My What a Guy is Gaston! (Finished)

[Nathalia]

His long, thickly muscled legs carried him swiftly and surely up the stairs of the Hearts palace. He brought one gloved hand up and swept his black ponytail back over his shoulder, grinning delightedly at his surroundings.

A pudgy raccoon guard made as though to stop him, so he pulled down at the corner of his shirt, showing off the bright red symbol emblazoned on his sculpted chest. The guard backed off immediately, mumbling apologies and looking at the flagstones.



He was getting looks as he passed a few others in the shining hall, he smiled at them, gleaming white teeth shining as he tossed his thick black hair and delightful antlers...so many people admired his rack...he loved it.

He bathed in the attention as he sauntered toward the high doors to the main hall. These palaces were all alike, now he just had to find a fancier set of door than these and the Queen would surely be behind them.

Serafino...what a pretty name. Especially considering the reputation he had...Gaston couldn't wait to see the face of this character.

He pushed through the small crowd of people standing in the center of the hall instead of going around them. "Oh dear, excuse me!"

He shouted back jovially, watching the two men look affronted while the small gaggle of women began to giggle. He looked down the hall toward the ornate set of double doors. Not as large as the set he had just walked through, but fancier...the Queen was probably seeing people and granting favors in there.

Laughing a little to himself, he shouldered the doors open, ignoring a protesting Range Dweller, and strode in.

[Tigeress]

((May I join in? <3 This works out well for Sakhmet.))



It was unlike her to be somewhere important without her sister, in fact, it was positively bizarre. She knew nothing of the city or the courts, and she had no idea what she intended to do with herself here, or after Artemis accomplished what the fiery doe knew she'd come for. It didn't bother her any, at least she had company for a while until she found her own footing. She didn't know if Artemis wanted to be in the courts at all, but she had a head start as far as knowledge went. Sakhmet only wanted to get a little info.

She had expected there to be a large crowd she would have to maneuver through, but luckily for her they all seemed to be parted. And YOWZA look at that backside! No wonder they had all parted so eagerly. She suddenly didn't mind taking up the rear so to say.

All masculine distractions aside, perhaps he knew how to get where she wanted to go? She began to increase her pace, wings fluttering behind her eagerly as if at any moment she would take flight. A couple 'oohs' and 'ahhhs' accompanied this, but she was used to it. It was a rather... uncommon mutation in these parts from what she'd seen.

"Excuse me, ah, sir!" She could only assume with such a purposeful stride that he was someone important. She'd neglected her usual saucy ways and turned them in for a little respect for those of the palace, just for today. Just in case she really did need or want to make a good impression.

She was just a few paces behind him now, slowing and adjusting the tousled pieces of her fiery mane. "Might I ask where you are headed? I'm looking for the Queen of Hearts, or someone of close status." She didn't really want to be directed to Dymphna, in fact she'd hoped to avoid her for today. She didn't want her sister to know of her curiosities, not just yet.

[The Jenn]

Thursdays were such slow days, in Fino's opinion. It was close to the end of the week but not quite there, and Thursday court sessions seemed to drag on forever and a day. People talked far too long, knowing they wouldn't have another chance until next week when the next formal hearing session opened on Tuesday, and it just gnawed at his patience like nothing else to hear them complain about things that didn't even matter to him. Sometimes they were interesting, or at least entertaining, but today had been as long and tedious as they got.

Perhaps he could give himself a half hour reprieve? He'd suffered long enough in patience, hadn't he? It wasn't like any of their concerns were life-shattering. Still, he'd promised himself that he would treat court as professionally as his mother always had - unless someone really annoyed him - and so he had to be tactful.

He let the Lakeland man finish his sentence before holding his hand up in a motion that clearly meant 'shut your trap, good sir'. "You've made a very interesting point regarding your shop," he said in an even tone. "I would like a short while to think on it so that I might come to a better decision. Court is dismissed for one half hour, to be resumed in the same order. If you'll excuse me."

Of course they would. He had always found the phrase funny coming from his mother's lips, but still. Tradition.

Standing, he brushed a speck of imaginary dust from his skirts before stepping down from his dais and heading towards the door. A quick tea awaited him, which he knew would be prepared with all speed. A Range servant moved to open it for him, but it opened wider of its own accord and a tall... large... enormous biped walked into the room. Canine and deer blood, two of the biggest breeds, had apparently combined to form a giant. The Queen stopped as the looming form blocked his exit and gave the unexpected entrant a cool look. However interesting a person, he was standing between Serafino and his tea after a long and boring morning. "Whoever you are, get out of the doorway," he ordered flatly.

((We'd love to have Sekhmet in the thread. <3 I'd just like to point out that there's no official posting order so if you don't reply before one of us does, please don't be offended if we jump around and ahead. Likewise, feel free to post whenever someone else replies if you're motivated. Also, no one else join, please. One other person is more than enough.))

[Nathalia]

The large mixed breed flung the door open, then turned curiously to the doe addressing him.

"Where am I headed? Why I'm-"

He pulled a wide sleazy grin, bringing a hand up to his chest and posing slightly...she was quite a knock out, he had to admit...lovely hair. His attention was then diverted by the sudden sounds of footsteps and a somewhat droll voice requesting that he stand aside. Turning to look down he saw the object of his search...who else could it be, really? The descriptions of the man were quite right...lovely hair...not quite as nice as his own, but still.

"Oh perfect! You must be Queen Serafino...hello."

The last word was accompanied with an eyebrow flip over half closed eyes and a wide, ever-knowing smile.

Ignoring the doe now that he had found what he was looking for, he grasped the Queen's hand quickly and kissed it, flipping his eyebrows once more for good measure.

"I've been looking for you, actually. I think I'll just follow you and then you can go about setting up a room for me. Nahaha!"

Saying so, he stepped to the side, reaching out to pull the doe tightly to him...for the dual effect of getting her out of the way of the Queen...and to get to touch her seeing as he hadn't a clue or a care as to whether she would be accompanying them.

[Tigeress]

((Thanks Jennluff <3))

She noted the sleazy grin and returned it with a smirk. She did like to be admired, and hit on, can't forget that one. He was even more handsome up close, and she found herself being distracted from what she'd initially come for. However, before she could say anything in response, she heard Serafino's voice from... somewhere behind the rather large male before her. He had requested that this stranger move from the doorway and she wondered idly if she'd been too late to catch him before his morning tea time. She'd learned a bit about the Queen's schedule ahead of time, just in case.

She waited patiently while the other male... somewhat introduced himself. He seemed to be... flirting with the queen? Oh... was he? Hmmm... she hadn't seen him close to anyone other than Dymphna so she'd just assumed. Well if he was gay, that would make sense, as his feminine side would have bonded with Dymphna instantly. She could be quite the girly girl. The conversation stuck with her and pulled her out of her thoughts enough to wonder 'what Is this man thinking?' last she'd heard, Serafino was not one to answer demands. He must be a relative of some sort or... a... lover? What a waste of such fine manbody.

"I ah-!" She was about to speak when the large canine/deer moved out of the way, and decided to pull her into him. She glanced upwards with another flirtacious smirk, she simply couldn't help herself, sending rivulets of ruby hair spiraling down her fur. It had quite the nice effect, she thought. Coughing as she returned her gaze to the queen, she bowed politely at the waist as she had seen Artemis do... though forgetting that when she'd moved she'd put herself almost directly in front of Gaston. She stood up stiffly from the move in surprise, trying not to let it register on her face.

"Greetings your majesty, I'm not sure if you remember me. I am Sekhmet, Dymphna's sister, and I had been hoping to have a few words with you about your fine court." So there it was, out in the open. She was making decisions she didn't even know if she was ready to commit to. What would Artemis say to this sudden ambition? Or Dympnha for that matter. It excited her, now that she thought about it. She would have to become a Jack, of course, for being below her sister simply wouldn't do, but this was all a good start.

[The Jenn]

Fino hated looking up at people, especially since he knew he wasn't short. Just... in human form, most people were taller. Even as a biped, though, he wouldn't be able to compete with this man's height. He listened to the greeting, arrogant expression and all, then stiffened when his hand was grabbed and just about licked.

A huge, muscular, admittedly handsome and smarmily charming wolf-deer had just touched him. And kissed his hand. And instructed him to find a room.

...what?

In an instant, this meeting switched from slightly inconvenient to nearly surreal. "Excuse me?! You'll what?" He snatched his hand back as soon as he felt the pressure of that giant paw ease and glared. There had better be a good explanation for this little show. "Who the hell are you, then, that you feel you have the authority to touch me and order me about at your leisure?"

Behind him, he could feel the curious gazes of everyone in the room on the tableau in front of them. The Queen stood where he was, not quite through the doorway, and waited. The doe received a short nod for her words. "I remember you. Perhaps." He wasn't feeling exceptionally verbose at the moment and tried to repress the urge to wipe the back of his hand against his skirts. What the... hell...?

[Nathalia]

Gaston looked taken aback for about one second before his features returned to the level of "smarmy jack-n-ape".

As his grin widened, he tugged at the edge of his jerkin, revealing the Heart symbol and the bright red "K". He obviously expected this to impress...his expression could be interpreted as nothing else.

"Me? Why, I'm Gaston."

The statement was said with a smirk and the sense that he expected this to make everything very suddenly all right. His teeth really were quite a dazzling white, his eyes sparkling with self-confidence. His right hand squeezing the waist of the doe had nearly forgotten gently.

"I was suggesting that you find a room for me, seeing as only the best will do for your new King, am I right?"

He lifted his left arm and flexed the bicep shamelessly, grinning as though he expected half of the room to fall at his feet.

"As for authority, well... Seeing as I'm your new King, I have authority to touch you, and you..."

He dragged his tongue across his teeth.

"Have authority to touch me. Nhahah."

The last statement was followed by a small, ego infested chuckle, he smiled and let his tail flip slightly as he awaited what he was sure would be a small apology and a quick trip to the nearest...finest...bedroom.

[Tigeress]

As the firm hands tightened about her waist, Sekhmet could only gasp and hope that the Queen distracted the rather large male. His reponse was exactly what she'd been expecting, and, in a strange way, pleasing. A man in control was rather attractive, and she simply couldn't stand the thought of anyone getting his majesty's attention over her. Not when she'd tried so hard to make her attitude more... pleasant.

"I will wait, your majesty." She said politely, bowing out of the conversation and whatever events would come after this. Either way, if they fucked or fought, she wanted no part in it. Not that she wasn't a gal for threesomes, but... she liked her threesomes to be more focussed on the female, more hetero if you would. This was up a whole 'nother alley, which was kind of amusing. She didn't let it show on her face, but she was all to eager to see which way the conversation would turn. So far she'd predicted Serafino's reactions perfectly, but she didn't know how much persuasion it took to distract the queen.

She physically took a step back, managing to slide from Gaston's grasp which had absent-mindedly loosened in his attempt to please the queen and probably everyone else within viewing distance. She did admire the whole package for a few moments before sighing to herself. It was the good ones who were always... that way. She'd had a nasty experience with that in the Highlands once before. It had been such a pity, really.

She couldn't recall seeing another king of hearts around the palace, not recently, so it made sense that he was so... eager to claim the personal spot. She might have half the mind to do so herself were she quite capable of doing it at this moment in time. But rank of course prevented her, for now. It seemed she was getting more and more mentally involved in what was only supposed to be a curious visit.

[The Jenn]

The revelation of this strange man's status earned him a slight nod of acknowledgment from Fino. At least he had the rank to back up some of his actions' boldness, even if he'd obviously never dealt closely with someone of a higher rank than himself.

His next words blew that thought away, along with several others, and crimson eyes widened slightly in surprise before narrowing. It was true that he only had one official King at present, his uncle, but that this arrogant bastard thought he would just waltz - well, boldly swagger - in and take up an empty spot made his hackles rise.

"We grant authority in this palace, Gaston, we don't hand it out like candy to the first beggar who walks in with his hands held out. You have to prove to me that you're worth anything before I'll even consider granting you a privileges. And that includes," his eyes narrowed further and the fingers of his right hand twitched, "touching me."

Those teeth were distracting. He couldn't remember seeing a smile like that on anyone, not even the last Cheshire he'd had to deal with. Crazy things. For all that he wanted to be disgusted, something about the sheer audacity and surety behind the attitude made it appealing. Also deserving of a sound beating, but appealing nevertheless. The stupid flexing didn't help. Damn the man, but he had muscles.

[Nathalia]

Gaston blinked, his smile faltering slightly, before he tried the game again...perhaps he just needed to make himself a bit more...likable?

He smiled again, pulling off his gloves and letting his hair loose.

"Well then, what can I do to be granted this...authority? Hmmmn?"

He ran a hand down the front of his own chest and tugged the jerkin down slightly...just to make sure that this Serafino could see those muscles...that should help, it always did.

"Should I show you what it is I can do?"

Perhaps this Queen would wan to see him hunt, or maybe he needed to be swept off of his feet? Or perhaps he just needed that stick pulled out of his rump...whatever, Gaston's was certain he could clear the problem up.

He let go of the doe and made a formal bow, shirt still pulled askew, so that his long black hair tumbled over his shoulders, then he pulled back up still grinning.

"Do you need to be impressed?"