[right][sub][color=bea99e][u]Those in his general vicinity[/u][/color]
[color=bea99e][color=mistyrose][b]Little Dove[/b][/color] [@ineffable], [color=ebb000][b]Tavi[/b][/color] & [color=e6e8fa][b]Nini[/b][/color] [@Hoekage], [color=AA91D2][b]Klaus[/b][/color] [@GhostMami], 
(and indirectly) [color=fff79a][b]Avyanna[/b][/color] [@QueenNugget] & [color=9966cc][b]Doc[/b][/color] [@Altered Tundra][/color][/sub][/right]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/iEQha0P.gif[/img]

[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190424/ed63ec25b852801d2f462a5cc1721b2a.png[/img][/center]
[indent][color=bea99e]Royalty was a circus. Those that sought power, craved the spotlight, and thought they were a god among men, the prideful lions, never broke their act. This decree in itself was a power move. Dmitri Tepes presumably wanted his own to rip each other apart, building an empire they can call their own, [i]thanks to him[/i]. It seemed more like natural selection for the young wolf among lions — get rid of the weaker links, find humans and use them as resources, and ultimately, build to his prestige. 

Thy kingdom come. 

People who believed this would break the status quo were terribly mistaken. Emiliano side glanced toward his friends, pulling out his cigarette and easing smoke out of his lips. To think Dmitri was doing this out of the kindness of his heart was a fool's error. He held the crown and unless his throne was bathed in blood, there was no way in hell he'd forfeit his sit. Unless, he wanted to prepare them for something bigger than this [i]game[/i] of power. Without the idea of succession, wouldn't they be as mundane as the humans they feed on? Life would be terribly boring if they stopped having political differences and aimed for nothing. It would be a long and tedious existence to live.   

Vampires have faced numerous wars, with humans, with werewolves, and with witches. It wasn't unlikely that this was a calm before the storm. If the [i]future[/i] of vampires, such as Octavius, Niklaus, Kasania, and himself could not handle figuring out what their own ideals were, which is what houses are primarily based off on, and couldn't handle recruiting, seeing humans more as soldiers, enemies, or food, than how could they handle the endless wars that aim to make the vampire race extinct? They wouldn't. They couldn't. They'd be dead.

Did he see himself becoming a Lieutenant General for this great, kingly agenda Dmitri aspired to make real? No. 

Did he see himself having his own house, with brides and a purpose to groom vampires into his likeness? No.

Milo knew what he wanted. He wanted a union for people who didn't want to pledge to a house. He wanted to build a safe place for a community of people who didn't mind [i]assisting[/i] in dirty jobs. Lethal works, high risk, high reward, all contract based. Servitude gets old, real quick, and it was only a matter of time when his family would crack and go rogue. If he could prevent that from happening, that would be preferable. 

His eyes set on Avyanna, who was the first to initiate a conversation with them. She seemed peculiar. Subtle actions, like pulling the chair so that it made an annoying sound on the ground, showed she wanted to be noticed. Maybe not to be extra and showy, but surely to grab their attention. Why else would she come to the group with mostly royals that just made a scene? With an inkling of intrigue, she could use them, as she probably thought they were thinking the same for her. If only vampires left their motives visible and on their breakfast plates then chit-chat wouldn't be necessary. 

Though, what's the fun in that?  

Shortly after, his eyes with earthy hues mischievously glinted when they fell on a doe-eyed Artois royal, who gave him a look that made his mouth curve into a jester grin. While Dominic Wells, the rarity among Zenos, grabbed his brother's attention, Milo's dark, predatorial gaze never wavered from the speechless bird's innocent face. She may not know him, but he surely knew her. As a dog of the Mob, he spent years studying people, her's icluded. Kasania, of course, was the first to respond, with quick wit and sass. Always sass. 

[b][color=e6e8fa]“Kasania Tepes, it’s nice to meet you Avyanna. Hopefully, your friend here hasn’t forgotten her name after stealing those cute glances at Emiliano here.”[/color][/b]

[color=683e3e][b]"Don't be unkind, Nini."[/b][/color] He flicked the ash from his cigarette into his glass of water. In his silent scrutiny, rolling his eyes at Tavi as he walked away in the direction of 'business', Milo inhaled deeply, the smoke seeping into his cells. It was losing its kick. He should light another one... 

Charming Niklaus eased the tension by playing the gentleman his father raised and Milo couldn't help but shake his head, easily catching onto his intention with the, [color=683e3e][b]"Little Dove."[/b][/color] Emiliano stepped forward and put his chin on Kasania's shoulder, knowing very well she might not like him touching her so friendly in public, especially since he and her could never be an item. He wasn't her [i]type[/i]. The fact that Irene broke the conversation and went out of her way to go get her drink THEN come back to them was endearingly... sweet. [color=683e3e][b]"If a man offers you a drink, you should take it. Even if you don't plan on sleeping with him."[/b][/color] Giving her a teasing wink, he smirked and then pouted, [color=683e3e][b]"Klaus [i]never[/i] buys me drinks."[/b][/color] Faux sadness washed over him as he looked at his best friend in hope and jealousy.  

If she wanted to know his full name, she could inquire, for now she can know him as Emiliano, as said by Nia, and Milo, as said by Tavi. Not wanting to give the floor immediately to his friends, he continued, still staying his ground, pressing his chin ever so roughly against the perfect princess' skin, [color=683e3e][b]"On a scale of one to ten, how nervous are you?"[/b][/color] Blunt and straight to the point. Irene would need to learn how to handle people like him, people like Kasania, people like Niklaus, if she wanted to come out on top. There were worst out there. It was a no brainer when you looked at him, you saw a man with a background of sin. His hands weren't clean, his stare was detached, and his heart was far from gold. He simply did his job and he did his job well. 

Perhaps, he needed to break her to build her up? 

That was an interesting thought.[/color][/indent]