Moroi Throne Room [OPENING POST]

[Christopher Saunders]

Christopher paced through the intricate brickwork of the Moroi citadel throne room. It was truly a beautiful place, but he wasn’t paying any attention to that. He was stressed, blonde hair slightly tussled, and little blackened marks under his eyes from lack of sleep. Supposedly the old friend of his Father’s, Tullio, had been sighted.

“What do you want to do?” One of the timid female secretaries mewled shyly.
“Tickets. Yellowknife, Canada. I’m sure you can find some private plane service.”
The girl looked taken aback but the edge of his request.
Christopher put on a docile smile, abruptly taking one hand and kissing her knuckles.
Her eyes widened, and she nodded slowly, clipboard trembling in her opposite hand.
“Thank you.” Christopher added, before turning on his heel to go prepared.
Any business would have to go on hold, as per his orders.

Being polite was one of the first things he’d ever been taught. Many people would do what you wanted them to when asked, but how you asked made all the difference all too often. Ask nicely: your result would be nice, ask like an ass: your results would generally prove bad, or to make to make the person you asked refuse to help you in the future.

[Christopher Saunders]

SEVERAL WEEKS LATER...

Christopher rubbed his eyes. He’d only recently returned from that tedious trip, though a placid sense of satisfaction had come over him. That little trip to Yellowknife had proved worth it. That cold, calculated murder of fifty years ago was solved. His parents were avenged, as was his attempted murder. Tullio had been the one to do it, and now Chris had a valuable ally as a result of him being killed.

Ornock. Weres weren’t too terrible, if you could get past the initial foul mouths, snide remarks, and sometimes disgraceful public behavior. He’d grown accustomed to it though, and had to admit that he had honestly very much enjoyed the old wolf’s company.

Serena cleared her throat, distracting him from his thoughts. “Sir, the Gallian King will be arriving any day now, as per the schedule.” Her deep auburn waves her left loose, and amber brown eyes regarded him behind thick lashes. A silky emerald blouse adorned her sculpted torso, hiding her body from view, but still in a downright sexy way. The black pencil skirt around her lower body did much to add to her figure.

“Mmm.” He murmured, watching the flames dance around in the hearth across the room. This large area was his favorite in the entire place, he’s never much truly cared for the throne room. Yes, it was large and vast, but the feel was lonely. This living area, his private living area, was warm and inviting. “When was the exact date again?”

“He didn’t say exactly, I expect anywhere between today or sometime in the next two.”
“That sounds as though it’ll work.” Chris nodded to himself.
“Did you want a banquet set?” She asked, running over the large expanse of list.
“No thank you.”
“Would a private dinner, suffice then?” She made a check mark at his nod.
“Anything else?” He asked, slowly standing and tilting his head to face her.
“Nope.”
“I’ll be heading to dinner then.” Christopher chuckled.

Standing, the soft rustle of his white suit broke the silence of the room. The black button up shirt beneath looked very professional coupled with the green tie. Tomorrow he wouldn't be dressed this way, though, tomorrow he had every intention of going out to work with the horses. Shea and Orion hadn't been worked in a few weeks, and were like coiled springs of energy, just waiting to be used or set free.

[AzuraGallu]

Azura exited the sleek royal blue town car with an agonized sigh. He hadn't been rid of his guardians for some time now, all four craning their heads and peering around corners like frightened nannies afraid he'd be snatched out from right under their four upturned noses.
"Relaaax," he said, dragging out the word in another sigh. "The Moroi are allies remember?"
They visibly stiffened, disliking his tone, but unwilling to argue with the tone he'd set. One of the approached him more closely asking if he should announce him.
Azura didn't mind announcing himself, in fact, he had a wonderful habit of doing so, though not in the most romanticized of ways, but he nodded in quiet ascent anyway, making a shooing motion with his left hand.
he was wearing his formal garb, restrictive clothing proving bothersome and annoying even more so since he was having trouble trying to phrase what he was going to tell this young king. He was even younger than Azura, which was surprising. In fact, they had a lot of similarities, some were downright frightening in their twin-like nature. Even their pasts were smiliar, what people thought of them, their motivations for revenge. Azura could have almost sworn they were the same person.
"Azura, King of the Gallu announces his presence to the Moroi present. He has an appointment with your monarch henceforth," his protector said with a prim bow.
Azura merely rolled his eyes in response.

[Christopher Saunders]

The guards at the fringes of his room sprang to alertness. Christopher turned, facing them. “Will you bloody guards calm down?” His eyes narrowed, green gems turning sharp as thorns as he nodded his head to the Gallu. “Gallus are fighters. That’s their King. I’m sure enough that they can fend for themselves when it comes down to it.” He waved a hand, sending them away, and leaving only himself, Serena, and Azura in the room.

Rumples, the darkened ones from his directions to the Guardians, flowed out of his features, smoothing his brow and calming his eyes. “Please ignore them.” He sighed, then laughed at the absurdity of it all. He was the High Lord, he could change that law… But that wouldn’t be very wise with somebody hunting him, now would it? He reminded himself.

Relaxing his posture from the blatantly dominant stance he’d taken with the Guardians, Chris rested a hand in a pocket of his suit slacks, leaving the other out to rest at his side. So this was what the Gallu looked like? His guesses had been both close, and farther off.

[AzuraGallu]

Azura himself dismissed all of his detail save two. At first they weren't going to leave at all, not bowing to the whims of some upstart king they barely knew and didn't serve. The pair remaining stayed silent, differing to their King and sweeping the room with watchful eyes, assessing the situation and those present within.
Azura raised a brow, pinning the Moroi with a bored expression. "So all you're going to do is tell me to relax and make faces? I'm glad I came. You, kiddo, need some serious lessons in diplomatic tact before you're unleashed on the rest of the world."
he knew he was being snarky, demeaning, and in a sense downright rude, but what the hell were the Moroi thinking? He didn't have a problem with the age of their King, but why chose someone so utterly unsuited for foreign affairs and diplomacy? He just stood there like a brain dead lark, uttering a swathe of but three words to him and then discourteously began to rake him with his eyes without so much as a 'how do you do?'. It was embarrassing for the Moroi.

[Christopher Saunders]

“Pleased to make your acquaintance, as well, Azura Gallu.” Chris said dryly, responding to Azura’s comment. He had a zero tolerance for rude behavior. It was one thing for him to direct his staff, but they knew how high his stress had been running lately. It was entirely another for another to speak to him in such a way.

Serena shot a sharp look at Azura, then looked between the Moroi Lord and the Gallian King, remaining silent, and silently surveying the room with her eyes. How stuck up that Gallu appeared! She kept her thoughts to herself before returning her eyes to the clipboard.

[AzuraGallu]

Azura sighed, knowing he wasn't going to get any sort of beneficial conversation from this meeting. How utterly and unexpectedly boring. His father had mentioned on several occasions how interesting and bright the Moroi were; how hospitable and gracious they acted, even when imposed upon. All he was left with now was a socially awkward teen at best, who didn't even make the formalities required of two such dignitaries in meeting.
Closing his eyes in a show of what the boy was supposed to do, he placed a hand over his abdomen, the other curled loosely at the small of his back, and bowed. It was held for half a moment, weight almost completely sent forward on his hips by his chest. When he straightened, he opened his eyes and mouth to utter words of praise and greeting, though he felt insulted that the Moroi King couldn't even bother to do so himself first, being that he was the host.
"My name is Azura Gallu, King of the Gallu clan and successor to Sargon Gallu. I come on this day to bring you sad news, and to speak with you in hopes of finding a solution to a problem that I believe will affect all vampire clans. I seek to remedy this issue wholly and quickly, esteemed Monarch of the Moroi clan, valued aide and ally of the Gallu."
His voice was soft and measured, giving no indication that he'd heard the words tossed back at him out of laziness and ignorance. It was all he could do to set and example, though if the king tried to mimic him now it would just add insult to injury.

[Christopher Saunders]

Christopher cleared his throat, not put off in the slightest. The Gallu was mistaken, this was a private meeting, and by no means was ‘formal’ or public as he was behaving. “Welcome to the Citadel, you have any necessities you might require at your disposal for the duration of your stay.” He inclined his head. No, he hadn't been raised by banshees, he'd been raised by two wonderful parents, and then Tullio after that cursed man had killed them.

He pivoted, resting a hand in the air as a sign for the Gallu to pass him. “My study is just down the hall. We can speak there if you’d like?” He offered, “Or there’s also a lounge on the floor directly approve us if you’d prefer?”

Serena shot Chis a nearly confused look at why he was trying to remain calm and professional when the Gallian so clearly thought less of him. He brushed it off, and the faintest twitch of his lips in her direction was her signal to remain quiet.

[AzuraGallu]

Azura stayed where he was, casual manner of the young man before him welcome, but not at the moment. How utterly incompetently rude. The first time they'd met, and already he wanted to pull out his support from their alliance. A shame his father would have rolled over in his grave.
"First," he began, irately and with some authority crossing his arms over his chest, "I would like to know your name. Is that not basic courtesy for your clan, or am I mistaken that you were given words of praise by my father for reasons clearly not displayed here?"
Azura was by no means an old soul, nor was he staunch with political rules, but when it came down to common courtesy, he was a perfectionist. There was no room for error for this young king. If he didn't somehow dissuade Azura from the opinion he was already gathering of their disrespect to the Gallu as a whole, there would be dire consequences. If his clan had seen this exchange, they'd be in an absolute uproar.

[Christopher Saunders]

“Christopher Saunders, High Lord of the Moroi.” He said curtly, the words flowing calmly off his tongue. The nickname, Boy Lord, really did fit well, and there were few to disagree with that.

He was young, “green”, and very inexperienced with certain matters, and if people were going to immediately jump and assume, that bothered him. Christopher knew he could prove a good monarch, but those things took time. This Gallian had probably accumulated years of training and practice before he’d even come to throne. And that was something Chris hadn’t been able to partake in. The first eleven years of his life had been basic education, and when he was mere months from turning twelve to actually learn correct political matters, Tullio had taken over. For all he knew, these mistakes could be from misteaching on that man’s part, and now it seemed likely that they were.

“I find myself needing to apologize for that.” He said, the faintest furrow of thought coming to his brow.

[AzuraGallu]

Azura flashed a smile at the younger man, pleased that he'd caved to his ire and pissiness long enough to see that he wasn't being the most forthright and proper host. But given his age, he'd rather just let the whole thing slide, but not after giving him a little lesson in tough love.
"It's perfectly fine. Just keep in mind that most dignitaries you'll see won't be as awesome as me." He punctuated that statement with a short nod of his head, assured of his standings among the clans, all save the Blackravens.
"Now, we have many things to discuss. Where are you most comfortable, Christopher?"

[Christopher Saunders]

“The most awesome?” Christopher chuckled to himself. So Azura did have a sense of humor after all? It was actually pleasant, as he thought about it, much more inviting then that rough side he’d first seen. It was just a pang of a popular human saying: first impressions generally weren’t correct.

Serena remained silent, but turned away slightly. By nature, she was a Moroi, she was Chris’s age, and she had been tucked away by another family in Moroi society for years. This mood change for the Gallu was creepy. It nearly felt like something she wasn’t supposed to see.

He noticed her uncomfortable mood, and his lips twitched into a smile. “Do you wish to leave, Serena?”

“No, sir.” She said quietly, moving her eyes to the clip board.
“You’re free to leave anytime you wish.”
“Thank you.” She nodded.

Christopher chuckled to himself once more, turning back to the golden-eyed man. In appearance, Chris looked amiable, and almost like he genuinely wished to talk. He to had heard of Azura’s history, and the recent murder of the Old King Sargon. It was tragic, and indeed an eerie repeat of thirty nine years pervious. “I apologize once more Azura… Serena’s a friend of sorts. And the…” He ran his tongue over his fangs, keeping his mouth closed. “The study I believe, if that works for you."

[AzuraGallu]

Azura's eyes shone with interest at the exchange between the two, not missing the girl's reaction. It wasn't the first time someone had felt uncomfortable around the more vapid parts of his personality. However, he wasn't here to impress her, travesty that may be. He needed to speak with Christian.
Taking the leave to move in accordance with Christopher's earlier gesture, he walked forward and down the hall smelling the old decaying pages of the tomes within, the lacquer on the desk and shelves. Thankfully the door was open and he stepped inside, two guards following silently after him, though he could almost feel their stares of approval flitting to one another only to rest again on the broad expanse of his back.

[Christopher Saunders]

Christopher entered the room a few seconds after Azura, and took a seat across from him, sitting in a large leather chair that had been his Father’s. He sat back, brining his hands up in front of his chest and knitting his fingers together. The faintest thread of pain had caught his eyes at the movement, which would seem odd, for he was young and in noticeably good health. “What did you wish to speak about?” He asked, cocking his head to one side ever so slightly.

No single person, Moroi or otherwise, knew of the comfort and security this room had for him. It held memories, and many secrets. Chris himself was the only one to know about the loose floor board under the far left corner of the desk that was on his side, which had the switch to the safe room underneath. He’d never use it, neither had his Father, it had been for the protection of the High Lord’s mate in the case of an emergency.

The uncomfortable feelings Christopher knew Serena had felt around Azura had ultimately got the better of her.

[AzuraGallu]

Azura smiled once more, taking a seat across from the Moroi, opting for the moment to make light of a heavy and tense situation.
"Sorry for scaring off your girlfriend," he remarked smoothly, not really finding a need to be embarrassed on his behalf for some of the behaviors he'd witnessed. "I occasionally have that effect on people."
He shifted, bringing his large hands with expertly manicured nails to rest in his lap before him. However, despite the want to look at them to better deliver the words he was going to have to say, he met Christopher's eyes with startling vehemence.
"As you may have heard, my father has passed, but not by any natural means." Natural being a nice word for sun exposure. "He was murdered, and following those events, I was fortunate enough to go on a reconnaissance mission with the Banglaire, who are invested in finding the people responsible. We discovered several items, most with the intention of eliciting telekinetic tendencies in humans; all very dangerous if put into the wrong hands. We believe, however faint the evidence may be, that the Blackraven's are behind it, or at least a rogue group of them. During our journey we were hunted with a particular fondness by a man my companion assumed to be dead. Konstantin Belikov."
he let that first bit of information sink in, hoping against hope that the Moroi might have something to offer him in way of information or support.