T - Jenn, Nako, Xenon, Bee, Lucca

[carcinoGeneticist]

That was interesting. Sophie had thought that maybe her mother would be angry with her for misinterpreting what Mikael had said, but instead, she almost looked a little bit more cheerful. Taking just a second out of chewing on her burger, the hybrid gave the girl sitting alone near them another glance. It had only been a quick look before, but she really was pretty... and looked awfully lonely, too. If things had been on less unsteady ground, Sophie might have asked her mother if the girl could be invited to eat with them.

She was happy enough that the situation was finally starting to lighten. At her mother's suggestion, Sophie's ears panned forward, her feathers fluffing out ever so slightly to show that regardless of what she said, she was entirely fine with this suggestion. It was highly preferable to being sent home. "Understood." She snuck another glance at Mikael, giving him another embarrassed little smile. "I'll get right to it after lunch."

[The Jenn]

Ah, dramatic resolution. Sort of. Donnie felt relieved enough to eat another bite of her sandwich and refrain from rolling her eyes at Mikael, which would be terribly telling, all things considered. Better to just eat her lunch so that they could move to their rendezvous point. And really, the creamy base they used went well with the chicken. That crunch wasn't walnut, though. What was it?

"Lucky enough to clean paint brushes, yes, I'm sure," Donnie agreed with a bland tone. She knew what that chore was like. That had been part of art class in school. Sophie didn't quite understand the tedium in her future, especially if the artist had as many as she thought he might. "However, the little thing is still watching you, Sophie. Your first admirer, maybe?"

Fun to tease, now that she found herself satisfied that the girl could come. Were there many things more embarrassing than your mother speculating on your love life - or lack thereof - in front of your uncle? Probably not. She would tell her servant to boss her around a little, too, just for effect.

[Nathalia]

((Changed up the introduction post. As soon as Bee's lovely child meets everyone and Mr. McDuck joins the party headed for the Selkie Mayor.
You all are to head off in the carriage for the Selkie. Find your stowaway ((I presume?)) or whatever lovely little Yarrow child will be counted as and have your 4 hour ride to the Selkie. Once there, you will be taken to an inn called the Wing's Rise, there you will get your rooms and it is likely the children will room together.
The inn seems a bit...creepy, though.

Almost empty, with such a big event about to go down? Huh...odd.
The entire Inn smells like an odd spice, once all there and checked in, your next goal will be revealed.))


~Nathalia

[Lucca]

When the Selkie mayor had wanted funding for a little get together he was having to celebrate the opening of a new oil well, Graeme McDuck had pretended to consider it carefully. Of course, he was going to say yes. Oil was a very profitable industry, especially with the Corvies finding new ways to use it for fuel all the time. The allure of that much money was quite enough for Graeme to lend a bit of his money to the venture. And then he'd prepared to go and see it, finally, to see what his hard-earned money had gone towards.

Of course, a portion of the profits the well made were going to him. So it was in his best interest to be in attendance at its opening, to see how much oil it seemed likely they would get, how easy it would be to transport out of the Selkie, and so on. The Duck was no stranger to oil wells.

And so it was that he was enjoying a little cup of tea in the Capital before the carriage would arrive to pick him up, when he saw...by the Highland hills, was that the Queen of Spades at another table? The world seemed to freeze for a moment. Had the Mayor's letter mentioned her? Because surely, this wasn't just a coincidence. It was funny, the Duck reflected, how he'd met a titled Queen of Clubs and THE Queen of Hearts, but he'd never encountered many from his own Court. Of course, this was mostly out of choice. He debated going over and asking if she was, indeed, going to the same event he was, and sipped at his tea a bit more.

[Nako]

Mikael couldn't help but snicker a bit at the Queen's comments to her daughter, tilting his head to the side cutely. "That's too cute." Mikael piped up. It really was too easy to poke fun at little kids; it made him feel somewhat guilty, but it was something his father had done all the time, though admittedly his father was generally not as... forgiving in his assessments of his son.

Something else had caught his eye though, as he took a glance around the room; there was a man staring most intently in their direction. Or rather, at the Queen. It seemed the man barely noticed him. Then again it wasn't uncommon to know the Queens of the Courts on sight. There was something almost of a celebrity status that the Royalty held.

"Hm.." Mikael made a thoughtful noise, catching the Queen's eye and directing with his gaze toward the staring man.

[The Jenn]

Donnie glanced towards Mikael absently, and then followed his gaze across the room to the Highland duck. She noticed him looking toward their party and then returning his gaze to his meal.

Ah, yes. Being the Queen in public had its amusing moments, including the slow or sudden recognition of those around her. Having a young girl watching them over lunch was one thing, and possibly she had no idea who Donnie was, but the gentleman likely did.

His breed was noticeable enough to catch her attention for a moment and then gave her pause. Her mind went back to the letter that she had received from the Selkie Mayor. Within it, he had mentioned that the venture was a partnership between several investors, and had listed their names out of politeness and because they would likely be attending the ceremony in some capacity. In the handful of hours she spent preparing to depart, she had one of the lesser attendants run her the basic information on these individuals. If they were wealthy enough to be investing in an oil venture, they would likely be noted somewhere in Court records.

The name "Mr. Graeme McDuck" flitted through her head. Highland and Morganberry, a duck, a male, and a King, wasn't he? She knew nothing else. Regardless...

"Excuse me," she murmured to her companions, returning her napkin to the table and sliding out of the chair. She made her way toward the restrooms, past his table, and then paused for a moment.

"Pardon, sir. I'm sorry to interrupt your meal. But you wouldn't by chance know a Mr. McDuck, would you?" Pleasantries, pleasantries...

[Lucca]

Graeme had gone back to his tea and was still debating within himself whether he should approach the Queen when he heard someone politely question him as to his own whereabouts. More likely, the Duck thought, this woman had a suspicion already of who he was. A smile pulling the edges of his bill, he turned...and, of course, it was the Queen herself speaking. For a desperate second the breath was stolen from Graeme's throat, and then he found his voice, luckily all while keeping his composure.

"Ah am the one you seek, Your Majesty," he said, and gave her as much of a bow as he could without immediately getting up, sweeping his blue top hat from his head (he'd thought it appropriate for visiting the Lakes). "Graeme McDuck, and it is a true honor to make your acquaintance. Is there something Ah can do for ye?" Much as he might have tried to control it, his strong Highlands accent crept into his voice, the only sign of his nervousness other than a very slight fluffing up of the feathers on his tail. There was a reason Graeme tried not to tangle too much with the Courts, and it wasn't just his desire to keep his privately owned business his own.

Of course, he already had a feeling he knew what the Queen was asking him about, but assuming would only make a fool out of him, as it had many times in the past. He had no desire to repeat such an experience.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Sophie's ears flattened with obvious irritation. Why were they making fun of her like this? The girl was pretty, and Sophie'd admitted it. What was the big deal? It wasn't like she'd admitted to liking some ugly boy or anything of the sort...

The hybrid, with an unamused expression, turned her focus back to her burger, which she started to consume with all the frustration and confusion held by her small body. As she ate, however, the negative feelings started to slip away, and she was left with simple curiosity. Her mother had gotten up to go speak with a rather fancy-looking man. She shot her uncle a sidelong look, then gave him a smirk. If they were going to tease her for her affections, then she was going to show them that not only could she take it, but she could take it with style.

Sophie turned to where the girl was sitting (alone, the other woman seemed to have departed), doing her best to give her a smile. It was awkward and lopsided, perhaps charming in its own way. "Excuse me," she said, suddenly painfully aware of how deep her own voice was. She tried to push that grumpiness aside. "Would you like to sit with us for now? Since you're all alone. It's more fun to eat with other people."

[The Jenn]

Excellent. Her staff hadn't lead her astray. Donnie returned his bow with a slight inclination of her human torso, one arm tucking against her stomach. She wore a very faint, pleased smile at having been correct. She often noticed details.

"I will admit that I'm pleased to hear that, sir. I had suspected, and guessed that you might be doing the same thing that I am at the moment - namely, enjoying lunch before a long and likely tedious carriage ride to the Selkie Lakes. Unless you happen to be sending someone else in your stead, or choose to fly the distance."

She glanced back at her party, just to make sure that nothing had gone astray in the handful of moments she had stepped away, and remained satisfied that Mikael would keep her daughter from choking or tripping on something, and that Sophie would keep Mikael from embarrassing himself somehow. Good.

[Lucca]

Graeme felt a small surge of mingled satisfaction and fear as the Queen confirmed his suspicion of why she was there, but he was careful not to let either show on his face as he replaced his hat and smiled. He'd played the social game many times, as much as the stakes felt much higher when it was with the Queen of his own Suit and a part-Yarrow, besides! "You are correct, Your Majesty," he said, also noting the Queen's smile. Though of course, he had no idea if it was faked or not, or what it exactly might indicate. He allowed himself a small chuckle.

"A Spade ah may be, but showing up to the grand celebration all worn and tired out from travellin's nae the way to make a good first impression." He'd exchanged many letters with this Mayor, but he hadn't met the fellow in person yet. Normally, the Duck insisted on meeting his business partners face to face before conducting anything with them, as he believed it was much harder for a man to lie right in front of you than in writing. But in this case, his greed for the money from the oil had won out, and besides...the Mayor was a highly respected political figure. Graeme had no reason whatsoever to mistrust the man.

He was looking forward to meeting him, as well as the man's other business partners. New connections from this whole thing would be a bonus in addition to the gold that would be earned from the oil. Though chances were he knew a few of them already, given how long he'd been in the business.