Post #2687234 in Outcasters AU: Strange Love, a roleplay on RPG

"Are you sure this is a good idea, My Lord?" spoke an elderly gentleman at the furthest end of the table. "It has always been our way to stray from taking sides in other peoples' wars." Bertoldo Ettore stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes focused on nothing in particular, chewing thoughtfully - perhaps even hungrily - on his own lip as he seemingly debated how to answer such a question. Before he could form a single word, another man - decidedly younger then the former - decided it was his turn to voice an opinion. "If we go through with this, I believe it would be a foolish choice. Things are already difficult enough here as it is, with the humans and their suspicions. Placing ourselves in the middle of a war, and on the weaker side no less, could end us. And you know that."

Bertoldo lowered himself into his seat. "You doubt our strength?" he suddenly asked, his voice dangerously low. This seemingly triggered panic amongst the men of his Council, who all looked to each other to answer this question for them. After a long moment of silence, Bertoldo looked up from his hands. "You all fail to understand what might come of this, if we are to take the Fae under our protection. The benefits we will receive if they accept our terms." There was another long moment of silence. "You honestly think they'd allow that?" the elderly gentleman asked again, and Bertoldo offered only a shrug at first. "I suppose we'll have to wait and see." The men didn't seem to be satisfied with his response but then they rarely were. The lot of them were foul-tempered, cruel, and most of all sceptical. He could stand before them for an eternity explaining why he thought it best to hear the Faery Queen out, and keep an open mind of her request for protection from the vampires, but even by the end of that time he would not have convinced them to allow it. They were simply too stubborn, too close-minded.

Bertoldo stood once again, and bowed his head for a short moment. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe I have an appointment to attend, and I don't wish to be late." And, with that, Bertoldo slipped from between the chair and table, and made his way to the carriage awaiting him outside of his home. Trailing behind him was a rather short, overweight man. Mr Wells was entirely mortal, but useful nonetheless, and perhaps the only one in all the world who truly understood Bertoldo. They both climbed into the carriage, and off they went.

Bertoldo had arrived long before the Queen, and to avoid any trouble from the mortals, he had submerged himself in the darkness that the alleyway provided him at this time of night. Mr Wells had taken to waiting behind in the carriage, while Bertoldo was to lead her back to it when she arrived. But even as she did, Bertoldo couldn't bring himself to approach right away, were it for the doubt in his mind that she was the Faery Queen or something else entirely. He found himself watching her for the longest time, noting her features and admiring her beauty from afar. Even as she was approached by a drunken man, he felt the need to stay behind. It wasn't until she practically lifted the man off his feet that he was sure of her identity, and after a short moment, stepped out into the rather dim lighting, making not a sound as he did so.

His hands were hidden within the pockets of his overcoat, his unnaturally piercing eyes focusing only on the woman that stood before him, facing the other way, and after a moment he took his place by her side, wordlessly. His gaze now drifted, as if surveying their surroundings, and when he was seemingly sure they were alone, he nodded to himself. "My apologies for keeping you waiting," he spoke at long last, in a voice smoother than velvet itself, before he shifted himself around to face her, his lips wearing a pleasant smile though his pale eyes watched her as if she was little more than prey - undoubtedly a side-effect of her allure being so high. Despite his species, he was not a man who enjoyed treating living creatures as no more or less than a meal, or something to be used at his whim. "You must be Erieda," he continued, speaking with utmost confidence, before proceeding yet again by extending his right hand towards her. "I am Bertoldo Ettore, as I'm sure you have already gathered."

As her hand slipped into his own, Bertoldo lifted it to his lips and pressed a gentle albeit lingering kiss to her knuckles, before allowing her hand to return to her side, or wherever she pleased. His eyes never left hers for a second. He had half a mind to comment on their beauty but figured he would be careful with his gestures for now. She had come to him seeking protection and he wouldn't allow himself to make her uncomfortable. So, remaining quiet for a moment, he straightened himself and his overcoat, and gestured to the nearby street corner. "I've arranged for a carriage to take us to my home. I feel we'd be safer to discuss our plans there than anywhere else in this damned place," he informed her, before nodding his head in an 'after you' gesture. "It's just around the corner from here, My Lady."

As they approached the carriage, the door was already open for them, and Mr Wells poked his head out of the door for a brief moment before offering the Queen his hand, aiming to assist her in entering. The two men sat opposite her, and Mr Wells reached for the door to close it. As they moved off, Mr Wells cleared his throat and pulled at the collar of his shirt as if he was all too warm to be comfortable. "If you don't mind my enquiring, Your Grace, is there a reason you chose to travel alone to this place?" he asked her.

Snippet #2687234

located in Alternative Universe, a part of Outcasters AU: Strange Love, one of the many universes on RPG.

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