Moving on [Finished]

[Greenie]

Vessatha strode quietly down the corridors of the Court, her paws making little sound as she passed through the deserted hallways. It was an odd time of day, nearly nightfall, to be presenting herself as a Jack quester, but odd times of day tended to suit her best and besides, she hadn't been the one to decide the time. It had been delivered to her doorway and she'd merely followed orders, though she had to wonder who scheduled a quest at dusk, of all people?

Varestes, that's who. The ferret knew of him and had seen him very seldomly in passing (which was Quinn's fault in the first place for dragging her to the Courts), but otherwise knew him only from word of mouth. It was difficult not to have heard of him, given that he was Majesty Lysaras's one and only King, but he likely would have been well known regardless.

The Kahmdener was quite nervous about gaining her Jack. She'd never been in any position of power but had every intention of joining the Court itself, which left her in the situation of merely hoping she'd do well instead of knowing she'd do well. The ferret knew she had the skills to succeed as a Jack, but applying them would certainly be another thing entirely.

After a few minutes of weaving through the Courts, Vessatha arrived at the prescribed doorway. She paused but regrouped her confidence and knocked on the door.

[Nathalia]

The door opened on its own to reveal a room that was probably unexpected.

The Courts' ball room, enormous and decorated in some of the most beautiful sapphire molds and gleaming from the health of the marble floor. The chandeliers over head were shining with the lights of hundreds of small bulbs from Corvistowne. The walls were lined with elaborate hangings and beautiful pictures of past rulers and members of the Court in the midst of dancing.

Music was playing, a fast paced cello and viola concerto, and there was the sound of quick footsteps and an odd clacking noise.

In the far corner of the room five Biped sat playing instruments, two falcons and three deer, all playing vigorously and avidly watching the form before them.




The form of The King of Spades whirled into view, the vertebrae of his mothers' tail whirling as he danced quickly to the music, his vest flying about him as the air moved it, his hair shimmering under the light.

He seemed to notice her and moved quickly over toward the door. Calling out to her, his voice moving in time with the music just like his body.

"You must be the prospective Jack, please come in!"

[Greenie]

As the door opened (to reveal no one behind it, which was odd in it's own) Vessatha was completely floored. The ferret had been expecting something completely different--a study room, an office, or something similar.

A ballroom? And it wasn't just any ballroom, either, it was a dec'd out ballroom, complete with musicians, decorations, and a very, very good dancer in the middle. What kind of quest was this? There was Varestes, looking far too awesome for anyone's own good. The man could dance like nothing else and that alone had the ferret simply staring, though she'd managed to close her jaw. Vessa could dance, but she could not dance that well. Quinn had made her learn to dance simply because Quinn enjoyed dancing, but she'd essentially had to relearn everything once she'd gained her bipedal, and if she was going to have to dance.. well. This would certainly be an interesting quest.

Maybe it would just be a quest where she just had to watch Varestes dance. Vessatha could rock that, she knew she could. Sadly, that wouldn't prove anything other than she had eyes, so when the welcome came from the graceful dancer in the room she managed to walk towards him, and speak on top of it.

"Good evening, your Highness. I am Vessatha." Vessatha's tone was polite but not stiffly so, and she bowed as gracefully as she'd ever learned to go along with it.

This was the point where Vessatha began praying to anything in her thoughts that might be listening in that this was a quest she could actually do, because if it wasn't, this could easily be bad.

[Nathalia]

Varestes acknowledged her with a nod, and spun back across the dance floor, finishing the song with a clatter of the vertebrae tail. As soon as the music ceased, the King of Spades moved slowly over to the ferret, hips swaying to the beat that was still pounding through his mind.

"Good to meet you, Vessatha, I'm sure you already know who I am. Good to see that you got my letter...think you're ready for the Courts do you?"

He smiled, admiring her stance, but wondering if the woman was really willing to move into the Court and help out with the piles of work.

Perhaps, perhaps.

He turned around and waved to the band. Smiling and gesticulating in a way that they seemed to understand, as they soon struck up another song, faster paced and good-spirited. Fierce in a way...

Varestes turned and held out a hand to the Kahmdener.

"Come on then, my dear. Keep up with me...in dance and in answers. I have many things to ask you."

[Greenie]

Vessatha watched the end of his dance carefully, and resigned herself to the fact that she would never dance like that. Ever.

"I do," She responded determinedly, though with a hint of thoughtfulness. It was clear by this point that she was going to have to dance with him, but what would her lightness of foot prove other than she wasn't a complete clutz?

Ah, questions. That could easily prove quite a bit--that she thought on her feet, unfortunately very literally. This would truly be the test of speed, wouldn't it now?

As Varestes struck up the band to a fast-paced beat, the ferret found that she was going to enjoy this afterall, even if she fell on her face and got kicked out of the room. Dancing was fun, though the King's dancing intimidated her quite a bit.

He held out his hand to her and she stepped forward to place hers in his, ready to dance, and she would even try to be coherent with her answers at the same time.

[Nathalia]

The King took her hand and began by pulling her closer to him and going over the steps at half the time.

Left, left, swing, right, right, dip.

He kept one hand lightly on her waist, often taking it away and using it to dip or swing her. When she began to show signs of learning the pattern, he picked up the pace bit by bit.

Then he would start adding in new moves and see if she would keep up. As he began to pick up the pace, he looked her straight in the face and grinned.

"So, what are your reasons for wanting to be in the Court, as opposed to simply increasing your rank?"

The music sped up ever so slightly as Varestes kept the woman twirling across the floor.

"Also, what is it you think you could do to be of any use to us?"

[Greenie]

Vessatha had engrained the beat into her head as soon as it had clicked that she would be dancing, and as a result was prepared to begin when he was. Left, left, swing, right, right, dip. As soon as he began anew with the pattern she started repeating it quietly in her head, but reminded herself that he was likely to throw in variations--for a simple pattern would be much, much too easy.

Then he began picking up the pace. That in itself was no problem--she simply moved faster. The new moves almost threw her off but she brought herself back to her learning with Quinn and what the otter had taught her about predicting the lead's move. Once a move she didn't recognize threw her off, but the ferret simply paused for the beat and continued on with him.

Then the first question came, along with a bright grin she didn't let distract her. Why did she want to be here? Simple. "I want to do something productive with my life," She began, but rhythmically paused and continued with the music so she didn't lose where she was. "I want to help others find their way," another pause, "And I want to help bring this Court back to life."

The music sped up ever so slightly once more. The ferret's expression was a poised mask of concentration--she was allowing the music to flow through her and keep her in time, but also had to pay strict attention to what Varestes was doing in order to not become lost.. and had to answer questions. It was nearing her multi-tasking ability limit, and as a mother that was quite high.

What did she bring to the Courts? Enough, hopefully. "I bring high organizational skills," She paused as she was spun around backwards, "Which can mean paperwork, or people," A side-step had her pausing once more, "But I'm also smart." Left, left, swing. "Resourceful." Right, right, dip. "And I don't let anything get the best of me."

[Nathalia]

Varestes changed up the steps as she talked. Left, swing right, right, swing left, double step, change up!

She certainly was sure of herself...interesting. And easy to say...

"If what you say is true then it is a wonder you are not Queen of all the land! Tell me, if a proclamation were passed from our Queen, telling you that your mother was to be hanged for treason, what is it you would do?"

He swung her around as the music picked up speed.

"Then tell me, kindly, what it is you would do if I were to tell you that you were needed to travel to the Golfam alone? Your children would be looked after in the Courts, of course, but you would have to leave at night, keep the mission a secret, and not tell your children goodbye."

He suddenly spun her out and began dancing on his own, expecting her to follow.

"Tell me, how would you fare?"

[Greenie]

Vessatha was almost thrown for a loop when he began completely changing the pattern. She was expecting it, but when she anticipated something, it never came at the moment she thought it would. So therefore, the ferret began missing a few steps. As soon as she recognized the pattern she began to pick herself back up and go along with it, though the more complicated routine made it quite a bit more difficult for her, as she was far less experienced in dancing than he.

Queen of all the land? She was not acting so cocky, was she? To be sure of oneself and to be overly sure of oneself were two different things to the ferret and didn't believe she had crossed the line, so simply mentally bypassed that statement and moved on to the question.

Her mother. Vessatha could care less about her mother and if she were actually told her mother was to be hung for treason she would be curious to know why and would simply move on, but that was not an answer that was true to her morals. Instead she asked herself what would she do if it were Quinn being hanged, for Quinn meant far more to her, what would she do? "I would find out why," The ferret began, "If she had truly committed such an act, I would mourn her loss." She paused, then added, "She would have condemned herself, and I cannot change that." Swing right, right, "If, however, she was falsely charged," Double step, left. "I would appeal to the Queen myself," Swing, right, right, an abrupt twist left, "For no one should be wrongly accused." Presuming she wasn't already dead, of course. That would be a problem.

The pace began to pick up. At this point Vessatha was considering this one of the best workouts she'd ever had, and a light sheen of persperation was covering her coat.

Golfam? No children? Vessatha knew little of the region other than it's location and the assumption that she had no desire to stay there for prolonged periods of time. The thought alone was enough to make her anxious, but being nervous wouldn't get her anywhere. "I would leave as directed." She paused to collect her thoughts into something cohesive, in time with the steps, "I would complete my mission not with haste but with care," Swing left, double step, "I know my children would be in good care," Left, swing right, "And would return as soon as I was able." For what else could she do? Quinn would certainly look after the kids, and would enlist the aid of whoever she found. If it meant they were without their second parent for months, a year, or however long it took, then so be it--for that was a possibility and a risk Vessatha willingly took by entering the courts.

Of course, she would dearly hope that neither Varestes or Lysaras would do so, but her hopes generally meant little in the grand scheme.

Vessatha spun around twice instead of merely once, as it allowed her to pull her thoughts back from her children and place them on the task in front of her, which was going to deplete her waning energy stores immensely. This was much harder than simply dancing alongside him, because it took awareness and creativity--he was no longer leading, but expecting her to keep up and go her own way at the same time.

So the ferret took a big breath and began, mirroring his steps where appropriate, inserting moves opposite his sometimes, but moving on her own when he was merely stepping. She tried not to trip herself up but it was inevitable, and once or twice she had to pause to find the beat once more before she could launch herself back in. Vessa was dreading the next question, if only because she was rapidly becoming exhausted.

[[... Sorry. That got long really fast. I didn't mean to! XD]]

[Nathalia]

((OOC: No problem XD It's fun to get really into the swing of things D8 Harrhar <3 <3))

Varestes pondered her first answer...deciding he liked it. Distance, but not enough to make one seem too cold. Always good to find someone so easy to be able to separate work and family.

Her next answer, if possible, pleased him more. It was highly unlikely that a mission of the sort would ever be asked of an actual ranked member of the Court...perhaps an underling, but not a Jack or a King. But the fact that she would be so willing to drop everything and help...well, good signs. He would have to see if she would actually hold true to her word someday.

Varestes kept an eye on her as she began to follow on her own, slowing his steps slightly and moving the rythym to the off beats. She was doing very well, and it was nice to have a dance partner who wasn't on the kitchen staff for once. Smiling he led her on for another five minutes before stopping.

Bowing, he kissed her paw lightly, then looked up at her with a grin.

"Very well done indeed. I'll have to encourage you to come down and dance with me often, you're a quick partner...it will be nice to have a more active member of out Suit living in the Court again."

As he kissed her hand, she would feel a slight prickling on her chest as her Rank slowly changed from a Ten to a "J". Motioning her with his hand, Varestes moved over to a table near the musicians, hips still swaying to the music.

"Here you are, my dear. This key will not only allow you to get into your own room, but also serve as your pass in and out of the palace."

The key wa made of iron, with a sapphire laid into the ornate top, strung on a piece of blue satin.

"Your room is the seventh on the right on the third floor. If you need anyhitng, don't hesitate to buzz the servants... Now, I'm still in the mood for a dance, if you would like you can join me, if not, I'm sure I will see you later. Gentlemen! Carry on!"

Without any further ado, the Hisstorian whirled away, vertebrae clacking as he moved to the beat as fast as he could.