[Mina] We Are Family

[Mina Van Estra]

Shifting uncomfortably she nodded a couple times swiftly, looking away to her window again, her eyes avoiding her brothers uncomfortability with her questions. So she would be kept in the dark. “I understand.” she said, another stiff nod, she wanted to understand, but it still bothered her senseless. Standing she moved away from where they sat and went around her room, over to her jewelry box, some of the best jewels in the kingdom, second only to, maybe her mothers, by far the best though. The box itself was breathtaking, with jewels in crested all around it, silvers, golds, precious stones all over. It was a gift given to her by their father when she was much younger, she'd never used anything else as this had always stayed in pristine condition. She picked up a long red pendent shaped like a diamond and clasped it around her neck, twirling the jewel around. “These are beautiful in the light.” she said glancing around. “It's a shame they have to be kept hidden all the time in the dark.”

[Brone Van Estra]

"The dark and candle light," Brone agreed. He was silent for a moment. He wanted to avoid the subject but he could see the pain of being told nothing on his sister's face. Brone felt bad not trying to explain."Oh Mina I wish I could tell you. Alex doesn't quite understand, and he knows me best, trust me though, it should pass, no need to worry you." He said. that was more than he had told anyone else, besides Serena, but she was not becoming part of the conversation. Mina would hate knowning he could tell a lover and not her. But the truth wa,s it had so much to do with love. That was the problem. "I'm so lost." The words were so quiet he did not even know if she caught them, despite excellent vampire hearing. Brone was not very easily confused or bothered, he worried all the time, but he usually knew what was going on and what had to be done. Brone, the future king was never, lost.

[Mina Van Estra]

“Candle light is like comparing one boy against an army of men, it's nothing when facing the sun.” she said, poor little jewel, it would have to be worn at night, shown only to a few and kept like a dirty little secret tight in her box of jewels. Gaining a small amount of composure she walked back over to her brother after hearing him speak, and caught the tail end of his lost. Mina hadn't seen a vulnerable side before to Brone, and she decided to stop there, suck it up and act like a princess should, save her brother any embarrassment he might feel. It was quite unnecessary to keep himself so guarded around her, his sister, but then they both had things they'd rather the other not know.

“Brone, you shouldn't doubt yourself, really. I believe in you, and there are many others who do to. Whatever you do you do because it is the right thing for us all, and I know you will make the right choices, and if you should ever choose to confide in me it will be at the right time. Which this is not. When you are ever in trouble or needing my help, then you must promise me you will tell me, until then I will not bother you about this ever again.”she vowed. It was probably the single most mature thing she'd ever done, the realization that her brother would one day become king, with a list of responsibility's that probably hadn't even occurred to her weighed on her mind. She would offer him at least this much. To change the mood after a quick pause she picked up the corners of her mouth into a smile. “Ah, I almost forgot!” she said excited. “There might be discussions of a small party in the future, I've discussed it with mother already. And you know what kind of fun our party's can be. After all, who doesn't want to party with the Van Estra's?”

[Brone Van Estra]

Brone crossed the room in three swift steps and planted a cold lipped kiss on his sister's forehead affectionately. "I needed to hear that. I promise, I will confide in you, when the time is right." But would the time ever be quite right? He would fine out do doubt. Brone wondered what she'd say, and he would discuss it later. But as she change tones, he did so happily as well.

"Oh a party, its been a while," He said with a smile. He rather liked parties--not so much the social part. But being prince he ahd been trained in classic dancing and singing, so parties were really fine with him, just another chance to practice being king. He needed practice. "Everyone wants Van Estra party. Who are you inviting?"

[Mina Van Estra]

“I told mother we'd keep it small, so maybe 200 or so people. Bring your new lover if you wish, she should have some nice clothes though I would hope. After all this isn't some silly little party, everyone has to dress well.” Mina said. It had always been on her growing to do list to have a party where even the commoners could attend in their own clothing, she just wasn't sure how much everyone would like that in her family. And anyways, Mina liked dressing up for the night, wearing her best clothes and gowns, having her hair done impeccably so, it was all part of the pampering process.

It was good that she and her brother would be so able to move past their conversation just moments before, it really wasn't the time to discuss such things. Smiling she moved back to her chair and took a seat, “Of course this could all change, it's only an idea.” she rolled her eyes slightly, they both knew quite well how things went when she wanted it.

[Brone Van Estra]

Brone laughed, "Perhaps, but a party would still be a nice thing to do. To dance in the middle of this war." It would show they had money to spend on a party, show they thought things would be fine between and with them all. Tome to unwind, but he would have to make sure Serena wanted to go, and if she did, had something suitable to wear. Besides, Brone needed a change of mind, something to think about besides work and his tangled love life.

"I'll put in a good word to the parents if they change their mind on letting you throw a party." He hated to say it, but he knew they listened to him more than the other two--probably just because he was going to be king someday, but Brone did not see why that made his opinion more important. he disagreed with his parents way of treating their children, but he was not blind to it.

[Mina Van Estra]

Oh the bloody war, the war that Mina tried to think about as minimal as was possible. She'd tried to avoid conversations about it, would leave the room when it was discussed, just didn't like it at all. War and love didn't mix well.

“I can handle our own parents on my own, thank you.” Mina said shortly, she hated being a younger sister sometimes. “My older brother doesn't always have to be the one trying to look out for me, I'm quite capable you know.” she said, being agitated. Rolling her eyes she looked down at the table. It really bothered her feeling like she wasn't to be taken seriously, she renumbered a long time ago a day dream she'd had about being just another commoner and wanted to cringe, it would feel so helpless, like being just another name or face in a crowd.

[Brone Van Estra]

"Its not my fault they don't believe you can take care of yourself," Brone said hotly, crossing his arms over his chest. He respected his sister and was aware of her power. It was not his fault that he was the first born, the eldest son, the heir. It was not his fault they paid attention to him. "I know you're capable, more capable than most, including Jon." Brone and Jonathon did not get along well. Jon was an optimistic laid back spirit, a feeler; while Brone was a thinker, a worker, and rigid in manner. The two clashed instead on complimenting. He held Mina far above her twin. he was sure she knew that too. "They don't see you for what you are, you deserve much better, from all of us, i know, but they have the farthest to come. I was only trying to be helpful."

[Mina Van Estra]

Mina loved a good argument, what could she say, it excited her, a little. But she was just easily annoyed and didn't like his tone. She crossed her own arms, stiffing her shoulders and tittling her chin. Years of etiquette meant her shoulders never slouched. “Please, don't give me that rehearsed answer. Like you didn't love the attention they give you. Like you don't love being the heir, all the power, that's all it is with you men. Money, power and women.” she glanced away, trying not to say anything she would regret.

So okay, she knew Brone wasn't exactly like that. But she'd be damned before she would admit it. After all, who wouldn't kill to be in his position? “What's with you and Jon anyways, your brothers after all. Don't you men have some sort of code?” Mina wasn't sure but she got the feeling Brone would rather spend time with the tough heads her father insisted he meet rather then her own twin Jon. Then, Mina was actually a lot more like Brone than Jon was, he lacked that sort of power, that respect. She wasn't sure why though, she should have felt more loyal but she avoided picking sides.

[Brone Van Estra]

Oh just great, the princess wanted to argue back. Brone sighed loudly, an exasperated exhale. "I'd love to get out of it sometimes Mina, you have no idea...." He paused there. No need to give her more ammunition. He hated never having a moment to himself. He hated knowing that he had no idea who he was, what he really liked because he had always been told exactly what he should think and say. Brone wanted to be king only because he did not know how to be anything else and thought maybe he could help the people more than his father did. Vlad III and Brone did not get along that well most of the time, they had very different philosophies on somethings, but Jon....

"No, we don't have a code. I'm not going to pretend like i understand him," Brone said crossly. "He does anything he damn well pleases, no one watches him the way they watch us. He doesn't have a fucking care in the world, he think his optimism will solve everything." Brone was watched because he would be king, Mina was watched because she was a woman. And Jon, who had the freedom to change the world--decided to make jokes. It infuriated Brone because he wanted that same freedom.

[Mina Van Estra]

Sighing in response she just listened. Not really noticing the words he was leaving out, wanting to get out of it all. Mina hated getting told off, or being told things she didn't want to hear. Basically, she loved the sound of her own voice to much to really see how deep her brothers pain went.

Pursing her lips she tried to feel sorry for him, but thoughts of him bashing her brother sent a small flare of anger through her, which she constantly tried to cool with sympathy, it was spared only for her family. Had it been someone else the princess would have already been up in arms. “Well at least Jon doesn't go about being the boss all the time, you just never appreciate his side of things. At least he's happy not being the first born, and least he can live with it. At least he doesn't fight it every step of the way.” Mina wasn't sure if she was talking about Brone or herself anymore.

[Brone Van Estra]

"I've never had a chance to see his side of things Mina. I'm not him." Brone said. He didn't know what it was like to just be yourself, he knew how to be crowned prince brone, but what about just normal Brone. What would he have been like if he was in Jon's place? Who would Jon be in his place? "I don't try to be the boss all the time, if I wasn't going to be king...." he trailed off, her words had taken another direction. Was she still talking about him or not....?

"So I fight with destiny, doesn't change anything. I can't change who I am--I wish I could." Brone had not intended to tell her that he was unhappy with his place in the family. He had not meant to let her know he had great weakness with his great political power. Maybe his problem with Jon was that Jon was everything he wished he could be: happy, carefree, faithful, worry free.

[Mina Van Estra]

Wasn't Brone supposed to be the arrogant, self assured heir? Not the moody and brooding type, pinning for a lost life. “We all have our place in this world, we can't spend all our time wondering what would have been brother, it's what it is that counts.” Mina had to learn to accept this, so why shouldn't he? Even what seems glamorous to the outside world might have it's own darker side that wasn't aired to the population.

“No, you can't change you you are, none of us having a fucking choice in the matter Brone. Hating Jon because he chooses not to deprive himself of choices doesn't make him bad. Whens the last time you've done anything for yourself brother? Anything that wasn't a command, whens the last time you blew something off, cheated, lied, stole, lived? Don't complain about wanting to change your life when you've barely lived it. Sleeping with as many whores, or ladies as you like to call them doesn't mean living.” Now now little Mina, wasn't this the pot calling the kettle black?

[Brone Van Estra]

Brone gave her a look for a long time. He hated her. Hated that she had a point. he didn't live much. If only she knew though that he was falling in love with a witch. if she knew the lies he had to tell to keep that hidden. If she knew that he wasn't sure how to break rules. He had made so many rules for himself. He wanted to be king, he hoped he could make a difference one day. he didn't want to risk his father killing him because he was unhappy. That happened before, kings killing heirs that they did not want to rule. But did that matter? Should he risk death for life?

"Mina we always have a choice, but often its between two evils," Brone said darkly. But he was not in the mood to fight with her over what choices they were making, what they could change. this was stupid. "And I don't think you're the one to be talking about me sleeping around sister."

[Mina Van Estra]

How dare he! Hissing Mina stared darkly at her brother before walking right past him, close enough to send daggers into the back of his head. Turning around to face him she crossed her arms across her chest, no one ever spoke to her unless of course they were family, so she'd come to accept this. “Are you trying to insinuate something, brother?” she said callously, as if trying to seem impartial, when really she was quite angered. How bloody long would it take to get dark so she cold leave?

“I don't bring my whores around to meet the family.” Mina said coldly, Brone had another thing coming to him if he though she was going to be anything less than civil with the general's daughter. Mina never fought fair. And she hated to be second guessed, or told she was wrong. She was above this. “Quite frankly, none of this is your business anyways, what I do with my time is up to me alone to know, and I don't need you shoving your nose into things. Like I've said, I'm quite capable.” Mina stood rigid and silent for a moment. “Choices are only a polite way of saying you have to do this, it's the only choice.”