Seeing through Zaichaerian Eyes

[Dreyfus]

♅ 72nd of Glade, Year 121, A.o.S ♅
Company: Natasha| Thoughts: This should be interesting| Mood: Content, Intrigued

---

♅ Black armor with red accents stood within the lobby of the embassy. Hands clasped behind his back, and the hood of the ensemble pulled down revealing his face, Dreyfus stood there as he awaited the esteemed guess he was to escort around the west end. Natasha stood beside him, her hands mimicking Dreyfus as she too stood in a black & red outfit, one looking like a proud member of the order.

"Are you certain you are up for this sir?" she asked her eyes looked to the wing in which the Kalzasian delegates were staying. He could hear the level of concern in her voice and only chuckle at her. "No need to be concerned, I just was not ready to be exposed to so much aether at once. But now that I am aware of the magnitude of it, I can ward against it."

With those reassuring words, he began to work an anchor into his left hand. In reality, he knew he would be repairing and fixing the ward all day, but it would be worth it and save him the pain and misery of bearing the strain of his burden. With an anchor in hand, he set the parameters of the shield, affixing the anchor onto his chest. They were curved in shape, and it would take some time to make them sustainable.

The shield would repel aether not his own, and with this, he hoped to keep an episode like on the 70th from happening again. Realizing he would be walking and riding with the man and his entourage Dreyfus prepared another anchor, this time affixing it to his left shoulder with the same parameters as the one on his chest.

This way even if he had to walk with the prince at his left, Dreyfus would be protected. He had enough time to truly ensure that the shield was created right like he was taught. His aether poured into the anchors, forming to the vision of the curved shields he was aiming to have protected him from the Avialae's overflow of aether. He watched as the shields formed with shimmering translucency both in front of him and onto his left side.

His aether was slowly being funneled into the anchors, small amounts at the moment but would be adjusted to keep the shields fed when needed. ♅

---

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"
"Natasha Speech"

[Talon]

Seeing through Zaichaerian Eyes

72 Glade 121

"I do not trust them.” Aoren’s brow was furrowed as he looked out the window watching the arrival of the Reconciliators. Talon tugged his companion away from the window, helping him to finish tying the sash of his vestments around his waist. He combed his fingers over the arms of Aoren’s wings. He turned his partner so that the two of them could meet each other’s gazes. His beloved bondmate had been on high alert and stressed since arriving to the city. He was decidedly unhappy about them being there but was making the best of the situation as much as he could. There was much in Zaichaer that reminded his partner of the painful life he had lived in the Imperium.

“We are beasts to them, less than beasts.” The burning eyes of his partner were filled with pain and caution. “It would not matter if we were not mages. They would want us purged all the same.”

“Aoren.” The Kathar looked at him. Talon cupped his partner’s face gently. He brought their foreheads together. Carefully, Talon wrapped his wings around the both of them, a gesture that his partner returned. He closed his eyes and just breathed. Gently, ever so gently, the young demigod allowed a sliver of his presence to wash over his bondmate. Through the compound, he searched for Rickter. He could feel his equally beloved bondmate’s nerves, his tension, and his anxiety. Talon had been sensing the uneasiness from his people the whole day. It had been a buzzing presence on the edges of his awareness, his years of practicing Semblance having made him attune to flickers of emotion on and off. The weight in the air, Talon willed it to lift. He reaffirmed his confidence in his people. He quietly urged them to have faith in themselves, in their skills, and to trust one another. He could not influence their thoughts but he could bolster their confidence.

Within the circle of their wings, Talon’s markings went from blue to white. A flicker of his nimbus glowed in the air for a moment before he dismissed it just as gently. When he opened his eyes, the pain and fear in his partner’s eyes was diminished. Talon opened himself up across their bond and offered his support. The mental equivalent of the two of them linking their hands together was performed. Aoren shivered. Talon kissed him softly. When both of them were certain that the truth of Talon’s divinity had been carefully put back behind the mask of his mortality, they lowered their wings.

“I am with you.” He picked up Aoren’s hand, brought the palm to his lips and kissed it lightly. He then brushed his thumbs over the mark emblazoned upon the inner portion of his bondmate’s forearm. Resting there, was the Emblem of Eminence, the evidence of just how truthful that statement was.

“Should we grab Rickter and Pahoran?” Talon shook his head.

“Let them rest. They have both been pushed hard by Tarshenna.” Aoren smirked, some of his humor returning.

“And I haven’t?” Talon fixed his partner with an appraising stare.

“Are you saying you want to go do drills with Tarshenna?” His bondmate blanched and winced. Talon smiled.

“That is what I thought.” Shaking his head with a smile, he stepped out of the suite that he and his partners had been provided. He wore a black cloth outfit, a mix of velvets and silks in traditional Kalzasern garb. His pants were tucked into his carefully polished boots, the outfit accentuating his Siltori heritage. The silver of his wings stood out more prominently, complimented by the white silk beneath the garb. The Kalzasern Embassy was a grand estate built to accommodate an Avialae, making much of its architecture very open and spacious. As he made his way to the foyer, Talon appreciated the fact that there was at least something from home, so far away from it. The banners of the Seven Great Houses, with House Novalys taking pride-of-place as the reigning sovereign house, hung along columns leading up to the staircase that led to the upper floors. Talon began his descent down the stairs, his eyes coming to rest upon the Reconciliator from the day of his arrival. He did not mask his surprise at seeing him.

“Master Monteliyet? It is good to see you in better health. I trust you are in good form?” Talon was without any visible weapons. He had little need for them. Beside him, Aoren was armed with twin blades at his hips. The hilt of a dagger was visible, strapped to the side of one of his boots.

[Rickter]

Seeing through Zaichaerian Eyes

72 Glade 121

For the past couple of days there had been nothing but drills, watch, and tours around the city of Zaichaer. Within those days Rickter had dedicated himself to protecting his Bondmates, a role he took very seriously, save for the times where Tarshenna would have her way with him during drills. Not that the wolf minded her pushing him as hard as she did of course, it kept him actively aware of things for the most part, though today just happened to be a particular sort of day the wolf couldn't focus. Knowing who was supposed to be meeting with them later, he took a less active approach and focused on meditating instead, remembering back to the periods of training spent with his Negation earlier this season. He hadn't quite refined the shieldcrafting like he hoped to just yet, but that didn't mean he wasn't somewhere between well practiced and total perfection.

Still, Tarshenna knew of Rickter's concerns and rather than push him harder than before, she prompted for him to do what he needed to in order to prepare for the visit. Knowing that the Reconciliator would be arriving soon, the black wolf had taken to sit within one of the foyers of the embassy, his fingers tented between one another as she breathed at slow-paced intervals. Aether subtly weaved itself through the cracks between the digits as his meditation focused on the crafting aspect, his mind envisioning the dome shield he had grown rather fond of over the seasons. It was a simpler construct even in it's three dimensional form, though mostly because when aether was expelled from the anchor charged with it, the very weave of the shield usually came out smooth and quickly to deflect any oncoming threats.

Not that he'd have need of this particular shieldcrafted anchor, but having the most basic of anchors stored away gave him some small comfort. A fact that became all the more prevalent when he felt Talon reaching out to him. Not just him but Aoren as well, for the Knight Captain had feelings that were akin to exactly what Rickter felt. Though less than beasts didn't quite ring right to him. To Rickter who was a natural-born predator within the world, he felt more like a beast even without the magic, something that the city of Zaichaer would've severely detested... even put down if they did see just how strong his magic made him. Something else had been bothering him ever since they arrived, from when before they stepped off that damned airship and onto foreign soil. Reaving. Rickter had been advised by Tarshenna to never use it here, that to do so would invite danger not just to him... but Prince Talon too.

So of course Rickter felt on edge by the whole ordeal, mostly because he felt severely crippled without his own personal armaments. Even with physical weapons available it just wasn't the same, though he didn't take to outright complain as perhaps another of their companion might've. The shared sentiments aside though when Rickter felt Talon sending currents of calm within the warrior, he breathed in deeply to accept the reassuring wave of confidence with a soft sigh of finality to embrace it. Through their Bond he reached out in turn, sharing with them the equivalent of a close hug as he opened his eyes down toward his hands. The soft fluorescent glow of aether between the cracks of his fingers died out, as his gaze immediately went to the door where their suite was from where he sat. Blue eyes fell upon the form of Talon when he then later stepped out, which marked the wolf's time to get up and move.

Thus the black wolf rose from his chair within the foyer, having already finished up to three charged anchors stored away, he felt certain he'd be able to keep both his Bondmates safe... if pressed to. Yet he hung onto that confidence found from Talon as he strode over, the warrior dressed in the garb that he'd worn on the day of their arrival as he approached. "At your back my prince." Rickter affirmed to the man as they strode on together, the wolf matching Aoren's pace as they walked with Talon further within the foyer. Like the Knight Captain Rickter carried a weapon but only one, a bastard sword that hung on his back just a couple inches below the shoulder. It was the only real weapon he needed to fight and protect his Prince and his Knight, and was hardly necessary when one took into account the amount of magic the three were capable of using.

Of course, the moment they arrived to meet with the Reconciliator, Rickter's firm eyes fell upon the man with unrelenting suspicion; having not forgotten that eerie feeling he experienced in reaction to the man's sensitivity to magic.

"Common" "Synskrit" "Norvaegan"
"Rickter" "Telion" "Hannah"

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

[Dreyfus]

♅ 72nd of Glade, Year 121, A.o.S ♅
Company: Natasha| Thoughts: This should be interesting| Mood: Content, Intrigued

---

♅ He could hear the announcement of footsteps coming from the Wing where the prince was staying and fixed his armored sleeves a bit, a last-minute tick of his whenever meeting someone important. When Talon appeared in the hallway Natasha gasped in disbelief. "My word." she whispered, causing Dreyfus to chuckle as he was amused by her astonishment.

Dreyfus noticed one of the guards from earlier was missing, which didn't sit well with him, but to keep from making another embarrassing show of himself again he let it slide for the moment. Talon's greeting was as expected, as many seeing Dreyfus' affliction for the first time show concern upon seeing him again. With a smile on his face, he bowed to the prince and his entourage before responding.

"Indeed I am. Now that I have experienced you first hand, I can ward against it. One of the perks of being a reconciliator" he chuckled, placing his abjinurium pendant around his neck for extra measure. "I wish to apologize for my brash behavior upon your arrival. It wasn't my intention to offend you, your Highness, simply doing what I was instructed to do, as all delegates are subjected to permit checks."

He bowed with that, which caused Natasha to give him a side-eye look before slightly bowing herself. "Where are my manners, this is my attendant Natasha Gulski. Believe it or not, I too am from a well-known family here Zaichaer, seeing as having Gelerian roots is respected by Zaichaerians. My father worries for my safety given my profession and my affliction. After my mother was brutalized and murdered he has become overly protective of me, hence why she is here, isn't that right Natasha?" he teased, which caused the shorter woman to jab his side with her elbow.

Bowing once again she took a step forward, the pistols on her hips rattling along with the longsword strapped to her back. "It is an honor and pleasure to meet you your grace." without missing a beat she returned to Dreyfus' side. "I do believe today is the day you tour the West End. I am to be your guide along the way as I live along that side of the city. Feel free to ask any and all questions and I shall do my best to answer as honestly as I can."

With that, he made the gesture towards the entrance to the Embassy, where a steam car awaited them. ♅

---

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"
"Natasha Speech"

[Talon]

Seeing through Zaichaerian Eyes

72 Glade 121

"You misunderstand my statement, Reconciliator.” Talon arched an eyebrow. “As delegates of the sovereign nation of Kalzasi, we will honor your laws regarding the use of magic provided our safety is maintained. However, the accords between us and the Grand Marshal demand that, while we will honor your laws where appropriate, we are not Zaichaeri subjects. Our permit is the invitation and treaty that exists between our nation and yours.”

Talon was not interested in causing an international incident but nor would be step another foot in the company of this Reconciliator without making it clear that they were not subject to his authority. His observation, perhaps, but Talon was not only a foreign diplomat he was the heir to the ruling family of his sovereign nation.

“It is as I said, perhaps you should review the diplomatic documents that detail the status of our stay.” Unless Talon’s understanding of the dynamics of Zaichaer was grossly out of touch, he was almost certain that the Order of Reconciliation was still subservient to the authority of the Grand Marshal. From what he knew of the man, the current Grand Marshal was not an individual that took kindly to challenging his authority. He was, to put it bluntly, a complete despot that rewarded servitude and was quick to punish his enemies both politically and legally. The little he knew of Zaichaeri “justice” turned Talon’s stomach. The common man had little in the way of any defense once the authorities of the city decided that said man had committed a crime. He had read the briefings on how the response by the common man in Zaichaer was to point the finger to another whom they claimed committed a greater offense.

For all of their flaws, Talon at least knew that Kalzasi had a system of laws in place to prevent such blatant abuse. Even the poorest of the poor could get an attorney to defend them in the courts of Kalzasi. He knew his father heavily scrutinized the activities of the judges who sat upon the bench of both the Common and High Courts. When Dreyfus announced his lineage and roots tied to the Imperium, Talon felt tension build in his Kathar bondmate. He resisted the urge to reach up and physically brush a hand over one of Aoren’s wings. Silently he both acknowledged Rickter’s arrival and implored the wolf to keep a watchful eye on their raven winged partner. When they had more privacy, Talon made a mental note to share with Rickter the events that had played out in Atinaw and just how close Aoren had come being enslaved by the Imperium once again. That had been in Atinaw, a kingdom that was openly hostile toward Imperial doctrine. Now, they stood in Zaichaer who was a well known ally of Gel’grandal.

“Fortunate you are then, to be in Zaichaer.” That was as much of a compliment as he would offer with regard to the man’s Imperial roots. He could only blink in astonishment at the candid way Dreyfus spoke of his own mother’s brutal murder. As he did not know the man, he could not say whether Dreyfus was speaking of it as an achievement or to garner sympathy. So Talon merely let the moment pass as he nodded his head to the woman beside the Reconciliator. His eyes followed the man’s gesture and he resisted the urge to frown.

“I would prefer to walk.” Talon did not like the boxy and cramped carriages that, while convenient for those without wings, made for uncomfortable spaces for one such as him. Zaichaer was not a city that accommodated a man of his stature well, except in those places that were open and spacious.

“As we walk, you can educate me more about life here in this city. My knowledge, as I am certain you can imagine, is a bit…” Talon searched for the right words. “...slanted. I would prefer to witness life here in the open.”

Talon spoke to his bondmates then, switching smoothly to Synskrit, his words soft but commanding.

“Rickter.” He turned to regard the Rathari. Talon’s expression was guarded while he was in front of foreign soldiers. “Be on guard. Use my gift only as a last resort and...stay safe. Please.”

He had briefed the three men bearing his Emblem before arriving to Zaichaer. The mark that he had bestowed upon them was a symbol believed, at large, to be one that was gone. It was a symbol that carried many connotations to the common man, both as something associated with the Dawnmartyrs and with the once fallen Demigod of Justice. They were to use it only if absolutely necessary so as to avoid detection by those who would seek them out in an attempt to do harm or worse, abduct them. He then turned to Aoren. His beloved raven was stone faced. Talon hated seeing him that way but there was no avoiding it. Talon was determined to step into the role of protector and a leader among his people. Aoren refused to stay behind, the very idea of it had sparked a bitter argument between the two of them before they left Kalzasi.

With Aoren, Talon reached up to grasp the man’s chin gently. His raven did not resist as Talon turned his head so that their eyes met. Across the bond, Talon pushed at the edges of his beloved’s fears. He pulled the fear and tension from both of his bondmates into himself urging them to replace it with faith in themselves and in him. They would make it through the next twenty or so days and they would do it together. He watched as Aoren’s eyes softened ever so slightly. The man nodded his head and Talon breathed more easily. He turned to Dreyfus then.

“Lead the way, Master Monteliyet.”

[Rickter]

Seeing through Zaichaerian Eyes

72 Glade 121

NShortly after he had approached just in time to see the arrival of the Reconciliator, the black wolf's eyes widened briefly before they happened to narrow, with his eyebrows firmly lined over them as though the sight of his companion might've annoyed him. "Great," he quietly thought to himself as he took position near Talon, "another fucking one of them." Though he supposed that didn't matter really, since they were just the show furs of the tour after all. He heard the woman whisper lowly with a sense of awe, clearly impressed by the size of Talon and his fellow Knight-Captain upon sight. In a way her light astonishment was credibly warranted, had Rickter never lived in a place where Avialae were so common, he likely would've considered them giants among men as well.

While he stood guard behind the prince Rickter listened fervently to the conversation brought on by the Reconciliator, his jaw already clenched as he hung his head a little lower with a minor aversion to his eyes. This part happened to be the better aspect to which Rickter was suited for, just standing around to look intimidating to any onlookers watching them. He was obviously so much more to Talon than what he acted of course, but the black wolf fully intended to serve as his guard dog in the presence of foreign delegates... such as these two. Albeit he too beheld a similar reaction akin to Talon's when he heard the bit about the affliction, as well as some brutal slaughter of his own mother in that regard, before Rickter admittedly chuffed to himself lowly with his gaze averted once more. Who was this guy again? Dreyfus Monteliyet? The name stuck, after all, it would seem, yet the wolf still remained wary of this one.

Then the introduction of his partner, Natasha, led Rickter to raise an eyebrow at her momentarily. "So these are agents of the Order huh?..." For the moment he was hardly pressed with fascination by them, then again, he was in new territory where magic was shunned in every corner. Rickter could only wonder what the story was behind Dreyfus' affliction, and how he came to possess it after such a horrible loss from someone so dear. The black wolf knew a thing or two about that kind of loss, one time too many in fact, to just share such personal information with those he'd consider a stranger. When it seemed like they were about to prepare to depart, however, Talon seemed to speak up in regards to their manner of transportation. Oh good! He wanted to walk instead of ride in the large contraptions they had parading around the city. Rickter already felt a sense of relief in that, as it was bad enough he sometimes grew disoriented riding such vehicles.

As the prince looked to face his Bondmates, however, the black wolf straightened up more with his firm gaze locked on Talon. He had Rickter's undivided attention and quickly too, for the moment words slipped from his tongue, Rickter knew right away the meaning behind his chosen statement. It felt akin to a warning in a way but the wolf maintained his composure, with a firm nod given to Talon as he responded once given the instruction. "As you command, my prince. I've already made preparations, so nothing shall come to harm you while I'm near." He promised the prince with a respectful bow of his head, the gesture clearly more practiced now when he straightened back up. Then it was Aoren's turn to be addressed, his fears stilled by the waves of confidence Talon imparted to both him and Rickter. The wolf could see the ease brought in the Knight Captain's eyes, and for a moment he too lessened in tension where he stood, with imparted support shared through their Bond from where he stood.

Moments later it was time to depart onto their next walk throughout the city, something that the wolf hoped to at least enjoy for a bit, though that also depended on what took place during his time guarding Talon. "Lead the way, my prince." He thought to himself as he watched Talon, and followed right after the man on their way out.

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

"Common" "Synskrit"
"Rickter"

[Dreyfus]

♅ 72nd of Glade, Year 121, A.o.S ♅
Company: Natasha| Thoughts: This should be interesting| Mood: Content, Intrigued

---

♅ Dreyfus wasn't going to move on the subject of their permits, but Natasha handed him a clipboard with some documents on them, his eyes scanning through every word until he let out a defeated sigh, handing it back to her. It seemed there was no use fighting the prince on the matter but his eyes looked to Talon, a fierceness in them as it was unlike the norm and something he just wasn't use to. For now, he would let it go, his expression softening a bit.

So far the prince was proving to be everything Dreyfus had hoped him to be. Talon was collected, that much was certain. Dreyfus was merely testing the man to see who he was, what type of man he was in unique and unfamiliar territory. When he opted to walk instead of ride to the West End, Natasha quirked her brow. She knew better than to approach the prince, given his two attendees were present and likely at the ready to step in.

"Forgive me your grace, but transportation has already been...." she was mid-sentence when Dreyfus cut her off. She looked at him confused but didn't push the subject once she saw the look on his face, one she knew well, one that meant for her to relax and allow him to handle it. "If the Prince and his colleagues wish to take the more scenic way to the West End, who are we to not oblige them."

With those words, he nodded at Talon's admittance to not knowing Zaichaeri culture, to which Dreyfus silently scoffed at him. "It's no surprise that you don't know how to behave within our city, otherwise you wouldn't have arrived on such a high pedestal, but I suppose that's what happens when you are born into nobility." he hissed as a thought as the group exited the embassy.

There really wasn't much to see on their walk, as people were doing what they normally did, if not a bit on edge given the fact that there were foreign eyes within the city limits. One false move could upset the facade that was being played out. Dreyfus knew this as this was not his first go-around in this time of the year.

For some while, as they walked Dreyfus remained silent, the hood of his armor covering most of his face except for his mouth. He wasn't sure what the prince was expecting to see here. Everyone was doing their daily routines and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. So to break his silence, Dreyfus posed a question. "Tell me, your majesty, what is it you hope to achieve through these delegations?" he was looking for the right answer, though with a question like that he was almost certain Talon would give him a response that most foreigners give not knowing what they were truly walking into. ♅

---

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"
"Natasha Speech"

[Talon]

Seeing Through Zaichaeri Eyes

72 Glade 121

Talon stepped out into the open. As soon as he was outside, he felt immediately better. The architecture in Zaichaer was neither as spacious nor as inviting as that of his homeland. That could be simply because he was not in the right area but nevertheless, it felt good to be outside. He cast another distasteful look at the carriage. They were most definitely one of his least favorite methods of transportation and certainly were not engineered with an Avialae in mind. Following the prompting of his guides, Talon set off in the direction of the West End. He had been told that the city was divided into two primary sections. There was the East End which was filled with the middle to upper reaches of the city’s wealthy. Then there was the West End where the working class and impoverished were located. It was not all that dissimilar from Kalzasi. The division between the Cloud District, Adira’s Promenade, the Commons and the Low City were stark at times.

He observed the people going about their lives, strolling down the street, tending to small patches of garden or hailing people who knew them. There were those who stopped and pointed, noticing the entourage of foreigners accompanied by Reconciliators. The vast majority of people that Talon had seen in Zaichaer thus far were human. It was a marked difference from Kalzasi where the population was interspersed with many of the races of Ransera. The Avialae themselves were a diverse race. It only served to make their otherness stand out even more.

“I am not a King, Master Monteliyet.” He gently corrected the Reconciliator in his use of the inappropriate honorific. Talon was not usually one to stand heavily on ceremony but in a foreign state, and one that was not on the friendliest terms with his people, protocol was important. The observance of proper etiquette would be crucial in maintaining the precarious peace between his home and Zaichaer. The last thing he wanted was for one of the ambassadors or an aide to refer to him in a manner that ended up offending the Grand Marshal.

“To answer you, my hope is simple. I wish to find common ground and understanding between my people and yours.” Talon looked around. When it came right down to it, the people living their lives on the streets of Zaichaer, in their surrounding territory, they were not all that different from those people in Kalzasi. They had the same worries. They had many of the same fears, hopes and dreams. In the back of his mind, he could hear the steady cry for some form of Justice from many people who were oppressed by the machine of Zaichaer’s militant leadership style. It was something that weighed heavily upon Talon but it left him questioning whether he understood what kind of Justice they sought.

“I want to believe that there is more in common between us than even we might suspect. Time will tell whether that is true.”

[Dreyfus]

♅ 72nd of Glade, Year 121, A.o.S ♅
Company: Natasha| Thoughts: This should be interesting| Mood: Content, Intrigued

---

♅ "Duly noted" he chuckled, looking at the many citizens out enjoying their daily lives. His eyes drifted to Talon, interested in what the man saw. As he watched he could feel his shield fading, and immediately began to reinforce it. Focusing on the anchor, he fed his aether into it feeling it strengthen and tighten.

He let out a sigh, as being around Talon was going to be taxing, but he saw this as just another opportunity to practice his magic, to bolster the knowledge in case he were to come up against someone like him again, and his mind went immediately to Venetia. Talon spoke of wanting to find the common ground between them, and Dreyfus couldn't hold back his laugh.

"Forgive me for laughing, but as much as I can sympathize you wish for finding peace between us, I've lived here far too long to think that your presence will change years of Zaichearian tradition." he responded, seeing Talon as somewhat naive in his view. It was clear to Dreyfus, or at least what he thought, that Talon was out of his depth for these talks.

He continued and it only made Dreyfus smile. "I commend your hopeful optimism. But if I may be frank, let me pose a question to you." he said stepping in pace with Talon. Before he spoke however he looked to Talon's entourage for a brief moment, then turned his attention back onto the Prince. "You say you want to find the common ground between our two worlds. But I'm curious, what do you bring to the table that your previous ambassador of these talks lacked?" ♅

---

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"
"Natasha Speech"

[Rickter]

Rickter watched heavily as the two went about their routine, the woman handing the guy a checkboard momentarily, before the one known as Dreyfus started to scour the contents on the parchment before him. Once the look of defeat surfaced around the man's eyes though, the wolf's lip twitched a bit as he refrained from rewarding the lot with a smirk. Not here at least. He was on duty as of now and that meant he had to be the part, not just act it, and so the wolf remained the watchful stoic muscle. Admittedly he didn't like the smell of the Reconciliators, they reeked of the city's industrial air with a hint of personal musk, and Dreyfus with a bit more pungent tone of aether masking him. When Talon opted for a walk instead of the ride, the woman associated with him looked about for a moment before she weighed in.

The wolf tilted his head forward then, the corner of his eyebrow lightly tilted as he watched the scene unfold. She seemed about to press the matter of of transportation, and yet, Dreyfus seemed inclined to entertain the notion in his own way. Something else reeked here to Rickter, and it wasn't the locals that were in their presence either. Rickter gave a side glance to Aoren then with an expectant look, as the Kathar looked over his way when the wolf imparted his thoughts to his Bondmates. There was the affirmation of suspicion that came awash over him, and for a moment, Rickter wondered if the two felt the same as he did in turn. Dreyfus was being awfully compliant with what his charge preferred, though, was he fully aware of how much he represented his own faction by being here? And what were his motives? The black wolf could only clench his jaw then, as they started to move toward the exit to step out onto the open street.

Rickter had to mindfully keep his jaw clenched when he had heard Dreyfus carry on, a flare of resentment born within the pit of his gut when he heard talk of this pedestal Talon arrived on. The gall! Though he wasn't aware of it the black wolf's eyes had fluctuated, his irises shifted momentarily before a near bloodshot look became glazed in those orbs. It took a lot of restraint to remain as still and silent as he was, more than Rickter anticipated to be honest, yet he followed alongside his comrade with his eyes shifted on Talon's back next. They were there to calm him and that was just what they did, calm, from them he felt it drown his budding anger and carried away within the current. Clarity became prevalent in his mind once more as he embraced every bit of what they spared, the black wolf softly breathing through his nostrils calmly as he just basked in the sun. Talon was determined to see the locals and engage with them on his own, and that the wolf could respect given the circumstance that were tied to the man.

He was of great nobility and a prime specimen to see standing out, for within Zaichaer the number of humans about was greater than anything else. It almost felt they all stood out entirely here, the only saving grace for Rickter being his human form that is. How long before they'd find out what he really was though? Before he felt an urge or suddenly became blind with rage? He already felt as though he didn't belong here, and not in a way that he shouldn't be here, but certainly the one where he wasn't welcome at all. When the prince spoke to answer the Reconciliator Rickter nearly grinned once more, the black wolf himself mindful of how particular his companion was being when he spoke to the man. Talon spoke with a mindful tone of course and his response to the questions were certainly moving, enough to prompt the wolf to reinforce the sentiment with his support of confidence as well.

Was there any possible truth to the idea? Could there be more common ground between two stark nations? Kalzasi embodied a freedom that this place could never hope to allow, and personally, Rickter knew just how much that concept alone posed an obstacle. Imagine trying to sway the minds and hearts of everyone who lived here... For any regular ambassador that task felt near impossible, however, Talon was no mere ambassador to begin with either. No. He had a gift that connected him to any of these humans, a deeper way of influencing those around here who simply could not believe. That would be the key here... and that was what Rickter intended to keep safe. Dreyfus chuckled after he had heard Talon's answers, the smell of aether starting to fade off as they continued their walk, until the Reconciliator momentarily replenished the charge of his wards once more.

"So he has to constantly maintain the charge of his shields with his own aether." Rickter noted as he watched Dreyfus eye Talon for a moment, before he broke into laughter over the response he'd been given. "That poor bastard..." The black wolf thought to himself as he started to look grimly toward the Reconciliator once more. "It's unfortunate how the state here treats their mages, a simple runeforged artifact and he'd be able to protect himself a lot easier." And not with so much aether expense as well. Still he couldn't deny the aggravation that churned inside the pit of his stomach now, possibly the last shriveling remnant of anger that intended to burn it's way back to the surface. "Not forgiven." He wanted to murmur but he just kept to himself, as he placed his balled fists behind his back with his wrists crossed.

"Yeah, go ahead and look over here." He wanted to tease further but kept with a clenched jaw. "It's not hopeful optimism you fuck! You're just too ignorant to look around and see for yourself, you're no more a dog of the military than I am the prince's personal hound." And the wolf meant that with genuine confidence, because while there was certainly more to the dynamic of their relationship, Rickter knew there was truth behind that thought as it echoed out in his mind.

"Common" "Synskrit" "Norvaegan"
"Rickter" "Telion" "Hannah"