1801/Double King Power

Double King Power
Date of Scene:	14 March 2015
Location:	Castlevania
Synopsis:	Rex and Dracula have a pow wow
Cast of Characters:	83, 114

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Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    Dracula's usual meeting place is Castlevania's keep, the highest point in the entire castle, which serves as the throne room for the Lord of Darkness himself. Rex would be escorted through the castle's winding corridors by a skeletal butler, traversing halls and stairs and elevators until, at last, he's dropped off outside the door to Dracula's throne room.

    It's a broad, empty expanse, as always, with a floor-to-ceiling window encompassing the entire wall to the left and allowing a fiew of Castlevania's many towers, the sprawling nighttime landscape, and the radiant full moon above. Opposite that, across the sprawling tiled floor, is the raised platform where Dracula's throne sits, taller than even his towering form and framed by scarlet curtains and carpets. The only lighting comes from the moon itself, which barely reaches the raised platform, and the candelabra on the opposite wall that barely serve their purpose. It's not a bright space by any means.

    Even less so with its resident lounging in the throne, leaning back with one elbow on the seat's arm bent, his fingertips grasping the rim of a wineglass of crimson liquid, one leg crossed over the other. His draconic leer is cast through the window, his eyes forming two lights like embers in the brooding darkness. A pensive frown lingers over his features, but whatever's on his mind as he waits, he seems content to simply mull it over in his head and glare at the distant moon.

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
Genghis Rex enters the keep area of Castlevania alone. It's unusual for him to travel without his entourage, especially the doting Ankylo, but he's also smart enough to know when what he's about to say needs to be reserved for select ears.

He is not on home turf. He has not spent much time in Castlevania, but he knows the tales of how the haunted castle's walls are home to all manner of beasts and could very well have ears of their own.

He is surprised that a castle built to house humans surprisingly accommodates his 12 foot frame easily. He'd seen some of the reports regarding the creatures that lived in this place but never imagined a place that Brachio dinovolve and freely run around in with room to spare.

As Rex is escorted into Dracula's throne room, he waits for the skeletal butler to leave before he opens his maw, "Greetings Field Marshal ... or what shall I call you in this place? t is you home after all?"

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    Dracula's attention shifts away from the distant moon to the red saurian who enters his throne room. He seems to survey Rex for a few moments before finally straightening up in his seat, just enough that he doesn't seem /completely/ lounging. His free hand waves dismissively in the air before falling back onto the throne's arm, a sigh falling from him with the impact. "Field Marshal. Count. Lord. Whatever suits your fancy, I hardly care. Good to see you in stable condition, Rex."

    The vampire lord sets his wineglass down on the throne's other arm, taking that moment of freedom to lean forward with his arms resting on his knee. "Yes, this is my home. A part of me, too, in some way. Perhaps more literally so than most would claim a home to be. But it shelters me, and provides what I need for my followers, so I have little else to say for it."

    "Now," he continues meeting Rex's gaze from where he sits. "You wished to speak with me privately, yes? What exactly is on your mind?"

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
Rex winces slightly at Dracula's reference of his meltdown at the negotiations, "Yes. Doing quite well." He mutters, breaking Dracula's gaze and staring out the window the dark lord was just peering out.

He exhales uncomfortably, and brings his intense jade stare back to meet Dracula's, "I come over matters of allegiance. The confederacy has been home to me and my brothers for nearly 4 years. During that time, you have served as our host and for tat, you forever have my gratitude."

"As you are personally aware, " Rex continues, "My true home, Reptilon has resurfaced and I need you to understand where my loyalties lie. I am no turncoat. I know I owe you much, but my responsibilities lie with my people and hope that is no shock to you."

"Some dire choices will be made in the coming days. You know it as well as I do. While we are still friendly, while I am still in your service, I need to know that you understand where my priorities lie."

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    Dracula is silent as Rex speaks, aside from a brief nod in recognition of the saurian's gratitude. His expression is even, and his gaze level; essentially how he looked at the negotiations, if only with a slightly more relaxed air. He lets Rex finish, and only once he's certain Rex is done does he give a huff of tense breath through his nostrils. A more severe frown settles over his features.

    It's a moment more before he speaks, but his voice is still as even as it was before when he does. "Yes, I already expected as much. Assuming, for whatever reason, your priorities fall in conflict with our own, I trust you will understand that I do not do so out of spite. You have been a valuable ally, and I believe you will continue to be, especially with your homeworld now in reach again. At the same time, I hope you have an understanding as well."

    The Lord of Darkness leans back in his seat again, idly rolling one clawed fingertip around the rim of his glass. "I usually do not associate much with the...general rankings, shall we say, of the Confederacy. I have formed many opinions of everyone, naturally, but I hardly bother with direct contact or connection very much. I doubt that's gone unnoticed. That being said...the interests of every Confederate are my own as well. Reptilon's safety is as important as that of our Confederate saiyans. Unless, for some trifling reason, you choose to turn against the Confederacy, I will do my utmost to preserve Reptilon against whatever threat is brought to it."

    His finger stops, then, hanging in the air for a moment before his hand comes to rest on the throne's arm again. Dracula's frown grows less severe, but his draconic eyes are still faintly narrowed in their stare at Rex. "You must understand, Rex, that any decision I make takes into account the long-term wellbeing of every Confederate resource involved. Between the two of us, I would surely like to see Kakarot's head roll so that we can all get our feathers unruffled, but I must consider all possible options available to me and their potential benefit and cost. So, in that regard, I ask you to maintain patience with my decisions on this matter, and any that may come in the future once Reptilon's safety is ensured. Reptilon is both of our priorities; I simply have several others to keep in mind as well."

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
The Red king nods, his own beastial head keeping an even stare that is almost unusual for him, "The overtures of bringing him into the Confederacy are ... discomforting to me ... may I make the simple request that Reptilon's safety be assured, that ALL of Kakarot's followers are offworld before anything is formalized ... I have concerns."

Rex's face softens a bit, "You can feel it. Everyone can. There will be more spilt blood before this is over. The stakes, for me and my own, are too high. As you can imagine, for all out ferocity and power, Reptilon itself is a fragile ecosystem ... it would not take much to make it uninhabitable ..."

"I do not trust Kakarot any further than I could throw Trypticon. If bought into the confederacy, he will gain allies. How could he not? He commands a loyalty that is ONLY matched by you ... given enough time, it might be your head that rolls ... and most assuredly, my own will decorate a pike long before that happens."

Rex glances back out the window, "I am not here to bargain for my life, just to tell me what my gut tells me ... and for you to know where I stand. I must assure the safety of my people ... no matter the cost."

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    "Reptilon's safety is one of the primary concerns in this matter," Dracula replies calmly, nodding once more. "Attempting to sway Kakarot into joining the Confederacy is part of that. Of course, I have no doubt that some attempt to stab one another in the back in this faction behind closed doors, but assuming Kakarot /does/ accept our alliance, measures will be put in place to ensure that he cannot cause further damage to Reptilon both before and after the matter is made official."

    A fanged smirk pulls back the vampire's lips. His voice almost seems to come with a chuckle. "I assure you, Rex, my head has a way of coming back to my shoulders. I've been taking certain measures to make sure that doesn't take quite so long as it has in the past, either."

    His expression soon settles, however, as he considers more serious prospects. Pointed fingers drum along the arm of his chair for a moment in restless thought. "...I doubt he will accept the Confederacy's alliance. War is inevitable. I will be taking whatever measures I can to ensure that it is ended as quickly as possible and with as little damage and death as possible, but sacrifices may have to be made on that path. We must preserve whatever we possibly can, and accept what simply cannot be spared."

    Dracula gives another short sigh, his frown returning. "...we will do what we can, Rex. In the meantime, speak to me if you find something you can be assisted with, or if your concerns are no longer merely fears. I will need all the eyes and ears I can have."

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
Genghis Rex turns his head back to Dracula, his face expressionless, "Might I trust that you will do me the same for me? As one king to another?"

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    Expressionless as Rex's face may be, that question draws a light smirk over Dracula's own expression. "Indeed, Rex. One king to another. Whatever I hear that concerns you or Reptilon will be something you learn in only a short matter of time."

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
Genghis Rex bows his head in a show of regal respect, a graceful movement that anyone has rarely seen. It would appear that this Noble Savage actually has manners, "Then I will remain diligent in my reconstruction efforts and place my faith in your negotiations with Kakarot. In the mean time, how would you have me deal with Vegeta? He's a dog off his chain. Shall I ignore him and hope for a happy accident of sorts or should he be detained?"

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    The mention of /that/ draws a sharp hiss of frustration from Dracula. The vampire lord mulls over the matter for a moment or two, before another curt wave of his hand casts through the air. "Leave him for now. If he starts directly interfering with anything, inform me, but as it stands he is not worth our focus at the moment. I believe his.../enthusiasm/ can be useful if Kakarot chooses to go against us, in any case. He has no desire to see that man live, and he may be capable of making sure that's the case."

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
Genghis Rex nods to Dracula, "Let's just hope that my sister doesn't touch base with either of them. She's kinda the "Vegeta" of my family ..."

"Thank you for your time, Lord Dracula. I hape we are able to do it again soon under more favorable circumstances."

Dracula Vlad Tepes (83) has posed:
    Dracula gives a low, respectful bow of his head to Rex in return. "Perhaps, when some measure of peace returns. Until then, I will hope for the best, and continue to work toward it. I wish you luck, Rex, and strength in these trying times."

    The vampire lord lifts his glass to take another slow, careful sip of its contents. Once it's nearly emptied, however, it isn't hurled aside, but gently placed back on its perch on the throne's arm. Even once Rex is gone, Dracula lingers, returning his gaze to the full, pale moon outside in silent contemplation.