A question of Ethics (Reginald, Open)

[Diana McKenzie]

Diana realized damn well how screwed up this whole situation was and how messed up it must mostly feel for Mari to be stuck in this situation with her "parents" fighting over her while she was already a 26 years old. Diana sighed when Mari was rubbing her temples and she heard what she said on which Diana looked down for a short moment. 'That's not what this is about, we both know that wouldn't work, this is about you, but it's also about me finally taking a stand against him.' Diana said honestly as she bit her lip and looked at Mari again.

Diana smiled reassuringly when she heard Mari's question about Noah and put her hand on her shoulder as Mari continued about her life and how it totally wasn't what Diana needed right now. 'Let me be clear, you shouldn't blame yourself for any of this, that's the point, you should stop blaming everything on yourself, because most of the time you did and I was there, it totally wasn't your fault to begin with! And don't worry about Noah or his moral standings in this, he already named me Elder, the position is already mine, and it's up to me how I proceed, I'm not going to let anything happen to you.' She said clearly with a serious look because she wanted to make sure Mari took in every word and believed them.

'No... Not until I've made sure it's obvious that no harm comes to you without a lethal penalty.' Diana continued clearly when Mari asked her that it meant not going out at night unless Trent was tagging along. 'And I'll have to talk to Trent about this too... I can't tell you too much already, but you'll know soon enough, just let me tell you this that I'm done trying to come in between you two.' She assured her and gave her shoulder a slight squeeze before pulling her hand back. 'Like I said, if you want to call me that, it's up to you, I'm not going to tell you everything you have to or shouldn't do.' Diana told her as she smiled again, although she did figure that Mari knew that didn't apply to some exceptions.

'That's no excuse...' Diana said softly to what Mari said about her father and she shortly closed her eyes for a few seconds. 'You have enough friends, believe me you don't have to have a ton of them to be happy, and if you want me to make sure your stuff gets here I will too, you should at least try to have an as normal and happy life as possible Mari.' Diana said before biting her lip. 'I never fitted in anywhere either, and then I became a vampire, and then I just became a hunter, a predator, but that gets boring after the few first hundred years or so too, and it started eating at me, I shut it all out and not that long ago I finally managed to do it... But your father played me into letting it crack again...' She sighed and lowered her head, but then shook it determined and looked at Mari that way too. 'My point is, you can't be sure, how hard it may be, our purposes and place we fit in, might just come out places you wouldn't expect it, but here we are, and I can tell you that your Dad wasn't right, Reginald maybe thinks he's right about everything, but he isn't right about that! He has broken you into doubting almost everything enough!' She said as she kept her head tilted to the side. 'So please, at least trust me enough to give me some time, to show you that things can be better...' She said while keeping her eyes on Mari.

[Marina Anne Sinclaire]

"I'm glad you did." she said softly as she regarded the young woman, "Forgive me if this is taking a bit longer to sink in. I was sleeping so its hard to fight through that." she admitted, "I've got a slight migraine as a result."

"So are you going by the term Elder or Queen?" she asked her seriously, "You're going to have to teach me vampire etiquette because I don't really have a clue I mean Robert taught me some stuff on the off chance I'd need it but he didn't want to usurp anyone's role in teaching me." It was sad that the vampires had had to step in to help raise her but Mari seemed better for it in any case.

"I understand. To be honest I'm still trying to figure out what is between Trent and I. I mean I don't know how much was my dad pushing verses Trent wanting things. The lines got blurry and its hard for me to know with him being so busy." She still didn't fully trust Diana and wasn't sure what the heck was going on with things. "I mean he's asked me how I felt but he hasn't told me how he felt."

"Alright. It might take me a bit to get used to it." she admitted to her shyly. This was so surreal. "I don't even know what I am any more." she rubbed the back of her neck and stretched lightly.

"I'll try its just a lot to take in so many changes. First I get told I'm marrying Trent then not then he disappears and I change because a friend kissed me when I was sad and its just a big ball of mess. I mean I even tried telling Trent about it all and he just kissed me so I don't know what he thinks about it. I'm just really confused and I feel all backwards because I feel like I should know all this but I'm like ten years behind the curve emotionally sometimes."

"I'm sorry it hurt you, you have lived a long time. I can't imagine what my life will be like if I live that long." she said softly to her as she bit her lip and looked into the other woman's eyes.

"I'll trust you to convince me. Not like I'm gonna die of old age." she quipped with an amused smirk. "But right now I need to go to bed before my eyes cross and I pass out." she admitted as she rose on wobbly feet. "Where am I going to be sleeping?" she asked tentatively.

[Diana McKenzie]

Diana shook her head as she smiled reassuringly at Mari when she said she was glad that she had done that, but especially to her apology for it taking a bit longer to sink in, because she could understand that if she was honest. 'I get that, so you don't have to apologize, just take it easy.' Diana said with a nod and the smile still on her face. She laughed slightly with the question Mari threw her way then about if she was going by the title of Elder or Queen and shrugged her shoulders for a moment. 'I hadn't really thought about that too much, it can easily depend on who I'm talking to, but in most cases I think Queen, that makes it more logical to call you Princess so the rest protects you as their royalty.' Diana answered her then, grinning slightly at the idea because it would make things a whole lot easier and better after all.

'Hmm, Robert you say?' Diana then asked for a moment with her head slightly tilted to the side because she hadn't really heard about that name before, mostly because she had been too busy with the whole stuff with Reginald, Mari and Trenton to be busy with much other than that. 'Feelings can be quite... Intense for us, especially feelings of love and when we've lived for a long time... I don't think Trent would be around you like that unless he did really feel the same way about you, maybe he's just not sure how to tell you, I mean... Trent can be awkward like that.' She said with which she chuckled softly for a second. 'Yeah, just give it some time, and you do know what you are... But I do understand what you mean, as long as you keep in mind that you are Mari, and that you're my daughter, I'm doing this for you...' She told her that last part softly with now a bit smaller and more serious smile on her face.

'With the way you were raised, how your father is and the living arrangements you were in, it still pleasantly surprises me when I think about it how you have turned out, it's not surprising that you have some difficulty, just be yourself, and if you want to marry Trent... That's up to you, but you totally don't have to think about any of that yet, you should just take some rest.' She said putting her hand on the girl's shoulder again, smiling somewhat. 'Yeah well... It's more the point of the things I've done, people I've lost... You're not a vampire, so it should be different for you when you get to be my age, it shouldn't be with so many dark memories and secrets inside of you.' She tried to assure Mari of it, because a part of her really believed that and put her faith into it, because she did really want after all that Mari would start to get better memories, instead of only getting one crap situation after the other.

'Good, I'll be sure that I will.' She laughed softly about convincing Mari as she had said but then nodded in agreement and understanding when Mari talked about having to get some sleep. 'Of course, I have to go check up on some of my other stuff in one of the warehouses anyway.' She told her before getting up and then nodding in the direction of the hallway. 'There are multiple bedrooms, why don't you pick the one that you feel most comfortable with? The only bedroom that's really been taken already is mine, and I'm sure you'll see soon enough which one that is when you see it.' Diana joked partially as she looked at Mari, making sure she would be okay. 'I'll be back soon, you'll be okay and safe here, I promise.' She told her before she already turned around and started to walk toward the hallway and the front door herself.

[Marina Anne Sinclaire]

This made Mari laugh, "Me? Princess of the Vampires? No one will take me seriously." she waved her hand gently, "Whatever you want to call me is fine but I don't expect it to have any weight. I wouldn't feel right making decisions for others."

She nodded, "Robert Lovelace. He's been helping his family through some things. His niece Sienna was reciently turned although he doesn't know by who and she doesn't remember." she'd spoken to him so it helped that she knew a little of what was going on.

"I know he loves me its just there is a part of me that is drawn to Rodney. A part of me that wants...to run around on the beach and go boating and just not worry about politics or what it all means in the end. I mean I care for Trent a great deal but its just... I want to live life a little before I commit to an eternity of a husband that is nocturnal." she sighs softly, "Rodney's human its just...hard for me. I mean I just feel so torn."

"I'll try not to rush into anything and I know you're doing all this for me and I appreciate it." she impulsively hugged Diana. "Thank you." she said softly to her. "I'll try not to embarrass you." she nodded and rose heading her own way as Diana headed hers. There was still so much to discuss and it just made her head reel.

THREAD CLOSED