Dodge the Shark [Finished]

[The Jenn]

Teo didn't quite understand what Mirriam said, but she said it enthusiastically so he raised a wing! It was probably more pirate-talk, which would make sense from the Queen of the Pirates. And he didn't really have any more time for talking just then, because there was sorbet to eat and savor and plow through and lick off the bowl. Mmm...

When she mentioned his Dad, he paused in his happy slump on the chair to look thoughtful. Oh, yeah. Dad was probably looking for him. And he didn't want to get in trouble. He was supposed to stay outside the room, wasn't he? He'd forgotten in light of their adventures and all. Lunch had seemed a lot more important. "Umm... yeah?"

By that time, Parzifal had already snagged one of the servants, who had directed him to an uprooted plant not far from his bedroom (which he said probably meant one of the Court's other children had been playing with it) and a damaged window frame. That person had then directed him to a steward, who had suggested that an attendant find out where Miss Mirriam was. Said attendant stopped by the kitchens, found out from Mike that the children were outside and likely to be there a while, and he went back to relay the information to the steward and the worried father.

Mike brought them out the sandwiches he'd threatened them with before, and along with him came Parzifal. "Daddy!" the boy chirped happily, hopping to his feet on the seat and flapping his wings. "It's lunchtime! This is Mirriam! I'm a Shark Queen and she's a Pirate Queen! I wrestled sharks!"

[Lucca]

Mirriam couldn't help but giggle slightly at the look on Teos' face. But just when she was about to suggest they go find him, there was the sound of a door opening nearby and Mirriam's large ears twitched, turning back to hear before she curiously turned her head. She perked up. Sandwiches! And...oh! That man with Mike must be Teo's father! But he was a human and he had weird piercings...she couldn't help but stare for a moment until she remembered it was rude, and then she just smiled.

"Hi, Teo's dad!" she chirped, and gave him a salute with her wing. "Your son is very brave and smart! We had lots of adventures!" She turned to the sandwich and wiggled her leaf-shaped nose. Watercress and blueberry preserves. Her favorite! She thanked Mike for bringing them lunch, and after a smile at both the kids and a nod to Parzifel, Mike took his leave to return to the kitchens.

[The Jenn]

Wherever he went, the boy met and befriended people. Older, younger... a much more social and carefree childhood than he'd had himself, and Parzifal quietly delighted in being able to give it to him. He smiled in greeting and pulled up a chair next to Teo and his friend while lunch was served.

"That sounds like an awful lot for a single day," he observed mildly. "I hadn't known you could swim, but you must be able to if you're Queen of the Sharks. Well done."

Beaming under his father's praise, Teo offered a quick and absent thanks to the sandwich-man and then started beaking his way through the meal quickly. Mmm. Not too bad, actually. He'd been expecting more meat than preserves. Kind of a treat this way! Daddy tended towards chicken.

Leaning back so that he could comfortably slouch in his chair, the human offered an amused smile to Miriam. "I'm honestly glad to hear that and I hope the two of you had fun. I wish you hadn't ventured so far away from the room without letting me know. However, I think your guardian might be looking for you after this, Miss Miriam. That was the impression I gathered from the steward. Something about a decidedly manhandled plant."

Head snapping up with jam and bread sticking funny, Teo frowned. "Plant was a hero," he mumbled before returning to the food.

[Lucca]

Teo's dad was nice, Mirriam decided, and gave him another beaming smile. She was careful to swallow her bite of sandwich first, of course. She'd been taught her manners, and was careful to keep them when in company. Well, mostly careful. Okay, so she messed up on occasion, but who didn't? She took another bite of her sandwich, but this time swallowed it a bit too quickly as the Human mentioned the plant. She coughed a bit and shook her head.

"A-ah! I meant to put it back!" she said, brown eyes wide and worried. "It was just, the window was made from an evil peg leg, so we needed to make sure it didn't attack Teo again! So I got the plant to help us, you know? Only...it helped a bit too much. And then I forgot about it because we were fighting sharks and pirates. Sorry" Her ears went back and she smiled guiltily. Please don't let him be mad at me.

[The Jenn]

Between her startled half-choke and the adorably sheepish apology, Parzifal really couldn't help but smile. If Teo had caused the damage, he would have been less amused. But... the guilty truth was that she wasn't his child to answer for, and he wasn't particularly worried about it.

"I'll be sure to mention to your guardian that it was fulfilling such a valiant defensive role," he said in a deadpan, serious voice to Mirriam. "I can put in a good word with Her Highness Ceren, too, if you'd like. Seeing as the window was damaged for the good of her little brother, I'm sure she would ask your guardian to show some measure of leniency. I'm not sure what your guardian does here, but I'm sure the words of a King would carry some weight."

His eyes shifted over to the young bird, who looked back up at him with squinted eyes and a happy slant to his expression. Silly child. He reached over to tug at a strand of the boy's mane. "However, the two of us actually have to go and meet up with Her Highness now. For lunch, Teo, though I'm sure she'll understand if you eat nothing besides a few cookies. Miss Mirriam, I hope that you have a lovely day, and thank you for keeping an eye on him throughout your adventures."

Standing and motioning for his son to hop down, he offered the young lady a small, amused bow before carting the boy off to see his sister.

[Lucca]

((this seems like a good place to end this topic? <3))

[The Jenn]

((Indeedy doo. <3))