"So we're just going in? Visiting just like that?"

Urokai stares up nervously at the Kertia estate. It looks just like any other Kertia noble's home, though that doesn't mean it's not big. There are at least three storeys that he can see, and there must be some underground levels as well since that's an atmosphere that suits them. Cellars fashioned into underground torture chambers and prisons that is. Collapsible ones maybe, so that they can bury people alive.

Yes Urokai doesn't have the greatest view of the Kertias, but nobody does! Aside from acknowledging their skills anyway.

It's not his fault that they make his spine cold enough that he's shivering, or that his nose twitches (that's moreso because of the dusty air of their stuffy rooms but it's still something that happens and therefore must be mentioned!) constantly. No, the blame lies on them entirely.

What sort of clan makes their entire territory a maze? Every building looks the same! Sure there are differences, but when both the houses and training areas have the same structure how is anybody supposed to find their way around? Unlike the Mergas they don't even put maps to help out. True, Urokai does love the architecture here, but appreciating it only consumes even more of his precious time.

It took him and Frankenstein two hours to get to Rayga's home, and the only reason they didn't walk past was because there had been a large metal plate stating it was the Kertia estate. For a clan that was usually so dumb, it made sense they didn't have an easier system, even if they did seem to understand their infrastructure and got around without any effort. Probably because they grew up here, it wasn't like there was any actual pattern to anything.

"What else are we supposed to do? Break in?" Frankenstein rolls his eyes even as he puts a hand on Urokai's shoulder. The weight is comforting, and the contact even better. It lets him sigh, relieving the tension from the knots in his hands and letting them unravel. Red crescents fade from the pale of his palms.

"No def'nitely not!" It comes out panicky, and Frankenstein glances at him concerned. "Just, it's not a good idea to ever do things like that with the Kertia. You leave the shit they lock up alone."

"People generally don't like those who intrude. Isn't that why you nobles dislike me?" Frankenstein raises a brow. It was just common sense not to do that.

"No it's not just that. Like I get what you're saying about you but-" Urokai feels his stomach freeze at Frankenstein's words, guilt showing clearly on his face- "it's different with the Kertia. The stuff isn't locked up because they want to keep it a secret or whatever, it's because it's messed up and we can't handle it. It's rare for them to get pissed off when you open their locked doors."

The ball of white connected to Frankenstein was pulsing erratically, and the tendrils jolted in surprise whenever they came upon each other. Urokai was scared? It definitely seemed that way when the tendrils wrapped around his hand, holding on tightly like a child would. He pet Urokai's head, hoping it would ease him slightly.

"And the Lord is fine with it?"

Urokai bit his lip. "There's nothing we can really do. That's just genocide. So we intervene if something big happens but, most of the time we don't notice anything because we avoid this place. Even sis didn't come here often because she said they were super fucked up, and she loved them! Stupidity and all. Was lovers with the previous clan leader even."

"That's..." understandable. It was basically what Frankenstein's relationship with Urokai was after all. Being bonded with someone who had been planning to kill you definitely wasn't in the realm of normal. Not that anyone here occupied the one crafted by humans anyway.

"Everyone's been saying you two were dating but why the fuck are you doing it outside of Rayga's house?"

Gradeus looks at them, extremely annoyed, but the image is cute. Too cute. That's just what happens when you carry a bubbly toddler who's pulling at your hair.

"We're not dating!"

"So you really do have a child." Frankenstein looks the toddler over, ignoring Urokai's outburst. He has blond hair so that means Rayga is indeed the other parent, but the fact that it's curly... he straightens his hair? Not to mention, Urokai said this child was around twenty years old. That must mean that nobles age much slower. Either that or they had had another child two or three years ago. "It wasn't a joke after all."

"You thought I was joking?"

Both Gradeus and Frankenstein ignore Urokai.

"Yeah. You came here for just that?"

"No, we came to talk to you and Rayga. Shouldn't it be obvious? Why else would we be outside your house?"

"Right." Gradeus scowls at them as the toddler laughs and clumsily climbs from his arms to his shoulders. He holds him up with one hand. "Why would you think I'm here anyway? I don't live at this damned place."

Urokai blinks, quizzical. "Rajak cries if he doesn't see you everyday. You practically live here, that's what you told me."

"Why the hell would you fucking bring blondie along then?" Gradeus isn't angry, but his annoyance is palpable, rubbing against Urokai's skin. It feels like his cats' tongues, so it doesn't really hurt. It just means he's annoyed out of worry rather than something bad.

"Because we're friends," Frankenstein states, amused at the disbelief that Gradeus shows. Even more amusing is the excited pulse that causes tremors in the tendrils that still hold his hand tightly. The joy that one feels at being called a friend, it's a pure one.

"Fine. Whatever."

Rajak picks up on his father's discontent and babbles incomprehensibly. Yet, all the vulgar words are extremely clear even if one isn't listening closely. It makes Urokai laugh, bemused. What a child! To already be cursing at such a young age, it's shocking.

"Should you really be talking like that so much in front of your son?" It's almost disconcerting. Not that Frankenstein has spent much time around children, aside from Tesamu, but he hadn't been as young as Rajak clearly is.

"The fuck does it matter? If Rayga doesn't mind then you don't need to either."

Rayga didn't mind? Urokai frowns. That's strange. Or not. He is still Kertia after all, and his elder sister had always told him that you should never trust them with children. Even if Rayga had been raised by her it probably still applied.

When they don't reply Gradeus snorts and enters the estate- "Don't just stand there, follow me. Unless you're going back."

It's obvious that he hopes it's the latter, and the cloudy disappointment when it's not blinds Urokai momentarily. It's not strong though, because he doesn't like to feel the emotions of others too much, only enough to understand them. There are some, like Claudia, who are unable to make it weak though, and she would have surely stumbled due to surprise.

They're led up to the second floor, to a study. It's quaint, with paintings of past clan leaders cluttering the walls. Rayga looks up from his desk when they enter. His mask is down and Gradeus hands Rajak to him before going to stand behind him.

"Frankenstein, Urokai. It's good to see you."

Urokai stares, eyes wide, and Frankenstein chuckles.

"The same goes for you."

Rayga is obviously confused at Urokai's staring, though he prioritises rocking Rajak to sleep. It's cute to see him yawn and snuggle into the normally stoic man. Gradeus sighs, before running his fingers through Rayga's untied hair.

"You forgot to straighten your hair recently, and it's not tied either," he says, applying a gentle heat to his hands and straightening it himself.

"Ah. Thank you."

Rayga smiles, and it's obvious he's happy but Urokai can't feel even a lick of it. It's true that he doesn't let his emotions flow out of him, but not even to his own husband? He's sure Gradeus can't sense it either, because he looks lonely as he works his way through all of the hair.

Frankenstein frowns, seeing it too.

"I wasn't aware that the rumours about the two of you being in a relationship were true. It's surprising," Rayga says.

"We're not!" Urokai flinches when Rajak stirs, and quietens downs. "Who's saying that? I just realised that hating him for a stupid reason was, stupid."

Rayga stays silent, it's not like he knows.

"Urokai has many secrets about everyone in Lukedonia, and he's good company, it shouldn't come as a shock. What's more interesting is that in the two years I've been here, I never knew you two were married." Frankenstein smiles at the way Gradeus' pauses momentarily at his words before continuing on.

Rayga blinks and asks, "Interesting?"

"It made me wonder if it was a political marriage, and seeing everything, it definitely seems to be."

Urokai stares wide eyed again. Frankenstein definitely has a way with words, he'd never be able to make Rayga pale like that so quickly, or-

"The fuck are you saying?"

-make Gradeus so angry. His eyes are glowing brightly, and he's clenching Rayga's hair, trying to control himself. Frankenstein looks at him with pity.

"It's obvious he doesn't return your feelings. Anyone can see it considering he doesn't give you any of the affection you do him."

Gradeus flinches, and lets go of Rayga's hair. Backing away, he isn't imposing anymore, instead severely upset. Rayga seems equally affected, unable to say anything.

The tense atmosphere chokes Urokai, so he cordons it off completely, opting to just watch everything happen without getting sad too. It would be awkward if he reacts strangely. He... really shouldn't find this pitiful affair entertaining.

"Being so quiet about you, it's strange. We talk enough to be considered friends and he still didn't say anything. Is there anything to consider at this point?"

Rayga cradled Rajak, holding him close. Hoping not to be like his birth mother, he had tried to steer away from the way she had acted with his mother, her lover. Yet, he had failed? Gradeus agreed with what Frankenstein said, if the pain running down his cheeks was any indication. The guilt crushed his chest, weighing down heavily on him.

Looking over the devastation he had wrecked, Frankenstein smiles satisfied. It goes unnoticed by the two, though Urokai perks up.

"We'll be leaving now then. You both seem tired-" a blatant lie- "No need to see us out."

They leave the study, and Urokai is practically bouncing on the soles of his feet, excited. When they're out the front door he bursts.

"Is that it? They seemed pretty upset but is it going to work?"

"The plan is that they'll talk because of this and fix their problems. If that goes fine then Gradeus will be dealt with."

"Oh shit that makes so much sense. This could have been fixed ages ago! But instead he ended up joining the plan without even saying anything to Rayga."

It really was strange, thinking about it. Gradeus wasn't as revealing of his matters as he seemed to be, he couldn't be, but to not discuss things with his husband at all? Even Urokai found that strange.

Frankenstein shook his head, fond yet saddened- "Don't think too hard about it, acilis descensus averni."

"The descent into hell is easy?" That, made quite a bit of sense actually. "That's pretty accurate! He was swept up in his emotions and too depressed to do anything about it so he did what was easier. Talking about important stuff is pretty difficult on your emotions."

Huh. Frankenstein hadn't expected an answer but, an explanation was an explanation. Especially when it sounded right.

"Exactly," he said, petting Urokai's hair. It was a habit from petting his cats, and then him, when he laid his head in his lap. The tendrils wrapping around his arm pulsed with a warm flow.

"Now what? We just wait for results?"

"No-" that would be inefficient- "we'll go visit Raizel then return home. You'll have to tell me all you can about Roctis and Ignes. That way we can concoct a plan that runs smoothly."

Urokai smiled. Frankenstein had called the Agvain estate 'home', and even his emotions had lit up when he did. It was nice. Maybe one day he'd be able to say his bonded was part of his family, it would definitely have made his father and sisters happy. It would make him happy too.

"Sure. I need a break from the drama anyway."