Long-Awaited Visit (End)

[carcinoGeneticist]

Her sister had spent hours with her before she had left home, helping to comb her hair and pull it back into a stylish french braid, pulling the blue strands out of her eyes for the first time since it had grown in fully. A shopping trip had turned up an elegant blue and gray dress, fitting of her visit to the palace, and Ceren had grudgingly turned her money over to buy it.

She wanted to look good for this visit, it was true, but for the first time in her life she was afraid. Since she had first left the palace as a child, the sparrow's thoughts had lingered on Iria. The invitation was like a dream come true, but now... There was the stress of looking presentable. She wanted to make more than just an impression.

When they finally arrived home, Ceren had been quick to change into the dress, not even bothering to look into the mirror before she slipped out once again. Her sister's glance had told her everything when she emerged, and the sparrow had to admit - she looked good in it. It seemed to cling to her body in all the right ways, and it gave her a huge boost of confidence. A small smile flitted onto her beak, and she let a hand rest on her hip. She couldn't help but love the corset that went with the dress - as a bird, she loved anything that accentuated her chest, even slightly.

If only Zane could see her now... She'd likely take a picture of his face just to blackmail him with later.

As she approached the palace, tan-colored Bander tucked securely under one feathered arm, she couldn't help but stare. It had seemed much bigger when she was last here, but now she found herself able to fully appreciate the beauty.

The sparrow walked confidently through the halls, smiling to herself and nodding politely to those who stared at her. The bander, Muffin, wiggled with some excitement at all of the new people that surrounded them. Following the same path she had so long ago, Ceren made her way to Iria's courtyard, stopping outside and knocking softly but surely on the door.

Her excitement was uncontrollable.

"Your Majesty...?[/b]"




((posted a little early with Jenn's permission <3 Thank you, Jenn!))

[Shinigami]

Iria had gotten dressed as usual for the morning, brushing hir hair out into the usual golden ringlets, made sure that hir dress was neat, and settled in for hir usual cup of morning tea. All in all, it was a standard day, and shi expected that it would continue to be a standard day. Fortunately, shi was to be pleasently surprised.

The knock at hir door drew her attention, and shi raised an eyebrow; shi didn't think that shi had anything scheduled for just then - in fact, shi usually tried to keep that hour or two free, to spend hir time contemplating hir tea, or whatever else crossed hir mind. Sadly, shi'd not had any other unexpected guests since the young sparrow had been hiding out underneath her table; or at least, no unexpected guests that were nearly as pleasant. Sighing, shi took a sip of hir tea - an herbal blend, smelling strongly of mint - and called out toward the doorway, "Come in."

As Ceren entered the courtyard, Iria's cup clattered to a halt in its saucer, hir entire slim frame going still as shi stared at the bipedal sparrow with wide, pleased eyes. Ceren had grown up, and had grown up beautifully. The sparrow was tall and slender now, and that dress showed her off to absolute perfection, and the Queen couldn't keep hirself from sweeping hir gaze from the top of the sparrow's lovely blue mane - when had she grown that? - to the tips of her white toes. The bandersnatch in the bird's arms caught hir attention momentarily, but shi was caught inexoriably by Ceren's appearance, and could only reflect in satisfaction that hir ring looked so very right on the other woman's hand. It was a perfect fit, as shi'd hoped.

"Ceren!"[/color] shi said happily, rising to hir feet and swiftly approaching the Lakelander. "Come in and have a seat. It's been far too long since I've seen you. Ah,"[/color] shi said softly, one pale hand lifting and brushing a loose strand of blue hair away from the bird's face, smiling all the while. "Far too long indeed. Tell me, how have you fared?"[/color]

[carcinoGeneticist]

It was the soft sound of the clattering teacup that told Ceren that the dress was perfect. Her smile widened, almost shyly, as she bowed low to Iria, hair hiding the small blush that had appeared on her cheeks. The slightly squirming bandersnatch leapt from her arms, moving over to the golden-haired Queen, snuffling eagerly at her feet, little tail twitching enthusiastically from side to side. The sparrow straightened again, practically glowing with the silent praise that had been given to her. "I apologize for the delay in my return. I couldn't return to you empty handed, not after your kind gift.[/b]" almost unknowingly, the sparrow rubbed the ring, the wide smile on her face betraying the powerful emotions which she was experiencing.

"I... I know she isn't the greatest of banders, but she has a lovely personality. And her color reminded me of you, in a way.[/b]" the blush on her cheeks shone through her white feathers clearly, and she lifted her eyes to look at the glowing Queen before her. "I hope you like her.[/b]

The touch, small as it was, delighted the sparrow, and she knew that coming on this day was the best possible choice she could have made. She felt truely happy, more so than she ever had known before. She fit here, and Iria was actually pleased to see her... "I have been well, my Queen.[/b]" she murmured, her words a clear sign of the reason she was here. Kingship was not far from her reach, and she knew she could make it there. "It has indeed been a long time. I...[/b]" she laughed softly, a musical sound. "I am so very happy to be here once more.[/b]" she finished softly.6

[Shinigami]

"Empty-handed? My dear, you yourself are gift enough for me,"[/color] shi purred coyly, blue eyes catching the reflexive brush of fingers over the silver ring. The gesture thrilled hir, the knowledge that hir own gift had been received so well. However, it would be very rude of hir to ignore the lovely little bandersnatch that was now sitting at hir feet, seeking hir attention.

The Queen crouched down, skirt spreading out, and ran one hand through the bander's fur - she was a very pretty little thing, and while she was obviously not the highest of quality, like that which accompanied the Queen of Hearts, she was still beautiful and deserving of affection. When the bander snuggled right up into hir touch, Iria smiled with pleasure; a rather docile creature then, as opposed to some of the half-wild monsters that shi'd seen running around. Shi chuckled at her eagerness, looking up with a warm smile of approval toward Ceren, standing up once more.

"She's absolutely lovely, dearest,"[/color] shi said, catching Ceren's right hand and brushing a tender kiss over the back. Even after the kiss, shi didn't release hir grip, pale fingers playing with the downy feathers as they contrasted with the silver of the ring. "Thank you, I'll treasure her. Does she have a name?" Ceren's blush was adorable, and shi wondered just how often shi could cause it to rise to those white-and-blue cheeks.

"I am very happy to see you once again. Since last we met, you've become a truly beautiful woman, Ceren," shi said, leading the bird over toward the waiting table, the bander trotting at hir heels. Shi even pulled out the other chair for the sparrow, waiting until Ceren seated herself before purring, "A woman I would be honored to have at my side."[/color]

[carcinoGeneticist]

Ceren couldn't help but notice the way that things had changed since she was young. Iria was still as gorgeous as ever, but there was something about hir that made Ceren blush with every touch, no matter how slight or innocent it might have seemed when she was younger. The feline was simply sensual, and Ceren couldn't get enough of it.

"My Majesty, you are far too kind.[/b] Ceren murmured, her pleasure barely contained. She knew in a moment that the little Bander was the right choice. She had certainly hoped it would be, as it was the only thing that had come to mind when she had recieved the ring.

The gift meant more to the sparrow than anyone knew, but the feline seemed to pick up on it as soon as shi saw the bird running her fingers across it absently.

If Iria had been delighted at the blush that had lit the sparrow's cheeks before, the effect that the small kiss had on the other woman would outshine it beyond even the slightest comparison. Ceren's heart seemed to have leapt into her throat, and it was all she could do but let out the softest of sighs, one that was absolutely filled with delight, and perhaps a touch of... pleasure? Her eyes closed for a moment, and when they were opened again, she was smiling fully at her Queen, her thumb (which was surprisingly soft, all things considered) playing lightly across the back of hir hand.

"The name given to her at the shop was Muffin, my Queen.[/b]" the sparrow looked thoughtful for a moment, then grinned to herself. It had seemed that most of the Banders had equally silly names, and Ceren was sure that they had the marten to thank for that. "But it is simply a show name, and so you can call her whatever you feel best suits her.[/b]"

As the two made their way to the table, Ceren couldn't help but glance around the courtyard. It was as beautiful as she had remembered it, which was a sort of relief to her - she was beyond terrified that she had been remembering the place through rose-colored glasses of some kind. As she slipped into the chair, Ceren lifted the other woman's hand to her face, lightly pressing it to her cheek in the bird's version of a kiss. "My Queen, I would be delighted to serve you in any way you would like me to.[/b]" she couldn't help but feel nervous - after all, she was still only a 10! - but she pressed those anxieties to the back of her mind.

[Shinigami]

Shi couldn't help the delighted laughter, running a tender hand over that lovely blush. It was so beautiful on those feathered cheeks, and shi had the feeling that, under normal circumstances, it was something that rarely saw the light of day where the sparrow was concerned. Shi resolved then that shi would do hir best to ensure that she saw it often, as long as it was, beyond all, mostly for hir. And that sigh, it sent a shiver up hir spine; similarly, Iria resolved to hear more of those sighs, as soon as shi could.

"There are very few things that I would consider to be too kind when it comes to you, dearest,"[/color] shi asserted.

An absent signal to an unseen servant had a bowl of water and some meat brought for the bandersnatch. The offerings were duly inspected and then accepted, the pale creature daintily consuming her meal. "Muffin? A common name, unsuitible for her. I think I'll call her...Adiva. My gentle, agreeable one. Yes, that's the perfect name for such a lovely gift."[/color] Inquiring blue eyes turned to Ceren, and Iria asked, "What do you think? Does it fit her?"[/color]

Oh, that little kiss! Despite hirself, Iria was thrilled by the motion. Yes, there was no doubt that this sparrow was hirs, and all hirs. Shi hadn't been wrong when Ceren had come into hir courtyard the first time.

"Would you strive for me, dearest? Would you become my Jack, and then my King?"[/color] shi murmured, subconsciously adding a true purr underneath hir words as shi leaned over the sparrow's form. It almost seemed like hir Human form would melt away, leaving pink-yellow-purple fur in its place, feline shape rising up beneath hir human skin for a second before fading away, ghostly hint of pink tear-marks left on hir face.

Then it was all gone, and Iria swept around the table, gathering up the teapot and beginning to pour for Ceren.

[ooc: And Iria is feeling predatory...(Iria: I'm a cheetah, she's a sparrow...lunchtime! =D)]

[carcinoGeneticist]

Ceren was likely making a huge fool of herself with all of the blushes and smiles, she knew, but she honestly couldn't help herself. She was completely overwhelmed with joy.

She had been born with a high self-esteem, it was true. The highest rank of all of her parent's children, she took largely after her father at least in terms of looks. As soon as she was old enough to realize both of these facts, the sparrow had decided that she would also be the best of her siblings. She stood out in everything that she did, and growing into that lucious mane of hers even set her as an equal to her only sister. She was her parent's daughter, born with a desire to be great that left even her speechless at times. She swore off love, stating proudly to anyone who would listen that it only complicated matters. Look at her parents, after all. So in love, so good for each other, but of different suites and one with so little ambition.

It was an amazingly strange feeling, therefore, to find herself left in such a puddle of feminine mush. The beautiful cheetah had complete control over the sparrow, and worst of all, Ceren liked that fact. Very abruptly, she decided that it was a good thing that Zane wasn't here to see her. She was smiling like an idiot as she watched Iria with the bandersnatch. It seemed as though she had made a good choice.

"Adiva...[/b]" Ceren repeated, finding with some pleasure the way the name rolled off her tongue. It was soft and perfect, fitting the surprisingly gentle creature to a "T". "It is perfect, my Queen.[/b]"

The chair was delightfully comfortable, fitting her bipedal form much better than it had when she was younger. She settled into it fully, looking upon the Queen as shi leaned over her. The flicker of a transformation did not go unnoticed, and Ceren's blue eyes filled with awe. The flashes of color she saw left her stunned, completely speechless - What she had seen, though it had faded away so quickly, was beautiful, and Ceren placed a hand atop Iria's.

"My Queen, I would travel to the ends of this world if you asked it of me." she murmured, looking at the feline with a small smile. The blush had not faded since they sat down, and it burned as sure as ever on her cheeks. "I would more than gladly sit at your side as your King, if that is all you ask of me for now.[/b]" Her words were bold, covering much of the nervous feeling that had filled her heart.

[ooc: shi's so absolutely lovely >:3 and Ceren just can't get enough of that.]

[Shinigami]

Unlike Ceren, Iria had been hir mother's only child, precious and coddled due to her high rank and beautiful appearance. About all that could have made hir better would have been if shi had been born in either hir Bipedal or hir Human form; but it hadn't taken hir long to gain both of those forms once she'd become an adult. Shi'd been raised in the knowledge of hir power, which might have meant that she wasn't nearly as ambitious as those who had practically clawed their way up from the bottom of the rankings. Shi admired their amition, of course, which was part of what made Ceren so very attractive.

However, because shi'd been raised so confident in hir rank, shi needed a partner who was equally as confident in her own rank - or at least, in the rank that she should have by the time she became hir partner. Shi had been looking for someone with that confidence - and Ceren had plenty of it. It made the sparrow absolutely perfect.

"She'll be a perfect little pet, I think,"[/color] shi nodded, and then turned her attention entirely to the Lakelander, setting the bandersnatch aside in hir mind for the time being. The meat would keep her occupied for a good amount of time.

"Oh, sweetling! I would never ask you to travel to the ends of this world. If only because it would take you away from me for far too long,"[/color] shi exclaimed, allowing the faintest hint of a blush to touch hir own cheeks, far more obvious on bare skin than beneath feathers. "Your presence, your companionship, is all that I require," shi added quietly, placing the teapot down and setting the cups before hir own seat and Ceren's. Floating up from the cups was the scent of herbs, mint and camomile, as well as hints of others that complemented them. It was a quiet, relaxing tea, one of her comforts. Iria then held hir hand over the cream and sugar, glancing at Ceren inquiringly.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Ceren's pride in herself glinted with her every action, seen most vividly in the way she puffed her chest out, letting the world see the almost glowing red marking that shone there. There was little left of the sparrow that had seemed so out-of-sorts before recieving the Queen's gift, and every time it reared its ugly head to ask her if she would make a good King her pride was there to smash it back into the shadows.

After viewing the glimmer of Iria's elegant biped form, Ceren's face had a slightly new expression, one that was much more difficult to notice. She was watching the feline's every move closely now, and though she had felt such notions before... Well. It wasn't until now that she put them on display, as it were. As Iria poured the tea, the sparrow glanced up at hir, a glimmer in her blue eyes that spoke very plainly of lust. Ceren thought the Queen was amazingly attractive, and she hoped that her every movement would let the feline know that fact. Shi deserved to be completely flattered.

The sparrow smiled to her Queen, bowing her head slightly. That blush was almost too much. "My Queen... Your words mean far more to me than I could ever fully express.[/b]" she reached out to touch hir hand softly as shi reached for the tea, meeting Iria's violet eyes and holding her gaze there. "You shall always have my companionship.[/b]" feeling Iria's slender hand under her own helped Ceren make up her mind on another issue as well. As soon as she had gained her kingship, the next task would be to gain a human form as well. She felt entirely too talk and clumsy around the slight, graceful feline's human shape.

She breathed deeply, smiling widely as she took in each scent of the tea. "It smells wonderful... I think I will go without either, but I appreciate the offer.[/b]" with these words she offered a shy smile. It just smelled too good to change, and she hoped that the Queen would not be offended.

[Shinigami]

[ooc: Pardon me for moving this along, but Iria was getting impatient and poking me in the back of the head. ^^;; Shi wants to do this now, and shi's not going to sit through several posts of small-talk to get it if shi can badger me into it...]

Iria allowed the blush to manifest more fully, well aware that much of it was quite real, spurred on by the emotions that the Lakelander was inspiring within hir. When had shi been offered such unconditional loyalty before? Such unconditional...love? Was it, could it really be a form of love? Shi knew affection, of course, and possessiveness, and the care that one feels toward a family member or a particularly trusted servant, but there was something different about Ceren, and shi still wasn't sure exactly what it was. Hopefully there would be the chance to find out, the chance to figure out all of the details of these emotions, and maybe to see if they would grow or not. How lovely. It was an opportunity that shi hadn't quite been expecting when shi had sent the silver ring to the address the young sparrow had mentioned, the first time they had met, but one shi was very glad of.

The small talk continued between the two of them as they drank the tea and ate the light sandwiches that the servants brought out, small things designed to tease the appetite and appeal to both of their respective natures. As the time passed, shi indulged in gentle flirting, and then flirting that wasn't nearly so innocent as things continued, watching Ceren's responses to see what would be accepted, and what was stepping too far over the line.

After a while, shi stood once more and stretched slightly, feeling the gentle pull of muscles after having been seated for so long. It was time well spent, though, and shi regretted none of it.

"If you'll pardon me, sweetling, I think that the both of us may find this a little more comfortable..."[/color] Saying that, shi stretched once again, but in a completely different way, body elongating and altering, golden gown replaced by a skirt and scarf, and tri-colored fur sprouting from beneath hir skin to cover hir entire body in a downy pelt, shorter than many other felines'. Hir chest might seem a bit flat, but it wasn't particularly noticable - even in hir Human form, shi didn't have much resembling a bosom.