Compared to his normal attire, Jove had truly gone all out. Long gone were his tie and shirt who lived in contrast with one another. In their stead, proof that he could dress himself should he choose.

Stepping into the beautiful banquet hall which housed the Sugma Ball, the middle aged businessman wouldn't exactly grab peoples attention. He was not one of the picture perfect members of Blue Pegasus, and he would never make it to the front page of a magazine. Still, what he had cultivated for this event was an image of refined taste. It wasn't a blaring fashion statement, nor was it tone deaf for the evening. Instead it struck a simple middle ground, and he believe he pulled it off well.

His hair had been slicked back, his blond locks still without so much as a single strand of grey. A single cluster of his bangs fell forward over his forehead, though they hung in such a way that it actually aided in pulling the look together. Balanced on the bridge of his nose were a pair of sunglasses, something he usually made a part of his attire. Rather than the normal green tint that he preferred, these were a pair of black spectacles with a wire that hung down and around his neck. This wire meant even should his lenses fall from his face, they would stay with him and add to the image.

His suit was a charcoal black, with storm grey strips in even spacing throughout. The clothes were devoid of so much as a spec of dust or a single hair, sitting in untouched perfection upon his well sculpted body. A closer look would reveal that this suit was not made of the same silk as many of the attendants. A page of the Rune Knights, he'd never be able to afford such an expensive fabric. Still, the suit did not appear cheap.

Under his jacket was a crimson red button up shirt, the contrast working to draw eyes to his chest for a moment. In that brief glance, one would notice his solid build that helped add to the overall appearance. The tie was a shade of off-white, black plots of color spaced unevenly throughout, giving it an almost milk-and-cookie vibe that somehow fit the overall composition of his attire. His wrists held cufflinks that bore the symbols of the Rune Knights, a silver that did well to fit the overall color scheme. Finally his shoes, customized dress shoes which allowed for mobility should then need arise, were a black which matched both his socks and his suit.

Making his way into the center of the room, Jove would help himself to a glass of champagne from a passive butler. Offering up a word of thanks, the sunglasses on his eyes were tinted to a deceptive color. He could actually see nearly perfectly within the building, but still he took them off and pulled the entire string up from around his neck. Folding their arms in, he would tuck the glasses safely into his chest pocket, in front of the folded red handkerchief, and somehow it made his look seem a little more complete than before.

He had not come on official duty, but rather as Jove Augustus. He would bring the far too expensive drink to his lips as he worked his way through the crowd, eyeing passerby's in the hope that he could identify someone whom he knew.

The dangerous thing was champagne was how it essentially drank like a carbonated beverage. It was airy, light even, and went down far quicker than intended if one was thirsty when they grabbed it. Jove had barely worked his way into the room, drink in hand, when he found his glass to be empty. It wasn't as if he had come here intending to become fully intoxicated. That said, maybe it was better if he did? He wasn't exactly comfortable around all these big names. Every time he turned his head, he saw yet another sorcerer whose fame far preceded them.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

A familiar voice, though the timid tone threw him off. He followed the angelic choir to its source, spotting two ruby eyes looking up into his dull blue gaze. Before him, he saw something truly breathtaking.

Hair like fire, wrapped neatly around her head and tied together with a diamond crested tiara that screamed of royalty. Her face was dotted with freckles which he hadn't noticed last time, the light of dusk having done a poor job at highlighting her finer features. The chest of her gown was missing, showing off her sternum and curves daringly. His once over caused something which was rare for Jove in any circumstance; left him at a loss for words.

"Venus?" It had only been a few weeks prior that they had parted in Fiore, and now they were bumping into one another at this great gala. She spoke of him kindly before inviting him to join her, offering a new glass to replace his empty drink. He took it, still at a loss for words. As she turned to make her way into the distance he followed. He couldn't very well tell her no. Seeing her like this, his mind flashed the vivid images of her atop of him, snarling like a beast and threatening his life. Oh, how situations change.

She took him toward the far end of the room, to large glass doors which offered a vantage point of the property that would have been eye catching had it not paled in her comparison. He had found an empty tray on their walk over, dropping off his empty glass, and sipped at the light amber liquid.

"Some could say not soon enough." He finally found his voice, once given the opportunity to respond to her. She had turned to face him, and he regained appreciation for their difference in height. With her looking up to meet him, he appreciated truly how large her doe eyes were.

"You look gorgeous, by the way. I can hardly imagine you baring your teeth and threatening my life when you look like this." In any other circumstance there may have been a bitterness anticipated in those words. Yet Jove sounded anything but. His gaze was surprisingly soft, as if he had been caught off guard by her arrival.

"How have you been since I last saw you?"

"Nor did I," he said, the words coming so naturally that even a total stranger could tell he meant them. He wasn't one for fancy getups and expensive horderves. He was a simple man, who had been lower middle class in Fiore his entire life. He was use to the streets of Hosenka, or the bars of Oak. Not so much this stuffy, high brow environment in which everyone knew everyone. In a way, he was the truest enigma here. The only unknown in a room of identified variables.

That bit of anonymity was the only saving grace for the night. The only one, until he had found the energetic redhead who now stood before him. When she had taken the time to lead him through the room, he couldn't help but admire the fabric of her dress. The light, smooth linen that flowed from her body like water. It did his imagination good to not have to work so hard, and for a moment he appreciated the fact that he was still in touch with what it was to be a man.

She would have never caught his roaming gaze. He was a well adjusted member of society. Like all those who lived life interacting with others, he knew the intricacies of a quick glance.

As she spoke to him, a grin touched his lips. "Alone? Is that what you think?" Again his tone held its indominable position of being indecipherable. The deep rumble gave little hint of whether or not he meant what he said. Still, he didn't rush to clarify. He watched her, wondering if she would perk up at the idea of him being here with another- Or would she squirm?

Giving only a few moments of suspense, he spoke again. "Good guess." Perhaps another man would have used that moment to try and slip in a smooth word. A flirtatious jab, or a way to drag the atmosphere into something more playful. For him, however, this level of dry sarcasm and wit was enjoyable enough.

As she regained her composure, talking of the humans she didn't kill, he couldn't help but feel the lines of his face relax. He hadn't realized how tense he was, even now, being in this den of sharks they called a gala. With Venus, however, he felt lighter. Like the gravity that threatened only just previously to crush him decided to give him respite. "That's good to hear. I assumed as much, after all." He said his words with a sense of passion behind them, driving home the fact that he believed in her before she clarified. He never thought she was a bad person, after all.

And as she stepped into the empty space, the music just barely in the peripheries of their conscious, she began to move. Her steps were well timed, her movements graceful. Regardless of if she knew how to dance, the flow of her body seemed to be that of a seasoned professional. She had a fluidity to her motion that seemed as if she naturally fell into the beat.

As she invited him, he stepped forward. Perhaps, due to his nature and behavior, one would think of him as stiff. Contrary to that assumption, he immediately stepped into her rhythm. He matched her pace without effort, placing his left hand on her hip. His right hand stretched out, his fingertips briefly dragging against her forearm and palm before grabbing her hand in his own.

He didn't like events like these, but that didn't mean he had never attended them. A middle management businessman, he had often found himself dragged to parties with the very customers he represented, as well as his bosses. He had quickly adapted to the situation, realizing it took less energy to learn how to dance than it did to constantly refuse the invites to step upon the floor.

As the music played and the two twirled through their own world, his eyes searched out her own. "I'm surprised you're not here with anyone yourself. I would have assumed that you had someone you could have brought as a guest?" In typical fashion, Jove seemed disinterested even when he was engaged. Truth be told, he was fishing for whether or not she had a partner whom she was meeting here, or who she could have at least brought. It wasn't that he was opposed to asking straight up, but he decided it would likely be best to treat this conversation like he had their dance; matching her pace. She had only just previously danced around the topic of whether or not he had a date himself, after all.

Venus carried herself with the confidence of someone who knew of their elevated status. She was a being who stood high upon the social ladder, in every way it was constructed. She was a powerful mage, a beautiful woman, and a wealthy individual. She held an influence over the world that someone like Jove could hardly imagine, and he felt a sense of respect for the woman who swayed within his touch.

The dress she wore, now that he felt it, was truly of an extravagant make. It was soft to the touch, smooth like the silks found in the far East. As his palm cupped her waist, he also made a note of how delicate she was despite the massive amount of power she possessed. This woman was a living, breathing enigma who shattered and preconceived notion one could have about her. The type of existence who drew someone in, a vortex of life.

So as she spoke to him, going so far as to call herself boring, a surprising sound escaped through his nostrils. A sudden, sharp exhale that would indicate amusement. Then, though it may not exactly have fit him, laughter escaped through his lips. It wasn't loud, nor jubilant like those who were completely carefree and existing only in the moment. Yet it carried with it a sense of sincerity, a relaxed treble that suited his personality. As the noise subsided, he looked into Venus' eyes with a softness in his eyes, and a curvature of his lips. "I'll need to make sure to get a way to contact you this time. Our next meeting should be more formal, don't you think?"

As she queried what it was he had done over their short break, his mind flashed for the briefest of moments to Lucifer. He had already possessed a strain of Fire magic before, but it wasn't anything flashy. It was an off the counter, everyday fire magic that was unique only in name, but limited the potential of growth that Jove had. In order to continue to grow in power, to try to compete with the true emperors of the world, he'd have to expand his interest into weaponry or tools.

Or, he'd have to acquire a new magic.

With the resources and the reach of the Rune Knights, that's precisely what he did. As she asked, answered with minimum hesitation. "I signed a contract with Lucifer." Perhaps, with others, one would have expected this to be a secret. Some dramatic, drawn out moment that forced the other to contemplate and guess. Jove wasn't one for such theatrics, and he didn't see the point in it.

Magic through contracts with Devils was not unheard of, and he was dealing with a Vampire after all. She'd likely be more understanding than most. Still, it was an oddity. A good man, member of the Rune Knights, utilizing a contract with a Devil for his power. It was yet another oddity from the normal, everyday businessman.

Once again, Venus was able to easily establish herself as the wind to the sails of their budding relationship. It was still unclear whether they would blossom into friends, acquaintances, or something else entirely. One thing that was for certain, however, was that she would continue to provide the energy in their encounters. She seemed to be able to relax into the moment, melding into the pace and dictating where it would go. It was a trait that he himself lacked. People could change, certainly, but only to a certain degree. Even if he dedicated himself to it, he doubted he could ever match her level of charisma.

As she spoke of letters through pigeons, he wondered for a moment if it was meant to be a joke. Certainly carriers were still utilized, but there were magical apparatuses which could be used for communication. For a moment, he found himself questioning her age. They had never exchanged that information. It just felt common sense that Jove was older, based on appearances alone, yet he hadn't stopped to consider the fact that she was a vampire. If legends could be trusted, she was a species which would never age, maintaining her vibrant and youthful appearance until someone ripped the life from her body. For all he knew, she could be well beyond him in years.

"I suppose you're right." Rather than address that elephant, better instead to roll with the punches. He was a brave man, and they seemed to be able to relax around one another, but that didn't mean he was so ignorant as to ask a woman her age.

The carefree attitude stuttered as she locked in on what he had told her. Certainly, making deals with demons was not something one usually did casually. Moreso, as she said, the transaction was usually only one way. A human would offer their soul up, forgoing their future eternity for the freedom of immediate power. The stronger one was, the more powerful the demon which they could strike the deal. Jove, however, was a bit of an exception to the rule.

He had not sold his soul to Lucifer. Rather, they formed a pact which bound them both to the same body and brought their souls as close together as possible without fully merging them. Yet the deal was one which would allow him to maintain possession of his soul. He had not damned himself in this deal, and that was something that was apparently quite rare.

"One and the same." He spoke matter-of-factly, very much unlike what one would expect from someone who housed the embodiment of pride. "It's a fairly recent transaction, however, so I have no sort of mastery over the new magic." It wasn't the type of admission a Rune Knight should make in any company, let alone that of Venus Rose. In their time apart he had looked into her, the name which struck a familiar cord, as well as a few other big name threats to the kingdom. None of them quite matched the vampiress, however, with a bounty of three and a half million jewel.

"Well, I don't think you'll be surprised about this by now, but it's not so interesting a story." Perhaps the fact that he spoke of such a deal in such a mundane way was what made this thing stranger, but he continued nevertheless. "I realized after meeting people beyond myself, such as you in fact, that my run of the mill fire magic would never be enough. I needed more power, and in the vaults of the Rune Knights information troves I found information on making deals with the Cardinal Devils without needing to hand over possession of ones soul in order to do it.

"I made a deal to house him and to help him with a bit of a favor, one well within my morals, in order to draw use of his magic. However, I am in complete control of my body, the magic, and the mana. In reality, I came out better on this deal." Lucifer had been shocked when they had met, and found himself a bit flabbergasted when he was in a business negotiation with a human. Still, the terms were fair to both parties; and besides, Lucifer was immortal. Even if Jove lived a full and happy life, the time that would pass was but a drop in a bucket for such a powerful demon.

"Besides, all that exists about him are textual renditions of his time at war on Earthland. It spoke nothing of who he was. I decided there was a chance he wasn't as evil as the rumors state, and not to judge him for it."

Truth be told, he still didn't know if it were true. Lucifer had been surprisingly quiet since the deal. He could communicate with Jove whenever he chose, yet still the rune knight hadn't heard so much as a noise from the greater demon.

The song came to a stop, and with it so did their bodies. Taking a step away from Venus, and releasing her from his arms, he bowed his head lightly to her. "Thank you for the dance."

"To put it simply, he told me that he was bored, and that I was entertaining."

Her question was a valid one. What he described to her was something that no one would be able to easily believe. Especially one as her, a creature of myth and legend much like the demon who now dwelled within him. The difference was, while she was a beacon of this time, Lucifer was a timeless entity. One whose very existence was interwoven with that of Earthland. Stories existed of him and his kin fighting the Gods, after all. Yet now here was the Rune Knight, telling her of how he had found a way to not only harness Lucifer's power, but also to protect his own soul.

"I suppose much in the way that you find me unique, as too did he. He told me that my views on the world were strange, and that I was not like my kind. He also said that he'd enjoy watching how I faced off against the world." He knew that Lucifer had more in mind than what he had let on. That said, nothing Jove said was a lie. He was conveying to her what he knew for certain, but at this point both of them likely expected that there was more to it. This was the Cardinal Sin of Pride, the original Sin. Certainly he could be bored and find Jove to be an entertaining host, but it would never be just that.

Yet despite his answers, he could tell that there was something else bothering Venus. A question that was sitting on her chest; a fast acting poison that would eat away at her from the inside. The only way to cure her would be to extract the poison, but he was incapable of that. She would have to dispel it herself.

When she did, the weight of her words rested heavily on his mind. That would be how she interpreted it, wasn't it? It was along the lines of what he had been saying, and he was a Rune Knight at the end of the day.

"You're not entirely wrong, I suppose." He let a pregnant pause form between them as he gathered his thoughts. "I was just awakened to the fact that I was powerless in this world. However, my own worldview wouldn't allow me to sacrifice myself for any amount of power. And so I found a loophole.

"However, at the end of the day, my power serves to protect. To protect the citizens, the innocents, and those who are disadvantaged to the forces that would bring them harm. So no - Not those like you."

There was much left unsaid in his words. They both knew the truth of the matter here. They were still newly acquainted, and so he couldn't exactly say that she was an important person to him. Yet already she had become someone who garnered his interest. She likely understood that if she acted to continued murdering innocents, or if she worked alongside her guild to bring chaos, they would eventually clash. Much as he knew that there were avenues which would paint him as her enemy. Yet these were things unsaid; petty little truths that did not yet need the light of day.

The two of them had long since stepped to the balcony, and as their dance came to an end Jove turned towards the railing. Resting his palms upon its smooth surfaces, he faced out into the night. Before him was the city, with only a few flickering lights offering any solace from the darkness down below. Above was the moon, out in full, and the stars which accompanied it each night.

He took in the view in silence. There was a part of him, though he was unsure if it was uninfluenced by Lucifer, that urged him to break the silence. To begin conversation and to direct the flow of the night. Yet now, as he stared out into infinity, he felt as if that urgency was manufactured.

And so there he stood, silently watching the night, and allowing the silence to settle comfortably until Venus chose to speak.

Her words hit flat. It was sad, but true. Despite Jove's seemingly mundane exterior, he was a man who put deep thought into rather arduous concepts. One of them was through morality and ethics. He was by no means an expert, and considered himself to be neither accurate nor intelligent on the matter. Yet still he found himself struggling with the idea of himself being a good man. What was that really, and what did it imply? Was she not just calling him a good man due to the fact that he put her worries at ease?

She wouldn't see this internal struggle, for his attention was still out at the starlit sky, with his gaze arrested by the moon. How is something so stunning so far out of reach?

She asked whether or not he believed that their relationship would be ruined. Much like her, he found a sense of confusion in her question. While the two certainly clicked, the very idea of a relationship having formed between them was a distant one. This had been but their second meeting. He felt a desire to get to know her better, and a sense of mystique about her that certainly whet his interest.

He couldn't help but wonder if something else was on her mind. While it was easy for people to get caught up in the moment and lose themselves to sincerity, neither one of them were the type to develop such deep attachments to strangers so quickly. Even if he knew nothing else about her, he could feel confidence in that. When he answered her with silence, it seemed as if she had misread the atmosphere. She took his inflection as discomfort, perhaps, and answered the question herself.

He could feel her eyes burning into him from the side, but he did not match her. Instead he lingered on the moon, which sat comfortably in its own orbit. She began to ask another question, but Jove interrupted before she could formulate it.

"I don't think relationships can be ruined, and it most certainly will change." His words were calm, his tone soothing and gentle. He stood from his previous position of leaning onto the railing, and as he reached his full height he seemed to be bathed in the lunar light. "Relationships simply are. Good or bad, actions can certainly shape them, but they can't be ruined. Not unless they're given up on completely."

He finally turned his attention to her, rotating his entire body to face her. "I can't make you any promises that we'll always be on good terms. We live in contrasting worlds. But-" He stepped in, the distance between them closing. His usually serious demeanor broke, and a light smile crested his lips.

"I can promise I won't hate you, if nothing else. Whatever may come." Jove placed his hands on her shoulders, and regained his surprise at how dainty such a powerful girl was. Leaning forward, he would place a kiss upon her forehead, and then step back. "Don't linger too for too long on those kinds of thoughts. Vampires live for a very long time, as I understand it. It would be a shame to convince yourself that things could break so easily."

With that, Jove turned away from her. Whatever it was that she was working through had clearly come out in that moment, and he felt as if staying any longer would be to take advantage of that vulnerability. The time would come for their paths to cross again, of that he was sure.

For now, however, it was time for them to part.

[Exit]