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Post by Lucca on Feb 16, 2009 21:42:46 GMT -5
 Today was a rare day. He had needed to get away from his family for a while. THAT wasn't odd. But there were plenty of areas he could escape to within the Villa, secluded places hidden in the cliffs he'd discovered long ago which could only be reached with flight. Yet somehow, even though he'd taken off intending to reach one of these sanctums, he had gotten caught up in his own thoughts as he was flying and...now he was here. The odder thing was--he kinda liked it. The hustle and bustle of the main streets of the Capital normally annoyed him; too many other Cards all invading his personal space. Today, though, it was a welcome change from everyone demanding his attention at home. Feeling a bit winded from flying here, he went to sit on a bench by a lovely fountain in one of the Capital's many small park-type areas. He looked out over the Cards walking by, his mind for some reason going back to another time he had been here without any real purpose, and had met a Torquehelm who worked at a small cafe. That had started his interest in becoming more informed about the goings-on in the Courts, especially his own. He found, however, that it was fairly hard to get information, and even harder to sort out the truth from the pretty lies those in positions of power liked to spread. Ah, Court politics. He let out a small sound that was part sigh and part annoyed squawk. |
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Post by Kari Muffin on Feb 16, 2009 22:05:47 GMT -5
Ichigo padded down the streets, watching the busy people walk by. Every since he had a job at the courts, vacation days were few. He appreciated them much more now than when he was a bodyguard. The mouse carried a bagged lunch on his back, his sword and money on his side. The sunshine, everything made him happy today. He was revisiting several of the places that he had come across in the past. He had met so many strange people outside of the Mid-Range. It made him miss his home sometimes, but at least he got some adventure out of it. He came to a fountain he hadn't seen since his first trip to the Capital City. Glancing around for a place to eat. All of the park benches were filled with the exception of one. There was a lone cardinal with the bright colors of Villa. The mouse padded over with a smile, "Excuse me sir, would you mind if I take a seat besides you?" |
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Post by Lucca on Feb 17, 2009 19:45:22 GMT -5
Coiln's musings on the scant useful information he'd managed to collect about the Courts were interrupted by the sound of a polite voice, and he glanced over, blinking at the mouse. Quickly, so as not to be staring too long at the newcomer, he tried to identify the Realm markings...he knew he should know this...AH! He had it. He smiled, having heard good things about Mid-Rangers, very good. That they were polite and honor-bound, though a little aloof and had weird habits (he could see the cut on the mouse's back), but Colin didn't worry about that.
"Be my guest," he told the mouse, inclining his head politely. "Nothing beats pleasant company on a day like this. Especially over...lunch," he added, noting the bag the mouse carried with him. He also noted the sword, and marvelled at it, but knew that it wouldn't be polite to ask just yet.
"I'm Colin," he said, moving a little to make more room for the mouse on the bench.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Feb 18, 2009 17:06:44 GMT -5
Ichigo smiled at the man and tipped his head in thanks before hopping onto the bench, carefully balancing everything. He listened to the small talk, but refrained from commenting until he had sat on the bench completely.
As he shifted his pack he spoke, "It's nice to meet you Mr. Colin. It is a very fine day to meet someone as pleasant as you over lunch." He set the lunch bag in his lap, carefully unlacing it. "My name is Ichigo, and if you would like I could share some of my lunch since you were kind enough to share the bench with me."
The mouse pulled out an apple, polishing it with a small napkin before offering it to the bird. Even if he didn't take it the gesture was on the table. The mouse was more than willing to make a friends with a random stranger. And frankly he hadn't met all that many Villa's. He glanced over the bird's feathers, taking note of the brightly scrawled words. A strange combination really.
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Post by Lucca on Feb 18, 2009 18:41:20 GMT -5
Colin inclined his head in another polite bow as the mouse introduced himself, pleased by the manners Ichigo had. It seemed like what he had heard about mid-rangers, at least, was not entirly unfounded. He'd never met one before now, though.
His eyes widened slightly in surprise as the mouse offered him the apple. He didn't want to deprive the mouse of his lunch, though he WAS a bit hungry...and he didn't want to make Ichigo feel awkward for being the only one eating. "Oh, thank you! I think I'll take you up on that kind offer," he said, a smile gracing his beak as he delicately accepted the apple between two claws.
"So, what brings you to the city, Ichigo?" Colin asked lightly, although he really wanted to bring the conversation to the sword on the mouse's back...but a strong sense of propriety held him back from asking just yet.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Feb 21, 2009 0:56:29 GMT -5
Ichigo took note of wear the bird was glancing. Plenty of people were curious about his sword, and the mouse couldn't help but feel a small bit of joy from that. A smile twitched on his lips as he pulled out an orange for himself. The mouse carefully started pealing it as he spoke, "I'm here on a bit of a vacation from my guard duty. Nothing all that spectacular I'm afraid."
The mouse shrugged as he popped an orange slice in his mouth, quickly devouring it. "And what is a brightly colored Villa like yourself doing here? I can't imagine the city compares the the beauty of your region, from what I've heard anyway."
The spade had heard plenty of things about the regions, though he had only really spent a good deal of time in his own. Maybe one day he would make a point to visit a few others?
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Post by Lucca on Feb 21, 2009 10:26:29 GMT -5
Colin took a bite of the apple, and was pleased to find it was very ripe and sweet. He was thankful again for the kindness the mouse had shown him, but he couldn't help but be slightly envious of how...dextrous Ichigo's paws were. It took a lot of practice to be able to do even simple actions with his claws, and truth be told, he was a little clumsy, which only made things more difficult. He tried to be very aware of where his wings were at all times, or else he might accidentally knock something over with his feathers. It had happened more times than he liked to think about.
He cocked his head curiously at the mouse's explanation. "Guard duty?" he mused, taking another small bite from the apple. "I guess that explains the sword. Where do you work, if you don't mind my asking?"
He couldn't help but smile and feel a swell of pride as Ichigo commented on the beauty of his region. He knew it to be true. He'd visited a great many other regions in his errands for his mother's buisiness, delivering the fabric she made to interested stores, tailors, and private parties all over. None of them, in his opinion, could compare with the majesty of the Villa.
"While that may be true," he replied slowly, "Sometimes one needs to...get away from home for a little while, no matter how beautiful." He shrugged lightly.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 4, 2009 22:03:39 GMT -5
"I don't mind you asking at all. I work at the Court of Spades as a palace guard. I generally direct visitors and such. The sword is more of my pride than an absolute need. Otherwise I wouldn't be carrying it at this moment." He said with a small cordial smile before taking another bite of his orange.
His ears twitched at the comment about getting away from home. It was so very true that he had left his own region and hadn't been back in a long while. The prospect of going back seemed like a good idea, until he remembered why he left. Either way he should probably continue to small talk.
"I suppose you're right," he said as he finished his orange slice. "Sometimes you need to take a step away from something truly beautiful to understand how beautiful it is. That's why vacations were invented."
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Post by Lucca on Mar 4, 2009 22:21:16 GMT -5
"Oh? The Court?" Colin perked up a bit at the words. This mouse seemed like an honest enough type...perhaps he could finally get some REAL information. Of course, he had to be more subtle about it than that. "I see, that must be a very important job indeed, then. I hope you don't mind my asking how long you've worked there? And if you've ever met any of the nobles. Though it's my own Court, I'm a bit ashamed to admit I don't know as much about it as I'd like." He offered Ichigo a small shrug and a smile to punctuate the words, his tone light and not overly pressuring.
His eyes did drift again to that sword, though. "It IS a very lovely piece of work," he agreed. "I can see why you would be proud of owning such a weapon. Not that I know much about them, mind. My family tend to lean more towards music than the art of combat, though that could be said of a lot of Villas." In fact, he knew quite a few of them who would get offended that he had just called fighting an ART, but Colin saw the simple beauty of swordplay...though he hadn't seen any real battles, so much as he'd watched a few plays about them. The real thing would be more bloody and less pretty, he imagined, but there was still something there that all the playwrites drew inspiration from.
He took a few more bites of the apple, nodding in agreement. "That's very true, though, hm." He tilted his head thoughtfully. "I'm not sure I've ever taken a real vacation, as such. That is, the most I've been away from home was for a couple of days," he mused, more to himself than to Ichigo. Maybe he would have to take a real vacation sometime...might do him some good, though the thought of being away from his piano for several weeks made him twitchy.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Mar 13, 2009 13:05:02 GMT -5
Ichigo choked back an amused snort. "I haven't worked very long, just since the proclamation went out. And yes, I've met several nobles. I had to be interviewed by one to get the job at all. Perhaps you should take a trip to the Court of Spades yourself. It's easier to get information first hand rather than second."
And then he smiled at his comment concerning fighting. It was rare to here anyone refer to what he did as art. In all honesty it was the most refreshing thing the mouse had ever heard. "Not many people are willing to classify sword play as an art. It's nice to hear though, that I'm not the only one out there who considers the skill involved with the sword and the craft an art. But I'm sure in Villa there's quite a debate of what makes art, and what doesn't." The mouse shrugged.
"A real vacation is sometimes needed to put the world in perspective or so I have been told."
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