[center][h1][color=ab274f]Wulfric[/color], [color=00F8FE]Callum[/color] & [color=#EEDC5B]Auguste[/color][/h1][/center][hr][hr]
Once Callum entered Wulfric’s office, the latter looked up from scribbling something into a notebook. He appeared to have been about to say something – likely an invitation to come in, which the younger prince hadn’t bothered waiting for. An unimpressed look, and a pointedly arched eyebrow was the only response to his uninvited entry, however.

When asked whether he’d wanted to see his brother, Wulfric replied, [color=ab274f]“Yes, I did.”[/color] It was a simple, no-nonsense admission, one which entirely disregarded that Callum’s question had been sarcastic. But almost immediately afterwards, an expression of extreme annoyance flashed across his face. [color=ab274f]“The [i]door?[/i]”[/color] he questioned indignantly, for it had been left open on purpose.

He stared at it for a moment, as if waiting for someone to close it. But because he rarely had someone on standby in or around his office, no one did. Frowning heavily, Wulfric produced a very audible, [color=ab274f]“Tsk.”[/color]

Before taking care of that, he first tidied his desk; capped his fountain pen, put it in an engraved wooden holder, used an ink blotter to dry off his recent writing, and stored his notebook into a drawer. As he did so, his expression smoothed out; perhaps, the small exercise was a meditative one for him. Just as possibly, he had decided he would [i]not[/i] let himself be irritated that easily.

[color=00F8FE]“What about the door?”[/color] Callum asked with mock confusion. He didn’t bother to move or go back and close the door. He only waited and stared up at the ceiling as his brother took his time organizing his desk. Fair enough; Cal had taken his time coming up here, he’d made Wulfric wait around for him first. 

Wulfric stood up from his desk, languidly stretched, and ambled towards the doorway. Contrary to Callum’s assertion, he acted as if he could, in fact, spend the whole day there. [color=ab274f]“To not give the time of day to my [i]darling little brother?[/i]”[/color] he acted mock surprised, and affected the obnoxious kind of sweetness for the term of endearment. [color=ab274f]“Perish the thought,”[/color] he then added dryly, and sent a smirk Callum’s way.

In the meanwhile, the youth had clearly more than made himself at home. That piercing blue-gray gaze scanned over the figure, and seemed to see all. Or, at least, that’s what his haughtily knowing countenance relayed at the moment. Then, Wulfric tilted his head, as if to consider the scene from a new angle. [color=ab274f]“All you need now is to start eating grapes to complete that image of hedonism,”[/color] he remarked idly. It was unclear if he was joking, trying to make a point, or something else. But there were actually refreshments on the coffee table set out.

Wulfric, who had decided to pass by his brother, trailed one hand along the length of the backrest Callum was lying against. Looking down upon him, he was very briefly tempted to roll him off the couch. Instead, however, he simply took ahold of his calves, and dropped his booted feet onto the floor. Then, he strolled the rest of the way to the still opened doors to close them.

Despite Callum’s attempts to provoke a reaction, Wulfric kept his detached demeanor and Cal took this as a good sign. If Wulfric was angry he’d expected his brother would’ve shown it by now, especially with the added provocation. So this probably wasn’t about the onion and Cal was almost certain there was nothing else he’d done between their last conversation and right now that could’ve caught Wulfric’s attention. Callum gnawed at his already chewed-up fingernails as he tried to figure out why he was there. But by the time Wulfric dropped Callum's feet from the couch to the floor he’d already given up on trying to figure it out. Trying to figure out what Wulfric wanted would only give him a worse headache than the one that crept back whenever he tried to think about last night. 


[color=00F8FE]“So glad to hear you’ve finally come ‘round and accepted what an absolute [i]delight[/i] I am.”[/color] Callum matched his brother’s sarcastic tone before giving in to Wulfric’s suggestion and grabbing a bunch of grapes. He leaned back against the couch, letting his head drop back and dangling the grapes above him as he open-mouth chewed bites off the bunch. 

Auguste's head popped into the door frame before Wulfric could close it. [color=#EEDC5B]“...My, what’s this? An impromptu meeting between brothers without inviting me?”[/color] A half-smile crept onto his face, amused by his own musings. He stayed by the door-frame, waiting to be invited in.

[color=ab274f]“Lured in by the mystery of an unusually opened room?”[/color] Wulfric commented dryly, then motioned his brother in. [color=ab274f]“You might as well join us.”[/color] Once Auguste entered, he did finally close the door.

[color=#EEDC5B]“Of course, an empty room becomes infinitely more interesting when my brothers step into one.”[/color] Auguste replied with a smile as he let himself in. He found his favoured seat in Wulfric’s office, in front of a small, circular table where he and his brother had often shared a drink.

As Auguste peeked his head in through the open door, Callum had quickly tried to correct his posture and cease his antagonistic actions but only ended up nearly choking on a grape. He managed to cough it back into his hand and then finished chewing it, now with his mouth closed, before speaking. [color=00F8FE]“Welcome to the meeting of exceptional minds, Aug.”[/color] 


Wulfric followed Auguste back in, eyeing Callum’s reaction with thoughtful interest. He stopped by the coffee table, and prepared two cups of coffee, one to his own liking, and one to Auguste’s. He left the former on the table, and brought the latter over to his middle brother. Then, he returned to his table to pick up his own. Cup in hand, he settled into one of the remaining two couches. As he sat all the way back, comfortably leaning against the backrest, he let one arm settle onto the armrest. He crossed one leg over the other, and used his knee as a perch for the saucer, cup, and teaspoon.

Though he was in a position where he could easily look at either brother, he angled his head towards Callum. [color=ab274f]“So.”[/color] He took a slow sip of his coffee. [color=ab274f]“What [i]was[/i] your line of thinking with that whole onion bit?”[/color] His whole demeanour was quite casual, and his tone genuinely curious, though he by no means found the action in question agreeable.

[color=00F8FE][i]Damn.[/i][/color] Callum thought. [color=00F8FE][i]This was about the onion.[/i][/color] But the conversation didn’t feel like he was in trouble, not like the one this morning. Callum shrugged, immediately deciding that Wulfric wouldn’t understand. Edin [i]liked[/i] Wulfric, and his brother didn’t know what it was like to bear the brunt of the king’s malice. But Edin’s ire was inescapable for Cal, it had become part of his identity, and he wasn’t going to let that ire fall down on anyone else, it was his. His action hadn’t been fueled by thoughts, it had been instinct. 


[color=00F8FE]“For attention, obviously. And it successfully caught the eye of Ar-, Lady Edwards did it not?”[/color] Callum knew his eldest brother too easily saw through outright lies, so he spun what little truth he offered into something more agreeable. [color=00F8FE]“How were your dates? You both seem popular with our Alidasht guests.”[/color] Callum did his best to lead the conversation away from the onion. He tossed what remained of the bunch of grapes back onto the table.


Wulfric gave a noncommittal hum. [color=ab274f]“And here I thought it was some particularly impulsive, inefficient, and [i]bizzare[/i] act of trying to ‘help’ that commoner,”[/color] he pondered, side-eying Callum’s reaction. [color=ab274f]“Though help with [i]what[/i] or [i]how[/i] – nevermind [i]why[/i] – rather escapes my understanding,”[/color] he snarked. He closed his eyes for a long sip of coffee. [color=ab274f]“Well, I had supposed it was either that, or your usual inability [i]not[/i] to oppose or provoke father in the most senseless of ways…”[/color] He seemed strangely [i]placid[/i], almost as if he were willing to let this topic rest – however, he by no means grabbed onto the next conversational hook.


[color=00F8FE]“Yeah, I’m sure anything that doesn’t revolve around this family escapes your understanding, brother.”[/color] Callum muttered back as he shook his head and gritted his teeth at the rest of what Wulfric said. His anxious fidgeting stopped. The sarcasm and theatrical antics ceased as coldness and spite replaced them. He looked at Wulfric much in the same way he glared at his father as his eldest brother plucked at a raw nerve. 


[color=00F8FE]“Did you really ask me here to point out how stupid my every action is or to chastise me for eating a vegetable? Neither of which affected you or our family’s relationship with our guests. Right? I didn’t interfere with anything. I cooperated with that idiotic event. What more do you want? Got a list of things I’m allowed to put in my mouth now? I don’t need a third, unwanted, parent, Wulfy.”[/color] He spat his words out, not raising his voice, but allowing his contempt to coat them as he spoke.


[color=ab274f]“It is because I know how clever you are that-”[/color] he started with offended incredulity, setting his cup and saucer down with more force than strictly necessary. But before he could say any more, Callum continued. 


[color=ab274f]“Well, want it or not, I swear by the gods: I will do all I can to stick around,”[/color] Wulfric growled out, anger sparking his gaze. [color=ab274f]“So, unless you are inclined to actually [i]do[/i] something about that you will have to settle for being one in the long line of many who hope I will spontaneously drop dead!”[/color]

Naturally, Auguste had quickly grasped Callum’s intent with his…rather unorthodox, albeit well-intentioned, and conspicuous display. His brother had wanted to draw their father’s attention from the girl to himself. It was why he, too, assisted in defusing the situation.

Auguste was no stranger to his brothers’ frequent spats. Although it made him uncomfortable, he had grown more than accustomed to their arguments. It seemed the two just grated each other to their wits’ end. It did not help that the two tended to speak in coded language and bitter sarcasm. Not difficult to translate but the sub-text plucked at his own heart.

[color=#EEDC5B]“Calmer tones, brothers.”[/color] Auguste interjected lightly, although he would still take a relative backseat to their conversation as this needed to be hashed out between the two. [color=#EEDC5B]“And please, actually speak towards each other, not with veiled jabs nor rhetorical retorts. For me…please?”[/color]

[color=ab274f]“Now who’s the parental one,”[/color] Wulfric scoffed, but even though he was clearly still angry, he settled down some.

[color=00F8FE]“Oh, the irony of a peacemaker who is most himself when wielding a sword.”[/color] Cal’s glare shot toward Auguste and regret followed soon afterward. It wasn’t something he’d meant to say out loud. But that was Callum; lashing out at whoever was around at the slightest provocation. He leaned his head over the back of the couch and stared at the ceiling. [color=00F8FE]“Sorry, Auguste, it’s just been a long day. I didn’t mean it.”[/color] He added, softening his tone. 

Auguste simply waved off Wulfric’s, and then Callum’s, words with a weary smile. Their words did ring some truth to them; it wasn’t the first time he had been called ‘parent-like’... And in times of stress he does reach for his hip - often grasping at empty air as he did not always carry his blade. [color=#EEDC5B]“It’s alright, Callum, no need to apologize.”[/color] The prince took a small swig of coffee and let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

[color=00F8FE]“And I don’t wish for you to drop dead.”[/color] He mumbled out a response to Wulfric, not an apology, but it was close to saying something nice. [color=00F8FE]“There’s a couple people I’m saving those wishes for already.”[/color] He added, half joking, but smiling some as he continued to look up at the ceiling. 


[color=ab274f]“Well, good,”[/color] Wulfric huffed, still somewhat disgruntled as he frowned at Callum. After a long, [i]long[/i] moment of deliberation, he said, [color=ab274f]“I would rather you remain alive, as well.”[/color] While he spoke clearly, if quietly, and though looking directly at Callum, this was said with some reservation. It was quite the awkward profession to make, after all.


Sighing audibly, Wulfric picked up his previously abandoned cup of coffee, and drank the rest. While a part of him considered asking who his brother wanted dead, and if he by any chance wanted active help realizing those wishes, he eventually decided against it. Instead, he addressed what he felt was the overarching issue. 


[color=ab274f]“To answer your question…What I really want to know.”[/color] Wulfric took a moment to think about how to phrase this, or rather, phrase it with the least possible amount of sarcasm and frustration, as had been requested. [color=ab274f]“Do you not see or care [i]at all[/i] how each and every action,”[/color] he paused briefly. [color=ab274f]“Each action which [i]makes you seem[/i] like a fool or madman…Reduces the influence with which you could do something [i]better[/i]?”[/color]


[color=00F8FE]“Maybe I am just a fool and a madman. Everyone else sees the same things I do, and most of them can just look away. But I can’t. And that makes me feel crazy.”[/color] He tore his gaze away from the ceiling and looked at Wulfric. [color=00F8FE]“[i]They[/i] would have killed Darryn today, for no other reason than to spill blood. That is what our parents are, they will not change. Whatever distance I can get from that, the better.”[/color] Callum wasn’t sure if he’d shared too much but he doubted Wulfric would relent until he got something resembling an answer. 


[color=00F8FE]“So I can cooperate with your summer plans, smile and play nice, and keep from dragging the Alidasht into anything unsavory, but I can’t pretend that I am okay with what goes on here.”[/color] Cal added with a shrug. That was the most he could offer, too much compromise and he risked losing himself. 


Wulfric gazed at Callum intently, turned fully towards him, and took his time pondering all he’d said. [color=ab274f]“I see…”[/color] he said slowly, and he was clearly at least trying to. [color=ab274f]“Believe it or not, I am not trying to change your values, so that is fine.”[/color] Yet he was still frowning mildly, and had more to say to that. [color=ab274f]“But my [i]point[/i] was that the more you do things like you did in relation to that strange commoner girl – things which reduce your political respectability, and the favour you could have, that is – the less you can do to aid in more critical situations, like Fletcher’s was.”[/color]


He silently sighed [color=ab274f]“I think you at least partially understand my meaning, because you [i]knew[/i] that you had to use [i]my[/i] influence to get what you wanted,”[/color] he added neutrally. [color=ab274f]“What I would like you to consider is how you might be able to do more of the same. No need to cooperate with our parents directly, if you detest them so much…”[/color] Wulfric shook his head at that, because he thought it fairly nonsensical to limit your own options for the sake of pure principle. [color=ab274f]“But you could work more with me, or with him,”[/color] at this, he gestured to Auguste, [color=ab274f]“or hell, with whoever else that you can at this point, really.”[/color]


[color=00F8FE]“That [i]strange commoner girl[/i] was not only very kind but she also offered me a very thoughtful gift. Maybe that’s what’s wrong with this place, no one wants to see anything beyond titles. You will be king one day, and you already speak of your people like you don’t even [i]like[/i] them. Planning to rule as Edin does? Treating your people like a nuisance who exist only for tax revenue?”[/color] Callum’s anger flared back up even as he tried to stay civil. Wulfric’s point wasn’t entirely wrong, it just wouldn’t work for him for reasons that could not be voiced around anyone who shared his surname. He took a moment, and a deep breath, to recompose himself.


[color=ab274f]“I will not-”[/color] Wulfric began indignantly, but cut himself off to stop another outburst. But he did think to himself rather sourly, [color=ab274f][i]Why would I have to [b]like[/b] them to rule differently?[/i][/color]


Callum shook his head at Wulfric’s reply, he wasn’t surprised but it was something he hadn’t hoped to hear. [color=00F8FE]“Every deal with a devil comes with a price. How much of my soul can I bargain away before there's nothing left? But, yes, I’d rather owe a debt to you than let a man die for mine, and Ana’s, mistake. I chose the lesser of two evils then because there was little time for anything else. Can either of you honestly look me in the eyes and say that working with [i]them[/i], standing by every horrible thing our parents have done, hasn’t torn something from you?"[/color] He looked from Wulfric to Auguste, not sure what he’d hear from either brother.

A look of uncertainty crossed Auguste’s face that was soon replaced with his usual confidence. [color=#EEDC5B]“...How did that saying go; ‘Evil is evil. Lesser, greater, middling, it matters little.’ Choosing between ‘two evils’ is always a difficult choice, Cal… er- not to say that I think that working with dear Wulfric is evil, far from it.”[/color] Auguste replied, [color=#EEDC5B]“While we are privileged, our ‘job’ is difficult… Soon, we will be the ones faced with choosing between impossible choices. If it’s any consolation, I believe you chose correctly.”[/color] He nodded, tacitly agreeing that idly standing by their family’s misdeeds had indeed taken a toll on him. Although Wulfric also did have a point, to make radical changes you need to rise to a higher position. Changes without power is akin to screaming at a brick wall.

Callum smiled and nodded at Auguste, there was a lot of hope in knowing that Auguste wasn’t rotten. It didn’t have to keep spreading down the family tree. But Auguste was loyal, he wouldn’t turn on their family. Callum couldn’t blame someone for that. 

The last of Callum’s words had Wulfric’s fists clenching, and he stared into the off-distance stonily. [color=ab274f]“How I [i]wish[/i] I could honestly say that nothing has ever been torn away from me,”[/color] he said lowly, expression twisting momentarily with all kinds of deeply unpleasant emotions. However, it was gone too soon to pinpoint his exact feelings. Though it wasn’t quite for the reasons Callum had mentioned, he did have his own for the utter loathing that he’d just had to learn to live with.

[color=ab274f]“But so what?”[/color] he scoffed, tossing his head to the side in irritation. [color=ab274f]“It changes [i]nothing[/i],”[/color] he hissed, facing Callum. [color=ab274f]“Not that the best way for me to become a ruler is via legitimate succession…and certainly not my beliefs,”[/color] he sneered.

Then, a familiar, comforting coldness overtook him, one that was at once sharp yet dampening. A strange smile graced his features as he chuckled darkly. [color=ab274f]“It seems that leaves us at an impasse…For now.”[/color]

Callum glimpsed a familiar darkness in Wulfric, the same that lurked behind his mother’s eyes. Everything was clearer; there could be no more deals or alliances with Wulfric. Callum only stared off at nothing until his eyes became unfocused as his brother spoke. Wulfric would only ever care about power, only the ends, never the means. His eldest brother was lost. He’d thought it before, but even still he felt unready to really know it. He hated that Wulfric had said it so clearly. He hated what his brother had become, but he could bring himself to hate his brother. He wished he hadn’t woken up this morning. [color=00F8FE]“Yeah, an impasse. I’ve got nothing more to say.”[/color] He stood up to leave but it seemed Wulfric had more to add.

[color=ab274f]“Well, then, Callum. There [i]is[/i] something else - nothing long, arduous, or philosophical, not to worry,”[/color] he barked a non-amused laugh. [color=ab274f]“As part of your cooperative efforts,”[/color] he flashed a razor-sharp smile. [color=ab274f]“For one...Whenever you leave the castle henceforth, you will take at least two guards with you - your pick as to who.”[/color] Wulfric waited a beat to gauge Callum’s reaction. [color=ab274f]“For another, I would like you to give it your best in learning how to moderate your alcohol intake.”[/color]

Cal rolled his eyes at his brother’s attempt to exert control over him. The guards would be a nuisance. But then Wulfric brought up lessening his drinking, and he only snorted. [color=00F8FE]“My best efforts are infamously disappointing. But sure, have your armed nannies follow me about.”[/color] But still his brother wasn’t finished, Wulfric had one last devastating utterance left. 

[color=ab274f]“Ah, and not to forget…By absolutely no means are you to establish contact with [i]Marek Delronzo[/i].”[/color] By the glint in his eyes, this had been a card Wulfric had kept up his sleeve until the opportune moment. 

[color=00F8FE][i]How could he know that name?[/i][/color] There was really only one way. No one else at that party knew Marek. Just him and Ana. And Cal knew he hadn’t caved. [color=00F8FE][i]Gods-damnit, Ana.[/i][/color] So he couldn’t trust Ana either. [color=00F8FE]“As agreed.”[/color] He muttered. Marek, at least, had the ways and means to protect himself. 


[color=00F8FE]“Have a good day, Auguste,”[/color] was all Cal added before he left. Once again, Callum left the door wide open. 

[color=#EEDC5B]“You too, Callum.”[/color] Auguste managed to get in before he left.

When Callum made to get up, Wulfric shifted as if he were about to try and do the same, feeling oddly inclined to go after him, and do...something. But in the end, he only resettled back into in his seat. [color=ab274f]“What a terrible mistake this was…”[/color]

But what was the mistake? Being too honest with his brother, or not being honest enough? That he was ready to make necessary sacrifices? That he may have been wrong about the necessity of some of them? Because in retrospect…lining up Fletcher…might have indeed been pointless.

And now, Callum had left before Wulfric could have a proper conversation about Marek. He turned to look at Auguste, but his gaze was so distant, it was questionable whether he was seeing his sibling at all. [color=ab274f]“You ought to know…”[/color] he began, words slower than usual due to his preoccupation. [color=ab274f]“Marek Delronzo…that is the name of the party’s host…allegedly.”[/color]

Callum’s reaction had tacitly confirmed that this was true, but it still wasn’t as much of a certainty as Wulfric would prefer. He should have known that prodding Callum wouldn’t amount to much. (Should he have even been trying to gain information from [i]his brother[/i] in such a way?)

Sighing, he continued his one-sided conversation with Auguste. [color=ab274f]“That name was relayed to me by a certain Count Hendrix,”[/color] he noted. [color=ab274f]“Quite suspicious…But then again, what [i]is[/i] another man playing at politics, looking to use what there is to use?”[/color] he mused wryly.

His thoughts returned to Callum. [color=ab274f]“I meant to…”[/color] he trailed off. What he had wanted was to reach some sort of an understanding with him. Yet his words and actions had been anything but conducive to that. He had the uncomfortable suspicion that the only thing he managed to achieve was to hurt Callum. [color=ab274f]“Him and I…”[/color] he shook his head sadly, regretfully.

A long inhale and exhale followed. Feeling suddenly weary, Wulfric leaned his head against the backrest, and closed his eyes. [color=ab274f]“Leave me be now, brother.”[/color]