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Post by Ladorak on Dec 29, 2010 23:51:52 GMT -5
"The one about the stage show...you being on stage and hypnotized." she said, smirking. She started to move with him, joining him amongst the crowd of dancers for the slow movement.
"That is the particular story I took an interest in...and the only one I can distinctly remember at the moment...hah." she said, laughing softly at the thought of hearing it from him. "So go on...out with it now." she coaxed, looking up at him as they moved about the dance floor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monty speculated if this was truly Countess Sveltlana Bogginski standing before him now. She seemed so...different. As if she truly were sorry for her past actions. Well no wonder...they'd landed her in hot water now, and there was no real way out. If this rebellion did occur...she would need to relocate as an expatriate, or risk death by execution.
He tensed up when she grabbed his paw. She had removed her glove it seemed, and he could feel her fur meeting his. He closed his eyes, letting the sensation lift him up to new heights. "Mmm...um..." he blinked, snapping out of it quickly enough.
"Countess...where would you relocate?" he asked. "If this does occur...your very life would be in danger. I'd say I told you so...but I'm not the gloating type. With your resources...it shouldn't be too much trouble relocating. I know your primary estate is in Slattland, though your family estate in Kradowska you would probably have to abandon. As a matter of fact...while I think about some form of repayment" he had something in mind...but wasn't going to tell her just yet. "Do you mind giving me a moment with Jis Talian? I'd like to discuss a few things with her."
The detective studied the lemming's eyes. She was...different. They were still cold...but the evil...that darkness had subsided considerably...dulled by something since he'd last seen her. And that had been when? Cosnair? When he'd gotten himself shot protecting her? Or after that? He couldn't directly recall. His life was too much of a blur these days. He was fairly certain it had been in Cosnair. Either way...it seemed to be fading. This might be a very good thing indeed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caden blushed a bit under his fur. He knew he had probably outdone himself on that gift. "We're close to Stratospheros...not terribly far. Perhaps you could travel even during our time here, though would have to find someone in lieu of Archie. I'd say either way, the tickets will be put to good use." He turned to Elle and nodded.
"OK...my present for her is here." he pawed Elliot a very small wrapped square, which contained a box, inside of which was a locket containing a portrait he'd had painted of himself yesterday, right here in Florence. The locket was silver, and oval shaped. "You may as well open the present Elliot...I doubt my gift wrapping would survive a sea voyage." he said, laughing a bit. "You can look it over, tell me if you think she'd like it, and then pass it on." He stood back to see what the beech marten would think.
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Post by spender on Dec 30, 2010 8:17:37 GMT -5
Zheep was pleased to see his gift received so well. His infectious little grin just seemed to spill all over his face, crinkling it up like a shining tinfoil wrapper.
He was starting to have second thoughts about giving them away, however. It was simply a young kit's natural selfishness seeping through; those had been his moths, and now they weren't, and he wanted them. He gazed longingly at them, but they were out of reach, and he knew there was nothing he could do to get them back, save for asking, and that would Not Do, as his nanny put it.
So Zheep settled for admiring the fact that someone had actually had any interest in his moths at all. Adults never listened, even when they did sit still and stare at you as if you were the most interesting thing in the world. But they just didn't understand! Moths were important! So were biscuits!
"I'm going to get biscuits," he decided, giving a little wave to the group as he rolled off across the dance floor without a care to the pairs who had to step out of his way.
The buffet table was a little high. Zheep had to lift his nose to see over the edge, and even then, all he could see was the sides of plates and bowls. He lifted his arms up, but his reach was shorter than that of his nose, and all he could do was tug at the tablecloth until someone took notice.
One exasperating conversation later, in which he had to explain, no, he was not going to eat all the biscuits, they were for his friends, too, he had a platter of them on his lap and was being helpfully pushed back to the tree—around the dance floor, this time. They passed by some windows, and Zheep's eyes glowed with the reflections.
"It's snowing!" he shouted, waving his paws in the air frantically. His indoor voice was completely forgotten. The whole ballroom had to know about this! "It's snowing!" he said again, and again, "Sta nevicando! Sta nevicando!"
The poor mink who had been kind enough tried to shush him, to no avail.
"I want to play in the snow!"
Molly's head maelstromed with thoughts as she was carried. She felt like a tiny ship caught in the waves, her inner voice a lone sailor-captain, trying to pick up survivors from the whirl before they were swept away, while trying to keep her own little vessel from being sucked in.
She didn't know where he'd heard about her smacking jacks for flirting... But if he thought it was because she was staying true to him, that was fine with her. It wasn't because she had standards or anything, no... Hah, of course not. The little stoat jill in the boat gave the passing thought a nervous, conspiratorial giggle. Then quickly decked it with her paddle and moved on.
Jealousy. That was a good word for that emotion. Unrighteous fury. For how could she blame him? They'd been going through a dull patch, and half the time her eyes had been on Luxe or Quilliam or some other poor young fellow of a stoat. She had no right to complain about him having thoughts—and mere thoughts!—about some other jill. That was just instincts trying to squirm their way through your body. She ought to be more worried if he didn't occasionally have desires for a good-looking jill now and again... But still, that annoyance festered. She would have to keep her eye on him; especially if that Emma were still around here...
Ooh, where were they now? She peeped an eye open, just a slit, a flutter of consciousness. A bedroom! This would do.
Aahh, and now she was being laid down on a bed...
"Molly...Molly...are you OK?"
Now she peeped her eye fully open, taking in all the room, and Ladorak's worried, fluffy, white, bespectacled face.
"Yes," she moaned—yes, yes, yes, to everything! But, as usual, she couldn't say it. Not like that. It was miracle enough to have spat the word out at last. She hoped he would notice the inflection and thus apply the reply to his previous question.
"I'm just fine..."
With an impish whimper, she stretched out, her arms and legs stiffening as they reached their full length. As she re-curled, she placed one paw on her cheek, elbow on the bed, and curved herself just so on the mattress; her tail tossed itself over her legs as the final touch. She gave a tiny yawn.
"Just a little tuckered, is all."
She could take it no longer. Biting her lip, she sniggered. One claw idly pierced and twirled the bedsheet, tugging it into a little mountain.
"So, that test run went well... assuming the honeymoon suite is in the church..."
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Post by Carrow on Dec 30, 2010 9:51:54 GMT -5
Carrow was still smiling at Caden. The pine marten was clearly embarrassed about that gift, but he really didn't need to be. The look of sheer joy evident in the mouse's eyes would hopefully tell the marten everything he needed to know, if the hug hadn't. Carrow liked giving out hugs; it was a way for him to show he was truly grateful for other creatures' acts of kindness towards him.
He pocketed them, letting his tail sway to and fro behind him for a bit as he thought about Caden's proposal. "Yes, I was considering that actually. Just out of sheer curiosity, might you be interested in going to such a place, Caden?," he asked kindly, wanting to offer the marten first choice; in a way reciprocating for the generosity his friend had shown. "It's entirely your call."
Selvis glanced at his mouse friend and a small smile passed between the pair. The weasel could see that the rodent definitely did want to get good use out of that pair of tickets - even if (and this was indeed the case) he was unsure if he would ever see his beloved Archie again. If Caden didn't want to go, the longtail was sure Carrow would offer to indulge his curiosity and treat him to a visit to Franz Mesmer's parlour. It would be quite the experience for him, of course.
He'd been fascinated by hypnosis since a young age, and indeed, had attended many magic shows where such things had been involved. He had been every bit as mesmerised by the events on stage as he would have been had he ever plucked up the courage to offer his services and actually go under. He'd never experienced an induction, nor ever witnessed one at as close a distance as he would when Carrow delivered on his promise to Caden later.
The mustelid was quite looking forward to it, but his thoughts were interrupted by the return of Zheep. The weasel couldn't comprehend why exactly the younger creature was so excited by the falling snow. Hadn't he been here a while already? Surely he would have noticed it, as it had been sheeting down since before everybeast had arrived. He shrugged a little, but then his eyes lit up as Zheep's voice increased in volume.
He wanted to play in the snow, did he? "You do? Steady on, Zheep, there's no great rush! Everybeast knows there'll be plenty of time for that." Then his eyes took on a more mischievous appearance. "Besides, you couldn't POSSIBLY be more excited about than I am! We'll wait at least until all our presents have been exchanged, and then we'll see what we can do. Easy there, mate. You'll get outside eventually."
He returned his gaze to the two martens, noting how excited they both looked now they were receiving each other's presents. He was also thinking of perhaps giving the others a demonstration of his abilities as a magician a little later. There would be all sorts of spells being woven, it seemed, between the weasel entertainer and his mouse hypnotist companion. It was going to be great!
--
"I don't quite know just yet, Monty...," Sveltlana admitted sheepishly, removing her paw from his before wringing both in a noticeably agitated manner. "I've been considering returning to Slattland but... oh!," she exclaimed, desperation evident in her voice. The lemming Countess was clearly distressed by the situation she now found herself in, and she made no attempt to hide it.
"Everything just seems so uncertain now... it's all happening so fast and I'm not sure I've had time to fully think my plans through. I'll come up with something eventually... it's not like I have much of a choice otherwise." It sounded like the rodent was admitting defeat even before she started, but this was not so. She needed time to get her thoughts in order.
For this reason, when Monty told her he had to discuss something with Miri in private, she nodded shakily. "Yes... yes, of course, that's fine. I might see you later... sorry I look so flustered about this, but then again I'm quite sure it's natural to be this way in such circumstances. 'Til later then, I suppose, Jis Talian and Jal Sylver." Turning on her heel, she shuffled off. Everything that kept her together was falling apart, but she knew she had to think of where next to go.
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 30, 2010 12:59:05 GMT -5
((Not gonna post as Caden just yet, want Bookity to catch up first))
Ladorak sighed in relief as Molly came round. Had that whole thing been fake, or was it just a brief fainting spell? "Thank goodness you're alright." he stated, sinking back a bit to rest on the floor against the bed post in a sitting position. "I suppose this just caught you totally by surprise. I thought you might have been able to guess as to what I was alluding to...but perhaps not. A-anyway," he stammered, shaking his head.
He took the ring out of his pocket, but didn't present it to her just yet. He guessed that maybe that yes was part of the whole "yes I'll marry you Ladorak Fugate", but...he wanted to be sure. This was something serious. He'd been down this road twice before after all, and neither time had worked out very well in the end for him.
"Ahem...Molly...I'm glad you're feeling OK...but I need to hear you say it. I need a direct answer. You must understand...I've been in love twice before...and neither time lasted more than a few years. I have a good feeling about you...but I also know that you're scared of commitment...or if not scared...then at least worried about committing to one jack or something. I don't know...I don't blame you...your previous way of life never did tie you down to any one jack for long. Can I...can I trust you to be with me as long as I live?" he asked, looking up from the ring to study her prone form.
Well...she certainly knew how to make herself look desirable, even while doing something as simple as reclining on her bed. Her tail draped over her legs, and she stretched herself out to show off her best bits to him. "Do you love me enough to make this commitment? I understand if you need more time...so please, don't let me pressure you or make you feel rushed. I'll wait as long as necessary until you're ready. I've been waiting ten years after all...I think I can wait a bit longer if needs be."
He gave her a smile at his admission, one that was genuine and said "you can trust me on this". He just wanted her to feel at ease doing this, and not stressed out or unduly pressured. He wanted her to be ready...not just him. This was a joint effort. He wanted to make sure he was making the right choice with this one. Because he wanted to make third time the charm...not the likes of the past two.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monty's face slowly changed. His cool, professional demeanor melted as he observed Sveltlana's whole disposition and her clearly nervous agitation. But was it really this bad for her? She didn't seem to be faking him out...for what could she possibly want? She might be playing him for a sap...but something was off.
She had traveled an awfully long way just to simply con him out of some of his money. It didn't stack up. Plus, he knew she wasn't lying about the situation in Kradowska. That was very real, and wasn't fake by any means. "I understand. Look...I will be right back alright? I'm not going far...just to chat with Jis Talian real quick. Give me a few moments...and I shall return." He hesitated, his paw hovering in mid-air as he debated about touching her or not, but finally did so.
His paw gripped her arm, patting it once or twice before pulling back. "I'll be back." He turned, and strode over to Miri, motioning for her to follow him away from the lemming.
"Jis Talian...what do you think? Something seems...a little different about her. I wanted to consult you first. I know politics isn't your thing, but I was wondering what your opinion was. You seem a good judge of character. I admit I can judge physical traits, such as clues on their clothing about what they've been doing in the past hour, or ruffles in their fur, but either way, I want a second opinion on this. You know...how I can get around her after all. I want to make sure I'm not just being blind here. Is this worth pursuing?" he asked, speaking in a lower voice and searching his jill companion for answers.
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Post by spender on Dec 31, 2010 8:56:04 GMT -5
"Lad..."
Molly sighed, half out of exasperation for this silly jack and his silly fears, half out of happiness. She didn't know what it was... the pain in her leg, the dance, the atmosphere, the location, the day of the year, the half gallon of wine she'd snuck earlier in the day—but she just wasn't feeling quite her usual scaredy-stoat self.
"There's only one thing I'm ever ready for, and that's kicking tails and chewing tobacco." She paused a moment. That made no sense. Oh, well. "I don't think I'll ever be ready for a committed relationship. But a Serra never backs out of a promise... and neither does a Fugate. After all, I was never ready to be born, but that didn't stop me. And I'll never be ready to die, but it might happen eventually. I was never ready to have met you again. The best things in life, we're never ready for. But we take them anyway. I'll never be ready to start never leaving you, but once begun..."
As serious as the situation was, Molly was still a little trouble-maker at heart. Nothing would ever be simple in her life, and she liked it that way. Sometimes. Sometimes she liked simple.
Tonight was not one of those times. She had to be difficult.
Molly rolled over. Her footpaws stuck up in the air behind her, in classic 'tee-hee, let's tell scary slumber-party stories!' pose. She scootched to the edge of the bed and wrapped her arms around Ladorak's neck, leaning her long neck over his head. With careful deliberation, she stuck her tongue out and licked the bridge of his snout, dislodging his glasses to his lap. With those out of the way, she had free access to his mouth.
Mary-Jane Watson would have been jealous.
A minute or so later, she broke off.
"Can I be more direct than that?"
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Post by bookity101 on Dec 31, 2010 14:57:46 GMT -5
Elle bit her lip slightly as she accepted the gift from Caden. She had been wracking her brain to see if there was a way she could avoid opening Elle's gift in front of everyone, but there didn't seem to be a way, so she carefully opened the wrapping, revealing the locket within. She picked it up, the lights glinting off the outside. Carefully she flicked open the clasp to reveal the small portrait of Caden, a good likeness too. She let it dangle a moment before looking to Caden again.
"I think she'll love it Caden." Carefully, Elle repacked the locket into its box before tucking that into her bag. 'And I can pretty much promise that.'
"What do you think of your gifts Caden?"
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Luxe smiled as he shook his head.
"You really want to know all the embarrassing stories don't you." Luxe sighed, pulling his face into a form of comic distress.
"Very well then, it all started when my sister wanted to see the magician who would come through town once a year or so...." And so Luxe re-told the tale of how a crafty weasel magician had coaxed him, a stripling of fourteen, onto the stage and proceeded to make him cluck like a chicken, act like a horse, and try to balance on his head, of which the only one he didn't succeed in doing was the balancing act... THAT stunt had thrown him tail first off the stage...
"And, to too it all off, while I was trying to stand on my head, I fell ears over tail off the stage..." Luce sighed as he guided them away from the center of the dance floor, still following the flow o the main group, but with less chance of bumping into other couples.
"Well, now you know of the most embarrassing day of my life... Is all you expected?"
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Miri followed her boss a little ways away from the Countess. He was asking her opinion about wether or not to accept the job offer? Miri sighed as she turned over everything she had seen between the two creatures. And Monty was right, he did have a tendency to not think clearly when it came to the lemming... but for once, Miri found that she had to say;
"I don't know boss," Miri glanced her at Svetlana, trying to read her. "She seems serious about his, and I don't think she has an ulterior motive to this..." Finally, the weasel jill gave up on trying to figure it all out and said;
"How about this, if you accept the job, I'll come along as the skeptical assistant, just in case things begin to go awry." A ghost of a smile touched her lips as she turned to follow him back over to conclude these dealings.
"This way, since I'll be there to bail you out, you won't have to worry if she starts to cloud your judgment... again."
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Post by Ladorak on Dec 31, 2010 17:22:56 GMT -5
Ladorak didn't quite comprehend the tobacco comment...mostly because it was reserved for sailors as they weren't allowed to smoke on board, though the officers could from time to time, with special permission.
She explained how they could never be ready for anything in life, including this type of thing. But then she alluded to a Serra never breaking promises, nor did a Fugate. He wasn't sure what this referred to, as there weren't really any other "Fugates" in the world, he being the only one because he'd given himself the last name, not because his parents had named him so.
As for Serras not breaking their promises, he could say nothing on that one. He wasn't sure, aside from the fact that Molly had...been...or had she? She might have smacked the jacks in the bar because she simply didn't like being touched in public. That...could have been it as well.
He glumly glanced down at the floor, feeling torn now. Blast...perhaps he had acted far too soon. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. But she was leaning on the edge of the bed, and crawling toward him now.
He offered no resistance when she started to lick down his snout, finally managing to push his spectacles off and into his lap. "Um..." but she silenced him by bringing her lips to meet his own. "Mmm...mmmmmm!" he exclaimed, closing his eyes and finally giving in. His paws went up to her cheek, stroking and twirling some of the fur before she finally pulled back.
He was nearly gasping for air, and sucked in grateful gulps with large inhales. "Well..." as much as he hated to admit it...it had convinced him. He broke into a smile now, holding up the ring for her to take, or at least offer her paw so he could slip it on. "I guess it will have to do." he said, nodding in an understanding manner as he grasped his fallen spectacles and rose to standing.
"We'll set a date at a later time...for now...it's enough. It's enough that you've accepted...it's like a great...nervous strain finally coming off my shoulders and exiting my body. Thank you. Though...I suppose we should rejoin the party." He motioned to the door with his head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zephyr's eyes shone with new light as he described what it was he was made to do whilst under the influence of the hypnotist on stage. "Hah! I...I see." she said, holding a paw up to her mouth now to suppress her grin. "That...must have been quite the experience. Yes...it was the story I was looking for. Was it relaxing? Oh!" she said, as if suddenly thinking of something.
"Thank you...by the way, Jal Calone. Thank you for sharing that with me. I find it's nice...that you trust me enough with details like this about your life. I bet that fall must have jarred you awake huh?" she asked, now looking at him like a mother studying a kit that had fallen and skinned its elbow or something.
She wasn't going to mock him for this. He had opened up to her...and that's what she had been trying to get him to do these past few months. Building trust...because of her own past, she had to ensure that he could at least trust her with his stories before she could entrust him with hers. Thus, it was with a small sense of accomplishment that she next listened to what he had to say.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Caden nodded to Elliot as she stuffed the locket away. Good...if she promised that Elle would like it...it must mean something then. "Glad to help, and merry Christmas to you." he stated, unable to control a smile from spreading over his features. He had worked on opening up Elle's and Elliot's presents to him.
They consisted of a small wood carving of the Agamemnon from Elliot, and an embroidered cloth from Elle that pictured a small figure waiting on a pier with the words "Home is where your thoughts lie" stitched onto the cloth. Smiling down at the two gifts, he nodded, and looked up at the "male."
"Well thank you. Both of you. And that leaves...Selvis." he turned to look at the weasel, briefly interrupted by Zheep's screeching that he wanted to play outside. Well...not likely, given that Caden didn't want to ruin his clothes, though it was tempting. He hadn't brought many changes with him, as they were mostly back on the ship.
"I must admit Selvis, you were the most difficult to shop for, as I haven't known you all that long, nor have I gotten to know you well enough that I'd feel confident in picking a present out for you, but all the same, I do hope you like it." the albino bent down, tossed a present wrapped in green paper up into the air before catching it, and then pawing it over to Selvis. "Plus well I uh...am terrible at picking out surprise gifts." he admitted, looking down at the floor before looking back at the weasel. "You won't BELIEVE how lucky I was...as I had this made a few months ago, and it just arrived in the mail the day before."
Inside was a painting of Selvis's house back in Crittenden, as Caden had obtained the address from the long tailed weasel himself, and had commissioned a local artist to travel to the front of the house and paint it. This was back in September, and only now had it arrived. "A little something to remember your home by...or so I hope...since...well you know...returning to your home may be difficult at times." Once again, Ladorak had helped him with this present, paying for most of it, though the ermine hadn't minded. It wasn't overly expensive, as the painting was about the size you'd put on a desk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monty's eyes lit up at this suggestion. "Jis Talian...Jis Talian! What would I do without you!" he exclaimed, realizing it was perfect. She could watch him just in case he almost did lose his head around the lemming, and be his second brain so to speak, in case his first one became clouded.
He snapped his claws, now knowing what it was he wanted from the jill lemming. Taking a piece of paper from his pockets, he quickly scrawled something down...his request for the lemming, as he didn't feel comfortable asking her in such public circumstances. It was a bit on a whim...but Monty was finding himself caught up in this strange evening, and wanting to try and make the most of it.
Nervously dropping the pencil back into his breast pocket, the weasel folded up the paper and kept it in his paw as he returned over to the lemming Countess. "Ahem...Jis Sveltlana...I have returned." he informed her, bowing his head a bit before looking back up. "And...I have decided...to help you." he stated, looking at her straight with barely any emotion on his features.
"I also have written my request for payment...and would like you to...consider it..." he told her with a hint of tension in his voice as he placed the folded paper in her paw, closing her claws around it. "I will help you if you...do me...this favor." he said, shifting a bit as he felt incredibly agitated over this. She could easily overreact to this after all.
He stood there, feeling like a spring that had been coiled way beyond its limit, as he waited for her to read the paper and give him a yea or nay.
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Post by spender on Jan 1, 2011 8:42:51 GMT -5
Molly's eyes sparkled. Her mouth became a perfectly shaped little O. She accepted the ring, but didn't slip it on. She wasn't sure which paw, which claw. There were rules for this ring. It wasn't just any piece of jewelry. It was... the embodiment of the heaviest of promises. She clasped her paws around it, simply keeping it safe until she could work out what to do with it.
"I suppose we should rejoin the party."
"Oh..."
She rolled over again, back onto her back, and let her head drape over the edge of the bed. She frowned up at him, knowing full well that from this angle, it looked like a distorted grin. Which it also was.
"Do we have to? I mean... we're up here now... a shameful waste of energy to have to go aaaaall the way back down... only to come aaaaall the way back up..."
As she playfully drawled, she worked one of her shoes off a footpaw with the point of her other, letting it flop pointedly onto the duvet.
Zheep scowled. He could be more excited! He'd show them all just how excited he could be! By... yes! By eating all these biscuits himself.
The weasel stared down at the plate on his lap as the more logical parts of his brain tried to make the connection. None could be found, however, and so they simply shrugged and gave up as he began shoveling the treats into his maw.
A firm paw gripped his wrist, keeping him from over-stuffing. He glanced up, startled. A kindly old rat stared back. She had grey fur and wore a sapphire dress. There were scarlet bows on her tail.
"Now, now, Reginald... where did you get all these?"
"Daaah, nanner, they're for my friends! My name's Zheep! Don't call me Reggie!"
Ignoring him, the rat turned to the others, smiling.
"I do hope he's not a bother to you lads. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Lady Margrove. Reginald is my charge. If he is being any bother at all, do let me know, and I will take care of him."
She reached over and ruffled Zheep's ears, knocking his pot askew again. He grumbled, setting it back.
"We're gonna play in the snow when they're done with presents, nanner. I gave them my moths."
"Oh, indeed not!" Lady Margrove's smile fell. "You're not well enough for this weather. You must stay inside, keeping warm. Besides..." She broke off, biting her lip. Her tail curled up and brushed Zheep's cheek. "The snow is too deep for your chair, my dear..."
Zheep deflated. His eyes roamed the scattering of gifts between the four friends before him, before landing on the gift Selvis had just unwrapped in Carrow's next post.
"Ooh, a picture. That's a nice horse."
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Post by Carrow on Jan 1, 2011 10:54:34 GMT -5
Selvis definitely approved of the eye-catching way in which Caden pawdled his present, tossing up from where it had been lying on the floor before catching it in quite a confident manner. "Well now, that can certainly change. You can get to know me a little better if you want. I wouldn't mind telling you a little more about myself sometime. I haven't really done that yet with any of you. Not really sure why.
"I will say this, though: from what I know of you, Caden, you're a lot better at picking out gifts than you think, so there's no need to look embarrassed or anything like that. Look how pleased Elliot and Carrow are with what you've given them, Caden, and then try telling me you're 'terrible' at picking out things like that. You have a good eye for them, at least from what I can see. You're far too modest for your own good sometimes, matey," he said softly, holding his gift in one paw while patting Caden's shoulder with another, before adding: "And you've certainly intrigued me about your gift!"
He listened to the pine marten's words, eyebrows rising in curiosity as he heard Caden speak. The longtail was well aware that he probably would never see home again. History had this strange way of repeating itself, and unfortunately the mustelid didn't view the alliance between Welkin and his home country of Ferlusan as something that would hold for too long - and if it broke, and he ever set paw on home soil after that, he would face death by execution.
Unable to help himself, his paws shook a little as he slowly, carefully unwrapped the package, dying to see what was inside. When it was finally revealed to him, Selvis let out an audible gasp, and then grinned from ear to ear. This was an excellent likeness of his homestead back in Crittenden, a rather vivid realisation of it in fact. "What was that you said about you being terrible at choosing gifts? Great seasons, Caden, this is absolutely wonderful! I know I'll treasure it." Then his voice shook a little and he scrubbed the back of a paw across his eyes. "Thank you so much... I just can't help but wonder sometimes if I'll ever see the place again..."
Trelio... Briga... Mum and Dad... I wonder if I'll ever see *you* again either. I don't have any regrets, and I'm sure you don't either - this decision was made with your blessing after all, but I just can't help but think about these kinds of things sometimes... His rather depressing train of thought was interrupted by the arrival of a rat jill, who almost immediately made herself known as a creature quite close to Zheep... or rather, Reginald, as his proper title had been revealed to be.
Stifling a chuckle at the mortifed expression on the weasel Dibbun's face, he smiled down at the rodent newcomer, being a little taller than she was even at his age. "He's not 'bothering' us, marm, not at all. Unexpected company, I have to admit - we weren't expecting to see him here at all in fact - but it's nice to have him here all the same. He's no trouble... Lady Margove did you say? Pleased to meet you, I'm Selvis, and these are my friends: Caden, Carrow and Elliot."
He gestured to his three companions in turn. Carrow immediately felt quite bashful as another fit of nerves overtook him. He looked up at Reginald's guardian (she was a little taller than him), trying to meet her gaze, but finally failing and directing his own down to his footpaws. "He... hello, marm...," he said quietly. Shy as he was, at least it was considerably better now than the last time he had run into an unexpected visitor. On two counts in fact, the first being that this creature didn't claim to know him; and the second that he wasn't ready to faint clean away once again.
Selvis ruffled Reginald's ears too, smiling a little. "*House*, young'un," he corrected good-naturedly. "House, not horse." He shook Lady Margove's paw, noting how kind she seemed, and wondering why exactly Carrow was feeling so nervous around her. He had no need to be, but then again that was the mouse's own business. It was a shame he was like this, but he had been working on such things recently, the weasel knew. Little steps such as those he had been making helped in their own way.
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Sveltlana was slightly startled by the sudden approach of the weasel detective. She seemed to be rapidly unravelling in the face of her predicament. When she turned to face him, the lemming Countess actually looked slightly scared. Her face was pale and her paws were visibly trembling. Everything she had ever known was failing her - but at least Monty was there.
She saw him as a reassuring presence now, for some strange reason which she hadn't quite figured out just yet. She was unsure about things now, something that had never happened to her previously, and more than anything else in the world she needed somebeast to support her, as her rough times seemed to just be getting started now. She didn't know who else to turn to, so she was turning to a weasel she knew didn't fully trust her.
She listened to him speak, eyes brightening with curiosity as he told her he had made a request. She said nothing in response to his words, merely nodding every so often to show him that she was taking everything in. She felt folded paper being placed into her paw, and was unable to keep from smiling as she allowed the detective to close her claws around the object.
He looked quite agitated over something. Was it because of the request he had made? No better way to find out than to see what it was he had asked for, she thought. Unclasping her paw, she unfolded the paper and scanned what was written upon it. She raised her eyebrows, still smiling, before pocketing the paper and giving the weasel a very definitive nod. She didn't need to say anything else.
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Post by Ladorak on Jan 2, 2011 23:18:57 GMT -5
Ladorak sighed. Not out of exasperation, but more out of a playful realization that Molly didn't wish to go anywhere at the moment. Alright...he'd play this game for a bit longer. At least as long as he could distract himself...and with Molly present that could range from a few minutes to a few hours. He needed to see Admiral Hood, but he was sure if not tonight the Admiral would be available tomorrow or the next day or the day after. It was no fur off his back.
He tapped a claw on his chin, and finally opened his spectacles up, pulling them apart so the pince nez could fit on to his snout in a snug manner. It was only when they were off that he noticed how much they could really hurt sometimes. He supposed he had grown used to having them on.
"There...now...then...I suppose we can stay up here for a bit...you can't very well leave with one of your shoes off after all. Here...allow me." he opened her paw to retrieve the ring, and held her left paw in his right. "You really haven't done this before? What about Featherston? It goes on the left paw...this claw." he slid the gold band around the proper claw, pushing it up to meet the paw, and smiled down at it.
"Right size...but then again I already knew that. I had it compressed a bit to fit your claw, as I had prior knowledge of your claw size from other rings I'd bought you. Pity I don't get one, but that's the way of it. It will change colors in different types of light...but I'm sure I explained this to you already, at some point." If he hadn't a few moments ago, he had at some stage in their past, as he'd worn this very ring from time to time to fancy gatherings like this one.
"So how does that look?" the ermine asked, stepping back to let her admire it. It was a deep purple now, being indoors and all, it's natural color. "Now...I've been told that the 'ideal' color change for alexandrite like this is from an emerald green in natural lighting to a deep purple in indoor lighting. And mine does that so...I suppose Ublaz managed to obtain a rare one indeed, as the 'ideals' are rare" he explained.
He paused here, to let her admire it. He wanted to talk to her about having kits...for she had suggested the very thing to him back in October, on the Agamemnon after their first battle. Did she want to have them? Was she capable of having them? How many did she want if the former was yes? He clasped his paws behind his back and remained silent for the moment.
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Caden was interrupted by the arrival of Lady Margrove, the rodent carer of Reginald...was that his real name? The albino too shook his head. "No...it's no problem Jis. Maybe distr...er...it's really OK." he stated, stopping himself from speaking his mind at the last minute.
He glanced over at Carrow, snapping his claws. "Oh...I must have gotten so caught up in giving out presents and receiving them that I completely forgot about your offer. I'm sorry." he said, adopting a more serious face.
"Well...Carrow...provided Ladorak is OK with it, I would admit an excursion to Stratospheros would be fascinating. I hear it's the center of culture these days...or refined culture at least. When would you like to go? We'll probably sail sometime in January, once the repairs are complete...but whenever we have a lot of downtime sure...if you want me to be your second I most certainly could." he responded, giving the mouse a smile now.
He turned to Selvis. "Oh...and as for getting to know you better, Selvis. Yes...I'd say that would be in order." the albino informed his long tail companion matter-of-factly. "I still say I am bad at picking out presents...this is sort of my first time doing it, and I'm sure next time I'll be debating about what to get everyone until I'm blue in the face. I do appreciate you thinking I'm OK at it though." he said, noting that Selvis was clearly touched by the portrait, and smiling in a lopsided manner as he was patted on the shoulder.
"I think that concludes the giftsgiving for now...at least those...physical gifts I'd say." he gave a knowing wink to Carrow, and nodded at the rest of the group. "Glad you liked it Selvis...now you have a reminder of home...even if you can't go back for a bit."
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Monty nearly collapsed from the relief of tension. His spring fortunately was let out slowly, and did not burst or snap. He sighed, giving her a ragged smile, atypical of him. "Thank you Countess." He said, nodding back at her. Concern flooded his features a bit though.
She looked so...haggard...and distraught. She wasn't her normal self. She had looked as if she were on a sinking vessel when he had returned to her, as if she were staring her future right in the eye, and it was telling her she wouldn't live to see another Christmas.
"Is something wrong?" He asked, quirking a brow. "You look of fright...as if something's the matter." he deplored seeing her like this...it wasn't natural. He liked her poised, collected self...even if she was plotting to kill him most of those times. This was a different Sveltlana tonight...something was off.
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