[EVENT] when they meet

"how about we avoid courting a miniature war inside the city, hmm?" harry cut in, his voice dry and unamused.
he rarely spoke up in such meetings, after all his domain was the walls of the city and what lay beyond. but even he had to put his foot down when monumentally stupid ideas like these were proposed.

"and really, what has changed so drastically that the strigoi have to be provoked now when the situation in the city is so...delicate."

he paused briefly, taking the opportunity to not only gather his thoughts, but to also fish out a cigarette and light it, inhaling the smoke deeply.

"if anything, i find our 'achilles heel' to be our inability to win over the masses. perhaps a carrot to go with the stick is in order?
actually giving something to the commoners, it's a novel idea i'm sure, but i hope you see my point for why it's necessary?"

wind rattled against the windows. with an audible click, a lock switched open. the large picture windows came open with a gush of whirling wind and the flutter of the sheer curtains. "i'm already here."

"my, my. it looks like we have quite the problem." myron is an impressive figure framed in billowing curtains and the opened windows. "it seems we have a rebellion at hand." in he walks without invitation. his lips curled in a smile to rival the prime minister's. "but it seems you were all planning something before those rotten rogues did anything."

the king seats himself on the edge of the table, no regard to emptied chairs.

"prime minister, you look well. always a pleasure. why you surround yourself with these treacherous snakes, i'll never know. i can sense at least a couple are plotting your assasination." he lets his gaze sweep over them, lingering on the pink haired man who'd opened the meeting. "such a shame. i hope you're well protected."

aurelie laurent

Jacob had been quiet for the most part, something that he did often during these meetings. Everyone knew by now that if Jacob had something to say then he would find the time to say it, otherwise he did his best to stay out of everyone's way. Only after Myron joined the group did Jacob finally make any indication that he had even been playing attention. [break][break] He stood up from his seat and gave greetings to the Strigoi king, although Jacob was a magician he held no hate or fear towards the Strigoi, only hope that there would be room of understanding between them. [break][break] "A pleasure that you have joined us, please take a seat and join us, I am sure these matters are just as important for you as it is to us." Balance, all Jacob ever wanted was there to be balance between everyone. He knew that it would be hard, but he wish that one day there would be a line of clear understanding between the magicians and strigoi, with less chance of war.

so near the mouthy minister, he can’t help but tease him for his cheek. he leans ever so close, pink hues leveled with blue. under the veil of plush lashes, the eyes are a glimmer of gold hatred.

“our standing? do you forget your place minister? jeremiah.” white teeth flash in a mirthless smile. a pressure he exerted on the man, an attack on the mind. “do you think you have sovereignty over the strigoi?” lips moistened with a swipe of his glimmering red tongue. “did you forget i keep my strigoi underground only out of goodwill, not out of any obedience. you give us livestock, and we don’t pray on your citizens. a simple agreement to benefit our both and avoid unnecessary bloodshed of your kind. humanity did suffer so from that apocalypse started by you magicians. remember your place.”

easily he moves away from the magician, flashing a more amicable grin to the surrounding ministers. no glimpse of fear made known itself in the presence of many powerful magicians. what was there to fear? how easy it’d be to kill them all before they could complete their summons.

“thank you minster. i don’t mind if i do.” he takes up the seat nearest the prime minister. “it looks like you do have a few good eggs among the batch. i like that one, with the glasses.” a striking figure he makes, posed so elegantly in the chair. “right, these nasty little rogues. it seems i have some snakes of my own. i’m positively appalled by their behavior, such a barbaric display. if i find them, they’ll regret ever defying me. that’s the problem really. i haven’t the slightest clue who they are or where they disappeared to."

aurelie laurent

her eyes narrow imperceptibly, watching like a lioness on her haunches. does she play the grand savior, swooping in to intercede on behalf of a fellow human? or does she leave the man-- jeremiah, fragile-boned but venomous jeremiah, to fend for himself?

"an internal division is the last thing we need." she says; to no one in particular, but her voice is a command in of itself.

for once the prime minister is frowning, resting her gaze on the vampire king. "i had hoped that you would be able to shed light on this...situation," it is a warning, disappointment. "no matter. we must mobilize-- quietly. the people will panic if the army comes marching down the streets." a pause, tilted head regarding the gathered men and women with scrutiny. "general baines and police chief o'keefe will be putting together a small, discreet team to aid our dear friend in collecting his stray citizenry-- if that is agreeable to you, myron?"

aurelie casts him a glance, but moves on even so. "there is little doubt in my mind that the resistance will catch wind of our unfortunate mishap. but perhaps we may yet turn it to our advantage..."

myron harry baines lou o'keefe i rlly hope these are the right tags bc i'm on the app rn orz

“i apologize, you know my temper. it gets the better of me at times.” he sweeps his gaze around the table of ministers, wearing his most charming of smiles. “i like to think we’re all equals here, allies even. like two separate nations, two united against the chaos of the world outside. we look out for each other, especially in times of crisis.”

across to jeremiah his gaze drifts, pausing. “i heard that.” he projected unspoken to the minister’s mind. “what a nasty mouth you have, minister. shame you’re cowardice keeps it locked up in your empty head.” and back his eyes moved to the minister, smiling just as before.

“now, now ministers, and prime minister. this horrific tragedy has just occurred! i haven’t had a chance to investigate a thing, though i do have some suspicions as to the perpetrators motive. but accusations without any hard evidence is just unjust! however, i will share my suspicions with you, and work tirelessly to bring these rogues to justice!” silver-tongued, he weaves his words carefully. “unfortunately, a few of our citizens are unhappy about the current living arrangements. i do my best to quell their discontent, i assure you, but it wouldn’t be too far to assume a unruly bunch took inspiration from that rogue who fled to the surface a few months back and killed a handful of your cherish magicians before his apparent death. rumor has it, he’s alive and living quite happily on the surface. it’s been floating around the catacombs. but you know rumors, they aren’t always back by facts, and i am only speculating. i’ll gladly work together with you to investigate this.”

“general baines, police chief o’keefe, i’d be honored to have your assistance. do i have your word you’ll treat my people fairly during our investigations? there is already enough discontent since the vicious murder of one of our cherished nobles a few while back. i would like to avoid further conflict between us. we are allies after all, equals, aren't we?”

aurelie laurent,harry baines, lou o'keefe