[D7 LA] The Honor in an Agreement

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

Geoffrey made his way once more to the apartments of his cousin. Word of King William's offer had made it's way around the court. And even if Geoffrey were not attempting to claim the Earldom for him and his fiancé, he would not have wanted to see his king cave to the pressures of an external ruler.

[King Richard Lionheart]

The giant is sitting at table, having a lunch of cold beef. When you are showed in, he tosses his napkin on the table and fixes you with an eye.

"I thought you'd be next. Come on in, Geoff. Pull up a chair, tell cousin Richard all about it."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

Geoffrey smirks at that, but does pull up a chair. Sitting across from his cousin. "Honor. A man honors his agreements. You honor your agreements. Is King William honoring his? An accord was reached and lands changed hands, an admission by him that you and your forces were superior to him and his. The care of the land and people that he lost the right to protect were given to you to govern and protect as you see fit. That is the conceit of relations between nations."

"So in what way does attempting to purchase land he agreed to give up honor the agreement he made on behalf of Scotland with you on behalf of England? Money that should be spent to train, prepare and outfit his own forces for the crusade? No, he is trying to circumvent an already existing agreement between two nations. He should honor that agreement. He seeks only to avoid fighting you over that land, especially since the next time he'll be able to do so, you will have warriors hardened by the crusade behind you."

"Selling those lands and people back to a man that failed to protect them once before, not only harms those people, but it weakens England in the long run by losing out on the value they will bring far into the future. Honor the intent of your offer, let your subjects care for the land under your hand, and make the Lion win them back by force if he dares challenge you. You said there was nobody left to threaten you the other night. This looks like a threat to me, a threat on your sovereignty of your lands. Answer it firmly with the strength of your divine right to rule your people and your lands how you see fit."

D7 LA, Lindisfarne, Passion, Honor, TN 16: 1d20 10 Success
D7 LA, Lindisfarne, Stewardship, Honor Passion +10, TN 25: 1d20+5 11 Success

[King Richard Lionheart]

"You make it sound like I couldn't just take them back when we get home." Richard shrugs. "Look, I hear you and your principles, but the man wants to give me money for some shitty land about as far from the action as it gets. Only way it could be worse is if it were in Ireland. He gave me that money. Should I piss him off right before I leave and let you stay-at-home-you'll-wish-us-well types try and hold him back while I've got the army in Outremer?"

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"You should do exactly that. Let him pull something like that in the midst of a crusade. Then bring the fury down on him with full support of the church," he says with a shrug. "If he attacks after the peace agreement in the midst of a crusade then he deserves all of the wrath God can spare him in return. So yes. Tell him to shove off."

[King Richard Lionheart]

"Is the Church gonna give you a couple hundred guys to help you defend your castle?" Richard asked. "Because odds are that you get killed first, Geoff. You should know what you're asking for, here."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"Richard, I told you before, I'm staying home to try to protect the people here from potential threats. You asked who was left the other day. One just stood up and identified itself. I'll do what I can to organize a defense if it comes to that. But compromising on this, negating the terms he is supposed to be honoring. Don't let him sway you on it. Let him prove himself a liar and heathen if he is upset over this," he responded.

"Besides, the spread he covers doesn't come close to the value in taxes you will get in perpetuity from that land and it's lord."

[King Richard Lionheart]

"Jesus, Geoff, it's England, not fucking Poitou," he grumbles. "Look, you've given me something to think about, and I appreciate that. But if I do it and it's your head on a Scottish pike two years down the road, don't come cryin' to me."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"If I was worried about that I would not be trying to get Scottish neighbors," he replied. "I already assumed friction with William from the outset. But we don't live forever, and he can kiss my ass."

[King Richard Lionheart]

"Eugh," Richard opines, "that'd be all scratchy."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"I'll bet."

He chuckled at that.

"And just so you know, if things don't work out the way I'm hoping I'll be fine with it. But I'm gonna make you explain it to my fiance. I'm not trying to start things off with her by giving disapointing news."

[King Richard Lionheart]

Richard's eye twitches. "Make me, huh?" He taps his finger twice on the table in a gesture of plain annoyance. "You boxed me into a corner with the 'stab me' thing; I'll give you that. But it won't be a coronation festival forever. Don't make me regret not taking you up on the offer."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

He smirks. "Well, cheeky bastards are often irksome. But it would give you the opportunity to very satisfyingly choke the life out of me later."

Geoffrey shakes his head. "And even though I can be that way, you are still my king. You were a king in your heart long ago. The world's just catching up now, and laying it's burden on you, heavier than it's ever been. I honestly only want to help, to support and strengthen your rule, to see you flourish and succeed. But my work ethic unfortunately also comes with a regretfully impertinent attitude."

[King Richard Lionheart]

"It'll cost you in the end, but I can't hate you for it." Richard shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you, though. And don't pull it with Mother. She's the most vindictive one of all of us."

[Geoffrey of Tournemine]

"She has more reason to be than most," he says with a nod.