theograves

[theograves]

It was bittersweet, France had been home for his entire life, the seat of the European monarchy laid out before him. The Hand would depart from the foot of the throne and travel to see the Queen's will was done, his network of spies kept him informed of any uprisings or potential disputes between characteristically territorial vampires. Most problems were settled with words, others by the removal of fangs, and when that failed then it fell to the Hand to pull out the heart of the problem. Somehow over the course of the last year Theo had become attached to the city, and to the Romans whom he'd been desperate to leave behind since he'd arrived here. Theo had been present for and adjacent to greatness, in that some of it had rubbed off further on him, making the Juno vampire shine that much brighter.

Now he would ascend and from the throne that he'd long coveted Theo Graves would begin to climb even further. Peace was temporary, this alliance with the fey as well was tentative at best, powerful as he'd become there were opportunities abroad as well. The Americas were in discontent, vampires beyond Europe would contest the changing tide, and Theo would have his work cut out for himself... But Rhiannon had prepared him for these labours. Enough and then some; who knew what the world of vampires would look like when he was through with it.

They weren't the type to embrace, to profess any deeply rooted feelings because these things were unnecessary. Theo knew how Rhiannon felt just as she knew how he felt, sire and progeny connected from the first moment he'd opened his eyes to undeath. Emir was a puppet, Theo expected Rhiannon to do with him what she wished. Three parting words, then the vampire was gone.

"Until then, Rhiannon."

[theograves]

It was bittersweet, France had been home for his entire life, the seat of the European monarchy laid out before him. The Hand would depart from the foot of the throne and travel to see the Queen's will was done, his network of spies kept him informed of any uprisings or potential disputes between characteristically territorial vampires. Most problems were settled with words, others by the removal of fangs, and when that failed then it fell to the Hand to pull out the heart of the problem. Somehow over the course of the last year Theo had become attached to the city, and to the Romans whom he'd been desperate to leave behind since he'd arrived here. Theo had been present for and adjacent to greatness, in that some of it had rubbed off further on him, making the Juno vampire shine that much brighter.

Now he would ascend and from the throne that he'd long coveted Theo Graves would begin to climb even further. Peace was temporary, this alliance with the fey as well was tentative at best, powerful as he'd become there were opportunities abroad as well. The Americas were in discontent, vampires beyond Europe would contest the changing tide, and Theo would have his work cut out for himself... But Rhiannon had prepared him for these labours. Enough and then some; who knew what the world of vampires would look like when he was through with it.

They weren't the type to embrace, to profess any deeply rooted feelings because these things were unnecessary. Theo knew how Rhiannon felt just as she knew how he felt, sire and progeny connected from the first moment he'd opened his eyes to undeath. Emir was a puppet, Theo expected Rhiannon to do with him what she wished. Three parting words, then the vampire was gone.

"Until then, Rhiannon."

Her progeny was no idiot; it was pleasing to be reminded of the fact. Rhiannon hadn't always liked Elessar by virtue of what he reminded her of. But he had very, very quickly grown on the faiman-turned-vampire and she had to admit that it would have been more than a shame to ever have to harm him. It was sweet to be reassured that the new eladrin wouldn't be an issue, though Rhiannon knew better than to be sure about anything. She didn't have the love Theo did to put rose-coloured glasses over her eyes. Everyone was unpredictable in the end, even lovers. She hummed and nodded slightly as though to say, 'I hope you're right.'

Farewells to progeny were bittersweet but mostly sweet, this time because she knew Theo would be out there making her and the Juno as a whole proud. There was also always the hope she would see him again soon enough. "A magister," she repeated, testing the word before a small smile curled her lips. A beautiful dream. Morrigan remembered dreaming of such a thing in youth; all that power and prestige. For now, there was nothing in Rhiannon's desires but to get over the pesky sadness weighing like a dark cloud over her. "I expect nothing less for your ambitions, Theo..." Her smile lit up with a bit more life before she reached over. Rhiannon sharply and briefly pinched the side of his cheek, teasing affection. "Now fuck off. Go be king."

[theograves]

Of the great many things that Rhiannon might be: hateful, conniving, ruthless among them. A relic was not a word that Theo would have used to ever describe her. She was a champion, a warrior, a leader, and a mentor. Ahead of Theo Graves the monarchy was waiting for him, grateful to put this viper's nest behind him, he was preparing to enter another one entirely. At least vampires were something that Theo was hyper aware of contending with, their machinations, and their motivations were entirely predictable.

"Of course it isn't." Theo wasn't a fool, "Bandaids on bullet holes, might look tidy for a moment but we're still hemorrhaging." There were too many wounds that ran far too deep. "Elessar would kill everyone in this city for me, I wouldn't even have to ask." The only limitation might have been Asher, Theo wasn't big on children and his progeny was no exception but Rhia instilled him with responsibility; Elessar had coddled the child though now Asher was just a brat. One that Theo had some affections towards, though he wouldn't admit that out loud. "I include all the elves in that as well, he has little more love for them than you do." Farewells were always bitter, how long would it be before they crossed paths again, a year, a decade, a century? He supposed when his work brought him across Rhiannon's path once more. "Mark my words though, when next we meet, I'll be a magister." She still wouldn't listen to him, but that wasn't the point; everything he was, everything he hoped to be, and everything he would surely become was wholly and entirely thanks to her.

Dorian's death had made her moody and aloof, violent and apathetic. Maybe it was seeing this damned statues that made Rhiannon suddenly feel so small and fragile in her grief. She hated looking up at them, hated knowing how'd they come to be and hated knowing that she had proclaimed Ezekiel a survivor with eons ahead of him. He was meant to join Emir and Theo as her legacies, the ones that would shake this world in her memory when she was finally gone. What was the meaning of her life now that she was still alive? A specter to watch the younger generations change the world and grow while she remained stagnant - a relic of the past? Rhiannon hadn't been afraid to die; she'd long since learned that living was a lot harder than putting down her sword. But she also had no intention to die on purpose; she'd live out of spite as always. The spiteful survivor.

"Oh, love, I have more regrets than there is sand in the desert." She grinned over. "But I don't dwell on them... wishing you could change something doesn't do shit. You just learn." Rhiannon turned her back on the statues, crossing her arms as she looked back at Theo. "You know this isn't going to last, right?" The new vampire king was going to be gone to do other business, the Senate's inevitable issues weren't his to deal with. But there were other things now, other things his new eladrin love had helped ease. Morrigan's origins were privy to none but the late Dorian and Magnus, though she debated on the necessity of sharing them now. "I don't just mean the Senate's kumbaya circle, but you shouldn't trust the fey. Less so now that they're more powerful as elves... Keeping your enemies close works some of the time, sure, but I like the chances a lot less with them." She paused. "You've asked yourself if Elessar would still choose you over them right?"

[theograves]

"Don't waste your words, Rhiannon." Theo looked from the statues of the Six towards his sire, loss had made her sentimental, it didn't look good on her and quite frankly it made his skin crawl. He smiled though as he looked back towards the statue of Queen Titania. "I know." There was no limit to how far Theo intended to climb, he'd been nothing more than dying soldier on the wrong side of history when she'd come across him. A pious fool who believed that Gods cared for things like sinners or saints: the rotted truth at the core of this world was that people rarely ever ended up happy. The Hand had spent centuries serving at a Queen's behest, bearing the toll of lives so that Evelyn wouldn't have to. A thousand commands, a thousand wars, but he'd failed to stop this one.

The Earnest had been too soft, too open-minded, and the Senate had been far too divided. Hunters against supernaturals, vampires against witches, etc etc etc. Theo had his grievances, but he didn't put anything above survival: ultimately that's what was brought them all together. Still, there had to be people that held contempt for one another, old grudges and bitter grievances. Theo didn't have to tell Rhiannon that this peace was only a temporary one, she'd have seen it countless times before; there'd be a period of cooperation, then the lines of division would become apparent again.

Theo was fond of saying that if he'd come to Rome sooner maybe things wouldn't have gotten this bad, but the truth is he knew it was bad from the start. It was bad when the Pythia proclaimed war on this city, and it only got worse from there. Ultimately Theo had failed, the senate had failed, the marshals had failed, Romulus had failed and then he'd died. The Six were gone because through their division they let darkness fester. Theo wasn't one for regrets and he had no real attachment to any of the Six, there was a reason why he could count on one hand the people that mattered to him. Rhiannon had taught him that. Still, though she appeared calm enough, beneath the surface Theo could feel his sire's distress as if it were his own.

"I'll ask a stupid question this one time, since we're feeling so sentimental." Theo studied her again, of the people in the city he knew her a great deal, most of her secrets though he suspected she wasn't the type of person to ever reveal them all. "Do you have any regrets?"

Time: Riiiiiight before Theo leaves Location: ... Airport? Portal? Idk, it's just where to say bye Characters: @theograves & @bloodyrhiannon Notes: :manlytears:

Morrigan had lost more in the past 2 years than she had all her life. Dorian was gone, now his son Gabriel. Ezekiel. Two of those that meant most to her were gone following the apparent apocalypse, immortalized in two stupid statues that did nothing to truly capture the people they were and the things they had done. Selfless martyrs. Maybe she would have expected that from Gabriel but she thought that she had taught Ezekiel better. Instead, her pseudo-progeny had gone to save the world and left behind nothing but some rap songs and a mythical hero reputation when he'd been far too young. It wasn't fair. It was awful, like this disgusting new world. Rhiannon had avoided killing anyone in a war now but the grief had sent her to feed off some innocent tourists outside of Rome's borders, darkening her hair once more. The headache that followed and the heavy grief that settled on her had sapped away her energy. Everything came down tumbling even more when the fey-turned-elves settled into their own city and made her wonder if she had just wasted her entire life on her daddy issues. Even Titania's death, the death of her own grandmother, was a short-lived sense of victory that quickly soured in her mouth.

But for Theo's sake, Rhiannon found an inkling of joy. Her proud progeny, the king of all European vampires, great grand-progeny of Juno herself. He'd be leaving his sire now but that was for the best. "I've never said this before to anyone," she begun in her stoic farewell. With Ezekiel gone, a guilt had settled within the Juno vampire's grief and it formed the words that came out of her mouth next, ones she truly hadn't ever said to any - such emotions that had always been left unsaid, spoken in actions instead of words. "I'm proud of you."

[theograves]

"Everyone who lives long enough dies a monster." Theo said with a sigh as he tore off some of the creature's limbs to keep it from walking and thrashing around. The Eye had said not to kill if possible, even though things were coming back, Theo didn't question it - but their medical division was advanced, they could reattach limbs when necessary. "I challenge you to name one immortal who has not committed some atrocious and unthinkable act. Go ahead," Theo Smiled, "I'll wait."

The idea of the mushroom zombies all being cramped together in cages made Oliver's eyes flare in horror, humanity was gone and only rot and decay remained and that was obvious in the bloody thirsty gaze that could be seen through the mushroom caps that took over most of the skull. "It's horrible that death can't keep them, they'd be better off gone. No one wants to be remembered that way, no one who lived a good life wants to die a monster." His words colored with thoughts of his own fate, he lived and became the worst type of monster. "Nothing good can come for us." He felt terribly young all at once and as if he was in over his head.

[theograves]

"Fortunately I have a closet full, he won't notice the other unless you tell him." Asher hugged him and that was - fine, Theo supposed. More Elessar's thing but given the circumstances the Hand didn't protest too much. Asher was his progeny and the boy was like a son to him, but that didn't make the Triumvir a good father. "I did try to tell you, but you never listen. Now here we are, with you in over your head once again." It was true that Theo was too hard on him, that his expectations were too high, but he wanted what was best for Asher. Something besides the staggering amount of money he was capable of burning through. A war was no place for Asher. All the same, Theo was resolved to see his progeny through this: not just for Elessar's sake, but for his own as well.

Something had shifted. It melted like cold ashes in his mouth, it tore through his gut like a blade fresh to cauter. Searing hot and emptying all at once. From where Theo moved he stumbled, his feet buckled beneath him as he knew without really knowing what had happened. Somewhere within the Otherworld where the others fought, Rhiannon had fallen. It felt - impossible didn't seem like the right word. Like a quantifiable and unexplainable falsehood, like the sun moving in reverse, or the moon turning suddenly to show them her darker side. "She's gone- Rhia-" Theo stood and seized Asher's arm, "You need to leave. Now. I don't want you here."

@theograves

"You look like shit. Is that blood on your shirt? Elessar is going to kill you." Asher was too grateful to see Theo for the time being, though he knew his sire was okay anyway. He pulled the other into a hug, releasing Theo and taking a step back. "Not very cash money of everybody to be here, you know. I should've taken that vacation to Sicily early."

[theograves]

If there was a two who hadn't deserved to die happy, it had to be the two of them, but assuming they got through this then it seemed like their path was pretty well set. Harlow had all but confirmed it, Evelyn wasn't the monarch she'd been, the realm required a stronger hand to guide it into the future. "Really? You want to do this now?" Theo asked as he tipped the other's chin, "You coddle me because you need something to coddle. You're a nester, admit it. If you don't have something to do with your hands you start scratching at the walls."

"You should've sent him away when you had the chance. That would've been coddling," Elessar pointed out, thinking about the vampire now. The faiman wouldn't wish for anything to happen to any of them, and now he here was, dealing with two children instead of one. At least Theo could hold his own at times. They were nearing the end of their journey here anyway, but Elessar wouldn't fight Theo the minute he was told to leave. "I coddle you because you'd cry if I didn't."

[theograves]

Grey’s Anatomy 9.03

Love the One You’re With

[theograves]

JESSE WILLIAMS Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2 (2008)

[theograves]

Forever the liability, Theo still didn't understand what the boy was doing involved in all of this. Asher should be on a beach somewhere, not in the middle of a battle between literal good and evil. So fucking melodramatic. When this was done, Theo was resolved to put this damned city behind him for good. His successor chosen, if nothing else they needed to win because the vampire would be damned if all this shit was for nothing. "You coddle him." Theo said with a sigh, his smile was light before he nudged the other, "you coddle both of us."

It was hot of Theo to steal souls, that much Elessar could get behind, even as he had an unlimited source, this whole battle was a stalemate. The faiman stepped over another husk, moving towards the Senator now, "Asher is fine. I saw him." He knew Theo would feel whether or not the other was harmed, which made Ely feel better anyway. He put his hands on the other's features, wiping away the slightest bit of dirt. Otherwise, he looked impeccable. "I told him to find us if he gets into trouble."

[theograves]

There was a number of them in cages now, creatures that were being treated for the Autumnal Chancellor's rot. "There aren't enough cages or vaccines for everyone," Theo pointed out, "we prioritised the members of our forces that were targeted, soldiers, support staff, that sort of thing." Families, friends, innocents and civilians? They were alone out there still, left to contend with this vile plague all on their own. "Makes you wonder what else is coming."

Who: @senatusstarters Where: Base camp

Wide-eyed he wondered what the hell he was doing here, he felt something break within him when his Sire died and so he followed his instincts to Rome, in the belief that he could receive help and instead found himself in the middle of the War-zone. He had seen spores take root and change a human into a zombie of the worst kind. He had witnessed the zombie come back time and time again and so his violent impulses rose and he ripped Cruz's head off like all the others. "I miss pizza but I will never touch another mushroom and pepperoni slice again, never even magic mushrooms -- never again. I'm sticking to B- from here on out."

[theograves]

A progeny of Rhiannon's couldn't disappoint, and while she'd once plucked him from the battlefield Theo had no intention of letting history repeat itself. Especially not with original vampires and magisters in their midst. As it happened, Death was rejecting everything that wasn't dead already, but the souls did not come back after they were taken. Several husks littered the area around him, unphased, they came back to life only to die of some sort of systemic failure moments later. "It would take more than this, how are you? How's Asher?"

@theograves

Another being crumpled to the ground in front of him, Theo at his back now as they retreated into the only safety that they had for the moment. The base camp was filled with the dying and dead, the wounds on the faiman healing up as the amount of energy he'd siphoned kept him as fresh as anything. It was the vampire that he worried about, about Asher, about the only little family that cared about him. Even the fey were cut off now, and Elessar felt better beside the one he loved, anyway. "Are you hurt?"

[theograves]

[theograves]

"Juno's ear, the throne, and someday the magisterium." Power, power, and more power. Influence. "I want to make sure nothing like this ever happens again." Evelyn had failed because he, in part, had failed. He'd warned the Queen that there was unrest in Rome, he hadn't wanted to stretch out his Hand and tightened it around the city a century ago, things might have been different had she given him the okay to do so. The Earnest was soft though, weak, and her ideals had poisoned his words and ultimately had gotten her killed. Drained for the Leech that Theo in turn had saved as a demonstration of dedication and strength. He hadn't done any of those things because he cared about the Earnest, he did them because Theo believed at his core what he always knew to be true, it was the fire that Rhiannon had seen within him long before he saw it there himself: Theo Graves was the best candidate for the job. Unquestionable and without equal. "My current seat wasn't enough to keep this from happening."

"I'd say it's bold of you to assume you don't have one at this point." She has seen what he has done. The loss of that poor young Juno vampire that hadn't ever even got to really settle into their senate seat had been horrible. It'd been a devastating loss, something shocking. And he'd stepped in and turned everything around for his bloodline when he hadn't had to. They could have found someone else and she knows that with his ambitions, he did not take the seat without thinking of it pragmatically. But that was kind of the point, that was why he was so good at it. "You could have just taken the seat and sat here and just looked good to the rest of us, but you have helped heal what was lost. You were here when we needed someone who knew what they were doing. I certainly think you're not at the kids table anymore."

[theograves]

It was a fair question, but what Harlow tells him next isn't news to him. The Hand made it his business to keep lines of communication open with his informants, having eyes and ears firmly planted back home when he'd been gone for so long was important. Theo had heard of Evelyn's decline, had heard of it for some time. That didn't dissuade him from his path, in fact it only made Theo more certain of his course. "The same thing I've always wanted: a seat at the table."

Harlow offers a nod of understanding and it's slow, contemplative and her fingers twine together behind her back as they walk. It doesn't surprise her in the slightest that he is ambitious, though she doesn't think him malicious, not when he's been around the queen for so long. "I went to France after the wedding, I spent an ample amount of time there. She's not doing well. I don't think she was doing well before the wedding." Evelyn was already tired and it'd felt apparent that the honeymoon was even supposed to be a sign of her slowing down to be with her new bride. For fear of sounding conspiring against the crown, she doesn't say anymore. For the moment. "But what do you want of Juno?"

[theograves]

"I took a lesser position at the Queen's behest, because the city needed a strong hand." Had he arrived sooner then this might have gone differently, but the Earnest's optimism and the inherent corruption within the senate had made this path inevitable. "I was to find a suitable replacement for the senatorship and then move on, that's still my intention once this matter with the Asphodel is settled." He'd managed to bring together aspects, the senate, and as a result countless forces trickled into the city. All things considered, these senators didn't have to like each other but that didn't negate the fact that if they wished to survive they had to work together. Even The Eye was playing nice now. "I found him, a marshal. Young but... he'll do. I want the throne, and Juno's ear."

"I cannot thank you and Ayla enough for standing strong despite everything. I know it is not easy." Both of them could have turned tail when the leech had started to attack, when the young Juno senator was lost. "But what is it that you want, Theo?" The smile comes across her lips is soft, her hands clasping behind her back as they walk. "From my understanding, you were supposed to be here temporarily. Do you wish to stay? When all is said and done?" From what she knows, he has a partner here with him, a direct bloodline too, that's reason enough. But as competent as he is and as much as she wishes those that were truly formidable would stick around, she understands there is no weakness in walking away when one is ahead, the weariness that can plague those that wear a proverbial crown.

[theograves]

@ashxgray location: mojo dojo casa house notes: kiss kiss fatherly love

It wasn't as if Theo expected Asher to make good choices, the younger vampire had always done what he wanted when he wanted and Elessar or Theo were there to bail him out. This was different though, a lycan? Not only was it dangerous, but all things considered it was just reckless: of all the places where he could throw his dick around it had to be in the woods. "Did you think we wouldn't find out about him?" Disappointed didn't begin to cut it, a dog, really? Disgusting. "Don't you know how this looks?" How this made Theo look?