, and is widely considered to be the mother of modern Senti medical magics, despite her youth of only seventy or eighty years."
“Cryo has a tendency to make me feel old everyday when someone mentions 70 being young. Chronologically pushing somewhere around two hundred and thirty.” Heinrich chuckled, mentally rolling his eyes at the petty display of the two bickering passively. “To answer your question however, yes we do. What most cultures call mana is our main source of power for such abilities. However, most of the power is drawn from environmental examples of the element in our surroundings. That being said, most require an assistance device to do it properly, a DEF caster as my wife put it. But some can do it without one, through arcane formal training that have been passed down in their families.”
The prince was happy to answer the topic, his mind oddly wondering what she meant by souvenirs. Military training games were not much his thing, but he couldn’t help but be curious. His mind settled on a couple possible items with how she spoke of wearing it, and wondered if perhaps Gale was starting to rub off on him more then he realized. “I myself am a gravitational based caster, meaning I can influence the gravity of objects when planet bound. But in space with no atmospheric filtering, or gravity to influence my own, I can affect areas instead of specific objects.”
Asteri tilted her head in Aliset’s direction curiously, before continuing on: “Yes, as part of the NDC, we’re trained to use DEF casters- and how to maintain them as well! And I may try, ma’am-” This was addressed to Aliset- “-but I’m quite busy trying to learn NDC’s modern medical magics myself!” She thought a moment about elaborating, but then Heinrich joined in with his input. She smiled at him, only interrupting him right after he said he was a gravitational caster to chirp in: “I’m focused in the school of Life!” Thankfully, she had the sense to stay quiet until her fiance finished speaking before continuing on with the explanation of magic: “This ‘mana,’ as Heinrich calls it, or the more proper and technical term ‘Élan,’ can take a variety of forms… hence our schools of magic! These schools of magic are furthermore broken down into disciplines- for example, while I’m in the school of Life, my focus is on ‘Vita,’ or the application using magic to heal and..or.. manipulate the physical properties- and sometimes mental-slash-psychological-slash-magical interactions to the body. The other major discipline is botanical, which is focused on the same application, except towards plants.”
Asteri was really wishing she had glasses and a teaching stick at the moment. “So, even though I’m skilled in healing people, I’m not quite as good as manipulating plants, though that doesn’t mean I can’t learn! We do disciplines in order to specialize and produce greater results! And these two are just the ‘major’ lines of thinking in Life. There may be other lines of focus in manipulating life energies, but if there are, they aren’t a major course in NDC’s university.”
She paused for a moment, trying to think of anything else she missed; however, during her mental review, something popped in her head. “Alloy, do the Druhvs not use magic? Oh, and I’m also not talking about any sort of shenanigans such as super advanced technology or whatever that third rule of Clerkson? What was it, Belmes? ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic?’ or something like that?”
“No. We do not have magic.” Alloy’s eyebrows furrowed until a sneer carried the fangs evolved to accommodate the near carnivorous diet of a Drhuv. It took a moment of processing, the silver face flush with a blue rage was justifying her next actions. Alloy asked for magic from these duskerians, not from the Senti who she already knew had magic. The expression softened, the tide of anger subsiding with a huff that finally relaxed her shoulders and ended in a quiet chuckle.
“Aliset! Nomad!” Alloy took a step forward, her rested body allowing a swing. She wasn’t looking to control her weight much. She was looking to approach with a frightening comfort. The gem’s voice was almost blissful. She dared to treat this insolent and disobedient thing, prey even, as an old friend she finally caught up to. “Apollyon.” Like the slow tension of muscles coiling into a pounce, the voice turned low and aggressive at the cursed title she branded the black and gold armored woman. “You are very fortunate!” It rose again as the distance slowly cleared and the harsh emerald eyes grew more clear with intention. “You are in the place to know several different forms of magic. Both from steel and from the world.”
Alloy finally halted in front of Aliset, uncomfortably close, nigh leaning into her. The Drhuv raised her hand and extended the claw of her index and thumb, acting quick as to grab the offender's jaw. “It is unfortunate that despite this, you cannot learn nor cast self-preservation.” The sharp tips of the claws finally pierced the iron skin of the duchess, clearly disregarding the two close by that would come to arms in defense of their royalty. The cold stinging scent of fear slowly permeated off of Alloy. Manually triggered as to add more overwhelming force against the Senti representative that had caught the crosshairs of this Hunter. “I did not ask for your voice. Do as you rust skins do and sing your naïve lullabies to all that you lay. I am not fond of your games.” The previously concealed fangs revealed themselves again as the guard spoke. It was a learned method of aggression, speaking with her fangs.
“I will bleed your neck with my teeth next.” Alloy finished her belligerence by pushing Aliset’s face away and keeping her feet firm on the ground below. Her actions processed, having mostly acted on an learned instinct. It was invigorating to prey on prey and not be defending against predators but she knew the two beside her would soon retaliate after the fog of confusion cleared.
Instinctively, Aliset locked her mag boots, securing herself to the metal reinforcements below with powerful magnetic fields. Turning to the side allowed her to shift the force of Alloy's push over her shoulder, a hand casually resting on the knife on her hip. "Do not jeer your sister for her family, rusteater. You may be Drhuv, but your Tsulrati is showing."
Aliset's lip turned up in a sharp, aggressive click of her tongue, her mind racing with what horrible things could have given this guard fangs like that. It seemed all three sets of her cuspids had lengthened, becoming weapons to rip and tear meat. She dared not search for weld burns. "You'll find my taste as mine for you, so test me not, little guardian. You shall quickly find yourself in my waters."
There was a faint yet unsettling sound of shifting flesh, before a strong magnetic force would soundly bring Alloy a greater familiarity with the nearby wall. Anyone turning to look at the others, would find a less-than pleased expression on a more draconic looking Heinrich. Some scales had shown more, his own teeth now visibly much sharper, as well as eyes that narrowed in predatory slits of irritation. His hand that was slightly raised in gesture, which had caused Alloy to find herself gravitationally bound to the wall, was now more claw than human hand.
“I suppose I should apologize for that, but I won’t. You do not draw blood here, especially not that of a royal.” A deep growl emanated from his throat, something that even surprised himself, as well as the sparks he noticed coming from his own mouth. The instincts of this new body were very strong, another new part of himself he was learning to adjust to. However, it was also strong enough to be influenced by his base emotions as well, a glance to his other hand showing his arm around Asteri went unchanged thankfully.
“To be frank, for someone who’s meant to be a political guard. I find you severely lacking in common sense for such a job. Your handler will be notified of this minor transgression.”
Asteri, meanwhile, had rushed over to Aliset and was already putting one of her spellcards in her DEF caster. Admittedly, it wasn’t her main, fancy one, but Asteri suspected that a fancified card-holder with seven slots wouldn’t exactly fit for an occasion like this. Anyways, Asteri had already begun casting the healing spell on the Senti, a green aura emitting around the claw marks on Aliset’s jaw and closing the wounds, and Asteri idly, acidly, remarked: “There were other ways to see my healing magic in action, aside from actually hurting someone!”
As the fox-girl was concentrating on the matter at hand, she really didn’t pay attention to what was occurring on the other end of the room. At least, until Heinrich spoke- rather, growled. She turned her head back, and looked at Heinrich, taking stock of the situation. “Belmes, dear?” Asteri’s voice was slightly strained. “Do let her go.” Her healing was finished. She moved next to her husband-to-be, and attempted to place a hand on his shoulder- though, he was so tall now, she had to reach a bit. Anyways, she spoke in a low voice to him. “Belmes, stay calm. I do agree separating them was a good idea, but we’re supposed to be a neutral party, remember? No favoritism.” At that, she stepped back, and looked at the two Senti- Aliset’s request be damned at the moment.
“My husband does speak sense. Alloy, you are here for diplomatic reasons, as in, you know, peaceful talking without bloodshed? I know Aliset has been needling you, but please, be the stronger ma- er, woman- and disregard such comments, instead of trying to ruin the entire point of this meeting!” After glaring at Alloy for a moment, she turned to face Aliset. “And you. I see you dislike Druhvs, but please, please, stay reasonable and stop trying to bait and taunt the person you are trying to make a deal with. As I said to Alloy, the entire point of this meeting is for diplomatic talks.”
Asteri sighed. “Please. Don’t make the NDC another of your petty little battlegrounds, since it seems you two can’t stand each other and have been through this before. Now, let us be civil again, and if anything like this happens again, I’m certain the crown prince will not hesitate to throw BOTH of you out of here.” After her reproachful dress-over, she slumped into a chair and placed a hand on her stomach, and wearily asked Heinrich: “Belmes? D‘you think you could call a servant over? This entire thing has made me want something to eat.”
The pinned guard began to shift uncomfortably as she listened to the two talk. She'd only been pinned by her bones once and it was no more pleasant than now. Nevertheless, her chin raised and she grinned defiantly. "I'm doing my job! Not one person here is worried about my representative, no?" She cackled like a witch as her eyes descended on the claws and fangs of the man who loved to get around. "Still learning, huh? You look a little uncomfortable with those big fangs. Do not threaten me, I am well trained with mine."
Alloy turned her eyes to the woman she just scratched, then rolled them at the unimpressive conflict. "I'd offer for you to drown me in these so-called waters but it seems you'd rather get the entire court to do it for you. Are you scared, your highness? Does this brush with danger need to be eased with a massage? Senti are such hard workers too, shame you were groomed from it. Even worse, you still dare wear their skin. With pride, I might add." The guard was making her "political training" obvious. Her job there was disruption. By being a bigger target than her representative, she could ensure the meeting went as planned. But besides this, the duchess was a particular favorite of the intruder. There was no greater target for a Drhuv than a Senti, hundreds of years of feuds and fights bred such perfect malice.
The fanged woman looked to pull her arm free from the magnetics, groaning as her own bone slowly pulled her back. An ugly pop forced her to stop trying, the pressure and constant movement having forced her shoulder to contort into a constant twist against the wall. She regretted that the only access to her combat stimulants were on her right hip, as the ability to numb the long seething groan coming from her throat would be priceless. "Get me from this damned pin and show me what still remains of your work ethic, Apollyon. Maybe even be different from the rest and stop fleeing from danger."
Aliset grinned, now angry at the guard. "Alright, little skydas. Let us see what little you can do against me!"
Waving Asteri off, she strode towards the wall Alloy was stuck to, not quite intent on gloating. "Release her, Heinrich. Her goal here is to prove me unpredictable and dangerous, discrediting me with her actions by my own speciesism. Release her so I may handle this personal insult myself. I know Mark sees this through our son's eyes, Alloy. Your disruptive nature will derail talks faster than if I, myself intruded upon them."
“I think you fail to understand the level of tact required in your job, guard. Every transgression you commit here, will only draw more attention to your party as a whole, as both of you will be held responsible for any damages. If this is the kind of behavior we can expect from you, then you will have forfeited any right to linger.” Heinrich subconsciously scared himself as he felt the slight heat of flames lick his own lips, as they rolled from his throat with the sparks. “I will not release her until she has given proof of her tame nature, and self control.”
She was right though, the very glow of his irises should have been the sign to all who knew, that his geist was running one of it’s more intensive functions. A deep heated sigh came forth though, as he attempted to ease himself down, unhappy with how the situation had baited his fresh instincts. His hope at this point was that talks would still continue even if somewhat now stressed by what had just happened.
The silver skinned woman suppressed a chuckle, trying not to insult the group with an uncaring demeanor. Watching this dragon prince become enraged was amusing to her, to say the least.
“You are outraged, though I think for more than you should.” Alloy spoke, attempting to contort the situation to her advantage. Her eyes descended upon the Senti before her, just ever so close. “She is a Senti Representative. While you may not be fond of my treatment of her, it is natural and standard.” The guard looked back up to the prince that held her. “Were she in your colors, your clothing, your emblems, I would not have acted so. However, she is dressed in honey and black. She is not your duchess now. She is a representative of her culture. She even stated so herself.”
Good beginnings, Alloy decided to relax in the hold she was subjected to. The twisting of her arm slightly gave. “I do not insult you, prince. Nor the lovely woman at your side. Us and the Senti have long known and established how we handle meetings with each other. Welcome to our tradition. I offer you three approaches. You may allow the Drhuv and Senti to handle each other as standard and as your Duchess orders, She may renounce, temporarily, her current position as representative to the Senti and become Duchess or I can do as most Senti would to escape a situation. One I am certain your Duke is common with…” Alloy cleared her throat and breathed deep as she prepared for the worst she had to offer. Once she had exhaled, her eyes looked to Heinrich and a small whine trailed her voice and piercing aroma of copper, “Harder, daddy~”
Asteri’s eyebrow rose higher and higher the longer this Alloy spoke. She glanced at her fiance, before looking back at Alloy. “Uhm. So, what you’re basically saying is that the entire point of this peace talk is to just use it as an excuse to beat up and essentially, wage war on the Senti?” The fox girl’s brow furrowed in confusion. “If you’re insisting on fighting, why even participate in the peace talks? The only consequences I can think of, about you trying to, y’know, injure the other diplomat, are the opposite of peace.” Asteri then placed a hand on her chin, clearly flustered. At what, Asteri had honestly no idea what to define at the moment.
"That is what it would seem, isn't it, Asteri?" Aliset gave a deep sigh. "Look, Drhuv, I am willing to put my speciesism and my people's propaganda aside for the sake of my husband's country and peaceful relations with your kin. But your personal insults and jibes I cannot abide. I am not sure you are the best candidate for a peaceful forward movement. You disturb me on an instinctive level, your aggression indicates your fear of becoming prey in a place where the dynamic doesn't exist… Please, put a leash on your traumas."
Her voice softened from its raging growl to a calm, almost maternal tone as she spoke, though her rage was barely contained, arcs of power flowing across her armor as minor magnetic and gravitational anomalies started to mount, spacetime starting to destabilize around the Senti in a coming storm.
Heinrich had not released his hold, and had not planned to, his gaze fixed sternly on the troublemaker. However, that changed as the decision in the meeting was made, taking on a more “ouch” sort of expression. “Hate to interrupt, or sour this any further, but you seem to have been tossed under the bus. You’re staying here to be detained for this mess, your own boss’s orders, and that of the archduke. My condolences, the guards will be here shortly.”
What?
The face of the previously cocksure guard fell into despair, then a haze of confusion as she attempted to wrangle and rationalize what the prince had told her. Alloy’s emerald eyes slowly lost the gleam of confidence.
Her first struggle was to try and release herself from the binding magnetism that had ground her very bones to the wall, her arms began pulling, twisting and contorting in every attempt to gain control. She wanted to grapple onto some wall, some other area and wretch herself free of this invisible hold or get her hand to inject the mix of toxins that pulled her from reality and let a hysterical strength loose for combat.
Finding that she didn’t have her pillar of strength and complex tactics that had been seared into the inside of her skull, it came down to the idea that, maybe, Fellen had something planned. Drhuvs work in packs, however complex that may be in this modern era, they were still sisters. These Duskerian fools didn’t know anything about the Collective, about us. Her confidence returned and she relaxed again. Alloy knew something they didn’t. She fucked up, sure, but her councilwoman was there for her. She just needed to stay put and let her handle things. Yeah, surely.
The emerald eyes gained tranquility. This was saveable. Dumbass prince and her duchess don’t know what is coming for them. The Drhuvian council was behind her!
"What?" Aliset's head whipped in Heinrich's direction, the rage and distaste now fully directed at that news as the power arced across her body, searing the floor with the plasma kiss of a minor electrical anomaly. "They would abandon their Gem? A proud and innocent warrior loyal to her people above her own species? No. Alloy EšDrhuv shall not be arrested. She has been reassigned as my personal envoy. I will return her to her homeland and meet the leader that would put such a shameful excuse for a political ploy in her rightful place as worth less than derelict alloys. She will see justice. Not simple punishment for performing her duty."
“...Uhm. Ali? I don’t think… attempting to kill you unprovoked… Or whatever you want to call that move- which drew blood, I may remind you- is part of the duty of a guard.” Asteri’s face was a strained deadpan. “I mean, if you want to be a punching bag for Alloy, be my guest. Just be aware, I prooobably won’t heal you, since I can’t outheal stupidity.” Asteri put her finger and thumb on the bridge of her nose upon saying that.
“Besides. I don’t think that making her your personal envoy is your decision to make. Because, y’know, the archduke made her a prisoner; she is the archduke’s to handle, not yours.” Asteri’s finger pinch became a face rub as she began thinking, though she did cast a sympathetic glance at Alloy from time to time. “With that being said, I don’t think we should full-on imprison her. Based on what Alloy has spoken of in her time with the Druhvs-” At that, she cast another sympathetic glance at the Senti- “I don’t think the Druhvs prize…discipline… very highly. Perhaps some sort of rehabilitation or boot camp would help there?”
Another thought had Asteri twitching her eye in annoyance. “Also. Another thing. Getting rid of this idiotic racism between you two, despite the fact that both of you are Senti.” She looked at Aliset, and said: “And no, I won’t call her Tsuralti, because that’s quite frankly overcomplicating it.” She turned her head to look at Alloy. “And you, hating an entire race and nation just because of bad blood with your own is stupid.”
Asteri put both fingers on her temples, before spreading her hands out in exasperation. “This entire situation stems from the fact that Aliset hates Alloy for being a Senti while she was also a Druhvian, and Alloy hates Aliset because Druhvs apparently hate Senti? That’s not a good line of reasoning, at all!” At that, Asteri calmed down a bit, still muttering to herself; but then she leaned towards Heinrich, wearily whispering to him: “Are diplomatic talks always like this?”
“Thankfully no. The last two were lighthearted with food.”, he replied, thankful for the distraction to focus his thoughts. Giving a measured sigh of frustration, Heinrich began to compose his shape once more, now that he was calm. The expression he gave his step mother was stern, “I’m sorry but that’s not possible right now. No one is above the law, not even you, or me. The crime is committed and due must be paid, but if she complies and comes peacefully. We can justify lightening her sentence, and with the reminder mother, that you are also a representative of this nation and its people.”
His tone was firm and sure, not budging on the situation as he continued. “Your actions reflect on this nation, and you are too respectful of our laws. Your emotions take a backseat, and handle yourself with grace. Handle your differences in your own free time, and not in a place of law and order.”
Though pinned and with little to say, Alloy could only smirk at Aliset being told no in such an outright way. Especially by her own son.
"And under such graceful representation of my people, she has been abandoned by her own. Under our laws, she is a refugee. And I'll make it my personal responsibility to find somewhere she can call home." Aliset crossed her arms, just as firm in tone and body language. "I also promised her a meal already. That shall be her first meal under your watchful eye. If you'll excuse me, I have galley duty tonight."
Aliset turned on her heel, beginning to stalk off with shoulders tight, the gravitational and magnetic anomalies swirling around her as the energies grew unstable.
“Then after her time is done, she will be left to your care as acclimation to her new citizenship.”, Heinrich added only briefly as the guards anxiously waiting, were finally waved in. The prince didn’t begrudge them being nervous of a spat between royals, if even could be called such.