|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 5, 2008 21:22:24 GMT -5
Xiven stood in front of the door to Shinrai's office. Her ears twitched in thought as she stared at the door handle. It seemed so far away even though it was right within her reach. Why had she decided to do this? She was a sixteen year old girl why was she going to knock on THE Queen of Hearts door. He didn't know her because she wasn't one to bother someone important. They had jobs. She was a kid. That's how it worked. Why now did she change her mind? Oh this was just stupid she needed to get over all of these fears if she was going to be a Queen under him or anyone for that matter. She took a sharp inhale of breath before knocking on the door. "Your Majesty Shinrai, I have an appointment to see you today. My name is Xiven," she said as clearly as she could. Hopefully she didn't sound younger than she was. At least she had remembered to make an appointment... wait. She raised an eyebrow. She hadn't made an appointment, Peaches told her she had an appointment with the Queen. She caught sight of something very gold and fluffy coming down the hall. Lani? What was Lani doing here? |
|
|
|
Post by The Jenn on Mar 6, 2008 23:09:43 GMT -5
Lani trotted down the hall, half interested and half not in the meeting to come. Her Daddy had told her that Queen Rai wanted to meet up with her. 'Because you're such a beautiful and wonderful little princess, how could he not want to meet you? You're my daughter, after all, just as perfect as your Daddy Gaston!'She smirked at the memory and tossed her hair back when she rounded the corner, then raised an eyebrow when she saw Xiven. What was the feline doing here? Was there a scheduling error, or was it deliberate? Daddy had failed to mention anything about that. "Oh, so the new Queen wanted to see you too? Nice. I guess we're all going to have a cozy little Queen-chat. Have you knocked already?" Not waiting for an answer now that she was close enough, she raised a paw to knock on the door herself. "Princess Lani here to see you, your Majesty."Was she above addressing herself as princess? Absolutely not. |
|
|
|
Post by seraaches on Mar 6, 2008 23:23:51 GMT -5
A low voice echoed through the door, calling a semi-distracted 'Come in'. As they entered the large study, it was obvious that something, at least briefly, had come up. Samid, the Morganberry ram and, for now, Rai's assistant stood near the desk with a decidedly wary expression on his face. He seemed uncertain as to how the Queen was going to act, evidently prepared to duck or otherwise get out of the way in case things became violent. Nevertheless, the human sitting behind the desk still appeared remarkably calm and simply gestured for the two girls to enter and make their way to a group of chairs off to one side. He finished writing down something then signed it and sealed it away before handing it to Samid. The ram appeared grateful to have only received a letter, bowing to the stallion swiftly and cutting a quick exit. He winked at the two girls in the corner as Shinrai rolled grey-green eyes in mock annoyance and rose to come around the desk. He leaned back against it, decked out in his usual leather attire, with matching sleeve dangling down past the fingers of his left hand. His hat sat on the edge of the desk, however, revealing the circle of bone surrounding his right eye. He was quiet for a long moment as he inspected the two girls, almost as though he were waiting for one to speak. Still, just as soon as one or the other might have said something, he spoke, "We're going for a picnic. One of you run to the kitchens and get the basket from the cooks; the other stop by my quarters and fetch the banders. I'll meet you both out in the gardens by the main fountain." |
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 6, 2008 23:49:30 GMT -5
Xiven was very surprised by all of this. Very and surprised didn't cover it really. She just nodded at Lani before they were told to come in. She held her breath for a moment as she opened the door and walked in with Lani at her side. Wow, she must have looked unimpressive next to a Highlander wearing bright yellow. Good job.
She went where she was directed, and was terribly surprised once again when he stood up and seemed to inspect the pair of them. What on earth was going on?
A picnic....?
Xiven's tail twitched for a moment as she absorbed the information. Banders and a basket. By the main fountain. All right. Why they were doing this she wasn't going to argue, she hadn't had lunch yet so it seemed slightly logical. "Yes, Your Majesty," Xiven said looking up at the human. People were terribly tall. She turned to Lani with a tail twitch. "I'll get the basket since you're better with banders than I am. And then I'll see you at the fountain I suppose."
She gave a bow to both of them before trotting out. No point in arguing when you were a sixteen year old girl and had no clue what was going on. She made her way to the kitchens as quickly as she could (stupid bindings), and once things were settled with the cooks she made her way to the fountain.
The feline set the basket down when she arrived at the fountain. How did picnics work?
|
|
|
|
Post by The Jenn on Mar 6, 2008 23:59:43 GMT -5
Lani regarded the man curiously, used to human forms because of her father and not especially unnerved by them. That bone on his eye, though... she didn't know what that was. She gave it a glance but didn't stare, figuring she could just ask somebody later. She didn't want to look like an idiot in front of the new Queen. Looking like something she wasn't would be stupid, especially if it didn't benefit her in some way.
A picnic? She refrained from rolling her eyes. She and her sister used to do things like that when they were little. Still, it was a nice enough day and the gardens were always gorgeous. "A picnic? I haven't had lunch yet, so that's rather handy."
She heard Xiven and nodded. "Sure thing. You just have Sultana and the blue Highlander to collect, right, Your Majesty? I've seen him around, but I'm afraid I don't remember his name. Sultana I can handle without getting bitten or swiped at, even though she's usually a pretty testy little cuss when you're trying to herd her somewhere she wasn't of a mind to visit herself." She gave him a small bow, then stood and tossed back her mane before trotting out of the room.
Sultana wasn't necessarily happy about being woken up from her sunning, and the blue bander seemed like a bit of a Personality, but she managed to convince the one to follow the other and get them both down with the lure of a small snack she found sitting on a shelf in the room. She was lucky she had wings to help her nudge down the jar. Once they were actually outside, she dropped the treat and let them fight over it, then hopped up onto the ledge of the fountain. "Nice day," she said idly to Xiven.
((Taking liberties with the jar of snacks for banders, but I wasn't sure of any other way to get them out and down and if Rai had ever bothered to ask Fino, that was how he managed it sometimes. If you'd like me to change it, just lemme know. <3))
|
|
|
|
Post by seraaches on Mar 7, 2008 10:06:05 GMT -5
Neither of the girls seemed as excited about the picnic as he himself was, but that was fine. He supplied Lani with the male's name, Jou, and watched as the two girls exited on their errands. He waited just awhile, staring at the door, humour slipping from his face as thoughts and plots surged through his mind again. He gave a small shake of his head, wishing that he could escape the constant machinations for a moment but there was far too much to do in the Court and far too hands to cover it. This little outing was as much a pre-interview as it was a chance for him to get out of the office and away from the paperwork for awhile.
Long, firm strides took him swiftly through the now familiar twists and turns of the Palace and he was out in the gardens long before the two girls with their errands. He began to scout out a good place for them to sit, pleased when he discovered a small area just out of immediate sight of the Palace. It was his nature to be paranoid and he never stopped to think about it anymore, simply taking the little precautions that came so instinctively.
He stepped from around the big, bushy bend and inspected his two guests. He kept a frown from pressing at his face, leaving a cool, thoughtful mask behind. Two natural born Queens, soon to come of age. If Lani wasn't already.
Jou lifted his head to the breeze, sniffing before giving a cough and swiftly darting away from Lani and the other bander to charge up to his person. Rai bent down to pick up the male. Since Sultana had become a more familiar figure in both of their lives, Jou had become a bit more... clingy. Sultana ruled their roost, as was certainly expected, and now he craved companionship that didn't always bully him for everything.
Not that either of the males would have sent Sultana away.
Discovered now, the man called out lightly, "I've found a place over here." He moved forward to meet them, however, so he could lift the basket from Xiven and free up her movements.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 7, 2008 12:41:34 GMT -5
"Yes, it makes me wonder if Fluffy's going to stay inside," She said quietly as her ears perked up. She was happy when Shinrai walked over to take the basket from her. It was difficult to carry something that heavy in your mouth for a long distance. Honestly she couldn't want to get hands.
"Thank you, Sir," She said looking up at him. So much for not being nervous. Now that Lani was whatever butterflies she had thought she had lost were back again. Her tail swished uneasily as she walked over to the designated spot.
She looked to the green haired man curiously. He had an interesting taste in fashion. Why was he trying to cover up his arm? It was a very pretty jacket though. Uh right, focus. "I hate to sound... silly, but I've never actually been on a picnic before. How exactly does... it work?"
She briefly wondered why the hell Mom hadn't bothered to take her out on one before. Xiven blushed under her fur. Lani was going to say something about this, she was sure.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Jenn on Mar 7, 2008 21:07:17 GMT -5
Lani ignored the banders once they were outside, not caring where they went or what they did. Her job had been to get them down here and that was it. The slight breeze blew at her feathers and made them ruffle prettily, which distracted her until Xiven spoke up. "Oh, your pet? I wouldn't blame her for coming out here, as bright as it is, especially after all the rain for the past week."
She stood and walked over when Shinrai called out, glancing around at the little spot and nodding her approval. Not that it was necessary, but it was given regardless.
And the other young Queen had never been on a picnic before? The Highlander raised an eyebrow and gave the girl a Look. "What, are you a hermit or something? Nobody ever took you on a picnic before? Daddy would take Vio and I out all the time when I was younger. You get a basket of food, sit down outside, and eat it. Sometimes you play, if you're a kid. Or if you're Daddy."
|
|
|
|
Post by seraaches on Mar 7, 2008 21:41:47 GMT -5
The stallion was amused by Lani's know-it-all attitude, but, really, it wasn't surprising. Any offspring of the deceased Queen would surely carry that trait. It took a moment of hesitation, but Rai decided that 'Daddy' must refer to Gaston, because there was no way Serafino would do that with anyone.
"You can also just sit and talk," the stallion said lightly as he pulled the blanket out of the basket and shook it out so that it floated gently to the ground. He pulled the basket to one of the corners then folded his tall, lean frame onto the red and white plaid cloth. "Which is wot I hoped we could do today."
He gestured to the blanket then basket. "Feel free to help yourself to anything." He settled back to see how the two girls would react.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 7, 2008 21:52:30 GMT -5
Xiven very much wanted to talk back to Lani, however she had manners. Manners that she was going to remember. "No Lani, My Mom isn't the picnic sort of person, and I don't think my Papa would ever do that sort of thing." She turned her attention back to Shinrai. He seemed quite nice. He was obviously likable or he wouldn't have a job she figured. Highlanders were upset about the whole not having a Highlander in The Queen slot. If they weren't complaining he knew what he was doing.
"Thank you, sir," Xiven said as she peered at the basket. Now it was just a matter of actually getting food out of the basket without using her mouth and without falling flat on her face because of her bindings. This she could do.
Walking over to the basket and sitting on her hind legs she reached in carefully and hooked a sandwich bag on her nails. Thank you claws. She flipped it out of the basket and caught it in her mouth. Triumphant she trotted over to the spot she had picked, sat down, and place the sandwich on the ground. "So, what exactly do you want to talk about, sir?" Xiven asked with a head tilt as she blindly opened the bag.
|
|
