knightsoflegend | mission ♔ rain down on me from a great height

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mission ♔ rain down on me from a great height

WHO || Valentin Milosovici, Koraith, Tia, Fred, Andie, Riddick [closed]
WHAT || The Knights meet with the potential King to discuss his stance on the Shadow slave trade.
WHERE || The Royal Castle; Milosogoraht, Slovechnia
WHEN || March 4th, afternoon | Backdated
HOW || Actionspam, don't sweat tag order!

Upon actually reaching the castle, the Knights had been disappointed to find that Valentin actually wasn't even there. However, his supporters informed them that he returning shortly, and that they were free to quarter inside the castle for the time being. Much smaller than the Knight's castle, but still large in its own right, the Slovechnian royal home has stood as nothing but a historical monument since the royal family was overthrown decades ago. Now, however, Valentin has reclaimed it as his own ancestral home while he makes his bid for re-establishing the monarchy. It's hardly a welcoming locale, however. The great halls are lined with so many weapons that if you walk too close to them, you're bound to get pricked. Many of the rooms have been declared off limits to guests and are marked off with cordons.

It's a week from their arrival that Valentin himself returns and agrees to meet with them in the royal receiving room. They're gathered in there by guards, and after a delay, a loud trumpet blares, and someone announces "His Royal Highness, Prince Valentin Milosovici of Slovechnia", at which point he struts in, wearing a white decorative military style jacket with a mini-cape attacked to the largely padded shoulders. He draws off his gloves, casting a rakish smile across the receiving party as he shakes the hair out of his eyes. He's young, probably in his mid 20s, but he seems to radiate a great deal of personality. It's not, however, the staid presence that would seem to befit a would-be King, as he saunters past them towards the table set at the side of the room.

"I apologize for the wait you have had," he says, with his thick Eastern European accent. "My people have had need of me." Somehow the way he says it makes it sound suspiciously like 'my public."

Koraith and Tia both offer him polite inclines of the head and greetings, as Fred stations himself by the door, across from the other guard there.

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[Tia gives the Prince a small smile, though she seems slightly on edge.] We trust you had more important matters to attend to. Troubled times, and all.

[Valentin's gaze narrows in on her for a moment, as if he's trying to read between the lines of what she's saying. But then he smiles easily, as one of the attendants moves to take off his jacket and cape, leaving him in a much more relaxed looking white button down shirt. He rotates his shoulder as if relieved of some weight and moves to pour a drink.]

You have no idea how troubled. Most of these people do not even understand why they are rioting anymore. They want change, they want stability, they want food on their tables, but no one is going to be able to give it to them just because they set a building on fire.

What they need [he tops off the glass, and sets down the canter] is leadership.

And maybe to not be enslaved if they're Shadowkind? [There is a reason Andie does not do much diplomacy. She is not patient enough to wait for the timing to be right.] Just saying. Might help.

[Riddick had watched the pomp and circumstance with which Valentin had entered, processing his attitude towards Koraith and Tia. His eyes narrow behind his goggles, his arms crossing over his chest.

He sure isn't the most diplomatic of the bunch, alongside Andie, and saying nothing is usually his forte so he will stick with that.

Andie's comment does get a small grin to tug at the corner of his mouth though.]

[Valentin pauses in the act of bringing the drink to his lips, head swiveling around to look at the petite girl. After a second, he cracks a smile, then a larger smile, then he laughs as if this was a great joke, lifting the drink in salute towards her, as he looks back towards Koraith.]

Cute girl.

[He downs a hearty sip and then licks his lips, still smirking to himself.]

The problem goes much deeper than the plight of the Shadowkind.

[Koraith makes an apologetic noise in his throat] And yet that is our primary reason for being here today. We understand you have many concerns on your plate, should you win the people's support.

But our concern is how to prevent the slave trade from becoming the backbone of Slovechnia's economy again. I do hope you understand not only the moral reasons for this, but the precarious position it places the country in, to rely so heavily on an industry that will hopefully be going nowhere but down as Shadowkind gain rights.

You have the opportunity to make a statement with your regime. Especially because of the notoriety the country's gained in the years since your family lost the throne.

[Riddick straightens from the wall at Valentin's "cute girl" statement. That was as telling to him as anything else the man could have said, his ignoring Andie's suggestion for a slave-free country.]

S'far as I know, people will follow someone who's just to all their country's people, not just the select few. Seems like every other place that tries to rule the other way around, well what's happening outside your gates has pretty much been the outcome of that.

[Valentin just affixes him with a smug smile, though his eyes are tight, and not quite so friendly] And I am sure you have much experience in... ruling a nation.

[He moves to lean against the back of a broad chair, not offering any of them a refreshment as he enjoys his]

I am not unsympathetic to your cause, of course. Slavery is... a nasty business. I am sure we can all agree on this, yes?

Don't need much experience in ruling a nation to know what it's like to want to be a part of one where you know you won't get the crap end of the stick.

[Riddick uncrosses his arms, once more nodding in the direction of the castle grounds.]

You can see for yourself just how nasty slavery can make people, especially if those who were forced into it get free and are angry. I'd think you'd want to make sure you were very sympathetic to their cause cuz their support is what just might get you back your throne.

[His tone is very dry and thoroughly unimpressed throughout his little speech, and when he finishes he crosses his arms again, waiting to see Valentin's response.]

It is not they who will be holding any vote, my friend. [ There's something remarkably condescending about the way in which he points this out, as if he's talking to a small child. He moves on quickly enough, however, that the comment doesn't linger.]

As I said: I am not unsympathetic, and I value what you mean to do. My grandfather, he too worked with the Knights at times, and spoke of the many great deeds you have accomplished. I would like us to have similar good terms between us. So what I have for you is a proposition, of sorts.

[A spot check of 16 or above will notice the subtle way Tia tenses as she watches him, though she says nothing.]

[Riddick barely holds back the snort threatening to come out at Valentin's answer. Dick.

He does [~~with a spot check of 17~~] catch how Tia tenses, his own shoulders tightening in response, though he makes no move as of yet.

He'd rather wait to see how this plays out first.]

In that case, I'm certain we'd all love to hear it.

[He gives Koraith a tight smile, standing erect again and crossing the room, scanning the walls and looking to the throne as he speaks]

I'm aware of what... considerable resources are at the Knight's disposal. I would very much like to propose a partnership of sorts.

[He stops in the center of the room, turning to look at them with a glint in his eye]

You give me the assistance I need to claim the throne?

I will make abolishing the slave trade my second priority, directly beneath restoring this country's economic stability.

[Andie frowns. Her concentration check of 14 means she's been drifting in and out a little, but she caught the last part.] Second priority? Does that mean, like, you'll be using the slaves to be getting the economic stability and then freeing them? [Her tone is a little bit wary.]

It means that if I put my focus on running slavers out before I have the funds to, we will have a greater debt than where we began. With stability will come the means necessary to enforce whatever regulations we put in place. Otherwise, outlaws will find ways to circumvent our laws, and we will be powerless to stop them.

You'd think, [Riddick pauses to be sure Valentin is focused on him. He'd held his tongue longer than usual, and this guy was an arrogant ass. He hated that.] with all this support from the Knights that you could restore the economic stability and abolish the slavery here all at once.

Seems like it would make a much better, stronger show of what you really stand for and against. Other countries would be more interested in supporting a country economically if they prove themselves to be enlightened to the fact that slavery is not to be tolerated.

Otherwise it just sounds like you're using the slavers and their filthy slave money to keep your country alive until you get your throne. Then you say you plan to try and kick them out? When they'll have their hands in the Kings coffers? That sounds like an even worse plan to me.

[Koraith will merrily leap frog onto that argument as well]

And wouldn't you rather be raised to power by those you know support you because of your exploits in assisting the poor and powerless, rather than those who might turn on if you later attempted to bring about that change? Particularly during the tenuous time following a change of regime.

You make it sound as if that kind of change is possible solely through the will of the people.

You do realize that without people, you wouldn't have a kingdom, right? You'd be like, King of a bunch of rocks and some plants. Way lame.

You're certain to garner the financial support you're talking about if you openly stand against the cause of slavery. There are plenty of rich backers and other governments out there who would support you. Even private donors.

Including the Knights? And I'm talking monetary support, as well as military backing.

[Riddick looks to Tia and Koraith to answer that one, he doesn't know shit about the Knights financial standings, though he does know they're not poor by any means.]

The Knights are in the way of privately funding anyone. It simply isn't the way we have or ever will operate. We will gladly offer our services in other ways, however, securing the peace of this country for all parties involved, and helping to rally support to you from those who can offer such backing.

But that only comes if you agree to our stipulations about getting out of the slave trade. Otherwise you're on you're own trying to get the support that you need to win back your crown.

This seems to be putting me in a very delicate position, so to speak. Not everyone would like the idea of their future ruler being in the pocket of the Knighthood.

I don't know that I'd look at it as being in our pocket since we're not gonna be supporting you financially. It's our military support you want, and we won't just go out and beat people into submission. We would make sure the slaving is over and keep the peace for those who wish to live in that peace.

I don't know how else you're going to get your crown back if you don't have support from outsiders, and like you said earlier your Grandpa knew us and worked with us before. That shows consistency, which is good for a ruler as well.

[What even is Riddick's life rn?? Since when did he ever try to be diplomatic!?!? He sure is trying though.]

[Andie nods emphatically, bouncing back and forth on the balls of her feet.] You did already say you wanted our help earlier, right? [It's only sort of rhetorical. That was a long time ago, she just assumes if he didn't want their help, they wouldn't still be having this conversation.] How's this different?

[ The smile on Valentin's face seems to only be hanging there by force of will, as there's a hardness in his eyes that seems off kilter with the rest of it, as if someone's telling a joke at his personal expense, and he's trying to pretend to merely find it funny. ]

Well. [ His thumb slides up and down the outside of his glass, toying with the condensation there. ] I suppose it isn't at all, is it?

[ His eyes trace once more in Koraith's direction. ] Then shall we say that we have a deal?

[ Koraith glances at Tia, and they hold eye contact for a full five seconds, before he turns back to Valentin. ] We'll begin immediately, with your blessing then, starting with transporting as many of these freed or escaped slaves out of the country as we can. We'll make certain that it's known that we have your support in the endeavor.

[Riddick is so ready for them to be done here. He immediately straightens from the wall, arms uncrossing as he waits for the other Knights to make a move to leave, though his eyes stay trained on Valentin.]

Great. You tell me how that goes. [His tone is bristled, dismissive, and it's clear that he assumes the answer will be 'not well'. He offers them a little salute with his glass.]

Oh, don't worry. We'll be checking in frequently. [There's an undercurrent of steel in her voice that makes it quite clear what she means, and it obviously unnerves Valentin, who can only hold her gaze for a few moments before breaking off. Smirking to herself, she moves towards the doors.] Thank you for your time.

Great! [Andie is pretty oblivious to the ominous political undertones, so from her point of view, they just made a deal to be allies and all of the slaves will be freed. Yay! She heads towards the doors too, keeping her pace to a fairly human one, then turns around and waves at Valentin.] Nice meeting you!

[Riddick waits where he is while the others file out of the room, making sure that Tia, Andie and Koraith are out of the door before he moves out from the corner where he had been standing. His eyes remained on Valentin while he waited, then as Fred crosses to exit he casually walks to the table that had held the drinks, picking up a peach from a tray and taking a big bite. He salutes Valentin with the fruit, turning to walk out of the room last.]

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mission ♔ rain down on me from a great height

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