Post by Arielle (Ivy Clark) on Mar 11, 2011 17:42:54 GMT -8
Friday, March 4
7:00 pm
Seattle, Washington
Mercer Island Freehold
The place was oppressive and strange, full of odd echoes. It didn't feel a place meant for a Seelie Countess. Still, it would be Elaine's freehold soon, as the Emerald County was hers to preside over, and thus it had to be her home. Something of a home, anyhow, though Elaine had every intention of finding somewhere else to live when she felt more settled.
She wasn't entirely happy about her new position. She had longed for some place to rule over, of course; it was in her deepest nature to lead and administrate, and to have a County of her own had been a desire of hers for some time. But she didn't like how it had happened; the Queen just removing Lenka and demoting Erzabeth. Elaine had known better than to argue with the woman, lest the Queen's eye be turned to her--not out of any worry about her own position, but so that somebody might be left to take care of things.
And now she was Countess of a group of people who she barely knew, who might still hold loyalty to their old Count or might decide to scatter when they discovered her style of rule. That the county was in danger and difficult to manage didn't worry her; indeed, she relished the challenge. She wished she felt she had more people to depend on, however. Some she was sure of, sure they would follow her into hell and back, whether from her title or respect. Others... well, she'd see what she wound up with after Court.
As for her personal life... she'd been avoiding calling David for days. She'd told herself that she had far too much to do, but now she had to admit that she had nothing, really, left for the moment. So, reluctantly, she picked up the phone and called Los Angeles.
It took a moment for David to answer; when he did he sounded almost surprised. "Elaine? I... hadn't expected to hear from you."
"I'm sorry. I've been busy." Elaine took a breath, and then plunged right in. Better to get it over with. "I've been appointed Countess here. I'll be staying."
Silence on the other end. She waited, and finally David said, "Well, then. I understand." He sighed. "Do you want me to...?"
"You have your duties. I understand. You can stay down there, or come up here, but I know you're settled with your pack..."
"Yes, yes. I should stay here." David sounded almost relieved. Then, as if he'd had to steel himself for it, "I've been seeing someone."
"I'd figured. Oh, don't be surprised, David, I didn't think you'd wait for me forever." That didn't mean it didn't hurt, just a little--and Elaine found it strange that it hurt at all. That made very little sense. "Can I ask who she is?"
"Carolyn Post." David didn't usually sound flustered, but the Ragabash stumbled over his words. "I... we... we went for coffee one day and we talked and..."
Elaine almost laughed outright, but held it in. "Carolyn Post... the Glass Walker Kinfolk?"
"Yes. So you see I... I'd understand, if you..."
"We still need each other." Elaine sighed. A Silver Fang and a Glass Walker. That wouldn't go over well. But that was the point of their marriage, of course; a way for them both to love who they wanted, without the pressures to find a good mate and produce pure-bred babies.
"I'll miss you." David's tone sounded genuine. "And... I wish you good luck. You said things were rocky up there."
"I'll be fine." Elaine grinned. "It'll be tough, but fun."
A laugh from the other end. "Sounds like my girl." Hesitation, then, "Goodbye, Elaine."
"Goodbye, David."
The end of the phone call had a feeling of finality. Elaine sighed and put the thing away, grumbling to herself as she always did about having to use technology.
She looked about the room she'd chosen and sighed. She'd left her old life behind, and it was past time to accept the new one. The Asylum needed cleaning. Perhaps re-decorating. Whatever it had once been, it was hers now in all but name.
Out into the halls she went, to see what she had to work with, and plan for what she would do with the place. She would be hosting Court soon, and she'd need to at least have the rooms needed for that prepared.
It was time to step up; time to be Countess.
7:00 pm
Seattle, Washington
Mercer Island Freehold
The place was oppressive and strange, full of odd echoes. It didn't feel a place meant for a Seelie Countess. Still, it would be Elaine's freehold soon, as the Emerald County was hers to preside over, and thus it had to be her home. Something of a home, anyhow, though Elaine had every intention of finding somewhere else to live when she felt more settled.
She wasn't entirely happy about her new position. She had longed for some place to rule over, of course; it was in her deepest nature to lead and administrate, and to have a County of her own had been a desire of hers for some time. But she didn't like how it had happened; the Queen just removing Lenka and demoting Erzabeth. Elaine had known better than to argue with the woman, lest the Queen's eye be turned to her--not out of any worry about her own position, but so that somebody might be left to take care of things.
And now she was Countess of a group of people who she barely knew, who might still hold loyalty to their old Count or might decide to scatter when they discovered her style of rule. That the county was in danger and difficult to manage didn't worry her; indeed, she relished the challenge. She wished she felt she had more people to depend on, however. Some she was sure of, sure they would follow her into hell and back, whether from her title or respect. Others... well, she'd see what she wound up with after Court.
As for her personal life... she'd been avoiding calling David for days. She'd told herself that she had far too much to do, but now she had to admit that she had nothing, really, left for the moment. So, reluctantly, she picked up the phone and called Los Angeles.
It took a moment for David to answer; when he did he sounded almost surprised. "Elaine? I... hadn't expected to hear from you."
"I'm sorry. I've been busy." Elaine took a breath, and then plunged right in. Better to get it over with. "I've been appointed Countess here. I'll be staying."
Silence on the other end. She waited, and finally David said, "Well, then. I understand." He sighed. "Do you want me to...?"
"You have your duties. I understand. You can stay down there, or come up here, but I know you're settled with your pack..."
"Yes, yes. I should stay here." David sounded almost relieved. Then, as if he'd had to steel himself for it, "I've been seeing someone."
"I'd figured. Oh, don't be surprised, David, I didn't think you'd wait for me forever." That didn't mean it didn't hurt, just a little--and Elaine found it strange that it hurt at all. That made very little sense. "Can I ask who she is?"
"Carolyn Post." David didn't usually sound flustered, but the Ragabash stumbled over his words. "I... we... we went for coffee one day and we talked and..."
Elaine almost laughed outright, but held it in. "Carolyn Post... the Glass Walker Kinfolk?"
"Yes. So you see I... I'd understand, if you..."
"We still need each other." Elaine sighed. A Silver Fang and a Glass Walker. That wouldn't go over well. But that was the point of their marriage, of course; a way for them both to love who they wanted, without the pressures to find a good mate and produce pure-bred babies.
"I'll miss you." David's tone sounded genuine. "And... I wish you good luck. You said things were rocky up there."
"I'll be fine." Elaine grinned. "It'll be tough, but fun."
A laugh from the other end. "Sounds like my girl." Hesitation, then, "Goodbye, Elaine."
"Goodbye, David."
The end of the phone call had a feeling of finality. Elaine sighed and put the thing away, grumbling to herself as she always did about having to use technology.
She looked about the room she'd chosen and sighed. She'd left her old life behind, and it was past time to accept the new one. The Asylum needed cleaning. Perhaps re-decorating. Whatever it had once been, it was hers now in all but name.
Out into the halls she went, to see what she had to work with, and plan for what she would do with the place. She would be hosting Court soon, and she'd need to at least have the rooms needed for that prepared.
It was time to step up; time to be Countess.