Big Calm

[Sasha]

Love? What was that about, then? Sigried actually paused in her thoughts, though she was old enough and smart enough by now not to stammer in her motions, and continued rubbing his shoulders lightly as though nothing at all was wrong. She frowned when he wasn't looking though, and made a note to consult Elke about this later on.

"Where is that fianc?e of yours, anyways?" she asked. Tsunai. Ah, the bane of her existance, at the moment, anyways. She still hadn't decided what to do about that disgusting Serpiente whore, but she was certain to figure it out eventually. She decided she'd test the waters and gauge where Lucien stood on the matter.

[Lucien Cobriana]

Lucien took no notice of any displeasure or confusion she may have had regarding his comment, and didn't think twice about it.  In fact, he'd just managed to relax more than he had since...well, since the last time she'd stopped by.  Having her rub his shoulders felt positively divine, and his eyes slid shut in appreciation.  Even without her snakey charm on full blast, he was enjoying her company perhaps a bit too much.

"She's probably at her apartment," he said softly, answering without even thinking.  That was where Tsunai was most likely to be, since he usually stayed at the Guild or her place instead of his own apartment.  He rarely used that place, and he didn't even think Tsunai had seen it yet.  There hadn't been a reason for her to, and he hadn't had time.  

[Sasha]

"It's so awkward.. I know that both of you have busy schedules, but.." she trailed off. "I know if I had a fianc?, I'd want to spend an acceptable amount of time with him. She seemed very disinterested even when we last spoke." Ah, go Sigried. Spread that honeyed venom on thick.

"Really, Lucien. If she wasn't pregnant I'd suggest you found a woman who was more appreciative of you," she purred, and then she turned on the charm in a big way. It wasn't even like Sigried wanted him for herself, not really. She just liked getting into the middle of things and messing them up beyond recognition.

[Lucien Cobriana]

He actually didn't remember much of their last meeting, considering just how caught up in Sigried's power he'd been.  He didn't question it, which just went to show how much he 'trusted' Sigried.  Anyone else, and he'd have wondered why he was so fuzzy on it all.  He DID remember that he'd been very taken with Sigried, and that Tsunai hadn't been around for long.  The smaller details didn't really sink in, which was likely because they had to get past the happy memories of the vampire's company and attention.

Like right now, which would end up being a similar situation.

If he would have argued with her over Tsunai, it wasn't going to happen today.  Her turning up her charm meant that his arguments went down, even about Tsunai.  Especially about Tsunai, since that was one of the bigger conversation points that required the use of her snake charming ways.  

"She's just hormonal because she's pregnant, I'm sure.  She appreciates me," he said, which wasn't really arguing, but explaining why he was still with her.  He tried to be understanding, considering Tsunai really hadn't done anything to deserve less.  Had she?

[Sasha]

Sigried snorted in displeasure and took her hands from his shoulders. Her power was saturating the office area, and even in her displeasure it was still as attractive as ever. She didn't walk away just yet, but put a hand on her hip in annoyance.

"Please, Lucien," she snapped. "That is just like women saying that they're being raging bitches because of PMS. Personally I think it's a load of bull, but then again, I haven't been human in a very long time. Maybe things are different now. Maybe it's acceptable for a person not to control themselves." The last bit was innocent, sing-song almost, like Sigried really and truly believed that it could be so.

Of course, she didn't. She was being her usual condescending, conniving self. She just didn't exist in any other form, not really. She walked away from his chair and around to the front of his desk, with an exasperated sigh. See? See what you did to her? She rubbed her temples and looked away.

[Lucien Cobriana]

He'd made that little attempt to defend his relationship with Tsunai, but that was all anyone could ever hope for in this situation.  Sigried's power was so thick in the air that he had eyes only for her, and probably would have done whatever she wanted if she'd only ask.  Sigried was too amazing, though.  She wouldn't ask for anything horrible.

"You don't approve of Tsunai," he said, making it a statement.  There was no question about it, but the problem was with the child.  He had to admit, especially with her power swirling around him as it was, that she had very valid points.  Was it really right, what Tsunai was doing?  Sigried was right, it wasn't right or proper for a lady, particularly of his line.  

"The problem isn't Tsunai, even.  I can't just leave her, because of the baby.  I can't have a bastard child running around like that," he pointed out.  That was the big problem.  They weren't married yet, so breaking an engagement wasn't difficult, it was the child.

[Sasha]

"So push her down the stairs," she said lazily. She shrugged in a big way as she spoke, sounding unconcerned. "It isn't appropriate, and it speaks volumes about your positions on how people are treated. If you're going to let her talk down to you and deny you the company you deserve, than how will your subjects feel? Really, Lucien," she said sadly, shaking her head.

She walked back to him, patting him gently on the shoulder in a comforting manner. "I'm just trying to help you, darling. I want you to be happy." She smiled sweetly.

[Lucien Cobriana]

The problem with this whole situation was that, while what she suggested made him just STARE at her, she had a point about everything else.  None of what was going on was appropriate, but he couldn't bring about the death of his own child.  He couldn't live with himself if he did something like that.  

He believed her, though.  Of course she was only trying to help him, and she only wanted him to be happy.  Since he'd met her, that's all she'd ever asked about, and tried to do for him.  She wanted him to be happy.  So, why was it so difficult?

Because he was with Tsunai, and she was pregnant.  

That had been such a nightmare, having to stand there and deal with her telling four other men that the child she was carrying could just as easily be theirs as it was his.  For that alone, he should have left her, but he'd forgiven her.

Did he regret it?

He sighed, shaking his head and looking up at her from where he was sitting.  "This is just a complicated situation that I should have put a stop to when it first started.  I should have known that being one of five potential fathers for her baby was a bad sign, but I wanted to trust her."  He'd wanted to be good to her, but he could only handle so much.

[Sasha]

Sigried watched him carefully, debating whether or not she should delve into his mind and just start playing off his weaknesses in the situation. She seemed to have done it already without meaning to; in any event, she had no intentions of loosening her stranglehold now.

"Has this ever happened before?" she asked, voice sympathetic and surprised. It still struck her as insane that Lucien had tolerated being a 'potential' father. She wondered how she could use that to her advantage.

[Lucien Cobriana]

It really WAS insane that Lucien had tolerated being a 'potential' father, and just Sigried's mere presence here was enough to stress that point to him, especially with her obvious surprise at the statement he'd made about it.  This was all insane, and he'd let himself get into it.

"Not exactly this," he sighed, though it struck him that he was probably only making excuses again.  "The first time we dated, she left me for her hunting partner.  It was the last time I'd seen her until recently, and she left someone else to be with me."

Saying it out loud, he was suddenly wondering, along with the trouble with Tsunai having so many lovers when the baby news came about, what she was really doing.  Even if she hadn't slept with anyone while she was with him, she'd still done a lot of sleeping around in a short period of time, and her record of jumping from relationship to relationship didn't look so good.  What had he gotten himself into?

[Sasha]

Sigried's tender touch changed swiftly, and she slapped him across the back of the head. "YOU TOOK HER BACK?" she asked incredulously, eyes wide. She really was surprised. "But you seemed so intelligent!" She was angry enough that her power began to saturate her immediate area, and Lucien would either have to resist or succumb, because Sigried wasn't having any on the fence moments right now.

She walked away from him as though disgusted. The fact that she could play this game so well spoke volumes of what she might have been as a mortal woman, but as a vampire she was slightly more twisted, more murderous. "I fear I might need to depart your company until you find your mind again," she snapped.

She stopped at the door and gave him a broken, sad expression. "I had such hopes for you."


Ooooh, snap.

[Lucien Cobriana]

She startled him so badly when she smacked him in the back of the head that he made a sound dangerously close to a yelp and jumped to his feet, his temper rising just as swiftly.  Of course, it was practically smothered in the sudden wave of her power, and he took a long, slow breath, his eyes closing.  He was a snake, and her power dealt with snakes, so what chance did he really have in resisting?  Especially with her playing on his own small doubts, making them grow into monsters, he didn't even know he should resist.

"YES, I took her back, but I guess I shouldn't have," he told her, his voice rather miserable.  How had he gotten into this situation?  He'd been happier not that long ago.  "I thought I wanted to give her a second chance, but maybe I was wrong.  I had already decided I was giving her the chance when she told me about the baby situation, and it was decided that it was mine.  I can't just abandon her if she has my heir, Sigried."

His very tone was all for her, and nothing like he usually spoke to people.  It was almost pleading with her to understand, and not to be mad at him and leave.  The best was what came next, though.  "Please don't leave.  I honestly don't know what to do about it all."

He didn't ask for help, not like that, ever.

[Sasha]

She just made a small laughing sound and rolled her eyes, rocking her head back as a scoff caught in her throat. She let her eyes close for a moment, face skyward, allowing the storm of thoughts roll through her mind slowly.

"Lucien," she purred, lowering her head slowly, looking at him sidelong and with a lazy sort of gaze. "Really. Why don't you just find someone else? I'm sure there are plenty of pretty ssssnakes out there that know how to keep their legs crossed." She actually drew the 's' out on snakes, for whatever reason - mostly for effect, and because, well, it just sounded damn good coming from her lips.

"Maybe when you've proven to me that you have a little taste I'll stick around longer, but for now, you've simply aggravated me to the point where I feel it necessary to take my leave 'else I decide not to come back for a long while."

She opened the door and glanced over her shoulder. "Just let it go," she said, and while it sounded like an innocent suggestion of encouragement, it held all the intensity of a formal command.

She left briskly, uninterested in having the Cobriana chase her down the hall and make a scene. It was only in the breath of a second that she had vanished.

[Lucien Cobriana]

He didn't chase her.

He watched her go, her words ringing in his head, and his temper flared once more the instant she was out of range.  He hated that she'd talked to him in that manner, and that she'd walked out, that he'd sunk so low as to plead with her only to have her leave anyway, and in general that he was so confused.  He wasn't used to, nor did he like, being confused.  

His fist connected with the top of his desk rather suddenly, and he hesitated for only a moment before he snatched up a jacket and stormed out of his office, obviously pissed off.  Nobody in his guild would think to approach him right then, so he didn't bother speaking to everyone.

He needed some fresh air.