Who wants to go home?

[paradisamods]

[It's been a long and busy past few days, and the giraffes of Terre Haute can sense the uneasiness among the weary travelers. Though some may not quite grasp why, others have a better sense of what's going on.

The three most vocal giraffes approach the group, who seems eager to depart. It seems they have a parting gift for the group, as well as a rather generous offer.]


[RAFFLE'S GIFT | BARRY'S OFFER | RAFFY'S SEND OFF | THE RIDE HOME]

Comments

[ensorceler]

[ Anne doesn't know who she's riding with yet, but something else needs to be in order! ]

Someone had best use the journal to alert those at the castle that we will be returning before the day is done, so that everyone's loved ones will be able to eagerly await with open arms.

[wishmadeinfire]

An excellent idea. Our own powers may not work out here, but at least those seem to - the one absolute certainty.

_{[ Castle bias? You bet. ]}

[panicswitched]

[ ashley's just going to stand here for a moment. okay so on the one hand, she's not yet sure what to make of anne. on the other, james likes her and that's usually a good thing in ashley's book. tesla not withstanding here because tesla.

after a few minutes of debating, she finally approaches. ]

That's a good idea. Nice of you to think of it.

[ ... lamest start ever, but she's trying! ]

[ensorceler]

[ She just nods in response to Ashley. Sorry, not making this easy... ]

[panicswitched]

[ wow, james sure knows how to pick 'em. ]

You'd have to be if James likes you so much. Name's Ashley, by the way.

[ensorceler]

Does he like me? Ought I to be flattered...?

[ She raises an eyebrow, then holds out her hand. No, not to shake hands. ]

Mistress Ashley, it is good to know you right and proper. You are a warrior?

[panicswitched]

He's usually a really good judge of character. [ more or less. at least she's assuming he likes her since he called her "your majesty."

okay so she's going to be a little weird about the hand because she's never actually had to do that. give her a minute to connect-- royalty. right. hooray history lessons?

well, if anne thinks she's a warrior, may as well act like one, right? ashley takes the hand kind of awkwardly and sort of dips. it's a half-bow, half clumsy thing that could be a curtsy if she'd ever had to do that before. at least she's trying. ]

Something like that. [ ignoring the name thing. maybe it's something in her world. ] I do the whole protection thing.

[ensorceler]

Really.

[ She looks amused as she pulls her hand away, seeming satisfied enough with the attempt. ]

I know another woman who wields guns like that and protects. This seems to be rather commonplace.

[panicswitched]

[ phew. dodged that one. ]

Yeah? Who is it?

[ might be her mom, which would be amusing if both james and helen got along with her. ]

[ensorceler]

[ Anne's smile tightens a bit as she watches Ashley, but she says nothing at first. It's rude to ask questions like that without being invited, despite her own initiation.

People here don't know things like that. She can't be surprised. ]

My knight.

[panicswitched]

[ wouldn't be the first time she's been called rude, either. ]

That's cool. [ apparently a name is too much to ask. all right, then. ]

My mom's the same. Wields a gun and likes to protect.

[ensorceler]

You...learned from her, then?

[ Anne glances around. ]

Is she among this charge?

[panicswitched]

Yep. [ she seems proud of that fact, proud to be her mother's daughter. ] Nah, she's back at the castle. Helen Magnus. If you like James, you might like her, too.

[ensorceler]

[ She never said she likes James... She scarcely knows him, really. But he shows her more respect than most people in Paradisa, so she feels reluctant to be so dismissive of it, whether or not he considers her his queen. ]

Then I would meet her, upon our return. Will you be at the masquerade?

[panicswitched]

[ ashley's assuming, since they seem to get along so well. ]

You'll probably have more than enough chances to. [ pause. ] Dunno. Parties aren't really my thing, but I guess I could. Guess you're going?

[ensorceler]

[ Poor Ashley might not survive among court politics, then. Everyone appears to be getting along! Except when they don't.

She chuckles. ]

It is my event, of course I will be present.

[panicswitched]

[ definitely not. she'd dart out of there as fast as she could. she's not a politician at all. wears her heart on her sleeve. makes her very easy to manipulate, though. ]

I guess I'll see you if I go.

[ don't take it personally, anne. she's just not a party girl. but yeah, she's not really sure what else to say. at least she hasn't completely stuck her foot in her mouth yet. ]