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Post by Christopher Saunders on Aug 17, 2010 22:08:18 GMT -8
Christopher's ears registered a sharp slapping sound over the noises Azura was making, the Guards, and the other King's rough breathing. Would the violence ever end? The answer, as simple as it was, seemed quite obvious. Somebody would have to be a fool not to comprehend it. No, it wouldn't.
"Are you alright?" He ventured to ask Azura, but turned to glance over at a furious Melora.
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Post by AzuraGallu on Aug 17, 2010 22:12:25 GMT -8
Azura rolled onto the balls of his feet, off his ass like a kid who lost a playground fist fist and glanced at Christopher, still holding his nose. "Fine, though a bit bloody."
His answer was warmed by the lack of hair through his nose, and the sound grated against his ears, so much so that he released his battered cartilage, please to find the damn thing didn't fall right off his face like that one American pop singer. He'd have died on the spot. He wiggled his nose via his upper lip, making sure it was secure then reaffirmed his earlier assessment. "Yeah, I'm fine. Oh wait, can you tell me if my ear's bleeding?"
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Post by Doctor on Aug 17, 2010 22:25:33 GMT -8
Anshel stretched his jaw. "Know? Know what? That you're fucking insane? Yeah! I had an inkling."
He bent down to retrieve her 'proof'. Sure, she trusted him. That's why she waited until she was officially undead to bring up her conspiracy theories. He unfolded the paper wearing a scowl that spoke of hair-thin patience, willing just one more time to humor her.
The scowl remained after Anshel finished looking it over, gaze rising to meet Melora's again, demeanor unchanged except for a sudden swell of confusion.
"And this is?" He demanded expectantly.
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Post by MeloraBelikov on Aug 17, 2010 22:33:13 GMT -8
She rolled her eyes. "You can fucking read, prick. And you'll recognize the handwriting as that of someone who sits on the council with you." It was indeed, a handwritten letter outlining the details of her father, noting that the Banglaire knew, also taking note that Melora might know something more than she should. It was adressed to another person on the council. "The wonderful person that procured the letter for me has long since left the Banglaire court." The corners of her mouth pulled further into a frown. "I will kill my father and my soul will be mine. I have no intention of becoming a psychopath, Anshel. Azura would not have agreed to change me if he thought I would follow that path."
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Post by Christopher Saunders on Aug 17, 2010 22:42:12 GMT -8
Christopher folded his arms over his chest, then reached out a single hand to press his index finger against Azura’s temple, turning his head slightly. “Not that I can see…” He started to bring his eyes to the other man’s ear… just as the attention was brought back to Azura.
What was that last thing Melora had said? Oh, yes, that nearly made him laugh, sure, somebody could think the other wouldn't go insane, but it happened all the time. And that female Hunter was oblivious to the law which forbid Clan Officials from creating vampires out of humans. No matter how many times he'd remarked about it, he'd been ignored. It was going to get ugly at some point or another.
Which was why he stopped himself from speaking.
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Post by Doctor on Aug 17, 2010 23:16:07 GMT -8
Anshel was really at a loss.
"This is it?" He shook the paper angrily. "Some suspect information written in flourishes and that's all it took for you to abandon us and get turned?"
He regarded the script again, scrunching the edge of it with his grip.
"If this is true, did it ever cross your mind to, I don't know... ask for help? Not assume that some possibly bullshit letter meant the entirety of our clan was conspiring against you? I mean holy shit, Melora, you trust the word of a procurer that fled their clan over Bart?" He asked stunned, incredulous. Honestly, he didn't trust it, and that mistrust was fed heartily with the desire for these accusations to be false.
Anshel crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it back at her, though it was too light to gain any distance and simply fell lamely to the floor between them.
"You've committed an abhorrence," he spat unphased. "And I highly doubt Azura's wishful thinking will keep your inevitable deterioration into a homicidal psychopath at bay!"
Anshel whipped around to address Azura. "And you!" He pointed an accusatory finger, "You've violated the law!"
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Post by AzuraGallu on Aug 17, 2010 23:31:18 GMT -8
Azura raised a brow at Anshel, looking pointedly around him, most importantly to the armed guards. "Have I?" He'd taken on a sharky tone, one he'd only reserved for humans on most occasions. It seemed it worked well this time, however. "I wasn't aware that there was a law against turning willing humans, especially those presenting me with fair reasoning. I did what she asked me to do, despite my initial dislike for the idea."
He passed a look to Melora, clearly saying it was alright for her to go if she wanted to. "Why are you so upset, Anshel? Didn't you want her out of your hair? Now she's a Gallu, she belongs to us."
The King crossed his arms over his chest, blood cleaned from his face but his once white shirt now showing ample evidence of the gore. He wasn't at all pleased, and now completely unwilling to apologize. "You can stay if you'll be civil and stop that catty shrieking or you can leave. And no, there are no other options. I'm tired of having you run free in my home like a whirling dervish bent on destroying every ounce of self pride that I have, no matter how fickle and tiny those may be."
He practically looked down his nose at the demon, chest beginning to swell with righteous anger. Rightfully so, he was nearly setting himself up to crack the man upside the head for even touching Melora...which was weird considering he'd have just let it go before...
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Post by Christopher Saunders on Aug 17, 2010 23:48:18 GMT -8
Christopher wanted to throw up his hands, and appear at Anshel’s side, longing to become the little traitor for a brief time. ‘YES! FINALLY SOMEBODY HE LISTENS TO!’ He exclaimed dramatically in his own thoughts, glimmers of hope lighting his eyes. Hey, he’d warned Azura before. He wouldn’t be the one to get in trouble, at least he didn’t think he would. Though sitting through that procedure made him an accomplice at the very least. Though his name hadn't come up in conversation that he'd caught...
When his voice came out, it was strictly professional. “Willing or no, it is still in affect. Period. Sorry Azura, but that was one thing that I’ve had drilled into my head repeatedly.” Silently he slipped over to Anshel’s side, almost fearing being struck by the Gallian. Yes, indeed a traitorous little bastard he could be.
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Post by Doctor on Aug 18, 2010 0:22:18 GMT -8
Anshel turned on Christopher, less angry at him than at the cursed combination of stupidity and apathy that had allowed him to let this travesty come to pass.
The judge fisted the boy's tie and brought him roughly to eye level, "Which is why I'm surprised you were an accomplice to this!" he seethed. "You sat there and watched this happen! As much as you are my kin, Christopher, Melora is mine, and you let her turn into this." He shoved the boy away from him. "As much as you were disappointed in me last night, know that the feeling is mutual."
Anshel addressed Azura once more, words sharp enough it felt like they could physically cut the vampire if he willed it enough. "She's her own damned woman, she can do what she wants." What she wanted was to cut ties. There wasn't any feasible way around it. Melora wasn't his to protect anymore. He was a lone hunter in enemy ground. With a deep breath he set the mask of professionalism on again.
"Please," he continued more cordially, "Accept the Banglaire's best wishes for your future. I have faith in our alliance and I have faith that you'll take care of that which we've held precious to us for many years." He shot a lamenting look at the girl. And I have faith you'll do what's necessary when the inevitable happens.
"Melora is free to leave us, as I assume I am free to leave here after she is exorcised. You have all the tools the Banglaire can offer you in tracking down Konstantin: his daughter and his technology."
Anshel shot a withering look to the girl this time, "Glad to see you found the bell, by the way. Lucky that," he sneered.
He would miss sneering at her. And a big part of the fault lay with the asshole King who apparently he'd put too much faith in.
You douche, he thought as he addressed the Gallu a last time, words dark and bitter. "You've taken all you need from me and can now no longer have use for my presence" Anshel muttered back to Azura, the accusation loaded with all that happened the night before. "With your blessing, I'd like to leave as soon as possible."
Too much betrayal had happened. So many things had revealed themselves to be a lie, such as every relationship in this room he wanted desperately to escape.
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Post by AzuraGallu on Aug 18, 2010 0:41:36 GMT -8
Azura nodded his head, choosing to ignore the hurt tone Anshel'd used to deliver those last few words to his ears. He wasn't fucking falling for it and anything this man had to say would be heard by every single Gallu standing in the room. Suddenly, he didn't feel so alone anymore.
"You're welcome to stay as long as you need, Judge Lochem. Though I'd actually like to have a word with you in private before the exorcism." It was mostly to give Melora time to prepare and work out the emotional stress this encounter had likely caused her. If Anshel was thinking she was going to go crazy, then that was a fine way to start out. She had a bad enough time dealing with it as it was, and only pulled through because she valued her soul that much. He was of the opinion now that her humanity would remain if she just held onto that thought.
He shot Chris a frosty smile before motioning them all toward the stair case. "We'll meet in the Throne room once you're all ready. Chris, I'm locking you out."
Ascending the steps, Melora had quickly gone off in the direction of her room, not that he blamed her, and he led Anshel into the large Throne room, once full of court officials and his family, now deserted save the two of them.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, not knowing why he was even trying at this point to make amends, but something just didn't sit right with having Anshel so distressed and angry. "I want to say I'm sorry for last night. It wasn't my intention to compare you to my worthless brother. You mean..." he paused, trying to decide if he still wanted to use that tense. Oh, what the Hell? "...You mean a lot to me, and you're a far better man then you'd have yourself think. Anyway, I apologize for going off on you, but watching them...forget it. This won't make a difference in the end, I wager."
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Post by Christopher Saunders on Aug 18, 2010 0:49:25 GMT -8
In retort to Azura’s frosty smile, Chris’s eyes flashed a murderous look, lips twitching in an awkward display of fangs this time. If only, if only... What reason was there for secrets, unless Azura actually thought the Judge would let him screw around with him now?
Turning his gaze to Anshel, he had an apology in green eyes, much like the females managed in his family look, essentially doe eyes. Like a child who had told a lie to their parent. “I know, I shouldn’t of. But honestly, if I had actually just not been present, she could have died, and do you really think that he-“ Chris gestured wildly in Azura’s direction. “Would have listened to me?”
But without a further word, he turned his back to go check and see how Melora was going to fare.
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Post by Doctor on Aug 18, 2010 1:13:45 GMT -8
"You need to stop talking," Anshel whispered. He didn't know if he had strength enough left for a reconciliation or whatever the hell this was.
"Firstly, stop thinking of me as better than I am. You'll end up disappointed. You all do," he looked down at his shoes briefly before continuing. As long as they were being honest and conciliatory and saying touching things...
"Secondly, I'm sorry for mentioning your brother. I'm sorry for killing your cousins. I'm sorry for a lot of shit, okay? Maybe, with time, we can fix this," he gestured to the two of them, the tenuous remains of a bond.
"I care about you, too." It wouldn't hurt so much if he didn't. But he wasn't sure if he could handle this now. As much as there was relief that maybe Azura and he would be alright, there was still the matter of everything else around him falling apart. And there was a tingling behind his eyes and suddenly Anshel was half-choking on the tears he'd wouldn't allow to fall.
"I-" he cut himself off, but tried again. It hurt, the things he didn't want to admit, but had to to properly explain himself. "I lost something very important to me today," the judge was able to say. "And I didn't know how important it was until now, but it is, because I'm the leader of my clan and I... and now she's..." And then he wasn't choking anymore because his face was wet again and it took a little effort to catch his breath.
"I just think I need to go, okay?" Anshel offered, wanting Azura to understand. "I need to not be here. I need to get very drunk, and cry, and fuck somebody, and then cry some more." He felt better just saying it. "So," he clapped his hands together. "I'm going to go take that demon out of Melora," he pointed behind them to the door, "and then I'm gonna go." And maybe when he left, he might find some peace with all this. "If you need me, you can call me, but just give me a day or two."
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Post by AzuraGallu on Aug 18, 2010 1:24:17 GMT -8
Azura felt his anger shed itself from his body like a winter coat and he looked at the Judge, completely understanding, though still a little miffed at getting punched int he face, of the reasons for his being upset. He didn't know until now about the man's fondness for Melora either, at least to this extent.
"That's sounds good. Why don't you, instead, come back in two days to check on Melora? I can promise to take care of her, but she'll need a shoulder to cry on if I piss her off. We all know that's more than likely."
His tears were seriously bothering him through all of this, so much so that he had to look away. Even so, the smell permeated his nostrils, making his heart ache. Thank god Anshel had kept most of his composure, or he might have resorted to coddling the goddamn demon.
"She'll be fine."
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Post by Doctor on Aug 18, 2010 1:37:22 GMT -8
"No, she won't," Anshel shook his head in the negative. That bitch was not going to be fine and he hated it. At least without any false hope, he wouldn't feel worse when things became ugly. "But thank you." He had been angry at Azura for the role he played, but he couldn't hang on to that enmity if he had tried, too exhausted to dwell on things he couldn't change.
"We don't have a lot of time," Anshel said, using the heel of his hand to smudge away his tears. Vetis' time was up and a darker type of magic would be keeping Melora alive from now on.
He unlocked the door and, washed with a shade of determination, opened it.
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Post by MeloraBelikov on Aug 18, 2010 12:47:21 GMT -8
She sat on the bed, tears rolling down her cheeks. Anshel had doubted her regardless of the fact that she'd presented him with proof. Not off hand theories or speculation, but proof. Anshel was caught by the balls by the Banglaire obviously, as was apparent by his refusal to believe her. But Melora was no longer a Banglaire hunter, even if they would accept her as a vampire. Azura's words rang in her ears, they sounded so final, so protective. "Now she is a Gallu, she belongs to us." Melora's hands rose to her face, wiping tears from her eyes. She slid that hand down to her neck, tugging at a chain with a charm on it. One, two, three. She tugged harder and the chain broke, falling limp around her hand. She dropped it and it clattered to the floor, the mark of the Banglaire bounced on the hard floor below.
When Anshel walked in, straightened out and faking calm, she just about lost it. Another tear rolled down her cheek and she turned away from him, focusing on a small discoloration in the wall. "Dammit," she mumbled, unwilling to turn around, even when Azura entered the room behind him.
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