Taking the initiative [Jenn/Spides <3][DONE]

[Tigeress]

She walked sheepishly into the palace, her pregnancy so evident it was painful. She was directed almost immediately to where Serafino would be; had she spent That much time wandering around here lately? She supposed she had. Due to a recent bout of advice, she was nervous. Her pregnancy might have cost her a great deal, and her inability to control her hormones, even moreso. So this would be her chance to announce the recent birthing of her and Pravus' children, as well as a chance to offer her apologies to the Queen himself. She'd thought briefly of just telephoning after the pregnancy, but decided that seemed too... cowardly and informal. No, she had to own up to her rashness and poor behaviour.

Not to mention... the kids. Oh how she wanted to just take them and run far far away, but no, someday she would be part of the courts (depending on whether her talk with the Queen went well) and so Pravus would have his chance to... inspect them, sooner or later. She was nervous for some reason, she had thought she didn't even want the things, but lately she'd been categorizing them differently in her head. They were no longer his children, the product of her rape... though she had to still bite down a bit of anger when thinking about it. Now they were her lovely babies, her children, and she would protect them with everything she had. She had as many as she could carry with her, though to be fair, she'd brought only the most pleasing ones. The two pure felines had been left at home, but she was sure his majesty and his higness would want to see them eventually.

How strange the flip had come about, but she noticed it nonetheless. She knocked on the door twice before taking a deep breath and letting it out, her hands shaking a bit around her children with the nervousness she felt over... well, everything. "Your majesty? It's Sekhmet, I've some little ones you, and Pravus, might want to meet." Her voice was careful, soft, not challenging in any way, if anything it was the most submissive and unsure of herself she'd ever sounded. She'd hate herself later for displaying such weakness in front of the Queen, but she seemed to always forget that he was the one who came to her in her broken state and offered her advice the kind of which she imagined he didn't just give out to anyone.

No, he'd shown an odd sense of compassion, and she'd only turned around and shown him disrespect and given him a mess of a time with his... pet? Lover? Boyfriend? She, to this day, didn't really know how to classify the relationship. She pursed her lips with determination as she steeled her feet in place while waiting for him to open the door or call her inside. Ohhhh but she still hurt. At least it was something to distract her from her nervousness while she clutched her children and tried to comfort them, as the half-feline, half-deer, Naylia, she had named her, began to squirm and squeak impatiently.

[Spiderfly]

Pravus had been in Fino's office for nearly an hour, discussing dungeon business. They had finally managed to get their hands on someone of interest and Pravus needed to know exactly how far he was allowed to go for the information. And after how long he was deemed useless enough to dispose of. It wouldn't do afterall for Pravus to lose his interest and kill a prisoner before his Queen allowed.

He had learned after the first time to ask first. . .

Pravus' golden eyes, so odd looking in that human face, turned towards the door. Ugh, /that/ voice. His own form was lean now and he knew that she was bringing by their own. . . Well her own sprog. He hissed lightly under his breath but stopped himself quickly before looking over at his Queen.

"My Majesty. . ?" He asked in way of question.

[The Jenn]

Serafino paused in conversation with his King as the knock sounded on the door and grimaced slighly before schooling his features into something more normal and neutral. He wouldn't always bother to put up that front but, well... it was a favor of sorts. So she wanted to show them the results of her months-long absence from their attentions? Fine. At least she wasn't still pregnant. Lior and Linda were tucked away in the nursery so there wouldn't be any risk to either of them.

"Yes, Shadow, it still stands for both of us," he muttered before motioning towards the door. "Also, better to see them now and decide if they're worthwhile rather than waiting until they've grown up a bit."

In a louder tone of voice, one that could be heard through the door, the Queen gave his permission to enter. She could open it of her own accord; he certainly wasn't standing to get the door for her.

[Tigeress]

She heard a slight mumbling inside and wondered if Pravus was inside for some reason? That would make things better... and worse. She had kind of hoped to get a pre-approval from Fino, or perhaps a heads up if one of them was deemed... unacceptable. She winced and shifted the three babies around so that they were all pressed to her chest with a hand, taking the other one to loosen the latch of the door before wrapping both arms around the bundles again and opening the door wide with a hip.

She looked down at them affectionately, the look lingering only until her face came up to see that Pravus was, indeed, in the room as well, and she tried to force on a more neutral expression. No need to let him know she'd started to gain a mother's fondness for her kids, else he might just kill them in spite. Although, they could be useful to him, even if he didn't care for them either way. There was a curious thought- would he be able to gain some sort of fatherly affection for them at all? Or was he completely stone cold to his offspring as she had anticipated?

She walked slowly forward, bowing slightly awkwardly as she came forward towards the pair. "Your majesty, your highness." Glancing down at the children, she thought it better to explain immediately that these were not quite all. "I have brought these three to present to you, as they were all I could carry on my own. They are not the only ones however, there are two more at home still with a sitter, a feline mix of both our realm colours, and a pure morganberry feline, a ten and nine of hearts respectively." She watched both of their expressions for any immediate reactions, though Pravus' face was the one she lingered on the most, fear flickering behind her eyes for a moment.

Trying to distract herself and the feline King from the very idea of the other less... appropriate children, she took another step forward more into the light and held the babies up a little higher. "This girl is a ten of Hearts..." She said, moving the little feline/doe around so that she could squeak in protest at the two males before batting her eyes slowly in confusion. "This male, is a Jack of Hearts." He had already been facing outwards and didn't seem to show much of a response as the Highlander deer was introduced. "And he... he is a King of Hearts." She said this softly, as the mix still filled her with a strange overwhelming emotion when she looked at him.

[Spiderfly]

Pravus watched her move into the room, and watched her freeze if only for a second after laying her eyes upon him. He tilted his head, eyes emotionless watching her like a wiggling mouse. Had she never seen him in human form before? He sneered, but quickly turned it into a slightly forced smile. For one not used to human forms, either could be equally as disconcerting. But no.. he would /try/. Even if it killed him.

And from the feeling in his stomach it just might.

His eyebrows lifted high into his golden hair as he regarded the three children in her arms. They had . . turned out not half horrible apparently. And a King at that. "Bring them closer." He said gruffly, before clearing his throat and closing his eyes for a second.

When he spoke this time his voice was gentler. "I wish to see them closer please." Pravus rose and extended a hand towards the doe, and motioned towards a rather plush chair that was seated beside his own. . . She had been smart not to bring the others by the sounds of it. Perhaps he'd have to search them out at a later date.

For now though, as long as they were out of sight, they were out of mind.

[The Jenn]

His King was trying, Fino would certainly give him that. It would have been quite interesting to watch this interaction without that forced veneer of politeness, but no. Not after he'd been asked.

The interest was quite genuine, however. Five little sprogs, covered in fur, would have been far too many to bring so young, especially if their mother still felt the need to carry them. Five... ugh, far too many. No wonder she had gotten so fat. Pravus's gut was more than enough to make him shudder with two. Near the end had been the most disgusting, with everything oddly distented and making it nearly impossible for the feline to walk with his mutated spine. She certainly didn't have that unusual obstacle to work around.

And the ranks were more than appropriate, especially with her as only a Ten herself. A Nine as lowest... his own parents had begun as Tens, and even when they worked their way up to Queen and King, they had still given birth to a Jack and, later, a Ten along with him. He was quite glad he'd given her that favor. The unseen Nine would have been slaughtered if it remained a Seven. Then again, if it was a pure Morganberry feline, perhaps it wouldn't have been such a tragedy.

He limited his comment to "Interesting brood."

[Tigeress]

She let out a deep breath, trying to make it seem as if it had been the weight making her freeze like a doe caught in the headlights. But rather, a part of her had terribly thought her kids might all be killed upon entry. Pravus' attempt at being polite was met with a small nod of understanding, and, secretly, of thanks. She'd been through enough lately to continue to publicly battle with him. Though his rank made her show respect when it was appropriate, she would always challenge him when he challenged her, though she stood no chance, what he'd done to her had pissed her off a fair amount. Although, it hadn't all been bad... she had these lovely children now to distract her from demons past.

"Of course, your highness." She moved towards the chair eagerly, seating herself down gently and allowing the three to squirm about better. The female was out of her arms almost instantly, waddling to the edge of her knees as far as she could go, and sticking her nose out to scent the feline, tail flicking back and forth now and then with careful curiosity. She looked rather comical, her feet on the edge of her mother's knees, body leaning forward into the air while her noise pointed like a hunting dog.

"Ah, pardon her..." She commented quietly, embarassment registering on her face as she made a move to restrain the curious mixed female. Fino's comment didn't surprise her, she didn't expect much commentary from him at all, especially with what had happened. She had intended to apologise, but really, in this moment it seemed too awkward. Her words would be fumbled and it would be pointless. Better to pretend it hadn't happened and redeem herself with actions. She assumed that would be less... bothersome for everyone, all around. "Indeed, majesty. They all have some... interesting qualities to them."

"I have tentatively named a few of them, but of course, if you don't like them you could suggest new ones. I still need a couple though." She glanced down at the King, she hadn't yet figured out what to name him. Nothing really seemed to Fit. The other two on her lap had come to her fairly easily, as had the mixed feline back home.

[Spiderfly]

Pravus looked at the children with a slow critical eye. A king. . he was rather surprised that all her children had come out so high ranking. That king, he couldn't take his eyes off her son. . their?. . HIS son. Shame he had a bit of morganberry but still, it seemed to stay in line with the highlander colouring. He raised an eyebrow in silent laughter, good thing neither of them had ended up with that hideous pink of their mother.

"Rajekhri." He reached forwards and raised the small mix. Pravus could see the feline within this son. Rajekhri, it held promise.

Next he reached forwards and grabbed the deer male. The cat probably didn't realize he always gravitated towards his male sprog, but he truly did. Perhaps wishing to see himself in those children. "This one will be named Khizr." His eyes looked over to Sekhmet forcefully, registering a challenge. These were his son's names, and he would name them.

"You can name her whatever you wish but they're staying here in the palace. Only right. You will be allowed to visit occasionally but they will be raised with the other royal babies, and they will be raised properly. . By me." He regarded her with a steady gaze.

[The Jenn]

Fino felt much more like an observer than a participant in this conversation. It wouldn't be his business at all if the children weren't Pravus's. They were attractive enough, Highland heritage showing strong even in the high-ranking little mix. Interesting to see both of the boys with a mane, and one of them even red like his own. It was always a toss-up what colors would show for their region. Those green eyes were... unusual, though. He couldn't help but examine them for a moment as they flicked his way.

The feline's words made his eyes snap back over in surprise. Naming them, that was one thing. He'd named Lior quite well. Claiming them as his own to raise? In the palace? More nasty little infants to deal with?

Well... not that Linda was nasty as an infant. And Lior had his moments, when he was sleeping or quiet and not mewling for food. What did deer children do? Were they more or less obnoxious like kittens? They probably weren't as collected as serpents. He didn't say a word, but the Look he gave Pravus said volumes: curiosity, surprise, and 'we will talk'.

[Tigeress]

She knew he would gravitate towards his male children, though she hoped the females would not be rejected simply out of gender. She wondered idly how he'd take his last male offspring... he would probably be displeased at his lack of highlander whiteness. She considered the names carefully, noting a semblance of familiarity about them, but not knowing if she'd heard them before. Probably not, they were unique names. "Suiting names. Might I ask how they were inspired? I had hoped to name this female Naylia, and the male back home Tristian. I haven't yet found a name suiting of the female, however." She wouldn't challenge his names, as long as he didn't challenge hers. The one she'd had for the deer boy beforehand did pale in comparison, admittably.

"I had hoped they would. They deserve any opportunities you're willing to grant them." She said honestly, hoping that the... nature of their birth would not forsake them from the courts. "The other two I think will be less welcome, but whenever you have time to visit them, I will trust you to make the call." To be fair, the other male was a ten just like the female who was curiously sniffing around. However, he was a little more... meek and... almost outrageously cute and effeminate. Not exactly court material, to be honest.

She felt the anger spark like a wildfire in her stomach, how dare he insinuate that they would not grow up properly in her care. Though, really... what did she know about motherhood? She only knew the mistakes her mother made, the unfairness displayed shamelessly in front of all her daughters. Other than that, she was lost. And these children deserved a chance to grow up in the courts, showered with gifts. However... "Might the other two be able to visit their siblings and vice versa? I wish to be as fair as possible while considering that they are not as... ah... naturally gifted for such a life." She wondered idly what arrangements they would have to form if she completed her Jack quest soon, and if the Queen did allow her into the courts. Her eyes shifted to him then, he certainly didn't seem to care either way.

Except. He hated children. So why then wasn't he in an outrage, demanding they not be anywhere near his palace? Probably because they were Pravus' children, and... she didn't doubt he would find some sort of personal gain from them as adults. She shuddered at the thought but... if they grew up to wish for a life in the courts, then it wasn't her job to spoil their dreams with tales of monstrous things. She had a feeling little harm would come to him here, and yet the idea that they were honestly Safer behind the palace walls made her stomach churn.