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Post by Shinigami on Feb 17, 2008 19:00:30 GMT -5
 Yellow hooves tapped against the stone floors of the Court of Clubs as the tall Bipedal mountain goat strode in, his cane tapping rhythmically on the floor in time with his steps. His shirt and jacket were neatly pressed, the tie centered on the outfit, and his brightly-colored fur was groomed to near-perfection. It wouldn't do to finally arrive at the Court looking anything less than his best, would it? Of course, this particular visit was made all the better due to several facts: the most important of those facts, at least to his mind, was that there was a Morganberry on the throne as The Queen of Clubs. That, of course, meant that this particular trip was almost fated to be, as he'd held back when he heard that there was a challenger to the Clubs' throne, because he really didn't want to walk into the middle of political strife. Now he saw that, indeed, the challenger had won, and the fact that the mouse had the same sort of fire-colored fur as he did made things all the better. However, he still needed to make an appointment with The Queen, to see if he might be accepted as one of his Kings. There was no need to barge into the man's office as if he were some impetuous fool, after all. |
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Post by The Jenn on Feb 18, 2008 10:03:48 GMT -5
 Bright gold eyes centered on the servant and gave him a steely, displeased glare. For effect, Anoushka even let her ears sink slowly back until they were resting on her skull. He had to be new to be bringing her this crap and expecting her to drink it. She hoped the man got the hint. He did. In fact, it looked like he nearly wet himself as he tried to figure out what exactly he'd done wrong. The King wasn't being particularly helpful, just giving him a look that said quite clearly 'you are worth less than what lines my nostrils' and expecting him to figure it out. She wasn't feeling very helpful today. She'd just sat through three hours of what she considered utterly pointless meetings while her Queen sat through others, likely just as riveting, and now it was after lunchtime and the idiot servant brought her that?! She thought not. When he finally figured it out, it was like a horrified lightbulb clicking on inside his skull. His eyes widened and he bowed low, apologizing profusely before he scurried off. Hopefully he would send someone else with the correct tray. And of course, the stupid man wasn't thinking clearly enough to close the door to her office. With a melodramatic sigh and a roll of her eyes, the King stood and walked over to do it herself. Before she could close it, however, she caught sight of something bright red that was most certainly not her Queen. She paused, eying the man up and down quickly as he walked down the hallway, cane tapping an elegant rhythm. Well well. She certainly didn't recognize him, and he looked well-enough dressed to be important. Maybe. She would have to see. He certainly had nice legs. "Man vith the cane and the tie! Pardon me, but I don't believe I recognize you!" she called out down the hall, in no way concerned with how her voice carried. At least this way he would be sure to hear her. "Vould you please come here for a moment!" |
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Post by Shinigami on Feb 19, 2008 15:45:22 GMT -5
Gabriel's head snapped around when a strong female voice called out to him down the hallway, an accent staining her words in places, though they were nowhere near unrecognizable. As his yellow eyes met the golden gaze of the Torquehelm woman, his King's ability kicked in an informed him of her name: Annoushka. The last five words she'd spoken had all been directed at him which meant that there wasn't really a need for the magic to inform him of them; that part of the ability was best when it came to sidling up to conversations and joining in flawlessly. However, her name was enough to tell him just who this woman was: Her Highness Anoushka, The King of Clubs. Well, best to make a good impression with her, hm?
Obediently he turned and walked down the hallway toward her, picking up his pace but keeping it at a fast walk instead of trotting, or even running. There was no need to act like a panicked idiot, after all, and as long as he kept his cool he would easily remain calm and professional. His smile was warm and confident, but not overbearing, not...smarmy. There was no need to act like that ever, unless one was imitating a particularly stupid idiot.
"Ah! Your Highness Anoushka, it is a great pleasure to meet you at last,"[/color] he said when he reached her, bowing elegantly. "I am Gabriel Antonius Van Brookhoven IV, King of Clubs from Morganberry. I have heard of you even from my home manor, and I have very much looked forward to having an opportunity to converse with you."[/color] His courtly manners had been cultivated since birth; he was no Diamond to have natural charm, but that merely drove him to ingrain the instincts even further into his mind.
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Post by The Jenn on Feb 20, 2008 13:16:27 GMT -5
For someone who had yet to make an impression on the King, he certainly started off with a 'polite' one. She didn't necessarily subscribe to the Miss Manners route herself - and wouldn't that just make the Court laugh hysterically? - but she could certainly appreciate someone treating her as rank and position dictated. In fact, she often demanded it from those impudent or ignorant enough to fail at doing so initially.
This man obviously fell into neither category. And he was a King? Well, pleasant surprises indeed. He was younger than her, certainly, as were most people, but he carried himself with presence enough to be regarded as a peer. At least, in idle conversation. He certainly wasn't her equal, but nor was he beneath her notice. No, this man might just be interesting.
"A King? Vell, I can say that I believe the claim. You dress the part and your bearing denotes good breeding. A mark in your favor, perhaps. Having heard your name, I vill proceed to forget most of it and call you Gabriel. Unless you have any objections." Her eyebrow raised. It was long and pretentious and probably had quite the family history that she didn't care to hear. One name would do.
And was this his first trip to the Court? "If you vish to have a conversation, this is not the vorst time that you could have chosen. I can spare several moments from my vork if you are so inclined." She made a motion to indicate the open door of her office.
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Post by Shinigami on Feb 28, 2008 20:11:12 GMT -5
He was...fascinated by her. She was rough and plainly-spoken, but she carried her power with a natural ease that gave no doubt as to her high position in the Court of Clubs. His own little name-ability confirmed it with no problem, and he couldn't help but think that Fate had smiled upon him brightly in the timing of his decision to arrive here. Gabriel bowed again, but only slightly this time; it was an acknowledgement of her decision about his name.
"I have no problem at all; I would not care to inconvenience you,"[/color] he said genially. Yes, there was a very long and ostentatious family history behind it, but it wasn't as if he hadn't grown up being called "Gabe" by everyone around him, mostly so that they didn't confuse him with his grandfather, who was "Gabriel." The history of the name was just that; a history, and not something that needed to be tangled up with the present.
"I'm pleased that I have come at such a fortuitous time for you!" He did not make any sort of apology about taking her away from her work; she had already made the inital offer, and to apologize for her own decision would have been highly rude, if not stupid. "I hope to offer you a worthwhile alternative to your work, then," he added, approaching the door and waiting patiently for her to preceed him through it. It was not his office, after all.
[ooc: ...damn, Gabe is hard to write some times, especially when he's being so Court-formal and trying not to offend anyone but also trying not to come across as a simpering idiot. *headdesks*]
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 1, 2008 2:25:30 GMT -5
Anoushka laughed and made a sweeping motion with her arms. Oh yes, this man spoke with polish that she had never possessed. If he continued to remain interesting, she might just have a worthwhile conversation brewing. What a pleasant surprise. "My vork is extremely vorthvhile, but also tiring and repetitive at the moment. Provided that you can beat that, you may just succeed in your goal."
She stepped into her office, leaving the door open for him to follow and for the servant to eventually return with a nice, cold beer to complement the sausage she'd had for lunch a little while ago. Her desk was a warm reddish wood and she walked behind it, sitting down with a less-than-graceful movement and regarding him with curious gold eyes. He carried himself like a gentleman and with a name like that she honestly wasn't surprised. With a manor in Morganberry, he might just have something to do with one of the many small towns' administrative systems. She was making assumptions, but it would be an awfully nice surprise if they were correct.
"Please sit, Gabriel, and make yourself comfortable. I do not vish to discomfort my guests unless I need something out of them and a conversation is all I vish from you. Tell me, vhat brings you to the Courts today? Besides a chance to converse vith me, as you have already stated."
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Post by Shinigami on Mar 12, 2008 16:15:05 GMT -5
"It seems you've place a challenge before me, Your Highness. I'll try my best to meet it satisfactorily," Gabe replied. He really rather liked the woman, and hoped that he did get accepted into the Courts, if only for a chance to interact with her more and find out more about her.
Her office was a warm, surprisingly comfortable room. Though really, it probably shouldn't have been all that surprising, seeing as she certainly seemed the type to enjoy life's little (or not-so-little, really) pleasures. He seated himself across the desk from her, cane-tip planted between his hooves for the moment as his hands continued to rest on the head.
"A sound tactic," he aknowledged at her choice to make people uncomfortable when she wanted to get something out of them. When she asked him about his intentions, he couldn't help the warming of his smile. "I've long wanted to come and join the Court, to tell you the truth. However, I've had duties to my family and my home town, and I felt that I could not have dedicated myself fully to the task of serving here before now. My daughter has just become an adult and taken over my former duties, though, and with those obligations securely taken care of, it seemed to me that now was truly as advantagous a time as any to come offer my services." Gabrielle was doing a fine job at the manor, from what his mother had reported. She'd stayed there to keep an eye on the young woman, and he was fairly sure that her sister was stopping by every now and then as well. He didn't doubt that she'd already thrown a few parties for her friends, but if he happened to stop by during one of them, he'd be sure to act appropriately appalled. It was his job as a father, after all.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 15, 2008 18:10:42 GMT -5
Anoushka's office was indeed more stately than her rooms, a representation of her authority within the palace. She hated to overdo things and needlessly waste money that they very much needed in day-to-day operations, but a nice office was as much an expense of politics as the meal on the table, or so she had been taught so long ago.
This man was elegant and refined, certainly. He had a polish that would serve him well in speaking to others around the palace. She thought it was amusing, overall. And he was interested in joining the Court. That was... exceedingly welcome, so long as he seemed appropriate for a position and her Queen approved of him. To be a titled King, he would need to impress Aderlass. She wondered whether the was dead-set on the title, or if he had another job in mind that he could offer his services towards.
"Interesting... your vords portray you as a responsible sort. Tell me two things. Von, vhat obligations did you take care of, the duties you spoke of and left to your daughter? And two, vhat services do you now offer to the Court?"
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Post by Shinigami on Mar 17, 2008 20:39:11 GMT -5
Gabriel was rather hopeful on becoming a titled King, though if he had to do something before then to prove himself to the Queen and King of Clubs, then he would do so. The mountain goat was willing to do whatever was necessary to become a part of the Court of Clubs, though nothing too...degrading. His dignity was still an issue after all. But that was something that would only come up if this particular interview didn't go well, and so he'd do his best to make sure it did, indeed, go well.
"My family has long managed a town in Morganberry, supplying administrative and judicial actons when neccessary. We've kept the records of both the history and treasury for the town, and taken charge of local law-keeping and protection of the town when it has been necessary. As for what I can offer, well, I have experience with all that I mentioned above, and I would be willing to offer my services in any of them," Gabe explained calmly. He had to prove himself here before he could ever meet with His Majesty.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 17, 2008 20:56:02 GMT -5
That was quite the extensive list he gave and covered many of the areas of governing that the Court had to deal with regularly, though on a much broader scale than a small town in Morganberry. Still, the fact that this man came to them with that kind of experience raised Anoushka's spirits immensely. She couldn't quite stop the grin that spread across her wolfish features as he spoke.
"To manage all of those things, your family must have had qvite the extensive netvork of contacts and resources at your disposal. This encourages me as to your suitability in assisting us here at Court. I vould be interested in bringing my Qveen into this meeting, if he is available and you are not bothered by the prospect of meeting him." If he was, he wouldn't be suited for a titled position at all. He would have to be Aderlass's King, after all!
Should he express an interest, she would excuse herself momentarily and step outside to find a servant to deliver a short message to her Queen.
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