Post by callmedelta on Jul 12, 2022 10:23:12 GMT -5
Isaac Dufour Jr. was tired. It was early in the morning, his train had just returned from Fort Marson, and Isaac had caught no sleep. Whether it was his general inability to sleep on trains, the fact the Dufour could generously be described as a workaholic, that he had plenty on his mind to think about, or some combination of the three, Isaac was simply tired. As his car rolled to a stop in front of his mansion on the outskirts of Pareau, the similar one already parked in his driveway was the last sight he wanted to see.
Blaise, for his part, was tired of waiting. Ever since Franerre’s highest members of the army, politicians, and the King himself had all suddenly and quietly had important business in the south, he knew that he was being left out of something. It didn’t take a genius to tie it together with the chaos in the UST. The fact that he wasn’t involved in this at all angered him. Just another list in a long line of snubs from Pareau. So, he turned to the one man he trusted to give him a straight answer: his cousin.
Blaise was waiting in the foyer, incessantly checking his pocket watch. He looked up just in time to catch Isaac entering the front door. Blaise knew a fake smile well, especially his cousin’s. “Blaise!” Isaac said, hiding his displeasure pretty well considering how tired the man must have been, “How wonderful to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Cut it out Isaac, you know why I’m here,” Blaise answered. The man seemed almost grateful to drop his facade. Guillaume didn’t know why he even bothered.
“How did you even find out about that meeting?” Isaac looked legitimately curious.
“When everyone else disappears but you, with the vague answer of ‘business,’ you know you’re being excluded from something. Ask around enough and you figure out that everyone went down south. The only thing new in the south is what’s going on in the Union. Why wasn’t I invited?”
“You’d need to ask the King about that one, he set it up,” Isaac said, “I was informed at the last minute, missing my lunch reservations at the Faolin.” How did the man manage to have as much indignation as Balise did over the entire situation over something as minor as lunch? “Besides, you should know why they didn’t invite you. It’s not as if this is the first time it happened.”
“They might think this is all a land war,” Blaise said, “But the navy can be relevant here! We can blockade the Union so they can’t import any new weapons, perhaps attempt a naval invasion.” Isaac scoffed. Blaise had expected that reaction. “I’m telling you Isaac, all of the money you’ve put into the navy can finally be seen as a good investment! My appointment can be seen as a good investment! I won’t be seen as an incompetent money sink and you won’t be seen as a nepotist.”
At least that managed to get through to Dufour. “I’m afraid I can’t help you, even if I wanted to,” the man said, “This war goes far beyond the scope of the National Chamber. It’s a matter for Marshal Zelgius, who I believe is in the process of moving down south. But, I may have the King’s ear for a time. I will try to convince him of the navy’s usefulness, while you convince Zelgius.” That would have to do.
Blaise, for his part, was tired of waiting. Ever since Franerre’s highest members of the army, politicians, and the King himself had all suddenly and quietly had important business in the south, he knew that he was being left out of something. It didn’t take a genius to tie it together with the chaos in the UST. The fact that he wasn’t involved in this at all angered him. Just another list in a long line of snubs from Pareau. So, he turned to the one man he trusted to give him a straight answer: his cousin.
Blaise was waiting in the foyer, incessantly checking his pocket watch. He looked up just in time to catch Isaac entering the front door. Blaise knew a fake smile well, especially his cousin’s. “Blaise!” Isaac said, hiding his displeasure pretty well considering how tired the man must have been, “How wonderful to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Cut it out Isaac, you know why I’m here,” Blaise answered. The man seemed almost grateful to drop his facade. Guillaume didn’t know why he even bothered.
“How did you even find out about that meeting?” Isaac looked legitimately curious.
“When everyone else disappears but you, with the vague answer of ‘business,’ you know you’re being excluded from something. Ask around enough and you figure out that everyone went down south. The only thing new in the south is what’s going on in the Union. Why wasn’t I invited?”
“You’d need to ask the King about that one, he set it up,” Isaac said, “I was informed at the last minute, missing my lunch reservations at the Faolin.” How did the man manage to have as much indignation as Balise did over the entire situation over something as minor as lunch? “Besides, you should know why they didn’t invite you. It’s not as if this is the first time it happened.”
“They might think this is all a land war,” Blaise said, “But the navy can be relevant here! We can blockade the Union so they can’t import any new weapons, perhaps attempt a naval invasion.” Isaac scoffed. Blaise had expected that reaction. “I’m telling you Isaac, all of the money you’ve put into the navy can finally be seen as a good investment! My appointment can be seen as a good investment! I won’t be seen as an incompetent money sink and you won’t be seen as a nepotist.”
At least that managed to get through to Dufour. “I’m afraid I can’t help you, even if I wanted to,” the man said, “This war goes far beyond the scope of the National Chamber. It’s a matter for Marshal Zelgius, who I believe is in the process of moving down south. But, I may have the King’s ear for a time. I will try to convince him of the navy’s usefulness, while you convince Zelgius.” That would have to do.