phoenixstrut | [AU] For the Greater Good

She's really.... really not sure about this. Even with her Guard flanking her as she approaches the coffee shop, she can't fight the goosebumps that have crawled up her back, or the squirming butterflies trapped in her stomach. This isn't even a negotiation...not really. There's no need for her to worry so much, not on common ground.

Knowing that still isn't helping the fact she's finally landed an audience with the Demon King.

Dressed in her usual, only mildly more luxurious 'earth clothes', she opens the door, tensing ever so slightly at the tinkling of the bell. She nods toward the man behind the counter at his greeting call, then takes a look around. Will she know him when she sees him?

One of the couples behind her take a seat just outside the door, at a small patio table. The other man heads to the counter to fetch himself a cup of coffee. After all... they should blend in as best they can.

Well, if she doesn't know him, he can at least pick out some angels coming in.

Figures. He suggests common ground and guards show up. How underhanded did they think he was?

Probably entirely under the table, trying to get under a skirt. Probably not entirely wrong-

Zaveid whistles, a short trill for attention that shouldn't sound anything like a cat-call, and lazily waves his paper.

"Hey darling, maybe we should exchange selfies next blind date."

Zaveid no, this shouldn't be how you let the Archangel know you're over here.

Her blood runs cold at the sound of whistle and the rush of extremely clear demonic power when she locates the source. He's strong, no wonder she's overwhelmed.

But she's strong, too, she reminds herself, doing her best to turn her most unimpressed gaze his way. She's.... not sure she entirely succeeds, but at least she knows who to approach. "That would require you to actually answer our messages," she replies, with a grin so sour it almost takes away from that pretty face.

There's an almost hesitant glance back at the guard at the counter before she finally musters up the courage to actually take a seat across from the so called 'Demon King'. "So you're Zaveid?"

At least her voice isn't shaking, right-

He just grins at her, lounging at his table while she crosses over.

"I lose phone chargers. And someone keeps stealing my mail. Can't be misdelivered, there's not that many Zaveid's out there." Is the lazy shrug. And good job not sounding alarmed by him, but-

"What, he going to order something you don't like?" Zaveid drawls. "Only got two chairs, dear, hope he's not for my lap."

Edited 2018-05-16 21:52 (UTC)

She'a able to stop her mouth from gaping just in time. Really?!

She's about to remark on his egregious lack of response and the excuses he spouts for it, but when he openly calls her out on her security team, she freezes... then sighs. "No, though I'm sure whatever he brings me won't be nearly strong enough," she grinds out. Coffee shops don't sell the type of drink she feels she'll need to get through this conversation. "They insisted I couldn't come alone."

It's not quite an apology... but at least he knows she sort of feels guilty for it?

"That's three doors down, I think. Or get yourself a flask."

And then he finally pushes himself up a little, right over to resting his elbows on his knees and watching her.

"Surprised you came at all, actually."

She's considering it, really.

She finally takes a seat, crossing her legs delicately and watching him. Studying him? Both.

"Really? Why?" Of course she was going to be there. She's the archangel, it's her duty to her people-
"They've been trying to invite you to the High for weeks. Even some of your own advisors have met with me, but you..." She just shakes her head.

"You expect me to think I could walk into the High and not find half of the upper angels breathing down my neck in attempt to jump me, and not in the fun way?" Zaveid snorts. "It's pretty well known your lot's opinion of mine. You telling me that you are certain none of yours wouldn't jump at the chance to do something to me?"

In the fun way? Does he mean-

"Why on earth would you think I'd have my men jump you during a war negotiation meeting?" she asks, frowning heavily. At least he doesn't think he can just waltz in and take over the place. Their most powerful asset is young and extremely inexperienced. Surely he's aware of enough to know that much. She's honestly surprised he hasn't tried it already-

She sits back and crosses her arms over her chest. "It's not like we asked you to come to us without backup."

Like he had.

Edited 2018-05-17 01:59 (UTC)

"I don't think you could get them to ignore the urge." Zaveid shrugs, still settled forward to watch her. Like he wants to be king of two places. After all, their most powerful asset is young and inexperienced.

"Like back up would matter in the High."

Sha shakes her head once more. "My men aren't animals," she defends, "They want to end this war as much as I do, and attacking you would only make it worse-"

The look on her lead Guard's face as he finally approaches and sets a steaming paper cup before her... May say he wishes it was otherwise. He's about Zaveid's height and build, if a little taller... and has no qualms about looking the Demon King in the eyes, the blue of his own sharp and focused.

Dove can only sigh in what sounds like frustration and close her eyes. Perfect timing. Just perfect. "Thank you, Galen." Now go away, he's known you were here from the start-

Edited 2018-05-17 12:19 (UTC)

Zaveid acts like he didn't notice him until the cup is down and he's being stared at. And then he glances up, all lazy smiles.

"Ah, you finally decided to join us." He knew you were with Miss Archangel, okay dude-

"Sorry sweetie, don't have room for you at this table. Not unless you're planning on sitting on a lap~" and there's definitely not much room on Dove's...

He'll respond to Dove once Mr Shining Armor has moved on-

The only sign the man gives of acknowledging the comments is a deep intake of breath as he waits for Dove's command. There's a chair nearby, he'd be glad to arrange it-

Dove just lifts her hand slowly indisnissal, not daring to look up at the guard. She knows she'll be chided for dismissing him later, and her cheeks are already turning a bit pink, but... she can handle this. She's got to, even if Galen's presence is both a source of guilt... and a source of comfort she's not ready to admit.

The man'a face is blank, but it's fairly obvious he wants to protest. However, he takes the dismissal with grace and just nods sharply, then makes his way to the door to join the others and leave Dove to level her gaze on the latte before her.

Zaveid stays lazy, although Galen can probably feel the demons thoughtful gaze on him until he's out the door.

"Boyfriend's well trained - almost couldn't tell he thought me a rat to get rid of." He's mostly sarcastic. His point, made?

She tenses, face going from pink to red and a surprisingly sharp laugh escaping her before she can stop it. "Right, like I have the luxury of dating, let alone anyone of my choice-"

Crap. That's not what she's here to discuss. She refocuses and takes a sip at her drink, glancing away for just a moment.

Yeah, he cares more about what she didn't touch at all.

In fact, whatever emotions she's been reading have finally shifted. Disappointment peeks through, although not for terribly long - like it wasn't a surprise.

Zaveid settles back, a lot more closed off seeming now. "I think we're done here today." His gaze flicks to the angels hanging out outside, then back to her. "Seems most of what the high can agree on is how my lot fall in between terrifying and disgusting, and that isn't a stance good for negotiations."

Whoa, what?!

"Hold on, we just got here," she stammers, "No one's said that."

"You've been tense the whole time. You don't want to be here, but you're trying." He tips his head a little - points for her, she's... something, about him, and still is trying anyway. "Point for... probably fear. Either just you're nervous about trying this or you don't deal with Low much." Or at all, and so him claiming to be the King is a big scary thing.

"Him?" Zaveid tilts his head toward the door for a second. "Mr Shining Armor? Totally wanted to tip that hot drink into my lap or throw it in my face rather than talk about not fighting. Most humans would take that as a fight me, so he's not scared. Point for not fit to be scraped off shoes."

He grabs his paper. "As one ruler to another, since you're getting your feathers wet with all this. If someone on your guard can't keep neutral in public? They don't belong in public." He gathers a coat he'd had on the edge of his chair. "They're an extension of your face - of your people, of your aims."

And a smile, as he gets up to go. "High isn't even close to being united in your goal. You couldn't even get guards who agree to come with you. He behaves in front of you, but what about if you're not around? And can you say the same for the lower ones, who might encounter mine out here?"

Edited 2018-05-17 23:28 (UTC)

She just sits in silence, staring at him with wide eyes and mentally shrinking back with every point he makes. Okay, maybe he hasn't attacked her outright, but this is almost worse and so much more embarrassing.

She's frozen in place, completely defenseless, until he rises to his feet and makes to leave."One Guard that needs to be reprimanded, and this is your reaction? Leaving before anything is resolved?" She stands as well, leaving her cup on the table. "You can't make assumptions like that over one person's overstep-"

"Then can you say with absolute confidence that more than half of your people want this end to the fighting?" Zaveid stops, staring down at her.

"Or is it only those who lay down the rules who don't care if we live or not, so long as the fighting is done."

For that... she has no answer, and it's all she can do not to waver as she stands with him towering over her.

He's intimidating as Hell.

Fitting.

And then he just stops, all lazy smiles and languid cat movements again.

"I won't tell my advisors to stop what they're doing, but you might want to work on convincing your own people before you call on me again. Later, dear." And like that, he just lazily heads out of the shop, not a glance at her guards.

"But-!"

There's no stopping him; he's already out the door, and she's not sure she's got the gall to actually attempt it. Once he's disappeared, and she's realized she's just staring after him, she takes in and releases a deep breath. That had gone so much worse than anything she had expected, and her Guard....

She'd be having more than just a word with them.

A few weeks and a more than a few 'missed' calls and invitations later, she's resigned herself to never again be in the presence of the Demon King, despite her various attempts at both apology and hospitality. His advisors are still there, and have been negotiating with her own Council for hours by the time she's scheduled to arrive for their meeting. In her formal archangel gown, she makes her way into the room, greeting each with a solemn nod of her head. Her immediate staff has given her a brief of what has been discussed, though she's mildly curious as to why some of it has been so vague.

Nevertheless, she takes her seat at the head of the room, frowning in confusion as she surveys the room. ...why are so many of them missing?

The reply might be in the form of about half of the demon advisers straightening in... something, while a few others blink, and then put their face in their hands (but somehow diplomatically facepalming.).

And then its more than a little obvious Zaveid is on his way, because there is that demon-y aura, a little different from last time, but with enough punch it almost has to be the king.

Who is wobbling a little between two of his advisors in a tunic that is most definitely the style of the high, yawning, and with wrists bound by some sort of angel-made material.

"Your place smells funny. Is it because all the glowy?"

The shift in the room is notable, but she can feel him even before his own start to move. She tenses, hopefully not too visibly, but enough so that the guard to her right, a woman just a few years older than her, leans forward to whisper in hushed tones. "The highest Council members thought it best to to end the games and... strengthen the gravity behind their invitations."

Dove's firsts clench at her sides before she stands once more, wings shuffling anxiously in frustration and eyes bright with angry golden Light. She doesn't entirely understand the tunic; it's clearly of the High, and far too short and casual to be appropriate for a meeting of this magnitude, but it's the indings that infuriate her, even moreso than his unexpected presence. At least Zaveid doesn't look.... angry...

"I apologize, My Lord. I had no idea you would be joining us today," she greets him, voice carrying across the room and filled with a tone of genuine apology and poorly concealed indignation. "Unbind him. Immediately."

The flames lining the walls in their crystal troughs flare brighter, just enough so that a few of her angels move to do exactly that without even a glance at those who commanded the bindings in the first place.

It Begins

dun dun DUN DUUUNNN

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im sorry

Never be sorry

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