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[Virikai Talius]

61st Trial of Vhalar, 718

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The purchase of the first slave was a necessary pleasure, as far as Virikai was concerned. His future wife seemed to disagree, of course, but she would soon learn how wrong she was. Now that the pair were mere trials away from their wedding, Virikai had come to realise that, although the pair would remain residing within the Talius apartments, they should definitely become self-sufficient within the household. With a steady - and relatively large - income, half of the battle was won. The next step, was slaves. With one bought, Virikai already had ideas for what he wanted next.

Returning to the institution the Yalta dynasty owned, Virikai was greeted by a slave, who offered to take his cloak. The slave was beautiful and demure, submissive and open all in one moment, moving with the ease, grace and confidence with which all Yalta slaves seemed to conduct themselves. She was a brilliant selling point for the family, the lordling mused internally as he shrugged off the cloak without even glancing at her.

“Lord Virikai,” Ses’ka, youngest child of Philip Yalta, was front and centre and ready to greet a potential buyer. The scion to the Talius family was pleased to see her, and smiled warmly as he took her hands in his and leaned in to kiss both of her cheeks in greeting. It was both genuine and a signal, from the senior aristocrat to another, to deduct any superfluous bowing and scraping from the rest of their meeting. “I did not expect you to be back here so soon. I hope Avaline has not been a disappointment to you?”

“Not at all, Ses’ka, not at all,” he responded, but explaining his reason for a second visit so soon after his first was lost as he glanced over to the man who stood tall a few feet behind Ses’ka. He was nothing immediately striking: a human by appearances, like the Yalta family, though dressed well enough to look important. Virikai had never seen the man before, and his pointed glance over to the man was enough impetus for the lady to step back and introduce him. “Oh, Virikai, this is Theo Malinconico, my fiancé.”

Virikai’s smile remained as he also stepped forward, hand extended. “Ah, a pleasure to meet you. Yes, it seems congratulations are also in order. I enjoyed the celebrations for your engagement, and was very saddened to not have the opportunity to meet you on the occasion.”

[Theo Nji'Ryn]

Since they'd decided to go public with word of their engagement and impending nuptials, Theo's trials had become a series of ongoing command performances. He'd even said so to Ses'ka in a moment of teasing his fiance. Though she'd taken it as an affectionate tease, which it had been for the most part. But the truth was, she didn't know the half of it. And that was exactly as it should remain.

On this particular trial, he'd been busy observing. Watching how the Yalta empire was run. How smoothly all the wheels turned when everything was going just as it should. How many people were required to make it happen, and what part Ses'ka in particular played in all that. Of course they'd discussed what part he might play in the business. At least what part he might be interested in, if any.

Or whether he'd choose to pursue other interests, and prove his worth in his own right. Theo had been non-committal in that regard, as seemed to be expected of him so early in the game.

Which meant of course that while he was observing and supporting, he might appear to defer to his future bride in some instances. At least in this one, and it suited him fine. There might be more to this arrangement than met the eye, even hers. But if Theo was going to be tied to anyone to the extent he'd need to spend measurable time with them, a meek, empty headed and spineless damsel in distress, was the last thing he wanted. Ses'ka was none of those things. On the other hand, it was a balance. Never let her assume for a bit that she'd have a husband who would be led round by the nose. So far, she hadn't given him reason to think that that's what she wanted.

So, Talius was the name of the man they were meeting with. Theo knew it to the extent he'd heard the name quite a lot, and Ses'ka certainly knew it. Eidisi. One of the blue people, as it were, and Theo had met precious few of them to now. He smiled when the man took Ses'ka's hands and kissed her cheeks. Clearly they were familiar enough. There didn't seem to be any tension present from either of them. "A pleasure for me as well, lord Virkai," he said, stepping forward and thrusting out his own hand when Ses'ka introduced him.

"Thank you," he said when congratulated, and at the same time gently touched Ses'ka's arm in an affectionate gesture. "There's nothing I look forward to more, than making this lady my wife. And as I understand it, congratulations are also due to you, my lord, on your upcoming nuptials." And Zana and Wyllum as well, as anyone who was someone would know by now. "It appears that in spite of the bitter Viden cold, love is in the air of late."

[Virikai Talius]

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“Thank you,” Virikai replied, shaking the other man’s hand firmly before releasing it, “My engagement has gone on much too long, you have been sensible in setting a date in reasonable time.” His expression, though not unkind, did not display the same warmth it had previously held for Ses’ka. He didn’t know the man - a foreigner who seemed to appear out of nowhere and capture the attention of an heiress. Oftimes, it did not bode well, especially when he know the man’s sister had also snagged herself a husband for herself from within the aristocratic circles. Granted, the sister was apparently revered for her unchallenged beauty, it was a wonder Edasha had not exacted something against the girl. But Virikai wasn’t alone in his suspicion over the siblings. Regardless, Virikai did not think of Ses’ka as naïve or easily taken in, so maybe the man was worth his time.

Theo held himself well enough, that much was evident. Speaking with confidence went a long way in Virikai’s eyes. Maybe, elsewhere in another city, he was a someone, with reason to be respected in his own right. Without that knowledge, however, Virikai was unsure of how to treat the man. For now, he would reserve judgement.

Watching the pair together, how easily Theo touched his new fiancée, and how willingly she accepted it, he wondered about the value of emotions in making a match. They were both human, maybe that made a difference. “What are your intentions within the city, Theo?” He glanced at Ses’ka briefly, knowing how suited she was to taking over the family business. Kai doubted she would get the chance, with enough older brothers (though none of them held the same... drive, much less mind. He wondered if Theo would learn the ropes, as it were. With a husband at her side, the pair could become unmatched, if Philip opened his eyes enough to see that.

When he had come to the family to purchase his first slave, Avaline, some trials ago, Kai had dealt with Giro. The man knew his stuff, understanding the dynamics of slavery well, but he seemed flustered when actually managing the transaction. Now dealing with Ses’ka, he wondered if she would fair better.

But even Kai, who had places to be and things to do, did not want to appear rude and alienate a man who could become a powerful ally one trial. Promised to marry into a noble family, it would be best to have him on side now, when others perhaps overlooked him. With any luck, he would remember Virikai’s interest and kindness, which would benefit him in the future. It was for this reason he focused his questions on Theo before delving into business. “Where are you from, originally? I don’t detect a Videnese accent? How are you finding our fair city?”