torchthemoons: (dry run)
[Filter: Private, in Atsirian]

She looks at me with those eyes, that curl of her lip, and she dares to ask me if I'm still feeling tweaked.

I am not tweaked. I have risen as high as a man can in this forsaken hell of a country. I am King of Atsiria. I sit on your Council as Joseph Eshene. I'm at the right hand of two Houses at once -- the two most powerful Houses in Atsiria! And I can slit the throat of the Jewel of the Desert fifty times a day if I chose to. I killed your first husband so that I would have this position, Your Majesty.

I am not tweaked. I am angry.

... it's Reiz. He's the source of so much --

Something has to be done. I won't bear it. I won't.
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Atsirian]

I think that marriage suits me. I find myself with more energy, more commitment, and a renewed love for this country. And for Razen, too. Cleraine... it was the city of my birth, but now I am of House Anshar and I find it's changed how I view Razen. It's a different sort of beauty, here.

I don't miss home quite so much. Isn't that strange? How sharing water can make such a difference?

[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

To assuage your fears: I'm speaking out my asshole, as your charming husband might say. Hm. No, I think he'd say that he's speaking out yours, to be especially scandalous and inappropriate, and then smirk at your stormy expression.

How long will you stay in Razen, sister?
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Filter: Private, in Atsirian]

Westa was right, my little love. You are a whore in the bedroom, aren't you? I suppose it was worth the wait, in the end. I've never seen a woman who smiles quite so wide whilst being impaled...

Lovely.

Now here's to securing my position quickly. An Atsir blooded Princess to become Jewel of the Desert after my love passes on.

[Filter: Karlesta, in Atsirian]

I'm glad that, in the end, we both became so very happy.
torchthemoons: (nothing's pure)
[Filter: Edalene, in Atsirian]

Well, my dear, shall we retire together? Most of the room has either left or is, ah, not at their best level of sobriety. I don't think anyone would notice if the bride and groom slipped out together, do you?
torchthemoons: (why's she the one)
[Atsirian]

Ah, well, I'm a bundle of nerves!

But I'm eager, of course. Ahah, how could I not be? I'm about to marry the most beautiful woman in Eire and become her consort! For all the butterflies in my stomach, this will surely be the best day of my life.

I only wish my mother could be here for this. Ah, and my father, of course... and my sisters. It's been a difficult time, thinking about them. But I like to think they're here in spirit... watching the Phoenix and the Hyena join at last.

[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

She's been acting strangely all day. I don't like it.
torchthemoons: (on a wrist)
[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

Sister.

You are a genius.

I was starting to worry that Edalene might actually be growing enough that you might not find her such an easily outwitted opponent anymore. Certainly, as much as it shames me to admit it, I've found her spiraling beyond my ability control and have found myself at her mercies more often than not. I thought perhaps you'd have a more difficult time gaining the higher ground in this conflict from so far away.

And how dare I have doubted you, the true Jewel of the Desert. Absolutely brilliant.

An entire week of good will and help for the city, undone in an instant! Ah, you should have seen her rampage, you'd have loved it! She must have destroyed millions of gold worth of property, and in front of everyone, howling and screeching all the while ...

And now Razen is back to how it was -- tense, anxious, and now, doubting the sanity of its Queen.

[Filter: Edalene, in Atsirian]

Ah, my dear ... how are you today? Is there anything I can do to help?
torchthemoons: (dry run)
[Filter: Private, in Atsirian]

This wasn't what I signed up for.
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

Well, sister, you certainly succeeded in one of your little quests today. I've never seen the queen quite so sulky in all the time I've been in Razen! Have you noticed, barely a single word all evening! Just watch her eating her ice cream cake in sullen silence!

I'll need to comfort her, now. Commiserate over what a terrible, hateful creature my matriarch is, sigh.
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Filter: Private, in Atsirian]

Sands alive, I doubt politics have ever been so juvenile before this.

[Filter: Edalene, in Atsirian]

My dear Edalene ... are you ever going to free your poor brother? I know that you missed him, tonight. Badly, in fact. Hearing that story, I could see you looking out past the curtains, out to the moons, and I know it was him you were thinking of ...

Surely you can make this easier on everyone if you just have mercy.
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

It was nicely done, sister. It was very, very nicely done.

The Queen has spent the last two nights ranting and raving about how you cornered her. She understand more of what you were doing than I've had thought she would -- she knew that she had to release the prisoners to you or risk you turning the public against you -- but mostly she was just furious that you outmanouvered her.

As if there was ever a doubt that you could.

Ah, but, if a brother might ask ... what do you intend to do, next? It would have been better for us if Edalene had refused, but now that she's accepted, she's foregone authority to make judgements on citizens of other cities ... and I'm sure that's not the only mistake she's made ...

[Filter: Edalene, in Atsirian]

Do you feel better, today?
torchthemoons: (on the bedroom wall)
[Filter: Private, in Atsirian]

Dragons, what a long day. And with the Queen so exhausted and drained and in need of support, I can't chance going home. I should be here, in case she decides that tonight, perhaps, she'll let her guard down and finally allow me into her damned bed ...

[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

I won't be coming home tonight, sister, but you wouldn't forgive me if I didn't get today's information to you as soon as possible.

Write when you see this, and I'll attempt to disentangle myself from the Queen's loving embrace. Unless, of course, she finally deigns me with an actual loving embrace, in which case I am afraid that you'll have to wait. But please, do. This will be worth your time.
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Filter: Edalene, in Atsirian]

Edalene ...

I realize that this -- this is a very trying time for you. It's so difficult for me to stand here to one side, watching you shadowfencing with this monster, and not be able to do anything at all to help you. It seems that so much light and life has gone out of you since all of this started, and I see you drain away a little more every day ...

If there's anything I can do. Not as a Councilor, but as a man -- as your man. How can I support you? How can I help you? That is what I'm for -- what I'm meant to do for you.

[Filter: Private, in Atsirian]

Good enough, hopefully.

Now ...

[Filter: Father Elliot, in Atsirian]

So.

Who is he, really?
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Filter: Westa and Altair, in Atsirian]

Ah, while I can see that the two of you are quite engaged in ... one another, in one way or another, as you have been for most of the day, it is getting quite late, and I don't believe that either of you are quite ready, yet. Her Majesty the Queen will surely find a way to make a scene if we're late ...

If I may pull you away from your ... interactions?
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

Well, now, that certainly was interesting.

It is just about the worst kept secret in Razen society that Karlesta Faedya and Miss Dairanne were sisters, in a past life, but I'd never really given it must thought, before. There never seemed to be much of a real connection between them, and who's to say how long it's been since the actual adoption took place?

But now ...

I wonder. Miss Dairanne seems quite enamoured with us, doesn't she? What could come of that ...
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Filter: Private, in Atsirian]

Well, she's thinking about it now, at least.

I am not good at this. I'm much better at being seduced than doing the chasing, myself. I don't enjoy it and I don't have a feel for it. But ... that didn't go so badly. And if I can put the onus into her ...

Well, I can hope for the best.

[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

Ah, sister, really, I must know. Why is your pet moping about like someone told him the Festival was cancelled? I swear, he gets worse every day. Did you forget to feed him, again?
torchthemoons: (he wrote in red)
[Filter: Edalene, in Atsirian]

Ah, Edalene.

I ... do hope that your birthday celebrations were to your satisfaction. Ah, I'm certain it sounds as though I'm fishing for compliments, but I worked so very hard and it means the world to me to know that you are happy ...

Just a mere word of praise would be enough to make me the happiest man in Razen, today.

[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

Well, it would seem that Raezi Saedri managed to win the Queen over, in the end. What do we think about that, exactly?
torchthemoons: (for the final twist)
[Atsirian]

My, it seems as if everyone I've spoken to today is going to Dame Jevaeya's party at the Karnach estate tonight. I don't know why I had assumed it was a smaller event, but clearly, I was quite wrong! I suppose Edalene and I being invited was an indicator to the truth, but I confess, I'm still having a difficult time adjusting to being quite so center to Razen's whirlwind, ah haha ...

In any case, it's a good thing that my queen clarified the situation to me, or I might have embarrassed her quite horribly, this evening!
torchthemoons: (why's she the one)
[Filter: Private, in Atsirian]

... I will admit, this frustration is getting to be more than I can handle. Not for the stupid, infuriating male reasons, though those are bad enough in themselves. Weakness.

But -- I'm worried I'm not handling this right. I've never been good at being the pursuer, never. I prefer to be chased, and it's been long enough since Rose Day that I think I should start to be worried.

"Slut," Westa called her, and I've heard the same. So why does she seem completely disinterested in taking me into her bed? Is it Matthew? That's the only thing that's changed. Is she now determined to make herself into a virginal widow? If that's the case, there's no harm. She knows she needs daughters, she isn't so foolish as to end the Ansharian dynasty out of a sentimental gesture. She's not that poor a Queen.

But what if it's me?

What if I'm nothing more than a comforting blanket she's pulled about herself while she mourns, before she seeks out a better husband? -- she won't find a better, of course. Other than the Prince, I'm the most eligible man in Atsiria, and she knows more than well enough she can't have him. But she is a willful, heart-driven idiot, and I wouldn't put it past her ...

I'm getting so exhausted, dealing with her.

[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

Ah, sister. Did you and Altair receive your invitations to this event of the century with the Goddess priestesses?
torchthemoons: (dry run)
[Filter: Private, in Atsirian]

Is she trying to send me a statement?

I know that she was interested in me. None of it was feigned. She found me unbearably attractive, and my smile melted her heart. Every little girlish part of her fluttered when I looked at her. I am completely certain of that.

What is it that she's playing at like this, with Shadda?

It's not that she's claiming varying preferences, like me, like so many of us. It's an Atsirian thing, isn't it? We're flexible and we're discrete, but that's not what she's doing. After all this time she's spend being actively and publically repulsed by every man who's shown her interest, this is a statement. For her followers? ... or for someone else.

I know her, the spiteful little bitch. She is trying to say something to me, say that she never really cared. She only cares for the feminine touch and never had any need for men. She was toying with me in the way that women do for their amusement. She was never really taken in. It was all a game.

I know she's lying. I felt her shudder against me when I kissed her.

But what will others think? How many know that she courted me, in Cleraine? Is this a statement about my suitability? Will she attempt to damage my chances at the throne?

Or is she just flaunting? The way she's showboating around with the girl on her arm every time she's seen in public now, it's --

-- I won't let her get to me. That's for weaker men, men who let themselves be strung along by these games. We're ruled by our tempers and our passions, that's what they say about us, and I refuse to be that.

I'm going to be a King, I'll be more than her and I'll be better. It doesn't matter. None of it matters.
torchthemoons: (it wouldn't be for show)
[Atsirian]

Ahah, well, Aes Eshene, I must say that I was more than a little surprised when you actually drafted an entire bill in regards to your complaints yesterday. And moreso that it passed with such relative ease.

Hm, but I'm hardly in a place to speak ill of it, no? I did support the motion. And I stay by that choice! I sincerely believe that a little bit more recuperation time for us will make us better servants to Her Majesty the Queen, which is, in all things, our only goal.

I suppose now I'm entirely without plans tomorrow evening, however. Speaking of Her Majesty the Queen ...

[Filter: Westa, in Atsirian]

I think this may, in fact, be the least effective Council that's ever sat the Queen's Table, to be perfectly honest, sister. It's almost tragic that we'll have to upset this historic collection with twice the number of sitters, in the end. Ah, well, for now it remains a sight.
Page generated May. 29th, 2025 03:53 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios