tampered | Log-Complete

When; Tuesday noon.
Rating; PG-PG-13.
Characters; Isaak Fernand von Kämpfer/Panzer Magier (

rozenmagician) & Caterina Sforza/Eisendame (

milanbutterfly).
Summary; In order to show his gratitude, Isaak invites Caterina to the beach.
Log;
Caterina’s apartment looked neater and better tended than last time he visited. The furniture was properly polished and the dimmed lights replaced by a replaced by brighter lighting. The air smelled to pine and jasmine. Her staff must be very effective in their duties.

Kämpfer allowed the women take his coat and the packages he was carrying with the supplies for their picnic in the beach. Inclining his head to appreciate the welcome, the Magician ventured further inside, led by the head maid who guided Isaak to Caterina’s private quarters at the end of the spiralled corridor.

“Allow me,” Isaak requested to the woman, gently pushing her aside with his gloved hands to knock the door twice. “Duchess?” he inquired, clearing his throat, pocketing his glasses into his vest chest pocket. “May I pass? Are you still in need of my humble service?”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

“You are wrong there. What changed, Duchess, is that thanks to me you are employing this tactic. The Virtu as Machiavelli understood it not Plato, what your dear Sister Blanchett or Lilith Salh represents, they eventually doom themselves to martyrhood,” corrected Isaak, shutting his own book and fixing his gaze on Caterina’s razorblade eyes. “Your counterpart was similar to them, the Lioness they used to call her. But in the end, Cesare surpassed her because everyone thought him more virtuous than her and he wasn’t.”

He opened his book once more and renew his reading. “I’m helping you to balance your inner purity, your less than good actions whilst projecting a perfect virtuous image to all sides. To your Vatican and within the Rozen Kreuz Order.”

She closed the book and returned it to Isaak, silent for a moment. Projecting an image of purity. Even if she did truly fool everyone, she was not fooling herself. Where it counted, she was not pure.

But purity and martyrdom did, as Isaak pointed out, go hand in hand. And she could not die, not yet, there was much she had to do in order to ensure the safety and security of the Vatican from Francesco as well as the world from the influence of the RKO.

"I see," Her voice quiet. He was so intelligent, so insightful, why did he not seek to control what he was offering to her, instead. "Without your help, I am sure my attempts would be a failed venture, but Kampfer, please answer me, why do you not seek what you are helping me to attain?"

Pure people were necessary, Isaak knew, was were those completely tainted. But the extremes eventually killed themselves, they didn’t last and put the world in total chaos. A medium was the best to secure a better environment, Caterina Sforza was, to his opinion, the most capable leader for the future.

“Seek? I have already reached that, Duchess,” informed Kämpfer with a soft voice. “I have attainted that balance during several eras. I wanted to share it with you.”

Her eyes widened slightly, she supposed she knew that, but still could not understand why someone would give up power to help another, especially after seeing how much others fought for it.

"So it is not only the destruction of the Orden, the keeping of the krezniks from returning to our world and helping me retain authority," Caterina replied, then inclined her head, "Tell me, Isaak, what will you do when we have accomplished all of that? Will you stay with- at the Vatican?"

Isaak was pleased to see her brief shock. It always thrilled him to be mysterious enough for the Duchess, otherwise he would grow boring and thus unattractive.

“I am not one of the clergy to stay at the Vatican,” Isaak pointed out, feigning to not be aware of her real question. “I shall linger until you don’t longer need me, Duchess. One day, you will master what I know and my aid will not be required.” Or welcomed, he assumed.

"And when I have mastered what you know, perhaps your aid will not be required," And paused, "But your company will be desired." A faint pink tinged her cheeks, she did not say how much his company would be desired, even if it was a touch obvious.

"That is, if you would like," Caterina assured quickly, "I would not ask something of you that you were not willing to give."

It was Isaak’s turn to look surprised. He knew she was growing fond of him but to overlook what and who he was –and his actions- was a bit of a shock to the Magician. He closed the book and set it aside, losing all interest in reading. His expression was mildly thoughtful despite his focus on Caterina.

“I would want that, Duchess,” he admitted, lips curving into a faint smile. “Until my company isn’t desired anymore then, I will stand by your side.”

Caterina found a bit of enjoyment in Isaak's surprise. In truth, she knew that all of his actions were something that she did not know and that she was not completely fond of, but having him with her would, for one, give her the ability to influence his future actions as well as enjoy his company.

Relief also spread through her, loosening the tight feeling that waiting for his response to her had given and returned his smile, "I am glad. And since you have agreed, I would rather, when together in private, you would call me Caterina." She flushed again when she offered that. For now, of course, she knew that she must stand in the face of RKO as neutral towards Isaak and in the face of AX as his utter enemy, but in private, she wanted to become a bit closer in this manner.

Isaak’s expression turned less guarded, more openly fond when the Duchess requested to be called by her name. He stood and, with his right arm on his chest, bowed to her, agreeing her wish.

“As you say, Caterina. I extend the same courtesy, you are encouraged to address me as Isaak in private or among our peers of the Order,” he answered, straightening his posture and offering her a hand down. “Would you want to join me on a stroll by the sea shore, Caterina?”

Caterina reached out, sliding her slender fingers across his palm and accepting his hand up, "Thank you, Isaak." It was odd to be calling him that not in attempts of manipulation, "I would like that very much." And joined him for said stroll.

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