A Civil Engagement

[Margurka]

I'd been assigned to security staff this evening and was not pleased about the risky event Tempo Regine was playing host to. It went without saying that things were about to go very bad, very fast, despite the pleasant pretenses. How any dark dragon managed to woo a member of the Elemental Council was beyond me, but it didn't seem likely such positive relations would develop between any others. In fact if I had any sense, I'd probably just ambush all of the dark dragon representatives at the door, because I couldn't shake the feeling that they were preparing to do the exact same thing.

[Lacie Albus]

I entered the meeting room in the best clothes I could find, patiently waiting for Athemise to arrive. I looked around and saw Margurka standing by with a look of suspicion on his face. "Margurka!" I said with a slight smile. "You alright?" I asked.

[Margurka]

"I don't trust this. The last time we played host to our enemies they took full advantage. This is an outrageous breach of security compared to Necros' attack. We've invited this faction right inside and they are the greater of our threats as far as I'm concerned."

[Tavarius]

A Victorian carriage arrived in the courtyard, led and followed by a company of armed guards, both of the Scourge and Amets. Their armor glowed with waving lines like tendrils, the colors of Amets. As I stepped from the carriage, I stretched my hand for Athemise to escort her inside. An announcer gathered the attention of the attendees telepathically, calling for congratulations as our guards entered, followed by Mercy; armored to his fullest, and on alert for any sort of assassination threat he could think of. Justice hid in plain sight amongst the crowd, in scarlet heels and dress, strapless and trailing behind her.

My own attire was the first regal wear I'd ever dawned. A purple cape draped around me from my shoulders, where they held onto seals of both Amets and the Scourge. My tunic was black with gray designs, but covered by similar armor; adorned in gold and jeweled. The greaves and tasset were much less excessive, but still equally as flashy in appearance.

[Athemise]

I grabbed his hand and stepped out the carriage wearing a beautiful dark red dress that faded into black and had black jewels making it look flashy but not enough to make a scene. It felt like I never left Tempore and was excited yet nervous, mostly because people shouldn't expect something like this was going to happen. I looked at Tavarius and smiled, "Nervous?" I asked him and then looked to find my best friend, Lacie.

[Lacie Albus]

I smiled as Athemise arrived. "Athemise!" I said. "It's been so long. Just know I'll be on your side no matter what." I gave a determined smile.

[Athemise]

I smiled when I saw her and hugged her, "Thank you. It has been a while and I missed you so much. Seems that not many are happy with what choice I made but I have a few.reasons why."

[Lacie Albus]

"I guess I can see why." I said. "I've heard nothing but bad things about The Scourge." I whispered as I looked up. I saw Tavarius, gave a nod in acknowledgement, and said nothing. I didn't want to tell her, but I, too, had a bad feeling about her choice. However, Athemise was my friend, and I was willing to stay by her side.

[Athemise]

"I guess we just see things differently now, well I mean from what I'm guessing, people don't have a good experience with The Scourge." I said to her. "Thanks for the support." I smiled as we walked in together

[Tavarius]

"It isn't anyone's fault the Scourge brings mistrust," I chimed in as we strode through, "but it isn't too late to fix things in my opinion; though that reparation may get complicated, this is an important first step. Speaking of strange relations though, I've heard a few flutters that the boy you were once betrothed to has been taken by the Scourge as well; and that he's been off the radar for some time. Vathmos is not one to lose track of."

[Lacie Albus]

I looked up at Tavarius in shock. Jason's disappeared? I looked back down and thought to myself. Should I be glad or worried?

[Athemise]

I looked at Lacie. Everything is going to be ok. I thought out to her

[Tavarius]

"Yes, I believe he's decided to step away from the advice Justice and I have been trying to engrain in him. He has not the full picture. He sees the way things are now and is acting within those circumstances. He's been far too rash. I don't believe I am any longer convinced things can be okay with him."

[Athemise]

"I believe nothing can be okay with him at all. He's kind of insane, or at least that is what I sense of him," I said to Tavarius then looked at Lacie, "No offense, Lace." I continued walking. "So are we going to stand here and keep talking or can we finish this at the table. I'm hungry." I smiled at them both.

[Tavarius]

"As am I," I answered, "shall we? Your seated among the podium with us Lacoria." I said, pointing to the raised feasting table at the back of the hall.

[Athemise]

I smiled at the table and took a seat at the table next to Tavarius, "Well, isn't this nice?" I said to them.

[Tavarius]

I took a drink from my goblet, "yes, I'm quite partial to having a room's air so thick I could have it on the menu."

I joked referring to the tension between the dragons, many having a hard time relaxing even for political grace in the peaceful gathering. This party would set the tone for the war. The cease fire would end here tonight, whether it meant peace or death. Such a fragile balance could be thrown into chaos by even an independent party. With agents from both factions hiding amongst the crowd though, a single paranoid misjudgment was just as likely to spark the flames of conflict.

[Athemise]

"Couldn't agree more." I said and took a sip of wine to calm me down. One bad line and this place becomes a warzone. I looked at Tavarius as i sensed the tension. For a moment, i choked on my words and still looked at him

[Zerta]

Tavarius felt a mild pressure on his mind yet when he reached for it it melted into the background thought it seemed to be emitting a mild hatred into the minds of the darkdragons and go unnoticed by all others

[Tavarius]

A competing hive mind is here... I thought to Athemise, feeling the presence of the invading consciousness, this is the worst case scenario.

[Athemise]

What are we going to do? I thought out to him a bit worried. I continued to take a sip of my drink to calm down agin.

[Tavarius]

I snapped a bone from the poultry on my plate, deliberating with the rage in my mind; angered by the intruder.

We will have to wait. Each of the others are very well aware of the intruder. They will have to resist as best as they can. Anything I could do is far too early exposure of my ability.

[Lacie Albus]

I noticed the broken bone on Tavarius's plate. "...You alright?" I whispered, stabbing into a steamed carrot slice.

[Athemise]

"You dont sense the intruder?" I whispered to her still taking another sip

[Zerta]

A low thumping started to sound to the dark dragons alone, it was vaguely reminiscent of a war drum. A few minutes passed and then things took a turn for the worst. A whisper, barley audible began to speak to each of them of their own prejudices. To tavarius it whispered "she doesn't care, doesn't understand like we do. She will betray you, your kind will perish. Look into her mind and see it, look and see her hate" it continued to repeat louder every time though no more than a whisper and when traced it led back to the mind of whoever sought it out.

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