[ Trantoul may well be his homeland, but he hasn't been there since he was very young. In dealings concerning their magical neighbours he has no more competence than the next man. The countries have a fraught history. Walter, the last king before Dracula's rule, was responsible for the death and eventual canonisation of Trantoul's young queen and Dracula's subsequent rise to power did little to prevent retaliation. The war between the countries has reached an uneasy peace in the last few generations, if one put at risk by Dracula's ban on the worship of Saint Sara.
The source of that fragile peace, the reason that it's survived Dracula's rage in the wake of Lisa's abduction, is the woman in this room.
He gestures to a seat, though he doesn't take one himself, and he knows that his body language is less calm than he'd like. Theodora is one of the few vampires who Dracula believed could be trusted absolutely, but she's also the matriarch of a family whose members span enough courts to make near anything happen Dracula is the mightier of them by far in terms of sheer power, but in terms of influence she could easily rival him. ]
[Theodora's one to enjoy sweeping into a room and commanding attention. She doesn't do that now, because there is time and place, and meeting the temporary head of intelligence is neither. It's why she's equally plain in her dress for the occasion - nothing more than a deep green dress with golden accents, her hair currently it's natural reddish blonde and hanging in a single loose braid draped over her shoulder. Best for riding.
There's a graceful smile at the correction, one she doesn't address before moving right into pleasant conversation. Her eyes flick about the room, curious to see what changes the Belmont has made.]
It never is. And of course this isn't a social call, so let's be seated and get down to business. [There is a pause there, and a very sly smile.]
Only after you tell me how you'd like to be addressed in your promotion.
[ He's a little taken aback at being asked that. Even in his current position, most people don't. He's not sure if he should take everyone else's just calling him the Belmont as a sign of disrespect now, and if he should take it as disrespect aimed at himself or at Alucard.
Most of the changes that have been made have been making the room more- human-appropriate. The castle has moved several more of it's electric lights into the room to compensate for Trevor's lack of vampire senses and compromised vision. The high-backed chair has been replaced with a less decorative one borrowed from a study, because a chair that's comfortable for Dracula to sit on is not a chair that Trevor can sit on and have his feet touch the ground.
Also, the dramatic skulls that had previously been on the desk have been put away in a box on the bookshelves. They were getting in the way. ]
There have been reports of priests of the Lady Sa - the Saint we do not acknowledge - close to the border. Our absent lord's law was that all worshippers of the Saint should be executed for crimes against the crown.
Our prince wishes to show mercy. [ That is to say, he doesn't want Alucard to be forced to carry out executions of innocents if he doesn't have to. ] But in order to do so, he needs to be able to trust that they truly are men of faith and not spies.
[It's a nicer decor, if Theodora was to be honest. The skulls were always a little kitschy, she always thought they detracted from the space rather than add. But the chair across from the desk is the same as it ever was, and she settles into it quite comfortably.
Usually she dares to lounge in front of Dracula for these meetings, but Trevor? He deserves a little bit of respect and a sense of control. First time and all.]
Unfortunately the rumors about the border are true, but with a very helpful twist: they are just an inch or so on Trantoul's side of things. So, technically, they're doing nothing wrong and no reprimand can be given. The spaces are also frequently tension ridden areas, and so all of this, I'm afraid, is to see what the young Prince intends to do.
[Theodora sighs, clearly regretful.]
In so many words, they want to determine the limits of his mercy.
[ His shoulders fall in relief, much as he's trying to not show it. No executions needed, not for now. Thank goodness. Until it moves within their own borders, it doesn't require a response. And yet- ]
They're testing him. [ He doesn't like that one bit. And he doesn't like not knowing whether attacking means passing or failing. ] What reparations would they have demanded, had he taken action?
Don't sound so terribly happy, they'll cross the border eventually. However--
[Theodora springs up, and taps on the front of the desk. From seemingly no where, a drawer slides out of the bottom, revealing a black dossier with Dracula's royal seal. More than that? It's thick.
She offers it to Trevor.]
Vlad and myself spent a good week making up scenarios and responses for you both to rely on. The answer is in scenario 20-B, and you're looking at a prisoner exchange or some kind of trade thing.
They'll cross the border, and just because they're being used as pawns doesn't mean they're choosing to be so. There'll be innocents who just want to worship freely among them.
[ He sighs and tenses again a little. It's safe for now, but- ugh.
The book, though. The book is interesting. He takes it, opening it and looking over Dracula's writing. 20-B refers to a list later in the book, a list of peoples who Trantoul might demand in an exchange, and when he checks that-
There are other names there, of course. Political dissidents living among groups like the speakers who they'd see returned for trial. Prisoners who fled across the border. But there at the top of the list - Trevor Belmont.
To his credit, he doesn't react at all as he reads it. ]
I suppose that if you had a way of telling the innocents from the spies, you would have told our Lord long before now.
[ More names. Some he knows, others he doesn't. He scans over it before closing the book for the moment. He can read this without Theodora in the room. He doesn't need to waste her time like this. ]
What do- [ Another sigh, this one longer and heavier. ] -what do you think they will do, if they judge him to be more merciful than his father? I can't advise him to execute people I suspect to be innocent just because they got caught up in this. But if continuing his father's policies is the only way to keep him safe...
[Theodora's face finally grows serious. It was going to come to this question eventually, but even she didn't expect it to be so quick. So, with a noise of sympathy, she gives the truth.]
The long game will be to make incursions in already tense filled areas and start a few skirmishes to either take areas they believe should be theirs, or use those to start a longer war if Dracula remains away longer. This all predicates itself on Faerie's time not aligning correctly with our own.
The medium game will be to convert, and so if the Prince does nothing about the matter, Dracula will hvae to and it will be a bloodier spectacle - made worse by Her Majesty's return and the knowledge she'd be appalled by the action.
Short game? That's just to judge him. It's likely that if he maintains all of Dracula's policies, then our neighbors will not be inclined to play their longer games. Or if they are, they'll wait a little.
[It's unpleasant.]
Belmont, we all know the Prince isn't inclined to carry out these policies, Dracula included. It was one of the things we discussed at the outset of this quest, and he only did it because to appoint anyone who wasn't blood was to invite real revolution. The best thing I can advise right now is to create a small investigative group that keeps an eye on these things and can funnel trials through the courts in order to do more routine executions that have no need for royal interference.
[ That's the major takeaway from this. It shouldn't be, but so many things that should not be are. His face shouldn't light up as much as it does, especially considering the task he's setting himself. All that matters is that the work is carried out. ]
He need not even know, unless the matter gets out of hand.
[ And shit again, because he shoudn't be swearing at the ambassador. Oops. ]
-you didn't hear that.
[ Nailed it. He takes a deep breath, looks at the closer book, then pushes it to one side. ]
If he needs to know, then Dracula's policies will be coming to an end. We replace them with exile and a brand. Execution will be the punishment dealt only to those who are found to be already branded when caught.
And you tell them this upon your return. Let them know that we don't consider our Prince's mercy a weakness to be hidden.
[Theodora considers all of this. But her response is not to any of Trevor's proposals, but to something she doubts he's considered before.]
Belmont. I am sure you have already given extensive thought to what this position will demand of the Prince. But have you thought about what it is going to demand of you, and turn you into? Especially this one?
[ This is absolutely not something he has considered before, nor something he ever expected anyone else to bring up. he's not quite sure how to respond at first. ]
It doesn't really matter. Not enough to waste time thinking about. I won't say that I'm eager to see my homeland go to war, or that I'm happy to hurt people who much just be fools being played. But I'm already a Belmont. Nothing will turn me into anything else.
[So no, he didn't. Theodora's serious face morphs into something softer, and she leans forward a little, placing her hand on the desk. It's a gesture, asking for Trevor to do the same. Nearly maternal.]
It does matter. You'll have to live with yourself and the decisions you make in this position, and what it turns you into. [More to the point:] You're trying to be his emotional bodyguard. That's admirable. Romantic, even. But you have to do the same for yourself. Take that from someone with a few centuries of experience.
[ ...okay so maybe not all his people share a bed with him, even if he hasn't done that in a while. And probably not all his people get weird boners about him. BUT STILL. ]
It would be entirely inappropriate to feel otherwise. Inappropriate, and distracting, and- ugh.
[ He's getting flustered, which is new. He's usually good at thinking on his feet, but Theodora is particularly skilled at getting under people's skin. It's normally a powerful asset, but turned on him it's just uncomfortable. ]
[Theodora sighs, and she withdraws her hand finally. Her eyes close, and when she breathes out, she actually sounds close to her age.]
Trevor, for this job, you can't let emotions in. It's like hunting - just cold calculation. That's the only thing it can be. Trust me when I say I know what I'm talking about.
[As for the rest, her emerald green eyes meet Trevor's.]
You'll find the balance. But you can't keep secrets from him. Matters of state are more important. Every time. And the king must know all matters of state. Especially the bad matters.
[ Please let it be about the executions, and not about 'you have to tell the prince you want to bone him'. Please. ]
I'll keep him aware, if you think that's the best way. But- if something needs to be done that would violate her highness' wishes, it isn't done by his hands unless necessary.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ Trantoul may well be his homeland, but he hasn't been there since he was very young. In dealings concerning their magical neighbours he has no more competence than the next man. The countries have a fraught history. Walter, the last king before Dracula's rule, was responsible for the death and eventual canonisation of Trantoul's young queen and Dracula's subsequent rise to power did little to prevent retaliation. The war between the countries has reached an uneasy peace in the last few generations, if one put at risk by Dracula's ban on the worship of Saint Sara.
The source of that fragile peace, the reason that it's survived Dracula's rage in the wake of Lisa's abduction, is the woman in this room.
He gestures to a seat, though he doesn't take one himself, and he knows that his body language is less calm than he'd like. Theodora is one of the few vampires who Dracula believed could be trusted absolutely, but she's also the matriarch of a family whose members span enough courts to make near anything happen Dracula is the mightier of them by far in terms of sheer power, but in terms of influence she could easily rival him. ]
The trip wasn't too much trouble, I hope.
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There's a graceful smile at the correction, one she doesn't address before moving right into pleasant conversation. Her eyes flick about the room, curious to see what changes the Belmont has made.]
It never is. And of course this isn't a social call, so let's be seated and get down to business. [There is a pause there, and a very sly smile.]
Only after you tell me how you'd like to be addressed in your promotion.
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[ He's a little taken aback at being asked that. Even in his current position, most people don't. He's not sure if he should take everyone else's just calling him the Belmont as a sign of disrespect now, and if he should take it as disrespect aimed at himself or at Alucard.
Most of the changes that have been made have been making the room more- human-appropriate. The castle has moved several more of it's electric lights into the room to compensate for Trevor's lack of vampire senses and compromised vision. The high-backed chair has been replaced with a less decorative one borrowed from a study, because a chair that's comfortable for Dracula to sit on is not a chair that Trevor can sit on and have his feet touch the ground.
Also, the dramatic skulls that had previously been on the desk have been put away in a box on the bookshelves. They were getting in the way. ]
There have been reports of priests of the Lady Sa - the Saint we do not acknowledge - close to the border. Our absent lord's law was that all worshippers of the Saint should be executed for crimes against the crown.
Our prince wishes to show mercy. [ That is to say, he doesn't want Alucard to be forced to carry out executions of innocents if he doesn't have to. ] But in order to do so, he needs to be able to trust that they truly are men of faith and not spies.
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Usually she dares to lounge in front of Dracula for these meetings, but Trevor? He deserves a little bit of respect and a sense of control. First time and all.]
Unfortunately the rumors about the border are true, but with a very helpful twist: they are just an inch or so on Trantoul's side of things. So, technically, they're doing nothing wrong and no reprimand can be given. The spaces are also frequently tension ridden areas, and so all of this, I'm afraid, is to see what the young Prince intends to do.
[Theodora sighs, clearly regretful.]
In so many words, they want to determine the limits of his mercy.
no subject
They're testing him. [ He doesn't like that one bit. And he doesn't like not knowing whether attacking means passing or failing. ] What reparations would they have demanded, had he taken action?
no subject
[Theodora springs up, and taps on the front of the desk. From seemingly no where, a drawer slides out of the bottom, revealing a black dossier with Dracula's royal seal. More than that? It's thick.
She offers it to Trevor.]
Vlad and myself spent a good week making up scenarios and responses for you both to rely on. The answer is in scenario 20-B, and you're looking at a prisoner exchange or some kind of trade thing.
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[ He sighs and tenses again a little. It's safe for now, but- ugh.
The book, though. The book is interesting. He takes it, opening it and looking over Dracula's writing. 20-B refers to a list later in the book, a list of peoples who Trantoul might demand in an exchange, and when he checks that-
There are other names there, of course. Political dissidents living among groups like the speakers who they'd see returned for trial. Prisoners who fled across the border. But there at the top of the list - Trevor Belmont.
To his credit, he doesn't react at all as he reads it. ]
I suppose that if you had a way of telling the innocents from the spies, you would have told our Lord long before now.
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[Theodora watches as Trevor leafs through the book. Hums softly. Lets him read because some of the things in there are a little personal. Raw.
That he doesn't react is absolutely commendable.]
Check the appendix for scenario 20, the list of likely suspects is there, along with their identities.
[She smiles, satisfied.]
We did try and anticipate.
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[ More names. Some he knows, others he doesn't. He scans over it before closing the book for the moment. He can read this without Theodora in the room. He doesn't need to waste her time like this. ]
What do- [ Another sigh, this one longer and heavier. ] -what do you think they will do, if they judge him to be more merciful than his father? I can't advise him to execute people I suspect to be innocent just because they got caught up in this. But if continuing his father's policies is the only way to keep him safe...
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The long game will be to make incursions in already tense filled areas and start a few skirmishes to either take areas they believe should be theirs, or use those to start a longer war if Dracula remains away longer. This all predicates itself on Faerie's time not aligning correctly with our own.
The medium game will be to convert, and so if the Prince does nothing about the matter, Dracula will hvae to and it will be a bloodier spectacle - made worse by Her Majesty's return and the knowledge she'd be appalled by the action.
Short game? That's just to judge him. It's likely that if he maintains all of Dracula's policies, then our neighbors will not be inclined to play their longer games. Or if they are, they'll wait a little.
[It's unpleasant.]
Belmont, we all know the Prince isn't inclined to carry out these policies, Dracula included. It was one of the things we discussed at the outset of this quest, and he only did it because to appoint anyone who wasn't blood was to invite real revolution. The best thing I can advise right now is to create a small investigative group that keeps an eye on these things and can funnel trials through the courts in order to do more routine executions that have no need for royal interference.
no subject
[ That's the major takeaway from this. It shouldn't be, but so many things that should not be are. His face shouldn't light up as much as it does, especially considering the task he's setting himself. All that matters is that the work is carried out. ]
He need not even know, unless the matter gets out of hand.
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[Theodora is firm on that.]
He cannot be ignorant of anything in this kingdom.
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[ And shit again, because he shoudn't be swearing at the ambassador. Oops. ]
-you didn't hear that.
[ Nailed it. He takes a deep breath, looks at the closer book, then pushes it to one side. ]
If he needs to know, then Dracula's policies will be coming to an end. We replace them with exile and a brand. Execution will be the punishment dealt only to those who are found to be already branded when caught.
And you tell them this upon your return. Let them know that we don't consider our Prince's mercy a weakness to be hidden.
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[Theodora considers all of this. But her response is not to any of Trevor's proposals, but to something she doubts he's considered before.]
Belmont. I am sure you have already given extensive thought to what this position will demand of the Prince. But have you thought about what it is going to demand of you, and turn you into? Especially this one?
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[ This is absolutely not something he has considered before, nor something he ever expected anyone else to bring up. he's not quite sure how to respond at first. ]
It doesn't really matter. Not enough to waste time thinking about. I won't say that I'm eager to see my homeland go to war, or that I'm happy to hurt people who much just be fools being played. But I'm already a Belmont. Nothing will turn me into anything else.
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It does matter. You'll have to live with yourself and the decisions you make in this position, and what it turns you into. [More to the point:] You're trying to be his emotional bodyguard. That's admirable. Romantic, even. But you have to do the same for yourself. Take that from someone with a few centuries of experience.
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[ He grumbles, but there's no heart in it and he does place his hand onto the table. Not on hers, but near. ]
I- [ wait what. ] ...romantic?!
[ What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck he's never been called out like this before!!! ]
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[She pats his hand very gently before--oh.
Sorry Trevor, she doesn't mean to laugh but it happens anyway.]
It's fairly obvious that you have romantic feelings towards Adrian. At least to me.
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[ ...okay so maybe not all his people share a bed with him, even if he hasn't done that in a while. And probably not all his people get weird boners about him. BUT STILL. ]
It would be entirely inappropriate to feel otherwise. Inappropriate, and distracting, and- ugh.
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[THEODORA STOP SOUNDING SO CASUAL ABOUT THIS.]
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[ What the fuck first he's being called out and now THIS. Why is she like this. How did he lose control of this situation so badly??? ]
-It makes no difference. I don't mean to let it interfere with my work.
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It already is though.
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[ He's getting flustered, which is new. He's usually good at thinking on his feet, but Theodora is particularly skilled at getting under people's skin. It's normally a powerful asset, but turned on him it's just uncomfortable. ]
I won't let it. It's fine.
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Trevor, for this job, you can't let emotions in. It's like hunting - just cold calculation. That's the only thing it can be. Trust me when I say I know what I'm talking about.
[As for the rest, her emerald green eyes meet Trevor's.]
You'll find the balance. But you can't keep secrets from him. Matters of state are more important. Every time. And the king must know all matters of state. Especially the bad matters.
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[ Please let it be about the executions, and not about 'you have to tell the prince you want to bone him'. Please. ]
I'll keep him aware, if you think that's the best way. But- if something needs to be done that would violate her highness' wishes, it isn't done by his hands unless necessary.
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