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Post by seraaches on Apr 27, 2008 21:36:40 GMT -5
When the knock came, Queen Shinrai was at his desk, uneasy about his upcoming appointment. He wasn't entirely certain that this had happened yet in the Courts recently, but surely it had in the past at some point. He was not, however, pleased about this whole situation and as he knew who it was about to come through his door, he could only with that it was someone else there and someone else applying now.
The human hesitated for a long moment as the person at the door waited patiently for permission to enter. He was going to regret this. And while he normally would not wish failure on anyone, he didn't actually want this Quest to succeed.
He stifled that thought swiftly and cleared his throat before calling out, "Come in." His breath froze for a moment as the door slowly creaked open, almost as though in response to his own inner hesitancy.
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Post by seraaches on Apr 27, 2008 21:53:22 GMT -5
He eased the door open slowly and curiously, listening for some hidden squeaking, but there wasn't really anything to hear. Huh. He tilted his head slightly, still watching the hinges before his attention went to the man waiting for him, sitting silently now behind his desk.
A grin cut through his strange features and he trotted into the room with ears perked so he could stop before the Queen of Hearts and drop in a low bow.
"Hello, your Majesty," the younger stallion said cheerily. "I hope you slept well last night. I ordered tea."
This was followed by a small crowd of servants bustling through the still opened door to set up a table with all the required tableware and wotnot. Ira thanked them kindly then poured out for his Mommy dearest as the servants departed quickly, closing the door behind him. "One lump as usual, Mommy dear?"
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Post by seraaches on Apr 27, 2008 22:09:25 GMT -5
Rai gave a low sigh at his eldest son's strange behaviour, strange mannerisms, and strange mind. He loved all of his children, he really and truly did, but he wasn't certain if he could unleash any of them upon the Court in good conscience. Even with that, however, Ira had proven himself over and over already as being efficient and trustworthy despite his eccentricities.
If only he didn't want an official position. But it was unfair to expect that even of his seemingly unambitious eldest son. Ira deserved recognition as well. Rai just didn't want to do it in the Court.
"Yes," the Queen replied quietly. "Ira, I have your Quest for you."
He watched for some response from the King, but the younger man didn't seem to even notice. Rai wanted to sigh; he just wanted to get this over with. "Wot other appointments do I have this afternoon?"
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Post by seraaches on Apr 27, 2008 22:38:49 GMT -5
Ira carefully carried the cup of tea back over to his Queen Mother, and set it gently on the desk. It might seem as though he hadn't heard his stallion Mommy, but he'd filed the information away and instead answered the question.
"I cleared the rest of your afternoon," the younger equine said brightly. "You've been working too much lately."
His Mommy dearest was well aware of why he was here, though darling Mother dear probably didn't understand his need to be an official King of the Court. But he did.
The son briefly fell back to inspect his Mother. Queen Shinrai truly did look worn out, at least, to one who knew him very well. Ira had been studying his Mommy dear for the entirety of his life; he knew how the stallion used to look versus his look now. He also could read the frustration in Mommy love's face. The poor dear.
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Post by seraaches on Apr 27, 2008 22:44:38 GMT -5
Rai cut Ira a distinctly disapproving look for that particular bit of news. Perhaps it would be just fine if his King son didn't actually make it through his Quest, Rai's inner concerns or not. His eldest child was a bit high-hoofed, apparently.
"I didn't give you permission to do that," the Queen said softly, but in the end he knew it didn't really matter. Ira was going to do wotever he thought best. Rather like Anoushka did to Aderlass. That thought amused him greatly and he made a mental note to share that idea with his Queen friend later. Though it wasn't exactly the same and Ira was a great deal more likely to push the boundaries.
Rai shook his head and tried to bring the appointment back to topic. "You'll be going to the Yarrow Gardens," the stallion finally said.
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Post by seraaches on Apr 27, 2008 22:53:20 GMT -5
The younger stallion ignored the disapproval; the Queen of Hearts was trying to work himself into an early grave, which, in Ira's eyes, was a type of suicide. It was utterly ridiculous, obviously, because that was just as dead as an assassination. And Ira wouldn't even be able to eat the body! He wasn't allowed to.
Ira's ears flicked forward curiously as his Mother dearest finally told him his Quest. The Yarrow Gardens? Daddy darling's home region? Now this was very interesting indeed.
"The Yarrow Gardens?" the young equine said almost idly, his tail swinging back and forth in a motion strangely familiar to the older horse. "Is this about the medicines or the poisons?" Despite his loafing manner, the younger man knew very well wot was going about in the Courts; he kept all sorts of information tucked away in his head.
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Post by seraaches on Apr 27, 2008 23:02:49 GMT -5
"Both, actually," Queen Shinrai answered, knowing that Ira was ignoring his reprimand and was doing it because the younger man knew the Queen wouldn't do anything to actually punish his son over it. "We have ties through Queen Serafino's family, but we've also recently begun some negotiations with a few of your great-aunts for a second Gardens supplier."
He fixed Ira with a serious expression; all of his Court concerns aside, this was actually a very important mission. Ira would have to keep himself constantly in check and in control whilst in the Gardens. If he mucked this up, he was jacking over the entire Court of Hearts and there was no way Rai could afford to put up with that, even from his eldest, rather insane son. Ira would have to succeed.
"You have to be cautious, Ira. You have no idea wot the Gardens residents are like."
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Post by seraaches on Apr 27, 2008 23:27:50 GMT -5
Ira fixed his lovely Queen Mother with a long, blandly amused glance. "You mean they're not all psychotic, randy *#&$%^@ with a serious male complex and the ability to cut anyone down to size with just a fraction of their wonderfully sharp wit and anger?" It certainly wasn't as though he'd just spent his entire life living with one, oh, no.
"This certainly is a surprise, Mommy dearest," the striped stallion answered lightly. "We should contact all of the papers and send a messenger to the streets and the regions so all the Cards shall know the truth of the Yarrow Gardens and their lovely inhabitants."
He snorted lightly at his Mommy dear, tail twitching again from one flank to the other in that familiar gesture again. Sometimes it was very easy to tell that they were related to each other.
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Post by seraaches on Apr 27, 2008 23:55:06 GMT -5
The Queen of Hearts gave a sudden laugh of agreement. Well, his eldest son did have that correct; the boy's actual mother was probably a fairly good representation of the residents in that crazy, crazy region. That didn't make this mission any less serious, though.
The human male pulled out a packet of papers and gently put them intoa satchel which he offered to his eldest son. "This is all of the information you will need, your Highness," the Queen of Hearts told the King quietly. "There will be an escort waiting to take you tomorrow morning. Lawrence has appointed the head of that group, so check with him for schedule and any other arrangements you might need."
The Queen hesitated for a moment, giving his son a long, hard look. The once colt had grown up into a fine looking stallion, but there was still the strangest glint to the lavender eyes. Rai couldn't relate to it at all, but he still feared wotever it was.
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Post by seraaches on Apr 28, 2008 0:44:29 GMT -5
Ira slipped the satchel over his head, letting the weight of it rest along his withers and over his shoulder, shifting slightly to enjoy the heavy feel of responsibility. He enjoyed his life; he always would and always did. It let him step into the Real World. He liked that feeling. Liked to Exist. The teal coloured stallion met his green Mommy's eyes as his strange little smile continued to toy with the edges of his lips. "I look forward to meeting the complement you have prepared for me." He bowed to his Mommy dearest again. "As that's all, I have some packing to do tonight." He was flouncing off before the Queen could reply, leaving the stallion to sigh heavily at the closing door. ----- Ira trotted up the stairs to his Daddy darling's place, which she still very much ran, and slipped in to look for his white brother. There was a rumour flitting about that Iphis was gathering more of his old sewing things from his childhood residence. That would be perfect for Ira, actually. |
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