[FIN] It's the Language that Everyone Knows [Jenn]

[Lucca]

The palace was still beautiful. The architecture still very grand. The nobles and servants rushing about still intriguing. But the cardinal no longer noticed any of it. He was feeling rather morose, and no wonder...his trip to the Court had not gone at all as planned. But he wasn't sad for himself, no, after all, he could always come back. He could just as easily try to forget this day ever happened. He was sad for his friend, Ichigo, and the terrible curse that had befallen him.

Aimlessly, caught up in his own thoughts, the Eight of Spades wandered, not knowing or noticing where his feet were taking him. Maybe he was lost, maybe it was foolish to go wandering around in such a place entirely on his own, but Colin just hadn't had the heart to find another guard to show him around, as his friend had suggested. Meaning to find a distraction in continuing his exploration of the palace, he was instead distracted by his own thoughts, relentlessly spinning in his head. It had been far too long since he'd been able to really call someone a friend, and now? Look what had happened to the first friend he'd really made in a while! Talk about rotten luck, though whether it was his bad luck or the mouse's he wasn't sure. Obviously the mouse had gotten the worst side of it...

[The Jenn]

The morning had been unpleasant and busy enough for Donnie that she could justify an afternoon reprieve, even to herself.No one would benefit if she felt so stressed she wanted to just snap her teeth in their faces to make them shut up. Not that she would... no, manners and political good sense dictated otherwise... but the desire to do so would manifest itself in other unfortunate ways. She didn't want that for anyone, not herself and not her staff. They didn't deserve it.

Her favorite and most effective means of relieving stress was to pick up her harp and escape with it into a near part of the garden. If something exploded then they would be able to find her with little trouble, but it also afforded her some privacy from the normal hustle and activity of the palace. She was glad she hadn't just let it fall by the wayside when she first moved in. The temptation had been there, especially after the initial fiasco with the gardening staff, but it was worth having a little piece of nature close at hand. It didn't have to be ridiculously grandiose or sprawling like the Hearts gardens to do its job.

Claws carefully plucked out a melody on the strings of her instrument. She had been out there for maybe half an hour and her hands felt warmed up enough to move on from the stretches and scales into actual music.

[Lucca]

Still lost in his own thoughts, Colin found himself abruptly changing direction, the wandering becoming less aimless and actually...leading him somewhere. Though it took him a little while to be aware of why. As a Villa, it was just natural that he would be drawn toward music, and he heard some of the lovliest music...his feet were carrying him closer to the source of their own accord. He was almost in a trance, of a pleasant sort this time, the music soothing him and letting him abandon dark thoughts for the moment.

He took a deep breath of fresh air as he walked outside of the Palace, into air that was scented subtly with a few flowers, and he thought dreamily that he must be in the gardens. The music had gotten louder, as well. Lovely. It had been such a long while since he'd heard a harp, especially played so skillfully...

Wait.

Colin snapped 'awake' quickly. The current Queen of Spades played harp. The woman who was infamous for her temper, who had killed her predecessor without mercy, who was part Yarrow. Yes, Raina had said she wasn't as bad as all that...but Raina was a girl. Still...he somehow couldn't really bring himself to stop, now that he'd come so far...swallowing, he slowly continued on his way, along the paths lined with ornamental plants and flowers, until he saw, suddenly, the unmistakable form of a bipedal Wolverine with brightly colored fur, some of which had the word 'challenge' scrawled across it. How appropriate.

He felt a sudden flare of panic, but he was rooted to the spot. For a moment, all he could do was stare in awe. He'd never been in the presence of someone this...powerful before, and it both excited him and scared him.

[The Jenn]

Donnie continued with her current song, unaware of any company and caring less if someone heard her. Let them hear her. She wasn't awful. She wasn't professional-quality, but she had been playing since she was a small child and she knew her way around the strings of her favored instrument. She was relaxing, they knew she wasn't available for trivial bullshit until later in the evening, and that was that.

When her fingers stilled and she took a moment to just breathe in the atmosphere she had created, gold eyes opened to see a purple form not too far away from her. She blinked and squinted, then opened her eyes normally. Wrath and... what was that, Forthwright? No, she'd never seen those words before. At least they were a Spade. Male? With that crest it seemed likely, though she couldn't help but think of Raina's pretty little mohawk that would have denoted maleness in most other realms and breeds.

She kept her fingers resting loosely on the strings, but her attention was now firmly on the cardinal. It hadn't technically interrupted everything yet. She could just close her eyes and continue playing, leaving it to make the first sound or depart, but that would be a little too rude. Besides, how often did she see another Villa in this palace? Not as often as she would have liked. "Hello. Can I help you?" The words were said evenly, without any sort of an edge but without the warmth of a friendly greeting. Just... politely neutral.

[Lucca]

The music really was beautiful, and Colin felt a slight pang of loss when it stopped...and then he felt those intense gold eyes on him, and he flushed a bit beneath his feathers. Well, now he seemed very rude, didn't he? Quickly, he made a sweeping bow toward the woman, and began speaking in a polite, clear tone before he had straightened again.

"Your Majesty, I apologize if I'm interrupting something. I was here visiting your Palace and I heard you playing, and I felt compelled to come and listen," he said, and though his words would seem like flattery, he meant them truly. "You play very well, Your Majesty." He gave her a slight smile, still slightly abashed to be caught staring at the Queen of Spades, of all people. If she wanted him to leave, he would of course do so...but part of him hoped he'd have a chance to...to...to what, precisely? Maybe he just felt a bit of homeland pride in the fact that someone who was from his region (at least, partially) had made it so far. He always enjoyed meeting other Villas, Cards he knew could share his passion for music and other forms of art.

[The Jenn]

Definitely male. The voice, though higher due to his breed, was indisputably masculine. Donnie couldn't stop the frown that appeared on her muzzle. Damn. Well, it was always possible that their shared realm would allow them to relate on a level that didn't involve the typical areas of male ignorance. His manners were pretty enough.

If she stuck to pleasantries and music, maybe this conversation wouldn't have to be preemptively aborted. He'd already set the playing field rather nicely. "I had taken the afternoon off to relax, but I suppose you haven't technically interrupted anything yet. I'm still relaxed." If he got her worked up for whatever reason, then things would change. As it was... music. Yes. "Thank you for the compliment. I don't get- no, I don't make the opportunity to play as often as I'd like here, so the afternoon is a rare one. I have to commend your timing, Mister..."

She would leave it on him to provide a name or alternate title. About the only other one she expected was perhaps 'doctor' if he'd gone through all the levels of formal Villa schooling, though he looked a bit too young for it. He obviously already knew who she was. It would be redundant to reintroduce herself. The palace had already done that for her.

[Lucca]

Colin couldn't help but notice her frown as he spoke, and he had a reasonable guess as to what caused it, but he refused to apologize for something he couldn't really help, like his gender. He'd always thought of Yarrows as rather...closed-minded, and couldn't help but think they were being a little unfair to themselves and others by discounting a good half of all Cards for no better reason than their gender. But of course, he let none of this show on his face, as he hoped his manners and good breeding would speak for themselves in this instance, so that she'd overlook the fact he was male.

"That is good to hear, your Majesty." He felt it appropriate to move just a bit closer, so they could converse more easily instead of feeling like they had to yell to be heard. Not that either of them were yelling but...yes. Of course he didn't come too close, knowing she would not appreciate it. "I'm sorry to hear that." He looked a bit wistful. "I imagine where it would be difficult to find any sort of time to yourself with such an important job as leading an entire Suit. Still, I won't say it didn't sadden me a little when I heard from one of your guards that the palace doesn't have any sort of music room..." He looked at Donnie, hoping his comment would not be taken in offense. He wanted to make a good impression, after all, and he had no illusions about how harshly he'd be judged, same Realm or not.

"Colin, Your Majesty, at your service," he said, with another bow. "And if you will feel more relaxed without my presence, I will of course go somewhere else, though I must confess I would enjoy staying a little while, especially if you were going to be playing more music." He gave a hopeful look.

[The Jenn]

Thank the cliffs for manners. They could serve to lubricate any conversation into an acceptable arena. Donnie didn't pay any mind to his approach, listening to his words and raising an eyebrow. A music room? In the palace?

She... hadn't actually thought of that. No, that wasn't true. It had occurred to her in the first week of living in the palace, before the Queenship became an issue. She had been disappointed in the exact same thing, having only recently come from the Villa. How had it slipped her mind for so long? In all her time trying to get things in order and on the right track - her track - she hadn't paid much mind to the little things she could be doing in the palace for her own satisfaction. And apparently not just her own.

Her surprise must have registered on her face. "Mostly I play in my own rooms or the gardens, but I hadn't actually considered the matter of public performances." Coming to that, why hadn't she commissioned any artists, be they musical or visual or poetic, to perform at the palace? It had been several years now and not once, except for the formal and expected balls, had she... wow.

That was something to seriously consider. The Court was no longer in a serious dilemma over how much money they had at their disposal, and patronage of the arts was a very worthy goal for some of their funds. Maybe if they featured some of the more prominent Spades artists within the palace, or sponsored performances or readings or galleries in the Capital, it could be spent as an expense of cultural improvement and awareness of the suit.

Damn. Why had that not crossed her mind before?

But no, not just then... relax, remember it for later, and get on with your free afternoon. She visibly relaxed shoulders that had gone tense with thought. "Your presence is not an imposition. I've never minded an audience for my music, and being a fellow artist of whatever variety, I'm sure you will show me the courtesy of a good listener." If not, then they would have problems.

[Lucca]

She seemed...surprised by his words...surprised, but not offended. Could it be that he had just...? He barely dared to think it. Had he really just given a good, original idea to the Queen of Spades? He was more...shocked by this than anything else, really, and he wasn't sure what to say. Nothing vain; he was too smart for that. "The gardens do seem a lovely place to play," he agreed mildly, hesitating to say anything else on the subject. Needless to say though, if he had known what Donnie was thinking, he would have been beyond thrilled.

Coming as a guest to play in the Palace for all the nobles? It would have been a dream come true for the bird, who had always loved performing, and really wanted to be recognized for his own merits, in a place where his sister was unknown, and possibly would always be, for she loved the cliffs of her home even more than he did, and was loathe to leave them for any reason.

He felt himself relax slightly as the Queen did, not even aware that he had tensed up. This was easily the most dangerous, important, and exciting moment of his life. If he got on good terms with Donnie...if she actually did build that music room and possibly hold performances here...well, he would certainly be able to pursue his dreams with a new sense of purpose and vigor.

"Of course, Your Majesty," he said, his delight at the thought of more of that lovely harp music obvious. "I have performed in and attended many concerts back home." This would almost seem to be bragging, but for the fact that he knew so many other Villas who could say the same thing. He felt it safe enough to venture a question, though he really would have loved to share about his own music, she hadn't asked and he didn't want to assume too much. "If I may be so forward as to ask, did you grow up in the Villa?" With a mixed Realm, you could never be sure, though he had a hunch.

[The Jenn]

A claim of past performances from a Villa was nothing unusual. Donnie would have found it more strange for someone to have never shown their work to another soul. There were always small community benefits in the parks, open audience nights in some restaurants, and other venues available to performing artists. If you wanted to get yourself out there and weren't awful, you could. Even if you were awful, you could still weasel your way into spots so long as you kept it brief. It was politely accepted as "encouraging undeveloped talent". In the public sector, anyway.

She let her fingers lightly slide along the strings, making no sound. It was a reflexive gesture.

Quite the manners on this one, weren't there? Well, good. Better than the reverse. "Questions are fine. So long as you don't start bothering me about work or interrupt in the middle of a song, I'm happy to talk in between." Ugh. No work questions. People always got nosy, and she was trying to relax. Hopefully he'd be intimidated enough by whatever he chose to be intimidated by and not try to 'sneak' any in. Others had, in the past. They'd also been tossed out of the garden. Sometimes literally.

"Yes, I grew up and attended school in the Villa, with a vacation to the Yarrow here and there. My mother is a Villa and I grew up with her. Up until a few years ago, I was a mostly full-time resident."