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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 4, 2010 15:41:20 GMT -5
During the course of the several hours Rosemary had been getting lower and lower towards the table. Eventually she face planted, her tongue lolling out as she started to snore.
Sage had been trying to avoid all the people who were hitting on her. It hadn't been working as well as she had hoped, but when Rosemary passed out she saw her chance to escape. She made sure that her sister wasn't going to choke on anything, before waiting for Thyme to finish.
Ichigo's ears drooped slightly at the mention she was departing. It had been entirely too long since he had had a nice conversation with someone without feeling like an idiot. "I suppose we'll have to pick it up some other time, Your Highness. I'll be sure to take you up on your offer of a sparring match."
The mouse gave the woman the best bow he was capable of under the circumstances.
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Post by The Jenn on Jan 10, 2010 19:57:24 GMT -5
Getting Rosemary to the hotel was an... interesting experience. Good thing Thyme and Sage were both Clubs. They hefted her between them, ungainly limbs and all, and got her into a coach, and then into a room, with only minimal awkwardness. The King was very glad that she'd decided to forgo drinking that evening.
Plus, if she hadn't, she might have made a stupid impression on the mouse she'd met. And that would have been a ridiculous shame. Some part of her hoped he'd actually show someday at the Court so she could hit him up again on his knowledge of weaponry.
About a month later, Thyme found herself just outside the kitchens, scarfing down a quick meal before the best stuff was gone. She'd been late to the meal and thankfully the staff saved her a serving of the tender beef bits. She and Anoushka... they had a standing 'order' with regards to that. She only knew because the staff found it funny that both wolves had specially requested that. Her sister apparently hadn't thought to yet. Heh.
She finished and left her dishes with the staff, taking a quick walk of the grounds to settle the food down before getting back to what she'd been doing. Paperwork, at that point, trying to organize documents from a particular association for the Queen's attention.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 11, 2010 15:10:41 GMT -5
Ichigo had taken a month to save up the proper amount of money for a carriage trip to the court of Clubs. It also took him a month to work up the courage to actually appear there. Thyme had been an interesting individual and he wanted to meet her again.
He really hoped she wasn't busy. He had thought to send a letter before hand, but really what would he say? They were still simply strangers and he was fairly certain she never expected to see him again. But he was here, and there was no turning back.
Ichigo went though the proper procedures of meeting with nobles. He really did hope she wasn't too busy as he watched the attendant hurry off. What if he was interrupting important work? He really should have sent a letter ahead of him....
He brushed down his fur. No point in panicking at the moment. He'd find out if she was willing to see him after the attendant came back with the news.
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Post by The Jenn on Jan 14, 2010 20:55:11 GMT -5
Thyme heard clunky footsteps coming towards her door before they knocked and her head raised, one hand coming up to rub at a tired eye. She wanted to get this bout of notes over, done with, and off her desk before the weekend so that she didn't have to look at them again the following week. She'd resolved to take both weekend days off to relax, play with her Aces, and try to unwind. The past month was hectic as hell.
Meeting her niece and the King of Hearts that Rosemary slept with. Discovering her father's corpse in her old home. Trying to pack things and get them out of the Wood in the safest manner possible. She'd only gotten back from that little excursion two days ago. She really needed to unwind. But she also had a responsibility to her Court. Damn, sometimes things got complicated.
She listened to the attendant for a moment and a puzzled look passed over her face.
Ichigo? She knew that name. He was the mouse from the bar. The Mid-Ranger with the sword. It felt like forever and a day ago that she'd met him, what with everything the past month threw at her, but she realized with a start that it had only been a month since her sister dragged them all to a bar and she met the interesting stranger.
Glad she'd already eaten, she ran a quick hand through her mane and followed the man out. No sense in having him come back to her office just to drag the mouse along. He certainly had other things to do, and this might be a good break for her still ringing head.
"Ichigo?" she called out in a questioning sort of voice as she approached. "I'll admit, I'm surprised to see you here. Welcome to the palace of Clubs. How can I help you? Here for a spar, or something more 'official'?" She couldn't imagine what, but there was always the chance.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 15, 2010 16:12:00 GMT -5
Ichigo really wished he didn't clunk while walking on marble floors. I bipedal form would have been a solution, but that wouldn't solve his problem. He still needed to remaster his sword to the degree he had before, or at least to half of that. Then he would try to obtain his bipedal form.
When the King came into view he could feel a light blush creeping its way under his fur. Suits. Had this been the right thing to do? Should he had even come to visit her? It had only been one meeting at a bar....
Again it was too late to turn back now wasn't it?
The mouse bowed, "Hello, Your Highness. I'm sorry to drop by unannounced." He really hoped that he wasn't bothering her. "I was interested in a spar if you aren't too busy. If you are I understand completely."
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Post by The Jenn on Jan 19, 2010 10:20:23 GMT -5
His degree of formality surprised her. But then, he'd worked in a palace, hadn't he? So he said during their conversation at the bar. Thyme could understand a certain wary respect towards nobles if you had to deal with cranky ones on a regular basis, and in a different Court it would be hard to gauge who had what sort of schedule. Or temper.
She smiled a little and waved her hand. "Really, that's not a problem. I've been working on preparing a report for most of the day and a little physical activity would probably be good for me. Use my hands for something other than holding a quill. You came on a good day, all things considered. Do you want something to eat or drink first, or would you rather go directly to a courtyard? I don't think there are any army practices going on right now. At least, I haven't heard shouting and grunting and clashing metal while outside earlier."
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 19, 2010 15:41:12 GMT -5
That was a relief. A big one. The mouse couldn't help but smile a bit at her comments. So it was all right for him to be here. He wouldn't have to hyperventilate over being a bother.
"Ah, I think I'll pass on food and drink. I always think it's more refreshing to drink and eat after sparring." He bowed his head in gratitude anyway. He would stay formal until he was certain it was fine. Every noble was different.
Once they were on their way, which was slower than the mouse had liked, he shifted his sword around so it would be easier for him to draw properly. Ever since he had gotten the icy appendage he was still struggling to put the sword on the proper side of his body. Cross drawing was far more difficult with this arm than he would have liked. But he had to remaster the style regardless.
"I hope you don't mind my slowness. Even though I've gotten a good deal better with this arm, I'm still not up to par." He refrained from sighing, "How have you been since our last meeting, Your Highness?"
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Post by The Jenn on Jan 23, 2010 9:29:12 GMT -5
"That sounds fine to me. This way, then. We can take advantage of the one that's blocking the sun at this time of day."
Such a polite mouse. Was it his region, Thyme wondered, or his old job? Or both? She gestured for him to walk with her and started in the direction of the courtyard, quickly moderating her steps to accommodate for his arm. That had to be such a pain in the ass... at least her mutations didn't cause her physical inconvenience until she needed to touch someone. Or unless she was around a particularly strong smell. "Not in the slightest. Please don't worry. I understand how inconvenient mutations can be."
His other question, a polite and expected one, still gave her a moment's pause as they walked. "Thyme, please," she said absently. "Life has been very interesting over the last few weeks. Very bad, honestly. One thing piling on top of another." Her sister's inadvertent baby-mama, her sister being a baby-mama, her father's death and mother's disappearance, the state of her old friend... one thing after another. It had been a pretty shitty month. "Hopefully yours was better?"
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jan 24, 2010 14:03:17 GMT -5
A shady court yard. That would be lovely. And he was sure that the court of Clubs had an interesting view of things.
Well, at least she understood. Not a lot of people could, and really the woman didn't have a mutation that was as awkward as his when it came to trying to walk. Perhaps he should work harder at getting his bipedal form? But then he would have to get used to the weight of the arm... and what if something happened if he transformed and it became worse?
And his thoughts were derailed when the King told him to call her by her name only. Oh. Goodness. That was quite a surprise. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said with a slight frown. "I do hope things get better for you soon. And ah... my life has been complicated in that "coming to a cross roads" sort of way. That's part of the reason why I decided to take you up on your offer Thyme."
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Post by The Jenn on Jan 24, 2010 16:35:49 GMT -5
"Thank you for the sentiment," Thyme said with more weariness creeping into her smile than she would have liked. Nothing was going to bring her parents back, but maybe Rose would enjoy her children and Conway would be able to find himself a place without a King who hated him. Time would tell.
"And how does my offer fit into your crossroads?" she asked after a moment's wondering. She was sure it made sense to him... but it made absolutely none coming out. She motioned for them to turn left and they exited into a paved courtyard. The cobbles were worn and mostly even here, good for sparring and physical activity in general. Apparently it had been one of the old King's favorite spots before she lost most of her mobility. Some people tactfully avoided it because of that, but she didn't think the woman would care all that much one way or the other.
He still didn't know that she had a summonable weapon, a fact that she chose to kept very firmly to her chest for obvious reasons. The information could prove useful when surprising an opponent, or shocking a stubborn person into fearful disclosure, or any number of things that encouraged her to keep it quiet. "And if you'll give me just a moment, I need to go and fetch my weapon."
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