Motivation [Finished]

[Kari Muffin]

Mephit couldn't help but smirk at the man's reaction. He seemed to be a little uncomfortable over the news. Perhaps he would be out of her hair for good herm? Or maybe she should just make him a bit more uncomfortable before leaving?

"Ah yes, I should get going before--" the deer mix was suddenly cut off by an explanation. She froze, her ears pulled back and her eyes wide at the sound of the voice.

"Nerissa!"


It wasn't her overbearing mother. But somehow this seemed a little worse. Of all the people who had to be sent to find her, it was the crazy one. Of course.

Peaches, the straight jacket bound cat, was closing the gap between her, the child and the duck. She paused when she saw the Highlander. What was he doing with Nerissa? "I'm sorry, Sir, but were you the one who found my grandchild?"

Nerissa hissed.

Peaches glanced down at the girl before returning he gaze to the gentlemen.

[Lucca]

Graeme was still very unsettled by the revelation that he'd been about to try and exploit the child of someone in the Courts, and the child had clearly picked up on his nervousness, if the smug expression on her little face was any evidence. He forced his polite smile to stay on his beak, and was in the process of backing up, in preparation for turning tail and walking hurriedly another direction, when he heard a new voice. He stiffened a bit, though his smile became even wider. After all, this was likely to be the child's mother, and Nerissa's reaction further solidified this assumption.

He gave a proper bow to the Feline, (and my, but wasn't that an unfortunate binding?) a little worried that he couldn't see her Rank. Oh, her grandchild? He relaxed just a slight bit. At least he wasn't dealing with THE Queen of Hearts, then. Though the Queen's mother was likely to also be very important. "Yes, Ma'am, you see, I saw Young Nerissa here walking down the street with the intent to do some shopping," the Duck said, trying to keep his words even despite his nerves. "And she was a little lost, so I offered to help, seeing that she is a very...unique child. I didn't like the thought of her alone in a place like this."

He knew that the deer wouldn't be too happy with this sentiment, but no matter what age she was mentally, she was still a child physically. So she could still get into trouble. He didn't even let himself hope for any sort of reward from Grandma (though of course the thought did cross his mind). At this point, knowing what he was dealing with, he would just be glad to get back to his mechanic Corvie and apologize for his earlier behavior.

[Kari Muffin]

"PFFFFF," Nerissa said in response to the duck. "I was hardly lost."

Peaches did her best to refrain from rolling her eyes. She had to at least thank the man properly for finding her bothersome grandchild. Frankly she would be more than happy to throw Nerissa down a flight of stairs for all the trouble she caused. That would at least (maybe) teach the girl some form of respect for something. Though it probably wouldn't help her from being less of a bitch.

Ahem. Right. Highlander. Time to be charming and all that.

"Thank you, and I apologize for the trouble. She decided to run off without telling anyone and her mother is absolutely frantic." Peaches smiled. In actuality Xiven was far less protective over Nerssia than anyone else. The girl clearly had a head on her shoulders in a creepy sort of way. "I wish I could properly repay you, but I actually must be hurrying off. Though... if you could it would be a pleasure if you came to the Palace of Hearts so my daughter could thank you properly."

Nerissa glared at her grandmother. The cat was actually being sane for once. Probably meant she was up to something.

[Lucca]

Graeme decided not to acknowledge the girl's arrogant statement for now, though he privately wondered how someone looking for something and not being able to find it didn't constitute being lost. It certainly did under his definition, and he'd been lost quite enough times in his life to know, the Duck thought. And most of those were in far more dangerous spots than the Capital.

"Ach, it was no trouble, Ma'am," he said with a tip of his top hat and another smile. And then, he suddenly had a decision to make...go home and forget about this (except for the fact that Nerissa had his business card) or go to the *gulp* Court of Hearts? His common sense told him one thing, but his adventurous spirit told him another. And, well, when had his spirit ever led him wrong?

So purposefully forgetting all the numerous times that he'd gotten himself in lots of trouble with the very same attitude, Graeme nodded. "Oh, well, if you insist, than of course," he said gracefully, tapping his cane on the cobblestones again with an air of curiosity and generosity. (The former of which he certainly was, and the latter of which he never was, at least not when it came to money).

[Kari Muffin]

Peaches blinked. Had Nerrisa actually be nice at some point and invited the man to the palace? The very thought was enough to make the cat terribly suspicious that the Avington was plotting something.

Oh well. No point in worrying about that. The feline gave the man a rather bright smile and turned on her heal. "Please follow me then!" She nudged the deer-cat with her foot for emphasis.

The little girl snapped at it, though she missed thanks to feline grace. With a wrinkled nose the girl followed the feline. Honestly, why did she have to get caught. She was going to be back to the palace soon, and there could have been a chance for her to find information about Corvistowne.

Her tail twitched furiously.

Peaches fluidly changed into her human form as they came closer to carriage. The driver was more used to a woman with purple hair waving around puffy straight jacket sleeves, after all. "It's a bit of a trip, so if you have anything planned, Sir, you might want to reconsider coming at a later date. Oh... I forgot! My name is Peaches. It's nice to meet you."

[Lucca]

The Duck nodded, wasting no time in doing just as the Feline said. It was good to listen to possibly dangerously insane -and- powerful Cards. Good for uh...his own safety or...wait. This was seeming more and more like a bad idea as he went along, but it was too late to turn back now without seeming rude, so Graeme watched as the Feline took her Human form, unable to help it. He saw Cards with those forms fairly rarely in his line of work, and when he did they usually stayed in those forms all the time, so it was interesting enough to merit a second glance.

"Nice to meet you, as well, Peaches," he said, eying the carriage. Yep, it looked to be a very nice one...Court quality and all that. He found himself glad the ride wouldn't be digging into his own wallet. "I'm Graeme McDuck, at your service," he introduced himself with far more cheer than he felt. Dread was beginning to eat at him, low in the pit of his stomach.

That was when she offered him an easy out. He paused for a second, one webbed foot raised in the air...and then, to his own horror, heard words coming out of his mouth before he could stop them. "No, no, nothing pressing today. I can spare the time. I just might need to run a message to my home briefly once we get there."

He checked his pocket to be sure that the little metal doohickey that his Corvie friend had given him was there...the man was a Club, and had the luck of being able to contact both Spades and Clubs with his communication ability. So if he needed to, he could contact Graeme, who could then send a message to Mrs. White with subsequent instructions. Though none of them solved the main problem of the fact that he was apparently doing something crazy. He resumed walking presently.

[Kari Muffin]

Well. He was set. That was good. She didn't want him panicking half way through the trip after all. Peaches smiled again, this time it was her stereotypical smirk. When they arrived at the carriage she opened the door, motioning for Nerissa to go first.

The deer mix rolled her eyes as she hopped into the carriage. If she hadn't been part deer the feat probably would have been impossible for someone so little. She hopped onto one of the seats and waited patiently. Eventually Peaches was probably going to take what she bought away. It was just a matter of time before she figured it out. Damn tea making cat.

"Make yourself comfortable," Peaches said motioning for the gentlemen to go first. In all honesty she was half tempted to ship them off alone. Actually she might just do that anyway. It had been a while since she ran around the capital for something other than work.

[Lucca]

Graeme was almost numb with the shock, the pure nerve of what he was doing sending a slightl thrill through him. His whole life he had made it one of his goals to stay as far away from the Courts as possible, and now this? Now he was going to meet with The Queen? The most powerful member of any of the Courts? He just had to hope she liked him well enough...and didn't decide to cut off his head or whatever other things Queens did to Cards who displeased them.

All these thoughts were enough to distract him from noticing if Nerissa needed help getting into the carrage, but she seemed fine because of her natural jumping prowess her heritage gave her. Every time he really looked at her, he was amazed by what a contradiction she was, how like a child and yet unlike one.

"Ah, thank you, Peaches," he said, with a slight bow. He rather wished he knew her Rank, but he figured if she hadn't mentioned it, she wasn't one of those that were picky about their title or status. Right?

He stepped up into the carriage, arranging his wings comfortably behind him and placing his cane across his lap. It was going to be a long ride, he knew, but at least at the end he'd actually be closer to his own home in the Highlands. He offered Nerissa a smile.

[Kari Muffin]

Peaches smiled as she looked at the man. Once he was inside she promptly shut the door behind him. She had made up her mind. Though it wasn't to run around in the capital, she just didn't want to deal with her darling little grandchild. Hopefully the driver wouldn't be too upset having her for company. It had been a while since she was outside one of the carriages.

That left Nerissa and McDuck alone for the entire ride. The deer cat stared at the man as he gave her a rather nice smile. She gave one back, except this time her fangs slowly popped out of her mouth. Maybe that would scare the old man a bit more? It was fun to watch him squirm uncomfortably.

And wait until he got to the palace. He was gong to be utterly terrified! Hopefully the ran into some of the freakish people who worked there before seeing her Majesty.

[Lucca]

Graeme's smile faltered a bit as Peaches suddenly shut the door on him. Wasn't she coming? He heard the sound of someone climbing up front with the driver, and a muffled, cheerful, feminine voice. Oh. Well. This was a lovely shade of awkward the Duck hadn't had to deal with since his last business meeting with his estranged cousin. And that hadn't gone well, not well at all. It had also been nearly ten years ago.

He tried to smile at the girl. He could do this. It was then, right as he was about to open his mouth and attempt conversation, that the fangs popped out. Oh my...now that was quite a mutation. The Duck's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't look afraid...he looked almost curious, like a scientist investigating a new find.

The girl had misjudged him, slightly...just because royalty made him uncomfortable, just because he was rich, that didn't mean he was sheltered. Far from it, in fact. He'd probably seen things in his lifetime that would make even Nerissa squeal with fear. He adjusted his spectacles, peering through them at the child. "That's quite the interesting mutation," he commented in his Highlands accent, studying her through orange eyes. "I must say, I don't think I've ever seen a Deer with fangs quite like that."