Haven, Arceria, Kaeleer, Saturday [Fandom Time]

[glacial_queen]

The portal had dropped them off in the outskirts of Haven. Portalocity tech was one more thing that Karla could add to the list of information she didn't want most Kaeleerans to have, especially her enemies. But Haven wasn't that far from the Glacian border, which meant it was the ideal staging ground for their reconnaissance missions. They could slip into Glacia without Hobart being the wiser and then move around from there. She knew he was watching the Winds, so they'd stick to roads and private Coaches as much as possible, but they should be able to see much of the Territory while they were here.

It helped, of course, that they'd have a few native guides and a system of safe-houses already prepared. The underground movement had been working overtime lately.

"Morton!"

[NFB and SP]

Comments

[wwiii]

"As do I," Warren replied, his tone kept carefully even as he spoke. "It will be a learning experience. I can't imagine anything less."

If there was one thing Julian was good at, it was probably playing at insecurities. Warren's wings folded a little more tightly than usual at his back.

"But Karla and I are committed to making it work. And with a Court that's supportive of Karla and what she's doing, we're both confident that we can."

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

Establishing a pecking order amongst males was something that every Court went through. It was more complicated than simply Jewels, social rank, and caste. There was also force of personality--and Julian could be quite forceful when it was needed.

"And if you're enough of a detriment that she's incapable of forming a full Court?" he all but purred. "Then what?"

[wwiii]

Warren simply narrowed his eyes.

"I won't be."

This was not up for questioning.

It wasn't allowed to be.

[glacial_queen]

Karla was doing her damnedest not to interfere. Because this was different. This was Julian testing Warren's mettle. If she interposed herself between them now, it would cost Warren face.

So she would content herself with standing there, boring holes into Julian's back. He was very carefully not saying anything untoward, even as he did his best to shred Warren to pieces.

Bastard.

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

"Oh?" Julian's voice invited Warren to expand upon that. "You seem so very certain."

He gave Karla a short bow. "Perhaps what you've failed to realize is how much people are looking for our Queen for strength, reason, and a return to the Old Ways. It is hard enough for some to swallow the realization that she is a Black Widow; Hobart is spread his poison very well and people have always been intimidated by the caste. Add that to your presence and, well, you do not represent strength, reason, or the Old Ways."

[wwiii]

"I haven't failed to realize any of those things," Warren replied, his tone falling to something a little quieter, even as he clenched his hands at his sides to keep him from flexing his claws. "I know that there's no precedent for what Karla and I are hoping to do, because it's something that has never been done. I know that you're not likely to be the last member of the Blood to look down on me because I don't wear a Jewel."

He squared his chin, flared his wings, and pulled in a deep breath.

"I don't intend to allow any of that to stop me from doing everything I can to help my Queen restore Glacia to its former glory. Believe me, Julian, I am well aware that I'll be seen more as a pet than a proper Consort. But even dogs have their teeth. I'll show mine whenever I need to."

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

"Few are afraid of the teeth of a lapdog," Julian advised, though his voice had lost its mocking edge. "A Consort has more duties than simply keeping his Queen happy. Or will Morton be staying on as First Escort to pick up your slack?"

He was Court, Warren. Technically, he had a right--and a need--to know these things.

[wwiii]

"I'm here right now, readying myself to look at the Territory we're trying to liberate from Hobart," Warren noted, the feathers up his spine ruffling for a moment. "I'm here preparing for war, Julian. Knowing full well that it's entirely possible that I will be reduced to a feathery paste by an enemy wearing one of the darker Jewels. You don't train under the High Lord of Hell, the High Priest of the Hourglass, if you're planning on being slack. And you don't train under the likes of Lucivar Yaslana, of Andulvar Yaslana, unless you're planning on doing a lot more than simply 'keeping your Queen happy.'"

In fact, Lucivar was fairly infamous as someone to go to if you wanted to learn to do the exact opposite. But that didn't seem like a helpful counterpoint at the moment.

"I might be Landen by your standards," and yes, Landen got as much respect in his voice as the Blood did in Julian's, "but I was here digging ditches and hauling lumber in Haven when Glacia's aristos in hiding were mulling around afraid to get dirt under their fingernails. I care about these people. This place has been more like home to me than anywhere else has been in my life. And you're standing there with the gall to tell me to my face that all I'm in this for is the chance to roll my Queen around between the bedsheets?"

The 'what the fuck is wrong with you?!' was implied.

[glacial_queen]

Karla was just going to send him a burst of love and pride right there. You know. For reasons. 'Warren was awesome' reasons.

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

Andulvar Yaslana's name carried more weight in Kaeleer than Lucivar's did yet, because Andulvar had been a war hero for the past fifty-thousand years. But Lucivar was quickly making a name for himself as someone you did not wish to cross, either. And there was no one who doubted the High Lord's abilities.

Julian knew first-hand that his Queen traveled in rarefied circles. He hadn't entirely been aware that her Consort did as well.

"There are plenty of Blood Consorts who are only in it for a chance to roll their Queens around in bed," Julian retorted, attempting not to sputter. "I still have no idea what it is you think you're capable of! You may think you're prepared, but you have no idea what it's like to live in Blood society!"

And the huggy, we're-all-males-together environment at the Hall wasn't doing Warren a damn bit of good, either.

[glacial_queen]

"So what," Karla snarked. "Are you going to have him undertake some kind of Constort Decathlon, to put him through his bloody paces?"

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

"No," Julian returned, icy courtesy again. "Instead, I'm going to see him fight a war for my Territory and get flung directly into a Court, while lowering your chances of attracting one. And I'll be damned if I keep my mouth shut about it. You're not the only one taking risks, here, Karla!"

[wwiii]

"With as quick as you are to throw away allies, you'd think you weren't about to dive into a civil war," Warren noted, frowning. "I hardly think you're going to be the only person to take issue with me stepping up as Consort. I'm pretty sure that unless I win some kind of impossible Court lottery, I'll have to look long and hard to find a friendly face among the males serving Karla."

All those things that he'd been keeping his chin up and his mouth shut about around Karla.

"It'll be just like home. Only the slurs have changed and maybe I'll actually get to fly."

[glacial_queen]

Karla bit her lower lip and stepped forward, resting her hand on his arm. He'd left home for those reasons. She didn't want this to be exactly what he'd left behind.

"Warren..."

[wwiii]

Warren just glanced sidelong at Karla and gave his head a shake. This was exactly why he hadn't spoken to her about it before, but now wasn't the place, either.

"Later," he murmured, before looking back at Julian. "Literally all you know about me is that I don't wear a Jewel. Don't presume to know what I can and can't deal with, when it comes to being accepted by the people around me. You raise perfectly valid points about how the Blood will take to me. Trust me, you haven't told me anything yet that Saetan SaDiablo himself hasn't been telling me for years. But I'm not going to suddenly realize that serving in a Blood Court isn't going to be all friendliness and brotherhood, and then crack under the pressure."

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

Julian ignored the byplay between the two, fixing his icy blue eyes on Warren. "You say that all I know about you is that you don't wear a Jewel. But that's not true. I also know that your selfish clinging to my Queen is going to upset thousands of years of tradition and Blood law. I know that you're going to be a point of destabilization at a time when we most need peace and unity. I know that whatever your skills are at fighting, you still won't be able to break through the most basic Craft shield to protect your Queen. So tell me, Warren, what do you bring? In what ways are you going to be an asset to this Court? Explain to me how having the role of Consort held by a landen foreigner is going to be in any way a benefit to Glacia. You convince me and I'll back you. But until then, all I see is a pretty liability, and you know what? Glacia's filled with pretty."

[wwiii]

"I could argue with you until I'm blue in the face, Julian," Warren sighed, shaking his head. "You've made up your mind that there's nothing I can possibly do to benefit your home. Words aren't going to change that."

He squared his shoulders, blue eyes looking fiercely into Julian's.

"I suppose I'll just have to work that much harder to show you. By the time Karla steps up to rule the Territory, I fully intend to."

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

Julian gave him a full Courtly bow, complete with a hand flourish. "You have my best wishes, Mister Worthington. I look forward to being shown."

Not even Julian could tell how much of that was sarcasm.

[wwiii]

"Good. I will not disappoint." That wasn't up for questioning. And Warren wasn't going to let it be. He was going to just take Karla's hand, and turn to walk away. "I think we have actual business to attend to."

Somewhere. Somewhere that wasn't around Julian, if only for a minute, because Warren needed to pace and snarl and fume for a bit.