Speech = ``...´´
Thoughts = [... ]
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Time: ?
Date: ?
Location: Classified
Service code: º-….23947102APlus….-º
Code testing…..
Code testing…..
Code verified.
Entry number 245.
?…. :Progress on the magnetic volumetrix-A of group two-B have grown stagnated on patch four. The theory behind the skeleton structure they builtstill proving unable to hold and maintain safely the particles we are trying to push through the core after reaching past the previous hazel.
?…. : The reason for said failure revolves around the conduct. It melted, the segments holding together the hollow husk to the core turning to puddle and damaging the electronics meant to regulate the energy output.
?…. : No explosion or detonation took place during and after the volumetrix-A broke down unlike the other six times. However the materials were left unusable, worth less than trash. Group two-B will have to start again from scratch.
?… : An annoying situation to find ourselves in again after thousands of hours of testing, but their lack of progress wont harm the development of this station.
?….. : It would be a different story to explain another setback to the bureau and the company's committee of HR, always nagging about how we waste the tax payers money. However our answer will be the same as all the times before. "Science can not be forced to bear its fruit before its time"
?… : A.N. Signing out
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Kingdom of Midgard: Capital
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``Whats the meaning of this….´´
The question rang true through the chamber, the words left hanging, not further elaborating if only to keep his own emotions in check. Something on which he was having difficulty on even now to manage.
Klaus had seen a lot of things and HEARD even more than what he should have.
It was something that he had come to accept before and long after succeeding his father as king. It was his job to not only see for the betterment of his people, but also swim through the currents of politics, no matter how many times he loathed the idea.
After all, was it not a kingdom...but a conglomerate of politics and more often than not self serving ideas held together by luck, determination and stubbornness that kept the charade awake a little longer? So no, he was not new to the ideas and schemes of the court and he would not pretend now that he did.
Like the waves of the city they came and went, somethings more strongly, others more briefly and weak, never truly putting the entire cauldron into chaos, perhaps given the way the board was fully stocked and no one was truly willing to "dare" put themselves into a position that would make them weaker before others.
A situation of peace of mind for him, but one of stagnation when it came to work on matters that should have been touched and worked on years if not decades ago.
However, he had come to live with the heartache...focusing on keeping the status quo as much as he could.
A closed, shallow pond was boring….but it was safe. And he would never trade it for the uncertainty of an open sea...
..
..
But this…..this was OUTRAGEOUS!
Jaws clenched a little more tightly as his eyes slowly trailed towards the source of this new found of aggravation even though he did his utmost to make it look as nothing more than a blank stare, product of happenstance instead of cold outrage.
And so, that was how dull dark red eyes found themselves right into the icy cold grey eyes of the Duke of Pendragon.
Tall, imposing and overly threatening aura of the man standing in-front of him as if he owned his own studio did not seem to mix well with the kind and warm words and disposition he had offered until then through the entire conversation.
He knew…
He definitely knew, Klaus was sure of it….
Proof or not, a part of him was screeching at him that the man was spitting at his face with the flimsy piece of paper in-front of him. And yet…. the king of Midgard was unable to see even an ounce of acknowledgment to his words.
A fact that only bothered him even more when the Duke rose a hand to his chin, completely feigning ignorance to his question. Bitter apathy would have been better.
``I don't think that I know what you mean, my liege…´´
He almost bit his lips in distaste, his brows cracking into a deep frown. Putting every ounce of power he held to not clench his hands and squash the sheet of paper he was now holding.
``Is that so...?´´
``Indeed...´´
A painful and awkward silence followed afterwards for a while.
[No, this is not going to work….if it did my live would be a lot more easier] Klaus sighed, slowly making sure to leave the opened card to the side and lean a little bit forward, then backwards as he re-located his position on his chair.
The day was barely starting and he felt already drained…., that was not good.
``I see, its fine...perhaps I did not explain myself well enough and one knows that mornings are quite the hazel for men like us..´´
``If that is the case, perhaps it would be better to wait for you to get better my king. Unless you wish to partake in my brew of tea. It certainly is reinvigorating, keeping the mind clear...´´
The man offered, gently raising the cup he was holding even now. With its liquid moving in tandem with the movement and the barely perceptible steam coming out of it. Klaus merely shook his head, a hand raised in placation.
``I am saddened to say that I will have to decline..´´
He answered politely. He would rather shove a rock into his gullet than to blind fully take on whatever benign poison the man could offer even though it was beyond stupid to even try that to begin with.
Besides, the two of them knew that the offer was a hollow one: There was only one cup in the entire room.
Feigned hurt was the Dukes response, though one that was borderline drenched with boredom.
``Oh, I see.., a pity then. I take that you will not postpone this either...´´
``No, I wont..´´
He said with a weak nod, almost flinching at how robotically it felt...but found soon enough that he could not care less given the context of things.
``Now, going back to the main topic... could you explain to me…why you have shoved into my desk a marriage proposal?´´
``Oh, that? Quite simple I am afraid. I merely want to tie our families together…., not just by oath, but by blood as-well´´
Even after reading the letter Klaus really had to hold onto the table for dear life if only to avoid making a worse scene. The guts of this man to tell with such a blank face something like that! To him no less!
If only the person and the time had been different he could have at least taken it as a joke and laugh politely about it.
``Just... that?´´
The Duke merely raised an eyebrow, lowering the cup from his lips even though they had not even touched the damn thin. Leaving it calmly over his desk.
`` I understand your skepticism, my king…is a rather bold proposal no matter where you look at it´´
``That would be...an understatement..´´ He begrudgingly agreed, however he knew that those words had merely been uttered not as some sort of understanding of the gravity of the situation, but merely as a free pass to what bring out more lies painted with benign intention.
``However, allow me to brush away said worries because my intentions are as clear as the wording left in those pages my liege and all that very letter entails..´´
And there they were…..
Klaus was neither relieved or glad to be right. Not at all, in fact...he was growing even more weary by the second.
``Though, perhaps you could say that I too want this from a different reason too. After all, with these recent strike of disasters that have wrought nothing but instability into the kingdom, would it not do some good to bring some distraction from these trying times?´´
``With marriage..?´´
``Especially marriage...´´
With the passion and honesty that the man seemed to tether those words Klaus was almost tempted to believe him.
Almost...
Sadly, he was all too used by now to the games of the court between him and the nobles to know better and be swindle by pretty words. There was something that they wanted, an edge to grasp onto and grow…and the Duke of Pendragon was no different than then.
No, he was worse.
…
…
However, there was….some ounce of truth to what he had said. Twisted for his own selfish designs no doubt, but….the recent events that had taken place since the day of the attack on the capital had not done anything but create and ever growing mist of distrust and psychosis between the ruled and their rulers.
Monsters..
Armed thugs..
Damaged buildings and wrecked streets.
There was a scent of weakness in the air, a sense of unease where there had been comfort before, a thickness in the very air they breathed as if it would pounce on them in the very next second. They were afraid….and fear never brought anything good.
In others words, a show of force disguised as spectacle carefully guided by an unseen hand...was not a bad idea. Uncaring whether it was more a political maneuver than anything else. Still…
Still…...
``No...´´
``No?´´
``No…´´
He parroted, this time even more fervently than before. He refused to even blink from the cold eyes of the Duke. A detail that was not lost on him as the man returned the gesture, though with more grace.
``May I ask why...?´´
There were a lot of things that he wanted to say to that, but caution demanded him to tread carefully. That…..and a bit of shame as his eyes could no glare at the man in the eyes as he replied.
``I do not wish to speak about this, Lord Pendragon…´´
``I am afraid I will have to insist….´´
``Its not the right moment..´´
``When would it ever be..?´´
``Is still too soon..´´
``They are already on age..´´
``They are just children!´´
This time he could not control himself, his head turning to glare angrily at the Duke, almost standing up from his seat as he slammed both hand on his desk. Making the wood whine while sheets of paper and pencils were scattered away.
He didn't want to talk about this.
He didn't want to hear any of this whatsoever...
He didn't want to tread on this messy quagmire of political nonsense and clandestine back-deals. With even more reason to what it would mean to his own blood and flesh to follow through it. Least of all first hour in the morning, something that he made known to the man in-front of him with no more pretending to cover to his expression and feelings on the matter.
A fruitless endeavor with the bored expression of the Duke.
Like trying to shoo away a lion who had grown too comfortable in his new found spot with the buzzing of a mosquito.
The indifference on the mans glare piercing deeper than any blade.
``Pardon me, my liege...but when you were your daughters age were you or were you not already under a marriage proposal if not promised to another in close and not uncertain future?´´
``…´´
``…´´
``My king?´´
Klaus took a moment to breath in….and breath out.
``Yes…, I was´´
``Then surely you can understand that it should not be any different even with your own daughters, to deny it….would only make the people talk´´
Klaus bit his lip if only to do something about this. ``That is hardly something I thought you would care much.., Pendragon´´
The man glared at him calmly, cold grey eyes closed to a half lid while one of the mans brows rose.
``True, a lion does not bend to the opinions of the sheep my liege. However other like minded felines seem to be starting to whisper louder and louder about the reasons behind your refusal to look for a good match...´´
It felt almost as if he was stating the obvious to a child.
The feeling of slowly been pushed into the snaring cage of a spiderwebs made his blood clog his throat.
``Why? Did something happen to make my daughters future the talk of the council? Or are the people already forgetting I still raw breath...?´´ He bitterly joked.
``Yes…´´
Klaus stared at the man for a moment too long, raising an eyebrow. ``Which part…´´
``Both...´´
``For gods sake…´´
``Now, now..., please do care to look out of the window my liege. There is a pretty nice addition to the capitals surface.., easily swallowing..what is it? A tenth percent of the entire city, more..? How that came to pass…?´´
Klaus had to punch his desire to snort and tsk at the same time.
One thing was to be bold…..
And then there was too put it so THICK like that.
Though when you are talking about the several kilometer long hole that had sprouted in the capital in a matter of hours perhaps there was little that could be done to ease the gravity of it. Still, that did not mean that he had to like it.
``I understand your point, my lord. Things….have not going according to plan as of late..´´
``Color me surprise if they were..´´
``But surely with what you have told me thus far the council would understand that there are matters more important than to squabble about my legacy..reconstruction and the control of law and order should be imperative. NOT what you have proposed me...´´
``What they are suppose to understand and what they do are two completely different things, my king. So similar, and yet...so vastly different...´´
[Aint that the true]
`` And what is the council hand on said matter…, do they know of your intent? ´´
``I do not think so, though if that was the case they are making a remarkable job in not tearing this very doors down right about now...´´
Hmpf, Klaus did not know why he had expected something different. If they were aware of such a bold move that would unsettle their game they would have not been able to keep it in their pants long enough to be subtle about it.
Nobles were loud like chickens, the council the perfect hen house. All of them enjoying the sound of their own voices, never agreeing on something unless given an incentive. Which made it sometimes easier to move through them from time to time.
Too bad that he was sharing his office with the only lion of them all.
``And if they did?´´
``Does it matter?´´
``It should…´´
``Only if you say no..´´
He did not need him to explain further to know what the other man was pointing at with that veiled threat, once more Klaus cursed the powder keg his throne was. A grimace of despair starting to morph behind the depths of his eyes with the way the threads kept him tangled.
The problem was not the Duke itself, for no matter how strong and large his holdings where….he would be just one man. The problem was found in all the other lesser nobles who would rally to him if he so wished to. And to his dismay, the number was not as small as he would have wanted.
The only reason the ever ambitious Pendragons had never challenged the royal family directly which he was sure they would surely win was because it was more profitable to stay outside of it.
In other words: He could not deny him. Not now, and probably never with how the way things seemed to be moving towards to.
[How it came to this…?]
This was unfair, but he could do nothing but grunt and nod his head. Even if it was an uneven deal, he could not, to do so would just make everything worse. You just did not deny the proudest man of Midgard while he was the one that kept the rest of the hens in check.
``They wont take this lightly…, they will try to stop it´´
After all, if he opened the door for his daughters marriages for one of them….then the flood of offers would no doubt make itself known as they argued and tried to take the claim to the succession for themselves.
He would not be able to make them back down this time.
The man smiled at him, a faux thing that hurt his eyes. ``Of course my liege, of course….however it would be prudent to write a line on the sand sooner rather than later. Lets we allow those more unsavory individuals get funny ideas….´´
Klaus almost snorted, humorlessly though at the utter lack of shame of the Duke. If only he could speak up about the sheer hypocrisy of the mans statement, if only he could truly laugh about it.
``So is this patriotism talking?´´
``Any good men would have done the same.., however I cant say that is more than just that.´´
[Yes, there is also greed and a power-grab isn't it?] He wanted to say, yet wisely kept to himself.
``And this is your way of doing it?
``One of many, of course we could discuss long each and every point if you would like...but I am here to tell you this. This way would spare us a lot of time and breath….and perhaps even lives´´
The brows of the red headed king twisted with the frown taking hold of his features, hands clenching tightly against, balling into fists.
He was right.
He hated when he was right.
Slowly, he finally departed form his desk. Uncaring of the way the other mans eyes followed him and clawed silently at his back. No could have convinced him to stay idle on his seat anymore even if they had promised him his every wish.
The room felt wrong, dirty...leaving a bitter aftertaste of iron in his mouth.
A hand brushing away the thick, heavy curtains and gazing into the outside, barely blinking as the light strayed inside and bathed him in its touch.
Even now...everything felt surreal.
Monsters born from nightmares that had roamed the streets with visages unlike anything ever seen.
An invasion of hooded thugs that had sprouted from nowhere like fungus in a chilly day…
Iris getting becoming wounded and apparently mentally unstable if rumors were to go by…
A huge explosion carving a tenth of his capital, leaving just a smooth crater behind…
And now he was going to marry one of his daughters..?
For goddess sake, things were moving too fast for his liking. When was the universe stop throwing curve balls at him? His mind felt heavy and his body worn down by these needless tirade of problems presented to him.
Once again, no one said that ruling would be easy….if it was, everyone would do it.
``She may not like him..´´
``When did love became a required aspect of politics?´´ Was the mans quaint reply.
With a mirthless smile cracking the edges of his lips Klaus nodded, though more to himself than anyone else.
``I will take this….into consideration, thank you Lord Pendragon for your insights.´´
The courtesy was hollow and brittle, yet he found himself in the need to offer it nonetheless..
``My pleasure, however I expect an answer before the end of the month´´
``Don't worry, you will know...´´
The sound of the door closing warned him that he was finally alone.
If Pendragon wanted to become closer to the royal line, he would allow it. If Pendragon wanted to become the first Grand Duke of Midgard in five hundred years then he would allow it. However, neither the letter or their conversation they had agreed on who would marry who.
A small mercy at that.
And one that he would gladly abuse to is heart content...
Iris was too important for Midgard, recent troubles or not she was his heir apparent. He could not allow the future of the kingdom to marry whoever the Duke would bring for the match if it would incite the man to kill him and replace his family with his if he considered it far more feasible than just playing pretend as family.
Not like he expected such back handed plan yet, but he could not just wait for the best in people in a nest of vipers, especially when it left things to chance.
Luckily, there was a spare.
..
..
He closed his eyes, tired about everything.
For better or for worse...and with a little of shame, Alexia was not as politically important to the game as Iris was. She...she just…..she just could not compare.
Then it was done, this was the best path for the kingdom. For everyone involved, it had to be. He got the support of Pendragon now that he had something to lose if the hens became to erratic and he got closer to royal bloodline.
The only thing he wished…...was that Alexia would forgive him for this.
..
..
And what if she didn't?
That crudely, sharp question lingered in the air like a sword hanging just above him. It was...a bitter thought that left him unease, however for better or for worse one that did not stop him for long. He had already lived long enough for the heartache to become dull...
If she did not, then it didn't matter.
There would be time for that day to come, sooner or later she would see the goodness of his actions and understand. He only needed to be patient.
And that….he had ample experience with.