Face the Facts [End]

[Tigeress]

Sekhmet's pace was slow but strong, she was brave but at the same time inwardly terrified. She'd heard whispers of rumours going around town about what had happened to the court since she'd left. Since... since he died. It only made a hard lump form in her throat now to consider it. Long fingers tapped her sword against her hip almost angrily, it was still the most terrible thing to let come to mind. But he'd loved her. And when you love someone, you want the best for them. Crying her heart out was not the best for her. He'd also loved the court, in his own way, and had looked after it with a relentless dedication. She had to see what had become of his hard work, of picking things up after the first great death of her time there. Even Fino, she still missed.

With a heavy heart, she began to walk through those familiar halls, fingers brushing stone and letting memories and nostalgia wash over her. She'd kept her kids at home, though they were barely that anymore. She couldn't stand to let anything harm her only living connection to that beautiful stallion. Smiling a phantom half-smile at the memory, she continued on her way, heels making a sharp rhythmic sound of determination. The number of people passing her in the courts let her know one thing for sure- something Had happened to Se. And thank god for that. Her hand flexed nails into her palm a little too hard suddenly. If only she'd had one taste of that revenge.

However, that left to question who was actually in power now. The whispers she'd heard, had been good ones. Was it too hopeful to think Xiven had not only made it through Se's reign of terror okay, but had brought the courts back to the level of sanity it seemed was currently being enjoyed? She'd watched the girl grow up, if there was one person who could do it, Xiven definitely made the top 3. Her smile took on a more firm tone, cherry strands brushing her face as she stopped for a moment outside a familiar room. The room she used to dwell in. Did she have a right to still enter there? Most likely not. Pausing, she tentatively walked up and put a hand on the door, listening for sounds from inside.

[Kari Muffin]

It was one of those days she felt accomplished. Putting pieces together in the Courts was always a difficult task. Sorting through all the paperwork, the requests, and all the things that had been put to the side. Even at the best of times, she was sure that some paperwork was always hidden in the cracks of someone's desk.

But today Xiven had managed to completely clean of her desk, and then some. The woman happily stretched in her chair. It was time to take a walk and spend the rest of the evening doing what she wanted. Training with her weapon for one thing, maybe having some alone time in the garden.

She slipped out of her office and down the hallway. Before she went to have any sort of fun she needed to get her weapon from her room. Why she had bothered to leave it in there today, she wasn't particular sure. Every once in a while, she supposed, it was nice to walk around unarmed.

Of all the things that happened in the day she hardly expect to see the human figure with brightly colored hair and a flowing red dress. Was that really...?

"Miss Sekhmet?" she asked still a distance away.

In all honesty Xiven had no idea what to think of the woman. She generally assumed she would be hated, considering the events that transpired between her father and the woman. Not to mention the whole... killing her son thing. Xiven really hoped she didn't know about that.

[Tigeress]

At the sound of her name, Sekhmet's eyes widened and began to turn towards the voice before her body matched the motion. Her hand slipped from the door sheepishly, though surprise had contorted her expression too much for embarrassment to register. Was that? Oh god. It was.

One hand slowly raised to her parted lips, eyes watering slightly as she quickly averted her gaze and blinked the moisture back before taking a step closer towards the woman. "Xiven... I mean..." She looked at Xiven's chest and smiled. "Your Majesty. It's... been a while." Her voice was as controlled and soft as ever, the hesitation came only in figuring out how to make the words come out.

She had no idea that Xiven had killed her son, she hadn't seen him or Khizr since before she left the courts in the first place. They'd been Pravus' chosen ones, and so her contact with them had been limited. Despite what she thought or didn't think of Pravus, she was wise enough to see Xiven had inherited everything good in him. She'd known that for some time now. So seeing her, even if they hadn't truly been introduced before, was like seeing an old friend.

"I'm sure you're wondering what I'm doing here. I have some questions, do you have time? I don't want to interrupt." How strange to be so social and amicable when inside her emotions were raging, confusion taking over everything and bestowing a fine dust of panic on top of any other emotion. But the storm inside was kept quiet, outwardly seeming like she hadn't lost the love of her life, her stability at the courts, and any true contact with the other people she'd loved and left behind.

It certainly wasn't an easy thing to keep hidden.

[Kari Muffin]

Xiven didn't expect that reaction. For a moment she was afraid the woman would burst into tears, and she had every reason to. Life had fallen apart for how many people in this Court?

This whole situation still seemed rather strange. The Queen gave a bright smile to the woman in front of her; no matter how awkward the situation was that was no excuse to stand there and look like an idiot. Clearly Sekhmet was here with some sort of purpose. Wasn't this her old room?

"It's nice to actually... talk to you. I was never really all that sociable when I was younger and it came to conversing with adults," Xiven said as she offered the woman her hand. She couldn't help but wonder what her Papa would have done if he saw something like this transpiring.

And certainly the woman's attitude would change if she had known about her son's death. The less people knew about that, the better.

"Actually, it's the end of my day, so I have plenty of time to speak with you. Would you like to have some tea with me in the gardens so we can discuss things comfortably?"

[Tigeress]

Somehow, just talking to Xiven made a sort of warmth spread inside the King that had long since been cold and dormant. She loved her children dearly, and having escaped with them by her side had meant the world to her, but there was always that bit of guilt riding at the back of her throat for being such a coward and turning tail. If not for the children, she'd have... She'd have what exactly? Been a crying mess at an unstable court where one of her beloved's own children would most likely have come after her next?

She sighed softly, there was no use blaming herself for what was past, regardless of whether or not it had been the 'right' thing to do, though secretly she was almost certain it had been. But this had been His court damn it, and she had to make sure his devil son got what he deserved and the place didn't go down in flames with him. Her gaze hardened for a moment at the thought, but softened when she remembered that, to the end, Rai had loved that little bastard. Thinking ill of him, seemed unfair to the ghost of her lover.

The woman snapped back around to the sound of Xiven's voice, there was a weight behind her eyes that made the Doe nervous... what all had she seen in the few months that Sekhmet had been gone? Trying not to fear the worst, she looked around to reassure herself and chuckled softly. "I noticed... but, that was admirable in a way, how you always seemed to be preparing yourself for this role. I had always looked forward to working alongside you in some way." The offered hand was taken, Sekhmet going into a shallow bow and bringing it to her lips before standing and giving a soft squeeze to show her thankfulness. "Pardon me, that was long overdue."

It was hard to say how Sekhmet would react to her son's death, horrible as that sounded. Early on, she'd had to distance herself from him, and Khizr, and then Naylia had run off and she hadn't seen her in forever either. It hurt to admit that she'd failed her first children, too caught up in trying to keep her position in the courts. In her own way though, she had loved all of them just as any mother would something of her own flesh and blood. Right now though, it would probably be a penny falling into a pit of loss, and if only she knew how to prepare herself for what news awaited her.

"I would love to, thank you Xiven." Her lips parted once as if to ask a question, but she closed them with a small smile, there would be time for that later. She had so many faces she wanted to see, so many things she had to know. But, there was more than just her feelings to take into consideration, Xiven had finished a hard day's work and the woman deserved some time to relax. Sekhmet could only do her best to ease into things, turning away from that door pulled at her chest in an all too painful manner that reminded her how much control this was all taking.

[Kari Muffin]

Xiven refrained from letting a surprised sound escape her at the woman's bow. In all honesty she had only expect a handshake. In her childhood she had always wanted to be a Queen and nothing more. It was nice to hear the woman's word, because she honestly had never expected a day she would be The Queen.She always figured that someone else would end up with the title and she would simply support the court in her own fashion.

But life never really worked out how anyone planned it. And now that she had the title, she was going to do her best to serve her suit to the best of her ability. Hearts would be respected.

Of course, now wasn't the time to think about such things. She was sure that Sekhmet had plenty of questions, and plenty of people to see. With a bright smile Xiven motioned for the woman to follow besides her. It was a short walk to the garden of choice, and she had managed to catch a servant, on the way there.

There was a small fairly ornate table set up next to a smaller fountain. It wasn't where she normally conversed with people over serious matters, but at least it looked somewhat comfortable. As Xiven took a seat she spoke, "I'm sure you have a lot of questions to ask... you've been away for quite sometime. I think it would be easiest if we dropped any formalities and you simply asked what came to mind."

[Tigeress]

As they were walking, Sekhmet took note of new things- new faces, new servants. She'd spotted a few familiar faces that made her want to run to them just out of sheer happiness to see them again, but that would be very informal of her, as a King of Hearts. Stepping into the garden again felt nice, she'd spent a lot of time here training after hours, her hand to hand combat was still pretty good though she'd let it slip a bit in her absence.

As she sat, she was grateful that Xiven opened the topic herself. She felt like a burden just dropping in like this but she had to know. "Thank you, I'm sure you know this means a lot to me." The woman had just become more gracious and respectable with age. Startling, considering both of her parents had been known to be a little... ah... quirky, but the girl seemed to have a good head on her shoulders.

"I don't know where to start honestly. 'What happened' is a bit broad, isn't it? The last I remember... well, what happened to Se? Did you kill him, or was it someone else?" He wouldn't have just left, not unless he really snapped and lost it. That seemed a good a place to start as any, figuring out how the chain of power had been passed around. "Is Bernard your King now?" She couldn't imagine the man retiring, but he was getting up there. He'd seen and been a part of her entire passage through the courts, 10 to King.

[Kari Muffin]

(( OOC: For sanity's sake I'm saying this is before poor Bernard falls down the stairs. ))

There were plenty of moments where it was clear that Xiven was related to Pravus and Peaches. However, most of the time the Queen like to pretend she wasn't related to her straight jacket wearing mother, and she often pretended her father had been saner most of the time.

Xiven watched with a placid expression as the woman spoke. She had a valid point that there was a lot to go over. With all the things that had happened in her personal life while the Court was going crazy it was difficult to keep things straight half the time. At least Sekhmet was giving her a decent starting point.

"I didn't kill Perseus. From my understanding... there was an accident and ultimately Iraishin killed him. I wasn't there at the time, so there's no way to confirm what actually happened." It was a little aggravating, but in the end it never really mattered. The man was gone, for good, and she didn't have to worry about someone being murdered in cold blood because of his insanity. It still made her furious to think about how that man was "in charge." She honestly should have killed him while he was sleeping.

But the questions kept coming, thankfully.

"Oh yes,Bernard is still The King of Hearts. He is the best man for the job." She said brightly. At that moment the tea arrived, the servant pouring each of them a cup before departing. Xiven took a small sip, waiting for more questions.

[Tigeress]

((LOL that would be a bit much to handle for the poor girl))

The starting information made a cold smile spread over the woman's face. She was happy he had, in fact, been killed. Though she tried to save some space in her mind to see him the way Rai saw him, it just didn't work... because he had taken Rai from her. But Ira, killing him? That was unexpected. "And Ira is... okay?" The details didn't matter too much. So long as the general progression of events clicked in her head. "So after he was killed, you took up the position of The Queen of Hearts?" There wasn't anyone else she could think of who would have been prepared to take it on immediately, but kudos to the woman if she was the one who restored order.

"That is extremely good to hear. I would wish to see him again, I haven't seen him since he was in bed recovering, really." That was not too long after Fino's death, had it really been so long? "Who are your other Kings currently, and has anyone else made the advancement to Queen?" Depending on who, if any, it could mean a little more stability for the courts at least. She was certain Xiven had to have another King, Heilyn perhaps? That girl was a strong asset.

Her mouth ran dry thinking about everything leading up to her disappearance. There was a lot of small detail to be combed over- new births, up and coming Jacks and child Kings and Queens. Maybe she was a little paranoid now about crazy sprog, but not many would blame the girl. She'd kept hers under tight watch to make sure they grew up resembling their father in the best ways.

"In... the struggle to get some sanity restored, was anyone else killed?" Se had been on a path of destruction when she'd left, and the question had been plaguing her for some time. She didn't know his motives, who he'd have gone after next, but every currently living face made her breathe a bit easier knowing they'd made it through as well.

[Kari Muffin]

"I'm not sure. He seemed fine before he disappeared," Xiven said with a small shrug. Everyone had just up and left after the incident, and she had only heard bits and pieces of what had happened. Whatever it was, she was sure everyone was fine. And frankly she would give a medal to the man if she had the chance.

"Yes, I was the only one capable of taking the title at the time," Xiven took another sip of her tea. She certainly had been surprised by the knock on the door and the lack of debate that went along with getting the title. Then again, she was sure people thought being The Queen of Hearts was a curse.

"It's been quite a long time then. I'm sure he'll be happy to have a visitor." At least Sekhmet was making this easy by asking so many questions. "Heilyn has advanced to Queen while Mephit and Apocalypse are now Kings under me."

There was a brief moment where Xiven looked extremely uncomfortable at the woman's words. No one had died during the struggle besides Se, thankfully, but there was all the carnage that had happened right before that. "No, no one passed away due to the struggle. However... there were quite a few deaths before the event. My King... Rhiannon passed away, and her half brother Apocalypse showed up. Lior also passed away. Rajekhri also met with an unfortunate fate while Khizr has completely vanished."

She was pretty sure that covered all of the "deaths" and disappearances during Se's reign. The woman braced herself for a reaction, considering there was quite a bit of news lumped into that list.