Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived The Adlerhorst

[Tiko]

as written by Ottoman

It was a lovely summer afternoon on Tannhäuser by nearly everyone's standards: there was hardly a cloud in the sky and the sun was shining brightly, but thanks to a recent cold front the sometimes gusty breeze did a good enough job of keeping those outside relatively comfortable. Many were out and about, local and tourist alike, on the Reichsplatz whether it was for work or play, giving the imperial capital a rather bustling feeling. No doubt there was some tour being guided through the halls of the Adlerhorst just this moment, but Josef was far too lost in thought to mind that, especially squirreled away in his study as he was. Indeed the private chambers of his family were kept safe and secure from most prying eyes, and if necessity dictated it, or he simply felt the urge, there were times and places when he could go meet with and speak with his citizens as they toured and visited his home. No doubt it would give them something to talk about for ages hence, and their families would grow so very tired of the story - that thought always amused him.

But now was not the time for amusement, especially in the wake of the diplomatic treaties that he had secured with the Aschen, finding himself switching back and forth between digital copies of the treaties and his pipe. Already musky smoke hung curling in the high corners of the office, the curved vessel of his vice hanging limply from the corner of Kampf's mouth as he tapped a finger on his desk. In comparison to his hand and the cuff of his shirt it was a rich, reddish brown indicative of its cherry composition, though it would've almost seemed bright against his uniform. He'd already long shed his tunic in lieu of the dress shirt underneath, decorated only with his suspender straps and the loosened tie about his neck, the jacket sitting on his desk beside his work. The heat of summer often eliminated his desire to remain properly dressed, but what harm could it do here, in his study?

Who would see him in such a disheveled state? The staff? The thought didn't perturb him, they'd seen much worse.

This agreement with the Aschen seemed rather one-sided, if he said so himself - by and large it shouldn't have been anything to be concerned about, much less worry over. What gnawed at Josef's mind was the ease of it, the simplicity. There had hardly been any political maneuvering in that encounter, no pressure or bargaining, it had seemed like he had made an inquiry and they were more than willing to meet his terms. Such eagerness unsettled the Kaiser, especially considering the reputation that his own state had abroad, who wasn't sure himself if Isambard could be trusted not to have ulterior motives of his own. Humans were crafty creatures, more than once they'd managed to outsmart Scatterrans using trickery and deception to accomplish what they couldn't with strength and valor, and Josef would do his best not to underestimate these in particular. By his own standards they were respectable, and that meant they could be dangerous.

A gentle purse of his lips came as Josef tried to draw another puff of the bowl he had started only to discover that he'd allowed the embers to die out. A minor nuisance, if it even was a nuisance, that he had to reach for the lighter he'd set on the desk only minutes earlier. A cylindrical thing with a natural metal finish, its cap was flicked open and in a moment Josef had summoned a flickering flame which he leaned into the bowl of his pipe, puffing gently to draw the fire down into its depths. This blend was delightful, he hadn't had it in a good decade, but it was always a bugger to catch and keep alight - too wet. Perhaps he'd ask the tobacconist to mix it with something to even it out, the next batch he ordered. Not unlike an ancient steam-engine, whispy puffs of smoke began to rise from the bowl as the flame took once more, Kampf's hurried pace soon giving way to a more relaxed, occasional draw as he lingered in the flavor of his vice.

This machine demon - Celion or whatever name the Aschen had given it - was a small, small price to pay for what his new allies offered in return. It didn't worry Josef, his navy having faced things far more terrible before and lived to tell the tale, and in fact it almost set his mind at ease, knowing how simple it was to dispatch something so many others thought of as a demon. For nearly four-hundred years he and his people had to contend with horrors the likes of which the galaxy at large hardly knew existed, and for nearly four-hundred years they had endured, sometimes only by the skin of their teeth. It had been what forged the society that he now lead, with some gentle nudges in the right direction by his own hand here and there, and the product was a state whose sole purpose and drive seemed to be to wage war. But it was because of such a small price that it unsettled him. It caused the Emperor to worry, to question whether there might have been some other, unannounced, baggage in the treaty that he signed. From what his agents reported to him, the Aschen were not truly at war with anyone else, at least not any war that the Hegemony would intervene in.

Josef's gaze had moved from the desk to the towering windows that sat to its left flank, looking out over the massive plaza that stretched away, the offices of the civil government looking back at him across the vast expanse. At the very least it wasn't barren, like it so often was in the rain or the winter, as people milled about to various destinations, whether on business or pleasure, going about their lives and giving the scene some semblance of normality. Josef found that he just didn't like how bleak the place looked when it was empty - it was meant to be busy. The sight of the Reichsplatz, the victory columns that stretched across it, and his citizens moving back and forth across it lulled his mind away from the matters that had preoccupied it, the thoughts of Celion and the Aschen, that he had no expectation of the light knock that sounded upon the frame of his office's door.

 

[Tiko]

as written by Ottoman

Worried as some might have been concerning politics or the realm, others, though concerned themselves with such matters, chose to push such thoughts aside in favor of the magnificent day that had graced the capital. The blue skies and pleasant breeze made time spent outside a treat, and the younger Kampf saw no need to waste such a blessing. She ventured among her gardens, flanked on both sides by arms of the palace, hands clasped behind her back as she admired the products of her hard work. For she had worked at these, toiling and sweating alongside the servants and staff to ensure that she had a beautiful refuge away from the urban sprawl of Tannhäuser - even hampered by regulation as it was - here on the banks of the Veser river. All variety of flower and bloom found a home here, creating a myriad of colors and styles for Josefine and the pilgrims to appreciate. Were it that he bothered to let business go, even for a little while, Josef could enjoy such beauty as well.

A light sigh caused lady Kampf's nostrils to flare, a sour look beginning to overtake her face at the thought. Josef had told her the truth, the information had certainly set her heart aflutter with possibilities, but the way he fretted at times undid whatever excitement she had. Now she dreaded the matter being brought up, at supper or as they relaxed in the library. It seemed to be all he thought about at times, these agreements with the Aschen and whatever sub-context they might entail. It was frustrating, beyond frustrating if she was to be honest, that the man couldn't pull himself away for even an hour to enjoy the day - one that he had slated to keep free of business, she reminded herself - too caught up was he in worrying over shadows and phantoms. The absurdity of the situation elicited a roll of her eyes before they were caught by a particularly bold splash of color in the corner of her vision.

What greeted her was a voluptuous, if pruned, rose bush, obviously wild in origin though its more recent ancestors had been tamed by the hands of Scatterkind. The blossoms were wide and vibrant, their folds healthy and proud to be in the presence of one so renowned as she, boasting a proud and rich crimson. With a smile she closed the gap between her and the plant, a gentle hand moving to caress what she could of it, though she was careful of its thorns. They had some weight to them, no doubt heavy with the water of the storms that had passed not a day or two earlier, and as lady Kampf tilted her head she cast a glance around the gardens. There were flowers aplenty, of types hardly ever seen by even the wealthiest nobles, but there was some base appeal, some primordial fascination with what she held in her hand that she couldn't help herself. Slender, worn hands slipped into the pocket of her tunic to withdraw a pair of trimming shears, a quiet snip yielding the Archon a rather exquisite specimen of the flower, which she held with delicacy. This would do.

The walk back to the palace, though long in truth, was short in the mind of one who had already witnessed four centuries of history, and soon enough staff were greeting their mistress with bowed heads and inquiries of service. Was there any way they could help? Anything that they could fetch or fix for her? All of them were dismissed with the wave of her hand, nonchalant in the style of her tutor, as she moved with a subdued purpose. There was no particular urgency in her movement, but it was obvious to everyone that she knew where she was going, and that it wasn't anyone's business but her own. In truth she preferred life this way, finding the company of others less than her peers to be distasteful, keeping to herself, having so few people to disappoint should anything not go according to plan. But she was a leader, she reminded herself, and that the Scatterran people relied on her for guidance and wisdom, just as much as they relied on Josef.

Well, perhaps they relied on Josef a bit more. That was a small comfort.

Within minutes she'd found what she was looking for, slipping the flower into a vase once she'd added a splash of water for it, admiring her handiwork for but a few moments before she decided to seek out the office that she knew the Kaiser still sat in. It was predictable really, and before long the scent of tobacco confirmed her assumptions. If nothing else, it smelled rather pleasant, and with a curious eye she looked into the office he kept. It was a scene out of Scatter, before the Exodus - wooden furniture the likes of which had hardly been seen since the age of the Dollmann Dynasty, a floor-globe of Scatter that Josef had commissioned at great expense, and of course the pipe he sported - and she couldn't help but smile. It was the sort of thing that paintings were made of, the kind that they put in the Wochenschau, and part of her wished for a camera. As unkempt as he was he still proved quite the image of Scatterran authority, the profile of his face framed against the backdrop of the walls behind him as he gazed out the windows across the Reichsplatz, and Josefine found herself smiling without meaning to. Carefully she reached her knuckles to wrap on the doorframe, shattering his thoughts and bringing his gaze about. "You know what I've told you about smoking." She chided, doing her best to hide the smile she'd only just been wearing in some vain attempt to look stern.

"That it makes me look rakish and handsome?"

His response came as quick and as fluid as his gaze, having quickly transferred to the woman standing in his doorway, clad properly in the uniform of their house. He'd had several hundred years to grow accustomed to their banter, and this was no different. The smile returned to her face despite her best efforts, the ends of her lips curling as she approached, vase still in hand. Josefine supposed that it was only natural that he could disarm her without trying. "And that it ruins your breath." She added whilst she crossed the room, boots gently tapping on the hardwood floor beneath her, moving into silence as she crossed over a Sorukan rug. Pleasant as it might smell now, were anyone to catch a whiff of what lay on his breath now it would make them recoil. But considering his state of dress she imagined that he wasn't going to be bumping into any tourists today, and so her point was rather moot.

"What's this?" Came his question, gesturing with a nod to the slender vase she held in her hands. Without even looking to it she moved to sit it atop his desk, twisting it slightly that the flower lay at a good angle. Gently it arced out above the lip of the vase, the stem eventually terminating in a striking red blossom. Once it was done she shrugged, making a brief glance to the windows before looking back to the Kaiser.

"I felt like the room needed a bit more decoration." She offered, figuring it to be honest enough. Were it that he were left to his own devices, the Emperor proved a very spartan man, and would live in near-poverty, if one discounted the palace that he dwelt inside. In truth the place was immaculately decorated, with no expense spared at times between the artifacts from Scatter and the fine art that graced the walls and floors. Josefine had to wonder, though, just how much of that was because of her instead of him. "A hint more color never hurt."

Such proximity to his desk allowed her to look over what it was he was sitting over, aside from his jacket. Before him lay a holosheet, though what was on it she could already guess. No doubt he'd been lingering on and reviewing the terms of the treaty, finding a myriad of reasons for the Aschen to want to play them and cross them at some later date. "Besides. You know how much more I like your office." Such provoked a shake of Josef's head, though it was a playful one.

"... our offices are exactly the same, except yours actually has a view." The river in truth, though hers was just beside his it looked out in the opposite direction, over the banks of the river, and were it that one opened the window at the right times you could enjoy the breeze coming off of it. Of course there were differences in decoration and arrangement, but she enjoyed the same furniture and means that he did with no expense spared, thought Josef knew well enough why she preferred his to hers.

"Yes, but it's not my office." She teased, smiling, before she moved about the desk, soon standing over Josef's shoulders and looking down to the holosheets which he'd been reviewing. "... still worked up over your treaties, Josef?" She asked, hands settling on his shoulders as she pursed her lips, bothering to waste time on this day off to think, if even briefly, on the matter. It was almost painful, considering the lovely day she'd been enjoying just earlier. Josef's shoulders sagged gently beneath her touch, both from her and from considering the question that she'd asked.

"Yes." He admitted, sounding almost guilty, Josefine wearing a light smile above him. At least he sounded willing to admit that he had a problem, and that was a start. Already he seemed to regard what happened outside with some envy, using it as a distraction from what preoccupied his mind, and perhaps she could cajole him out without too much effort. Given how much time she'd had to learn his moods and motives, she stood a better chance than any other.

Firmly she kneaded her thumbs into his shoulders, causing him to tense for but a moment before he relaxed. "You've been here since breakfast, Josef." She reminded him, as she found that he needed it on occasion. There were times when it slipped him just how long he spent doing certain things, whether they entertained him or not. Josefine suspected that it came with his age, and wondered if she would ever find herself in such shoes. "I missed you at dinner." Which had been something of a disappointment, no matter how cushioned it might've been by the weather. His head dipped at that reminder, but still she continued to massage his shoulders. "Make it up to me?"

A slight, hardly perceptible shake of his head came at such words, though Josefine's eyes were quick enough to catch it - if only because his shoulders told her that he was. "You know I would." Though he couldn't see it he'd won a smile from her, who continued where she stood. She honestly tried her best not to exploit her position or his generosity to her, as there had been a time or two in her younger years that she regretted it terribly, but she reassured her conscience that this was for his own good, not hers.

"Then take a walk with me." She asked, one hand slipping away from him as the other crossed his shoulders to rest on the opposite, lingering there as she awaited his answer, hoping to lead him away from the worries he'd fettered himself to. Only once he stirred, not bothering to say anything as he rose from his seat, did her fingers slip away from his shoulder, watching as he moved to slip into the uniform jacket once more. Pleased with herself, Josefine waited until he'd buttoned the thing before she approached, hands seeking out her brother's tie and tightening it to make him presentable again.

"Now. Come see our garden, and tell me what so plagues your mind."

 

[Tiko]

as written by Ottoman

Josef concluded his thoughts on the treatises with the Aschen as the pair continued on their way. It perturbed him, but nowhere near the level that the ever-present threat of the Collective or the thought of full-scale war with the Coalition did, but, as she had pointed out, it was causing him some discomfort. There were times when Josefine imagined things, created problems where there were none, but this was one of the cases where he couldn't argue her point. Were it under different circumstances he would've seen much more of her today, and much the same could be said for all of the days in the wake of that diplomatic visit - that she had to bring it up to his face embarrassed him enough to spur the man into action. If nothing else the small venture from his office, as well as Josefine's willing ear, allowed the Emperor to put his thoughts into words, to give some concrete element to his suspicions.

The Austran man glanced to the woman who flanked him, matching his pace as they meandered through the gardens, though Josef had taken more time to gesture and postulate than admire any of their content. Her gaze drifted and lingered far more than his did, though she listened all the while, careful to take note of her brother's concerns, whether they were fact or simply perceived. Josef knew that she listened, even when she didn't seem to be, as four centuries of knowing her had given him enough time to learn her quirks as well as her tricks. Despite having looked to her Josefine didn't return his gaze, at least not for a few more moments. When she did her green eyes met his, level with his own and just as bold, though they didn't bore into him as they did so many others. This was a look so very few received from her, and indeed from him too, as it was a soft look, one that held sympathy. "Josef," She started, briefly and barely biting her lip, a small tick that she had when she was considering something. "I share your office and responsibilities, I have for some time..." It imparted a sense of understanding in her of any plight that Josef had, and vice versa as well.

Carefully her hand moved to him, stilling his pace, sliding from where it had lay atop of the shoulder to just below it. "... you're worrying." Lady Kampf's expression remained in its softened state, taking his concerns seriously, though she seemed to find his preoccupation with the Aschen's motivations source of most of the problem - not the Aschen themselves. Her words held enough truth that he made no move to argue her point, especially to one who had been so close to him for so long as Josefine, and so he wore a lack-luster smirk that spoke more of begrudging acceptance than anything else. Almost imperceptibly his head bowed, a nod to confirm her assessment, though the woman was quick to not let the mood that smirk spoke of fester. "But you are cautious." He was far more experienced than she in matters of state and politics, even if she had been engrossed in such now for centuries, and she always did well to remember that. Josef's prior experiences could be the cause, and he would be wise to learn from his past mistakes. "It is a good thing that you will not needlessly risk our people, our nation. It speaks of wisdom, Josef."

There was simply a line between being cautious and being worrisome. "But you've begun to underestimate our own capability, and overestimate that of others." Her hand squeezed his arm through his jacket, doing her best to not belittle him. Perhaps it was dealing with the unknown, the threat of something that he had not anticipated or expected, that put him into such a state, as she had never seen him so when it came to matters of the Hegemony - the small, bickering struggles that the various houses participated in. The man she had known for so long was not one to lack confidence, unless an ancient power - such as the Collective - was involved. There was always the possibility for the Aschen to be in conflict, or in contact with, some primordial power in the universe; though as Josefine saw it, if they were then it was something that neither she or Josef could help. "In my opinion, we don't really have any choices, but one of two things might happen that could warrant our concern." Josef's brow climbed just a hint, though he suspected he already knew what she was going to suggest.

"Those being?"

"That the Aschen indeed are in conflict with some other power, whether it be mortal or otherwise, and we are dragged into the war." Josefine began, hand slipping about his arm so that hers was linked in his, hoping to restart their walk. Being in motion helped to stir her thoughts, though now all she had to do was put them to words. "Depending on the cost of it we could annex the Aschen into the Empire, if only to help pay for the war they drug us into." She felt that they could, and would, integrate well enough into the system, were it that they could abandon their pagan idols and turn to a more civilized faith. Already their society was beginning to enter the social reform that the Hegemony had undergone centuries ago, potentially paving the way for eventual integration into a system that vastly outstripped the Aschen one in terms of observation, monitoring and regulation. Were it that the Hegemony did decide to proceed with such a course of action, she and he both knew that there would be resistance - even people with so little liberty as the Aschen clung to it madly. It didn't need to be said what would befall any who resisted such an initiative. "Or, should the Aschen be consorting with demonic powers and elect to turn against us-"

Such a thought didn't quite surprise Josef, it was something that needed to be considered with any foreign power, but simply to hear it spoken did have a sort of weight to it. To suggest that anyone was in cahoots with the supernatural was to imply a taboo most forbidden in the Hegemony, one that caught and held the attention of all, even the Archons. "You believe that they would be so foolish?" Came his reply, interrupting her before she could finish her own sentence. The look that Josefine shot him said all that needed to be spoken, one of her eyebrows arching as she paused for a few moments longer, the softness slipping from her features to be replaced with something just shy of a contemptuous sneer. Of course she believed that they could be so foolish, that they were now. It was the lot of sub-Scatterrans to be fools, as they were hardly more than animals, if only animals who had opposable thumbs, fit only for chattel and slaughter.

"... then we will wipe them and their posterity from the face of existence, their memory preserved only in museums and history texts, their name a testament and memorial to the fate of those who dare to test God." It was more than enough to make Josef smile, seeing her speaking her mind so boldly, and while Josefine wore the stern look of a Kampf who spoke of war her visage too soon broke into something of a twisted smile as Josef's remained, unable to help herself maintain such a severe expression. Were it that these upstarts betrayed them, or proved unsuitable allies, it wasn't a matter of debate that they would be eradicated, like so many others had been before them, and it steeled Josef's resolve to hear such words from his sister. Let whatever may be come, the foe would be met with blood and steel - as was the Austran tradition. Already his mind returned to possibilities of striking preemptively against the Aschen, should relations begin to turn cold or if it should simply prove more profitable for the Scatterrans, and manipulating what means had been imparted to them via the treaties to deliver debilitating injuries. So lost was he in such considerations, such images, that the sound of her voice came almost as a start to him. "Josef, darling?"

"Yes?"

"Should they disappoint us, save their flowers for me."

"I always do."

 

[Tiko]

as written by Ottoman

Though aircars and traffic streaked across the sky in their prescribed lanes and pathways outside and above the grounds, the Reichsplatz and the Adlerhorst were quiet places. Night was one of the few times that the place wasn’t bustling, though the occasional throng of tourists or pilgrims could still be seen among the guards and officials that remained here out of duty, and the serenity of the scene was something that the Landwächter strove to preserve. While partially out of the sanctity of the site as both a holy and political institution, it was also to keep the peace for the rest and comfort of the imperial family, who were subjected to far too much attention and publicity for the Kaiser’s tastes.

But the man could hardly complain as it was all a result of the system, the machine, that he authored, even as it exhausted him some days to balance his role as the supreme authority of the land and the religious and political head of a galactic superpower. Though as exhausted as he might be, in the depths of the night he couldn’t help but stare at the ceiling and the frame of the poster bed in which he lay, sleep eluding him despite the comfort and warmth he lingered in. With a light sigh he traced his gaze about the frame in the low light that spilled as a sliver through the narrow split in the curtains, noting the handiwork and craftsmanship on each post with a disinterested eye. This wasn’t an uncommon event, to be kept up without any real reason that he could figure, unable to tack down the phantoms that so plagued his mind.

It was only the harried breath of Josefine beside him that drew his attention away from scouring his mind, his brow furrowing as he listened in the darkness to its pace and depth, his concern mounting as her breath grew more shallow until it reached a crescendo. With a jerk she awoke, her body reacting to some unseen horror that struck her from an otherwise peaceful sleep, though this seemed to be typical of a poor night’s rest for the both of them: Josef couldn’t get to sleep and Josefine was plagued with nightmares. Having refrained from touch thus far, for fear of waking her prematurely, Josef turned that he faced his twin properly, a hand lightly set on her shoulder as he did. She didn’t speak and to the untrained eye the light touch had no effect on her, her chest still rising and falling beneath the thin sheets that they shared.

“... what’s the matter, darling?”

Without a moment’s hesitation she spoke, arms wrapping about her own form as she tried to ascertain whether she was really there or not. “The same thing as last time.” She replied, curtly. Very gently her hands moved from her sides, her form twisting where she lay that she faced her lover, revealing a pained expression framing a piercing, amber gaze. She blinked once, her lips parting as if to speak but the words eluded her, glancing away from her mate as she sought out just what it was she wanted to say, gaze falling on the lance of light that fell just shy of their bed. “I…” She began, her tongue tripping once that single note had left her lips, moving to hold herself once more. “... I can’t unsee it, love.” Her focus lingered on the foot of the bed before she looked back to him, meeting eyes that matched her own.

With the lightest effort the Emperor pushed himself closer to her, arms ringing about the woman as she looked to him, the sight of his own eyes setting her at ease. She was safe here, as was he, though it was something that she had to remind herself, even after four centuries. He knew better than to ask her what ‘it’ was, knowing well-enough himself how it upset her. “I’m here, aren’t I?” Came his words, soft-spoken and smoothly paced, and such comfort drew her to hide her face in his form, her nose tucked into his breast.

“It’s not the same.” She mused from her nest in his arms, her mind visiting days long since past, of rosy memories of a time they once shared long ago. Such words couldn’t help but remind him of it too, though her frigid hands on his sides did dispel his thoughts for a brief moment. There was a time, indeed, when the both of them could spend days, even weeks, without the worry of strategy, policy or politics, much less a night like this one. More often than not the both of them were so drained from work, in all its myriad forms, that they hardly had time to look at each other now.

“It never will be.” Came his words, arms tightening about her form as he spoke, hoping she understood that it wasn’t for lack of want on his part. Now, more than ever, he would give everything he had to live that life with her once more - to live with her as so many of their subjects did with their own partners, their other halves. The thought of such a life, so free of responsibility and burden, to be free to pursue their passions and pastimes, or a family. With a light start himself he considered that thought, biting his lip as he shamelessly explored the fantasy for a moment before pushing it all away. There was little point in lingering on what might have been.

She simply sighed, giving little physical or aural clue to a response beyond that, keen to linger in his presence as she distanced herself from her nightmare. It was the only one she had, at least the only one that she had with any degree of frequency, and every time it had this effect on her. She was simply fortunate that he was here with her, and not out on inspection or some foolish trip to appease their subjects. With a light squeeze he caught her attention, pulling back just far enough that he might press a kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment or two. “... but I’m not complaining.” He added quietly, his words earnest, warranting a curious glance from her ocher gaze, the beginning hints of confusion present in her brow and face.

She was here and she was safe. That was already a step ahead of so much they had been through, despite their victory. It had been pyrrhic at best, a victory of survival, though the fight that they had started was hardly over - he knew that they would be fighting for ages hence, if only because others, whether out of zealotry or simply dutily minded, refused to yield. But such thoughts, of war and of conquest, were just the sorts he sought to escape here most of all, in the arms of his love, and with the greatest care he moved his forehead that it touched hers. “My Seraph.” At such words, at such a term, she could not help but blush, even if she had heard it a thousand times before from him. It never grew old to hear such words, such affection, on his lips. It was little surprise to feel the beginning of tears on her cheeks as she spoke.

“My Morningstar.”

It was his turn to feel his breast swell at such words now, having known it both as a term of admiration and loathing. But when she said such it was different, in some simple and base nature. Perhaps it was her inflection, perhaps it was just her tone, or her voice itself, but in it he heard something he had only known from two others, something that he craved more every day since their passing. With the sight of her tears he could not stand to look, and so he closed his own eyes, knowing that if he did surely he would share in them. “Do you ever dream of Sikhol?” Without a word she nodded, the soft motion of her head brushing against his own, knowing better than to speak of her home, lest her voice betray her once more, of the times spent before the universe fell into folly. Before the war.

There were times, merciful times, when he did, witnessing ancient memories once more as if daylight shone still on that distant, alien shore. There he could see things for what they were, without the cloaks and the masks of mortality, and greatest to behold was his amber idol, whose true beauty shone now only through her eyes. Daringly he opened his own, meeting hers, unable to resist the sight at the thought. They remained the same as when he had met her, their nigh on golden hue betraying a depth of spirit that was only deepened with the tragedy they’d instigated. He continued to inquire, his own nostalgia for yesteryear getting the better of him, their faces lit in the blue-darkness of the room by the glow of their gaze. “Of our vows, in the heart of Zareth?”

“... yes.” Came her weak reply, seemingly hurt with the mention of the mountain’s name, recoiling slightly. Already he worked to hush her, hoping that he hadn’t upset her too badly with it. There was no intention of offense, no implication of failure or shortcoming, though she seemed to infer it. Before he could assuage her she continued, just as quiet as she had started. “I broke them.” He stopped, not so much suddenly as slowly, hanging where he lay in regards to her, his own heart drooping for a moment. It wasn’t simply a matter of her convincing herself of it, but it was, at least in part, the truth.

“For all of the right reasons.” He added, a subtle firmness in his voice showing that he did not hold it against her, taking time to emphasize it. She had done what she had to do, and were it not for her failure to uphold such an oath he knew that neither of them would be here, together. Wasn’t that the core of their philosophy, even after such tragedy, that the end justified the means? It was the basis of so much of their thought, of their lives, that he could hardly recall how it was he lived before such revelations. It warmed some part of his soul to see that she could not deny her nature, her way, even after she had fallen. “You made this possible, all of it.” Came his reassurances alongside a light kiss on her nose, her legs curling up, drawn against his own in response. “Even that.”

“Even that.” She meekly repeated, managing a small smile for her mate as he did such small things to cheer her when they both knew that the troubles that plagued their hearts and minds outstripped the both of them. By and large it needn’t be mentioned, they both knew the gravity of the threat, the severity the situation that they had sown with their own hubris, though still it crept into her mind and into her voice. “It won’t stop.” The terror that had struck her from her slumber before entered the conversation, her mind more at ease to mention it with her form tucked against his own. “... it won’t ever stop.”

A sigh accompanied her words, her lover understanding how, and why, she felt the way that she did. It was a terrifying thing, to witness the consumption not simply of the physical, but the spiritual, and it was no far-fetched concept that their kind could feel fear. He knew also that there was no dissuading her of this conclusion, the grip of death having such an effect on anyone, whether they were the child of Man or the child of God. “... and neither will I.” He whispered, squeezing her gently in his arms. Her worried eyes looked to his own, though with such words there lingered a flicker of hope, or perhaps something else.

The words rose up from her memory, hazy and distant as it was in the times before the Constructs. It was a vow she had taken with the utmost sincerity, though the sight of his gore had moved her to forget such a promise, to preserve the soul which she so adored, even at the cost of her own life. That she had kept him from death’s embrace, from the Void That Was, haunted her, for she knew that if she hadn’t the both of them would have shared such a fate - she was not strong enough to stand against the Abyss, not alone. Now they were simply echoes of themselves, whispers of spirits long forgotten, using these mortal marionettes to linger for just a while longer. She could not help but envy these twins, this Josef and Josefine, the love and the life that they shared, of the chances they had, the vision that they had made reality.

“I won’t let go of you.” He murmured, to which she nodded in affirmation, knowing that it took the both of them to let such a thing happen. She could have held fast to his hand, even as his grip faded, in the Fall, but she had chosen to turn and fight, to hold the Void at bay for that much longer. “Never again.”

“Never again.” She repeated after him, a gentle hand moving to caress his face, to hold his jaw. Already she felt it well up inside of her, a pact that they had shared before brother slew brother, before the universe was consumed by fire and darkness. “Where you die, so shall I.”

“Together.”

 

[Tiko]

as written by Krysis and Ottoman

Two hours before she was due on the Sabbath, Isabelle Stier checked with the security detail that she would need to deal with in order to get to uphold her appointment. Naturally, it was little more than a formality, since she had already made arrangements with their superiors via the offices of the Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung, and it wasn't like the chip in her arm could be faked. However, since she had such a deep well of cynicism and distrust in her own heart, she found it courteous to give the people on duty a chance to check her out in person, as thoroughly as they might want to.

It was one of the few instances that the name of Stier was a blessing to the young woman. For once, she didn't argue about being 'Lady Stier' as she laughed and joked with the men and women tasked with making sure that the imperial twins were not distressed with would-be assassins or rabid fanatics. It also served another purpose. She let them know that she was going to be picking up Farasi food for lunch, and invited the working folk to place their orders with the same place. A place she had warned the day before to expect large orders, though she had given them reason to believe that it was for her former office, in personnel division of the Ministry.

The mild subterfuge served only one purpose in Isabelle's mind. It kept Josefine safe. Help in carrying the meals to her aircar was just a bonus. The flirting that she endured from the guard that came to assist was the price, though she returned the attempts with a sort of coy amusement calculated to keep him entertained and interested. One never knew when such a connection would be useful after all.

Promptly at noon, the arrangements made and the hoops jumped through, the young noble woman sailed through the checkpoints into the actual residence of her boss. The Farasi food was still warm, though no longer hot. Chopsticks where provided, along with paper plates and assorted packets of sauces, so that Josefine and Josef could have the full experience of dining like a commoner if they would be amused by such a thing.

Cool and happy, Izzy gave no indication of the effort she had went through. Casual and only slightly wind ruffled, she was somehow giving the impression that she had just done everything on the spur of the moment. Perhaps it was that her long brown hair was only loosely pulled back, or that her golden openwork sweater was two sizes too big over a cream colored blouse. Her brown boots were very practical and showed signs of wear, unlike the spit shine that they were probably more used to. Even the rust-colored pants seemed to be an older style, where they barely showed between the loose hem of the sweater and the knee high leather of her footwear.

Isabelle grinned at the sight of her golden-haired friend, when finally routed to Josefine's presence. She lifted her arms loaded down with the treasures from the world outside of the Adlerhorst, which included a small white gift bag with a stark black floral design on it. "I finally gave in to mother's urgings, so be warned. I have a hostess gift for you. Not a black rose, so you are safe on that count."

____

Josefine had been busy seeing to her charges, as they were, and had only been given a rather brief warning that her friend was here. Hurriedly she moved back through the gardens to the palace, having barely made it up the steps and into the house proper when Isabelle approached, eliciting a smile from the Empress. Josefine hadn't the time to knock the dust from her apron or the dirt from her knees, clad in a simple white blouse largely hidden behind an apron with idle floral designs, paired with olive jodhpurs and boots that had seen better days. "Is that so? I'd take it right now, but-" She offered her hands up, a good shade or two darker from the earth she'd just been working in. "How about we take our meal outside, on the patio?" The day was pleasant so far, and the Kaiserin would be lying if she said it hadn't already infected her mood.

"I'll go fetch Josef and wash up." She offered, slipping away first to hang up her apron and wash her hands, then to find where ever her brother had managed to slip away to. There were a handful of spots that he preferred, she'd come to learn, but the study seemed to rank above them all, and there she found him flipping idly through today's Tageschau. The Emperor reclined in his seat, not dressed that much differently from his counterpart, sporting a lazily fixed dress shirt tucked into his uniform's trousers, the stirrups of such still ringing his feet though the boots were long-since shed. A firm knock on the open door drew his eye away from the digital newspaper and to the Empress, who eyed him with a particularly stern gaze. "I told you we'd have guests today for lunch."

"... it's lunch?" Came his surprised reply, idly checking his watch, wondering if he'd let that much time slip his mind. Sure enough it was, and Josef conceded that he was in the wrong wordlessly, with a nod and a shrug, moving to stand from his seat with a stretch. It was more than evident to the other that he'd been there some time, and really she was lucky not to find him asleep. "Let me put on something proper-"

"It's just Isabelle, Josef. Put on your boots and you'll be fine."

"The day I receive guests half-dressed is the day I'll wear the Blue League's-"

"Legion of Merit, yes. Half-dressed or otherwise, I expect you on the patio promptly."

"Again?"

The Kaiserin nodded, hands slipping from the door as she moved to depart. "And we'll continue to do so until that cold front blows in from Lemwerder." With that she left the man to his preparations and returned to the ground floor, and through the doors that lead to the extensive gardens that the Adlerhorst possessed. Looking a hint more composed now, the Empress debating unrolling her sleeves as she approached, electing not to as she rejoined Isabelle once more. "I fear you caught us unawares, Isabelle, though Josef will be joining us soon enough." The elder woman quickly picked a seat out for herself, settling into it with a pleased look.

"So just what have you gotten us, today?"

____

By the time Josefine arrived, Izzy had laid out three plastic plates and weighted them down with some kind of fried, stuffed triangle dumplings, three apiece, though there was another set left, wrapped up for later. The gift bag had been placed in the exact center of the little round table, since she didn't know which way Josefine would face. It was really a small thing, a small vase in some pink mother-of-pearl material with an elegant curve to it, and very feminine. Something that almost no one would have thought to give to the Kaiserin because it was so informal, something to put robust wild flowers in, though refined orchids would do just as well.

"Honestly, it's nothing special. Just addictively delicious commoner food. I do hate to put it that way, but seriously, not even in college was I allowed to eat cheap stuff, so that's how I think of it." The younger woman shrugged as she poured water for the three of them from a pitcher provided by the staff. Drinks were something she had not provided for, mostly because beverages were so easy to get. If either of the siblings wanted something else, well, they knew how to get it in their own house, so Izzy was not concerned.

"So here we have crab rangoons for an appetizer already out. I didn't want the rest to get cold, so it is still in the containers. Sweet and sour pork, white rice, pork fried rice, beef in garlic sauce." Each container was indicated as mentioned, the portions generous and fogging the plastic tops with condensation.

The first dishes were easily explained, but then she grinned playfully as the last two needed from commentary. "Some lightly spicy shrimp dish that I can not pronounce and recommend in small doses for those of us without leather tongue syndrome." She even winked playfully at Josef if he had shown up yet to show that she had heard about his tolerance for spice.

"Finally, black pepper chicken, which sounds boring but is really fantastic. Then some sugar biscuits for dessert, which I did ask the staff to put someplace inside where they will stay warm-ish, out of the wind and away from insects." There was also a spare cup with packets of sauces in it, spicy mustard, duck sauce, and soy, and a small array of fortune cookies around it.

____

Josefine listened in with an eager ear as she took up her chopsticks, still together, eyeing them as she wondered how best to get them apart. She was every inch the product of her station, a perfectionist who would try, and fail, to split the things evenly, to some small irritation. She'd used them before, visits to and from the Uesegis and other Tokaigan houses had given her ample practice with the things, but she simply hadn't ever used, for lack of a better term, cheap ones. She was genuinely curious to see each of these dishes, but figured that she would in good time, content to simply wait for now. The Empress' brows climbed at the other's descriptions, surprised that a noble would speak so highly of common food. "Addictively delicious? I'm curious now, Isabelle-"

"-and if she gets addicted to it I know just who to blame." Came the Kaiser's words, over Josefine's shoulders, the Austran woman glancing over to the other and offering a pleasant smile. The uniform trousers blended well with a black blazer that he'd thrown on, and if one ignored the boots they were tucked into Josef would almost appear normal. "You win." He murmured, glancing to his sister as he spoke, in passing, of the jacket he wore. For having won the small battle the Kaiserin didn't look too smug, still focused on the lunch and meeting at hand, her free hand coming to gesture to their guest.

"Our cousin Isabelle, Josef."

He smiled, leaning slightly over the table as he offered his hand to young lady Stier. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure yet, Isabelle." He'd met the other scions of Eduard before, in passing in the Assembly, but not the youngest. "Josefine has told me quite a bit about you." As much as one might say of a coworker, though in Josefine's case she might have embellished a few things, the woman simply happy to have someone to talk to who didn't balk at the thought of a candid conversation with an autocrat. "You do Volstad credit," He murmured, speaking of the founder of her house as he moved to take his seat, a napkin in hand set over his lap, "Even if your siblings don't."

A light, hollow snap came as Josef split his chopsticks, unconcerned that the break was uneven as they settled between his fingers.

____

Isabelle giggled at Josefine, and grinned impishly at Josef as he seemed to be ready to joke with them. Her hand was warm and firm as she accepted his greeting. "A pleasure sir. I'll gladly take the blame for any culinary adventures."

She was a bit surprised at being introduced as a cousin though, since, as far as she knew, they hadn't been really related for generations. Well, the connection might have seemed recent to the long lived pair, but it was still a little off-putting and it took the young noble a moment to hitch her smile and determination to have fun back into place.

She'd start spooning portions onto their plates for them, since the imperial pair didn't seem to know how to serve themselves. "I do my best. Josefine might be a bit too generous though. I don't think she's ever had an employee that was willing to tease her, and still be able to keep up with the pace of the ministry."

Izzy winked at Josefine as she joked a bit and finally sat down to start on the crab rangoons on her own plate, using her hands for the fried appetizers. "So Volstad was a hard-working smart-alec too?", honestly curious and wondering if talking of the past was something that appealed to them.

____

It was present in the minds of the Kampfs quite plainly, perhaps in Josef's for the man to maintain some semblance of order in an age that he should, by all rights, have never seen, and in Josefine's as some desire to find some who were neither stranger nor acquaintance. More often than not the Stiers, Dollmanns, and even the Redwings were more often prefixed with the sobriquet 'cousin' for, at least in the Kampfs' minds, they were. Josefine took a moment to look to how quickly Isabelle served them with a moment of surprise, though her counterpart simply shrugged and began his meal the moment the lady Stier began hers - it was less that they didn't know how to serve themselves, but rather they simply were not used to informal dining in the slightest.

"She takes her work quite seriously, I don't think you're too far off the mark." The Kaiser mused between rangoons, splitting his into fourths and eating them as such, where Josefine did her best to take bites off of the whole thing. Only once he'd made his way through all of his appetizers did he nod and confirm her suspicions on her ancestor, taking a moment to wipe his hands on his napkin. "Certainly the former but with a healthy dose of the latter." Volstad had been a remarkable man in many ways, in truth as much the savior of the Supremacy as Josef had been, in his time.

Josefine paid Isabelle a wink back, "How else would he have a name like 'Stier'?" It was a jest made in good humor, the Empress wasting little time in setting into her next 'course' as it was, earnestly surprised at the flavor. "But you've probably heard more than enough of your progenitor." She mused, understanding some of Isabelle's history with her family and how poorly it had gone, or so it seemed. She debated on asking Isabelle if she planned on seeing lady Stigler's latest opera, but realized only a moment after the thought that it was about Volstad.

____

Isabelle shrugged a bit and fiddled with her chopsticks, mostly to make sure there were no unpleasant splinters that might catch in the more tender folds of her fingers. "The stories that get passed down seem too good to be true. They are colored by generations of hero worship and self importance, so I can't expect a true tale."

She would use the corner of the second of her rangoons to help her manage the somewhat slippery entrees, which also softened the hard fried pastry to make it easier to eat. The food was still warm, but the temperature was rapidly fading, which might explain why she was in such haste to serve the meal.

"Honestly, I'd love to know what really happened, but it's kinda scary too. I have this image in my head of something noble and grand, and it might turn out to be something dirty and small. Most things end up looking sordid if you gaze too closely." The young woman sighed at some memory or another before recalling she was supposed to be entertaining her hosts and gave a sunny smile.

____

Josef took eager to the sweet and sour pork, finishing his off far more quickly than his counterpart, and eyed her reserves greedily as she deigned to speak instead of finish them off. "It was noble and grand, that's for certain," She mused, the Empress preferring to take a dab or two of her rice instead of the more hearty contents of her plate. Volstad had certainly earned his nobility, his title, and were he any less of a man he might have attempted to usurp the government. He had the backing, at the time. 'But I was so young, then. I'm not certain if I can recount it objectively." Josefine truly wasn't certain how well she could speak of such a thing, she had been so young at the time - barely ninety, as she recalled, and it seemed like childhood in retrospect to now.

The Kaiserin glanced to her brother at that, who looked between Josefine and Isabelle for a moment, unaware that the role of storyteller was being delegated to him. "... I might not be the best to tell the story, but I can share what I saw, if you'd like to hear it." Josef could offer that much, and shamelessly made a bid to steal away one of Josefine's pieces of pork, which she only discovered once it was safely on his own plate. "He might have lacked subtlety," He mused with a smile as Josefine gave an unimpressed, nasal huff, having hoped Josef would behave better with company. Could one blame him though? Isabelle was family, as Josefine had pointed out. "But he had enough valor for ten men over."

____

Isabelle did her part, not letting her gaze follow the progress of the stolen morsel though the theft did make her smile. Siblings that were not at each other's throats always amazed her, and it was a pleasure just to watch them interact.

"That seems to fit with what I've heard. Reading between the lines, it seemed like he valued the cause more than his own life." While distracted with talking bout the past, Izzy quietly slid the leftovers closer to Josefine. After all, if the blonde's plate was continuously full, she'd get to eat Some of it at least.

Then she was a little surprised to reevaluate what she had just said and give a wondering gaze at Josef, "Your cause. That just hit me. I mean, I know the stories, but most of the time it just doesn't register that you two are the very same Josef and Josefine that I've read about all my life."

Her gaze shifted to her friend then, curious and probing, but not worshipful. It was just an oddity in her point of view, something to be noted and marveled over, and then forgotten as much as possible.

Of course, the realization wouldn't stop her from filching a morsel from the male's plate while he might be distracted with a possibly uncomfortable subject. Not particularly because Izzy wanted more, but to show he wasn't going to get any special treatment from her. And because Josefine's less well guarded plate was out of reach.

____

"He valued a great many things more than his life," Josef murmured in speaking of Volstad, having been quite impressed by the man at the time. It was Volstad's actions that had, in part, lead to the end of the Reformation and the beginning of the 'silver-age' they lived in now. Perhaps the Supremacy as a whole owed a debt to the Stiers that they weren't entirely aware of, though Kampf wouldn't be so free to speak of such concepts - the same ones that largely kept him ignorant of Isabelle's theft, his eyes distant in thought, not even quite hearing her when she spoke of their supposed divinity.

No, Josefine - who was all-too-aware of Isabelle's theft from her brother's plate - was who that subject fell too. "I'd say most people have trouble wrapping their heads around it, when they meet us." Some of them were entirely worshipful, perhaps because they didn't want to see them as people - it worked, in a way, to preserve the image. "Of course, not all of them have lunch with us on the patio." The Empress added with a smile, knowing that this was, above all, a special sort of case. Here there was no need for titles, uniforms or procedure, or at least she didn't feel so.

It was only after pondering her ancestor for a few moments that Josef noticed his plate was one number shy, looking up to Isabelle Stier and smirking. "... well, aren't you a clever one?"

____

Isabelle laughed, unashamed and her dark green eyes twinkling with mirth, "Well, if you're going to call me 'cousin', doesn't that mean I get to treat you like family? Besides, there is plenty more."

She didn't mention that she wasn't actually treating them like Her family. She was trying her best to treat them as she had seen other families behave. Izzy had always longed for the open relationships her best friend's family had with each other. A simple trust and network of feelings she had always felt excluded from as 'Lady Stier', and so desired because of that gap. Naturally, she thought that most nobles with difficult or small families probably felt that way and longed to close the distance with someone.

"So tell me, please, what happened to Volstad? In the later portraits he looks somewhat gray or sick, but no one can tell me why. None of the books I've found mention illness, but that seems to be an omission for most of our historical heroes. Like, somehow, great service to the Supremacy insures good health and long life." The young lady didn't seem to mind talking too much to remember eat, letting the morsels on her plate get cool as she broached a question that she had been pondering for some time. She was focused so much on that subject that she failed to realize that her free hand kept trying to adjust the glasses she rarely wore anymore. Perhaps it was because it was a question that had first occurred to her before she got the prescription for contacts.

____

"That there is," Josef freely admitted, nodding, turning his attention back to his own plate. There were times when he thought along Isabelle's lines, longing for the familial relations that others enjoyed - or could enjoy, were it that they bothered to get over themselves. Of course he was on good terms with Josefine, the two had to be living in such proximity for half of a millennium, but some part of him still yearned for a simple family - a true family - the same part of him that yearned too to return home. "And you do." He murmured, on the note of acting like family. They were to him, even if distantly - he might not have known his mother or father, but he didn't reject that they were who they were.

A momentary glance to Josefine preceded Josef's explanation, the man doing his best to answer honestly, if politely, at the dinner table. "Plasma burns, as I recall." The Kaiser nodded, taking after his own food, finding little trouble discussing such wounds and eating though he didn't know about Isabelle's constitution regarding such matters. "His vessel was boarded, I think just a year or two before the flashpoint with the Collective - he helped fight off the boarders himself." Valiant, if a different sort of valor than that at Tannhäuser Gate. "A marine nearby was using a Plasmawerfer, as I understand it the tank was ruptured." Volstad was lucky to get away with the injuries he'd sustained - grim as he might have appeared in later years, his caliber of character was matched with good breeding, were it that Isabelle were any indication.

Josef had seen what that sort of thing did to men, even if there was no such thing as a Plasmawerfer in his day.

____

"I thought it had to be something like that, or something equally debilitating and painful.", Isabelle actually gave a pleased smile as she nodded. After all, she never met the man, he had been dead long before she was born. Which meant that his life and death was a matter of academic curiosity to the former journalism student. The truth was more important than how anyone felt about it, at least to her point of view.

Sitting in the sunshine on the patio, it took a moment for the young woman to realize that her reaction was a bit off. She made a contrite grimace at her slip before adding, "Sorry if I seem callous. He was your friend, and I should be more considerate. That is why I couldn't make it as a journalist. I always forgot how people might feel about the questions."

Well, that and the fact that every story was only mostly true, spun to favor the Supremacy. That realization had soured the idealistic girl that she had been, since it made her see that she would never be able to tell the truth as she saw it about her family. It did give her a fine understanding and an ironic respect for the work of the Ministry.

____

Josef shook his head at her apology, understanding its reasoning but dismissing it more for similar reasons as to why she was unperturbed. "A terrible thing to happen to the man, but he otherwise lived a full life, and died content." The Emperor shrugged at that, taking a moment or two to eat of his lunch. "I was more concerned with potentially upsetting anyone's constitution than I was with upsetting anyone." Josefine hadn't known the man that well at the time, and Josef knew him fairly well, but not so well enough that he supposed he could have called the man a friend. A loyal and true comrade, but friends seemed to elude him.

"If anything it makes me hopeful." Josefine murmured, adding her two cents. "That a man can come up from nothing, be stricken as badly as one might imagine, and still give their all." Save what they felt was the last bastion of true civilization, even. Volstad Stier was one of those hallmark cases of a man who was born into the commons and through his own mettle and merit had sired one of the most powerful noble houses known today - perhaps that was why the Redwings and Dollmanns resented them so much. It didn't help the brutish behavior that some of their house engaged in, though.

"Journalism, Isabelle?" Josefine asked, genuinely curious. "I haven't met many noble scions that seek to go into that field. I think you would make a fine Kriegsberichterin."

____

"It really is an inspiring story. I'm glad it is still popular and retold every so often. Filling people with hope and fueling ambition. A rise in station is as elusive as catching the wind in your hand these days, but the attempt is still useful." Isabelle smiled at the twins before making a gesture like she was grabbing something out of the air with her chopsticks a few times.

"Off hand, I can't recall a story of a family falling from their achieved position without the intervention of the imperial house arranging for a war. I imagine any such happenings would be rather quiet affairs though?" Izzy asked, though she was then distracted by Josefine's question. Her appetite for the meal in front of them would have to wait while she satisfied the younger Kampf's curiosity.

A sad smile crossed the young Stier's face as she shrugged. "I loved truth when I was young, and wanted to tell the worlds what really happened, no matter the personal cost. The older I get, the more it seems like unvarnished truth would be unwise. Now, I'd rather be where I am, turning the truth into something more useful. Telling the stories that matter in a way that doesn't topple the whole system seems like a better use of my time."

____

The imperial sister sighed at that, eyes falling back to her plate as she continued to pick at her food. Isabelle wasn't the only one who yearned for the truth, at least not at this table, but it seemed that Isabelle had found that one caveat out - that the truth was a dangerous, destructive force, if left unchecked. It was something that neither of the Kampfs could afford to unleash properly, that they always had to keep policed, chained. "You are a tremendous asset to the ministry, Isabelle." Josefine murmured, looking back up to the young lady Stier as she paid her the earnest compliment. "I'm glad to have you there."

Josef took Stier's words into consideration as his sister was lost in thought, concerning houses and families 'falling' from their heights. It was certainly possible, a great many of them had grown too ambitious for their own good and had to be put down, but there were others. "You would be right. Many noble lines are, for lack of a better term, weakened or lost thanks to marriage." Many houses no longer existed save on paper, in textbooks, though their names still roamed across the Supremacy freely. "Noblemen, and noblewomen, occasionally find love somewhere outside of the noble realm, and to their credit they honor their love with vows." Something Josef very much so respected, something which he had worked at in the legal and judiciary system to eliminate the repercussions of - a neutralization of social class in the institution of marriage, which was gradually being eroded.

Perhaps, before too long, it would simply be the parentage of one noble that made the children so.

____

Izzy gave a wistful smile as she considered Josef's words on marriage, "A love that costs something is valuable indeed. Sometimes I have thought about it. Finding some common man to marry, just for love. Maybe that Oriyak man, Simonov, at the ministry. The one that always looks like he is about to choke when I make him call me by name." She tried to joke with Josefine, but left off when realizing that the blonde was deep in thought.

Then the young noblewoman made a discontented face, wrinkling her nose and stabbing at the food on her plate with undue vigor as she turned her conversation more towards the brother. "Then I realize that half the point would be to get out from under the pressure of my family connections. That it is spite, not affection that moves me to look 'beneath' my station. Well, spite and, this is silly, but a wish to escape being 'noble'. Which I know I would regret the moment of giving it up, or else I wouldn't try so hard to 'earn' what is already mine."

That pessimistic humor lead to Isabelle giving her hosts a wry shrug. Looking for something to think of rather than her dislike of her family lead her to consider the problems of her friends. "Of course, you two have no other options. Everyone is beneath your station, since you can't marry each other."

It was worse than that, and while Isabelle thought about it, she didn't want to mention her thoughts aloud. There was no escape for her 'cousins', since not only would marriage not alter their status at all, but that their faces were so well known and loved. They probably couldn't even take an incognito trip down to the local take-away joint like Izzy could. And anyone that approached either of the imperials twins wanted something.

She was guilty of the same, since she had wanted very much to meet the Kampfs for her own reasons. Reasons that were not as greedy as some, but more selfish in other ways. Since her curiosity had be satisfied though, as it had been upon the first meeting with Josefine, Izzy was free to treat them as friends-- No. More like the sort of family she wished she had.

 

[Tiko]

as written by Ottoman and Krysis

The joke wasn't lost on Josefine, though the subject at hand had put a slight damper on her sense of humor. She smiled a small, distant sort of smile that one wore when doing their best to be polite, even if their mind wandered elsewhere on matters far less pleasant. "Simonov is a good man, even if he takes his work far too seriously." The empress took another bite or two of her food, eyes lingering on the table as she mulled over her thoughts, idly chewing at her food as she did, speaking only once she had finished. "He would be an honorable husband, I think, but you are right." She offered her thoughts on the matter, even if it wasn't bidden directly to her. It would be a marriage born out of ulterior motives, one meant to gain something that had no place in matrimony - between spouses, their families, their children. Earnest marriage, indeed earnest love, could be a hard thing to find even here in the Supremacy, despite their touted moral and ethical superiority to the Coalition. They were fettered to social mores and cultural customs, for better or for worse, and they stood by their decision, no matter how it hurt them at times.

Wistful green eyes shifted over to Josef as he started not but a moment or two after Josefine had finished. "Then, if you'll forgive me for giving unbidden advice, the best thing I'd say to do is wait." If only to spare herself, and whoever she chose, a deal of heartbreak. He had known several people who married, as Isabelle said, for spite, whether it was against their parents, their station, a former lover... it rarely, if ever, worked out for the better. With a slight shake of his head he dismissed her concerns regarding silliness, "I wouldn't call it silly - it was something you were born to that you might not feel a calling to, or perhaps you just don't care for it." It didn't help that her family was who they were of course, even as honorable as Volstad and his children were, who lived today were not the shining examples of Supremacy culture that they should be. "Nobility is more of a yoke than it is a boon, at least in my eyes." Josef offered a smile at that, hoping that his words weren't coming off as too presumptuous.

"Many in the Coalition and elsewhere see the noble hierarchy, the Assembly and all the dukedoms and baronies, as a tyrannical system of exploitation, using the men and women under them to fuel their lives of comfort and decadence." He let those words hang in the air for a moment as he reflected on them himself, blinking once or twice as his own thoughts were drawn away, if only for a moment. There were some that did such, and to some extent Isabelle's family had practiced such a school of thought, at times, but that wasn't what he held to be the true ideal. "I do not see the nobility as 'masters' of figurative plantations, it isn't what we're meant to be." It never was. "The foreigners, the Coalition, make the fatal mistake of looking at the Supremacy as a system, an establishment, meant for profit. It's anything but." The sharpness of his voice, the inflection he possessed, when he spoke the name of their strategic adversary belied his thoughts, and the analogy he was building did little to assuage such emotion.

"It is an establishment, an instrument, of survival, best not thought of as a plantation but a simple farm - a yeoman's homestead." Josef leaned forward in his seat, articulating his thoughts. "It's not the wealthiest place, but it is honorable. There are no house staff, no slaves, no one to toil or to work or to live there, save the yeoman and his family. They work day in and day out to tend the fields, from the youngest child eldest, all helping somehow. There are no wages save the bounty they harvest and the love they share, overseen by the patriarch, and the matriarch, of the house." Josefine listened to her brother all the same, caught in the words he spoke, even if she understood their sentiment, and had for centuries. The Kaiserin rested a hand on the table, Josef's eyes falling to the motion for a moment before they returned to the lady Stier. "Parents are no more masters of their children than they are servants to them, they give them direction and regimen, set their moral compass and instill work ethic, the concepts of duty and honor. We are every inch the servant as we are the master, Isabelle. It is our privilege to serve the commons, to guide them, to protect them, to ensure that they are safe from the nightmares that lay beyond our homestead. But not everyone is meant to be a father," He paid Josefine a brief, if sympathetic, glance, "Or a mother. There's no shame in wanting away from nobility, Isabelle."

But there was shame elsewhere, and the Empress lowered her eyes, her hand retreating from the table as she looked back to her plate for a moment. Everyone was beneath the both of them by the design of the system, but it seemed to be their lot to ignore the truth that Josef had just stated - the Supremacy had a mother and father that loved them dearly, even if they were born out of wedlock. She let a long, silent sigh slip out of her as she glanced back to her friend, hoping that her melancholy demeanor hadn't upset this luncheon. "Well, if you do decide to start courting, I don't think there'd be any shortage of suitors." If only for her looks alone, nevermind her wit. There would no doubt be those who lusted after her name but, given Isabelle and her inclinations, she doubted that anyone of their number would get the time of day.

"I don't think I'll have to play matchmaker for you."

____

Isabelle had been about to respond when Josef launched into his passionate explanation of the ideal of the Supremacy as opposed to the perceptions of the Coalition. Her smile grew wider and her eyes were soon sparkling with repressed mirth. What he was saying wasn't funny at all, and indeed it was quite serious-- but it was the habit of a politician to make speeches, even at an informal lunch, that had Izzy on the verge of giggling.

Without really considering if it were appropriate or not, she reached over to pat Josef's shoulder when he was done, encouraging and reassuring as much as she could. Her grin was for Josefine though, "It's amazing. That was almost the exact same speech as I remember hearing when I was a bitty thing. Inspirational as always, but sometimes I fear it falls on those it is intended for in the wrong way."

Izzy's smile faded when she realized that Josefine was not as amused as she was, going more to concern as she watched her friend. When Empress seemed to be trying to cheer herself up, Lady Stier hitched her own smile back into place and shrugged, "Yes, well, a flood of 'renewed interest' has been noted since I took up my new post, so you are accidentally matchmaking without even knowing it. You know, for a while there I was a bit of a pariah among the nobles. Now they think that it was a clever ploy and won't believe me when I say it was never my intention to rise so quickly."

Chopsticks flashed as Izzy seemed to be quite adept at carrying on a conversation even over a meal that she intended to finish before it got cold. "Still, I'm a second daughter in a house with too many heirs, so the 'interest' isn't too demanding yet. The idiots that used to pressure me with the 'your options are limited' line must be grinding their teeth now. It's petty of me, but satisfying. To know that I got this far pretty much on my own, that is, through the opportunities that others overlooked." She grinned as she abused herself, judging herself harshly and by a higher standard than she had been raised to, but the young noblewoman was having fun in the process.

____

Josef smiled at that, picking up on Josefine's disappointment easily enough as well, nodding to Isabelle as he returned his attention once more to his meal, dealing far more damage to his own plate than Josefine did hers. "My apologies, Isabelle. It's... a vast majority of our lives." His and Josefine's, that was. "It's hard to escape the mentality." After a few centuries, it was nearly impossible. It had been ages, figuratively and perhaps literally, since he'd been able to do anything in public the way that Isabelle had today. Indeed, Josefine had never had the opportunity to do so in her life. This was supposed to be a pleasant, casual sort of lunch with Josefine's colleague, not some political discourse - they had more than enough of that in their daily lives.

The Empress picked up on Isabelle noticing her mood, brightening as she could though she did her best to avoid her methods as a stateswoman, the airs and the expressions she wore as a leader, when things weren't going so well. She could be honest here, and that honesty showed on her face - her smile was laced with disappointment, hurt by something that had been said. "I hope you'll forgive me, Isabelle. I'd no intention of bringing that sort of attention upon you." Though she wouldn't take back anything she'd done. If there was one vital lesson she had learned from Josef, and Josef's life, it was to own one's decisions, for better or for worse. "... I would be a liar if I said I didn't have a few moments where I enjoyed such satisfaction." The men, and the women, that had called her a doll on a shelf, a symbol.

Well, she didn't mind being a symbol, if only a symbol with four doctorates.

____

"Oh, I know. Father used to do the same thing, when we actually dined together. He would rant and orate on whatever issue had his attention at the moment, and could make even the smallest insult sound like it needed to be avenged with the fires of war. That was always his preferred answer, though he tempered his temper in public." Isabelle shared openly, crinkling her face with amusement at the memory. At the time, she had been terrified that the Stier would actually have to go to war, but the years had faded that part from her memory.

She actually laughed at Josefine and shook her head, "You didn't do a thing, cousin. I mean, unless you sent a request to the personnel office for whatever nobles they had in stock-- Wait, did you? Oh, what a sneaky Empress you are, if so! I thought it was all luck."

Izzy's grin stayed playful, so it was clear there was no hard feelings in any case. "Besides, it had to happen eventually. I planned to put in a request when the post opened up anyway and just didn't get a chance before it fell in my lap. What is done is done, only the timing different than expected."

____

The man wasn't too far from Josef in some regards, the Emperor knowing that he wasn't above such behavior at times, when the ineptitude of his own people or the gall of foreigners cut him deep enough. Josefine was typically the voice for caution among the two of them, the less vindictive of the pair, but she too had her moments of demagoguery. There was a time or two when blood had been spilled on the field of battle for the petty actions of a politician or noble, but the Supremacy prided themselves on being above such things - at least on a national level. Of course the Houses still busied themselves with such wars, as was their place to do so, but the civil government - the imperial government - focused on matters abroad, not lowbrow conflicts at home. The Kaiser murmured, echoing some of Isabelle's cheer on his own features, "Sometimes the simple threat of the stick works just as well, if not better." That was half the reason for the Landwächter and the Verhör after all, and the whole reason for the Seraphim. All that was needed was one display of power, of retribution, and it would establish a precedent that would not easily be ignored.

In reply to Isabelle's question, Josefine shook her head. "I didn't ask for a noble," She had inherited her brother's distaste for relying on the social strata, especially from established families, mostly for their propensity to overestimate their own worth - nevermind how accustomed many might have grown to nepotism in their own respective realms. "I asked for the most capable." And to the Empress' surprise it had been, of all people, a Stier. She would have never guessed that name, at least not for some time, if any nobles had been on the list. More often than not the great houses tended to be lackluster in such pursuits, away from the martial sphere, though there was the occasional diamond in the rough - as Isabelle had proven. "That happened to be you." At the suggestion of one of her advisers, though she elected to leave that detail out of the matter. There had been some competition, some contest as to who should succeed the vacant position, but in the end Josefine had gone with the numbers, and with her cousin.

"Make no mistake, Isabelle," She offered, a playful smile returning to her own features, "If there is anyone who would like a reprieve from the nobility, it's us." The nobility, the governing of such and interaction with, dominated the lives of both Kampfs, but especially the domestically-minded Josefine. "You've proven a most pleasant surprise, hasn't she, Josef?" The twins locked gazes for but a moment, Josef nodding as he agreed with her. She had more of Volstad in her than her kin would likely want to admit. A light sigh managed to slip from the Kaiser before he made the diplomatic move to change subjects to something far more pleasant to his twin's ear.

"... Josefine tells me you've taken an interest in gardening?" He offered, nodding briefly towards the expansive ones that the Empress helped to maintain.

____

Isabelle was very glad for the change in subject, having started to blush under the unfamiliar praise and attention. It had gotten past the point where she could just laugh it off. Especially since the pair were people she liked and respected.

With a grateful sigh, and a wry smile, she switched to the new topic readily. "Well, yes. I mean, I never really had time before, but now-- That sounds kinda backwards. Yes, it is a busy job. Yes, it is important and demands focus. No, it doesn't keep my hands occupied enough."

Then she gave an expansive gesture with her hands, chopsticks still tucked between her fingers. "Plus, things move on and off my desk so quickly, I wanted something that will stick around. A potted plant sounded perfect, until I managed to kill the first one."

____

"Well," The Empress began, "Not to imply you will have an abundance of time, if you're going to be working here on the capital - or simply living here - you'll have to find some sort of hobby." Life could grow dull here at the seat of all power in the Empire, or at least she felt so after four centuries of life, and she had taken to gardening. There was always some new plant, some new flower, found on some distant world that she could add to her already bountiful collection. The titanic palace wrapped like a horseshoe around the gardens she kept, which proved equally large, and it held her attention in most of her free time spent away from Josef. It was an innocent enough interest to nurture, considering the tastes of other citizens on Tannhäuser. "I'm glad it's one we'll share."

The younger Kampf sighed in her seat and looked out beyond the patio, to the imperial gardens. It was more beautiful than the sordid passions of any bohemian noble, in her opinion, not unlike their own Supremacy to every other despot's regime. It didn't exist to only serve their whims as monarchs. "Feel free to come by any time, to the gardens. We might not always be available, but just call first." Josefine glanced back to her friend, smiling genuinely again. "Which reminds me why I'd invited you over, Isabelle. Charlotte?" The Empress turned her head to address one of the house staff, "Fetch my package for the lady Stier, if you could." The housemaid bowed her head and set off to do just that, returning after Josefine had again addressed her cousin.

"I beg your forgiveness, Isabelle, but I may have been a bit too consumed in having such pleasant company over again. I forgot myself. Ah-" With the package, a gilded sort of container not unlike a cigar-box, soon offered to her by the young servant, taken with a small nod and murmured thanks. "Here, for your mother from you, with my blessings." The Kaiserin soon handed the black and gold box to her friend, inside of which the young lady Stier would find two cryogenic cylinders, each containing a rose - one red, one yellow.

"It was the best I could do."

____

"A hobby?" Isabelle looked rather blank at that concept, like it was something she had never heard of before. Maybe it was being encouraged to find something frivolous to spend her time on that was so unexpected. She smiled and shrugged a bit, blushing a bit again though she wasn't exactly sure why. "Your botanical skills are legendary, ma'am."

It seemed like she was going to end up learning far more about plants than she ever intended to.

When presented with the roses, Izzy lit up. She actually clapped her hands and gave a little bounce of excitement. "Oh, these are so beautiful! Mother will be so thrilled. Not to mention that it will get her off my back for a while."

After she had set the box down carefully, she indicated the gift bag in the middle of the table. "I'm not really sure if that is your style, but frankly, I liked it. Sometimes it is nice to have something around to remind us of being girls."

The vase was for cut flowers, not something growing, but it was pretty. The pinkish vase had a hourglass curve to the semi-translucent material, like the shell of a giant snail had been polished with a loving hand. Then it was banded with a thin strip of antique brass at the narrowest point, as well as the top lip and the edge of the base.

____

The other simply nodded on the note of a hobby. If there was one thing she'd discovered ruling the Supremacy, and not simply living the centuries of her life, it was that all work and no play had rather unpleasant consequences. But the Empress afforded herself a smile not unlike Isabelle's upon seeing her reaction to the gift, though it may have been a bit more muted. "Frozen for the trip to Stockberg, of course." That they might arrive there in pristine condition, straight from her own garden. Green eyes returned to the bag at the center of the table and Josefine reached for it. "... I do suppose I should stop being rude and actually see what you've gotten me-" The small vase drew a raised eyebrow from the monarch as she turned it about in her hand.

"It would fit nicely on my vanity, I think." She murmured, eyes dancing along the curve it held as she pondered what Josef thought of that before refraining. "... sometimes it's nice to know that people care." As people, at least, and not as politicians or allies. Yes, the vanity would do nicely. She had enough floral and feminine elements in her own wing that this wouldn't be out of place in the slightest. Kampf held it a few moments longer before setting it down, looking back at Stier. "And here I am with nothing for you." She offered with a sigh and a smile, feeling a hint of guilt.

"She has been blessed with the boon of our company, Josefine," Her brother offered, teasing, "Isn't that enough for any true Imperial?" The Empress looked to the man and paid him a light kick in the leg for that which he weathered with a grin.

"And the patience to put up with you."

____

"It's a hostess gift." Isabelle pointed out, laughing a bit at Josef's comments. She grinned at Josefine then and added, "If you visited me, I would expect a gift at that time. I probably wouldn't have a place to put it, in the shoe box I live in, but it would be the polite thing."

She winked at Josef then, not quite brave enough to pinch him like she might have one of her more casual friends, "That is one of the marks of a true Imperial, right? We're always polite, no matter the provocation?"

Izzy was more relaxed than she thought she would be with the living 'gods' of the Supremacy. They seemed to be rather ordinary, despite all the hype and pomp surrounding the pair.

____

Josefine would've commented, but Josef beat her to the punch, nodding at Isabelle's words, "It is something I pride myself on, with the Supremacy." Of course to so many other peoples and powers they were stuffy, even preposterous, when it came to ritual and tact, but it did set them apart. Even at the most bitter times, Imperial Scatterrans were civil folk, and when one was not, well... it was quite the indication. "Given another-" The Emperor hadn't the time to finish his thought as a voice familiar to him called from over his shoulder, the black uniform of the Landwächter standing out starkly amongst the verdant green of the garden and the earthy tones of the Adlerhorst behind his figure. He was of middle years, and wore the insignia, decorations and expression appropriate to his station here on the capital,

"My lord, please forgive the intrusion, but there's a situation that demands your immediate attention."

Kampf turned in his seat to look to the officer who'd approached the trio, nodding to the man immediately once he explained himself, taking a quick dab at his lips with his napkin as he did. A momentary, parting glance to both the Empress and the lady Stier came alongside his words, though his gaze lingered on Josefine for a moment, another, unspoken apology. "My apologies, Isabelle." With that he stood and soon marched off alongside the officer to whatever end that he'd been summoned to, the Empress lingering there in her seat, watching him depart with a sigh. Her expression was somewhere just beyond disappointed, but it didn't last long, the woman turning back to her friend with a renewed smile.

"... as I meant to say, I just might have to visit you, sometime." She enjoyed seeing how others lived, having known palaces and manors and retreats all her life, it was refreshing to see others' smaller abodes - cozy was the word she liked to use. Josefine looked back to her plate for a moment as she picked a moment or two longer at her food, her mind doing its best to dodge the frustration that'd flared up just moments before, thinking of where best to push the conversation.

"I don't suppose you've ever been to the Reichplatz before, have you, Isabelle?"

____

Izzy frowned at Josef's back as he left, though she had nodded at his apology. It wasn't that she was upset, more that she was remembering many similar dinners, many times in her youth when one or another member of whichever family she was dining with was called away without warning. Sometimes they came back after a few minutes. Sometime, hours passed. Once, they never came back at all, reassigned to something distant and killed in the line of duty. She couldn't help the worry that spiked in her heart.

Isabelle gave a funny expression at Josefine's request to visit her, then laughed a bit harder than was precisely polite. She covered her face with both hands, rubbing her cheeks until she could make herself return to her usual calm smile. Finally, she asked, "Got a wig?"

With a shrug, Lady Stier explained, "I don't think it would be exactly safe for you to visit as yourself. I mean, I wasn't joking about having a tiny place. It's easier to keep clean and straightened up, and means I can save most of my earnings. It also means that my neighbors are a bit bitter and sometimes unpleasant."

She shrugged again at the question about the Reichplatz, "I've seen most of what is open to the public. When I moved here, I had a week before I started work, so I saw the sights. Mostly just to be able to say that I had."

____

There were times when Josefine worried the same way - indeed, she'd experienced the same sort of fear, terror in her case, when Josef had left only to die. It had happened a time or two since, even to her, but their capabilities had made death little more than a nuisance at this point. But those times when she'd fretted, when Josef's forgetful nature had left her quite alone and very afraid in the tumultuous era of the Reformation, were long past. She wasn't much of a young woman anymore, by any stretch of the imagination, and whether that distraction would take him to the Western Frontier or the western wing of the palace, she knew he'd be back.

But Isabelle's good humor got the better of her, and better that it did, for the Empress smiled in a rather quizzical fashion as she looked back to her colleague, dabbing at her lips one last time with her napkin before asking, a light chuckle to her voice, "A wig?" Certainly, in her centuries of existence, that was one question that she'd never been asked before. Kampf shrugged at the thought, soon shaking her head in response. "I fear not, though I could dye my hair, if that would work." It was more of a jest than a serious thought, though she'd thought, many times before, if she'd look better or worse with darker hair, or with something lighter.

"Though, Isabelle," She began, thinking of how best to word this without dismissing Stier's caution - for she was glad that the woman was willing to look at her as a person and not simply a title, or a figurehead - speaking with a smile that was almost coy. "I can make most anywhere safe." Especially on Tannhäuser. The more domestic of the two she might have been, but she was still a force to be reckoned with. "But I don't mind small spaces, we'll have to see about something at your place."

With that thought she sighed, glancing over the table before she moved to stand, glancing to a nearby servant briefly before looking back at Izzy. "... would you like to see the gardens? It's been some time since I've simply strolled through them." More often than not she was elbow deep in them, too busy working with the soil to admire her handiwork, but a walk would do her well after that lunch, and she could think of few better places to do such.

____

Isabelle grinned at the thought of her apartment complex being made safe for a visit from the empress, rubbing at her chin as she considered what it would take. Then she shrugged, "I'm sure you could make it perfectly safe, but then what would be the point? You wouldn't be seeing how people actually live, just what the soldiers think it is safe for you to see."

She made she her face was clean as she rose from her seat, and tucked a spare napkin in the sleeve of her sweater. "I'd love to see your gardens. There are rumors, you know, about all the exotic plants tucked away here."

____

As she and Isabelle made their way from the table, her mind lingered on that thought - that it would simply be what the Landwächter wanted her to see. It was a curious notion, that the bodyguard had more influence over her than she over them, and one that would stick with her for the rest of the day, but Josefine did her best to focus on the now and her colleague. "They're always open to you, as is the palace, should you ever need it." Though it was a bit beyond simply inviting someone over to one's house, wasn't it? This wasn't a two bedroom house or some flat downtown, it was a hallmark of imperial gothic architecture, the building that many considered the supreme seat of authority for an interstellar superpower.

As for exotic plants? Well, the rumors weren't entirely false, though they were limited largely by the soil and the atmosphere here on Tannhäuser. A great many species had been preserved, in small numbers here, from a myriad of worlds now under Imperial rule - both from planets simply colonized, and many that were conquered. Josef had his museums and his artifacts and she had her garden, an extensive display of plants both decorative and practical, stretching for the length of the gap between the Adlerhorst's wings, the palace's layout not unlike an angular horseshoe. "You don't mind, do you? My giving you the roses?" It was a gift meant more for Isabelle's mother than for her by and large, though it might bring her just as much pleasure to deliver such tidings from the Imperial House, considering what Josefine had gathered about her family life.

Perhaps a small bit of vindication for her choices in life.

"I... also apologize for Josef's interruption." She added quietly, having hoped that they could manage the whole meal without business or duty cropping up as anything more than dinner conversation. But such was the nature of the beast, a price paid for autocratic rule - their lives always came second to the well-being of the nation. "I am sure it was urgent," The Empress murmured, as much to convince herself as to explain to the lady Stier, "The Landwächter doesn't typically make a habit of concerning us with inane matters."

____

Isabelle's eyes widened at that invitation, and she was actually speechless for once as she nodded her acceptance. Overwhelmed with the magnitude of such favor, it was clear that she understood the value of having those doors opened for her, even though the young Stier couldn't find words to express it. So many people could abuse such a policy that it was an incredible honor to have the trust of the Kampfs to such a degree.

So the change of subject was very welcome indeed. Izzy gave a sly smile as she thought about how her mother would react when they arrived, able to see it clearly in her mind's eye. "The roses? Oh, no, they are beautiful, and mother will love them. All the more for knowing where they came from. I might have to write her a stern letter to remind her to actually use them for the intended purpose though. Otherwise, she might just tuck them away just as they are, only to be displayed on very formal occasions."

She brushed off the apology then, shaking her head at Josefine feeling the need. "As pleasant as a meal and conversation are, honor and duty are more valuable. That is what usually prompts such sudden departures. Only the very young do not understand that. It is just a little odd to have the impulse to pray to Kampf for the safety of such a one, when it is he that is running off."

Isabelle would gladly walk with Josefine into the gardens, closing her eyes and breathing in the scents for a long moment, distracted by the surroundings, as she admitted, "I'm sorry to say that I am not a very good Neo-Sarenist. I only pray when I am afraid for someone. Otherwise, I tend to assume that things are going as intended."

She didn't mention that meeting their deities had not improved her faith. If anything, the young noblewoman was more comfortable with her lack of belief. On the surface, she remained a loyal follower of their church, but the struggle in her heart was all but over.

____

The Empress returned the other's smile, "In whichever fashion she decides to use them, I hope they at least prove a boon to you, somehow or another." To impress the petty opinions of her family, or at least get them off of her back for some time. Isabelle should never have to feel harried or ashamed for her choice to pursue this line of work, it was just as vital to the nation as anything else she could have gone into, if not more so. The Austran woman moved to tuck her hands behind the small of her back as she strolled further into the gardens, ears still not quite accustomed to her quiet footfalls, far too used to the click of her uniform's riding boots. "It's such a small gift, I fear I feel a hint guilty." Two roses cut from her garden, though she supposed the weight of it being her garden might offset all of that.

Josefine reminded herself that they were for Isabelle's mother, and not for Isabelle, at least not directly.

She couldn't help the smile that crept to her face at the note of prayer, taking a moment to glance over to her cousin to show that she was amused by the thought. "I used to do that, when I was much younger but... well, I've caught on to what is or isn't pressing when it comes to the Landwächter. I didn't see a single armed escort, so I'd wager it was, hm." The Empress took a moment to think, reviewing the possibilities in her mind as he pace slowed for a few steps. "... a transmission, a communique of some sort, meant for him. Or for me." At that she shrugged, knowing that either of them could fill in for the other in a pinch, even if their areas of focus differed so broadly at times.

"Pray, Isabelle, whenever you feel it is necessary - it's not the best sort of thing to force, I've found." If she only prayed when someone was in danger in some form or another, if she felt the need to, then at the very least it was genuine, born from concern from her heart. "Prayer doesn't determine one's righteousness either, at least in my opinion, but I don't mean to delve into theology - we're rather lucky this came up away from Josef." Josefine offered that last thought with something of a grin, knowing that the Kaiser would likely make something of a sermon out of it all, though she'd found, in time, that he couldn't help it. The man that was buried under all the titles, responsibilities and the uniform had been striving as the leader for so long, he didn't know how to be anything else anymore.

"Besides, I enjoy that I can speak to you, Isabelle. It's rather refreshing to have an objective ear to voice my concerns to."

____

Isabelle laughed a bit and murmured, "Not sure how objective I might be. I mean, I'm still just an ordinary person. I have my own opinions and preconceptions." Then she gave Josefine's arm a gentle squeeze, supportive and undemanding as she added, "Now a friendly ear? That I can manage without reservations, and hope to receive the same from you. Especially since I am about to ask you too many questions, because these plants are incredible."

Out in the sunlight, Izzy was a study in shades of gold, from the antique shades of her brownish hair, to the pale cream of her blouse and metallic glint of her sweater. She'd gladly distract her hostess for hours on end with admiring the gardens and enjoying the pleasant day, if given leave to do so. Furthermore, if Josefine wanted to teach something more practical, like how to actually care for the greenery in question, she'd find a willing student in Izzy. The young noble had no fear of getting dirty after all.