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Post by Satra on Jul 27, 2008 0:00:49 GMT -5
Hadrian took a large breath in and let it out somewhat nervously. He want to, for so long, visit the place of his heritage. He knew he didn't belong in the Court of Hearts, and, as much as he loved his family, (Bernard and, in a way, Betsy and Horace were included) he could bear to stay there any longer. There was one problem, though: where could he go? As much as he hated it, he had very limited knowledge of what else was available to him. The Capitol was fun, but he could not imagine living there. And the Highlands were generally out of the question (the encounter with the Rabbits always came to mind...). Maybe the land of his blood...? Now he felt like an idiot. He'd let his frustration made him make a very impulsive decision. The Glacier?! Even if he looked like one... could he really pull it off long enough to not get killed? Stupid, stupid, stupid! he chided himself... but he just couldn't turn around... Then he saw something strange... At first it blended in with the snowy background of the Northern border of the Sorgaire Range with its white and blue coat. Furrowing his brow, he approached the other Card lying on her back. "Uh,.. can I ask what you're doing?" he asked, standing over her. |
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Post by Greenie on Jul 27, 2008 0:07:46 GMT -5
Penelope had gotten lost. This was nothing unusual; she got lost so often that she'd given up years ago and began enjoying the experience. Unfortunately it meant she didn't get very far, especially when she was in a snowy and, er, glacier-y region such as Solandria. The mix-breed was there to a) vent some frustration that she was bored as hell with her life and b) see if she could finally climb this damn mountain. (She refused to call it a glacier in her head, because glaciers were impassable, and mountains were not.) Nelo had no idea how far she'd gotten - probably about as far as she usually got - but after a while had flopped down in a nice snow bank, wiggled in, and began to relax. That is, until a furry head appeared over her, causing her to let out an odd squeal and wiggle her limbs somewhat aimlessly. Immediately her face colored (as did her belly, much to her consternation), but she didn't make any effort to get up. "Sure, if you want to!" She said brightly with a smile, then belatedly realised he probably was asking. "Oh, right. I'm sitting in the snow. I got a wee~ bit lost and since I have nothing better to do other than pass out in the snow, I figured I might as well get a head start right here. There's a nice tree over there to look at too.." She dropped off, then grinned up at him. "Wanna join me, cutie? I promise I won't claw you or nuffin' like that."She idly wagged one of her front paws, and a claw glinted in the sun before it went back to sitting across her stomach. |
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Post by Satra on Jul 27, 2008 0:56:45 GMT -5
The 17 year old couldn't help but lick the side of his chops. Oh yes. He's love to accompany the cute mix breed. Okay, her rank was a little low, but there was so many other pleasant things to look at. She was obviously mix, both in breed and region, and it really was lovely.
"Where were you going? I was headed somewhere, but I wouldn't mind going a bit out of my way to prevent a pretty little thing from suffering out here," he winked, teeth displaying themselves in a toothy, sly grin. "I don't claim to be thoroughly familiar with the area, but I know where I came from. They can get'cha directions there."
He looked over her claws. Mmm, definitely some kind of digger... Woverine? Badger? Mole? Either way... potential was always fun.
"Weell~ I can take it better than most, yanno."
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Post by Greenie on Jul 27, 2008 9:00:45 GMT -5
Nelo tilted her head at him, then burst into her own wide, toothy grin. She took a closer look at him, and came to the realisation that he was Solandrian, which probably meant he had more of an idea of where he was going than she did.
Er, well, maybe not, but she wasn't the type to turn down company, so she'd assume until proven otherwise.
"Up!" The mix exclaimed, then hauled herself forward so she could perch on her haunches in front of him. Snow went flying everywhere from the movement, and she abruptly shook herself off, so one could only hope that he'd move out of the way a bit if he didn't want to get sprayed. "And that would be wonderful! If you can get me somewhere, it'd be better than where I am!" Nelo tilted her head and blinked flirtatiously before grinning. There weren't many guys willing to flirt with her because of her rank - especially Jack of Clubs guys - so she was jumping on the opportunity while it was sitting in hotness in front of her.
"Can you?" She asked, then lightly tapped him on the side of his muzzle before abruptly dashing a ways away, grinning at him. "Coming?"
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Post by Satra on Jul 27, 2008 21:10:17 GMT -5
Hadrian turned his head to the side and closed the eye closest to the flying snow. He quickly shook himself off and looked back at the girl. My goodness, she had spunk, didn't she? I little weird, yes, but spunky.
"Well.... I don't know if anywhere is better than here," he said with a laugh, looking North to the Southern border of the Glacier. No... as interesting as this girl was, and as much as she seemed to be able to take care of herself, he couldn't risk her life like that. A foreigner... and one as low rank as her? No...
It'd be a shame to let her go, though, to go up to the Glacier... he thought as she tapped him
"Hey now!" he called after her, "You were the one who's lost! Whadd'ya think you're doing in the lead?!"
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Post by Greenie on Jul 27, 2008 21:16:39 GMT -5
She hung back as he spoke, dancing lightly on her back paws for a few seconds to get her blood pumping again. Her little lay in the snow hadn't been chilling thanks to her fur and the coat she'd donned, but that didn't mean it hadn't slowed down her bodily processes a bit. "I spose," she said with a shrug, "But it'll probably be more interesting, no?" Nelo grinned and tilted her head at him. He had to think about it, did he? She probably would have given up and gone back down the mountain in another hour or so (or tried to, given her currently lost state), but if he was serious about taking her further up, she was more than willing to go.
It sure beat going back to the Court of Clubs again, that's for sure.
"Catch up!" She called back with a laugh, and playfully batted some snow in his direction. "You can't lead from back there, silly!" The mixbreed waited until he made his way after her, then companionably bumped into his side as they walked. "So where are you from? Other than here, I mean." Nelo had noticed, if nothing else, that he didn't seem entirely sure of what he was doing, which lead her to believe that he wasn't raised here, and that peaked her curiosity.
Then again, a lot of things made her curious.
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Post by Satra on Jul 27, 2008 23:22:09 GMT -5
It would be more interesting... he thought, but then turned his attention to the girl. God she was... Okay, focus... he thought as the cute hybrid beckoned him over. He jogged to catch up.
"Oh, heh, yeah I make it pretty obvious, don't I?" he chuckled nervously. Hew as starting to wonder if he would've survived going up to the Glacier...
"Believe it or not, I'm actually from the Court of Hearts," he laughed again. Those who were not familiar with the 'hot gossip' 17 years ago of Her Excellence Heilyn of the Raemblen Bog, a Heart's Court Noble, giving birth to a Club typically didn't believe him when he told them that. Well, she was 'Highness' now, but that didn't wipe clean the black Club-shaped blot on her reputation. "My mother is one of the Nobles of the Court."
He paused, looking back... He'd traveled all this way and, yeah, he was helping this girl out, but it seemed just a waste to double back.
"Oh, jeez, I'm sorry. How rude! My name's Hadrian, what's yours?" His mother had been adamant about teaching him manners, so it was a little drilled in his head.
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Post by Greenie on Jul 27, 2008 23:30:35 GMT -5
The hybrid blinked over at him at the nervous chuckle. Was she being that over-the-top? Crap, apparantly all the "CALM DOWN NELO" lessons still hadn't sunk in, but that's what happened when there was no one around to lecture her constantly. Oh well. He'd deal with it or he wouldn't.
"Naw, not really," She said, then shrugged, since it wasn't worth multiple reassurances. "Really? Cool!" She exclaimed, then tilted her head to listen to the explanation. "I'm from the Court of Clubs.. kinda. I wasn't born there, but I worked there for a while. It's awesome your mom's a Noble, though. My mom's a travel agent," Nelo said, then wrinkled her nose. "Not quite as exciting." Really, both of her parents were experienced travellors, but on strictly-speaking terms, that was what her mom did. Her dad.. didn't really do anything specific, so she didn't even bother trying to explain his profession.
"Huh? Oh!" Nelo looked a bit sheepish herself; that was another lesson that never quite drilled in. "Penelope, but Nelo suits me better!" She said with a bright grin. "Great to meet you, Hadrian!"
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Post by Satra on Jul 29, 2008 13:01:33 GMT -5
"Eheh, well, not really. Hearts... can be difficult. Mom was always wonderful to me, strict, but far more understanding than most of the other Hearts." He couldn't help but look back again at the southern border....dammit it all... "At least I was born a face card. I couldn't imagine what my life would be like if I was even "lower" in their eyes..."
As they walked further away from Hadrian's original destination, he listened to her speak. For a horny teenage male, he certainly was a good listener. No, not many people could match the 'excitement' of Heilyn: a Heart Noble from a strange, exceedingly rare region, acting as ambassador.
"Well, at least she travels. I'll bet she knows a lot of really neat stuff.
"And it's great to meet you, too, Nelo..." his words and intent were genuine, but he couldn't help but look back again, "Say, Nelo... how would you like to go to the Solandrian Glacier instead?"
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Post by Greenie on Jul 29, 2008 22:04:38 GMT -5
Nelo made an understanding noise, unsure of how to respond. She didn't know many Hearts personally, so had little experience; they tended to write a Two of Clubs off instantly unless they were low-ranked themselves, or incredibly compassionate. "Lucky," She said simply, with no consternation behind it, but true agreement. "Being a two tends to suck, but it means I get under the radar immediately. That can be nice." She then shrugged. "Maybe I'll get to face someday.. but I doubt it." She smiled, then shrugged. Ranking up wasn't one of her life goals.
"Yeah, if you like listening to pre-written schpeals, sure.." Nelo dropped off, then wrinkled her nose. She had most of Liv's ramblings memorized, on each and every region the badger visited.
"The Glacier?" She asked, blinking at him. "Why, what's there?" Nelo was in it only for the adventure; as long as he could provide a good reason to change paths, she was good.
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