Cameron started with a quip to which Brienne countered like the good wasp they both were.
Brienne: "And there was talk of you wanting your Red King's head in your trophy room...but I digress."
The White King cocked an amused eyebrow and found himself a bit aroused at the thought of Alek's head on his wall. Or to stuff him like the bear he was and display him in The White Wing for all to see. He went on to explain to Brienne that he never hated her, that in fact he had always been a bit fond of her. And he could sense the feelings stirring between her and his Rook, which he would leverage if necessary. The men in power who had slept with his wife was beginning to burgeon in numbers, and it was making him uncomfortable. Brienne hissed with a mixture of anger and embarassment.
Brienne: "Oh fuck you. If I wanted Ava dead, she would be dead; but I wouldn't have attempted to kill her in your home club. Archer may have been a savvy King in some aspects, but he was a fucking dolt in others."
The White King nodded in agreement, sensing that Brienne was wary of him at best. He mentioned Erika speaking on her behalf because it was twofold - Erika and Zach had struck a quick flame that fizzled out. It meant that Erika was over whatever it was that she had with Zach, and that she was willing to look past it. It was important to him that The Shaws and The Kings stick together in this kind of climate, and he needed her to know that she had the backing of The Kings if she was willing to play ball. But there was one thing Cameron needed to get off of his chest.
"I'm not the biggest supporter of magick..and it's because I have never found a woman who does not end up corrupted by it. Consumed. Channeling mystical energies, drawing on forces that are so much greater than the powers of mutants...there is no way not to become intoxicated with it. Not to eventually separate from your loyalty and turn your gaze to yourself...but you haven't."
Brienne: "No, I haven't. I know my abilities well."
Had there been a King woman in the room, that line would have caused an altercation, but Cameron could stomach it. In fact, he liked the adverserial nature of Kelly, Erika and Brienne's relationship. They were in some kind of other competition that was beyond Hellfire and it kept them in each other's peripheral vision. And that meant everybody stayed safe.
"You are just about the only witch I've met that is able to separate her mortal life, from the power she clings to. Not to stoke your rage, but people look at you and find you...petty...spoiled, uninterested. They underestimate you a great deal, but they don't know the kind of control it takes to do what you do, Brienne."
Her hesitation had caused him to slip to flattery.
Brienne: "No, they don't. Which is why, eventually, they'll all end up dead."
"Well don't count your chickens just yet, Bri."
Cameron smirked, informing her that he knew for sure that his daughter had magickal blood in her veins, and he could already sense the presence of his son. Suffice to say, these kids were not going to survive on hope alone. They needed protection. They needed training, and they needed it from somebody who could understand their power.
Brienne: "Fantastic...more King's. Congratulations. Hopefully your children will take after you instead of your psychotic mother and sister."
"You say that as if you don't know that I'm more twisted than both of them combined."
Cameron smirked before he threw his cards on the table and asked for what he wanted - for an alliance with Brienne and for her to give his children guidance and protection in exchange for ensuring her safety while she navigated what a court without Archer needed to look like. His words seemed to cause her face to appear shocked, well as shocked as Brienne could look.
Brienne: "I'm sorry...sorry...no, i'm just...I'm just utterly shocked. If you have told me last night that you would be asking for my help in protecting your children, I would have thought you were as mad as your family. Jesus, Cameron. I thought you were calling me in here today to start a war with me, not ask for my alliance. So forgive me, I'm trying to process all this."
"Pretty sure I started a War last night...of the roses, anyway. But it's not as out of left field as you think.."
But she didn't need much more convincing.
Brienne: "I have a few terms before I agree."
"Go on."
Brienne: "I will not be ostracized or treated like some kind of rotten apple when visiting your branch. I will be treated by your guards, your staff, and more importantly, your Inner Circle with respect. Like the regent that I am. There has been a lack of that all weekend long and I'm tired of it."
"You will be regarded as a member of my Inner Circle, an official Liasion of The White King, and in turn I will be yours. It's an old, mostly glamour appointment that hasn't been used in decades, but it still exists. And it will give us both a level of protection I think we could use. Besides, my wife is already pulling the red court firmly into her pocket, it's only fair she should let me keep the white. It will be a symbolic declaration of The White Court's support for you."
Cameron took another drink of his scotch, taking a moment to refresh her drink, as both of them didn't like to have this lengthy of a conversation without a strong buzz. He leaned back as she continued.
Brienne: "Secondly, I am free to use my magick as I please from here on out. I will not be ashamed or hide who I am because this club has a history with witches. If you want your children growing up around magick, then you and your "wife" need to learn to embrace it."
The White King scoffed a bit.
"Nobody gets to use their powers with free reign here. If we did, we'd have all killed each other by now. You will follow the same rules as all of us who have very invasive and penetrating powers do. Though morals are cloudy here, there is a base level of respect. Use your power with respect and we will have no problems whatsoever."
He was alluding to her spell cast from boredom in Arklay Forest that STARTED this whole bloody mess. He was angry with Brienne, but she didn't stoke what wasn't there. If she had been manufacturing feelings, forcing it by use of her magick, it would be a very different conversation. There would be no stuffed bear in his study, but there would be a witch burned at the stake. He'd killed other witches for far less.
Brienne: "And third..."
Cameron widened his eyes and smirked.
"Oh, great. There's more..."
Brienne: "And third...your Rook, Zach. He has been the only person here who's treated me kindly since my arrival. I've grown...fond of him. And I would like to bid for his Kingship. I've spoken to him about it, and if he does agree, then I need for you to discuss this with your White Queen."
Though he saw it coming, he was a bit gob smacked. She really cared about him. In a very short period of time. So much so that she was willing to make him her King. And though Cameron wanted people to be happy, he began to view Hellfire as almost a literal chess table. Things were up in the air with his wife, and white was not his original court. He was worried if things continued as poor as it had been so far between them, he might be facing off against his wife for survival, and that meant he needed to stack the deck in his favor, or at least, make it a little harder for his wife to destroy him. She had Alek, and though he knew it wasn't as strong as it could be, he felt that Ashley had a connection with him. That she didn't want to see him go, and with how things were now, WOULDN'T see him go as Haleigh was beginning her ascencion towards power. Zach would be an ally for Haleigh more than Cameron if he was to leave, but if he was the cost of Brienne's loyalty, he didn't much see any other options. It was all very unsettling, thinking of his family as currency. But this was where he was at. This was now business. And Cameron was not just The King of The White Court, but a King of Wallstreet. He was good at it. Right now he was a bad stock purchase, and he needed to figure out a way to turn a profit that didn't involve just selling it and move on. More than that he was a father. And he intended to be around for Carolina and his son forever.
"I will speak to Haleigh, but if I'm being frank, Haleigh will not let him go easily. Especially in times like these. But she also won't deny him his happiness. If he wants this, he needs to go to her and tell her just that. Otherwise it will just look like I'm making some kind of nefarious play."
He made no mention of her feelings or trying to explore them, because Brienne was incredibly private with that stuff. While she was no empath, in terms of people he had met capable of controlling their emotions by sheer to that degree? He had met only one other - Ava. He was going to have to be on the edge of his seat like somebody else, but he did genuinely enjoy seeing her be a bit more human and vulnerable in front of him. It meant she was opening up. Zach might end up being VERY good for her.
Brienne: "If you can fullfill my requests? Then you will have the Black Court's alliance, which includes protecting your children. This will also be a two way street, Cameron. I need to be able to rely on YOUR court in return if I ever need it."
"You're right...it IS a two way street."
If Zach left, The White Court would remain firmly in his pocket. His Knight would not betray him, and neither would his sister. In fact, his sister was beginning to act as his buffer. He would be able to make good on his word, which only furthered his doubt that Haleigh would let their rook leave and join Brienne in Europe.
"We need each other right now. You keep to your word and I'll keep mine. And I know it doesn't look like it as of late, but...my word is my bond. I don't offer what I can't accomplish."
The White King rose to his feet, taking a sip of scotch, extending his left hand out.
"So we have a deal, then? I need to fill Jon and Ava in on our conversation."
