Roleplay - Byakomyun and Nerezza in a Meeting on New Dolor

Byakomyun welcomes the other caretakers of New Dolor into the meeting hall around a marble table set with chairs. She smiles gratefully at their coming, hoping this will be a fruitful meeting. Her husband, King Veon, stands shaking hands with a few other officers near the doorway.

Passing by her son, she ruffles his hair lovingly. "Rouk, can you make sure we have enough parchment, and an extra map of the Iron Mountains from the navigators? Bartholomew should have one." The boy, no more than 10, seems eager to help and bounds down a hallway. He sports somewhat elf-like ears, but a fluffy white fox tail follows behind him.

Byako sighs as she watches him leave, feeling a little more tired today than normal. But as she turns past the window to head to her seat, a smell catches her nose; sweet and pungent like a rich garden covered in freshly fallen snow. Beautiful, stark white lilies dotted with frost sit in a crystalline vase, catching the sun's rays like starlight. She raises an eyebrow.

Nerezza stays hidden... and silent for the time being.

She smiles at the bouquet, not sure she'd ever seen those flowers growing on Dolor before. Instantly feeling a fondness for them, she commits to asking her patrons later where they found such gorgeous blooms, especially this time of year.

She takes her seat, Rouk taking one nearby as he eagerly returns carrying a few extra maps and parchment. His mom shakes her head. "Sweetie, where's Dr. Bartholomew? That's his seat. He's supposed to be coming too."

"Oh, he said he's on to something big! He-he said I could take his place for today!" His eyes are wide, pleading with a puppy-like expression.

She exhales, trying not to roll her eyes. "Of course he says that. He thinks meetings are much too stuffy..." The little prince continues his pleading, and she gives him a look. "You're such a sweet kit. I'll be honest that this meeting will bore you to tears. You sure you don't want to go play with your brother?"

He wrinkles his nose. "He's bitey!" Byako chuckles, "Well he is teething, sweetie." Rouk pouts, and Veon approaches to take his seat. "The boy can sit in, it's fine. He has to learn how we manage our affairs. He will be doing it himself someday."

She sighs in defeat, and to many happy wiggles from Rouk. Veon gives his son a father's stare, and instantly the prince's eyes widen. He sits bolt upright with as much maturity as he can muster. The king smiles.

Everyone sits and the chattering grows quiet. Around the table are mostly close advisers, a few other cartographers, the mine foreman and the head of the farming guild, and the captain of the guard. There's a mix of concern, distress, and tension among them.

"Welcome," King Veon announces, "we appreciate your joining us here this afternoon. We know things have been growing... difficult this Autumn with the crops. The cold weather and the thin air have caused the grains to grow increasingly thin every passing season. I know brother Williamson here has been doing his utmost best." The farmer, a toned, tall fellow nods to the statement.

 

"We fear doing another season of rationing, when we have already had two." He folds his hands, and several murmurs can be heard.

"So we propose another visit to the surface, such as we accomplished a decade ago, to seek out new and hardier seeds to cross pollinate with. Perhaps even some more livestock that would do well on the southern slopes..."

Noticing that one of the windows was left open for a bit of fresh air, Nerezza decides to have a bit of fun with the court.

He carefully slinks his way through the shadows along the edge of the room and then up the wall, to the chandelier hanging above the table. He gently pushes it, mimicking the wind blowing it.

The miner speaks up in a heavy accent. "That Grammont feller mig' be willin' to go down again, just yammerin' on about wantin' to see what's become o' the place since that Gi'jon demon."

The king shakes his head. "We need able folk who won't go talking of our home. He's got a loose tongue, I'm afraid, ever since he came here with the others." He looks at Byako, knowing she had pity on the poor fellow when they escaped the cataclysm following the leviathan.

She smiles, not minding the eccentric fellow...but understanding he wouldn't be a good fit. Her ears flick subconsciously with the light tinkling of wind through the chandelier. It's a pleasant distraction from the sour air of the meeting.

"All I'm sayin'," the foreman continues, "Is he's... Expendable. We dun'nt have enou' strong 'ands here as it is, after th' sky sickness bit."

Veon bristles a little, trying to keep his cool. "Mr. Wellstone, by all means I understand. However," he gives him a hard glare, and looks around the table at each face in turn. "We need able bodies to go, else our safety, secrecy and longevity here is for all but naught." He straightens in his chair, "And I will be leading the expedition again, to make sure of it."

Awkward and apologetic glances flicker around the table. One of the cartographers raised his hand, a bristly mustached fellow. "I would like to volunteer myself and Westley, my son. He's of age now, and the sickness never touched'a hair on 'is head. He's been helpin' tend the flocks with Rudolf..." he nods to one of the other officials at the table, who smiles and says in return, "Aye, he's a good laddie. He'd be a fine pick, though I'd sorely miss me helper."

Rouk listens with wide eyes, his countenance drooping. He looks over at his mom, who smiles as reassuringly as she can. She whispers, "It's alright, dear. Your father has gone once before. It won't be long before he's back, with lots of new surprises for our home."

Rouk relaxes a bit, slouching slightly in his chair. Nerezza sneaks back down from the rafters and down to the table, behind the chairs. He carefully plucks a single hair from Rouk's tail, giving him a slight pinchy feeling.

The boy suddenly jerks upright from the pinching sensation. Byako doesn't seem to notice, having turned back in to the adult conversation carrying on.

 

The prince grabs his tail and strokes the white fur, wondering if he snagged it in a splinter on the chair.

Nerezza leans against the wall, hidden in the shadows of the dimly lit room, waiting for the opportune moment to make his presence known.

Byakomyun lets out a soft sigh as she watches her husband discuss strategy with the others. Where they will go in the Iron Mountains, some of the tallest on the surface (now near the capital of modern day Elingrad), what they will hunt for and for how long. The cartographers discuss the best timing for when to get back to Dolor, using their ingenious mechanical dragon to ferry back up. The Iron Mountains provide the best cover and weather for such matters, after all.

Always leaving this sort of thing to him, as he commanded many expeditions and armies in his day, she stares at the window for a minute. Her eyes land on the flowers again and she smiles. 'Something will grow here.' she thinks, 'long past our time... It will thrive. With or without us.'

"Whatda mean it'd take a whole blasted season anda 'alf? We gotta get to plantin' wintertime, dunnt we?" The mine forman bristles, bringing Byako's focus back to the table. "My wife'n kid are starvin' at home."

"Dear Cecilia and David will be just fine," she responds with a soothing smile, before Veon or the farmhand can interject a rebuttal. "We have plenty of winter root vegetables that will take with the proper care. Isn't that right?" She looks at those in charge of storage and cultivation. Eager nods follow.

The foreman grumbles. "Nothin' but purple carrots an' them other yams... Bleh." He makes a sour face, but his grumbling is quieter. Her eyes dance with laughter, being able to hear him exceptionally well all the same. "I'll be sure to stop by and teach Cecilia a good recipe or two... You'll be singing their praises this Winter, don't you worry."

"There's plenty of game in your forest and fish in your lake, if you would just have the patience to harvest them..." a voice echoes from the shadows

Byakomyun jumps slightly. But nonetheless, she instantly recognizes the timbre of the voice. She closes her eyes and exhales a chuckle, anticipating the response about to unfold.

Veon--and several other members of the table--jump up from their seats, one or two chairs falling with a clatter. Rouk's tail bristles and he stands up on his seat to see better.

Veon has his hand on his sword hilt, scanning the room. He demands loudly, "Who dares interrupt our meeting? This hall is locked during proceedings! Show yourself!"

Byakomyun stands and steps forward, raising her hand to silence the others--not rudely, but with such serenity and peace as she can muster. A gentle mist floats across the ground like a relaxing vapor.

"It is alright, my king. It seems I merely forgot an extra chair for our guest..." She smiles back at him, teasingly. "He does speak wisdom, though...  we mustn't hunt in any excess."

Veon's eyes narrow, realization dawning. He grumbles, shaking his head in irritation before sitting down. Byako sits and gestures to Rouk to come sit on her lap. "Care to join the party, Lord of Shadow?"

Nerezza opens his eyes, the golden glow revealing his location near the open window. He steps forward and out of the shadows, unfurling his large wings to their full length before wrapping them around himself like a cloak. He smiles at Byako, leaning down and smelling the lilies. He begins slowly pacing back and forth in front of the window.

"It is true, hunting and fishing harvests must be done sparingly, but you are forgetting one resourceful area..." He parts his wings enough for his hands to come through. "The sky. All manner of birds and flying creatures come near you daily..." He begins walking around the table, slowly and methodically. "You used to fish the deep seas with nets. What's stopping you from fishing the skies the same way? Supplement your diet with the birds with whom you share the skies..." he stops next to Byako and Rouk, producing a cracker and offering it to the young boy, a smile on his face as his eyes meet Byako's.

The voices around the table murmur of the stranger, some having known of him by byword or whispers in the court. Veon looks irritated, but intrigued.  "Fair point, Nerezza. There are several great migrations we pass over each year, are there not?" He turns his attention toward the cartographers to discuss, giving their guest a cold shoulder.

Byako smiles back with laughter in her eyes again. Rouk hugs his mom, but seeing there is no further threat, tentatively takes the sugary-looking cracker. After a small bite, his eyes light up with joy and his tail flicks happily.

Nerezza approaches Veon's chair, resting his hands on the back. "If all else fails, my good king, have Byako call me. I can deliver you a Tylisyr from the shadow realm. A great whale like beast. They are quite delicious, if cooked properly..." He looks at Byakomyun and smiles, his eyes emitting a faint golden glow. "And believe me when I tell you, King... your wife knows how to cook it properly..."

Veon puffs up in stature, trying not to let his stoic face falter with Nerezza right behind him. He is torn between irritation and amusement now. "I could believe it."

He glances over at his wife, who's trying not to giggle. His son is still sitting, licking the cracker crumbs from his fingers.

Nerezza notices the King's attempt at holding composure, and decides to push it a bit. He unfolds his wings and begins slowly pulling shadows in from the edges of the room, but only to the chair where the king is sitting. "What, Veon? Did you believe the stories your mother told you about me? Were you a naughty child that she threatened with The Night Stalker coming to steal your soul?" Nerezza whispers in his ear, all while holding out another cracker for Rouk, and looking at Byako with a mischievous grin

Rouk seems concerned, perhaps a little frightened now of this imposing shadowy being. Especially at the mention of The Night Stalker. He fluffs his tail up around him. Byako takes the extended cracker in his stead and munches on it, unperturbed.

Veon rubs his hand over his forehead, his eye twitching. He can sense all of the other eyes around the table are on him, with this shadowy nightmare behind him. Half-jokingly, but still with a great deal of seriousness, he mutters (17 persuasion per Andrew xD), "Cease your child's play, Nerezza. But please join us at the table. We appreciate your... Inventive ideas."

He turns his head with a smirk, whispering back so only Nerezza can hear, "Otherwise I might end up punching you in the face."

Nerezza drops his wings and throws his head back, laughing. "You'd have to catch me first, my good king..." his eyes flash brightly as he takes a half step forward, disappearing into the shadow of the chair and reappearing across the room, smiling broadly. "But yes, I will join you." He again walks over to the open window and leans against the wall, enjoying the cool night air.

Veon smiles at Nerezza with a look that says, 'try me.' He turns back to the business at hand, discussing more of the ideas being tossed around.

 Byako glances at Nerezza, then her eyes dart to the free chair at the table and back again, indicating he is welcome to sit. Rouk tugs at his mom's ear, whispering questions to her that she ignores for the time being.

Nerezza shrugs, stepping into the shadows and again disappearing, this time reappearing near the ceiling and spreading his wings as he slows his fall into the chair, tucking his wings at the last minute and ending his descent with a tightly tucked flip, landing perfectly in the chair. He grins at Rouk, his eyes giving off the faint gold glow once again.

The other members at the table keep glancing over, incredibly distracted, but the kings icy glare pulls their focus back in at once.

Rouk's eyes grow wide, watching the acrobatics and unsure how to respond...still holding on to his mom's ear. She smiles and leans in close to her son, "He's like a court jester, sweetie. He likes to do magic tricks. Fun magic. It's just light and shadows.... nothing that can hurt you." The whole time she keeps her eyes locked with Nerezza's.

Like an 'aha' moment, Rouk's face cracks into a huge smile as he looks back over at Nerezza. He beams at him.

Nerezza returns the smile, offering him another cracker before turning his attention to the conversation going on over the table.

He takes the cracker, happily nibbling away at it. His mom knew he would enjoy the whole idea, as Rouk himself was often a little prankster around the temple and on the farms. Seeing him light up like this was enjoyable; almost like he was meeting an idol.

Veon leans across the table to point to a spot on the map. "I suppose it's settled, then. Long term, we still need this trip. I'll take those mentioned--can't have too many with us, km afraid--and in the meantime, Donaldson can work with the others on the winter harvest. We'll speak with Dr. Derrek regarding migration harvesting..." He glances at Nerezza, "Perhaps something can be rigged below that won't get tangled in the machinery in the caverns. Any other input?"

Nerezza leans forward, watching the king. "Well, you might make some heavy baskets that could be lowered with some of your best archers... use hunting arrows with a lightweight but sturdy cord attached, and try and shoot the birds from the air."

"I could lead the charge on that..." Byako says with a wry smile. Veon looks at her, starting to shake his head in disagreement. She furrows her brow and gives him a look that says 'I feel fine! Really I am.'

 

He waves his hand dismissively. "That is a fair plan. We will have our architects come up with some safe blueprints in the meantime. Thank you, Nerezza." He gives the Shadow Lord an annoyed but grateful smile. It's made for a strange meeting, but a productive one. And he is rather fond of productivity.

Rouk shimmies off his mother's lap, and although only 10, he behaves a bit younger due to his longer-lived lineage. Sitting under the edge of the table, he peers up at Nerezza and inches closer to his cloak-like wings. He reaches up to stroke one to see if it is real, awe in his eyes.

Nerezza, seeing what Rouk is doing, decides to make it a game. As he gets his hand close, Nerezza stretches or shifts in the chair, moving his wings another few inches away from his hand, smiling at Byako each time.

Byako notices Nerezza shifting more, then glances over the edge of the table. She smirks, realizing what is going on. She then turns back to the conversation at hand. She feels a slight melancholy note when her king must leave, like always. But she tries to hold resolute in front of her people.

Rouk bites his tongue, trying harder to grab at a feather.  He just misses another, almost bonking his head on the marble table. Finally he hesitates, withholding his hand and planning his attack better. His tail twitches eagerly as he grabs again.

Rouk smiles mischievously, his canine teeth showing more pronounced. He lunges out, a bit too eagerly perhaps, and latches on with both hands to several feathers at the end of the wing. His tail wags excitedly as soon as he had them.

Nerezza flinches slightly as the feathers pull free, holding a hand out to Byako to let her know he's alright. "Darn, I guess I'm not fast enough." He teases to young boy.

Rouk looks up at Nerezza with a big, goofy grin, holding the feathers like treasure.

Byako chuckles, trying to give her son a scolding look and failing miserably at doing so. "I'm sure it would take more than that to hurt your uncle Nerezza." She glances up at the God of Shadows with a playful glint in her eyes. "But play more gently, okay?"

The boy nods enthusiastically, holding feathers in each hand and flapping them.

Nerezza chuckles, holding up the single hair from Rouk's tail. "I guess we're even, now."

His expression changes from glee, to confusion, then to understanding. He looks even more excited and in awe than ever, believing you can go invisible and play your pranks.

Rouk starts closing his eyes, squeezing the feathers tight, then opening his eyes again to see if he's invisible... wondering if the feathers are what's magic. He pouts, determined to keep trying the remainder of the meeting.

Nerezza smiles at Byakomyun. "Eventually he'll be going on adventures with your husband..." He looks at Rouk, with a serious look. "Listen to your mother. Be careful and do what she tells you. She's done and seen things that make her wiser than you could ever know. Promise me you'll listen..."

Rouk opens his eyes and looks up to face the serious expression. Meeting his idol's golden eyes, he nods. "Yessir." He glances at his mom and then back again. "I will."

Nerezza tousles his hair, turning his attention back to the meeting, trying to pretend to be interested.

Byako smiles appreciatively, relaxing in her chair. Still only half listening, her nose catches the scent of the lilies again from a breeze by the window. She turns her head slightly to look at them, not wanting to seem too distracted from the meeting.

She studies them for a long moment. Then her eyes flick over to look at Nerezza. The faintest smile registers on her face.

She tunes back into the meeting which is starting to adjourn. Veon smiles, shaking hands with several officials and passing over several documents to sign. Byakomyun straightens up and happily signs her name on each, a very scrawling, flowing type of swish to the quill.

Some of the officials, including the salty miner, come over to shake Nerezza's hand as well, rather appreciative of all his insight and wisdom.

Nerezza smiles nervously at the group of people approaching him, but with a quick glance behind him at the shadow at the edge of the room, he knows he could easily escape if it gets too much for him.

He shakes everyone's hands, saying the odd thing here or there when someone comments, and just making small talk.

Finally as everyone funnels out of the room, he lets out a heavy sigh. "I don't know how you hold these things monthly... just one was enough to make me want to shadowstep away!"

Veon smiles with a little smugness. "Just need strong leadership skills and a fair constitution for diplomacy my friend." He picks up the remaining documents and begins to strut toward the hall.

Byakomyun shoots her husband a exasperated look like, 'Really?' Shaking her head as he leaves.  Rouk hops up and hovers nearby, wondering what might happen next.

She turns to Nerezza apologetically. "The meetings certainly help the people feel more connected, and gives a voice to everyone. Sometimes people just want to be heard, and reassured." She smiles playfully. "But I'll admit there have been times I'd wished for skills like yours to escape the longer ones..."

Nerezza nods with a grin. "That last one was quite the long one... all the cartographer could do was go on and on about how the island had drifted half a degree off course..."

Her expression changes to one of surprise, then she throws her head back in laughter. "You were here for that?! Where Bartholomew fell asleep on his arm and dipped his nose right in his inkpot?" She grins. "Why you sneak..."

She walks past him toward the open window, enjoying the cool breeze. Continuing playfully she adds, "Definitely could have used some acrobatics and showmanship that day to wake everyone up."

Nerezza smiles, scooping up Rouk and throwing him across the room towards the window, darting into his shadow and stepping out of Byako's, catching him with a laugh. "Quite..." his eyes glow.

Rouk yelps in surprise at the speed and strength with which he's thrown, almost not sure what happened. But as Nerezza catches him again he giggles excitedly, his eyes bright and full of joy.

 

Byako just laughs again, watching the antics. "You're rather good with kids, oh great 'Night Stalker'..." She leans against the window sill with a smirk.

Nerezza just grins. "Well, when you've been around as long as I have you learn a thing or two just from watching some of history's better parents..."

Her expression turns genuine. "You'll make a fantastic father someday. Once you find the right one for you..."

She glances at the flowers nearby, rustling in the breeze and still covered in frost. "Thank you for the lilies, by the way... They're beautiful... I assume they were your doing?" Her eyes dance.

Nerezza looks at the flowers, attempting to feign surprise at them.

She pulls one bloom from the vase and smells it, her ears lowering in relaxed happiness. "The fragrance reminds me of my homeland... Of a time long, long ago." She chuckles. "Well, long for me... I'm sure most people are just infants in your eyes, aren't they?"

He ponders the question for a moment, looking out the window. "Not infants, but just young... and ignorant, usually... not always, though."

He looks again at the flowers, smiling. "I thought you might like them... the only place they grow is on some of the highest peaks of the frozen North..."

She places the lily gently back in the vase with its fellows, admiring them. "Quite a difficult and kingly gift to fetch for a poor old fox... Thank you... very much so." Byakomyun quiets, looking out the window again at the countryside.

Rouk wriggles a bit, looking up at Nerezza. He gives him a big hug.

Nerezza hugs him back, setting him down and patting him on the back.

"Nothing is too difficult for my friends." He states with that look of determination and vigor he used to wear all the time.

Byakomyun kneels to give her son a hug and he rushes over instantly. She embraces him and nuzzles him fondly with her nose. "Why don't you go check on your brother? I'm sure he'd love being tickled by your new feathers." She winks at him.

Rouk, mischief in his eyes, springs down the hallway. His mother stands and gestures to Nerezza to follow her, leading him to a pair of comfortable chairs; one well lit and one in the partial shade of the setting sun.

Nerezza smiles. "You always seem to know how to have a room set so there's a spot perfect for me..."

"I always try... But perhaps shadows just make room for you wherever you go." Byako chuckles as she sits, not minding if he does or not. She rubs her eyes tiredly.

"Not to be a sour apple, but..." She looks up at her friend imploringly and with great sincerity. "I know I am not always going to be here... I never accepted that immortal call to Celestia. Among reasons including remaining mortal with my husband." She pauses. "Might I ask a favor...? If it is not much trouble..."

A strange look lies deep in her eyes, a far-off, quiet well of emotion. "Could you please keep an eye on Rouk and Kanrayu? Perhaps check in on them from time to time?"

Nerezza sits across the arms of the chair, draping his arm across the back of his chair and his legs over one arm. "But of course, Byakomyun... I must ask that you delay that inevitable day as long as you can, though..."

She sighs in relief. "I hope to my friend, don't worry. I think my tiredness will be a lingering one, but I'm sure I have another few hundred years left in me." She grins as best she can. "I just worry too much sometimes, that's all."

She's quiet for some time, contemplative. It takes a while for her to find her words again, and she continues very gently. "I've hoped my decision hasn't been... Painful to you or the others. I tried to make the best choice I could. Time is like a great river... All things flow from one end to another. Perhaps from the mountains... Perhaps to the sea... But reborn again in the rain of a spring storm, or the first soft snowfall of winter."

"My strength was not enough  alone... Not for many things." She shakes her head. "I've  perished before defending others..." She gives a little smirk. "I feel for the enemies of your shadows... Not a pleasant way to go."

Byakomyun gazes out the window again. "I had a second chance. I grew stronger. But I never considered myself wise enough... or foolish enough, perhaps... To take that title of a diety." She looks back at you with sorrowful eyes. "If I couldn't help save more of the retched world after that cataclysm by the power of my own hands... How could I hope to be a righteous enough god that others could look up to?"

Tears threaten to fall. "I hope you can forgive me."

"I understand time more than most the flow of time... and as to your choice to not join the Gods in immorality, I don't blame you one bit. I... I envy mortals, at times...."

She nods empathetically. "I... I feared some of that, I'll admit. At least what my mind could comprehend... Living on, forever. Seeing what poor Terra comes to... An eternity until some time when another great power comes to take the lives of the gods."

She looks over at the great temple of Dragonicos, to the forest treetops and the snow-speckled mountains. "I carved out my own Eden here, in a way. Perhaps I'm a coward, and perhaps I'm not. But mortality is... Sweet. It makes you appreciate time much more objectively. I feared throwing away that gift..."

"You have a great power, though." She smiles genuinely at Nerezza, blinking away her tears. "You carry the traits of a true god. Wise and righteous, regardless of your fearsomeness. Even in immortality, your hand in shaping the lives of those around you. It ripples through the cosmos. Great things will forever continue to come from you."

 

Nerezza bows his head. "Thank you for your kind words, dear Byakomyun... I have lived an eternity long before becoming the God of shadows, and time does truly become an enemy. I've watched people I care about pass... I've watched cities I enjoyed crumble... i have watched as a great many things I have liked, loved, and wanted to stay, have left this world, leaving me behind... but, in that immortality, I have found something else. A blessing in disguise, one might say. I can always find more things to enjoy, and as you mentioned, I can help shape the world for ages and eons to come."

Byakomyun considers your words, letting them sink in. She always knew you were an ancient being, something at least beyond what her fathoming of time could understand. She looks at you with even more reverence than usual. "Your bottomless wisdom is... quite a treasure for me to be humbled by, my friend." She bows her head in respect. "I hope time will continue to shower you with new and bountiful joys."

Nerezza sits forward in his chair. "Time will do what time wants... and so will I." He smiles mischievously.

She smirks. "You always have, and always will I suspect."

"Quite... even when everyone was trying to stop me." He interlocks his hands and rests them on his knee, still smiling

She leans back in her own chair, relaxing. "So how many more of my meetings, secret or otherwise, has Nerezza been silently privy to?"

He leans his head back into the shadow, eyes glinting gold in the low light. "More than a few.... I think my favorite was when your husband fell asleep and drooled on himself while the farmer gave the speech about the differences between the types of seeds he was able to cultivate."

Byako chuckles. "I'm just surprised you've been willing to sit through so many dull meetings with us, and not nod off yourself. Albeit you sit in the shadows..." She narrows her eyes, studying him teasingly. "Why do you bother to attend them?" She asks honestly and curiously.

"It started out as merely wanting to see how long I could watch without getting caught by either you or Veon, but I became vested in the town... I actually started caring about what happened here." He grins from the shadows. "Where do you think some of your court's more bizarre suggestions came from? I would write them down and slip them into someone's bag or bundle."

Rather amused--and touched--by that answer, she inclines her head. "I can think of several that seemed particularly... obscure, now that you mention it."

"Like you've said before, you've seen many kingdoms and rulers in your life..." she tilts her head, her ears twitching. "I greatly appreciate the little suggestions.... I'm still new to this royalty thing."

She shakes her head. "Not a position I felt I'd ever see myself in. They practically begged us to do so, after everything... I just see them as equals really. But... I know people like someone to look to as a rock, an anchor in a stormy sea." Her brow furrows. "I'm not sure I'm a good fit as one, but I try my best every day."

"Keep slipping us advice... Please." She chuckles again.

"I think I can do that..." He pulls a familiar bottle out of his pocket and shakes it. "My advice right now? Share an old friend's drink with a different old friend."

Her smile transitions into one of sincere appreciation. With a deep ache in her heart, she nods her head. "I would be honored to."