|
|
Post by Lucca on Feb 21, 2011 20:30:53 GMT -5
Colin may have looked like he had everything together, but it was a complete fabrication, a life pulled up from force of habit. It was that same force that kept the smile on his beak, even as he was speaking to Rabbits and dead Cards. "Ah, please, Mr. Heike...'Your Majesty' is the correct way to address me, here," he said, not quite able to keep his pride on the backseat even in a situation like this. "As I said, I really have no connection with the...Feline...so may do as you wish with her. If she attacks anyone else we'll take care of it." This was, again, said with far more confidence than he really felt, especially as the odd Queen kept gravitating towards him.
It was all he could do to keep from shuddering in revulsion as she brushed against him like that, in such an oddly familiar way. Even as it was he recoiled a bit, and Arpeggio hissed again, lashing out with his horns toward the corpse. "Arpeggio, shush, none of that," Colin muttered, feeling...odd. Like something was...missing. That was most unsettling. He felt at the back of his head with a wing, gingerly.
"Upstairs? Yes...please, let's all talk. It sounds like strange things have been affecting everyone..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Feb 21, 2011 22:03:59 GMT -5
Horatio made a small sound of distress as the Queen passed him and flicked her tail. He shuffled a bit more to the side, debating if he wanted to try to go up the stairs while the thing was away from them. It was creepy, and scary, and why was anyone okay with it?
Heike's brow raised slightly at the dead Queen's remark. He gently gave her the limb when she stretched out her hand. He was happy when she decided to slink away.
His face twisted into displeasure at Colin's remark of formal titles. What did he want to be called? That was utterly ridiculous! Did he honestly expect that from him? He bit the inside of his cheek as his sister asked her polite and sweet question, and the bird-dog spoke about going up the stairs.
Spectacular.
"Well, Sir, If I am to call you "Your Majesty" then I would expect that you follow my customs and call me "Your Lordship." As in Rabbit society I have the highest possible rank, and I would greatly appreciate being respected as you would respect your Queens." He gave the bird a small forced smile as he watched the dead Queen and the angry familiar.
He looked to his sister, his expression immediately softened. He spoke in Avington again, "We don't have much of a choice when it comes to following them. We still don't know who killed Fleur, and it could easily be one of them." A long sigh escaped him as he glanced over his shoulder. Fleur. Her mother was going to be crushed, and they still hadn't found Shelby.
He turned back to the party on the stairs. "If you would be so kind as to lead the way."
Horatio was more than a little surprised at the Rabbit. However, the thing could easily be insanely powerful hiding it. The penguin shuffled over to the stairs, just hoping that there wouldn't be anymore verbal battles. He was surprised that he wasn't being scolded by the rabbit himself, the thing had brandished a foot stool at him earlier.
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Feb 21, 2011 23:29:12 GMT -5
When Heike adressed her with an unexpectedly genteel little bow, Dania cringed a little, then smiled weakly, then inclined her head in what might be construed as gesture of demure respect, or possibly one of discomfort. Rabbits could talk, they didn't have fangs, and it seemed they had rather pretty manners to boot-- it was rather a revealing day, wasn't it?
When Faust spoke Dania nodded almost feverishly in agreement. His nudge had grounded her spinning thoughts a little, but there was still a bit of a floaty feeling in her head. She could use a little air, and maybe a glass of water. Not being trapped precariously between Colin and Faust on a staircase down into creepy rabbit-filled darkness would be nice, too.
Then Colin spoke up about the proper titles to be used and Dania's eye widened a little. Seriously? He was going to quibble over titles right there in the basement? And with an enormous rabbit, even? The rabbit seemed to share the cardinal's sense of self-importance, for he insisted on an equally grandiose form of address, upping the ante a little with an overt demand for respect. Nobles. She sighed softly, although it was more an uncomfortable sigh than an exasperated one.
She bristled a little when Colin mentioned leaving the Sorgaire to Heike's whims, but declined to say anything. She didn't like the idea of standing by while a fellow card, even a dead one, was left to the mercy of the creature, no matter how civil his words. Still, with what the Queen had done to that smaller rabbit, maybe 'his lordship' would be disinclined to start something. Dania would hope for that much, as she really couldn't bear the idea of getting involved with some sort of epic fight between monsters. Not with this headache.
Joel seemed to be mainly enjoying the spectacle of it all, and was eying the fallen Zulimar with perhaps a little too keen an interest. He could see that the Selkie was breathing, but she was also very still on the cold basement floor. Maybe he should offer a medical exam, and get a chance to see how the rabbit's skeletal system was different from a card's into the bargain. ”If you or any of your.. rabbits... need medical attention, I would be happy to help in any way I can. Er, Your Lordship.” Joel spoke the unfamiliar title a bit hesitantly. He was still a little wary of the creatures despite his curiosity.
As she and Faust were closest to the top of the steps, Dania took this moment to nudge him back, encouraging the man to start back up the steps to the perceived safety of the main hallway. She needed an aspirin or something, and there had been a little side table out there with a drawer that looked like the kind of place some mild painkillers might be stored for easy access. What a day.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lucca on Feb 22, 2011 9:52:31 GMT -5
Colin liked his personal space. He didn't even like living Cards to get close enough to touch him, let alone a dead one. And the Feline was being, if possible, -weirder- than she was before. So Colin made sure to keep his distance, though in the narrow stairwell, that was hard. Despite how he'd told Arpeggio off, he appreciated his familiar's desire to look out for him. But he didn't understand why the corpse seemed so interested in him. Before hadn't it been afraid of him? He could recall how it had recoiled from him quite clearly, before. But no matter. He needed to keep his eyes on that huge Rabbit.
Oh, so he was like a Rabbit Queen? That made sense, then. "Well, of course, Your Lordship," Colin said, without a trace of hostility. "I always refer to anyone by their proper titles. I'm not going to stop now just because you're a Rabbit. So thank you for telling me yours." The tall Rabbit kept talking to a smaller one (or what Colin could only assume must be a smaller Rabbit, as she had very interesting mutations) in an unfamiliar language. The tone of the words was soft and reassuring, so Colin didn't worry about it too much.
He eyed Joel, a bit, long practice of reading a book in others' expressions telling him that the boy was just as curious as he was wary of the creatures. He could hardly blame the kid. He was, after all, a Corvie and they had that vice common among them all. The Cardinal wondered, despite how well the Rabbit spoke, if he wouldn't just bolt on them once they all turned their backs to go upstairs. Then again...would that be so bad? At least they'd be out of his Palace. He decided to chance it and turned to walk back up after Dania and Faust.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vyn on Feb 22, 2011 10:27:26 GMT -5
Joel's comment obviously triggered something in Nadja's eyes. Previously she'd been so torn between frustration for the Selkie girl and her own desperation to just get out that she'd been willing to leave her behind... Now, however, there was someone asking to help and Nadja couldn't just say no. Of course, he was a Corvie and they didn't always have the best of intentions when they 'helped' people but did Zuli really have a better alternative?
"Heike," she murmured, "we should probably let the Card help her. Better than just leaving her here..." And she'd be off their paws. How terrible a thought, but Zuli had honestly brought her pain upon herself. It made Nadja quite sad.
At least the Queen Card was being nice to Heike. Might have been a bit stuffy, but that wasn't too unlike other Jacks. It was actually somewhat reassuring. Maybe they would even like tea? Nothing was so soothing as preparing tea.
Once Heike was ready to go upstairs (with or without Zuli -- she'd never argue with her brother's final choice), Nadja would follow somewhat happily and flash a most cheerful smile to Horatio as she did. He'd been so kind and she was fairly certain things would not have gone so well had he not been there to buffer that initial encounter.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Feb 22, 2011 12:09:45 GMT -5
Heike's ears twitched a bit when the young cat addressed him, his sister making a small comment as well. Fine. Zuli was a waste of space anyway, she could potentially be a gift that they left behind. "If you want to help the Selkie, young man, be my guest. However you'll have to carry her yourself."
He brushed the wrinkles out his jacket as the Queen spoke. It was almost like speaking to another Jack, how wonderful. This was why he didn't like to bother with them. He gave a simple nod of his head and uttered a quiet thanks.
He went to the stairs, making sure his sister was close to him. Maybe these Cards would be hospitable and offer some tea? They were still damp from the outdoors nightmare.
--
Horatio waited on the edge of the stairs for the large rabbit to pass him. He was going to be slow, so why hold up the angry noble rabbit? He sighed. How had he even gotten here?
Nadja's little smile made him feel a tiny bit better. He smiled back at her before making his way up the stairs, his binding clanging after him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Nathalia on Feb 22, 2011 17:40:24 GMT -5
((Faust nodded, following Dania up the stairs and trying not to think about what would be following up after them.
"Are you...all right, Dania?" He asked, fingers gently brushing her shoulder. "I know you're not...not really, any more than me, but-...Well, is something else wrong? Other than the obvious?"
She looked pained, as worried as he was that he might annoy her further, he wanted to make sure she was all right.
He couldn't say for sure why, but he felt a rush of sympathy for her...he recognized something as being wrong, even if he couldn't get his mind to work well enough to tell him what.
"Should...we get some food out?" He asked, wincing as his side complained at the rate he was taking the stairs. He gasped lightly, clutched at it, and pushed on. Feeding Rabbits might prove tricky, but...he would rather them eat normal food than... He didn't know, eat them?
The corpse flinched backward and made a loud Rrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Noise when the Tove struck his horns out at it, nearly tearing at the sockets.
Leaping backward, still making the noise, it slipped back, stumping awkwardly until it came to Joel, weaving around him instead and slowly letting its noise get softer and softer until it was only really audible to the Corvie.
Colin slowly begins to realize that the "feeling" that just rippled through the back of his brain, was a certain...emptiness...like the one he felt when the Other Faust "left". Oh, dear.
Is that Wolf gone now too?!
Well, might not hurt to check out his room...maybe he left in a hurry.))
~Nathalia
|
|
|
|
Post by Harpsdesire on Feb 23, 2011 11:34:41 GMT -5
”My pleasure.” Joel hopped down the last few steps towards Horatio and padded over to Zulimar’s prone form. He tried not to make any sudden movements (passing the one huge rabbit was never-wracking, even though he did have permission), and took the Selkie leveret’s vital signs more efficiently than he would have been able to even the day before. If nothing else, he was getting some serious paws-on training in medicine today…
A few moments examination reveled that that small rabbit’s only serious harm was the missing foot, and her loss of consciousness was almost certainly from the combination of physical and emotional shock from losing the appendage. Oddly, the wound was already closed, as if it was sealed by a bit of parchment, and there was little more he could do for her beyond clean the scratches further up on the leg and put a little salve on the cross-shaped cuts over her eye. Because of the location, there was no way for him to stitch that wound—At his skill level he could just as easily make it worse. It was really more of an aesthetic issue, anyhow, deep enough to scar but not enough to cause dangerous amounts of blood loss.
He was able to lift the petite creature easily enough, and slung her over his back carefully to follow the others up the steps. As far as he could tell, the basic internal structure was just like a card. The ears were different, and there was patch of spooky blankness where a rank should be, but the rabbit was otherwise much like a very petite card in animal form. As far as he could tell without awkwardly close inspection, the one he was carrying was probably a female of the species.
Up in the hallway, Dania rummaged in the small table’s drawer, where she did indeed find a small, slightly dusty brown glass bottle with a few pills in it that looked roughly like aspirin. She held it up to the light. There was a little sticky area where a label had once been pasted, but in its absence she would just have to hope that what looked like painkillers actually was… She hung on to the bottle with a sigh, unwilling to either give up the prospect of headache relief or swallow down some unknown pills of dubious vintage. Good grief.
At Faust’s gentle question, she managed a smile, leaning into his touch unconsciously. ”No… I mean, I’m fine. A little overwhelmed.” She stopped herself before complaining aloud of a headache. Poor Faust would know all about head pain, wouldn’t he? She stared at the pill bottle with a twinge of guilt. Her headache was nothing compared to what Faust must being going through. Maybe he should be the one to have the aspirin? She didn’t especially like the idea of giving him the unidentified tablets, either.
She shoved the bottle into her coin pouch, which luckily hadn’t much else in it. Maybe Joel would be able to tell for sure what the pills were. He seemed to know a lot about doctoring. Faust’s wince was noticeable, and Dania’s heart melted a bit at what he said. Badly hurt and he was still concerned about offering a meal to guests! Even monstrous rabbit guests! That was… rather sweet, actually.
”That’s a good idea, but I think you should sit down while get out some food.” She told him firmly. As the rest of the group made it up the stairs, Dania offered, ”I’d like to offer you some… refreshment… but um…” She looked towards Heike, unable to look him full in the face as she stammered, ”F-forgive me, Your Lordship, I don’t know what rabbits eat...” How awkward.
The fairytales she had read as a child suggested that bad little cards were a Jack Rabbit’s preferred entrée, but she decided to move forward under the assumption that everything she knew about the creatures was probably wrong. ”Tea and cookies?” She offered weakly, gesturing towards the dining hall with a sudden uncomfortable sense of Déjà vu. The spread she had prepared for Zacharias and the Faust-that-was-not was still half-eaten on one of the tables.
Joel entered the hallway at this point, glancing at the Sorgaire queen with mild irritation. What an annoying sound! She kept hovering around, too, maybe waiting for the Selkie to wake up so she could finish the job? ”Calm down. I’ll try to put your arm back on in a bit.” He sounded a little more resigned than happy about the prospect.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kari Muffin on Feb 23, 2011 12:32:34 GMT -5
Heike couldn't help but feel a tad bit amused by everything. It was kind of amazing how skittish the Cards were acting around him. He might have been a tiny bit terrified himself, but at the moment he seemed to have a bit of an upper hand. Hopefully it would last long enough that he could actually get out of here.
The young cat seemed to be fascinated by Zuli, so perhaps they could get her off their hands for good? Not like she was his problem to begin with, but she could at least be a distraction of things went bad.
He continued to check on his sister, his paranoia for her wasn't about to dissipate.
When he was addressed by the Torquehelm rat he raised an eyebrow a bit. Cards really had no sense about them, did they? What were the legends about Rabbits in their society? "Tea and cookies would be acceptable. Just to quell your anxiety, because you clearly have quite a bit, my sister and I are vegetarians. So anything without meat would be fine. Thank you for your hospitality... ma'am."
Was that an appropriate title for her? What was titled and what wasn't?
--
Horatio made it to the top of the stairs with a heavy sigh. This wasn't a hallucination was it? He was actually in the Court of Spades somehow dealing with nobles and rabbits and other terrifying things. The bird glanced at the limb that was still tucked under his wing. At least no one was going to bring it up, he just couldn't seem to leave it alone.
He waddled along trying to stay as quiet as he possibly could. He heard mentions of tea and cookies.
Was he allowed to have some tea and cookies too or were they just for the rabbits? He glanced at the various parties involved and simply remained silent. Someone important would decide something and he would be forced to go somewhere.
|
|
|
|
Post by Vyn on Feb 23, 2011 13:21:46 GMT -5
Nadja perked ever so slightly when Dania mentioned tea. She'd been so distracted upon entering the main room and finally getting a good look at the gaudy palace that she hadn't heard anything else the woman mentioned. She did catch Heike's response though, which made her tilt her head slightly.
The woman seemed to have said something silly before Tea and Cookies were mentioned. Not to worry, though, because Nadja finally had something that she could assist with that would make her feel useful and not entirely out of control in this situation.
She inclined her head slightly to Heike. "If I may, Sir, I'd like to go with her and help with preparations." Once she received Heike's acceptance on the matter she would turn her attention to Horatio. "Would you like to help us, Horatio? We could certainly use an extra hand if you're willing."
In the background she was vaguely aware of the corpse cat keening and Joel saying something in frustration but she tried not to think about it. She wasn't made for adventuring and strange places, she was meant to make tea and ensure her higher ups were all comfortable and happy. By the White Rabbit was good to be doing proper Leveret's work again!
If they were all in agreement (she wouldn't force Horatio along if he didn't want to), Nadja would accompany Dania to the kitchen. Once inside, Nadja offered the Torquehelm woman a small smile. "I'm Nadja, by the way. I'm afraid I didn't catch your name or... title?" She glanced down at the red suit and rank, her brow furrowing a tiny bit. She was obviously a woman. Was she the equivalent of a Doe, then? "And, uhm, pardon me for not really knowing the customs of your culture, but aren't you also a Queen? Shouldn't you be waiting for the other Nobles instead of serving their tea?"
|
|
