xp_logs | Hellfire log interlude

Where: Hellfire Ball
When: Feb 29th, after the ceremonies and before the rescue
Who: Manuel de la Rocha, Alphonso de la Rocha, Adoracion de la Rocha, Carmelita de la Rocha (by proxy)

Manuel twirled around the dance floor, his new dress sword gleaming as the white leather of the sheath caught the light. His partner, Monet St Croix, was beautiful in her haughty arrogance, but Manuel barely noticed her. Instead, he was surfing the feelings of the other partygoers, revelling in their jealousies, they lusts, and their hatreds. Even Monet's bored disapproval served to heighten and sweeten the bouquet on his emotional palate.

All too soon, the dance came to an end, and Monet moved off into the crowd without so much as a by-your-leave. Manuel didn't care, because he had spotted a very familiar emotional pattern near the back of the room. One that demanded his total and complete attentions. He made his way through the crowd, ignoring the empty pleasantries and the veiled threats until he came face-to-face with an older man clad all in black, with a girl of no more than sixteen on his arm, dressed in flaming scarlet-and-yellow in the Spanish style.

"Father." Manuel said in Castillian while nodding to the older man. "You look well."

"My Lord." said Alphonso, through gritted teeth. "You look much better than the last time I saw you."

Manuel smiled. "That's not surprising, considering I was fourteen at the time, and you were banishing me from the manor." he said without acrimony.

Alphonso shrugged that one off. "Of course, of course. A big misunderstanding, that. Your power was out of control, manipulating everyone around you. It is understandable, I think, that we did the things we did, don't you agree?"

Manuel sensed the duplicity but accepted the words without argument. "Of course. It is good that we can both forgive and move along." He smiles crookedly, making the implied threat slightly more explicit.

Alphonso swallowed heavily, sweat popping out on his brow. "I have someone you should meet." he said, motioning for the girl in scarlet-and-yellow to come forward. "This is Adoracion."

Manuel grinned at the beauty being presented to him. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Adoracion ...?"

"de la Rocha." the girl said, curtseying. "My name is Adoracion de la Rocha."

Manuel 's jaw dropped as he turned to his father. "This must be some cruel joke. Where is Carmelita, my mother? Who is this girl?"

Before Alphonso could answer, Adoracion slapped Manuel across the face. "That is _not_ the way a son speaks to a father about his father's wife! I am your mother now, and you will respect me and our name!"

Manuel turned to the girl and hissed through his teeth. "You are _NOT_ my mother. My mother was a sweet woman, generous and kind. You are some slut that he is using to mock and disgrace me."

Alphonso stepped forward to jab a thick ringed finger into Manuel's chest. "Do not think that your new title will protect you overmuch, boy." he growled. "We are not without enemies, and any internal division will give them just the opportunity they need to tear us all apart! We have an opportunity here, or are you truly too stupid to see it? You are the White Knight, while I serve the Black King. Between us, if we are careful and if we are lucky, we can rule _both_ sides of the Lords Cardinal! Take the Club for our own, use it to restore our house to what it deserves to be!"

Manuel just looked at the offending finger, then at his father, than at his "mother". An empathic scan verified their story - as far as it went. Alphonso believed, and Adoracion was a hot ball of hate and anger and shame. "Name this enemy, so I can know who it is who threatens us."

Adoracion snorted richly, and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. "You do not know? All that power, and you _do not know_? Her name is Frost, my son. She will use you to destroy us, then cast you aside, broken and useless. Haven't you heard, students in her tutelage tend not to lead the longest of lives." The raised voices and hot emotion had drawn the attention of onlookers, but a daring glare from Adoracion sent her would-be interlopers packing. "This place - it is not safe to discuss things here." she said quietly. "We will bring word to you with a means for moving against our foe. But be careful, Manuelito. You are still the de la Rocha heir." she said, with an odd glance at her feet.

Manuel paused to consider her words, then turned back towards Alphonso. "You did not answer my question. Where is Carmelita?"

Alphonso had the guile to look surprised and saddened by the question. "Of course, you would not have heard. She is no longer with us, Manuelito. She waited for you to return for as long as she could, but eventually the waiting became too much for her to bear. She took her own life last year. I am sorry, my son. I did not know how to reach you, to give you word. You will of course return to Spain to pay your proper respects." Next to Alphonso, Adoracion looked on with helpless sympathy.

Too overcome for words, Manuel merely stood mutely and gaped at Alphonso. It was precisely at this moment when Emma's mental call rang across his synapses. "Excuse me ... there is something I must attend to. We will talk again. Leave a means of contact with the Club personnel - I'll pick it up before I depart." he stammered as he turned on his heel. When he thought that he was safely out of eyesight of his parents, Manuel wiped his sleeve across his eyes to remove the hot tears spilling down his face.

After his son had departed Alphonso winked at Adoracion, and impulsively hugged her. "Do you think he accepted the story?"

Adoracion smiled a predatory smile back at Alphonso. "Of course he did. You saw it as clearly as I did. He has no discipline, no finesse. He will do whatever you ask of him."

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Current Mood: sad
Current Music: VNV Nation - Honour