Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Stephen snatched the candy out of her hand with a glower. If only this girl know the extent of how much he hated his appearance "Not a chance. If you pay, all I will get for a meal is a few wood shavings. I will pay for my own food thank you very much." he huffed. He unwrapped the candy and popped in into his mouth with a dissatisfied look. "And you know nothing about me Miss Ravensdale, so I would not be so quick to right me off." he muttered under his breath as he stalked after the girl.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Feb 2, 2014 3:19:13 GMT
"Well that's a little hurtful. Here I am trying to be nice and charitable to some poor unfortunate soul, and all I get are scathing remarks. So cruel." Danny wove her way through the crowd with a grin. "C'mon, c'mon, keep up Scrouge." Danny made sure to avoid going anywhere near Caitlin or the Commander, and instead headed towards a sausage stand. She arrived and grinned up at the owner, who had just finished serving a couple that looked to be in their mid twenties at latest. "Two sausages with a roll each. Some sweet mustard, and two glasses of rhubarb juice please." Danny rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a small coin purse. She counted out just enough to cover the meal, and picked up the two sausages in their rolls. She turned back to look for Stephen. "Hey! Grouchy Pants! C'mere and take one of these!"
Stephen jogged up to the girl. She certainly was fast. He glared at her "I am not some poor unfortunate soul or 'grouchy pants' thank you very much. I am Stephen. You may either call me Stephen or Sir but nothing else.." he eyed the food "What is that..." his frown deepen. This girl was wearing thin on his patients level.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Feb 2, 2014 3:50:52 GMT
"It's dinner, Sourpuss. Here, try it." Danny shoved one of the sausages at Stephen and took a bite out of her own sausage. "You really need to lighten up. Let everything get to you and you'll be sixty by the time you're twenty five." Danny grinned at the boy. "So, tall dark and gloomy, whaddya think?" She took another bite of her sausage as she began wandering through the crowd.
Stephen begrudgingly took a bite. He paused. It actually tasted pretty good. "It is fine, I suppose" he said vaguely, taking another bite. He frowned at the girls smile "Has anyone ever told you that you are too happy? You seem like a child. Maybe that is why you are so small." he quirked an eyebrow at her "I am guessing that you are about.. sixteen or seventeen but you frankly look and act as if you are twelve." he stated matter-of-factly, taking another bite of the food.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Feb 2, 2014 4:27:09 GMT
"Child-like? Really?" Danny dropped her smile, slouched just a little bit, and did her very best to match Stephen's demeanor. "Ah, I'm the son of Sir Charlie. I'm too important to talk to you. If I let you pay, I'll be eating crap." Danny sneered at nobody in particular. "I'm so important... why should I bother talking to anyone?" Danny spun on her heel and began walking backwards, her usual demeanor recovered. "It's a festival! It's a time to celebrate! Why be so dour when you're supposed to be relaxing and having fun?" Danny took another bite of her sausage. "Besides... don't you know you're not supposed to talk about a lady's age?" Danny gave Stephen a quick wink before she spun back around and continued her wandering.
"It's her again," he said, before stopping in his tracks as he came face to face with the Baroness, the red of her dress matching the crimson of his own uniform, as if they had picked out the material together. Folan shot a momentary dirty look towards Tobius, who had come to a stop just behind the Commander. He sincerely hoped this wasn't some plot. Especially after the last conversation with the Barron. He didn't even want to think about what the man had said.
He'd all but struck the idea from his mind, yet now it had resurfaced amist this festival of "hearts" with both of them wearing similarly elaborate outfits of the same color. He wondered if her outfit made her feel as uncomfortable as his did? After all, the outfit he'd previously seen her in seemed to suit her much better, and though she looked lovely wither hair up like that, it seemed more natural in the braid.
Tobius cleared his throat and Skye's face turned almost the same color as his uniform, as he realized that during that whole thought process, minus the glare at Quinn, he'd been standing there staring. Remembering his manners he bowed in a formal military manner, with one hand on the pommel of his gold hilted rapier and the arm other just under his chest with his palm up.
"Baroness, it is lovely to see you again, especially after our little misunderstanding." He returned to his full height, his mind wondering back to the last time he'd seen her, and for the moment he found it was much easier to keep a smile on his face. "You look..." what was the right thing to say now? Beautiful? No, that was too direct and too romantic, even if true. Stunning? Hmm, Even worse. "Lovely," oh god don't say lovely again, he'd already said it was lovely to see her.
"And I am Tobius Quinn," Tobius said after realizing that Skye had no intention of introducing him. "I am the Commander's new Public Relations Manager, on assignment from the office of the Queen." He bowed with the flourish of someone raised in the upper crust of Lodan society.
"And it's such a pleasure having you around Tobius," Skye spoke up, mouthing the words 'not really' to Caitlin as he rolled his eyes slightly.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Feb 2, 2014 5:33:22 GMT
She tilted her head back to look up at him. He hadn't stopped walking till he was intimately close to her. She could have run her fingers through his hair when he bowed without having to extend her arm far from her own chest where she was subconsciously pressing down on her rampant heart. Remembering her manners, still a bit unhappily; she gathered the sides of her dress in both hands and gave a formal courtesy. He told her it was lovely to see her again, but she took it as merely formality and didn't believe him.
"I wish I could say-" she started to mouth off, then remembered her resolution to behave. "we had.. parted on better terms." His eyes danced over her, and his compliment came as a bit of a shock. Again she told herself he was just being polite, and again she remembered she should do the same. It wasn't hard. At first glance the uniform had looked superfluous but up close the detail was simply stunning. "You are looking very dashing Commander, is this a new look for the military? I don't believe I've seen this uniform before."
Caitlin glanced briefly at Tobius Quinn when he cut in, getting a sense of Deja Vu until her eyes lit up with recognition. "Yes of course, you were at the Queen's -beg pardon- the Late Queen's garden party. You were one of the rose-bearers greeting the guest." The commander shared his appreciation for the other man's company and Caitlin caught him mouthing just the opposite from the corner of her eyes. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Tobius simply beamed at being recognized by someone with a proper station and title, and it made Skye want to punch him even more. Still, he kept his attention on Caitlin. There was something there beneath the niceties, raw and unchecked like what he kept locked away under the surface. He was a warrior, not a politician or someone to be paraded around like a fictitious hero. That's what they wanted to make him, after all. A poster boy for the Army. Someone the people could trust and love. It wasn't him. For a boy who'd wanted nothing more than to live an uneventful and easy life, he'd been molded into something else. Now he was being molded again, and he wanted nothing more than to run towards the sound of steel on steel and the sudden crack of gunfire. He wanted to feel that surge of adrenaline and the virile sense of power when you were the last one standing.
So, why stay? In one word, duty. This was his city to protect and that duty would keep him going. "Thank you for the compliment. It is certainly not a new look for the military. Quinn and his staff cooked it up to show that I'm "Embracing social entertainment and approachable by the masses." But it feels more like a costume than a uniform at the moment." He chose to keep on with the brevity that had seemed to garner him a slight smile by attempting to sound exactly like Tobius, complete with air quotes. "Though, if you really do like it, perhaps he wasn't completely wrong." Wait was that flirting? No, she was most likely just being polite.
Before he could contemplate that further, Quinn interjected once more, "Commander, I would urge you not to make light of the changes we are trying to make in your image. At least not in a public forum where others might take offense. Lady Caitlin, I do apologize. We are indeed attempting to change the Commander's image. For instance, jumping out of airships over a public figures house might not be the best thing for the public to hear about. Especially when the person in question has recorded photographs of doing such things during the war. At any rate, perhaps you would be willing to help Baroness. As you appear to be quite unattached at this event, perhaps you would accompany the Commander? It can only help his appeal if he is seen with such a high member of social society. At the moment, our polls show most people consider him a shut in who dislikes the opposite sex."
The veins in Skye's neck were starting to stand out quite a bit as Tobius continued, and he began to wonder what the man's polls would show if he knocked him out in the middle of the crowded square. The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge that they would just send another Quinn, or call him for an audience at the palace to explain himself. He could see the headlines. High Commander removed from office after only a month. Ok, perhaps that wasn't the only thing stopping him. He found himself genuinely interested in Caitlin's response to the little gnome's question.
Definitely better without the inner corset. Ikuze thought to herself as she looked herself over in one of the mirrors. She had decided to mix together the two dresses that she had, the princess costume from Hallow's Eve, and that outfit she got to keep from the casino. She wore the satin blue skirt that had gold coloured trimmings and white lace frills on the bottom from the princess costume that went down to her ankles, her feet were shod in the black cloth five inch knee high boots. She'd been practicing in them since that day so she could at least walk in them much more comfortably. That covered her for the lower half. The upper half of her outfit consisted of the less punishing black corset with white accents from the casino outfit, and the blue sleeves from the princess costume. The thief decided to put up her hair in a high ponytail for tonight rather than its usual braided form, or letting it hang loose like last time she'd worn either outfit.
Of course she still wore her ever-present choker with the knight piece pendant. For this one festival though, she'd decided to leave behind her guitar on Caitlin's flagship in the bunk she had there. It was about the only safe place she could think of leaving it... without it though she felt a little naked even with all the clothes on. She let the artist finish painting around her left eye this love heart before paying them and wandering through the crowd. Admittedly she'd made some... alterations to the princess skirt since Hallow's Eve so that she'd be able to walk easier in it as well, even with the practice of the heels.
Before long she spotted what appeared to be a familiar sheen of blonde hair. "Oh? Oh this I got to see." said Ikuze to herself with a wry grin as she made her way over, blinking at the near match the two of them made. She then saw that she was talking to an especially grumpy looking boy. Hmm... to disturb or not to disturb... oh why not. she thought to herself with a smirk before she went to tap the blonde girl on the shoulder with a smile on her face. "Well, ain't you a sight? You should come out more often instead of letting your twin do all the work." said the blue haired thief with a smile before looking to the boy before them. "So, this your boyfriend?"
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Feb 2, 2014 6:22:06 GMT
She watched him blankly as he explained the story of his uniform in his own words first, but before she could respond Quinn cut in and retold her from his perspective.
Strange, Caitlin didn't realize anyone considered her own reputation still in tact. Her father must have worked very hard to ensure that it was. She actually felt bad for making it so difficult on him. But the mention of jumping out airships during the war left her swimming in memories of her own. One in particular that had more to do with falling out of an airship than jumping. But that had been her own fault, since she planned to take Sir Cohen over the rails with her if it was the last thing she did.
"...most people consider him a shut in who dislikes the opposite sex." Quinn finished his rant and Caitlin had to shake herself out of it and sink back into the present. Her eyes flew to the Commanders, wondering if the accusation was true. As she watched him reign in an obvious displeasure at his companions summary of him, they both seemed to be waiting on her to say something. What was it he had said, besides mentioning that the Commander did not respect or appreciate the fairer sex. Her face flamed with a rising heat and not at all from flattery. She could show him a thing or two about measuring a woman's worth. Of course, that would have to wait, since she hadn't brought her sword with her, and dueling was not in the spirit of the the holiday. She wracked her brain for a reply and spoke tightly through clenched teeth.
"Most people would find they sell the fairer sex short on most accounts, which is quite akin to disliking them. But I digress, as I am parched and desperate for a sip of something sweet."
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Feb 2, 2014 6:37:25 GMT
"Wha-gah-ashklaflabada..." Danny flinched and threw her arms up before she noticed who it was. Danny's expression went from shocked horror to utter loathing in about as much time as it took to blink. "No idea what you're talking about. Twin. Only kiddo." Danny leaned in close to Ikuze. So close, in fact, that the girl would have been able to feel her breath. Quietly she muttered to the girl, "I very strongly discourage you from trying anything like that again. There's a reason I can get away with living in the woods most nights." Danny leaned back and stretched, the grin she had been wearing previously plastered back on her face.
"Oh no, no. This's just Sourpuss, son of Sir Charlie. Apparently he's some new uppity noble who's too important to talk to anyone." Danny took a bite finished her sausage and roll, then took a drink of her rhubarb juice. "He's not all that bad though. Grumpy, but I'm making progress." Danny nodded once.
"I said twin in case he ever saw you as Danny boy. Secret and all remember? Use your head." whispered the thief back to Danny before leaning back herself and smiling. "Ah well, give him time. New ones usually feel they got something to prove. Anyway, love the outfit. I'll see you around Danielle. Tell your brother I said hi, and for him to lighten up." she said with a wink, guessing slightly at what Danny's full name would be before looking at Sourpuss. "Welcome to Lodan sir. Don't worry, you'll get used to it and not be so angsty. Tip for you, wanna get connections? Best bet's Baron Marquel Cockfoster. Get in good with him, and you're pretty much sorted." said the thief before she gave the lordling a curtsey before she wandered back into the crowds seeing who else she could spot amongst the throng.
Screw it, he thought as he turned and decked Tobius. Sometimes drastic actions were required and drat be the consequences. He didn't need everyone to like him, as long as they respected his authority and his ability to do his damned job. It didn't help that the rat had somehow offended Caitlin and gotten her to side with the other idiots who thought he was into guys. He didn't understand why it was so important to him to correct the misunderstanding, but it was, and Tobius was just getting in the way.
"Hold on a second," he said, rushing to catch up with the fleeing Baroness, his cape flapping behind him. "Lets cut the crap, shall we?" he said, switching back to his own personality. He was gruff and uncivilized, and people just needed to accept that. "Most people are not me, and I'd trust you to watch my back just as much as I'd rust any man." Wait, how did he make it about her..."What I mean is, Tobius is an idiot, and anyone who thinks I hate woman can end up on the ground right next to him. I fought and bled next to women who gave more than any man in my unit, and...hell I don't even know why I'm defending myself, but it seems important. To clear that up...and I just knocked out a PR man from the office of the Queen."
He felt a little faint at that, but he couldn't take it back now. What the hell was going on with him, and what was this girl's deal. So far he'd protected her from her father's men, taken a job to track her down for her father, and then there was the incident at his mansion later. Each time he'd done stuff against his better judgement. Was it her, or was it the nagging suspicion that something else was going on. "You mentioned a drink, do you mind if I join you, because I think I might need one if I'm going to lose my job in the morning." He said with a grin, and a hint of truth.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Feb 2, 2014 7:16:30 GMT
Caitlin heard a collective gasp from the crowd behind her and couldn't help but turn to look. The Commander shouted for her to wait up as he jogged away from the still form of Quinn on the ground. Her eyes widened with surprise but by the time he reached her she had her expression back under control and her arms crossed in front of her. For whatever reason, he decided to be blunt with his next few words and she lifted a brow at him in response. Caitlin knew there were very few women within the Queen's Army and if they were it was only because the city could not find a single man who could out-perform them in their specialty. In fact, his predecessor had been a woman, Faye Rose, but Cait already knew that she had been one of the unfortunates to fall during the war. Although Caitlin also respected such women, and had also watch some brave females die in the war beside their male counterparts, she preferred to see things from her own side of the fence - where the thing they were dying for didn't sit nice and cozy in a palace.
"About that," she said when he got to the realization he just decked his PR adviser. "I would recommend telling the queen that Quinn was out of line bringing up the distressful event that occurred at my fathers estate in my presence, and you were simply doing what honor required of you. I'll even back you up with testimony if they come asking." She didn't smile as she said it, but she didn't scowl either. She was battling mixed feelings. She studied him as he grinned and brought back up her thirst. Deciding she no longer wanted to escape to the refreshments stand, she nodded her head to her right, indicating the Luncheon Park. "Maybe you should get some clean air. How about taking me up on the Ferris wheel instead?"
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
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