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| "out" to The Hegemony of Aligned Systems » | ||
The Core Worlds is a part of 
New Hadden.
5 Characters Here
Matthias Rueger [15]
Ilsa Reinhardt [14] Belkan who works for the Landwachter and side-by-side with Matthias Rueger.
Savana [8]
Samhain [0] The seventh Shadow. An overdressed shadow with a sense of ire and humour.
Start Character Here »
Josef nodded to the servant who arrived first, taking whatever it was he bore without asking. Surely it wouldn't be anything unpleasant, not with Redwing hosting this, and he had more important things to tend to than whatever it was he ingested. He shot her another brief glance between blinks, switching his eyes between her and his meal every now and then. "Well," He whispered, his voice strained to produce such a light note, "we'll just have to speak later." With a audible intake of breath he took up his utensils, cutting away at the sliver of meat that was accompanied by some rather artistically influenced vegetables. Odd, these nobles. They preferred food to look at, not to eat...
It made little sense.
"How has Tannhäuser greeted you, Sieglinde?" The small talk was all part of the act, after all, that's what they did at these things, wasn't it?
It made little sense.
"How has Tannhäuser greeted you, Sieglinde?" The small talk was all part of the act, after all, that's what they did at these things, wasn't it?
Kampf's smile widened as she spoke, taking in her words between the occasional bite of food or wave to another guest, it seemed that people really were abuzz with this. "I'm glad to hear that you find our capital so welcoming, I know sometimes it can seem cold and urban, but it has its bright spots." He soon had to suppress a grin, which he did with ease, turning to the matter of her personal vessel, "But I'm terribly sorry to hear about your vessel, I don't suppose there's anything I can do?" His hint of emotion that tinged his question let on just enough that he might seem genuinely concerned, for in a way he was, though just not in the way of which he spoke.
The Emperor cocked one of his eyebrows at this, were it that he wasn't who he was a playful glint might've appeared in his eye, and he asked her, with a slight smile, "Oh, have I? Well, I'll leave it at that then." He turned back to his food for a few moments, pondering just what would be the best subject to broach, several coming to mind... the Crusade, the Reichsversammlung, Liese-
No. That was probably a bad idea. Best to keep things on a more personal level here, after all, it was a social dinner. "I'm surprised to see, or rather, not see Liese here." He looked about for another moment, down the table, "But then, this is your event, it's only proper that you host it."
No. That was probably a bad idea. Best to keep things on a more personal level here, after all, it was a social dinner. "I'm surprised to see, or rather, not see Liese here." He looked about for another moment, down the table, "But then, this is your event, it's only proper that you host it."
"I have no doubt you will my Lord. And Liese declined to join us, though it is possible that I had not informed her you were coming. I suspect otherwise she may have attended, despite her distaste for these events." Linde was a clever girl indeed. It was at this point the young man across from Linde spoke up.
"Lady Sieglinde, could you introduce me to our honored guest?" Oh drat. Were it not for his social standing, the young Lord across from her would not be anywhere near.
"Certainly. My Lord, this is young Lord Adalbert. Lord Adalbert, this is our Lord, Emperor Kampf." She was not introducing him by his first name to this one.
"Lady Sieglinde, could you introduce me to our honored guest?" Oh drat. Were it not for his social standing, the young Lord across from her would not be anywhere near.
"Certainly. My Lord, this is young Lord Adalbert. Lord Adalbert, this is our Lord, Emperor Kampf." She was not introducing him by his first name to this one.
"Certainly a pleasure, emperor. You and Lady Sieglinde seem excellent friends. May I ask how you met?" He gave Josef his full attention, and while Linde appreciated the chance to dine, she suspected that addle-brained Adalbert would steal her conversational partner again. Why his family was closer to hers on the social ladder, she just did not know.
Josef offered the young lord another nod, "I'm happy to hear such, though I know Redwing is a good woman, I'm glad that I am welcomed back to my office. You know, it wouldn't hurt the Empire to possess more men of your caliber. I don't suppose you've considered the service?" He shot a glance over to Linde at this, the slight twinge of a smile betraying his thoughts on the matter, though he allowed most of his attention to be focused on the newcomer.
She blushed at this and nudged back playfully. It wasn't like anyone could see after all, and the demure lady peacefully cut a piece of her food as she did so. Nothing to show she was doing a thing, though she gave him a smile. "My Lord, only a fool would disregard your counsel." She assured him happily.
Adalbert thought this over. "I believe I may join your service, my lord. After all, there is no greater honor, is there? It isn't as if I would be serving commoners." That was a pointed remark, and Linde did not care for.
Adalbert thought this over. "I believe I may join your service, my lord. After all, there is no greater honor, is there? It isn't as if I would be serving commoners." That was a pointed remark, and Linde did not care for.
With a smile he responded to both matters, though not for long on the latter, instead preferring to take the stoic route, knowing that the woman whose hand he hoped to win did such a thing, and quite often. "You would, in a sense, as all service men and women do. To defend our Hegemony against the endless night is a supreme honor, each soul within will speak volumes for your quality in the hereafter." He could tell that such a remark would likely send Linde into a rather unpleasant mood, and he tried to disarm her as best he could, offering a smile, somewhat different, to the esteemed lady,
"After all, we're all cogs in a machine, right Linde?" He hadn't meant to call her by her familiar name, at least not vocally, it just rolled off the tongue. Damn. That would send these people into a frenzy.
"After all, we're all cogs in a machine, right Linde?" He hadn't meant to call her by her familiar name, at least not vocally, it just rolled off the tongue. Damn. That would send these people into a frenzy.
Josef put on a look of light shock, one that, were one observing from outside of the situation, would've possessed a slight mocking quality, though he wore it rather well, drawing back from his host for a moment as his mental gears clicked into place. He paused, thinking, though it didn't take him long as she drew to a close, her emphasis driving his stratagem of this delicate game. "Then, lady Sieglinde, might I beg your forgiveness for my brash act, and ask your permission to do such?"
Josef was glad that he didn't have to deal with the fallout from this situation, thanks be to whatever powers there were that he was emperor.
Josef was glad that he didn't have to deal with the fallout from this situation, thanks be to whatever powers there were that he was emperor.
"My Lord, you honor me greatly." Finally he got the point. Under the bounds of him courting her, much of his actions could be excused. "Please, my Lord, you may feel free to call me Linde. It is only proper." Oh yes. The handwritten invitations had delivered their promise three times over.
Again he nudged her, though this time it was her leg proper, and he blinked slowly, taking in the agape expressions present across the table before speaking, "Then, Linde, you may call me Josef." He smiled, "It is only proper, after all." Finally, things were getting somewhere. Perhaps he wouldn't have to fight her to keep her on the world after all.
Josef accompanied the toast, as was proper, raising his glass as well, a feeling of satisfaction settling in on his small victory here. The first step on a long road, no doubt. He simply took a sip of his, however, not wanting to drain the glass as so many of his subjects had done, and set it down with an idle motion. Things were beginning to fall into place...
Linde smiled at him pleased, and placed her hand near his, not quite so bold as to cover his. She murmured quietly to him. "You know, Josef, you would have saver yourself much heartache having asked that some time ago." She teased him. "And an awful lot of my lording.
"You have mentioned so before. You realize after dessert, we'll be completely besieged?" She murmured, amused, and pleased. Talk about an increase in social standing. Glory for the Redwing name to be hand in bunches. And one day, glory for the Kampf name, perhaps. If she could dare dream so big.
Kampf continued to speak softly, preferring this to projecting his voice as he usually did, "Oh, that's inevitable." He blinked at the thought, looking back to the chattering masses as he mentally prepared himself, "But, I'm sure there will be a moment or two afterwards without the throngs..."
"Of course. I can only hope you are the last to leave. Should nothing call you away, I'm almost certain that may be the case." He did have that visiting her thing going for him after all. "And I am sure there will be moments we can escape them."
She was to be the one, that much was sure. She already fit the image of the ideal Scatterran noblewoman, and she was well liked by most and rather amiable. She would make a good matron and Empress. "I can never be too sure, blinded as I am." She had fire in her as well. She didn't lie down for anyone, that much was a necessity -- a good empress wouldn't bow to the first foreigner who dared show their face with some petty might. "I'll just have to keep you nearby to get through the drudgery then, wont I?"
"Of course. But you'll forgive me if I beg of you, that you tell my sister." Linde was not that brave. Liese was frightening in a way that only an elder sister could be. Or perhaps only an elder Redwing could be. Of course, she wouldn't be surprised if he said no.
She would.
She would.
"You need not worry," He said, speaking a little louder with his smile, still playing the role of an affectionate suitor, "It's nothing, and consider it done." He squeezed her hand, slightly, at this, playing it up as much as he could. He knew that Liese held feelings for him, such was part of the reason why he was so pleased that she was absent at the dinner tonight... her infatuation was simply dangerous. However fetching she might be, however, her sister gave her an excellent run for her money, and in much more than simple looks. "A day spent away from the chatter of the nobility would be rather pleasant, as well as away from her prying eyes."
And that was a deal she'd gladly make. After all, spending time with him was no hardship at all. He was a pleasant man, though she was uncertain how much of that was true and how much wasn't. Either way, they could easily spend the day tucked away where Liese would have a difficult time tracking them down. "Of course." She summoned the desert course, and returned the gently squeeze. "I have the feeling, we have much to talk about."
The Empire seemed at ease, for the moment, at least here at home in the Cluster. The peace that had ensued in the wake of the Kobold conflict was a lasting, and deceptive one. The Collective still lurked on their borders, the alien titan ready to strike should the desire arise, and the crusade in Home was about to come to full fruition, Scatter only being a matter of time. Redwing looked over all of this with a pleased eye, glancing over her datapad with an idle flick, moving the statistics up and down, what with most of her official responsibilities out of the way.
Seated behind her desk, the task of signing award documents was completed, though it was somewhat lengthy, and she leaned, head in hand, over the desktop. It's times like these that she almost seemed like a normal person.
Seated behind her desk, the task of signing award documents was completed, though it was somewhat lengthy, and she leaned, head in hand, over the desktop. It's times like these that she almost seemed like a normal person.
The alarms did not ring, the guards were not alerted, and any attempt to do so would fail, thanks to a little bit of wire cutting by a pair of mice. The man was there, not loudly, not obviously. He merely stood where once nothing stood. He was light skinned, with a shock of pitch black hair, and odd glowing eyes. "Archduchess, I believe we need to speak." No warning.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Redwing tensed at the audible arrival of whatever it was that now stood behind her. It sounded to be a man, and knowing the recent turn of events, it was likely an Erutin. She let out a slow sigh, blinking twice as she tried to confront the newcomer, "You have me at a disadvantage, I don't believe I know your name." She slowly, quietly, drew the top drawer of her desk out to get at the sidearm inside. Assassin or no, this guest wasn't announced.
"You may call me The Director." He said pleasantly. "And your ships have unauthorized technology on them." He sounded very pleasant. "The Erutins, after all, no longer govern the use of the Traveler's Jump." He smiled slightly. "I would't touch the gun. And attempts to summon your guards won't work. The cameras see you working at your desk. The guards are not...able to be summoned."