| Logs |
2004 May 30
| Idlewild |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Idlewild Logs |
May 30
The newly named Swift tilts his head at Lotte and says cheerfully, "Righty. Hop on then and we'll be off. Where are we going?" Prince Lyriquin is out of earshot, further along the path apparently talking to his hand.
Lotte frowns and says, "Well, I don't really think I can just take you. I need the Prince's permission, I think."
Swift rolls his eyes and says, "Oh, foo. You do not." Lotte could swear he's smiling.
Lauren is off in the distance, clinging to Crenshaw like a barnacle, whooping.
Lotte gives Swift a wry smile and says, "I'll be right back." She hurries over to Prince Lyriquin and tries to get his attention.
The Prince is indeed talking to his hand. It's glowing. It looks, as Lotte gets closer, remarkably like a small glowing bird. He's clearly distracted and takes a moment to look up at Lotte and smile, clearly not quite done. Swift reaches out and politely tugs Lotte to a stop with a delicate touch considering he's using his mouth. He lets go as soon as she complies and says quietly, "Hey, don't ask. It'll be okay. I'm absolutely sure about this, just don't even mention it, huh? You had other business, right? Move on to that. Trust me."
Lotte thinks of Penny and becomes rather suspicious. She makes another movement to get the Prince's attention and points at Swift.
Lyriquin blinks and sends the bird flying with a flick of his wrist. He glances at Swift and comes closer, smiling politely. "Yes, Lady Lotte? Oh-- do you wish a steed as well?"
Lotte looks a bit sheepish and says, "Well, perhaps I could have him instead of the instrument? I don't want to be greedy."
The prince eyes Swift dubiously. "It's not a matter of greed, Lotte. Are you... ah.. certain you want that one? He's a bit tall for you, is he not?"
Lotte says in a soft voice, "Well, he seems to want me..." She looks back and eyes the steed warily.
Prince Lyriquin winces slightly and says, "That one is... well, I'd wanted to gift you with something that wasn't damaged goods."
Lotte looks suprised. "Damaged goods? What do you mean?"
The fair-haired prince beside her sighs and says delicately, "He is not.. precisely.. whole."
Lotte tilts her head and frowns. "Not whole? Is he injured?"
One fair eyebrow quirks. "In a manner of speaking, yes. Or rather, he was. He has little standing in this herd because he will never sire foals. There was an accident after he was already adult, but he no longer has adult status or position due to it."
Lotte looks incredibly relieved and sighs. "Oh. That's not important to me! I like him just the same. Would it be alright if I took him with us?" She turns and gives Swift a grin.
Swift's ears flicker, and for a horse, he looks incredibly hopeful... although he is presumably out of earshot. In the background, Lauren goes sailing over a fallen tree on her little mare Crenshaw-- getting some rather alarming height.
The prince breaks into an almost shy smile, and says, still quietly, "I could wish you were staying here, or that I was not bound to Summer. You and your companions are worth far more than many at this Court." He nods. "Take him, then, and be welcome. I'm told he overdoes things a bit, but no one has questioned his loyalty or stamina."
Lotte smiles with pride at the compliment and nods. "Thank you very much." She turns again and gives Swift the thumbs up.
Crenshaw comes thundering up in a plume of dust, Lauren clinging to her back like a burr.
"Lotte!" Lauren cheers, hair a haystack of snagged greenery. "Ooooh, this is GREAT!"
Swift tosses mane and tail gleefully and prances over to Lotte. Smugly, he says "I told you. Should have listened to me. I'm simply too superb, we're meant to be; I ornament your own fiery prowess with cool hues and raw physical strength."
Lauren blinks, and flicks her ears. "Wow, he LIKES you," she comments, her tone not entirely un-snide.
Swift says disdainfully, "Of course. I have taste."
The tall horse's tone leaves it open that other people... might not.
Moopy says "Whoa there Lone Ranger. Down, boy."
Lauren rubs Crenshaw's neck contentedly and sits, grinning knowingly. "He's too big for you, you know."
Lotte smiles and nearly purrs at the blue horse, "Of course you do. We're a perfect match like you said." Her satisfied smile takes in Swift, Lauren, Crenshaw, and the prince. She greets Crenshaw with a nod and says, "Now you've made a fine choice too. What is your name?"
Lauren indulges in a fit of nasty giggles before calming down. "Hee. This is...oh, I guess she can introduce herself. That'll take some getting used to."
Lotte attempts to mount the steed, in hopes of proving Lauren wrong.
Prince Lyriquin smiles, til his eyes go vaguely horrified at Lauren. The rest of his expression never changes a flicker, though. "Are the kind and polite ladies of Winter ready to rejoin their companions?"
Lauren looks to Lotte for an answer, herself not being kind and polite.
Lotte is momentarily busy sliding onto Swift's tall back... with complete and oil-smooth success, as Swift kneels and shifts easily to accomodate Lotte's height.
In short notice, Lotte is looking down on Lauren from a considerable height difference.
Lotte looks gleeful and says, "Yes, I believe we are ready."
Crenshaw says, "Least somebody's interested in a ride. Hi, Lotte, I'm Crenshaw."
Lauren is well accustomed to looking up at people, even if she and Lotte normally see more eye-to-eye. "You are a VERY large horse," she informs Swift from about nose level.
Lotte grins down at the peach mare. "Nice to meet you!"
Crenshaw says cheerfully, "Nice to meet you too, coppertop. Why don't we all trot on over to see your friends? Meet the family and all. You can give the nice little prince a ride behind you, I'm not that buff. Not like your big lad there."
Lyriquin looks slightly nonplussed as being referred to as a nice little prince.
Lotte nods and gives Swift a pat.
Swift says smugly to Lauren, "You bet I am."
Lauren nudges Crenshaw forward just a bit. "His Highness is right--they're probably raring to go now. Let's get back."
Swift starts to kneel, but Lyriquin shrugs and swings up behind Lotte once noting that neither of them appears to mind. He manages to keep a fairly polite distance on the ride back, not getting too far into Lotte's personal space aside from their legs touching. He appears to have excellent balance and doesn't even rest his hands on her waist.
The rest of the group, back at Aiden's suite, hears the hooves on marble before their two missing members actually come through the door. The horses don't fit; they promise to meet their riders later and head off. The Prince enters with Lotte and Lauren, nodding greetings to Aiden, Steven, Sol and Seodil-- in the proper order, of course.
Aiden says, "Welcome back, Prince Lyriquin.. Lotte, Lauren. Were you successful?"
Sol and Lyriquin exchange a look, and Soleil rises as Lyriquin smiles affirmatively at Aiden. Letting the women speak for themselves, he walks off a space with Sol, talking softly.
A knock sounds on the door.
Lauren nods. "Got horses. God, you should see Lotte's."
Aiden stands up, picks up his sword and walks to the door. He opens it, heart pounding.
Sarete squeaks at the armed and dangerous Aiden, stepping back a pace. She says timidly, "Is... is Steven there?"
Aiden steps back from the door and smiles, "Hello, Sarete." He turns, "Steven? It's for you."
Steven nods in greeting to the prince, standing as he enters. He frowns a little as Sol and the prince go off to talk, then gives a start as Aiden calls for him. he goes to the doorway. "Yes...? oh! Hello, Sarete." He's still al little tired, but his voice is pleasant and warm enough.
Lotte answers Aiden cheerfully, "I have a horse! His name is Swift."
Sarete's face brightens all over when she sees Steven. Her voice is quieter than usual when she speaks, though. "Steven? May I come in? I... I know you're leaving soon."
"I think I'll go for a stroll," Lauren announces. "Anyone want to come along?" Anyone who isn't Steven or Sarete, says the obvious subtext.
Aiden wanders away from the door, so Steven and Sarete don't have him hovering over. Aiden smiles at Lotte. "I look forward to seeing him, Lotte.." He sits back down on the couch, leaning the sword against the arm. "No thanks, Lauren."
Lotte shakes her head at Lauren and goes to sit near Aiden, away from Steven and Sarete.
Steven blinks a little. Suddenly he feels guilty for mentally evading Sarete and thinking less of her for her advances. "Ahh...." he glances up, at the others who are not-so-discretely moving away. "Certainly, Sarete, please... feel free." She smiles a little. "I, ah.. have to get your chest -- er, luggage, back to you, actually...."
Lauren shrugs, wanders half-out the door and loiters there fidgetting.
Steven mentally berates himself for correcting hmself. Oh, sure, it would have been fine if he hadn't tried to use a word other than 'chest.' But, no, he had to say something. He thinks this is an inauspicious start to the conversation.
Soleil walks over to Aiden and Lotte, after glancing at Lauren and saying, "No." He hands Aiden a folded handkerchief, almost absently, and says "Well, it's settled. I'll write Lua a note before we go informing her of her engagement.... so, you have a horse, Lotte?"
Aiden takes the handkerchief with a quiet "thanks", smiling up at Soleil. He doesn't check it right now. He's pretty sure he knows what it is.
Lotte's face goes a bit dark at the reminder of the marriage, but brightens at the mention of her horse. "Yes! You're going to hate him." She grins.
Sarete guides Steven into the room, away from the door, as Lauren lingers there attracting nervous glances from the silent and well-armored elven guards who don't appear comfortable having it open. Sarete fidgets, apparently not even noticing Steven's slip, and shrugs. "Well, it likes you. I understand." She smiles, not in a predatory way.
Lauren relents, with an apologetic wave to the door guards, and backs out of the doorway. No walkies after all. She shuts it, carefully.
Aiden is correct in that guess-- there is something hard and circular in the cloth. Sol blinks at Lotte. "I am?"
The door guards are visibly relieved as Lauren lets them re-secure the apartment. She doesn't get far before there's another knock on the door, though.
Steven smiles back, now inwardly feeling like a heel. "It likes me? I always thought it was trying to get me, that I'd wake up with it gnawing on me. I thought it was still annoyed that I lifted it up to peek underneath once.
Aiden's deadly curious, he has to ask. "Who did the engagement end up being to?" He asks it quietly, since Soleil is still standing in front of him.
Lauren turns to open the door again. Who the hell could it be this time? Everybody else is already here.
Sol tilts his head at Aiden and says, "Clairchiare."
Lotte giggles at Sol and opens her mouth to talk about her horse, then shuts it again to hear the answer to Aiden's question. As Sol speaks, Lotte's face falls and she closes her eyes.
Aiden nods. Well. She should be thrilled. Married off to the twin of the man who whipped her, by the brother that abandoned her and tried to take her throne, while under the influence of the thief who stole him. I wonder if we're off the Christmas Card List?
Aiden reaches out and touches Lotte's shoulder. Maybe she'll change her mind. It's probably not too late, right?
Sarete smiles at Steven, a little mischevious spark in her eyes. "Well. It's always been a little odd about showing affection. I... um. Look. Can I ask you a serious question, Steven? It's not... look. I really like you and I've gone about it all wrong."
Lotte squeezes her eyes shut and refuses to cry for the millionth time over that miserable pink haired elf.
Sol bites his lip and says, "He hasn't actually agreed yet. Lyriquin's sent a bird to ask him just now."
Steven swallows a little. The self-worth meter in his mind drops a few more ticks. "I...." Well, best to be hoenst. At least a little. "Please, feel free to ask."
Dryly, Soleil adds "He seemed to more or less expect it of his as his duty. We'll see. Honestly, I'm not sure how much farther this court can push our Clair, but I didn't have much choice. The actual Prince is by all accounts fairly dreadful."
"Hey," Lauren calls through the door. "You can open it out there, all right? Unless whoever it is is on fire, let him in."
The door opens to reveal a glowering guard and Lindenel. Lauren remembers the wife of the man she was sent to flirt with perfectly well.
Aiden leans over and puts an arm around Lotte's shoulders, pulling her into a half hug. "Are you okay, Lotte? I mean.. If you're really attached, maybe it's not too late to do something about it.." Aiden feels awful for her, really.
Steven, his back to the door and Linden, gets a painfully serious look from Sarete. Awkwardly, she says "Is there any hope? Do you just not like me? You're leaving, and you may not come back."
Lauren curtsies deeply and shuffles out of the way, making polite mumbling sounds that come across a little like "sorrysorrypleasecomeinyesfinesorry"
Lotte opens her eyes and shakes her head. "No. I don't really want someone who isn't as crazy about me as I am about him. It just hurts that... that.. that he didn't fall for me too." She sighs and adds softly, "I want what you have."
Aiden smiles faintly, "You deserve it.. and you will get it, Lotte. Maybe it wasn't him, but there's someone out there for you, and he's not going to be too blind to see what a wonderful person you are."
Lotte puts some effort into hugging Aiden back and nods. "Thanks. " She looks up to see Lindenel and stands to greet her. "Hello there!"
Aiden glances over where Lotte is looking, "Hello, Lindenel."
Linden smiles at Lauren, only a little tight across the eyes. She says softly but firmly, "Lauren. I would like to talk to you, please." A careful eye would see that the green-haired elf woman is having a terribly hard time doing this. She startles badly when Lotte greets her, and curtsies to her and then Aiden with a murmured hello and a better smile.
Steven opens his mouth, then closes it, and swallows, then sighs. All these somatic antics are really little more than a prelude to a pause, then after a few moments he finally says, rather wanly. "Sarete... I.. have to be honest. When you first... approached me, and the other times... it didn't... really... do too well with me. I didn't really know what to think besides worrying if I was going to be... I don't know. Clobbered over the head and cheerfully dragged off somewhere." He adds, "Not.. that that wouldn't be pleasant." he sighs. "I never got the chance to even think beyond that." Another pause, and another sigh. "I'm sorry. I should have."
Lauren straightens up, and carefully does not look Linden in the face. "Right," she says. She doesn't look much more pleased about this than Linden. "Lead, um, the way. Mi-uh-lady."
Sarete nods and says, still awkward but looking Steven in the eye, "I can see that, and I'd like to apologize. Truth to tell, I haven't really liked anyone here like I do you for a long while, and... I'd gotten into a pattern of dealing with them that does not match you. Nor was it worthy. I would like to offer you a... well, a sort of deal. It's not worthy of you either, yet, but... it could be. With time."
Linden nods, and leads Lauren into the next room of the suite (which turns out to be a second bedroom, clearly not used last night), as though she knows what to expect from the layout here. Once there, she looks soberly at Lauren and says, "I do not love him. It's not that. You deserve to be warned."
Lotte watches Lauren and Linden goes, then shrugs to herself and sits back down.
Lyriquin, over by the window, raises his hand for a small glowing bird as it flies in from outside. He's been standing expectant there since he finished speaking to Soleil earlier.
Steven has a sudden flash of an image from his vision again: gold, a gold elf's hand, moving a chess piece, or holding a knife... it was both these images and others, and he wonders if that vision, that moment showing a gold elf who could have been friend, or companion, or enemy... if it had been Sarete. The moment passes and he blinks a little, nodding to her. He doesn't know if he believes her, but... Well, wait, hear what she has to say, first. "Please, say on."
Lauren stammers. "I'm so sorry, either way. I mean REALLY. I am. I didn't even think about him being married..."
Aiden looks up at Lyriquin's movement, but looks away politely when he sees the bird. Low tech cellphones..
Quiet til now, Seodil looks at Lotte and says softly, "You make a wise choice. Truly. Politics are no match for affection, and Aiden is correct."
Sarete blushes and looks at Steven's feet. "Marry me?"
Lotte smiles sadly at Seodil and looks at her feet.
Steven blinks. "I... excuse me? What...?"
Linden blinks deep pink eyes at Lauren and sighs, deflating. She says, "I know he's charming. Believe me. I also assure you it does not last."
"I wouldn't know," mumbles Lauren at Linden's toes. "He had to run off before anything happened."
Sarete was poised for a stronger response; she appears to gather courage at Steven's confusion. Taking a deep breath, she looks up at his face again. "I asked you to marry me. You don't even have to sleep with me or stay. Just come back eventually so we can work the rest of it out. A little bird told me what's going on here. It would help your alliance."
Steven is, in a word, flabbergasted. He tries to find something to say but his brain isn't being very cooperative with his mouth.
Lindenel says bluntly, "Then you're lucky. He is a sadist, and you would have found it out at some point. Lauren..." she hesitates, then says "I wanted to tell you that, and that you do not have to cringe when you see me. I'm not jealous. I'm worried." Linden puts a timid hand out toward Lauren, then sighs and draws it back, looking small.
Lyriquin says something low and nasty over by the high, arching window.
No one is close enough to detect the actual words, but the tone is clear to the couchful containing Aiden and Lotte.
Lotte looks worriedly over at the Prince.
Sol says very softly, "Knew we should have left before he got his answer."
Aiden glances over at the Summer Prince when the nasty tone carries to him. Guess that was a "no." He looks at Soleil, equally softly replying, "It didn't take long. We wouldn't have gotten far.. What are our options?"
Steven shakes his head in confusion. "I.. I don't know what to say, Sarete. I... never had anyone ask me to marry them before." He pauses, wondering if there should be some sort of gesture he should do. "And we... don't know each other." He pauses, swallowing, then says honestly, "But I'd like for us to."
Lauren stands still, digesting Linden's words. This is complication and nastiness of a degree she's not accustomed to. "...that's a shame," she gets out, after a long pause. "I....damn. I'm really, really sorry."
Sol considers, glancing at the others on the couch-- Aiden, Lotte, Seodil. "Well, we could tie Steven up and put him in a closet with Sarete. They might be married when they came out."
Lotte giggles. "I could be an aunt!"
Linden shrugs one-shoulderedly at Lauren and says, "I wanted to stay near C-- here. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I was not long out of the woods, and raised by deer." She smiles, actually happy for a moment. "Clairchiare and he both found me when they were hunting."
Aiden winces. "I guess he's had enough of duty. Well... any other options for Lua, maybe? I mean.. Sarete seems fond of Steven, but it wouldn't be fair to press the issue."
Sol winks at Lotte and says, "Oh, you will be. It's just a question of how many times."
Lotte grins and nods. "Oh yeah!"
To the point, Sarete says "I'm willing to take the time to get to know you. A formal agreement would be just that; a formality. I would respect your wishes in the matter of sleeping arrangements, still."
Aiden smiles at Lotte, "You already are, sort of."
Lotte smiles at Sol and Aiden with a curious look on her face, but stays silent.
Lauren checks the room, left and right. The coast looks clear. She leans closer to Linden. "Look," she says. "We could bundle you off to Fall and you could see about finding some more deer. If he's really that bad, you can't stay with him."
Steven bites his lip, nodding a little. Oh, man, what to do, then? I don't have any strictures against marriage that I know of, but... this is pretty damn sudden! "I... I'm not worried, really, about, uh, sleeping arrangements." He hesitates, then nods quietly. "I'd... like to get to know you, as well. How... how do we go about that?" Wow... what a line to open yourself up to all sorts of unpleasantness.
Lindenel stares at Lauren, then her big pink doe-eyes well up for a moment of wet. It's gone fast, with lightning speed of control, and she says with fluttering hands, "...But Clair..." The former deer looks torn, though.
Sarete does not take the potential Steven senses for unpleasantness. She says simply, "Write letters. Visit. It's not as though we can run out of time."
Lauren suffers a sudden rush of feminist enthusiasm, and reaches out to grab Linden's arm. "Come ON," she says. "You have to. You seriously have to. You don't have to be miserable all the time, especially not for Clairchiare. He doesn't LIKE miserable people."
Sol looks at Aiden, then at Lyriquin still standing over by the window, speaking to a bird-- perhaps the same one. Looking back to Aiden, Soleil shakes his head. "I honestly don't know who it would come to next. The noble houses here are fairly equal in claim to the throne... Averet and Shh are closest from what I gather, but..."
Linden mutters, "He doesn't like anyone but her and him," rather viciously for a small shy little thing. She gives Lauren a rebellious look of considering that offer.
Aiden frowns, "Can you find out what his objection is? Maybe it's something that we can solve, or.." He sighs, "Of course it's nothing that we can solve. I wouldn't want to get married to someone I didn't know just because everyone expected me to, either."
Lauren smirks conspiratorially at Linden. "Okay, so you want to be happy and have no Clairchiare or be miserable and still have no Clairchiare? You are so coming with us."
Lotte purses her lips and looks hopefully at Steven talking with Sarete.
Seodil speaks up, quietly. "Clairchiare has, you might say, already done his duty by the throne. That could become awkward for the next generation if he were to give Lua a child and a later alliance between the heirs of Winter and Summer came up... if you think about it."
Aiden nods at Seodil. "Honestly? I was just hoping that he'd have a way out of here, more than anything. Anyone with eyes can see that he's desperately unhappy.. I can't stand knowing that it's our fault and that we're just going to up and walk away from him."
Steven nods quietly. "Thank... I can do, definitely." He smiles quietly, adding, "And I can't see us never coming back here." You mind explaining to your subconscious just what it is you're doing, Steven?!
Linden says to Lauren, "I want an option you didn't list." She pauses. "Of the two, however... I think I've about had it with Summer." Another pause. "Are you sure I could go with you? Fall is famous for... well, not bringing many pets home."
Seodil nods to Aiden. "I would like to take him, myself. I did not think he would accept."
Aiden says, "You should ask, Seodil. I'd ask.. but.. he's more likely to listen to you."
Lauren shrugs. "Fall's already bringing us along, and we're trouble on the hoof anyway. What's one more?"
Sarete smiles at Steven with hope flowering in her eyes. It makes her downright radiant. "Then... is that a yes?"
Lyriquin finishes speaking to his bird in hand and sends it back out the window. Stalking back to the group on the couch, he says in a tight voice, "Clairchiare is no longer an option."
Aiden waits for a moment, to see if Soleil will ask the question that's probably on everyone's mind. He's the one brokering this, afterall.
Lotte tries desperately not to look happy and relieved.
Soleil slants Aiden a look that says fairly clearly he doesn't want to.
Aiden says, delicately. "Is everything alright with him, Prince Lyriquin?" I am not brokering marriages. I am not brokering marriages.
Steven swallows. Why am I worrying that this is a mistake? Is it just that vision I once had? Or is it simply something so mundane as not knowing her as well as I should. "Sarete... if I ever prove to you that... I am not the kind of person you want in that way... I would not be offended." Why do you say that? Are you hoping she will be? No... Maybe... maybe I'm finding myself warming to her more than I thought I would. And maybe.... Maybe that vision wasn't entirely true... maybe. Even so. he raches down to take Sarete's hand. "Ask me again?"
Lyriquin says with exquisite frustration, "I have no idea. He left."
Aiden blinks. "He.. left?"
Lotte looks at Lyriquin, startled.
The Prince from Fall says, "This morning. He left a note, and most of his hair. I've been talking to Ilirith. I'd have her arrested if I thought it would do any good. I'm absolutely certain she helped."
Aiden looks over at Seodil. Oh, shit, Clairchiare. Why did you have to leave. Aiden's first reaction, oddly, is to go after Clairchiare. He's genuinely worried about him, and feeling hideously, hideously guilty.
Sarete colors prettily and curtseys to Steven, holding his hand delicately. "I offer you the same chance to reconsider, should you so choose at any time. I only ask that if so, you do it in person. ...Steven of Winter, Traveller Between Worlds, Pathfinder, will you marry me?" Her golden eyes are vulnerable.
Seodil blinks. "Left most of his hair?" Lyriquin nods. "Braided and coiled neatly on his bed."
Unaware of the information being discussed next door, Linden takes a deep breath and nods to Lauren. "If you can arrange it with Fall, I'll come with you. Gladly."
Aiden looks at Seodil, "Is that ceremonial, or something like that?" I'm so sorry. I was the one that figured most of this stuff out and pointed it out, and I ended up hurting you, Clairchiare. I hope you can find it in you to forgive me.. and us.
Linden adds, "And hells take them all."
Lauren beams. "I'll hash it out with Zhi. I'll get word to you." And then she capers, just a bit. "This is so cool! Go you!"
Seodil shrugs helplessly. "I am not certain. It is symbolic, at least." He looks at Lyriquin. "Is anyone going to claim it?"
Steven's turn to blush, then, as he gently places his other hand over hers. "Sarete of Summer... I will." He tries to ignore whatever warnings his subconscious is screaming, letting them settle into a calmness and trusting that, in time, karma will work itself out.
Aiden rubs both hands over his face.
Lauren bounces toward the door. "I should go back. We're going to be leaving soon, so if you wanted to bring anything, pack it quick!"
Lyriquin gives Seodil a look of total incomprehension for a moment before saying incredulously, "His hair? He's vanished, left Summer, and you want his hair?"
Linden bites her lip and gives Lauren an almost sparkly look. Breathless, she says, "I will, I'll be quick, please--" and darts out.
Seodil just nods. "Yes. If that is all that is left for memory, I do."
Lotte blurts out, "No, we need to find him!" She looks suprised that she even spoke it out loud.
Lauren caroms like a superball out of the room, out of the suite, and down the hall toward Zhi's most likely location--touching scenes be damned, she's on a mission! She nearly breaks the sound barrier.
Aiden looks relieved when Lotte speaks up. He was going to bring it up with Seodil quietly, but.. "I agree."
Sarete beams wordlessly at Steven, then blinks at Lauren whizzing by after Linden.
Steven blinks, startledly, as Linden and Lauren zoom by. "What was that about?"
Lyriquin has a distinct Do we HAVE to? expression.
Aiden dismisses that look internally. He doesn't much care what Lyriquin thinks of it. He doesn't count Lyriquin as "we", and "we" are leaving anyway, why not look for Clairchiare as we go.
Lauren nearly caroms off Kip in her searching, down the hall, as he's coming out of Zhi's suite. Nearly. Instead of actually bouncing off him, she smacks into him full tilt and sends him sprawling with a young male elven shriek.
Could be worse, Lauren decides.
Kip says in a getting-my-breath-back kind of way, "GerrOFFme!" There are some other words, but they're in a different language. Though lean and slight, he turns out to have enough muscle and resilience to be nice padding.
"Oh my GOD Kip you have NO idea where's Zhi RIGHT now?" Lauren is still sprawled over the poor Fall elf. "I need to ask him something SO FAST now." She thumps one of his shoulders. "You need to tell me RIGHT NOW."
Kip says in full high indignance, "You JUMP on me and you HIT me and you want a FAVOR?"
Lauren nods. "Real quick one."
Deep brown eyes flash at Lauren in the way that deep brown eyes have when the owner is fraught with emotion. Kip glares at her for a long moment, then something apparently occurs to him and he says quickly, "He's in THERE. Get OFF."
Zhi says cheerily from overhead, "Actually I'm right here. What do you need?"
Lauren scrambles up, sparing any further indignities to Kip's already traumatized person. She is veritably OSCILLATING with manic energy--in fact, her hair's standing up more than a little. "Need to bring someone with us, Zhi. Oooh, do we ever."
Moopy says, "Boy. Men get fussy when you squash them around here."
Zhi's blue eyebrows raise. "We do?"
Lauren nods, offering a "sorrykipsorry" in the appropriate direction. "She's miserable and her life is horrible and I swear she's born for Fall. Really."
Kip dusts himself off-- pointedly-- rises, and stalks stiffly off toward the suite with everybody else in it.
Lauren slows down just a little. "God, that always happens. He's going to HATE me..."
Zhi says with fond amusement, "I'm not sure they'll let me back in if I bring anyone else, pretty-- oh, don't mind Kip. You might want to be a little more subtle next time, though."
"Not so good at subtle," Lauren mumbles. "But Zhi, it's LINDEN."
Zhi says, "You and I can work on subtle. That might be a good idea, come to think. Now, who's Linden? Name's vaguely familiar."
Lauren says, "Rathskeliad's, uh, wife. And he's one of those nice until you get to know him people, after which he becomes a sadist."
Lauren shivers. "God, how creepy. I thought he was nice."
Zhi makes an mmmm sound, and just nods. "And you want to save her."
Lauren nods emphatically, hair staticking up again.
Moopy says, "Boss, I feel tingly. You realize the only nuts to explode around here are on Zhi."
Lauren clasps an invisible security tentacle. "Nobody's blowing up, little guy. Our cause is RIGHTEOUS."
Mercifully oblivious, Zhi looks thoughtful, then sighs. He says, "I know you. I know the others I invited. I do not know her, and I will be personally responsible for everyone I brought in, for as long as they are there. I want you to understand, Lauren, that if I bring her and she is in fact a threat, we may have to kill her." He looks very matter-of-fact. "Are you certain enough she means no harm to wager her life on it?" Lauren's out-loud reply to Moopy gets an odd look.
Lotte asks the group on the couch, "Is there anywhere in particular Clairchiare would have gone?"
Lauren chews a lip. "I think SHE is. Is that good enough?"
Zhi nods, "It's not my conscience, sweet. That will do... though I still need to meet her to be sure. C'mon." He tucks Lauren's hand in the crook of his arm and leads her back to the main suite. "I'll be here; bring her. Everything is ready to go to Fall but the feet that are walking."
As they walk in, Lotte's question is answered by frustrated shrugs, for the most part-- though Seodil is slower to echo with his own. Either no one knows where Clairchiare might have gone, or else no one is telling.
Lotte sighs with frustration and wonders what Steven and Sarete are talking about on the other side of the room.
That apparently occurs to Sol as well, who nudges Lotte and wonders the same thing out loud.
Aiden is just sitting, quietly, one hand playing idly with the pommel of his sword where its sitting leaned against him. He looks lost in thought.
Lauren collars a guard briefly on her way in and whispers something urgently. And then she's all concern again, because damn if her companions haven't gotten all mopey in her absence.
Sol pokes Lotte again. "Go find out."
Lotte looks over at Steven. He and Sarete are holding hands and looking all blushy and happy. She does a double take, then pokes Sol. "You go."
Looking up, Seodil absently waves Zhi and Lauren over to their couch council. Kip is already there, not looking at Lauren. Not one bit.
Soleil says smugly, "I'm sorry, Lady Lotte, I seem to be a prince. That means you have to go unless you marry Lyriquin." He adds, "So... shoo."
Aiden laughs softly. "They're pretty intent on what they're talking about over there. I'm some curious.."
Lyriquin, for just a moment, looks astounded before he gets his Prince Face back on.
Lotte harumph's and gets up off the couch rather stiffly. She circles towards the couple a little shyly, not wanting to interupt anything important. Finally she just decides to butt in and says, "What are you two doing over here?"
Sarete beams at Lotte, then back at Steven. Then back at Lotte.
Lauren peers. "Um. I missed something, didn't I?"
Steven blinks in surprise at Lotte's question. "Ah..." He glances to Sarete, then to Lotte, then to Sarete. And now is when it gets complicated....
Aiden looks at Lauren. "Looks like Clairchiare is gone. You okay? You were in there a long time."
Lotte waits expectantly for an answer.
Seodil says, "You know, we are not entirely sure. That is why we sent an emissary."
Sarete giggles.
Lauren leans against one of the couches. "Everything's fine now, Aiden. All taken care of. But...wha? Clairchiare gone where?"
Aiden says, "Not sure."
Soleil says wryly, "That's the trouble. --Just as well you didn't really want to marry him."
Zhi's eyebrows raise slightly.
Lauren tugs on her earlobe and nudges a little closer to Zhi. "Yeah. Good thing, huh?"
Zhi says, "Goodness, no one even asked me," but it sounds amused.
Lauren blushes. "What's up with Steven and Sarete? Is it prom already?"
Steven swallows, looking to Lotte again. "Well... I'm not sure how to say it, but..." He glances to Sarete. "I... we're engaged." I think elves have engagements, don't they? Or is it betrothed? Or something?
Sarete nods agreement, but then adds to Lotte with a wink, "Engaged, but not busy."
Lotte gapes openly at Steven and then at Sarete. She remembers her manners after a moment and closes her mouth, then says, "REALLY? I mean, of course you are. Congratulations to you both! Wow... I..." She trails off, stunned.
Lotte adds, "Um, you should probably inform Sol and the Prince. Because Clair's missing."
Sarete, oddly, does not look surprised for a moment. She doesn't say anything. Then her eyes widen, belatedly, and she says "We probably should."
Steven blinks startledly at that, and glances to Sarete. "Missing?!"
Sarete is still holding Steven's hand. She tugs, gently. "Let's go find out."
Lotte bites her lip and simply nods. She walks over to the couch where the rest of the group is gathered.
Sarete and Steven drift over as well. Sarete waits when they get there, with a glance and small smile at Steven.
Aiden glances up when the others arrive.
Steven exchanges the smile with Sarete, then looks around to the others. "Clairchiare is... missing?"
"Don't say it," says Lauren. "We figured out that you were brother and sister already. Darth Vader's in the back room waiting for you."
Sarete stares at Lauren in vague horror, a look she might be getting used to inspiring in elves. The lovely Summer elf says "No, no. We're not siblings. We're engaged."
Lauren giggles. "Sure you are."
Steven blinks and stares at Lauren. "We're not related, no, not at all. We're -- yes, engaged." "Darth Vader?"
Aiden smiles, "Congratulations, both of you."
Sarete dips a pretty curtsey at Aiden.
Steven smiles, still looking very sheepish -- and a little bit unsure of himself -- and nods to Aiden. "Thank you...."
Lotte still looks a bit dazed and confused but manages a smile.
Lauren says, "Not joking? Oh, boy. Congratulations."
Prince Lyriquin just looks at the newly engaged couple with his Prince Face on.
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