eswareinmal | 1st Orb, GHB 12

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1st Orb, GHB 12

[There’s a cough, and green eyes glance up at the orb, then back down towards fidgeting hands. Calloused in a few places, picked at in others; these hands have seen a lot of action, are used to gripping a sword and digging into muck and grasping tree branches and chinks in stone.]

Uh. [The eyes turn back to the orb--the voice is somewhat rough from what sounds like overuse.] I hear the kingdom is having some difficulty with very large, moving thorns?

I have--experience. If someone could tell me a little more about the thorns, I’d be obliged.

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Can't burn them, or dig them out, or chop them up. None of the old farmer's tricks seems to do the job, in fact. They're spreading, slow and steady, and were released by 'Chaos,' which is some sort of vaugly defined, god-like force opposed by 'Order,' based in this very city or as good as. Allied with talking fire, the thorns are, I mean. Or the fire serves them, or something like that.

[Selene tucks some hair behind her ear.]

Now, that's about all any of us really seem to know. I ain't been that far out of town yet, for various reasons, but the locals all agree on most of those points, and the rest I am confidant of.

So, tell me, Sugar, are you of the mind to help because these people are in peril, or because it is the best way to go home, or because you simply ain't got anything better to do?

((I find it awesome that the drag queen is the first person to address the drag king. XD))

Talking fire. Like a sprite?

[If sleeping princesses can really be woken with kisses, Yuan figures there is no reason any other kind of fairy should be limited to stories.]

Well...there's nothing else to do, is there? If I was brought here to fight the thorns, then that's what I'll do.

This one was more of...mmm. A rather malevolent spirit, maybe even some kind of demon or something, if you buy into that sort of thing. It burned down an entire forest because it was impatient.

[She laughs, softly, and shakes her head.]

Anyhow, I'm guessing...mmm. Casual dismissal, followed by a statement of rather direct obligation. The locals are probably going to call you a knight, unless I am missing my guess. And considering some of their...choices...that is unfortunately possible.

I'm Selene, by the way. Got a name you wanna share, kid?

That's no good. [Frown.] Is there a curse on it? The demon, I mean.

[Curses are nasty business.

But the feeling of being scrutinized is a little uncomfortable. Yuan swallows and glances away to avoid meeting the woman's eyes. Selene, apparently.]

I used to be a knight--I suppose I still am. But I'm a prince too, which is how they've addressed me here.

[A nod.] My Lady Selene. Sir Yuan of Clogwyn, Prince Regent of Portglas and Lord Husband of the Crown Princess, my Lady Aine.

...But you can call me Yuan.

Well, damn. I still count that as half right, for the record. You know, if anyone asks.

[Selene shakes her head.]

Then I'm just Selene. I'm only a proncess in the misguided local vernacular, truth be told. Not at a proper one like you are. But as an American, I feel it is my duty to not find myself quite so impressed. Yuan, it is a pleasure to meet you, even we had to be kidnapped first.

As far as curses, it's more likely to be one, or at least place one, so far as I'm concerned, then to suffer from one. Curses mark people, and things. This fire...marks things.

Why would anyone...?

[He shuts his mouth. Never mind.]

It's good to meet you too, my lady--ah. Selene. You say kidnapped--is this...dangerous? This place.

[It hasn't struck him as such, but hey.]

Do you think it's a sentient curse, or is the caster directing its'--intents, as it were?

I believe in being prepared, dear. Very important in the craft shop industry, believe me.

[She shrugs.]

Well, I certainly didn't volunteer to be brought here, at least. And there was an entire forest burned to the ground recently, by the force we're supposed to be stopping. So I'd say there is at least some danger around. I've heard tales of giant, slathering beasts in the other forest, there are thorns that move, dragons and giants. At least, that's what everyone says.

[She snorts.]

I think it's more of a magical being, honestly. Not sure there is even a caster that summoned it, but can't be sure. Two weeks on the couch of an Argentinian Wizard doesn't make me an expert. But I didn't smell anything but fire and burnt wood when I was speaking with it.

Being prepared can't hurt anything.

[An entire forest? Slathering beasts and dragons and giants? Well. That's. No good.] I'm afraid I don't know what to do about fires but toss water on them, and the only dragons I've dealt with have been babies. Thorns, though... are they guarding something?

[The last bit goes over his head, so he sort of just...lets it be.]

Depends, I would suppose, on what, exactly, one was preparing for.

[She paused for a moment, considering all of what was said.]

Well, I just tried to keep from becoming charcoal, myself, so you're already ahead of me. Dragons are myths in my world, haven't seen anything to prove they're real here, but who knows? As for the thorns, well.

They say ain't no one can get in far enough to tell.

Well, if you can point me towards the thorns, I'll have a go at getting in.

[It seems his presence here might be of more use than he'd thought.]

Let's not be hasty. This ain't your home, any more than it is mine. No need to be hasty, is there?

Take a few days, get your bearings. Make sure you ain't acting out of impulse or emotion, because that's a pretty good way to get yourself into trouble.

[He laughs a little.]

Milady, I've got my weaknesses, but impulsiveness isn't one of them. I offer because I've done it before. [A brief pause.] Cleared cursed thorns, I mean.

[And now Selene is going to be glib. Sorry about that; she doesn't know.]

What'd you do, kiss a sleeping princess?

[She shakes her head.]

You're here to fight 'em, sure, but I don't really think it's going to be quite so easy.

[A sly little grin.]

And certainly not as rewarding as kissing a princess, either.

Yes. [Without missing a beat--the sarcasm flies over his head, completely unnoticed. As far as he's aware, there's only been one sleeping princess guarded by a briar, so how she jumps to that conclusion is somewhat puzzling.] How did you know that?

[His face goes warm at her last comment and he looks away from the orb.] I wasn't planning on kissing her. It just...happened. The reward doesn't matter when there's lives to be saved.

How does anyone know? That's just the thing to do in just about every stor...

[The stop is sudden, and so is the look of incredulous surprise on Selene's face.]

You're actually serious.

Yes.

[Blinking.]

Why wouldn't I be?

So you're telling me that kissing actually works to break some kind of spell?

Yes?

[Forgive him. He is utterly baffled by your disbelief.]

I know it's a bit odd. [And he turns red--glances away. It's odd for more reasons than one.]

It's just so...fantastic. It's right out of a story, or would be in my world.

So. [Selene grins.] Is she pretty?

I mean, it had been so long that by my time, we weren't sure if she was real or just a legend to explain the thorns--but I don't read many stories, mostly almanacks and histories.

[He's rambling a little, somewhat avoiding the question with a flush coming over his ears. But he does answer, the words taking on a reciting quality.]

The Lady is a vision. Her hair falls about her shoulders in shimmering red curls like flame; her gray eyes soft like smoke; her complexion is flawless cream, her lips like rosebuds, her neck like a swan's. It is said she is so lovely, so fair that Queen Titania herself grew mad with envy and it is this that placed her kingdom under its curse.

[A little flustered smile.] That's the legend, anyway. But ah--yes. She's very pretty.

[I'd for forgiveness, but Selene doesn't even want it.]

So you like older women, then?

[She grins.]

Me, too.

[He coughs abruptly, deeply flushed--wait. Me too? Is she--

He blinks. And gapes.]

Uh. I. Suppose?

[Selene is a complicated individual.]

Oh, Sugar. You should have tried harder. Now I know you're easy to tease.

[Weakly, he laughs.]

I always have been and I've never been good at hiding it.

I bet that made you real popular with the noblesse.

[He laughs a little too loudly, memories of women ruffling his hair and straightening his clothes and cooing at him crossing his mind.]

I spent more time around the maids before my wife. But--uh, yes. I never wanted for haircuts and never had any holes in my clothes.

I was thinking after, Sir Prince, but maids are a very good group to have on your side, I think.

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1st Orb, GHB 12

New character tonight, rest of tags tomorrow. Huzzah internets!

:D

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Life. Ugh.

I understand. Too well. ;_;

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