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Post by The Jenn on Dec 2, 2008 17:21:03 GMT -5
The palace of Spades. Finally. It felt like Donnie had been working her entire life to stand in front of this building, poised to enter and make her mark on the world. She'd heard bits and pieces about the Court, but news had been strangely silent and difficult to ferret out. She didn't know much about the current Queen beyond her name and region, and nothing about anyone else who worked in the palace, which she thought was bizarre. Likewise, she hadn't heard much about the happenings of the nobility or recent laws or... really, much of anything. Maybe they were just really good at managing their information? She passed by the guards at the entrance, neither of which were particularly helpful. No, they didn't know where their Queen was at present, and no, they wouldn't go with her to find out. Rude things, whether they meant it or not. She would have to mention it to the appropriate noble, once she figured out who or where that person was. Wandering the halls for a few minutes, she became more and more confused. There weren't many people around. Oh, the occasional attendant or servant passed her and gave her an odd look, but really, she would have expected more activity. She'd taken up her human form especially for the occasion, since it was going to be formal and she had to make the best impression possible. |
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Post by Greenie on Dec 2, 2008 17:28:51 GMT -5
  Long meetings are long. That was about the thought process Mia was capable of handling. He'd spent the good portion of the afternoon in a meeting with Lysaras going over many different things that Court simply hadn't had time to address lately. Some of it was long overdue. He'd had to keep Zether with him as Christopher had left for the week to visit Esterberry; thankfully he'd been a good kid all day and had played or napped quietly in the corner by himself. Thankfully Lysaras didn't mind.. He just wasn't comfortable leaving the boy in his rooms by himself. It made him feel like a bad parent - not to mention he was scared Ze would trash the place out of boredom. You never really knew with that kid. Lysaras had decided that, given their combined lack of abilities to focus on another piece of paper, they would adjourn for the night. She'd immediately gone and retired to her rooms, but he needed to find something for Zether and himself to eat or they'd both be passing out soon. He rounded the corner, the child at his side, and paused at the unfamiliar person - in human form - standing a ways away. Someone was bright. Bright purple and yellow and pinks all around, and she looked remarkably confused. That was nothing unusual in itself. She was, however, in a wing of the palace visitors didn't usually go to, so he figured his dinner could wait a bit longer while he offered to help her. "Hello," The ferret said, then stepped closer to her. "Can I help you with anything? You look a bit confused."Zether sat down on the floor next to him and began levitating a few inches off the ground out of boredom. |
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 2, 2008 18:56:40 GMT -5
After a nice breakfast, Donnie had been able to weather the long coach ride to the palace just fine, but her stomach had begun to let her know that evening was approaching. She'd hoped a member of the palace would invite her to join them for dinner, but there didn't seem to be any people around to ask, much less a meal happening somewhere she could find. How odd. Not what she would have expected of a Court at all.
She turned her head at the sound of a voice, ready to respond whether they were addressing her or not. The eerie silence had begun to make her twitch and any speech was welcome. Indigo eyes were looking straight her way, however, so she wouldn't have to muscle her way into someone else's conversation. Very good, and a King to boot. Hopefully they were titled nobility?
"Ah, yes, thank you for noticing. My name is Donnie." She sketched a small bow, manners firmly in place. The nerves she'd been ignoring in the coach had begun to creep up on her again through her quiet trek around the palace. "I came in hopes of a meeting with the Queen Lysaras, but my coach arrived at what I assume is too late an hour...?" Her stated question trailed off as she caught sight of the pale but patterned child floating in the background, a faint aura ghosting around him. She couldn't help but stare in surprise.
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Post by Greenie on Dec 2, 2008 19:05:36 GMT -5
As she turned, Mia was unable to catch sight of her rank from beneath her clothing, so nodded and smiled in return. "Dysthymia or Mia, and this is my son--" He cut off as he turned, suddenly realising that the child was floating. The ferret glimpsed her reaction out of the corner of his eye and smiled wanely, gently pulling the boy down to the ground before he took off abruptly. Zether didn't resist, but hastily bowed to her as he remembered his manners.
"Zether, ma'am," Ze said dutifully, then began staring at the words on her clothing with interest. Challenge? Who put words on their clothes, anyways? Lysaras and Varestes didn't have words on their human clothes.. He would most certainly be investigating where she was from and why she had such odd garments.
"Unfortunately Lysaras just retired for the night; we had a long meeting running. I should be able to get you scheduled for a meeting tomorrow, but in the meantime you can accompany me to dinner if you'd like. I can't imagine your coach fare being very filling," He said with a smile. Having company for dinner was always nice; unexpected company was even better. She seemed like a nice woman. If nothing else, he didn't see new people very often thanks to his hermit-like habits.
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 2, 2008 19:14:13 GMT -5
Mia and Zether. What feminine names. "A pleasure to meet you both, and I appreciate the invitation. I'll admit that my stomach's been telling me it's time for dinner." They may have been male, but he was a polite male, and even more than that... he must have been one of Lysaras's Kings, which was the position she was going for. That would place him as her future equal, and even her senior in experience if nothing else.
"Of course, and that would be perfect. I certainly don't want to disturb her if she's already abed. I've come to inquire after a spot as her King, providing that there are still spaces available." From what she'd heard, there was more than enough room for her, but she didn't have any exact figures and the situation may have changed since she last investigated. "Is that your position? If you don't mind my asking. I just assumed, considering your rank."
Manners, Donnie, manners. Keep things neutral. She kept glancing over at the young boy. Fascinating little thing. "You certainly have an interesting son. Is that natural?"
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Post by Greenie on Dec 2, 2008 19:25:25 GMT -5
"I heard rumors of broccoli cheese soup earlier, so hopefully there's some left.." Mia replied, then began leading in the direction of the kitchen. Zether, lost in his thoughts, took a moment to follow but happily trotted next to his mother.
"Have you? That's great!" He responded with a genuine smile. "There's more than enough space; it's just Varestes and I at the moment. Rest assured, you are more than welcome, provided you're willing to work hard. We have a lot to do and very few people to do it." He grimaced, but immediately covered it. Obviously his wearyness was getting to him if he was scaring her with their workload already. "I'm a King, yes."
At the mention of himself, Zether looked up at her and grinned toothily, but remained silent. Seeing that the boy wasn't going to answer, Mia half-smiled and did it himself. "Yes, it is. His father is an Esterberry, and I'm Kahmden-Torquehelm myself. As for the floating goo.. it was a complication, shall we say."
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 2, 2008 19:39:50 GMT -5
"If there's one thing I'm up for right now, it's work," Donnie agreed with a smirk. She hadn't come to the Court with her hand out for prestige, though having the title would be a great ego boost. No, she came here to put her stamp on the way things were run. The more work they needed done, the more chances she would have to personally affect things. It sounded promising.
She glanced down once again at Zepher. He was a cute thing, for all that he was male and... gooey? "It sounds like a pretty complicated affair," she agreed in a mild voice. Well, that was what two males got for breeding, she supposed. Things never worked right without a woman shoving herself into the mix. At least he seemed healthy besides the goo and the floating.
"I'm aware that you just left a meeting and probably don't want to think about things much, but would you mind appraising me of the state of things?" she asked as they rounded a corner. "Who are the current nobles? I couldn't find much through the rumor mill about the Court." Beyond a general lack of confidence, but she hoped that was exaggerated.
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Post by Greenie on Dec 2, 2008 19:47:13 GMT -5
"Then you won't have any problems, I'm sure." Mia said with a nod. She seemed like exactly the kind of person they needed to help out - someone decisive and hardworking. Lysaras wasn't exactly the hardest person he knew, and he had been avoiding conflict of late simply because he was too tired to shove things in people's faces. He had enough to do without getting people pissy at him.
"... That's one way to put it.." The ferret mumbled, and tried not to think about Christopher. He could only imagine what the saluki was doing over in Esterberry; probably relaxing, just so he could brag about it when he came back.
"I'd be glad to," He replied. "It's all I think about nowadays, so it's not as if you're diverting my train of thought." He lead her to the kitchen doorway and they were assailed with the many delightful smells of good food being cooked. He happily availed himself of some broccoli soup while Zether zipped straight to the desserts. Mia just laughed - the boy deserved some sugar for sitting through his boring day. He sat down at one of the small tables in the corner and resumed talking when she rejoined him. "Lysaras is our only Queen; Varestes is her main King. He's a Hisstor, and not around often. I'm the second and only other King. At the moment I'm serving as a myriad of things, the primary of which is "paperwork-doer" and "conflict-solver". We have three jacks: Lleurella, a Villa chipmunk, Wulfram, a Tulgey Crow, and Vessatha, a Kahmden ferret. I suggest avoiding her, she's my mother," He said ruefully. "Is there anything specific you wish to know, or do you just want an overview?"
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 2, 2008 19:55:08 GMT -5
Donnie scooped herself a bowl of the soup, which smelled tasty and steamed in just the right way to make her mouth water. Breakfast had really been too long ago. She sliced herself a piece of bread and sat down next to the ferret, dunking it in the soup and eating while she listened.
"That... sounds like a pretty small crew," she admitted in surprise. Really, she had assumed she'd heard so little about the Court members because they were private. Were there really so few? How did they get any work done? The business of running a palace and conducting official business throughout the regions had to take more coordinated effort than that. Maybe they had a small army of untitled attendants or something like that. "An overview would be appreciated. Who focuses on which duties? Are there any pet peeves that I should be careful to avoid in the beginning?"
A Torquehelm and a Hisstor ruling the bunch. She refrained from wincing. And a Tulgey Jack? What the hell? All of that might have been a pretty big deterrent for potential Court members, or maybe it didn't matter. Weird, either way.
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Post by Greenie on Dec 2, 2008 20:09:55 GMT -5
Mia winced along with her, and nodded with a sigh. "It is. It's very small -- too small. All of us are putting in huge amounts of overtime.. with the exception of Varestes. I really don't know what he does when he disappears, but quite honestly you'll be lucky if you even meet him within a few weeks. I see him only when Lysaras manages to guilt him into staying for a few days." He admitted, then shrugged. The ferret felt as if he shouldn't be sharing that, but it wouldn't have taken her long to figure it out. Some things were best to be heard outright, and the dire straits they were in probably qualified. "I have no idea why he feels it's acceptable to shirk his duties, but he's leaving us all in even more of a bind. It's a good thing we haven't had any Jack questers lately, or I'd probably have to do it.." Mia rubbed at his forehead- he had his usual headache forming.
"Duties.. well. I'll start from the bottom. My mother manages all the servants and the daily on-goings of the court like visitors, upkeep of the buildings, feeding us all, etcetera. Wulfram gets whatever is assigned to him, but he reports directly to Lysaras so I don't have many details. Lleur is on a leave of absence right now.." He dropped off to wince again - as if it wasn't bad enough. "Like I said, I most of the paperwork and handle as many of the daily visitors and problems as I can. Lysaras handles pretty much everything else: visiting dignitaries, quests, favors, relations, and of course managing the Suit itself." He stopped, and stared into his soup for a long moment.
"I'll be blunt. We can't and don't do it all. We get what's absolutely necessary, and everything else gets delayed or not done at all. You're walking into a minefield, but we need manpower."
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