Old Acquaintances in New Guises [Kiwi!] *Finished*

[seraaches]

She had come a long way from the low self-esteem skunk that had skulked into the Capital City to 'find her ambition' so many years ago. She was a King now, no longer a doubt-ridden Nine, she walked about in her bipedal form, an afterthought to her new existence as a title King in the Court of Diamonds.

Today the woman sat at an outdoors cafe, going over paperwork for the Court and, specifically, for the Queen of Diamonds, Theofilus. He was very busy now and, by association, so was she. The Sorgaire Range skunk leaned back briefly in her chair, pinching lightly at the bridge of her nose as she fought off a headache from staring at the small print and rows of numbers. The Court was running smoothly, unsurprising with the Selkie Lakes sparrow at the helm, but, as with any political empire, there were many small details to be seen to. Kelasia was determined to take on as many of those details as possible so fewer things had to be run by the already very busy and rather stressed Theofilus.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Having been confined to bed rest by the doctor for over a week, Lariel was only to glad when her symptoms of sickness began to abate. Although she didn't feel like a spry kitten at the moment, the female bobcat breathed deeply of the fresh air and thanked whatever starts watched over her that her confinement was over. Lariel hated sickness and was the most irritable patient if she caught anything. Her Mother and Father told her that most sickness was in the mind, and as such it could be conquered. Her Father would be displeased to know his daughter had been out of order close to seven days.

Free of the confines of her home, Lariel lazily strolled through the City, eager for the presence of others. Never so badly had the Ranger craved company as she did today. Her nose was not high in the air today. Today...she was actually.....pleasant.

Spying the sign for a local cafe Lariel passed many gleaming windows filled with various nicknack's to buy. She was padding toward the open door when the sight of a coat colored like hers grabbed her attention. It wasn't rare to come across other Rangers, but she enjoyed conversing with them any chance she got. Lariel's bracelet whipped around her paw as she made her way to the stranger.

Realizing she wasn't used to approaching others, normally being the one approached, Lariel simply walked around the other and plopped herself down in the chair opposite.

"Wonderful day, isn't it?" Only now did she remember she wasn't very good at small talk and therefor disliked it greatly.

((OOC: Sorry, I'm a little rusty. It's been AGES since my last RP, lol.))

[seraaches]

Rounded ears flicked back in surprise when someone simply decided to come sit with her; not that she wouldn't welcome some distraction from all of this paperwork. Abruptly, however, her ears came back forward in recognition and a sudden rush of her previous utter lack of self confidence threatened to overwhelm her again.

It had been years since she'd last seen the bobcat and her initial shock didn't give her the signs of illness that the other woman was still fighting off. Kelasia never went home; she had far too much to do here in the Capital and her mother seemed equally pleased to never see her face again-- content, it seemed, in the dutiful letters reporting that there was really nothing to report.

Here now, however, say a fragment of her broken past and the skunk was very nearly at a loss for words. She finally answered softly, faintly,"Well, yes... it is..."

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

The feline turned around in the seat once before straightening her forelegs properly before her, the piece of her homeland clacking gently against the chair. Being full grown did have its advantages, but Lariel found it harder to situate her body in places it used to have no trouble fitting. She could feel the long stub of her tail pressed tightly to the back of the chair and mentally groaned with impatience. Maybe it had been a mistake to leave the sickbed so early, but the deep breath of fresh air dispelled her doubts.

Certainly the sign of shock registering over the stranger's face was treasure enough. It was always fun to unsettle others, or so the bobcat thought. After the initial shock, Lariel's brows creased together when a new emotion flickered over the other's face; one she didn't recognize. Disconcerted, Lariel kneaded her front two paws into the chair's seat.

Being known to speak her mind, Lariel continued to do so. "What was that look for?"

[seraaches]

The skunk hesitated again her ears back slightly as she thought about this strange reception. She, of course, recognized the bobcat, and not just in a vague 'we were in the same town' sort of way. She even remembered the woman's name, Lariel. She'd viewed the other Sorgaire Range resident as a friend; one of the very few she'd ever had. Though, looking back on that time now, perhaps 'friend' wasn't really the correct word.

With her exceedingly low self esteem, the little skunk Kelasia had been a target for all bullies and anyone looking to get a quick laugh at her expense. In one particularly bad incident, the bobcat had stepped up for the skunk, and had run off the bullies. With a stammering "Th-thank y-you..." Kel had tucked tail and run home. She'd nearly idolized the strong Lariel after that, but hadn't truly adopted any of that gumption until more recently.

In all those years, Kel had seen Lariel many times but only spoken with the other girl thrice. Obviously, she hadn't made a lasting impression.

Pulling her mind back to the present, she forced her ears back upwards to tilt towards the other woman and did wot her younger self could never do. She made conversation.

"It's not for any reason," she answered softly, but there was no fear in her voice then. "I was just thinking about something else. Welcome to the Capital. Is there anything I can help you find?"

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Lariel frowned and creased her brows together as she considered the Card across from her. There was something that seemed familiar, beyond the similar coat colors. She just couldn't remember what that was exactly. Shrugging it off for now, Lariel put her paws on the table between them and comfortably leaned forward and eyed the papers the skunk had been enwrapped in before she'd inserted herself into the scenario.

Snorting, the bobcat rolled her eyes. "Thanks, but I've been to the Capital before," she said, lowering her voice absently. "I've been to a lot of places." A mischievous smile played on her face for a flicker of a moment then disappeared just as quickly. Lariel had been to all of the Regions at least once before, making it her business to know what kind of people and items could be located where.

"I've just been under the weather and decided to take a walk. I saw you sitting here and recognized you as a Ranger by your coloring. I haven't seen one of us in a long while and thought I'd stop by and say hello." Lariel paused to look down at the paperwork on the table. "I can leave if I'm interrupting your work though...." she added, glancing at the woman. Her brows furrowed together in confusion again as she fought the feeling of recognition again. "Have I met you before? You seem familiar."

[seraaches]

Kel was surprised to learn that Lariel was a traveler; really, though, it was a silly expectation for the other Sorgaire Rangers to be as hidebound as her own family. She was pleased, however, that the bobcat, at least, was not like her mother, and she began to relax just a bit more.

Coming to speak to someone just because they were from the same region as her was a strange concept, even now, to Kelasia, but she certainly wouldn't argue with anyone else for doing that exact thing.

How to answer Lariel's vague recognition, though? She thought for a moment before answering. "Actually," her voice was quiet and contained. "I believe we grew up in the same town." How to admit the frightened little girl she used to be? "I'm Tenaria's daughter." Her mother, at least, was well known in their area; at the very least for her odd quirks.

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

They had grown up in the same town? It was a definite possibility but Lariel had never expected to see any Rangers she'd met while traveling. Still, the Capital wasn't exactly no man's land and tons of Cards flocked here every day. Now that she thought of the odds, the bobcat supposed it was bound to happen eventually. Now to just figure out who this person was.

"Tenaria's daughter?" she repeated questioningly. The name itself didn't ring a bell. Tenaria, Tenaria....Oh wait, could she be, "The loopy Card?" she asked, not afraid to offend this skunk since loopy wasn't necessarily an insult. "I think I remember her from when I was in my teens. Everyone thought she was funny as hell. We all wanted to be her kid. At least if she was strict like ours, she was funny. I guess that explains why I would have seen you around." Brushing it off, Lariel decided not to think more on it.

It was then that she saw the skunks rank emblazened on her breast. Unable to prevent it, her eyebrows rose in true admiration. Becoming a King wasn't an easy task, unless you were born that way. Being only an Eight herself, Lariel felt a growing respect for the skunk.

"So, what are you doing on this fine day with paperwork before you?"

[seraaches]

Loopy? Pale blue eyes blinked in obvious surprise, but she certainly couldn't argue with the estimation; her biggest surprise was that anyone would want to be Tenaria's child. Not that her older brother really seemed to have any trouble with their mother, but Kel was very well aware that he was their mother's favourite. And that was fine. Kel had her own life now; a life not chosen by her mother, not filled with fear, not filled with a constant sense of self-loathing and even more questions as to whether or not she was worthwhile. No, Kel was pleased to be away from her past, no matter wot it meant to others from that time. She simply gave a small nod to Lariel's first question and plied her mind to the second.

A small, gentle smile touched the skunk's face without realizing it. "I have work to finish for the Court of Diamonds," her voice was soft, but light and easy-going. "His Majesty Theofilus, The Queen of Diamonds, has much to do and I strive to ease his burden."

[Lauryn de Vampyre]

Taking the wide eyes as a yes to her first question, Lariel let it go. No sense pressing into personal matters when a Card didn't want to discuss them. She certainly hoped others would afford her the same courtesy. Her hoping hadn't turned up great results yet.

Her interest peaked, Lariel placed her paws on the table and leaned slightly forward. "Court of Diamonds, eh?" Being a Diamond Lariel could appreciate the work this Skunk was doing. Though she wouldn't admit it to anyone, the cat was doing all she could to increase her rank to one day join the Court. She loved her live as a private investigator dealing with black market exchanges on the side, but she craved more power, more prestige.

Although she considered it a liability, Lariel still possessed the curiosity of a cat. "What kind of work?"