A question of Ethics (Reginald, Open)

"I am right here, my dear just like always." Reginald rose and dusted his hands off out of habit. He'd just finished placing a few more things behind bullet proof glass when he'd heard her storming through the house, "Diana my dear if you keep storming around like that you'll teach Marina bad habits." he said gently as he looked at the note clinched in her hands, "Ahhh, I see you got my note. Good. Why the aggrivated face my dear?" he turned to pour a glass of wine for himself and offered her one before putting the bottle away.

"Its a simple case of protection, Diana. If I die someone needs to look after the child. She's got men crawling all over the woodwork to either get in her pants or scream at her and try to hurt her. You can protect her. I'd ask Trent to do it but since the poor child is so conflicted on whether to believe you or him on your relationship I wouldn't want her to be worried. Now, of course you don't have to turn her. You could keep her at your estate and use her skills for the vampire community but half of them either love her or are resentful that any vampire is coming into contact with her."

He took a sip of his wine and looked at her with his blue eyes, "I know you care for the child my dear, but the supernatural community is all she knows. She's been rejected by most humans as weird and odd and you know she loves you and for all that she speaks her mind does listen when she needs to. I mean think on it. She has 2 choices, Marry Trenton, or get stuck with that Human Rodney Brentel and I don't want some ham handed jock pawing at her. The very thought is disgusting. Think of the power the vampire community would gain for having a pet cupid on their side. She could heal your insane Elders. Its unlikely she is to age so you don't have to worry on that." he looked at her, "All I am asking you to do is think about it. For all I know Trenton may beat you to it. He's been claiming the two of you were never intimate and were just friends."

"Temper my dear. You're getting far too angry for this to be a discussion. Which, I thought, was why you came here. Was I mistaken?" he commented dryly as he looked at her quizzically from his position behind his desk.

"And why not? Vampires turn plenty of people to keep their numbers up against the Trinity Brothers. Think of it as bettering your race. After all, this is my gene pool we're talking about. Not some garden variety whore that some farm boy nibbled on a little too much. She'd be a jewel in the vampire heirarchy and you know it."

He slammed against the cabinet that held his books and looked at her, "My dear losing your temper at me will not sway my purpose. Regardless of whether you like the term Marina has heard it used in regards to her many times from the lips of your own people. She's Trenton's toy to them. Either that or how did that fashion designer put it? Ahh yes, She's "got Trenton by the shorthairs" such a lovely turn of phrase from one who claims to deal with the elite." he said with a sneer.

"Or hadn't you heard what folks had been saying? Have you been so busy destroying her chance at happiness that you completely missed the fact that the girl was nearly raped trying to get a text book the other night. If one of the Trinity Brothers and that half breed mongrel Eli Diastone hadn't stepped in you'd be looking at Mari being a vampire without me saying anything. She's been getting pawed by strangers trying to get by day by day and you her mother haven't been here to help her deal with it. So before you judge me for wanting to keep her safe why don't you ask her what is going on?"

He stood his ground, "IF she's so special why aren't you doing a better job of protecting her from the faceless rabble that seem hell bent on using her to get to Trent? She is your daughter. Don't you think when it comes out you'll be forced to answer questions? What justification will you give? Robert Lovelace faces heat every day because he stays with his family to help guide them. Are you sure you can weather the same storm?" he asked, "Wouldn't it be easier to turn her and stop the questions before they even start?"

"I once thought the way you did. It got her assaulted by her own brother. You cannot just let her wander its too dangerous. She's a cupid. The worst curse any girl could have; let alone a virgin girl who is dealing with the world on her shoulders every time she steps out that door. She's never even had sex and she's going to have to give advice on love and romance. A girl whose dated two men in her entire life, has had a third hinting at marriage after two months and a fourth that actually kissed her and started this whole mess. She can't control her own love life how is she supposed to guide others? What sick capricious deity thought that making her a cupid was a good thing? Now I'm sorry if I think that her being turned is a viable option but she was raised by you. Trenton cares for her. Its just common sense to let her belong somewhere. Surely you can see that."

Reginald sighed and looked at her, "I am aware of that, Diana. I'm just trying to get you to see my point of view. I'm her father. Its up to me to look at the options that are open. I would be a poor parent if I didn't. He finished his glass and set it to the side of his desk. "This is all hypothetical anyway. I'm not dead yet. I'm just trying to plan in case things happen Diana. You know as well as I do there are beings that would hurt her the minute I'm gone."

"Yes it did occur to me on my own my dear but Ai Yamato was the one who put the seed in my mind. After all she outright accused me of calling the shots of the vampires in LA which you know is not the case. As we're seeing now I can give you my opinion but you stand on your own merit with no control from me." he actually said it with a bit of admiration in his voice. "I suggest you show her her place in the grand scheme of things. She's planning something THAT much Mari got but no details. It behooves you to find out what it is and see what side she really is on."

"I just want to make sure you're aware of what has happened my dear. Things are happening very quickly and I don't want it to outstrip either of us." he admitted to her as he sat back in his chair, "Since her change Marina has become the belle of the school. A fact that surprises me but its getting to be a bit difficult for her to navigate."

"That is exactly what I was hoping you would say my dear." he said with a smirk. "I do want you to co rule with Trenton if possible and if she has ties to both of you so much the better. You finally see why I worded the letter the way I did." he shrugged his shoulders, "I don't care whether she is a cupid or vampire so long as she is accepted whatever she is."

"Even I can only protect her from so much if she breaks the rules I set down for her. She left her quarters after I told her not to. I figured being nearly assaulted and being completely dumped on by her friend was enough punishment for her. You might want to keep an eye on her if you do end up caring for her. Her ability to follow orders is suspect. And as for getting her out of her clothes I have never done that my dear and I resent the implication. It is a very different thing from ME taking her clothes off verses her WANTING to take them off. A very big difference." he leered at her and sighed softly.

"I hope you can convince Noah of that because clearly Trent lost the sway he had from dating her even if it was only once." he moved in his chair and the creak of leather was heard as he shifted.

"Its not me you have to worry about, Diana. There is still Trenton to consider. Her pheromones affect him. How long do you think he will be able to avoid temptation?" he asked her as he mulled over her words. "Alright, Diana I'll trust you on this point but I just wanted you to be honest with yourself and me. You could always warn the Brentel boy off her. It would make things much easier."

A knock at the door came loud enough to be heard but respectful. "Looks like she's here after all." He murmured as he walked over to the door and opened it. Mari stood in a set of pjs that were something a grandmother would wear and a shapeless blue bathrobe. "Hello, Darling. I really do need to get April to get you something less frumpy in the bedroom department." he mused as he let her in and ran a hand down her hair as she slipped past. Her hair fully down went to her rear in curly waves. "Is everything okay?" she asked sleepily as she looked between them.

Diana rolled her eyes again and kept her hands up then while she looked at Reg and shook her head. 'Your point of view? Well then you should realize I'm giving you mine now, I'm not keeping that in anymore.' Diana said as she lowered her hands and crossed her arms in front of her chest again as she kept her eyes on him and didn't really respond to how he said this was all hypothetical anyway.

Diana also didn't show him any kind of response when she noticed the admiration in his voice for how she made her own decision with no control of him and she shook her head, more determined about that than ever. 'We both know you never controlled me Reg, and we also both know that you probably never will, especially not now.' Diana said calmly and showed him a slight and weak smile. 'If she isn't on "our" side, you know that I couldn't even blame her for that?' She asked him before she bit her lip and then shrugged to let him know that she would try to find out.

She just only listened as Reginald continued on about her maybe wanting to keep an eye out on her, but her face especially darkened with narrowed eyes when he stated that it was exactly what he was hoping for, that she would rule with Trenton. But next to that, the biggest thought that shot through her, was that he had done it, he had manipulated her from day one, with telling her how Mari saw her, bringing her into more contact with her. And now here she was, fighting for Mari, caring about her, letting some of her humanity spill through the wall she had built. She sighed and bit her lip and she slowly turned around somewhat and then slightly looked the corner of her eyes at Reginald. 'Damn you...' She said before shaking her head again and as she bit her lip still looking at Reginald. 'You know I will never forgive you for this right? You of all people should have known, should have sensed or whatever what I didn't want, and here I am, giving you exactly that.' She told him with a look that told him that she was totally serious about this, and that with the way it felt right now, she totally meant it too that she would never forgive him for this.

'Reg, you just make sure you don't screw her up any more than you already have! Let me worry about Trent!' She told him clearly when he told her that she shouldn't worry about Reg but should worry about Trent and how long she thought that he could resist temptation. 'Honest? With you? But also myself?' She asked him with a frown and then laughed sarcastically but decided it was smarter if she didn't go into that any more.

Once Mari came into the room, Diana realized she had already noticed her, but a part of her had also wanted Mari to hear it, to hear what Diana told Reg, but once she saw the girl hugging him, she doubted that it had really sunk in the way she had hoped yet, or never would even maybe. She sighed when she heard her question and shook her head as she closed her eyes. 'No, no absolutely not, this isn't something that you could do wrong Mari.' Diana then told her softly before giving her a soft smile too. She looked back at Reg but bit her lip because Mari asked them not to be mad and she shook her head at him. 'I think I should go...' She said putting a few steps away from Reg but then turning around again half toward him. 'But in a way, you're actually lucky I don't take her with me right now.' She couldn't help but tell Reg with warning narrowed eyes again.

Mari moved over to Diana and hugged her, she was tiny compared to the other woman so it always made her feel even shorter when they argued. But something was different this time. She didn't understand it and didn't know if she fully wanted to. It scared her and some part of her was very afraid deep down. "I don't understand. What is happening?" she asked as she swayed there. Her body exausted and starting to scream for more sleep. She didn't know if she should continue hiding or if she should try and wake up more to be a part of the conversation.

"What are you both talking about? I don't understand...." she leaned against Diana and looked at her. There was so much going on it was too confusing to even try to articulate it. "What happened? Are either of you, hurt?" she asked as she rubbed her temple lightly with one hand. Being human around immortals meant you were always lost in the levels they could get to or what it meant. "Diana?"

"She never understood what I did and why. I never expected her to grasp it. I just demanded compliance. Something she did better than her brothers before her I will grant." he smirked a bit as he moved and stretched his legs gently, "There is far more at risk than you realize, Diana. But you'll see it for what it is soon enough." he admitted. Not revealing anything save a slow smile. "And as for your mothers instincts. I think you will need them more than you ever have in the coming months."

"I think you do not understand all that is going on here, Diana its not just about MY wants. Have you been totally blind to the signs? Of course I don't WANT her to go. I just know she needs to right now. Its pivitol you show your strength. If you don't her life is in jeopardy from the minute you take control and beyond. There are greater forces at work than you or I and you can't operate with blinders on. I don't have the power to protect her from what is coming and I'm not sure even you do. Its why I am trying to get you to care because she is our legacy whether you like it or not. Everything I have done no matter how misguided was for a good reason and not just an excuse for my own self indulgence." He scanned her mind when she spoke of realistate as Mari looked alarmed at the way the conversation was going.

"Parental rights battle. It wasn't about me having her or you. It was about you stepping up to the plate. Now that does not mean I do not expect to see her I just expect to see her less." he said simply as he sat back down in his chair as he regarded the blond woman. "Don't be selfish, Diana. You know better."

When they left Reginald sagged. Everything in him wanted to follow and take Marina right back. She was confused and scared and he couldn't say anything to reassure her. The fact was his self control was slipping. He knew it. Could see it in himself slowly being eaten away by what she was. If she had been anyone else but his daughter he'd have probably kept her with him as he felt himself slip further into madness but he knew if he did nothing else good in this world he had to pick this battle to not give into what was easy as he had all those years ago.

If he'd been stronger he would have let her mother leave and never tracked her down but he'd been afraid that if he did that he'd show up 18 years later on her doorstep claiming to be a charming stranger to seduce his own daughter. He knew he could pull it off. Even then she was too trusting even after what Ezra had done. She wouldn't have seen past an illusion spell and she wouldn't have thought someone could cast one.

He steepled his hands together and exhaled as the room cleared of her scent. She was like a drug to an incubus and it would not do well to have her here. Diana might be mad at him now but she had to see his logic. He turned his chair and looked out at the view before him. Somewhere in that city his daughter was probably wondering what had happened. It was time he set to recording his last will to explain to her what he had wrought. She had to know what would be coming if things went badly.

A part of Diana maybe understood it slightly why Reginald has played it the way he did and what his reasons behind it were, but a lot of things she had to witness over the years concerning Mari, but especially the way he had used her, had just put that understanding at a very very low pitch. She thought Reg knew better than to expect her to be okay with him using her, to bring up her humanity, of all people she thought he was one of the people that understood it the best, and now he had made a crack in her wall that she didn't think she would be able to fix as long as she wanted to protect Mari.

Diana didn't really respond to how Mari started asking her what was going on and if she could explain, but also bit her lip when Mari explained she didn't even know how to call her and didn't want to call her the wrong thing. Still once Diana had helped her to the nearest couch in the house, she knelt in front of her and sighed for a moment. 'I'm sorry Mari, at first I didn't want you to see any of this, but your father pushed me... I can't stand by looking at all the shit that's happening to you.' She explained before sighing again and thoughtfully biting her lip for a moment. 'Things have changed... Noah, Elder vampire of the city made me his follow-up... I'm the new Elder in these parts.' She explained Mari honestly, not wanting to keep this secret from her in any way. 'And I've also took you here to protect you, from your Dad... But also from other vampires that still might want to harm you, until I've taken care of things to keep you safe from them, that they can't do other than respect and protect you if necessary.' She continued before biting her lip again, thinking of the right words to continue again.

'There isn't any wrong thing you could call me or anything Mari, once I've taken care of some things... You'll finally have more freedom, I want you to have your own life, as much as possible with the burdening gifts you have, so you can call me whatever you want.' She reassured Mari with a smile appearing on her face and wanting to let her know that she wasn't instantly going to overflow her with rules again, or how she should address her, that was up to her, if it was just her name, or even along the lines of how she viewed her as a mother... But she didn't want, or even couldn't, tell her what to call her. 'In a way I did... Maybe I still do... But your father has done something to me that I can't forgive him, and with that, he also caused me to want you away from him.' She then explained and answered Mari to when she explained herself that she thought that her and Reginald loved each other, which was also again the truth, even if it was clearly hard for Diana to have this conversation.

'Stay here.' She told her softly eventually before getting up and with a whooshing sound leaving the room at vampire speed, and then within no time being back with the same sound right at the same spot in front of Mari and the couch and keeping a glass of water up for her. 'Here, hopefully it'll help you relax some more for a moment.' She said, finding it difficult to see Mari like this, and hoping that she could feel more comfortable if Mari got her mind more focused, although she would probably also let her rest soon, hopefully that would help too.