The council meet that fateful night to discus all manner of important things. Among them was the stubbornness of several fathers towards mating, a problem they saw more of every passing year, with fathers raised outside the city and therefore more opinionated and to some picky. Another problem, one far more serious and frightening was the sudden greetings from two ancient Velassi, so old that they had passed almost into myth... thought to be dead.

The questioning and frightened murmurs halted as one of the discussed sires entered the room, gilt silver hair brushing the floor with every step.

“Have you considered the requests put before you?” the voice was calm, as if it really didn't matter wether the council agreed or not

“Yes... but granting them will come at a price."

Cold green eyes narrowed and the sire's body stiffened.

“... and that price is... ?"

“You both must find mates before you leave"

The sire relaxed slightly, black eyebrow raising as if to say "that's all?", then bowed mockingly to those assembled and left the room, a faint jangling from the bells woven into his hair and he closed the door.

“Maybe it's just me... but I have an ominous feeling about this deal." the rest of the council shrugged but internally agreed. Velassi that predated the council were a law to themselves.

Outside a pair of dark blue eyes narrowed in amusement as the other sire listened to the terms.

 

“Something's coming... something big...”

Pale pink lips parted to chuckle as Sladyn realised the unintended innuendo, honestly... he needed to get laid... any Velassi over the age of 150 needed to get laid... like Kain... or Este... yes definitely Este...

Around him a thousand crisscrossing silver threads hummed in agreement, carrying their wordless gossip as they disappeared into the walls, a few almost asking how he knew... How did he know? He never really thought about it, the cloudy place always told him what he needed to know

Today strange things had happened

Today he had heard the scent of violets and smelled sunshine, strange... strange for he would never know sunlight without dying... But he still knew that smell.

Beside him shadows caressed one another, indulging in acts that he was only vaguely aware about, and bright colours mocked him with their jangling, but he just smiled and tried to catch the silver threads

“I wonder if he knows”

Nobody answered... nobody knew who “he” was.

“Este? EEEEEEEESTEEEEE! WHERE ARE YOU????”

A stitch came up in the wrong place and jabbed the thumb resting on the fine linen, a bright red blot staining the perfect white. Kain put down his embroidery (his fathers idea... not his... honest)and raised his thumb to lick away the small scratch then scowled at the door, blood red eyes brows lowering till they cast shadows over his burgundy eyes.

“Este is that your father?”

The young darkling father reading in the corner tried to hide behind his book.

“Este? Is it?”

“EEEEEEEEEESTEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”

“Would this be about your non-stalker... Ringo wasn’t it?”

The darkling glared over his book rim at the redhead in front of him, who took great delight in making fun of his future mate at every chance. Este didn't know what had cause Kain to feel such a dislike towards the sire. Maybe he felt challenged because there was another Redhead around

“It’s Renzo.. and you know it”

“Este there you are!”

Este flinched, then flinched again as he saw the look on his fathers face... Kain whimpered and hid his face behind the embroidery, the stitched lavender and blue roses going out of focus

“The council has decided it is time for you to start wearing the gifts Renzo has given you, you've been putting it off for far to long”no one mentioned the face that most fathers waited longer that Este had before allowing Renzo to walk near him.. didn't that count for something?

Kain snorted in the corner, but was ignored as Este’s father swept out of the room without another word and Este sat down hard in his chair. It creaked warningly but still held, which was impressive for a chair that had been through various manhandling and velassi children teething

“This is not what I thought my life would be like”

Kain searched his mind for something soothing to say but came up blank... soothing just wasn't a skill he possessed... instead he vented his own frustration, keeping in mind that the door was adjar, which meant no cussing or general crudity.

“................... they expect us to act like those ... women things”

“Says the father doing embroidery”

“It was my father's idea... To improve my hand eye co-ordination... His idea! Not mine! Not mine at all!”

Este decided not to interrupt Kain's state of denial and returned to his book. However it was no longer quite as interesting.
 

Soryo glanced over at Wilde, long fingers playing idly with his blond hair as he mulled over the council's request "So they want us to find mates?" Wilde's eyes were laughing along with him "yes before we leave" Soryo smiled "how easy..." the silver haired sire raised an eyebrow in question and Soryo's blue eyes twinkled "who could resist someone like me?"

Laughter filled the corridor and the sires made their way to their appointed rooms.