Another One to the List [Finished]

[Kari Muffin]

((OOC: <3 as you requested, Xiven and Peaches.))

Xiven watched as her mother walked down the hallway at a reasonable gate for a woman who had free use of her legs. Xiven however, wasn't as fast as she was thanks to her binding and the whole being a short kid. She if only she could skip all the years of growing up and be a respectable adult. Oh well. It would have to wait just like everything else.

Peaches was avoiding paperwork. She usually just liked to get it done, but today was far too nice and far too warm for her to ignore the outdoors. That and it gave her an excuse to sit in the rose gardens and listen to conversations. While she was at it, she could read a bit of a text book that Xiven had been properly ignoring. It was boring, but she still couldn't ignore her lessons. The woman hummed as she rounded the corner.

And stopped at the sight that was in front of her. "Oh... hello?" Peaches said with an actual note of surprise in her voice.

Xiven rounded the corner shortly after her mother and blinked up at the sight. Oh. Well then. That would be a good reason to stop. She remained decided she would remain silent until she was noticed.

[Vyn]

After parting ways with Bernard, Mephitisia had settled her belongings into the room appointed to her and immediately set out to both explore the grounds and find out more about this 'miss Heilyn'. If it was assumed they would get along, then Mephitisia would like to speak with her. From a passing servant she discovered that Heilyn was a Jack and a Coyote of the Bog. That probably explained why the name was familiar, it was probably the name of that foul smelling woman she had met recently.

With her spirits high from her recent ascent to Jack, Mephitisia had decided to trust Bernard's opinion and give the coyote a second chance to redeem herself in the doe's eyes.

Reaching the ground floor she rounded the corner and all but slammed into a human woman with a look of rather plain surprise written on her face. In response to her greeting Mephit blinked her intense orange eyes for a moment before slowly relaxing her previously defensive stance and taking a step back so that there was a comfortable distance between them. She didn't like being touched, especially so by people she did not know.

"Hello." Her voice was as chilling as always but crisp and almost pleasant -- at very least, as pleasant as it could be.

[Kari Muffin]

Peaches raised an eyebrow as she spotted the "J" on the other woman's chest. She must have been new then? Peaches certainly hadn't seen her before, and Peaches knew almost everyone in the palace if the knew it or not. The woman certainly had a set of fangs on her. Probably poisonous? Pravus would probably get a kick out of that.

"Sorry about that, I didn't think anyone was coming around the corner. My name is Peaches, it's a pleasure to meet you. Your Excellence....?" She shifted her books and offered the woman her hand. Probably should have introduced herself with proper title. Too late for that.

Xiven shifted slightly, her chains jingling. She knew her mother hadn't forgotten her, but the little Queen was rather impatient sometimes. "And I'm Xiven. It's nice to meet you." The fluffy feline said looking up at the doe. She had really pretty eyes and teeth. Deer usually didn't have fangs, did they?

[Vyn]

New indeed. Fresh out of the oven was a better term. She'd barely settled in and already she was on the prowl, by morning she would know the Palace inside and out even if it'd take a bit longer to learn the faces of those employed there.

As the woman extended her hand, Mephit took it after a moment's hesitation and gave it -- or perhaps it was just her sleeve? Mephit didn't bother to truly find out -- a firm but brief shake. Before she could speak up, however, a little voice distracted her thoughts and Mephit's eyes were pulled down onto the small feline and the brilliant Q upon her breast. Ahh, now that was an impressive little one, wasn't she? Born and groomed for her position, already living in the Courts. Typically she didn't take to children, then again...children didn't typically take to her nor her fangs all that often.

She smiled, both to give the kitten a better view of her fangs and because she was pleased with the admiration.

Perhaps she was more vain than she had originally believed.

"Mistakes happen." Her tone was icy as ever and a bit guarded for a moment, though it eased the more she spoke. Being sociable would have to be something she learned to adapt to better if she intended to stay here. "I am Mephitisia and it's a pleasure to meet you." Her gaze dropped to the child Queen. "And yours as well, Little Majesty."

[Kari Muffin]

Xiven really knew how to pick people. It mustn't have come from Peaches, because when it came down to it, Peaches didn't pick people. Either way, the mother was rather surprised at how quickly her daughter could... well make friends. Of all the traits where did that come from?

Peaches smiled, "If you need any help around the palace, I would be more than willing to show you around. I can tell you exactly where everything you need is." And Peaches wasn't joking. She did very much enjoy showing people around after she had memorized the floor plans completely. Despite Mephit's tone of voice, she figured that the woman would be nicer than most of the other court members. Certainly she would be more interesting than Severus.

Xiven blushed a bit. "Thank you, but Xiven works just fine. I'm not a member of courts yet." Her tail thumped lightly on the marble floor. What a lovely person they had met. She was pretty, looked interesting, and actually had Mommy's attention for more than fifteen minutes of awkward silence. This could work.

[Vyn]

Mephitisia eyed the woman before her thoughtfully, taking in her offer with only half interest. She didn't want to be lead about, she wanted to discover this place on her own...but.

"Perhaps a brief tour would be nice." Mephit wasn't the kind to take help from others, but this woman seemed interesting. Knowledgeable if nothing else. She would keep an eye on her and find out how much she could give her before passing her off as a nusaence. "I only just arrived so I knew where very little is. Aside from the Dungeon and a few basics, thanks to Pravus."

Her tone was crisp and matter-of-fact at all times though it ranged from cold to downright icy depending on the topic while she spoke.

When those intense orbs dropped to Xiven once more, they glinted slightly with pleasure. The blush was cute and so were her thoughts. Pretty? No one had ever called her pretty. "No, not yet...but one day, am I correct?" Of course she was, Xylia always was. That and the little feline had quite the Queenly aura.

[Kari Muffin]

Oh. She knew Pravus. That automatically made her more than just interesting. That made her fascinating. If Pravus was interested in her that meant she had something going for her. Peaches grinned, "I suppose since Pravus showed you the Dungeons I can skip that part of the tour. I guess I'll just show you a few interesting in and outs that not many people know about, unless you're opposed to something like that." The woman in the straight jacket shrugged. Some people were, some people weren't. She smiled down at her daughter. She seemed to be having a fantastic time, no need to ruin it with lessons then.

"Yes. I plan on it. I'll do anything possible to gain a title of a Queen." Xiven said with a firm nod. She would never want to be The Queen. That was just incredibly dangerous if she wanted to live a long and happy life. There was always that risk if you were The Queen. It was a lot less if you were A Queen. It made sense.

[Vyn]

Mephitisia noted the way Pravus's addition to her image instantly brought a more favorable tone to Peaches' thoughts. Hm, so then Peaches knew him as well? Interesting indeed, she would give this girl more than a chance and allow the tour of the Palace's semi-secret places.

"Alright," she bowed her head to invite Peaches to lead the way, "a tour of the ins and ours is fine by me, but I must ask to keep it somewhat brief." For a short moment she paused, obviously thinking, before quickly making up her mind and continuing. "I had intended to meet with Her Excellence, Heilyn... To end the tour with finding her would be...helpful."

And then her gaze was back on Xiven and Mephit was offering the little Queen that odd smile again. It was somewhere between pleased and empty, but it was there.

"I commend you then, Xiven. Not many your age have such a force of will." It was a feeling Mephitisia could relate to. She would stop at nothing, absolutely nothing, to achieve King and, in time, her goals. "You'll make a good Queen."

It would be nice to see Xiven grow into the strong young Queen she had the promise of being and, Mephitisia thought she could possibly even support the little one.

[Kari Muffin]

"Heilyn?" Peaches repeated without the title. Oh, this would be interesting. That woman had left Peaches with one hell of an impression. She still hadn't decided if it was good or bad. Xiven was rather fond of the woman. There was no harm there she supposed. "That's not a problem. We should probably walk and talk if you want to get it done quickly."

Xiven nearly bounced with excitement. "If you know Papa Pravus, you'll probably like Miss Heilyn. She's a really quite nice. She's one of the few people who don't talk down to me just because I'm a child." Xiven shrugged as he mother raised an eyebrow at the comment. Mothers would be mothers regardless of knowing it or not. Talking down to their children was just one thing that they did natural. Mommy Peaches was no exception to the rule.

"Oh... I probably should take Fluffy for a walk." Where had she left her? Crap. Not remembering where you left your pet was a really bad thing.

[Vyn]

Mephitisia arched a brow at Peaches's reaction to Heilyn's name. Didn't seem they meshed very well. "Walking and talking is preferable to me, though we can take our time with it. I'm not in a rush, though I would intend to see her by day's end."

Now that brought Mephitisia up a bit short. Papa Pravus? So that man was her father? He didn't seem the...fatherly sort. Her serpentine gaze lifted, alighting on Peaches. From the purple in her hair Mephit had pegged her a Torque and since the kitten had been one as well she had simply assumed this Peaches girl was her mother. The implications of this, however, were one she quickly decided not to debate further. If they were going to tell her otherwise then they would.

"Oh? That makes it twice as well that I speak with her then." A twitch at the edge of her smile, something like a grin but slightly more unpleasant. She wasn't exactly thrilled to be meeting the woman if she knew recognized the name and face properly, but she was in too good of a mood to let the coyote waste it. So she would walk and talk with these two and learn the lay of the palace before she thought any further on it. "Fluffy?"

From the way she spoke, this Fluffy was obviously a pet. A Bander, perhaps? Mephitisia would like that.