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PostPosted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:26 pm 
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It was the sound of the morning crowds that awoke Lucius from his slumber. Far below the edge of his room's balcony, along the streets of the glorious capital city, Indartir; The many voices of Lords, Ladies, Merchants, Traders, Guardsmen & Officers permeated into his bedchambers and gently roused him from his sheets. Stretching wildly, Lucius Aurelius Alexander; Son of the late Senator Alexander Aurelius Quintus, ex-Military Officer, recent owner of LeoSerpensCapra Industrial; the Kingdoms biggest Weapons Manufacturing & Import/Export Company, and the newly appointed Senator under servitude to the Queen, rose from his bed in naught but his skin and casually walked out onto his open-air veranda. Not that it mattered exactly. The Kingdom of Atlygaea was blessed, or cursed, with a blisteringly hot climate for most, if not all, of the year round. Today happened to be right in the middle of their year-long summer, so he'd needn't worry about catching a chill. Additionally, with the purchase of his new, eight storey state-home, Lucius' bedchambers sat high above the streets and remained inaccessible to the prying eyes of those who were wont to spot a man recently risen from sleep.

Leaning upon the metal-infused, granite wall of his balcony which prevented him from falling, he gazed down upon the people of the city. He could watch them all morning, skittering about like ants. Talking in codes and whispers, spreading gossip about the latest events around the city. Who's marrying who, which company was buying the other, what the Queen wore to whatever dinner she attended last. Nonsensical rubbish that he'd never really understood, even from a young age. But his father had utilized these people and their strange ways once upon a time and soon the time would come for him to do the same. The stone was warm to the touch, heated by the early morning sun that rose ever-diligently into the sky. It wasn't long before his sun-kissed skin began to feel the effects of the excessive warmth and so he decided to retire from his musings. Walking back inside greeted him with a piercing shriek and a clatter of bronze plates and cutlery. A chambermaid had since entered his room, bringing food that had, no doubt, been sent by his mother. Food that now laid sprawled across the marble floor. He didn't fancy eating anyway.

"My apologies, Senator!" She cried, covering her face with a pair of dainty hands as her soft cheeks flourished red with embarrassment. "I didn't know you weren't suitable!"

"Nonsense." Lucius replied. "I should have dressed first before you arrived. The fault is mine." He quickly grabbed a morning robe, hanging on a stand just next to the arch that led out to his veranda, and donned it swiftly to spare the girl further embarrassment. "Just clean up this mess and you can be on your way. Don't worry, I won't tell my mother." He smiled gently and gave her a wink. She dropped her hands from her face and immediately began to clean up the mess that was supposed to be his breakfast.

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir." Before long the chambermaid had left and Lucius was, again, left to his thoughts. They were mainly just concerns and worries about his own readiness. Some planted by his mother but most of them conceived of his own mind. He shook his head, quickly dispelling the plagued ideas. Of course he was ready, he had to be. Today was to be his first day at Senate. His first chance to make some form of change. What it would be, he hadn't a clue but, on his father's name, he would do something.

The walk downstairs was met by the bows and curtsies of his house staff and followed by a loud and unabated greeting from his mother; Marcella Amellia, on the stairway leading down to the third floor. "Oh Lucius!" She gasped. "Are you sure you're ready for today?" She asked, suffocating him in one of her famous hugs that consisted of more bosom than he was comfortable with. "Surely you can wait just one more day? Don't you think it's too soon to be passing laws and discussing the well-being of the Kingdom?" Prying himself from her grasp, Lucius continued down the staircase and turned left into one of the many identical corridors of his house. He made a mental note to purchase some decorations to distinguish each corridor differently, so that he might not become lost so often. "Please, Lucius, don't just ignore me. I'm your mother." Her voice became a plea for attention. What his father ever saw-'Wrong way, again?!' Suddenly stopping caused his mother, who was struggling to keep up with his pace, to bump into him from behind.

"Okay, Mother! I'm fine and will continue to be as such just so long as you leave me alone." He strode past her, her mouth slightly agape, though it was nothing different from any of his other recent comments made toward her attempted mollycoddling. Ever since his father died-'Was murdered'-she had been trying to treat him exactly how she had his father. But Lucius had neither the time or the patience for her pathetic babbling. "Remind me to buy you a house next week. Somewhere far from here. I can't have you scaremongering and controlling my house staff any longer. Or me for that matter!" He walked to the other side of the landing and into the opposite corridor, the correct one, he hoped, this time. Lucius spotted the sign that read "Washroom" and balled up a fist in celebration. "And tell Marcus to ready my car. I refuse to be late because some babbling old mechanicus wants to run his pre-usage checks." He didn't wait for her reply and entered the washroom in a hurry.

Stepping out of the washing area, Lucius grabbed a large towel and wrapped himself in it, then proceeded on into his vast wardrobe of garments to wear. Since it was a monthly meeting, there really was only one thing he could wear: Those ghastly Senator robes. He hated them because it felt like he was wearing a dress and the material chafed something awful. Still, they remained the uniform of his office and he wouldn't marr his first day by turning up in the wrong attire. Changing into his clothes took longer than expected, especially since he found himself lost amongst the robes whilst trying to find the hole for his head. He stopped just short of ripping them to pieces before eventually finding it. Dressed and ready to go, he strode back out onto the third floor mezzanine and then down the stairs until he reached the ground floor.

Two guardsmen, assigned to his personal protection unit, pushed open the large double doors of his home. In front of him lay a grand set of steps which met with his stretched, oval-shaped driveway. There, upon the driveway, was his most prestigious car. He smiled upon seeing it and quickly began his descent of the steps. "Move over Marcus!" He began. "You can drive it on the way back, I promise." He laughed as he opened the driver-side door and hurried to seat himself inside, behind the wheel.

"Mortimer said that if you have any problems he refuses to fix it because you've blatantly neglected the pre-use checks." Stated Marcus, his younger brother. A wry grin spread across his face.

"Oh that old turnip can shrivel up back into the ground for all I care, but he'll do what I pay him to do. How else do they expect me to find out the reasons behind our father's murder if they refuse to let me take part in Senate meetings. I've already used up the allotted time they gave me to grieve. Now's not the time to hide in the shadows, today we strike one back for the Aurelius Clan. Am I right?"

"None more so than you, brother." Marcus agreed. Lucius smiled at him and then started the vehicle's engine. A low rumble came from the front and a loud PSSHT from the back. Just pressure venting out, indicating that it was safe to go.

"See? Crusty, old, Mortimer worries too much." The pair of them laughed and Lucius drove them off down the driveway. Their spirits high for the first time in recent months.

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PostPosted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:57 pm 

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The knock on her door was met with tired eyes, a familiar face popping beyond the barrier to tell her what she already knew: “Senate Meeting today,” the voice called with an overly joyful tone, as her eyes slid from the woman’s form to outside her bedroom window.

Another Senate Meeting.

Another day spent listening to the problems that were voiced for the benefit of the council, not her own. Another day of the Council assuring her they knew what was right and how something should be handled, in front of the Senate. Another day of bolstering herself up to lessen the blow she felt every time someone disagreed and forcibly assured her their opinion was the correct one.

How much more must I endure before someone finally trusts my judgment? she wondered, swinging her legs out of bed as her feet touched down on the cold stone beneath her feet. That cold would be the only reprieve from the day’s heat, its stifling warmth already coming through her window like that of a lover’s whisper into an ear; Soft, warm, and too much of it caused discomfort. The comfort of the cool floor beneath her continued until she reached her balcony, padding out on it and resting against the railing to look out at those milling below.

It was amazing to her, how naïve some of them could be, the people that she governed. Regardless of sex, they never truly knew how bad things had progressed under the guise of her council. They’d been in place until she could rightfully take her place, but now that she had her place, they were strong-arming her out and forcing their will upon the very people who awaited their word.

No more, she thought, tone decidedly determined. No more.

Leaving her balcony, she headed back inside, her lady-in-waiting there to get her properly washed, hair done and the (what felt like) layers of fabric piled on, pinned in just the right spots. To her dismay, the Council of refused to leave the ghastly robes behind when they’d moved, keeping to their traditions intact despite the change of pace, the change of scenery. That need to control traditions seemed to strengthen tenfold when her parents died, leaving her in charge. It was as though, now that one tradition was being challenged, they refused to loosen their grip on any of the others, instead enforcing them with a renewed vigor, fervor for times past.

It was as though, because they could no longer have a man in charge, that every other tradition became their sole focus.

Why would they keep their minds on the task at hand—ruling a country that was falling apart at the seams due to dwindling conditions—when robes were being fought against in the council?

“Empress?”

Another voice joined the fray of white noise that surrounded her while they continued to fuss over her appearance; After all, a woman was to be seen, not heard, so they must look their absolute best. A quick glance in the mirror’s reflection told her it was one of her advisors, one of the few she trusted, outside of the council. While he wasn’t, in official capacity, her advisor…he’d been there for her. He’d taken what she said worth what any man would do for another man, but not so quickly a woman. He allowed her to vent her frustrations without prejudice against her, nor words of criticism for her annoyance toward the Council—and the Senate for that matter.

Waving a hand to her ladies, she turned to better look at him, eyes intent on what he had to say even if demeanor lacked the gusto to move.

“It’s time for your departure. The Senate will be meeting soon, and we wouldn’t want you to be late,” he informed her.

Her eyes dropped, but she nodded. Inwardly, a mental sigh was loosed, but she rose. Escorted out of her chambers by him, and the guards who’d awaited outside of her room, she descended down to the first floor, then out to her car. Armed guard was, as always, present and multiple vehicles were to drive her there, the illusion to create decoy cars so it wasn’t known which was hers until arrival. Settling in, she was handed an itinerary, with the notes of the previous meeting, and what was on the docket to discuss this turn around.

First on her list of topics…Murders.

Though the taxes were a major issue at the moment, particularly in areas like Ursius, the murders were spanning each of their five cities. No connection had been made, and the panic was spreading. Murder alone was a bad enough subject, but to speak of it with a woman? Surely her simple mind couldn’t digest such information, such graphic information and make enlightened decisions with how to proceed, how to change their structure and adapt.

She could worry about that later, however, the Senate’s building looming ahead of her while the cars pulled to a stop. In each was a woman with her resemblance; Nothing profound, as cloths adorned each face (her own, included) until they entered the building, decoys going through one door, and she another. They’d wait in their allotted “Green Room” while she conducted the meeting, stepping through, instead, to a great hall. It was semi-circular in shape, much like the coliseum, but smaller in size. She sat at one wall at the head of this room, along with her Council one tier below her, on ground level. This space allowed for each to be seen while talking, to represent their concerns in front of the faces that controlled them and their abilities, their assets. Each person could be heard and seen with ease, so no one could complain that they’d be lost amongst the others. Each clan was represented in some fashion, so there was another fear alleviated; They couldn’t claim favorites were being played.

Not all had arrived as of yet, so she settled into her seat, the five council members swarming her to discuss things they wanted to discuss with her, blocked from view by those that may have looked on while waiting patiently for the last ones to arrive. Only when they shifted, their robes swaying with their movements, was any glance afforded. And, when the last attendee was announced, she stood to greet them all, the five men who’d previously blocked her taking their own position.

“Senators, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to our meeting, thankful for your safe arrival and health,” Vassenia began, trying to make eye contact with each member at least once, though it was an impossible task given the multitude of faces. “May this meeting be productive, and may answers be found to the pressing questions we seek.” A pause, nod given. “You may be seated.”

Rustling heard as everyone lowered into their seats, the shifting of feet heard atop the stone marble as they got comfortable. Only when the sound died down did she attempt to speak further. “Before we begin, roll call and then we will cover the notes from last meeting to catch up those that were unable to attend last month.”

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