Tyrian was ambling along the riverbank with his head in the clouds. He was thinking about expanding out this way. Either here or perhaps the Orchard. Both were good lands so he had some thinking to do. The Orchard would give the livestock more grazing options but the river would open up a whole new chapter of land management. And the fishing. Oh, the fishing! That was a long ways off yet but it was fun to think about. For now he needed to focus on the present and the many things he needed to give attention. There was the barn that needed a new roof. The sheep who needed to be fed since it appeared they were about to get fucked by another winter. Not least of all was Lachlan whose feelings went a little deeper than 'fond' and who he needed to work up the courage to talk seriously with. There was just a lot to think about. ""

She realized when she spoke to Plague that day that she needed to get out of Ashen, she needed to clear her head, alone. Even on their small getaway, being with Hattori had been full of official talk and serious matters. She expected that from her husband at this point, but it hadn’t been the relaxing getaway she had really been thinking about, however magical the experience. This would be no long trip however, white gloved paws carried her north towards the river. The sound of gently moving water, the clear winter day, both would help to clear her mind and senses.

Of course as she walked there had to be another wolf with the same idea. The Empress paused when she saw him, sunset gaze glancing over his massive frame as familiarity struck her. She couldn’t recall his name if she ever knew it, but his pack scent was difficult to mask or mistake. It always made her think of the vibrant pelted man. She wouldn’t soon forget Jupiter, or the look he put on Hattori’s face when they had fought one another. Saying she had mixed feelings about Fireside in general was an understatement.

With a curious tilt of her monochrome features the lady debated what type of greeting would be most appropriate in this situation, there was no question in her mind this was Fireside’s alpha, but the last thing she expected to be out having was a diplomatic meeting. ”Hello there,” she decided on casually, since this was the closest to clocked out she would ever really get.

From a distance Tyrian had mistaken the figure walking towards him for Pestilence. It wasn't until the markings on her face jumped into focus that he realized he was looking at a stranger, albeit a familiar one. Her familiarity nagged at him until she spoke and he caught a glimpse of a forked tongue. Naturally when the raid was over that fateful day all his nephew Jupiter wanted to talk about (out of earshot of his wife, of course) was what he would have given to experienced that tongue again. With that thought seared into his brain how could Tyrian have forgotten who the tongue belonged to? As far as he could recall he'd never spoken to Pestilence's heretical (or was Pestilence the heretic? He couldn't remember but eh, details) sister, but after some thought her name came to mind. Venom. Abraxas? Klein? Whatever. Venom, Ashen's reigning monarch and That Lady Over There. "Hello," he said back, his tone relaxed. Fireside might have raided Ashen but as far as personal opinions went Tyrian had none for the pack or its snake tongue queen, although if any of the religiosity Pestilence talked about reared its head today he'd form one right quick. Perhaps he should have felt awkward being approached by a 'victim' of his, but Tyrian was shameless. As for what to say, she had approached him, so he was going to let her start them out on a conversation - assuming this wasn't just going to be more or less a nod in passing as they each went about their business. ""

He watched her even before Venom offered her greeting, implying his shared interest in her. First confusion, then recognition. Venom didn’t think about how much she and Pestilence resembled one another, not anymore. The Empress had far too much in front of her to spare much thought to a sister who she had once been so close to abandoned her. The recognition that showed on the Fireside alpha’s face replaced the confusion as he realized exactly who she was. The Empress knew nothing of the man before her except his place in Fireside’s hierarchy.

A greeting was given in return, somehow shorter even than her own. This led Venom to believe perhaps she wasn’t the only one out and about with only her thoughts. The Empress hummed lightly, not hiding her appraising glances as she thought about her next words. As interested in conversation as she was, there was no opening to be gained.

”Do you believe in fate, Mr. Fireside?” She asked him with a slight smirk. What were the chances two leaders would find themselves out here like this? ”I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced.” She continued softly, ”Not that I have many intentions of being proper right now.” Another amused smirk, not that he would get the joke. ”Venom,” She decided on, no pomp no circumstance, not even a last name.

It took him all of two seconds to decide how he wanted to handle this woman, at least until he had a better handle on the nature of this encounter. If this was going to be chess - and it was, this was an alpha he’d raided - then he was going to play a part. “I do when I beautiful woman asks me,” he replied with a smirk. Not knowing the context, naturally Tyrian took Venom’s ‘proper’ comment to mean she intended to be flirty. Which, honestly, he wouldn’t object to. Flirty he could work with. That was an easy one. “We have not, no. I sure as hell would remember. The name’s Tyrian.”

While her sister’s accusation of her being a hermit to her palace was blatantly untrue, Venom was a recluse within pack lands. Very rarely did her white gloved paws pass the pack’s borders. That they would bring her now to this man, one who held his own power and transgression against the Empire, was nothing but an act of fate. She wasn’t so convinced by his answer to her, he’d believe in it when confronted with the beauty of an Empress. His compliment was appreciated in the form of the amused smirk that played over her sharp features. Not that the woman would ever break her vow of loyalty to her Husband. Tyrian didn’t need to know that fact though, if she could lower his defenses with her pretty face she would take full advantage of that. She owed him nothing except perhaps retribution.

”Well met, Tyrian. I’m glad to have a name to match the face.” She paused for a moment, considering her next actions. On any normal day she would have turned tail and returned to her domain. While actively engaging the man seemed less than enthused about making any kind of meaningful conversation. He allowed her to lead, quite gentlemanly considering the history of their packs. Her gaze narrowed as a thought entered her mind, uncertain of the appropriate words going forward. ”You’re acquainted with my… Sister, Pestilence, are you not?”

He did wonder what all the woman knew about him and his pack. It was hard to say where all their paths had crossed up until this point. Who they had in common either as friends or enemies. What was rumor, what was true, and the like. It was especially interesting considering what they definitely had in common; the raid and of course, Pestilence. "Of course," he said smoothly. "She's a valued member of my pack." He would leave out how she was the reason they had raided Ashen. If that was the sort of thing she wanted to share with her sister, fine, but he couldn't in good conscience lay that at her feet without her permission. He didn't know all the details behind their feud so for Pestilence's safety he would stick to the things he knew Venom already knew. "Why do you ask?" ""

In honesty Venom knew next to nothing about Fireside. When Pestilence abandoned her for the other pack it had created a mental bias against them. She never made effort to make contact and Fireside hadn’t either, and for a time they lived in mutual ignorance. Save whatever Pestilence decided to reveal, which Venom had to assume was everything and more. Her sister had never been one to value truth. Not that an Empress put much stock in what others believed about her. Opinions were easy to sway, as her own was when Pestilence took the man before her as her alpha.

”Friends are just wolves with shared interests.” She answered softly, attempting to converse in such an unprofessional setting but not missing any hints. If her sister was such a valued member of the pack her voice would be heard. If what Toxicity said had been true, Pestilence would have been dead and the offender in attacking. If Pestilence told the same story she would be dead. Someone had attacked first and the Empress put that blame on both sister's shoulders. Venom wouldn’t take their quarrel against Tyrian and Fireside, but maybe Pestilence would, especially if she was on the losing side. Venom might never realize the truth of what happened that day.

”I hope she is well.” Venom had once been incredibly close to Pesto, she was her best friend. Then the fight with Gadreel happened and their relationship was never the same. Part of the Empress still mourned that early loss, so her words were genuine even if ties had been severed.

Tyrian considered her words for a moment; trying to suss out where she might be going with that or what, if anything else, Venom might be aiming for besides the obvious. The statement on its face was perfectly innocuous even if he didn't fully agree with it. He liked to think he had more in common with his friends than their mutual interests. Camaraderie, in his opinion, couldn't be shoehorned into such a simple statement. "Hmmm," he rumbled noncommittally before smirking softly, "I'll grant you that shared interests can make a lot of foundational work easy." He canted his head to the side and regarded Venom speculatively after she mentioned wishing her sister well. "Do you?" The question, though perhaps invasive, was asked honestly and without any harshness of tone. Pestilence's ill feelings ran deep enough for her to sic her pack upon her family and it was in Fireside's best interest to know if that level of animosity was mutual. Not forgotten was Pestilence's claim that the former queen wished to send her here as a spy. This queen was not the last one, but she did have the tongue of a snake. So there was that possible omen. "I was under the impression Ashen was never a happy place for her." ""

He certainly did not seem impressed with her soft words and the reasoning behind them. Friends were few and far between for the Empress, it seemed like most wolves just desired her for her power. Toxicity for example, but not even her position at the head of the Empire allowed her to submit. That was why she was cast down. Tyrian questioned her sentiments, and those two words spoke more than how the man followed up. Pestilence had truly shed the roots of her family, and even her alpha could say that her once sister hated Ashen and everything she came from.

Venom barely managed to conceal the gut punch she felt as Tyrian spoke. Memories of her childhood and her time with Pesto flashed in her mind and she felt her heart clench. She was being far too sentimental. She had mourned Pestilence when she thought she died, she had felt the betrayal when she chose strangers over her own kin, but this felt like a final nail in the coffin of their relationship. Plague truly was her only litter mate left, and his loyalty meant more to her in that moment than ever before.

Venom’s lips twitched in her Klein like smirk and it would be the only hint of the turmoil beneath the surface. ”I do,” she answered with a similar softness as she allowed herself to embrace the reality. Venom cared far more about her once sister than would ever be reciprocated. ”Is that so?” She questioned more rhetorically as she felt herself suddenly downcast despite knowing the internal feeling was less than useless, especially right now. Tyrian revealed a mystery that Venom hadn’t realized had been plaguing her for too long now. A what if had been answered, and she did not feel better for it. ”Well, I hope she has found her happy place.” She offered with finality, catching his gaze one last time.

”I appreciate the candid talk. I hope you and yours fare well.” Venom was done here. She was allowed a glimpse into matters that were no longer her concern. Maybe her bias against Fireside was lessened, but at the moment she felt worse about the neighboring pack knowing Pestilence felt the way she did. Part of Venom would forever blame the woman. For now, she would return to her duties, she’d drown whatever these feelings were with work that needed done. An Empress’ job was never complete. ”Goodbye, Tyrian.” She gave him another brief nod and turned back towards Ashen’s lands.

-exit venom?-