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Post by Stehfanie of Nehan on Aug 8, 2010 14:25:56 GMT -8
Stehfanie was busy being extremely popular. She was used to this. She didn't like it when she had to go do big, stupid, controversial things like talk about the War. Which was why she avoided it. She also avoided public hangings and the like, unless they were especially interesting ones. But anyhow.
After the attack in the city by the Army of Green flames, Stehfanie had immediatly put it into her head that someone ought to go help out the poor peasants who's homes had been burned down. She'd also spent quite a lot of time dropping hints to her father that he ought to send an army out to find the stupid Fae responsible. She wasn't sure whether he'd actually got any of them or not, but a girl could try. Anyways, so far she had shown the most interest in helping the people put out of house and home after the attack. The ones who were alive. And still had enough limbs to appreciate the help.
This particular event had been scheduled, therefore, by Stehfanie herself. Her parents were invited, of course, but she hadn't seen either of them yet, and wasn't really expecting to. They had their own business to attend to.
She was sitting in a tent, orange and green at her own specifications, and chatting with the rich locals about raising money for the poor locals, who weren't actually present. The poor locals were busy doing actual work. You actually didn't need poor blast victims to raise money for poor blast victims, you just needed their rich neighbors, seperated by a mile or two.
Her security was nearby at all times, constantly reminding her that if the attacker got wind of this, he'd be back to finish her off. Stehfanie was under the impression that whoever the Green Flames man was, he was hardly interested in high society fundraising, and would have some more important underground business to attend to. So far they'd caught several pickpockets, but no terrorists. Grand.
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Aug 11, 2010 2:52:32 GMT -8
A pair of too-bright teal eyes surveyed the crowd, impassive and unreadable though never quite blank, of course. That would require a lack of expression and if there was anything that could describe this man, expressive was a reasonable enough attempt. Already, a faint smile was forming on his features.
Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar slipped through the crowd with ease. They parted for him, you see, because even the dimmest of humans instinctively went out of their way to avoid bumping into a Daemon. Any Daemon. One didn't get in that particular race's way if one wanted to live and, although this individual was certainly and unashamedly a Daemon - it was hard to hide that fact, even when you tried - he probably couldn't be described as just any Daemon. Unfortunately for the Humans.
Gabriel was looking for a...distraction. Humans might ascribe to their propriety and reputation but Daemons did not, and Gabriel knew that with the right kind of persuasion that sometimes Humans would forget their place in the world and enter his for a little while. And what a world that was. One of violence and hedonism, of alcohol and narcotics, of flesh and pleasure. He made no apologies. After all, just who would he apologise to?
A tavern or bar was the usual hunting ground for this particular Daemon since all that he required for his list of deadly sins tended to be helpfully gathered in one such building, and he was headed for a high brow one today. Shame he might be severely lacking, but Gabriel had taste. Perhaps that was why the tent caught his eye, a flash of colour amid the dankness, and of course more eye-catching still the people within. One person in particular.
Now now, what was the Princess doing here?
She might not know Gabriel but Gabriel most certainly knew her because, as the leader of a race not reliant on the protection of huge bloody walls, he made it his business to know what - and who - was going on in Litharia. And who better to hear the latest happenings from than royalty herself? He didn't hesitate to wander over, straightening the elegant tie knotted loosely at his throat, adjusting the collar of an expensive dress shirt. Human attire for a very non-human man but hell, when in Rome.
It didn't take Gabriel long to bypass her security. Impressive, yes - actually quite enormous, some of them - but immune to the charms of an elegant Daemon? Certainly not. Whispered words of honey and velvet granted him entrance to high society and Gabriel smiled a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, coming to a stop behind the object of interest.
"Miss Stehfanie. It's so nice to finally meet you."[/font]
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Post by Stehfanie of Nehan on Aug 12, 2010 18:50:21 GMT -8
"Miss Stehfanie. It's so nice to finally meet you."
Stehfanie was about to kick out the man who'd broken into her tent and fire the guards who'd let him in, but she turned around to look at him first. Unfortunate, really. He was good looking. Very good looking. Even the unnatural 'Daemon' air about him was attractive instead of terrifying. Dammit, interrupting peasants weren't allowed to be beautiful, gorgeous mysterious Daemons! She didn't think she really had the guts to kick him out.
She was already turning pink, but there were some rules to this sort of thing. Princesses didn't just let strange men into the 'inner circle' simply because they were good looking. There were procedures in place for this sort of thing. She maintained her posture, and did her best to look professional. "My apologies. This area is invitation only, sir. You are quite welcome to help the poor people outside, in the designated areas." Crap, how was she going to avoid kicking this guy out? "Unless you have been given an invitation? Or believe I ought to give you one?" Hopefully the latter, since the former would have required an invited woman to bring him as a date.
"Clearly, you've made it past my security. Either they recognized you, or you've got a way with people. Daemon magic?" Charming Daemonic spy, perhaps? Scandalous. Stehfanie didn't really mind scandal, she actually enjoyed it, and her best hope was that father wouldn't show up for a few more hours. "No harm in letting you sit down to explain yourself, right?" She pointed to a chair that was currently unoccupied. "On what grounds should I allow you to remain in an area reserved for high society and the royal court?"
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Aug 12, 2010 20:57:54 GMT -8
Well, at least she didn't start simpering or staring like the majority of women did when he caught them off guard. In fact there was only a faint hint of colour in her cheeks to betray the fact that she was surprised; so subtle it was barely noticeable, but Gabriel always noticed that sort of thing. Reading people was a particular talent of his. And my my, she even had a little fire somewhere under that pretty exterior. Quite the attitude for a Princess - apparantly, this one wasn't so sheltered as he'd come to expect royal human woman to be. How interesting.
So Gabriel listened with a faintly amused half smile as Stehfanie outlined his options, sticking firmly and clearly to proper guidelines...sort of. True propriety would have her calling her security at once but clearly they were past that. After all, Gabriel had already bypassed that particular obstacle, and Stehfanie seemed intrigued. Good thing he wasn't an assassin, really. But then few assassins could claim his specific talents.
"And quite an impressive security outfit, Miss Stehfanie, but you're quite correct. I do have a way with people." Gabriel didn't elaborate on the Daemon magic assumption except with a slightly widened grin, the misleadingly delicate points of Daemonic fangs coming briefly into view. No need to spill all his secrets...enigma was what made a man interesting.
Gabriel caught Stehfanie's hand as she pointed to an unoccupied chair, kissing it briefly in a show of gentlemanly manners. He was not unaccustomed to the company of the higher class if his ease and grace were anything to go by and, throughout, his eyes never left the bright green one's of the Princess. He accepted her offer of a seat, his answer already forming on his lips.
"You and I both know that you have no desire to kick me out, even if you indeed had the means to do so. But if a spoken reason is what you desire, then I suppose I could oblige. I am royalty, Princess, even if you don't realise it." Gabriel's voice was little more than a whisper, purposely tailored so their conversation would be private, intimate. Soft, husky velvet characterised his words and the scent of dark honey and roses subtley perfumed the air.[/font]
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Post by Stehfanie of Nehan on Aug 16, 2010 14:21:24 GMT -8
With her hair the color it was, Stehfanie had never been one for blushing. She avoided it as best as she could, because it really did tend to clash. At this point in time, however, she was positively scarlet. Sure, she was accustomed to court manners, but he'd caught her off guard there. She hadn't been offering her hand, she'd been pointing.
Stehfanie shuffled around in her seat a bit when he alluded to the fact that she wouldn't want to throw him out. It was rather embarrassing, honestly, to have somebody read you like that. Doubly so when it was a gorgeous, smug Daemon man doing it.
So he was royalty? Stehfanie had to think back to her studies in politics to recall the names of the forest leaders. At least he wasn't a Fae, they were near impossible to remember, what with there being so many of them. "Gabriel. Daemon Lord Gabriel, correct?" Then again, now that she'd guessed he could go along and say 'yes' or 'no' however he liked. She'd just have to assume she was correct. She lowered her voice a little to match, but held her accent at a steady 'court' tone, a reminder of her rank if nothing else. "You've got rather notable eyes. I do believe the color was mentioned once or twice in the past. The Daemon Lord, then." Somehow, her teachers hadn't quite thought to mention just how notable the teal was.
"What brings you to an event such as this, then, Daemon Lord? I doubt you care all that much about a rogue bomber and his impact on the local poor." The Daemons had a tendency to forget about other people as soon as possible, at least until they needed to take advantage of them again. She wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't even heard of the bombing yet. "If this visit is of a diplomatic nature, then I regret to inform you that my father is not present at the moment. He might still be at the castle, and I would be glad to send you off with a guard to find him. If not, I would appreciate it if you enlightened me to the nature of your visit." Psh. Propriety. Not only did it avoid wars, it also made a good distraction when one was trying her best to avoid thinking about just how much she'd like to get to know the man in front of her better.
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Aug 16, 2010 16:11:18 GMT -8
Gabriel reclined comfortably in his seat, extremely at ease considering the circumstances. He'd never been one to get flustered even when surrounded by humans specifically trained to ensure the Princess came to no harm and now was no exception; so long as he didn't overtly seek to hurt Stehfanie, there was no reason the guards shouldn't continue to be swayed by his charm. Years of success in weilding influence led to unshakable confidence - one might even call it arrogance. It did make for amusement, though. Who but the most arrogant of Daemons would wander past the guards to speak with the Princess herself? Gabriel's self-confidence was the base for a life fraught with danger and heady enjoyment. He wouldn't have it any other way.
"Ah, so they do teach you your politics within your rigid human structure, then. Quite correct Princess. It is lucky that I have no need to conceal my position because, as you say, the eyes rather give me away." Gabriel grinned then, forgoing polite conduct to give Stehfanie a hint of true Daemon nature - lack of morals, lack of fear, lack of propriety, except when he chose to project it. Gabriel was wickedly, playfully, hedonistically dangerous beneath the gentlemanly exterior.
But moments later he was composed again. He wanted to give Stehfanie odd, unexpected hints of the wildness of his true character, but he didn't want to completely alienate her. He was curious as to just how proper this Princess really was. "Right again; I have heard nothing of a rogue bomber and the fate of humans is not my concern. Speaking with your father was not my intent either, though I suppose it's about time I paid a visit. No, Princess, I simply thought you might be bored. A Daemon can be an interesting distraction from the tedium of royal duties, you know, even when that Daemon occasionally must attend to his own such tasks."[/font]
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Post by Stehfanie of Nehan on Sept 6, 2010 11:54:10 GMT -8
"I don't think my father would want to hear about your visit, if you aren't here to sign somesuch peace treaty and bring your forces against the Fae. It's a touchy time, you know, and he isn't much for letting leaders into the city without a particular reason that benefits him. You're not Human, for one. I mean, it's not like you're Fae, either, but you certainly aren't Human, and he seems to be against things that aren't Human." Was she rambling? Oh dear, he really was making her nervous. It wasn't every day that Stehfanie spoke with the Daemon Lord, after all.
She looked in a theatrical manner around the room, indicating that there were probably too many extra people about. Her voice dropped a bit, just to make sure nobody else could hear her. "Perhaps we ought to go somewhere a little more private. For his sake, of course."
Stehfanie cared about her father's reaction to the news of Gabriel's visit about as much as Gabriel cared about entertaining her. Her reasoning was entirely selfish, and she didn't really need to hide the fact. Still, one thing always led to another, and it would be better to keep him in the dark about all of it. "I don't really care, to be completely honest, that you're not Human. The war isn't my concern, and I've got very little responsibility when it comes to my people. I'll probably be married off if my brother gets killed, for the convenience of getting a new King, and beyond that they hardly need me at all. The problem is, appearances are all that count for me. I can't be seen conversing with somebody like you out in the open. If we slip out right now, though, I won't need to bother about those either."
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Sept 6, 2010 19:38:27 GMT -8
Ah, propriety. Where would he be without those intricate social rules and guidelines to flirt with, dance around, or openly flout? They did provide him with such amusement - knowing exactly how to treat them under different situations could grant one access to otherwise inaccessible places, intrigue the mind of a bored or restless companion, or create the kind of chaos any Daemon would love. The social minefield was Gabriel's playground and over the years he'd formed a long standing love affair with it. Today was just another such game, albeit a particularly tenuous and uncertain one. Stehfanie, quite opposed to falling into the role of his plaything, immediately proved herself to be another player in the same game when she suggested they find somewhere more private to converse. Wicked delight flashed in Gabriel's eyes, a smile that was almost a smirk decorating aristocratic features. Wasn't it funny how royalty attracted those who looked just right for their position? Gabriel was striking, memorable, commanding. Stehfanie was intriguing, attractive and unusual. Just the qualities their respective kingdoms required, whether they knew it or not.
"And here I was thinking I'd have to come up with some elaborate masterplan to escape the watchful, if addled, eyes of your cronies and the gossip of your court. You read my mind, love." The Daemon stood in one fluid movement, too quick and graceful for the humans around him - even the most talented of chamaeleon Daemons could never quite fit it. "Did you have somewhere in mind, or are you going to put your enjoyment into the hands of a Daemon?" Gabriel grinned off-handedly; he'd still quite like that drink he'd been after before getting distracted.
And, if Gabriel had to, he would admit that it was probably not a good idea that word get back to the King that his daughter had been conversing with the Daemon Lord. Although their personal meetings were few and far between Gabriel knew that the Human King was not his biggest fan; only hatred of the Fae kept his attention away from them, and perhaps the vague knowledge he had of their violence from Gabriel's veiled hints. "I'm afraid a peace treaty is out of the question, Princess," Gabriel added with a soft chuckle. "Daemon's aren't peaceful in any sense of the word. We don't have allies, not even the Fae who so graciously accepted the arrival of our chaos and danger. Our own interests are all we care for; the humans and Fae can continue to tear each other to shreds for as long as they like." Anyone would think Gabriel even found some enjoyment in the war. Perhaps he did.
"Lead the way, Miss Stehfanie, unless you do actually wish to find yourself in my world for a few hours." That had sounded almost like a challenge, hadn't it? Sometimes he just couldn't help himself. [/font]
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Post by Stehfanie of Nehan on Oct 7, 2010 12:21:04 GMT -8
Stehfanie nodded, as much to herself as to Gabriel. She was thinking of a plan. She was pretty good at sneaking around with these sorts of things, father almost never found out about it. Sure, he'd be angrier about a Daemon than he would about a stable boy, but that just meant she'd need to work doubly hard to hide the fact that Gabriel had come calling.
"Excuse me," She tugged on the sleeve of the nearest guard, a look of annoyance on her face. "I've got to go out for a minute, this messanger told me that the queen has buisness with me. Totally mundane buisness, I'm sure. Take care of things around here, I should be back in time for closing ceremonies, but you never know with the Queen. No need to panic if I don't show up for a few hours." Under her breath, she added "I swear if that woman couldn't have waited a few hours. Always getting in the way of my events just to spite me. I can't believe it."
She strutted out of the tent without giving any further instruction. Most members of the court knew about Stehfanie's relationship with her stepmother, and they knew not to get involved with something like this. "I think our best bet right now is to try slumming it. I oughtn't be walking around looking like Princess Stehfanie in public, somebody might take notice." She could manage it, she just needed to drop a few jewels, wear her impractically large underskirt in place of her current dress- she'd look like a commoner in no time. "I suppose there are a few places we could go to eat... other than that I'm stumped on where to duck out to."
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Oct 10, 2010 0:45:53 GMT -8
Gabriel stood passively behind Stehfanie as she fabricated a story which would allow her to escape for a few hours without raising alarm or suspicion. Quite the liar, she proved, easily subduing any queries her guards might have. The Princess maintained a flawless reputation among those outside of her world - Gabriel was intrigued to find that she was far from the innocent puppet he'd believed her to be.
So taken in by Stehfanie's performance was the guard that he never looked twice as Gabriel slipped out behind her, head lowered and careful not to make eye contact. He was dismissed as a servant or attendant, no doubt, and so long as Gabriel did not make visible his more striking features then the guard need never know that Stehfanie was in the company of the dangerous, volatile Daemon Lord. It was almost too easy. Stehfanie really was a fabulous liar, and this was high praise in the mind of a Daemon who were accomplished fabrictors themselves.
Once out of sight of Stehfanie's considerable entourage, Gabriel immediately dropped the submissive act and shrugged off the need to blend in. Dressed as he was in smart human attire he caught the eye rather less than he did under normal circumstances, but nevertheless the Daemon Lord could be vain and being perceived as a servant was not a comfortable experience. It was a relief to escape the rules and regulations that made that sort of behaviour necessary and Gabriel quickly became his confident, rather arrogant self once more.
"Ironically enough, Princess, I know your City far better than you do. A haunt for primarily humans this place might be but I am not an irregular visitor. It pays for leaders to keep up with the kingdoms of both enemies and allies." The Daemon grinned, loosening the tie at his throat to recapture some of the freedom that his kind so required.
"Slumming it, you say? No doubt our definitions of exactly what that entails differs quite dramatically, but I'm sure we can find a place where you will not be recognised. Please, allow me." Gabriel offered his arm, a wicked glint livening already too-bright eyes.[/font]
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Post by Stehfanie of Nehan on Oct 17, 2010 9:50:51 GMT -8
Watching Gabriel pretend to be a low-rank messenger was, admittedly, entertaining. Stehfanie didn't know him terribly well yet, but she could already tell that he was the kind of man who didn't like to play the part of servant boy unless he was going to get something out of it.
"Daemon Lord, I may be their princess, but there are few who would recognize me in this city. It's not as if I've got portraits of myself all over the place. They see me from afar, assume that a splotch of orange hair is the closest they'll ever get to knowing what I look like, and then they get back to watching for the King, perhaps my brother, because the two of them are the ones who matter." She smiled, the ironic kind of smile she wasn't to use in court. "We won't have much trouble finding somewhere to hide."
Bitter? No, Stehfanie wasn't bitter at all. She didn't mind being a step above bastard status, she didn't mind being entirely useless as an heir, she certainly didn't mind the fact that her father would probably marry her off for political reasons rather than let her live her own life. Not at all.
"Do you suppose it'll be a Shifter?" She found the need to vocalize the thought in front of him, maybe it was just that he had all of that magical charisma, but she'd been feeling the need to vocalize quite a lot in front of him. Definitely either magic or hormones, at any rate. "Dirty things, but you know how politics go. My luck and we'll have a truce just long enough for father to marry me off. There aren't any Humans we need to ally ourselves with, not really... Sorry. Not your job to listen to all of this." She laughed and leaned in a little closer to the Daemon.
"I'm just bored, really, I'd really like to see the place you pick out."
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Oct 17, 2010 19:15:47 GMT -8
Gabriel was far too perceptive, and far too engaged in the conversation, to miss either the ironic smile or the trace of bitterness that played along the edge of Stehfanie's words. But far from being a burden, as the Princess suggested, Gabriel was fascinated. By their very nature Daemons loved stories so the story of one's life was a powerful thing to share with his kind; entrancing, calming, thought-provoking. Also it provided an insight into Stehfanie's character and behaviours - here, perhaps, was the explanation for her careless flouting of human rules and royal guidelines.
"Do you really think your father would marry you off to a Shifter?" Gabriel began walking as he questioned her, making instinctively for a favourite haunt. He wrinkled his nose slightly - he didn't have anything against Shifters in particular, but the only one he'd had any extensive interaction with hadn't exactly endeared him to the species. Of course Auspice was no Alpha or Beta, but still...Stehfanie marry one of them? Perhaps it was vanity or classism, but it sounded ridiculous to Gabriel.
"I can't imagine that it's easy, being part of the royal family and yet little more than a pawn in political power games?" This of course was a shameless quest for more information and Stehfanie was doubtless sharp enough to recognise that, but Gabriel happened to be very partial to learning more about those he found interesting. As such he layered his voice with charm, made sure to catch Stehfanie's eye with his own hypnotic teal gaze. Bardic magic had come to define the Daemon Lord over the centuries, developing from a pretty party trick to an integral part of his character and personality, so that it permeated his behaviours even when he didn't consciously project it. When he did consciously use it however, the effect was far stronger.
"At least you can rest assured you will not end up with a Daemon. Political alliance based on marriage doesn't exist in my world; in fact, marriage as you practice it means nothing to us." Gabriel laughed, steering Stehfanie towards a small bar tucked behind a jewellers and an artifact merchant. It was easy to see why this part of town might be a favourite of Gabriels; the jeweller to cut and set stones he retrieved from the Tunnels, many of which he wore in silver trinkets of all kinds draped variously over his neck, fingers and wrists. The artifact merchant to sell any of the treasures he came across in his extensive travels, for even bardic magic could not entirely replace the allure humans found in their strange metal coins. And the bar; small, private, ostentatious, very expensive. Few humans went because it was so overpriced and they coveted their wealth too much, even if they had plenty. It was a haunt of Daemons and the odd disguised Fae, mostly.
Gabriel paused by the bar; private booths were provided, by a drink would be needed first. "What are your preferences, Princess, or does the Court withhold the wonders of liquor from young royals?"[/font]
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Post by Stehfanie of Nehan on Oct 17, 2010 19:58:37 GMT -8
Stehfanie wasn't sure how to explain the fact that she had no idea what kind of drinks a Daemon would order. She decided to go with the path of least resistance, at any rate. "I usually drink the slop the maids drink, I can't say I know much about anything they would sell in a high-end place like this. Sure, there's expensive wine, but that's not interesting, is it? It's just wine, after all. I'll try just about anything, as long as it isn't going to make me pass out."
She was impressed. When she was out with her friends they usually found themselves in dirty places, the sort of places where nobody would notice if you stabbed the guy sitting next to you. She wasn't sure what to make of it, really. High-class without being courtly in the least.
"I don't think he would, but it is a recurring nightmare I'm afraid. He's always hideous, and turns into this hairy... thing. Yes, I know, most Shifters don't turn into animals, but I don't see much of a difference between the ones who do and the ones who don't." She had the slightest feeling that Gabriel was milking her for information, but it slid away to hide elsewhere before she got the chance to properly examine it. Weren't those eyes just gorgeous? She couldn't help it, she was drawn closer to them. "My father adores me for the most part, but he has the country to worry about. If it were crucial to helping his people, I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate to send me to some Shifter. Though I'd much prefer he try to make a pact with the Daemons..." Was that too forward of her? Probably. Then again, Gabriel probably liked forwardness.
"There are some hideous Humans he could marry me to as well. Some are complete barbarians at the dinner table. No manners, eating with their hands, I doubt they even-" On second thought, she hadn't ever watched a Daemon eat. She wasn't about to offend a creature who'd never used a fork, if that was the case. "So what does Daemon politics consist of? No marriages, no treaties- you certainly have an easy job."
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Post by Gabriel Jhaedaes Os Tar on Oct 18, 2010 2:06:27 GMT -8
To Gabriel's unusually discerning gaze, Stehfanie seemed content enough with his choice. He was aware of the snobbish overtones it must project which was funny really, for although Gabriel did indeed appreciate the finer things in life at times this was certainly not why he chose to bring the Princess here - he was, after all, still a Daemon and though he slipped easily into the persona of a wealthy human when need be he was still more comfortable in the gritty, dark realm of the forest than anywhere else. Like any Daemon, he fed off the constant danger, the reliance on baser instincts, the earthiness and harshness of reality.
Still, Stehfanie was human, and this was as close as he could get - for now, at least - to showing her a window into his world. Not because this bar was expensive and snobbish but because others of his kind were here, and he thought Stehfanie might be intrigued by the sheer variety of the Daemon race. In the corner three vampires drank from opaque glasses, at least two of them of the incubus blood if their too-perfect good looks were anything to go by. By the fire a reptilian Daemon spoke softly in the native tongue to her teenage child, the flash of silver-blue scales on their arms and throat dappling the room as firelight reflected off them. And sitting at the bar not far from Gabriel and Stehfanie was a cloaked and hooded figure, most likely a Golem from his size, absently picking at a plate of raw meats. It was a small slice of his world, but the best he could do for now. An afternoon in the city with Stehfanie he could manage but he thought introducing her to the forest might be pushing his luck as far as political savvy was concerned.
"The usual then," Gabriel replied, both in reply to Stehfanie and as an order to the bartender. Two clear glasses were set before them a quarter filled with an amber liquor - a human brew, nonetheless. Daemons did not brew their own alcohol so Stehfanie's knowledge was probably no lesser than Gabriel's own. He then selected a table and sat down, trusting his companion would follow his lead.
"The fact that your father adores you might prove some protection from such a grim fate, Princess," Gabriel said with a smile. "And actually meeting a few Shifters could provide even more. I happen to know of one that would put your father right off forming alliances at all; Auspice, he's called. Changes into a pigeon, unforgivably rude, dangerous to boot." The Daemon grinned widely, the tips of wickedly pointed fangs coming briefly into view. "And I'm sure he'd love an alliance, but even as Princess as pretty as yourself couldn't restrain our violent natures, I'm afraid." Gabriel was in a good mood now; his flirtation with the human world, though unexpected, was proving highly satisfying and entertaining. The light of mischief in his eyes and the light tone of his voice was unmistakable.
Indeed, he laughed softly at Stehfanie's comment about the ease of his job; seemed the Princess was even more sheltered from the realities of being a Daemon than he'd supposed. "Easy in that I needn't bother with your human etiquette, or with Shifter norms, or even with Fae laws, because Daemons have no need to form alliances with other species. Much much harder, though; no treaties means no inheriting the throne, no guaranteed power. How do you imagine I came to be the Daemon Lord, love? By killing the previous Lord, as any other Daemon may attempt to do to me at any time they wish."[/font]
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