What You See Is Not Always What You Get [Satra]

[Vyn]

He was getting a royal whipping today.

The young Jack of Hearts had decided to test out a different weapon today. Using a weapon was one thing, his natural ability as a Heart assured that, but wielding a weapon was different. It required study, practice... typically it required hands.

Jovan had his tentacles, but they did the job with surprising skill.

The War Hammer he'd decided to use, however, was a bit more ungainly than he'd expected but he liked the feel of it. When he wasn't getting whooped cause of it.


Nico was sitting on the sidelines, his little frame quivering as he watched his brother sparring with a full grown Highlander. Now that Queen Perseus had passed Mommy felt it was safe to let the rest of them come, not just overly determined Jov. This was his first time seeing his brother, or going to the Palace at all, and he just knew Mommy would love it when she got finished with her errands and could come to.

She loved Hearts, after all. She'd always emulated them, Odd and Thal both claimed it was because she was a Heart, just not where anyone could see. It didn't make much sense, but she did love weapons a great deal, especially her swords.

[Satra]

Alaster had been looking forward very much to this day. The boy mentioned his brother would be visiting. This excited the man a lot. He'd been working with the young man for a while now and had seen his personality and work ethic. His determination was quite impressive. The boy was going to be an incredible addition to the Court of Hearts. He was exactly what this court needed to revive itself, especially now that the madman was gone.

Actually meeting his brother had been rather alarming. He was just as strangely mutated as his brother. The boy also mentioned something about his mother coming to visit eventually. Seeing his brother made him very curious about the mother. Well, he'd always been. They boy had obviously been raised well. Just now his curiosity was a little more... morbid.

So the boy wanted to try the hammer today. Interesting. Alaster stuck with his signature spear. They both were fighting with practice weapons so the chance of killing each other was lowered significantly. Still, broken bones was still a possibility (as was death, depending on the bone broken). None ever came about yet, but he knew those bruises hurt. The boy always got up, never stopping until Alaster said practice was over. Breathing heavily, Alaster separated from their fighting after knocking out the boy's front legs from underneath him.

"Let's... (huff) call it good there for now. Let's get some water and we'll have our usual class time," he nodded his head toward the water that was waiting for them by Jovan's brother. When they were seated and drank a little Alaster turned to Jovan. "So, how do you think you did?"

[Vyn]

Jovan was deeply pleased by the way the day was progressing. Nico was here, a permanent fixture at his side that he'd been sorely missing since he'd arrived to begin his practice, and Mother would be showing up later to watch him take his test and to meet Mr. Alaster for the first time.

It was enough to keep his ego from bruising too deeply while he was getting his tail handed back to him by the Highlander. The Hammer was awkwardly heavy in his tentacles and, for all that he could use great flourishes and precise blows, his defense and posturing were off entirely. Which left him with more bruises than he wanted to count and, to his dismay, a rather humbling face plant into the dirt.

Setting the Hammer down beside, Jovan rolled onto his side and worked to catch his breath through a grin. "Sounds... like a plan." He followed Alaster over to sit by Nico, giving the boy a light nuzzle, and lapped at his water. "It's hard to tell, sort of. I need to work on my defensive tactics, even while handling that behemoth hammer. I'll definitely practice more with the hammer, but I think I should use Swords for the test tonight." They were what he was most trained in, after all.


Nico beamed as he watched the two of them banter. They both shone with sweat and satisfied exhaustion, not to mention little bumps and bruises from the match. It made him wonder how they managed to get up and look so cheerful even after getting such a beating.

"You two looked great out there! I wish I could do things like that!" Sparring and such was sort of already out of the option considering his fragility and lack of hands, but he made up for that with plenty of other interests like chemistry, or the arts.

[Satra]

Alaster nodded with a smile at the boy.

"Good, but there's also another reason why you ended up with more bruises than usual today. The hammer is heavy and it's causing you to swing slightly wider and slower than usual as well as causing to to telegraph your moves. That enabled me to snipe a lot more shots at you while you were preparing or in the middle of an attack. Keep your weapon close. It's a natural instinct to reach out and meet your opponent's weapon, but what it really does is open up your defenses. Keep it tight, trust your weapon." He took another swig of water and nodded at the mention of swords. Yes, Jovan was definitely the best at those. The test was really little more than an official proof of progress to his boss. Alaster had been the one working with him the entire time and could talk himself blue about the leaps and bounds Jovan had made since arriving, but things had to be all official-like. "Rest well before the test. You got a lot of new bruises that could inhibit your movement later."

When his brother spoke, Alaster nodded his head toward the grass ahead of them, "I could help you make that possible," he offered half seriously in a lighthearted manner. From what he'd been told about Nico, he wouldn't be taken up on the offer, but Alaster was feeling rather hyped and couldn't help a little light teasing.

[Vyn]

Jovan listened intently as Alaster spoke, taking in his words with eager interest. Unlike many boys who let being born a high rank with natural skill get to their head, Jovan was always eager to learn and improve his technique. "I'll keep that in mind, Alaster." He beamed to himself, horsehair tail swaying against the ground as he lapped up his drink.

He couldn't wait for Mom to arrive...

Nico immediately blushed at Alaster's offer. "I really wish I could, but they say my bones are like glass... I fell off a table once and broke my wing." And his leg, or legs, on many separate occasions. "Rough housing never ends well." But playful Nico hated sitting on the sidelines while everyone else got to bounce and play tag. "Thank you very much though, sir... I'd take you up if I could."

Jovan smiled gently at his brother and patted him on the head with a softly furred tentacle. He couldn't help but feel sorry for him sometimes, Nico really wanted to fly but until his bones strengthened there was little he could do.


=======

Xylia was both terrified and utterly excited to finally arrive at the Court of Hearts. For so many years the fear of running into Perseus had held her at bay but he was gone now, she was assured, and it was safe for her to visit... to watch her little boy grow up into a fine warrior. Kyri and H.P. were visiting grandpa Maxwell in Capital but Nico had come ahead to watch his brother train. The boys had been inseparable before Jovan's training had begun and it finally seemed as if they would be able to pick up their old habits.

Although she still lamented the loss of the Se she had once been dear friends with, Xylia was secretly thankful that he'd finally be put out of his misery. No one could truly live under such a heavy burden of insanity.

However, now wasn't the time for such thoughts. She was here for Jovan. Up ahead she saw him, lounging on the side of the field with Nico nearby and glowing wide pride though he was bruised and still panting. Xylia had to smile at the sight of it.

"Good afternoon, boys! I'm glad to see you've been working so hard!" Jovan and Nico quickly hurried over to greet their mother and, after a brief exchange of greetings and affections, Xylia turned her attention to the Highlander. "You must be Alaster? I've heard a great deal about you from Jovan. I'm Xylia, their mother. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Oddr and Thallak remained in sword form for now, proudly displayed around her waist. Even though she could summon them in and out of the material plane she preferred to keep them in sight to avoid hasty explanations of Spades weilding weapons which do not belong to them.

[Satra]

Alaster smiled and almost replied when a woman he'd never seen before approached them. The kids went off to greet her. From the exchange, he assumed she must be the mother. He stood and gave a bow with his long snake-like neck.

"Yes, I am. It is a pleasure to finally meet you as well. I have also heard much about you. Have you been assigned a guest room yet? I can help you get situated with all of that. We were done for the day anyway. Don't want to wear down Jovan too much before his test."

She was a Spade. A well armed Spade. She looked fit, at least, and he could just just by the way she walked that she did have some form of martial arts training. There were few things Alaster disliked more than someone who proudly carried around a weapon they obviously did not know how to use.

[Vyn]

Although Xylia kept her head up and her posture proud, though not haughty of course, inside she was struggling. She'd never thought that being in the Court of Hearts, where she had dreamed of getting a title before the change, would be so despairing. Yet here she stood, simultaneously feeling at home and like a complete outsider.

The swords snorted in her subconscious, and Thal gave her a little nudge. Don't beat yourself up. You're still a better swordswoman than most.

Xylia smiled to herself. "Not yet, the guard at the gate directed me straight here to you boys." She laid a hand, very gently, on Nico's head, and the little fawn's tail wiggled happily.

Jovan, meanwhile, watched Alaster and Xylia's faces intently to see how they reacted to each other. He was exceptionally proud of his mother for the leaps and bounds she had taken as a Spade and he always hoped others felt the same - especially Alaster who, as of late, he'd taken something of an admiration for.

He was such a well accomplished guard... Jovan would do anything to get where he was someday.

[Satra]

He liked this woman already. He liked the way she carried herself, he liked the interaction between her and her children. His expression was pleasant as he looked at her.

"Well then, let's take care of that. Jovan and I will pick up after ourselves and I'll show you were to go," He picked up his own belongings, then turned back to her. "I hope you don't mind a small detour to the soldier barracks," he extended a wing towards the side of the palace with an apologetic smile. He only began walking when she was walking beside him. "I hope your travel was pleasant here, Miss Xylia. It's a fine day, at least, if sun and a light breeze is to your taste."

[Vyn]

Jovan nodded at Alaster's suggestion, gathering up his Hammer with one tentacle and beckoning Nico gently with aother. Both boys would walk politely behind Xylia and Alaster, listening to the adults speak.


Xylia felt a small weight lift off her shoulders. Alaster was a good man, Xylia liked him instantly and could definitely see the traits that Jovan blatantly admired. She was proud of her son. "Not at all. A detour to the barracks actually sounds wonderful. I'm a bit of a weapons enthusiast myself." Her hand rested briefly on the hilt of Thal's sword and she was rewarded with a surge of warmth through her thoughts. Never more than a thought away. "It really is a glorious day - not too hot but still sunny."

She also didn't disappear during the day, which made it an absolute bonus no matter what the weather. Slipping in and out of sight at night was just plain awkward.