Vialle and Martin : Politics and Breakfast
Two sentences have been deleted due to information within that I want people to glean ICly.
Original log still available but not here.
Martin looks tired and drawn out as he comes to breakfast with Vialle this morning. He hasn't been sleeping, that much is easy to tell. One of the buildings has finally completed reconstruction and rubble clearing and a couple of the nobles had banded together and insisted that he take a break.
Breakfast is late, Vialle has been working in her studio. She comes out when notified that Martin has arrived. Distracted, but with a smile on her lips she says, "Martin. You've been away too long."
At least he's washed and clean, Martin comes over to give her a peck on the cheek and brief hug. There's something significantly off about him demeanour-wise. If the rumors are true, the devestation in Rebma has caused the change. Rumors also indicate he's risen in favor. He settles on a chair and this time for once, refrains from smoking. He's been seen about the palace from time to time, but not for lengthy stays. ((Sentence deleted that only Vialle should know)) Martin says, "I know, I meant to come by sooner, I'm sorry" as he exhales when he sits.
Vialle returns the hug and motions to the table. She is still smiling as she moves away to take a seat herself. "Brand offered Random and I the use of his rooms. Random has been very patient with me but the last year has been confusing. How have you been, Martin?"
"Sounds good, he's nice like that." Martin gives a slight shrug, indicating that he's non-committal about how things have been but they certainly haven't been uneventful. "Dad needs some good lessons in patience, so this is a good thing." Yes, he evades the question by focusing the conversation on someone else.
Servants bring in breakfast as Vialle leans across the table to put her hand against Martin's cheek. "What happened to you?" She may not be asking about his noncommittal attitude. As usual, a good deal of food is provided for two people and some of Martin's favorites appear on the table in front of him.
Martin throws his fingers through his hair as he settles in to have a good healthy breakfast. He's going to need it. "Time." he rolls a shoulder. "I had a lot of time to think while in Deep shadow over the last year." ((Sentence deleted that only Vialle should know)). "When I came out of Deep Shadow, it appears I picked up something as I left."
Vialle pours tea into a cup and stares at Martin with eyes that are blind. She shakes her head, "I think it may have infected you." She smiles then but sounds concerned. "Tea?"
"I thought as much, just haven't had time to deal with it yet and it makes me look daaangerous." a hint that Martin is still around in there. It's just that things have really affected him. "Please, that'll be great. lots of sugar, thanks!" Vialle's eyes always unnerving him very slightly he shifts in his chair and regards her candidly. "I've got a task from Fiona again, this time not so dangerous, just going down the road to Alhambra and back."
"Oh?" Vialle asks in a tell me more way. She pours tea in a cup for Martin, finding sugar she adds it. "Every time you say 'it's just going' something bad happens to you." She settles back into her chair and starts to put food on her plate. She arranges it in ways that make it easy to remember.
Martin gives a half smile, food is making him feel better, though his mood still somber. Crazy antics not so much these days, could be he's grown up a bit, but it is more likely to do with spending so many months at ground zero in Rebma. "Node research along the roads. Learning more about how to control paths rather than how to control one self and survive in shadow."
Vialle does not much talk about Rebma. She seems to avoid almost everyone from there but Martin. "I don't understand anything about that. That is your father's thing. Have you spoken with Random about it?"
Martin shakes his head, "Not yet, haven't actually seen him in a while, come to think of it." He sips tea and dunks a piece of pancake into swirly maple syrup. "Aunt Fiona's been doing some work with me on Pattern for a long while now, that's how I've gotten as far as I have. Though I have to admit, I haven't paid much attention as to current events here."
"I have not been back long myself." Vialle says after remaining quiet as she chewed and swallowed some of her food. "I know that Benedict is the King now and that your father and Bleys are trying to get him to marry someone other than his current wife for the 'good of the kingdom'." It does not sound as if she approves.
Martin nods, with a rueful smile. "The crown has changed so many times in the last couple of years, I can't keep any of it straight. I just know that Benedict can be counted on to do whatever is the right thing for the good of the many. He's honorable like that." He studies his stepmother a while, "You were gone for a while too, about as long as I was. Sometimes the verse is funny like that. Do you think my Dad is any different now?"
Vialle says, "Yes," the answer comes as Vialle pushes her plate away from her. "He seems a little more mellow and more focused on being a good man. He has always worried about the good of Amber, but it is more of an obsession for him recently. He challenged Llewella and Deirdre for the throne because he didn't think they could hold it and keep it strong.""
"Yes," the answer comes as Vialle pushes her plate away from her. "He seems a little more mellow and more focused on being a good man. He has always worried about the good of Amber, but it is more of an obsession for him recently. He challenged Llewella and Deirdre for the throne because he didn't think they could hold it and keep it strong."
"I had wondered. It seemed that way, but he sometimes has his own agendas that are difficult to figure out." Martin loads sausage and eggs onto his plate this time. "I do have concerns about Amber, of course, what affects Amber affects Rebma. I want things to be stable here. I can't make things happen in Amber, though, I have no power here. Lately, however, Rebma is a different story and the Mirror Cabal worries me a great deal."
That topic makes Vialle visibly twitchy, she smiles at Martin and asks, "More bacon?" Reaching for the plate to offer it to him. "Your father has always been a good man Martin, he's just had a difficult time with being confident about his status and his abilities."
"Yeah, I know." Martin replies in the kind of voice which indicates that he's just a bit skeptical. "He's the youngest of a long line of machisimo." Whatever that really means, he doesn't explain. "Thanks, bacon's good here." Food is different in Rebma, and one thing he does know is that he really likes the food outside of Rebma better than within. Probably why he spent most of his younger years as pretty thin, now he's filled out more. "Everyone's got something to prove. The rumors amongst the nobles in Rebma are that the mirror cabal is planning a coup, but I don't think they actually have the strength to pull it off."
"You know, Martin?" Vialle says standing and leaning toward him to kiss his cheek. "I'd really like to stay and finish up breakfast for you but I have something to find." Her smile is nervous. "Silly me! I keep losing things."
Martin gives her a hopeful smile, one of those that are hard to resist when he wants them to be ad he looks somewhat surprised, but he nods, "Alright... I get the hint. If I stop talking about them, will you stay?" He gives her a hopeful smile, one of those that are hard to resist when he wants them to be.
Vialle's smile relaxes, "No, I really do need to find something -now-." The urgency in her voice sounds convincing. "I seem to be finding the oddest things lately. I know that-" but no she finds herself unable to talk. "Another time maybe, come soon? Maybe your father will have breakfast with us."
"Alright then." Martin looks relieved that it wasn't something he said. "I'll keep you posted on what's going on." He gets to work on finishing off his meal, no comment added on whether or not he's enthused by the idea of Random joining them but it does bring a slight smile to his lips.
"Don't get lost this time," Vialle says with concern and fondness ringing in her voice. Another smile is sent in Martin's direction before she hurries back toward her studio with the expression of someone who is looking for something.
Martin watches her leave thoughtfully and resumes his breakfast gorging.
Original log still available but not here.
Martin looks tired and drawn out as he comes to breakfast with Vialle this morning. He hasn't been sleeping, that much is easy to tell. One of the buildings has finally completed reconstruction and rubble clearing and a couple of the nobles had banded together and insisted that he take a break.
Breakfast is late, Vialle has been working in her studio. She comes out when notified that Martin has arrived. Distracted, but with a smile on her lips she says, "Martin. You've been away too long."
At least he's washed and clean, Martin comes over to give her a peck on the cheek and brief hug. There's something significantly off about him demeanour-wise. If the rumors are true, the devestation in Rebma has caused the change. Rumors also indicate he's risen in favor. He settles on a chair and this time for once, refrains from smoking. He's been seen about the palace from time to time, but not for lengthy stays. ((Sentence deleted that only Vialle should know)) Martin says, "I know, I meant to come by sooner, I'm sorry" as he exhales when he sits.
Vialle returns the hug and motions to the table. She is still smiling as she moves away to take a seat herself. "Brand offered Random and I the use of his rooms. Random has been very patient with me but the last year has been confusing. How have you been, Martin?"
"Sounds good, he's nice like that." Martin gives a slight shrug, indicating that he's non-committal about how things have been but they certainly haven't been uneventful. "Dad needs some good lessons in patience, so this is a good thing." Yes, he evades the question by focusing the conversation on someone else.
Servants bring in breakfast as Vialle leans across the table to put her hand against Martin's cheek. "What happened to you?" She may not be asking about his noncommittal attitude. As usual, a good deal of food is provided for two people and some of Martin's favorites appear on the table in front of him.
Martin throws his fingers through his hair as he settles in to have a good healthy breakfast. He's going to need it. "Time." he rolls a shoulder. "I had a lot of time to think while in Deep shadow over the last year." ((Sentence deleted that only Vialle should know)). "When I came out of Deep Shadow, it appears I picked up something as I left."
Vialle pours tea into a cup and stares at Martin with eyes that are blind. She shakes her head, "I think it may have infected you." She smiles then but sounds concerned. "Tea?"
"I thought as much, just haven't had time to deal with it yet and it makes me look daaangerous." a hint that Martin is still around in there. It's just that things have really affected him. "Please, that'll be great. lots of sugar, thanks!" Vialle's eyes always unnerving him very slightly he shifts in his chair and regards her candidly. "I've got a task from Fiona again, this time not so dangerous, just going down the road to Alhambra and back."
"Oh?" Vialle asks in a tell me more way. She pours tea in a cup for Martin, finding sugar she adds it. "Every time you say 'it's just going' something bad happens to you." She settles back into her chair and starts to put food on her plate. She arranges it in ways that make it easy to remember.
Martin gives a half smile, food is making him feel better, though his mood still somber. Crazy antics not so much these days, could be he's grown up a bit, but it is more likely to do with spending so many months at ground zero in Rebma. "Node research along the roads. Learning more about how to control paths rather than how to control one self and survive in shadow."
Vialle does not much talk about Rebma. She seems to avoid almost everyone from there but Martin. "I don't understand anything about that. That is your father's thing. Have you spoken with Random about it?"
Martin shakes his head, "Not yet, haven't actually seen him in a while, come to think of it." He sips tea and dunks a piece of pancake into swirly maple syrup. "Aunt Fiona's been doing some work with me on Pattern for a long while now, that's how I've gotten as far as I have. Though I have to admit, I haven't paid much attention as to current events here."
"I have not been back long myself." Vialle says after remaining quiet as she chewed and swallowed some of her food. "I know that Benedict is the King now and that your father and Bleys are trying to get him to marry someone other than his current wife for the 'good of the kingdom'." It does not sound as if she approves.
Martin nods, with a rueful smile. "The crown has changed so many times in the last couple of years, I can't keep any of it straight. I just know that Benedict can be counted on to do whatever is the right thing for the good of the many. He's honorable like that." He studies his stepmother a while, "You were gone for a while too, about as long as I was. Sometimes the verse is funny like that. Do you think my Dad is any different now?"
Vialle says, "Yes," the answer comes as Vialle pushes her plate away from her. "He seems a little more mellow and more focused on being a good man. He has always worried about the good of Amber, but it is more of an obsession for him recently. He challenged Llewella and Deirdre for the throne because he didn't think they could hold it and keep it strong.""
"Yes," the answer comes as Vialle pushes her plate away from her. "He seems a little more mellow and more focused on being a good man. He has always worried about the good of Amber, but it is more of an obsession for him recently. He challenged Llewella and Deirdre for the throne because he didn't think they could hold it and keep it strong."
"I had wondered. It seemed that way, but he sometimes has his own agendas that are difficult to figure out." Martin loads sausage and eggs onto his plate this time. "I do have concerns about Amber, of course, what affects Amber affects Rebma. I want things to be stable here. I can't make things happen in Amber, though, I have no power here. Lately, however, Rebma is a different story and the Mirror Cabal worries me a great deal."
That topic makes Vialle visibly twitchy, she smiles at Martin and asks, "More bacon?" Reaching for the plate to offer it to him. "Your father has always been a good man Martin, he's just had a difficult time with being confident about his status and his abilities."
"Yeah, I know." Martin replies in the kind of voice which indicates that he's just a bit skeptical. "He's the youngest of a long line of machisimo." Whatever that really means, he doesn't explain. "Thanks, bacon's good here." Food is different in Rebma, and one thing he does know is that he really likes the food outside of Rebma better than within. Probably why he spent most of his younger years as pretty thin, now he's filled out more. "Everyone's got something to prove. The rumors amongst the nobles in Rebma are that the mirror cabal is planning a coup, but I don't think they actually have the strength to pull it off."
"You know, Martin?" Vialle says standing and leaning toward him to kiss his cheek. "I'd really like to stay and finish up breakfast for you but I have something to find." Her smile is nervous. "Silly me! I keep losing things."
Martin gives her a hopeful smile, one of those that are hard to resist when he wants them to be ad he looks somewhat surprised, but he nods, "Alright... I get the hint. If I stop talking about them, will you stay?" He gives her a hopeful smile, one of those that are hard to resist when he wants them to be.
Vialle's smile relaxes, "No, I really do need to find something -now-." The urgency in her voice sounds convincing. "I seem to be finding the oddest things lately. I know that-" but no she finds herself unable to talk. "Another time maybe, come soon? Maybe your father will have breakfast with us."
"Alright then." Martin looks relieved that it wasn't something he said. "I'll keep you posted on what's going on." He gets to work on finishing off his meal, no comment added on whether or not he's enthused by the idea of Random joining them but it does bring a slight smile to his lips.
"Don't get lost this time," Vialle says with concern and fondness ringing in her voice. Another smile is sent in Martin's direction before she hurries back toward her studio with the expression of someone who is looking for something.
Martin watches her leave thoughtfully and resumes his breakfast gorging.