[Fin] Let's Dance [Jenn]

[Kari Muffin]

Tea was something he could talk about. That would at least shut up the tiny sensible voice that was screaming in the back of his head. As for his pride.

"Yes, my pride was wounded in a corner crying like a baby for a while. Though I almost broke my nose according to the doctor. Blocks of ice to the face can apparently do quite a bit of damage, attached to you or not." He blushed slightly. She couldn't see. That really was the only good part about this.

"I like green varieties of teas. Most likely because that's what I grew up with, but I'm more than happy to try just about anything. What's the best tea that this Court servers in your opinion?" He couldn't even guess. He knew very little about the Court of Clubs and never listened to the gossip from any of the Courts. And just about no one talked about tea.

[The Jenn]

Thyme had to refrain from grinning - had to, because she knew that her muzzle would show far too many teeth to be polite if she gave into the urge for as wide an expression as she felt. Instead, she snorted into her hand.

Oh yes, much better. Much more lady-like. Her aunt probably would have given her a smack to the head, or a jab with her cane. Or a jab with her cane to the head.

"You know, I somehow believe this," she responded with a dry, serious, thoughtful tone, the effect ruined by her twitching muzzle. Yes, there was the grin. The bastard couldn't stay hidden.

Gred positively howled with laughter in her head. He couldn't wait to take cheap shots at her later about this. Absolutely could not wait.

"If you want my honest opinion, their Tulgey Red is garbage, which is my personal favorite. The Court doesn't have a very good source for its leaves and I've had it at its best so I'm just spoiled. They have a very nice oolong, though. I would probably recommend that if you want to go with the 'boiled grass' variety of flavor. Not that I don't appreciate it myself. It's just more entertaining to mock."

The cane would probably be up her nose at this point, and Josephine's scowl would peel paint. This was not an appropriate conversation for a Highlander to be having with a brief acquaintance, especially not when she carried a title. However much her aunt despised the Courts, even she admitted to the pomp and circumstance occasionally due the position while in a palace.

It was just fun being casual with him. The more polite he was, the more she wanted to mess with him. Maybe it was the Rose in her? Scary thought.

[Kari Muffin]

This was strange.

Ichigo was normally so terribly formal the idea of actually relaxing around people rarely occurred to him. And actually laughing was out of the question. He had been properly disciplined to the point where it had been pounded in his head and if he disobeyed he felt the need to go and bleed in a corner for a while.

So when he did laugh it took him completely by surprise.

And yet he didn't apologize for being rude. He cleared his throat and coughed in an attempt to cover up his amusement though.

"Ah well, I suppose I could just go with a surprise as far as tea goes. I imagine I'd be disappointed if I asked for a proper Mid-Range tea. It's hard to find good varieties that don't just taste like grass that's been boiled for a bit too long." A rather large grin had made it's way across the mouse's face. "Once you get your sight back, where would we be having tea? I think that's just as important as figuring out which tea to have."

[The Jenn]

"Indeed, indeed, you are correct," Thyme agreed sagely. Her chest hurt a little from suppressing laughter, but it wouldn't do to bray in public. Grinning would do well enough.

But the mouse did bring up a good point. And wasn't it a lovely day, when one of her most serious considerations was where to have tea with an engaging guest? She could do this more often. And if her sister had heard that thought, Rose probably would have cheered.

Oh, don't worry. She didn't have to hear it. I heard it. Which means Forge will hear it. Which means she'll hear it, right enough. You want me to tell him an' her what else you're thinking, cutie?

Her grin was quickly replace by a scowl, which again smoothed itself out to an exasperated sigh and a shaking of the head. "Please don't mind the spastic expression changes. Living with an idiot in my head tends to do that."

She hauled herself to her feet, still thinking - and still staunchly ignoring the obnoxious voice in her head. "If you don't mind, there's a small sitting area in my quarters. Nobles are granted the benefit of a suite, if we want them, that consist of at least a bedroom and an antechamber. I usually have breakfast there, but I keep two chairs in case my sister decides to drop in. It should be very comfortable for an animal form."

[Kari Muffin]

Ichigo's curiosity was going to get the better of him at some point. He eyed the the woman and her various expressions. It must have been strange to have something that could make comments to you constantly without anyone to hear them.

Though he couldn't particularly say he was interested in the idea of using summonable weapons. It would have been complicated, he was sure. It seemed complicated just watching her. "It's fine. You seem terribly happy regardless of the scowling."

The subject of chairs made Ichigo shift awkwardly on his paws. Oh chairs. How he hated dealing with them. If only she could be blind for the embarrassing balancing act he would have to deal with. But why would he be so lucky?

"Wonderful. You have to promise though.... you won't laugh when I try to get in a chair. My arm makes a lot of things difficult. Especially things like jumping into a chair without face planting into a table. I'm still not graceful enough to completely avoid the possiblity."

[The Jenn]

"Don't worry; they're low chairs." Thyme's tone was bland, but she tried to inject it with the implicit promise that she wouldn't laugh. Except on the inside. No clue if it worked or not. "I honestly prefer a cushion if I'm in animal form, so I have one of those as well. If you'd rather."

She was starting to see bits of light and shadow again, and then - all at once - her sight returned! Wonderful. And disorienting. She blinked and winced against the sudden light before she could open her eyes normally. Though she probably still blinked more often than usual, and would for another few moments.

Once she felt oriented enough to walk without wobbling, she led him out of the courtyard and around to another wing of the palace. Along the way, she stopped a servant and requested tea service for two in her quarters, along with whatever sort of small tea snacks he admitted to enjoying. Those they had in quite a variety! Then she led him along and ushered him into her personal sitting area, which conveniently doubled as an office area more often than not when she didn't feel like using a different one.

[Kari Muffin]

Ichigo nodded, which she couldn't see. She would probably laugh if he did manage to faceplant into the table. At this point he should probably be over his embarrassment. He had already made a fool of himself in front of the Queen of Spades.

The mouse was happy that the time went by fast. At least she wasn't particularly upset by the match. At least they seemed to be getting to know one another. There was a chance that she could actually be a long lasting friend.

That would be nice, but he wouldn't get his hopes up. She was nobility after all. It was a fast paced life, and she could easily forget about him.

He agreed to a few different kinds of biscuits to go with the tea. There was a selection to choose from and he was going to take advantage of it.

"You have a lovely set up here," the mouse said as he looked around. He eyed the chairs suspiciously. It wasn't that high... he could probably make it.

[The Jenn]

Nudging the mildly furred cushion on her chair flat, Thyme sat and smiled. "Thank you very much. Bringing a bit of the Highlands with me and all that. Decorations in the palace of Hearts are hugely overdone, but the general palette makes for good accents. I spent quite a few years in the realm with my aunt after moving from the Tulgey."

Not that he particularly cared about that, and not that he made the comment as anything other than polite small talk, but oh well. She crossed her legs at the ankle and waited for him to seat himself. Tea service would probably arrive within a minute or two, since the palace staff could boast a reasonably efficient catering for its nobility and guests. What Court wouldn't?

She honestly wanted to ask more about his weapon and the enchantment attached. That had to be exceptionally effective during duels. Had it ever won him a serious one? In what way might it prove itself a disadvantage?

[Kari Muffin]

"So you grew up in Tulgey and the Highlands? Not many people can say that in a position of power." He couldn't make a comment about the Court of Hearts since he had never had a chance to set foot in such a place. That one employer dropped him like a ton of bricks, and the other woman was.... well. That was contemplation for another time.

The mouse stared at the chair for a very long moment. His ears flicked forward for a moment as he debated taking her up on the offer of a cushion. However, decided to at least try to get into the chair.

It was a rather silly looking jump. He did make it onto the chair but he managed to smack his jaw on the table, causing it to shake in protest. A squeak of surprise escaped him as well. He made a small groaning sound as the blush formed under his fur. Fur made everything so much better.

[The Jenn]

Thyme hid any sort of smile at Ichigo's ascent with a polite cough, rearranging herself on the seat so that she had cause to look away. No sense in pointlessly embarrassing her guest and his unavoidable physical complication. She'd gotten very good at overlooking such things in the Court. Perhaps even more so with her aunt... though the woman had also taught her to note them all for potential future use. Such a schemer, Aunt Josephine.

"My mother was a Tulgey and very reluctant to leave the Wood, so Dad made accommodations for her. We were all raised at home in the Wood. My Highland aunt eventually convinced them to let me study the world with her. She'd been waiting... forever for a pure Highland descendant. Dad only had a bit of it. She's a biased woman. The epitome of regional pride. Not especially thrilled that I decided to join the Courts, but she didn't argue as much as she could have."

Which just meant that she hadn't physically restrained her. Aunt Joe had argued plenty about her decision. Especially Clubs... she had such a chip on her shoulder about this Court. Thyme wished dearly that she knew why. The story would probably be fascinating.