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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 1, 2015 13:03:45 GMT -5
"My condolences on the loss of your friend." Charles says solemnly. "I'm still grieving a recent loss myself." When she brings up Charles' mother he answers without hesitation, his voice level, but with a tremor of sadness and a hint of anger, "My mother was killed, but you have identity of the murderer wrong." Charles full attention is on the Duchess now, the servants and guards opinions are unimportant compared to hers. This was the most dangerous part of his plan, 'If she doesn't believe me I die.' Charles thinks to himself.
Allowing the full measure of his true sadness to fill his voice Charles continues, "My mother was a wonderful woman. She was kind, and gentle. She loved her people with a selflessness that I hope to emulate once I retake my homeland from the true culprit." Charles takes a deep calming breath, a single tear rolls down his cheek that he ignores, "Duchess I loved my mother fiercely, and would never have done anything to harm her." Wiping away the tear, Charles looks to the guards-woman, and to a few of the others that wish him ill. "If you're going to arrest me or kill me for a crime I didn't commit, then take me away from the party so we don't disturb your guests." He leans back in his chair, "Some food for thought. Did your reports about me ever say that I was dimwitted? No, I thought not. If I had slain my mother, and your friend, why would I come to your party?" Charles tents his fingers in front of himself, "We have more to discuss, privately, but I think we need to put this topic to bed first." Charles waits for the Duchess.
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Jul 1, 2015 13:44:14 GMT -5
The guard reaches for her blade but the Duchess, raises her hand. "Take a walk with me" She says and gets up from her chair, leading you outside and to her flower garden. The guard woman stays behind you at a respectable but intimidating distance. "I never believed that story from the start" She admits. "However my station has taught me to be safe rather than an alternative, these are dangerous times after all" She walks through the garden, her hands folded over her back straight. She walks with a poise and dignity of a queen. She stops at the center of the garden before a pond with water lilies and orchids in bloom. "Now, what is it you wish to discuss?" She asks, staring out over the pond as the moonlit pond.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 2, 2015 13:18:42 GMT -5
Charles nods, rising smoothly, "I'd be happy to follow." he says, a little of his earlier charisma beginning to return. 'How does she seem to float across the floor, instead of walking?' Charles observes before he catches himself. 'Focus man!' "I'm glad you don't believe that I could do such a thing. My uncle stirred up quite the frenzy before I was driven from the Somerset Isles. My own people wanted to tear me apart." Charles says, seemingly lost in thought. Standing on the edge of the pond, admiring both the foliage and the Duchess, 'Focus damn you.' Charles turns to the Duchess, and glances to the guardswoman, before pitching his voice low enough as not to be overheard, "You are being silently overthrown." He says it simply, in a conversational tone much as the Duchess had mentioned his mother's death earlier. "I have spoken with everybody at your party this evening, and I counted twelve nobles that are actually loyal to you. Maybe a quarter of those gathered would be loyal, but are being controlled by someone who isn't. Do you know who that someone is? Because I do." He looks at her carefully during this conversation, watching where she reacts, and where she doesn't. "I have a proposition for you. I help you reclaim Clifton, and then later you help me reclaim the Somerset Isles."
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Jul 2, 2015 23:34:20 GMT -5
"Do you think me a fool?" She asks, tilting her head slightly. "I am well aware of who my allies and enemies are, Charles." She says with a drip of venom. She then pauses and takes a breath to calm herself. " Forgive me, it is... Difficult in my station, it is as though I'm being attacked by the shadows themselves. The moment I have something against them something goes wrong" She walks up beside you and stares out into the clear pool, her deep blue eyes thoughtful. The wind then suddenly whips up around you two. Flower petals surrounding you both in a small whirlwind before flying off into night sky. When you manage to stop staring at the petals disappearing into the night sky, you turn your head and see the Duchess. She's smiling and not the smile she had on stage. This was one that stemmed from whimsical joy. A true smile. One she probably hasn't had in a while. "I accept your proposition" She says with her smile still on her face. She turns to you. "If you can help me reclaim Clifton. I swear by Pelor, I shall use everything at my disposal to help you back on the throne of Somerset" She places special emphasis on the 'If' but otherwise she states this with unwavering conviction.
(I hope you have a plan, dude)
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 3, 2015 8:56:44 GMT -5
"Of course not, but how does one bring up such a thing?" He says it lightly, without a hint of defensiveness. "There is no forgiveness needed Eliezra. I believe that my uncle is your shadow, and he is using Somerset funds to destabilize Clifton. He has the nobles using the thieves guilds against one another, and the only ones winning in this are the guilds." Eliezra would see the same look of wonderment on Charles' face at the flower petals. Charles stares at her now with the same look of wonderment as he had with the flowers, this time lost in the sapphire blow of her eyes, 'How can it be possible to be this beautiful?' Charles thinks, catching himself short of reaching up and stroking her cheek, 'Almighty Shar, what the nine hells am I doing?' When the Duchess agrees, tension visibly leaves the set of Charles shoulders, "We have a lot of planning to do, but we have already been alone together too long." He says looking back to your party, "I will have to disappear again after tonight, but we will need to stay in contact. You have a scribe that works out of the library, his name is Ezra Quiller. He has been associated with me for as long as I can remember, and I trust him with my life. If you need to send word to me, do it through him."
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Jul 3, 2015 9:16:04 GMT -5
"Very well then" She says and offers her hand. "Shall we?" You safely assume she wants you to escort her back to the party. The guard woman is indifferent.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 3, 2015 9:25:12 GMT -5
Charles steps in close, holding her eyes with his own, and breathing the scent of her in, "Thank you." Taking her left with his own, he places his right on her lower back and they begin walking with their indifferent bladed shadow. Charles doesn't lead them straight back to the party, wanting to keep the beautiful woman all to himself for a few minutes more. Instead he follows a more meandering path through the gardens. Charles keeps an eye out for Gimble as they walk, if spotted Charles discreetly winks at the little Gnome. Just before they reach the doors leading inside, Charles murmurs, "Here we go again..." Then he smiles his best smile, and intentionally makes eye contact with all of those that had murder in their eyes before.
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Jul 3, 2015 10:04:46 GMT -5
The Duchess follows your movements and leans against you slightly as you wander through the garden admiring the many flowers under the moonlight as well as the flower in your arms. You delight in her warmth but something breaks you out of your enjoyment. A light moan on the wind, it comes from a bush ahead and you put the pieces together. Its Gimble and his lady friend. You look at the Duchess but doesn't seem to notice. Assuming you dont wanna see how a gnome and human get it on you deviate your path back to the party a lil earlier than you desired The Duchess parts from you a hint of regret in her eyes and the two of you enter. You meet many faces but the threatening ones have disappeared either, left or hiding you cannot be sure. You take the Duchess to her seat and she takes a seat. "I look forward to results on your promise, Your Highness" She seems to have a hint of playfulness in calling you highness. Her guard takes her place next to her and you see a rather large line of people forming, probably wanting to speak to the Duchess.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 3, 2015 11:18:36 GMT -5
Now all regal formality in front of so many, Charles nods his head a fraction, showing the required amount of respect from Prince to Duchess, "Duchess." He pivots smoothly, and makes his way through the crowd. Charles finds that wherever he ends up in the room, he always ends up making eye contact across the room with the Duchess, all warm smiles and suggestive looks. 'I don't think I am the only one that felt that connection. This is going to get interesting.' Charles only stays for a little while longer, he needs to process all that he has learned, and decide which of his many targets he is going to deal with first.
He takes the long way home, circling south from the Noble District Charles makes his way around to the river. Crossing along the water, he is reminded of the flower pedals by the pond, and the feel of the Duchess' hand held in his own. He stops by the water's edge, and watches the boats on the river, lost in thought and planning his next move.
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Post by DM-Boneyard Ben on Jul 3, 2015 12:30:28 GMT -5
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