The Warning

[Naelona Ezel]

"Firstly, find him." That was her first instruction. "I do not care what reason you deliver, but bring him here. The less he knows, the better it will be. Once he arrives I will dismiss you." Nearing the appointed place Naelona paused. "Be out of sight, but do not leave entirely. He is a tiresome child who's Master.. I do not know what methods of discipline he employs, but it is not and has not been working. The Family has my utmost respect.." Striding down the long hallway, Naelona paused at a door before going in. "..but they do test my patience."

Beyond the doors was the music room. Bright, quiet, welcoming. It was a place either loved or loathed for it's atmosphere. To Naelona it was just another room, if not a useless one. "If he knows I am there, address me. If not - suggest to play the piano or some other like venture. And remember - no matter what you hear, regardless of any and all things. Do not speak, arrive, nor make as sound unless by my bidding. When I send you away, he is to think you are truly away save I call for you. Do you understand this fully, Kristopher Roberts?"

Of all the troublesome matters the Ezel had, it was high time she be rid of at least one more. It was a conversation long coming, with an individual she was sure would be most unwilling to listen. But while larger issues fought for dominance within her list of matters to which to attend, there were other more subtle, more enduring ones that bothered the most. Like an annoying fly while conducting some important task. No matter how important it was, if the insect flew about long enough, it was going to get slapped.

[Kristopher Roberts]

"Firstly, find him. I do not care what reason you deliver, but bring him here. The less he knows, the better it will be. Once he arrives I will dismiss you. Be out of sight, but do not leave entirely. He is a tiresome child who's Master.. I do not know what methods of discipline he employs, but it is not and has not been working. The Family has my utmost respect....but they do test my patience."

Kristopher pulled at his sleeves and nodded his fair head. "Yes, Ma'am." He said softly. He didn't like this to be honest, he didn't want to be the one to fetch Augusta for this meeting...not even Kris knew what it was about and he was afraid to know.

He pressed his lips together and lowered his head slightly as he followed after Naelona. He took in her instructions carefully so he would act the way she wanted him. However, he didn't want to stay for it he thought he would be able to go away. But that wasn't the case.

"If he knows I am there, address me. If not - suggest to play the piano or some other like venture. And remember - no matter what you hear, regardless of any and all things. Do not speak, arrive, nor make as sound unless by my bidding. When I send you away, he is to think you are truly away save I call for you. Do you understand this fully, Kristopher Roberts?"

"Yes, My Lady. I understand and I will not do anything you do not want me too. I will try my best to stay--silent and unseen." God, he was going to have to remain here, silent and unseen. The thought of it unnerved him, he didn't know why but he was feeling sick to his stomach right about now.

"I'll go and fetch him..." He gave her a bow, seeing as there was nothing more to say and so he left the music room, feeling off. He moved down the halls with purpose but not one he honestly wanted to follow through. It took him a few minutes and asking around five people if they had seen his fiance.

Finally, after ten minutes, he located the love of his life in the Main Enterance. He was sitting on a ladder and facing the old Grandfather Clock. He appeared to be adjusting it again. Kristopher smiled softly, remember how Augusta loved clocks. But then he remembered his deed.

Moving up to the ladder he looked up, "Augusta." He said softly, "Can I borrow you, for a moment? I need you to come with me...for a little bit." He asked, a smile on his face but not one he was feeling as his hands pulled at his sleeves.

[Augusta Davingoun]

tick, tick, tick, tock

A sigh sounded over the loud grandfather clock ticking away in the main entrance.

tick, tick, tick, tock

Augusta sat with his upper half in the clock and sighed again. he rattled some pieces around and coughed lightly. It was winter and things were cold and he didn't like it. Winter meant Kris got sick. He didn't like Kris being sick.

tick, tick, tick, tock

Augusta shifted on the tall ladder and reached in to tighten a bolt. He heard a voice down below and pulled his upper half out of the clock. It was kinda hard to hear over the ticking and toking of the monstrous piece of machinery.

"Can I borrow you, for a moment? I need you to come with me...for a little bit."

Augusta looked down at the blond and then nodded. He leaned back and closed the face of the clock and started down the ladder. He got to the last four rungs of the ladder and he just hopped down onto the ground. He looked at Kris and something about the boy seemed off. He frowned and looked at his watch. " Yeah Kris..." he said and stuck his hands into the pockets of his jeans. He then followed Kristopher wherever the blond happened to take him. On the walk he sighed and asked sort of nonchalantly, " hey... were are we going?"

But other than that the boy was silent.

[Kristopher Roberts]

" Yeah Kris... hey... were are we going?"

The blond met Augusta at the bottom of the ladder and offered him a small smile. Then, they started walking, Kristopher reached out after a few steps and put and arm through Augusta's and held onto him that way.

He wasn't sure what to say really, so he sighed softly. "To the music room, um." He looked down at the floor as they walked, his hand that wasnt' around Augusta's arm touched his clothing and held it for a moment. "Naelona wants to see you..." He decided to let him know ahead of time rather then later.

"I don't know why." He admitted as he looked up at Augusta, he hoped he wouldn't be angry. Kristopher's turtle neck kept him nice and warm as well as hid the markings from a nasty encounter he had a few weeks ago. Even now, the side of his face was still healing but the mark wasn't there anymore hardly, the old bruise blended right in.

He walked slowly down the hall with Augusta. Taking his time and trying to figure things out. "Please, try not to lose your temper." He asked Augusta but knew that would be very hard for him.

"Maybe she only wants you to look at a clock. She knows you fix those and other things..." A false hope, he knew.

[Augusta Davingoun]

"To the music room, um. Naelona wants to see you..."

Oh that wasn't good. Augusta didn't like the sound of that. last time him and Naelona were face to face it was bad. But that time he didn't have a split-personality. So this would be even worse. He frowned deeply but still let Kris hold onto his arm. He let out a sigh, " I hate her..." is all he muttered as they walked.

"Please, try not to lose your temper."

Augusta frowned even deeper then, " That's like telling water not to be wet... Especially when she's involved " he said and sighed again, " But I'll try for your sake alright..." Augusta walked to the music room with Kris and when they got there he was half tempted to just book it and run off somewhere. Run off somewhere were Kris and Nae wouldn't be able to find him. It's not that Nae scared him or anything. He just avidly hated her, really, really really, hated her. His hate for Naelona was stronger then the heat of a thousand suns.

Yeah, that bad.

[Kristopher Roberts]

Kristopher sighed softly, "I know you do." he said in response to Augusta admitting his hate for the woman. But there was little he could do about it. Very little, he just hoped this would all go good and not down the shitter!

" That's like telling water not to be wet... Especially when she's involved. But I'll try for your sake alright... "

Kristophr chuckled slightly, "I know, it is. But thank you for trying. I just don't want to see you hurt or anything." He came to a stop before the music room doors that seemed to be hell just waiting to be unleashed.

His mismatched eyes stared at the wood as if it would suddenly brust into flames. Then, sighing he turned to stand in front of Augusta. Standing on his toes, he put both of his soft hands on either side of his face and kissed him on the lips. It was a soft kiss, one of encouragement and love.

"I love you." Kristopher told Augusta as he lowered himself back on his feet. "Please, be careful. I can't do anything once you are inside." He didn't hint to being left in the room or anything, but he was telling the truth, once he was with her, his hands where tied. He wouldn't be able to do anything to help his loved one. That frightened him.

Then turning towards the door, he opened it slowly, glancing at Naelona. "Madam Naelona, I've brought him." He then stepped inside, he wanted to hold his loves hand but at the same time he was afraid too. But for once, he disreguarded his fear and held Augusta's hand, bringing him in slowly with him.

"Is there anything else, Madam?" He bowed his head softly. Hand tightening on Augustas, either as a reminder or out of fear.

[Naelona Ezel]

"Madam Naelona, I've brought him." Her ears perked to the sound of their approach long before they two had entered. There was a temptation rising to do something about their hands, but in a few minutes it wouldn't matter. Kristopher would be dismissed anyway. Perhaps it was the one thing that was keeping the troublemaker from bolting. The Ezel mused.. that was an entertaining thought, as it so should be. "Is there anything else, Madam?" For the moment Naelona did not answer. From near the window her eyes flickered over the pair. It was high time this was happening.

This also meant he had come willingly. Perhaps she wouldn't get an excuse to crack open his skull after all. Approaching them she regarded the boy for a few moments, her coal eyes flickering over his form before looking him in the eyes. "Come, sit. We have much to talk about, Mr. Davingoun." It was more of a title than he deserved, but her irritation was related to a far-off emotion. Those things had no place here.

"I do not wish to waste time, as I'm sure your Master would not have your time wasted. But this is of an important matter, and the sooner it is resolved, the better." A flutter of a few shades indicated the direction of a few chairs, and a circular table between them. "Kristopher, you may leave us now. Be sure to close the doors on your way out." There would be no interruptions here. A warning statue of shadow would reside outside once the blond had departed. It wasn't the only way into the room.. but it was the most common one.

"Now." The boogie purposely waited until the blond left, and for the click of the door to fill the room. "I have had my eyes on you. I've been watching you and your actions for some time, and I disapprove of them wholeheartedly. It has come to my attention that it is needfully necessary to remind your fragile role, and what you possess can vanish just as easily at my command." There were chairs, but she didn't sit. Instead the light from the window seemed.. a bit dimmer than it was before. And.. something would seem to move now and again behind Augusta's back. Naelona? Irritated? Hardly. "Do you know of which I speak, Mr. Davingoun?"

[Augusta Davingoun]

Augusta sighed and let the blond hold his hand. The kiss didn't reassure him at all. He walked in with Kristopher but when he heard Naelona and how Kris talked to her. He was so.... obedient and it made him angry. He didn't want her to have any control over Kris. Her tone just made him want to leap over the furniture and slaughter her. But he had to hold it in for Kristopher.

"Come, sit. We have much to talk about, Mr. Davingoun."

He didn't even want her to say his name. She made him sound like a villain, which was kinda true, but still, the way she spoke was like poison dripping form her words. She was so uptight and pompous. She was the kind of Boogie that Vasant killed. The kind that the rebellion was built on. An honest-to-god Boogie. He walked in but didn't sit and it was obvious that is Naelona didn't sit, neither was he. " I'd rather not sit, thanks though..." he said darkly. It was obvious the boy was trying hard not to snarl at Naelona just because she was in the room.

I have had my eyes on you. I've been watching you and your actions for some time, and I disapprove of them wholeheartedly. It has come to my attention that it is needfully necessary to remind your fragile role, and what you possess can vanish just as easily at my command. Do you know of which I speak, Mr. Davingoun?"

God, his insides curled just at her words. At her command... my ass!! She was a pipsqueak, he wasn't scared of her, not at all. When she directed her words at Augusta he didn't respond for a good while. The room got darker but that hardly mattered to the slave. Unlike Kristopher, Augusta didn't fear much. Only small spaces and Kristopher getting hurt. Darkness didn't make him worry, and neither did her shadows. He kept a dark look on his face, a bitter tone rose in his voice as he spoke. " I don't know Madam...." he said, the word 'madam' coming out like Augusta was eating vinegar. " Why don't you refresh my memory?"

Ugh, Augy wanted to kill somebody right now.

[Kristopher Roberts]

"Come, sit. We have much to talk about, Mr. Davingoun. I do not wish to waste time, as I'm sure your Master would not have your time wasted. But this is of an important matter, and the sooner it is resolved, the better.Kristopher, you may leave us now. Be sure to close the doors on your way out."

The blond held onto Augusta's hand tightly, he didn't want to leave him but he had little choice in the matter. Nodding softly at Naelona, he bowed, then glanced at Augusta. He seemed to be searching for something and if he found what he was looking for or not, he released his loves hand and turned away. His hand brushed against Augusta's arm as he left.

However, even as he went to the doors and left, he actually didn't. He went to the spot Naelona had wanted him to go and he sat there, unseen, unheard. His eyes looking down to the floor as he made himself comfortable for however long this was going to take.

"Now. I have had my eyes on you. I've been watching you and your actions for some time, and I disapprove of them wholeheartedly. It has come to my attention that it is needfully necessary to remind your fragile role, and what you possess can vanish just as easily at my command.Do you know of which I speak, Mr. Davingoun?"

From Kristopher's hiding spot, his heart seemed to stop in his chest as he listened. No way, this conversation wasn't going where he thought it was...was it?

Was he...the topic as well as his relationship with Augusta?

" I don't know Madam....Why don't you refresh my memory?"

Kristopher closed his eyes, "Please God, let him keep his temper under control..."

[Naelona Ezel]

Oooh.. the blond boy sure knew how to pick them.. she knew the black-haired brat was more intelligent than this. The fact he belonged to Jouhnin denoted he wasn't just any stupid little slave. Boogies of status tended to be selective and choose wisely what slaves they owned and who they kept around for any measurable period of time. She doubted Mr. Takanami's taste in slaves was any different.

"I'm hardly here to fight with you, Mr. Davingoun." Naelona stated quite dryly. It was obvious by his tone how much he hated being in her presence. Honestly, the venom in his voice wasn't going to make this end any sooner, so why even bother? "I am referring to your persisting involvement, with my slave." She didn't need to indicate which one. There was only one blond she owned, let alone only one slave of hers Augusta seemed so intent on remaining by.

"I have been aware of your.. affections.. towards him for some time, yet remain unconvinced that it is within Kristopher's best interests to allow it to continue. I'm offering this opportunity for you to prove to me otherwise. To convince me of why I should permit this to continue." That was the long and the short of it. Perhaps for Kristopher's sake she was willing to turn a blind eye upon the matter, but with time it only seemed to worsen in more than one degree.

"Before you answer, keep in mind his residence can be removed from your quarters at any time, upon my word. ..Permanently." It really was by her own grace that the two had been able to room together for this long. A factor the Ezel would not hesitate to change, if she saw fit. In truth she'd seen fit to do so long ago, it were for other reasons she had not yet so acted.

"Recent matters have drawn my concerns. It would be in your best interest to clear them." Naelona added the last bit with a motion towards herself, namely to a portion of skin that had recently shown as very bruised upon Kristopher's anatomy. She was sure the boy was bright enough to figure out what she meant. For him, it would be an excellent starting point.

[Augusta Davingoun]

Nae was perfectly right, most of the time the woman was. Jouhnin would never have picked a slave he didn't approve of, and practically raised himself. But Augusta may have been smart and strong and persistent and everything a good slave should be, but he had a flaw. He was overly emotional like his master. It often got him into trouble, and sometimes even kept him out of it. But Augusta was angry at this woman, this boogie-woman. He knew she didn't need to be feared, but her choices and her earned pompousness made him more angry then almost anything.

"I'm hardly here to fight with you, Mr. Davingoun. I am referring to your persisting involvement, with my slave."

Augusta didn't relax and his stand-offish demeanor didn't falter. But he looked more sane and less aggravated than before. But if Naelona made one wrong comment or step, it was obvious he'd get defensive again. Even the manner in which he stood showed cautiousness and slight anger. " It's always about him. And your disapproval with me... So what?" he said darkly, less venom, more annoyance. The next words caught his attention, he was not shocked nor anything close to it. Naelona was protective and Augusta knew that. Despite what everyone else but Naelona and himself seemed to think, Augusta was very intelligent. And he knew were Naelona's concerns lie.

"I have been aware of your.. affections.. towards him for some time, yet remain unconvinced that it is within Kristopher's best interests to allow it to continue. I'm offering this opportunity for you to prove to me otherwise. To convince me of why I should permit this to continue. Before you answer, keep in mind his residence can be removed from your quarters at any time, upon my word...Permanently."

Those last few words brought a nasty snarl to the boy's face. He would have lashed out at that precise moment if he could. Vasant would surely attack her with no remorse or guilt. But he couldn't do that. The only reason he had forbidden any of the rebels to attack Naelona or get in any span of distance near her was because of Kristopher. Reluctantly Augusta had agreed not to hurt her back when the rebellion first began. And unlike most who lived in this twisted world, he kept his promises. Though he found Naelona a little bit to sure of herself. As if she knew everything. But the boy kept silent, he didn't speak until she was finished.

"Recent matters have drawn my concerns. It would be in your best interest to clear them."

Oh he knew what she meant. He knew all to well. They were memories he wish he could erase but But he was not the type to get shocked, gasp and then grovel at her feet. Augusta had very little pride, and groveling would make him lose the only sliver he had left. So a minute or so after Naelona spoke he looked at the boogie-woman and sighed. " Maybe you should get the whole story before going around and pointing fingers," he scoffed, " I mean really... Would Kristopher have told you everything is he knew you would act is such a rash manner, threatening me? " he sighed and stuck his hands in his pockets. It was a physical act that only Kristopher would understand. " The bruise was merely an accident. When you are a slave and conveniently do manual labor because other slaves cannot do that type of work you build up a strength you rarely ever use. And sometimes you forget the kind of strength you have once you have that kind of strength for so long, " he said, " A simple accident... But in truth it was a fault of mine. But I assure you I've been putting a lot more attention on it..."

Augusta was holding himself back from killing her, behind his words he was wanting to reach over and murder her right here. He just hid it and held his temper down. For Kristopher's sake. That what putting his hands in his pockets meant. He was trying to control himself from breaking down or lashing out in anger.