In The End, What Matters? [Finished]

[Kari Muffin]

He noted the tone in her voice as he looked up. "From what I can tell you're going to get along with her. Solve some sort of "problem" and possibly make a peace treaty--political or otherwise you come to an understanding. Also, you seem to be a commanding presence in the court though."

Theofilus ran his finger along the crystal ball. There was always a catch when he thought he saw something positive. Honestly he just wanted something to stay simple. "Though I could have told you you'd be a commanding presence without using my power. However, you need to be careful. Don't burn any bridges before your cross them? Otherwise part of what I saw will end up negative rather than positive."

Finally, and quite reluctantly he changed the subject. "So, Miss Sadie, you want to be the Queen? Are you willing to give me a week so I can get matters in order?"

[carcinoGeneticist]

A treaty, then. Or some sort of agreement. In some ways, that made the woman's brow furrow once more. What could happen between them? She knew that as Queen of Diamonds, she would be required to have a somewhat improved relationship with the Wolverine, but that was something she'd stowed away in a mental compartment of 'to deal with when it raises its ugly head'. She wondered when she would hear from Donnie... How the woman would respond to the letter. She'd revealed quite a lot in it.

She shook those thoughts away, deciding that she would have to deal with them on her own, once all of the details of her new position had been settled. She simply listened to Theofilus speak, the small smile on her face broadening ever so slightly as she did.

Yes. Yes. The man was remarkably intelligent. No wonder he'd managed to obtain the title of Queen...

Sadie rose then, extending a hand to Theofilus. "Yes, and of course. As you yourself said, I have no intention of burning any bridges. I would very much appreciate the opportunity to work with you and get caught up on any projects you may have currently running. I'd also like to meet your Kings, and see if any would be interested in serving under me.[/b]" she looked at the man for a long, considering moment, nothing about her external composure giving away the way her heart was pounding. A lifetime of dreams, finally blossoming... "At the end of the week, would you like me to present a formal challenge?[/b]"

[Kari Muffin]

He nodded, rising as well and shaking the woman's hand. "Yes, I'm sure my Kings would like to speak with you. I know my son has been interested in the courts but wouldn't like to serve under me or his sister-in-law."

The sparrow shifted a bit when she mentioned the formal challenge. "Yes, issuing it at the end of the week would be the best course of action."

He just really hoped that the rest of his visions wouldn't come true until after he handed over the title. Things were going a bit faster than he had expected they would and the clock was going to stop. He had so much to do, and so much to tell his family and yet.... he couldn't avoid what was going to happen to him. But Sadie didn't need to know or worry about such a matter.

"Now, how about I show you to the guest room?"

[carcinoGeneticist]

Her grip was firm, but not overbearing, and when she released his hand she nodded slightly. There would be no actual fight, but she knew the way things went. It was about custom and what people wanted to see. Spending a week to catch up on current issues and let Theofilus attempt to finish important matters before the official change in power would simply mean that the change would be as smooth as possible. With any luck, the current members of the court would have no real issues with the change in rulership.

If they did, Sadie was more than capable of straightening things out.

"Excellent. I look forward to working under you until the time comes.[/b]" she said with a smile and a small bow. She was ready to see the place that would serve as her room until the time came that she was The Queen of her Suit. Only then would she really be satisfied... She walked down the halls with a vaguely approving expression, thanking the Queen as they parted ways at the guest room. Once inside, she fell onto the bed, closing her eyes and heaving a deep sigh of relief.

Things were going very well, indeed.

~~~

Kaiesha couldn't help but feel somewhat twitchy as she made her way down the halls. She felt... odd. In general, something about the way she was growing felt strange. Of course, that could simply be a symptom of adolesence and she tried to shrug off the feelings, assuring herself that everyone sometimes experienced them. Of course, when she caught sight of her grandfather walking down the hall, she had a quick decision to make.

She would ask him. He was older, wiser, and a lot more powerful, after all.

"Grandpapa!" she called out in the manner of her youth, though her voice was much deeper and matured by now. The feline-hybrid trotted down the hallway, all four wings folded tightly against her body as she did. He would almost certainly have the knowledge that she needed in order to better understand herself. And if he didn't... perhaps he could look into her future to get a better idea of it?

[Kari Muffin]

He took several deep breaths as he walked down the hallway. He couldn't let his anxiety win. Not now. Everything was going so well, it wasn't the time to panic and thing of "what ifs." Sadie seemed like a perfectly capable person, it was no time to have any doubts. She seemed like the best candidate to go up against the world and bring about change.

And this paperwork wasn't going to kill her as badly as it was killing him now. He growled to himself as he quickened his pace. He couldn't waste time either.

And then he heard the familiar voice of his granddaughter. He stopped in his tracks so the young girl could catch up with him. She was getting quite big... how old was she now? Either way she was growing up to be quite the young lady. "What is it Kaiesha?" he asked with a smile he reserved for family.

[carcinoGeneticist]

For a moment, Kaiesha wondered if she'd really made a good choice by calling out to Theofilus. She could see, suddenly, that he looked... unwell. There was more strain around his eyes than she was used to seeing, and he looked ever so pale. That was to say nothing of his expression. She wondered for a moment if there was something critical going on behind the closed doors of the Court, something not even her mother knew about. Perhaps it would be better if she just left the man alone for now...

But then he saw her, and he was smiling at her. She felt herself relax slightly, and she returned his smile from where she was. She had grown significantly in the last several months, mostly in the legs and chest. She was beginning to look more like a cheetah than ever before, and it only took a few long-legged strides to catch up to her grandfather.

She gave him a quick and reassuring smile. "Oh, it's... It's nothing too important, if you're in the middle of something," the girl chirped cheerfully. There. She'd given him an out in case he had somewhere important to be or was just too busy in general. She wouldn't feel nearly as bad if he stuck around. "I think it's just general... being a teenager now, grandpapa... Feeling like you're different from everyone else."

And knowing that I look different from everyone else. It had seemed smart to look up in a book what she was going through, but what she'd found had only confused her more. Of course, she didn't know if she would be able to tell her grandfather that... It seemed oddly embarassing.

[Kari Muffin]

"I'm not in the middle of something," Theofilus said reassuringly. Honestly, what he was doing could wait a little while, it wasn't going to grow legs and run away after all. He had already prepared almost everything for Sadie's take over "just in case" something horrible happened before the week was out. Written proof that she would be supported to take over the courts was sitting on his desk.

The sparrow furrowed his brow as he listened to his granddaughter. He never had any problems when he was a teenager, but that didn't mean much. More often than not he tried to avoid remembering his childhood. Hopefully Kai's problem wasn't too serious.

"Don't brush it off if you don't know what's wrong. Let's go to my office so we can talk in private," he offered, "Family comes first, and my paperwork can wait a bit longer, Kaiesha."

[carcinoGeneticist]

The girl nodded briskly in response to her grandfather and gave him another - what she hoped to be - reassuring smile. Really, it probably wasn't anything to be too worried about... The book had even said that many variations existed between individuals and were nothing to be concerned by. Missing significant features, however, seemed to Kaiesha to be somewhat bigger than simply looking different. Her feathers fluffed up slightly, and she forced them to settle again.

The whole situation had her feeling anxious, and that was to say nothing of the changes being whispered about in the halls. A new Queen had come to the court, hadn't she?

"Alright. Thanks, grandpapa." Kaiesha chirped softly. She made idle chatter as they wandered to Theofilus's room, trying to figure out how to tell him what was going on. Every time she did, however, a blush found its way onto her cheeks. It was just... so terribly embarassing. Everything about sex was, though, especially when she talked to someone who wasn't a woman about it. When she was ushered into Theofilus's room, she jumped onto a chair, reclining in it and sighing softly.

Then, she looked up at the man, giving him a somewhat weak smile.

"I just feel like something about me is different from other girls," she said softly, her brow furrowing slightly once the words were out.

[Kari Muffin]

There was something wrong with the way his granddaughter was acting. She seemed to be holding something back as they conversed walking down the hallway. She honestly seemed terribly embarrassed about whatever was "different."

The sparrow bit the inside of his lip as he looked at the young girl in front of him. Could something truly be wrong? The thought added to the mountain of worry that was already piling up. Maybe he should look into Kaiesha's future when they were done talking?

It would be the safe thing to do.

"You should probably trust how you're feeling. You're becoming an adult and you'll have to trust your own feelings." Theofilus said as his smile briefly faded to a more serious expression. He wasn't going to be around forever and he could only do so much to help his grandchildren. "I'm sorry I can't give you any better advice, Kaiesha. Being a teenager is difficult, but everything will turn out all right in the end."

[carcinoGeneticist]

The girl stared at her grandfather for a long time, her bright blue eyes taking note of all the new wrinkles, creases of worry in his face that she'd never seen before. She knew he was old. Some part of her, deep down, must have realized it. But... Until right now, it hadn't sunk in exactly how old he looked. He'd always presented such a strong front, looked the part of a Queen. Was he just letting his guard down now since she was Family? Or was something more serious happening with the man?

She shivered, despite the temperature, and tried to assure herself it was the former.

Even his comforting words fell somewhat flat, especially when it came down to the rather nervous look on his face. She just... didn't feel comforted, and she couldn't quite explain why. Perhaps it was because she knew what she'd seen. She did her best not to show it, beaming at the man instead and giving him a quiet chirp. Then she made a face. "Puberty's just weird, I suppose." she said, then laughed. "Don't worry about it. Just talking to someone has made me feel better, really. I'll let you get back to work, but I'll bring you and Gramma some tea later tonight, okay?"