[b]A Naream and Valsharess Collab[/b]

Naream took a deep breath and smoothed down his robes, he had gone to great efforts to have his best robes cleaned and repaired for the ball. He was not looking forward to this... but the arrogance and stubbornness of a certain pair of queens and their 'oh so superior elder mage' ally to return what was rightfully his forced him to swallow his pride. With reluctance at first but gaining confidence he approached the Drow delegation.

Seeing some guards noting his approach and naturally intercept him he simply stopped and glared at them as he made his introductions, "Naream... of house Baenre..." He gritted his teeth. "Humbly... requesting a audience with the Valsharess."

The guards say nothing as the Valsharess makes a single gesture with her hand. The guards, without being able to see it, step aside and let Naream pass. "Ahh... Andrea... I've been waiting for you." The Valsharess turns and spots, with almost bitter disappointment, Naream. "... Oh. It's you. Hello."

"I feel the same kind of pleasure meeting you, oh Valsharess." Naream said and bowed, hiding his facial features as he said that. "My deepest and most sincere apologies if I am not your pet priestess, or should I say spy, at the Renaltan court." He said without almost a hint of sarcasm, almost. "How fare the Drow, still oppressed by maniacal, religious zealots, even after our gods, especially a certain goddess are banished?" He said, unable to prevent himself from making that jab.

The Valsharess moves her fingers slightly and Naream could feel it, as though a pair of fingers were toying with his adam's apple. "Careful..." He could feel the fingers dig into his skin, causing him to bleed a little. "Llolth can still hear you, foolish child..." The look in her eyes showed a little concern, though it was mostly annoyance at the lack of reverence Naream showed. "The Drow flourish, more powerful than they have ever been, and will be stronger still than that if things go my way... Now, what do you want?"

"Love you too mother..." Naream says, glaring at her. "What I want... well we both know what I want in the long run, but for now." He narrowed his eyes, "Don't you dare deny this, but you must have known that Harrad, had a certain tome in his possession when he fled the Underdark on his quest for immortality, a certain, powerful tome. By right it should now belong to me, in the hands of a Drow. Unfortunately, queen Kouri got her hands of it, after she banished the gods, all of them." He couldn't help but smirk again, knowing his part in that part and to rub it in that by all rights and knowledge all the gods, those of the surface and the underdark were gone, forever. He however mentally shook his head and continued, "She handed it over to her pet mage, Amanda, while they have promised to... give it to me when the time is right, it might be better if say, a strong ally of theirs makes a case that it should be returned to it's rightful owner now. For the good of us all, of course."

He stopped smiling now and clenched his fists, bowing stiffly. "I would be... grateful for such assistance and offer.... my assistance with anything.... our people... the Valsharess... require." He felt like he was making a deal with a daemon, but she was much worse...

"... You want me, to pull strings and acquire you -that- tome?" She looks him over, then shakes her head, uninterested. "You have nothing to offer and you are as treacherous as they come."

Naream glared, then sighed and muttered lowly under his breath, so only she would hear. "I am as treacherous like any other Drow." He snorts, "And nothing to offer... I have access to Harrad's laboratory, he built a entire army of undead mother, not just wights, beasts and monsters as well and all it needs, is someone, with the knowledge and skill, which there is only one Drow currently living who possesses it, to use that tome to awaken and summon them forth... to be at the service of... another, perhaps." He cursed his own weakness for this next part, "Another who might allow a exiled son to return home."

The Valsharess seems to consider this as she thoughtfully looks him over again. Suddenly, her interested was piqued, though not fully. "Intriguing... Still inevitable treacherous, but I should almost do so just to see what you would do with such power..." Licking her lips she snaps herself back to the real world, and sighs. "Not now. Prove yourself, and I will... Consider it."

He bowed again, sensing this conversation was over, for now and made to leave before he paused and turned around, suspicion in his eyes. "If I may offer some advice, do not try to manipulate the queens, either of them. I have seen where that leads to and last time someone did so, well queen Kouri banished the gods, she holds grudges almost like she is a Drow." He said, with a hint of admiration. "Perhaps we will talk again, assuming I survive any potential assassination attempts you throw my way, enjoy the ball, Valsharess." And with that he left, silently cursing himself he had to steep so low to ask for assistance in this matter, but the queens and that bitch Amanda gave him no choice by refusing to return his birthright.

The Valsharess watched him leave, then silently whispered to a small spider on her shoulder. It rappels up to the ceiling and stays out of his sight, though keeps an eye on him for now. Maybe it would mean something more later on.

---

[b]Naream and Maeven Collab[/b]

Still having a rather sour taste in his mouth after his audience with the supreme Drow bitch he wandered aimlessly over the ball floor between the various dignitaries of the kingdoms that had come to Renalta for this occasion. On two separate cases he had to point out that, no he wasn't one of the Valsharess's lapdogs he was one of the Queens blades in service of Renalta, at least for the moment, though he did not add that last part. He caught a hint of green hair in his periphery vision, thinking it was Mikan he grinned to himself and went after the elusive owner of the green hair.

When he approached her he frowned, was she shorter now? Still the green hair still made her stood out from everyone else at the ball and he approached her from behind and leaned down, murmuring in her ear. "Still have time to grant a dance to your favourite Drow?" He said with a smirk playing on his lips.

Maeven furrows her brow uncertainly at the voice niggling at her ear as she taps her foot. She did not know any Drow so how could she possibly have a favorite amongst them. Of course, that Val-whatever woman that had introduced herself to the Queen Kouri had been a very attractive specimen so she could be vying for that spot already but this voice was distrinctly masculine. With curiosity she finds herself turning about and looking up at the taller man. And finding her jaw dropping. She begins to find herself snapping her finger as she tries to recall his name before giving up. "Okay. So I don't remember your name. But you were at the West Tower with me and Faf. You had the dead guys... Right?"

Naream blinked, surprised, it seemed he had been in error since this green haired woman was most certainly not Mikan. He blinked when she mentioned the west tower and then widened his eyes, "You, you were the one with the mechanical dragon... with the rather active dragon soul inside that I sensed, yes I remember you." He looked at her hair and then at her face, "You... had a different colour then, ah my apologies I thought you were someone else." He inclined his head, still smiling however. "I guess we never got introduced, Naream Baenre."

"Maeven Lucre," she smiles, lightly tapping the side of her nose and drawing out her skirt as she curtseys. "And thanks for taking notice of Fafnir. I'm sorry he couldn't come along tonight, but apparently they were making a fuss about him scuffing up the floor and causing a riot with the noble people. A whole bunch of squeamish prisses if you ask me." She sniffs and straightens herself up, looking over the drows. She ponders for a moment, looking him over and wondering if he really meant if it was a case of mistaken identity or if he just wanted his soul gem back and was just looking for a more polite excuse instead of causing a scene.

He chuckles and smirks, "Yes I wholly agree with you on that, not much at home or comfortable around nobles either." He glanced back at the Drow delegation with a scowl before he returned his facial features to a more neutral outlook once more and returned his attention to his current conversational partner. "I admit I actually wanted to talk to you, it is quite... intriguing for me to witness someone, not a mage, at least in the strictest sense, able to implement soul stones into constructs, much like my undead and my newest experiments with golems. Especially a powerful one like a dragon soul housed inside a mechanical dragon." He suddenly blinked at a memory and looked suddenly intently at Maeven. "On that note... I had witnessed the damages to your dragon... and I am missing a soul stone, know anything about that?"

Maeven crosses her arms over her blouse and raises her chin with a sniff. "One shouldn't fall asleep with their prized possessions scattered about town willy nilly, sir. That's just common sense. Who knows what scum of the earth will come about picking up such shiny things. Why, what would the little children have done, picking up a such a powerful thing, hmm? Or what if your enemies got ahold of it, imagine what terrible things they might do with such a thing against you." She waggles a finger at him. "Games and battles are just no times for naps."

He smiled thinly and reached out suddenly, grabbing her by the chin with his glove covered hand and traced over the edge of her cheek, "Perhaps, but I was not asleep, I was passed out trying to stay alive and fight off those demonic chess pieces with my magic, among those who I were told were allies, not thieves." He let go of her chin and raised a eyebrow, "It was a empty soul stone regardless and I suspect it is now filled, nevertheless I would ask payment for it since it cannot be returned to it's rightful owner."

"Not thieves, opportunists who would rather not have such things lying around for people we could not account for to pick up." she lightly brushes herself against Naream's hand. "And what payment are you talking about. Money? I am afraid I am quite bled dry with the repairs I have already had to put in for Fafnir saving your arse taking care of the real threats and ending that 'game' with the sprite. Haven't you heard?... Got the bomb disarmed with the child too..." She looks up at the drow and presses closer, raising a hand and presses a hand to his chest, caressing over his torso. "A craft of my skill, perhaps? I'm not sure that would interest you, but it would take time, and I would need information on what you would desire..." She pauses, a small smile spreading as she drops her voice and whispers, "Or is there something else, given you're apparently someone's favorite drow..."

Were all Mechanists... so... flirty? He wondered as he smirked at what she was doing, merely raising a eyebrow with interest, at first when she pressed closer. "Well I admit, your art did intrigue me and I would like to know more, so I would greatly appreciate anything on that regard you could tell me. As for what I desire..." He murmured, before he pressed his body back against her, his hand reaching out once more, tracing over the curve of her ear and then her neck. "As for the something else... I do not want that... as payment at least, I am not that kind a person and neither are you I imagine." He smirked, looking her in the eyes, perhaps this case of mistaken identity would be fun after all. He traced his hand down from her neck, over her shoulder to her arm and hand, taking her hand in his and brought it to his face, kissing the back of it while looking her in the eyes still. "But if you can be persuaded to give it freely I will most certainly be happy to reciprocate..."

She smiles softly and wriggles her fingers at the kiss upon her hand, intrigued by the gesture. "How sweet. I may just have to take you up on that..." With heavily lidded eyes, her mind was already beginning to race with ideas on how to craft a device best suited to Naream's needs to service him. It most certainly would be hard to suit a mage, considering they they had magic at their service, but perhaps that was limiting in its own nature. She licks her lips before continuing, "Perhaps we can talk later as to what your needs may be, but for now, perhaps we can dance or partake in the wines they have to offer here. I have heard from the sprite these things can be quite enjoyable, and not just for the nobles... Can we prove her right?"

He grinned, holding her hand still as he guided his dance partner to the floor, "I think we can most sincerely prove her right." He placed a hand at her hip, but not before brushing it near her thigh. "Dance first, wine later?" He said with a smile, looking like a hungry predator for a moment.

She smiles and fumbles trying to mimic the positions the others about them were taking. "Yeah. I'd hate to see how many times I'd step on your feet after the drink, afterall," she giggles, "I do hope you can lead, otherwise, this might be painful for both of us."

He grinned, "I have been on the surface for a while and had a teacher or two to instruct me." He said, making sure to lead, and pull her even closer to him. "As for the wine later... perhaps we can remove one of those bottles... and enjoy it in the privacy of my or your room." He took a brazen move and leaned in to kiss her neck, sinking his teeth in lightly as well. "After we have stayed sufficiently at this ball of course..." He murmured afterwards.

She smirks and smiles at his offer. "That would be nice... After all... It wouldn't do well... to miss out on all our duties, playing host to all these foreign dignitaries, meeting and greeting, making contacts, so on, so forth." She purrs and plays her fingers lightly through his hair, tangling them lightly in his locks as he leads her along the dance floor.