A Little Test

[Lord Tomas Rose]

He smiled at her as she understood his idea. He knew that it was a chance, there would be a chance that the empire would attack anyways but a show of strength could deter them and it was worth the risk, he knew it could not hurt them but putting someone at ill ease would be good for his train of thought. She then said that it was rather childish idea to hope for peace.

He smiled a loving smile at his mother, she would always be peaceful, she was a Rose through and through and it was no secret that they loved peace, it was a family trait. Tomas was a bit different. He liked peace, it was good for his people, good for the duchy and good for his family but he was more realistic on the matter and knew that at some point you just had to draw a sword and defend yourself "It is a good thing to hope for mother and the world needs people who hope for it. It also needs those people who want war and those like me who would prefer peace but not afraid to fight to defend our homes if need be."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

"It needs people who want war?" She echoed the statement, her head tilting to one side in speculation. "I agree that because there are people who want war you are in need of people who are willing to find for their families and homes. Yet, couldn't you argue that we only need defenders and sentinels because of people who want war?" She was not needling him in the slightest, just attempting to engage into what was proving to be a rather interesting conversation.

"I've often wondered what would happen to the world if people chose to communicate with just words and good intentions, rather than selfish ones. Granted, I understand the need for self-preservation, but if we all work together toward that self-preservation, wars and fighting should not be necessary." She smiled with tired affection, "Though, again, I know that is naive of me."

[Lord Tomas Rose]

He smiled at his mothers reaction to his statement on needing people who want war, naturally she objected to the idea but he had a reason for saying it. He listened to her objection which without his train of thought was sound logic after all. The need for people to defend was natural but those who wanted to fight was another thing. Which definitely had merit to it in its own right and he knew it. He looked at her softly and took a deep breath and then decided to say his reasoning. " The people who want war are important in their own way, they don't want it to just have war. They usually want it for a reason, to conquer, to expand, gain to territory or even have a revolution and change in government. They are the ones that bring about change. Without the ones who wanted war our house would still be a Lentin Noble house and most of the Duchy's in Demeria would be apart of their original countries. In a way they are just as important."

He hoped his reasoning made sense to her, he knew his train of thought but he smiled at his mother when she thought that their should be a peaceful way to do things, he knew that there was a time and a place for everything, peaceful solution should be the first choice but there was always a time when you just could not go any further and it was time for war. He knew it, he was not quite as naive as she was. "Peaceful solution is the first choice but sometimes the ones who want war want their goal to much to be deterred and the defenders must stand up and the peaceful ones have to hope for a new peace sometime."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

Samantha listened closely to her son's reasoning. She did not necessarily agree with it, but she did very much respect how he was going about it. He did make a fair point: sometimes violence was needed to enact change. Peace could not solve everything. Samantha was very much aware that not everyone wanted to live peaceably and there were always those that would take what they wanted rather than negotiate for it. She was simply not one of those people. Thus, she smiled at him.

"I see your reasoning. I have a feeling we're two sides of the same coin, and that we'll be a good foil for each other. I'd like you to join me in my negotiations with the dukes and duchess in the future. I know there is to be a meeting with all of us and there is a great deal to discuss. I must consider the following things. Do I want Rose to lend its support in the growing piracy problem? I abhor fighting, but ... I think you'll agree with me that we need to do our part to put them down. Being ... a defender and warrior, for once." She conceded to his line of reasoning.

[Lord Tomas Rose]

He smiled at his mother as she mentioned having him come with her to the next meeting. He liked the idea, he could learn more about the politics of the country, the going on and make connections with the other dukes, he liked the plan a lot, he could see how helpful it would be for him to start building himself up and laying down the foundation for his future. So naturally he would be on board with the concept. "I like forward to joining you in the meetings, it shall be quite interesting."

He considered the concept around the pirates, and he pondered for a moment, he knew his mother was a strong pacifist, the Roses tended to be just that but his Linten blood warmed him to the concept of war more, his fathers land was always going through another civil war every so often. He smiled at her, he knew it was a big step for her to admit to coming out and defending. "I agree, us putting our own strength behind this problem is important. Linten is our neighbors, the De Lac's will be strongly affected by these pirates sooner or later and we can relieve some pressure and build some good will with the other Duchies and let them focus their strengths on the empire."

[Lady Samantha Rose]

"Mm," she toned thoughtfully after his response. "Very well. I shall lend what aid is feasible for their plight, but I will want some more assurances on the gates against Linten. I know they're your father's people. We share blood with them, but that blood does not come with it obligation. My father has done his part in maintaining the relationship and so, too, must I. Yet, they are not going to get what they demand. Honeyvine is staying in Demeria, no matter how much Felipe rails against that." And thus Samantha's desire to keep the gates secure.

She gave her son a tired smile. "Are these politics everything you'd hope they would be?"

[Lord Tomas Rose]

He watched her as she thought over what he said and then he nodded when she spoke. He could not agree more on the subject, he could finid it very understandable to want to keep the gates firmly shut and the reassurances were very reasonable to him, he would want them as well. He knew how much his fathers people wanted Honeyvine back in the fold and he was fully against this idea himself as well. He may have been half Lintenese but he was raised a Demerian and he would not betray his King and home.

"Of course mother, that is reasonable. I want the same thing, father's people may want Honeyvine but that will never happen, I would be worried about you if you did not stipulate that little fact." He was proud of his family and he would not bend to the will of a foreign King, his will and heart was with Demeria.

"It has been interesting thus far, still getting my feet wet."