"Nice. Got it. I think I might be able to manage that." Celeste's smile was lopsided and just a tad mischievous, which might have been slightly worrying if it wasn't such a charming look on her. Not to mention, a rare one, at that. "Let's worry about my lack of sophistication later. Shall we?"
Sue nodded. "Alright. Fine." She said softly, fidgeting with her dress skirt again. "Where do you be wantin' to go, then?"
"Anywhere we can." Celeste said, her eyes lighting up a bit more. "Let's start…" She trailed off, spinning in a circle and choosing a random direction as she came to a stop, pointing. "This way!"
Sue nodded. "Alright." She said softly, and waited for Celeste to start walking, then followed her.
"So, as long as it's not too invasive, I'm curious." Celeste started, after a minute or so of comfortable silence and walking. "Where did you grow up? Was it around here?"
"Yes…my mother was a servant too, so I grew up in this area, and near the palace." Sue said softly.
"Is there anything about your childhood you're willing to tell me? It doesn't have to be big, just a fond memory even. I'll trade you one of my own, if you'd like." Celeste offered, looking over at the girl.
She shrugged. "There isn't much to tell." She said softly. "Really. I spent my childhood by my mothers side, learning everything I could from her. I went to school for a while."
She furrowed her brows, tilting her head as she thought. "Alright then. If you could go back to school, would you? Like, if there were no other circumstances that would hinder you going."
Sue shrugged. "I be a bit old to, now." She replied. "If'n i could, maybe, but…I can read and write, and do math, and isn't that about all you need to know to get by?"
"Well, yeah, for getting by." Celeste said, turning her gaze up to the sky. The corner of her mouth turned up in a slightly wistful half smile, as she kept speaking. "But learning is fun. And there's so much out there to learn."
Sue shrugged. "For those what can afford it, maybe. But every minute I was in school was money down th' drain. Ain't no one got any use for an educated servant girl." She shrugged slightly, looking down at her feet.
Celeste hummed thoughtfully, almost looking like an idea was taking form in her mind. She didn't voice whatever it was, though, when she spoke again. "You should read, then. When you're with me, I mean. I won't mind, while I take a bath, or while I'm futzing with a spell. I've got plenty of books you can read, and it would be an easy and productive method of learning. Of course, you don't have to." She added quickly, looking back down from the sky. "It's just an offer, if you're interested."
Sue shrugged, looking down at her toes. "That would be… lovely, miss Celeste." She said softly. "Thank you."
Celeste blinked, before smiling brightly. "You don't have to thank me. Learning has been one of the few things I've ever had control over, and it's important that other people get the opportunity to learn, too. My books are your books."
((Do we want to skip on ahead? To the whole showing-Celeste-off-like-a-pumpkin thing? Oooor, we could just skip to some trouble while they're out))
Sue nodded. "Okay." She said quietly, smoothing out her skirts absently.
(Alright! Uhm up to you, tho I'd like to be able to use Soren again soon XD)
(not trying to be rude, please don't be offended, but….bump.
Also starting on Wednesday evening (for me), and ending really late Friday, I have something going on, so I most likely won't answer during that time. Sorry!)
((I'm sorry! You've never rped with me before, so you don't know, and I probably should have told you, but I tend to disappear every other Sunday or so. Those are family days for me, so I'm not online often. Entirely my bad, don't worry.))
((In rp related news, I figured you would, and that was kinda why I suggested a skip. Let's just go straight to the introduction-thing then?))
((oh it's fine! I just wanted to make sure you hadn't forgotten or something :) no worries!))
((Alright sounds good! Would you like to do the timeskip, or would you prefer me to?))
((While I do have the memory of a goldfish, don't worry, I wouldn't forget this. I love the premise and all of the characters involved so far that aren't absolutely worthy of being thrown from a parapet. coughthedukeandLincough. Could you start us off this time?))
(alright! :) Lol same. Yup I can!)
Sue had led Celeste back to the palace in time, and helped outfit her in something nice.
There was a knock on the door, and Sue opened it. It was the captain of the guard. Captain Mikhail. "I'm here to escort miss Celeste Sovanna to the King." He said. He had his helmet off, revealing that he too was quite young to hold this position, maybe 21 or 22.
Sue nodded, blushing slightly and gesturing to Celeste. "Go with the captain. He'll take care of you." She said softly, fidgeting with her skirts.
It had been a bit of work, altering the only skirt she'd packed-it had been in the bottom of her bag already, by complete accident-and admittedly, it had taken a little bit of magic to complete in time. Celeste was relieved they had managed it, especially when the captain of the guard arrived as she was attempting to put on her left boot. It was a nicer pair than the ones she'd arrived in. And by nicer, she of course meant less dirt.
"Two seconds!" She called, finally getting the boot on and lacing it before standing from the bed. The skirt, which had originally pooled around her feet when she walked, had been cut and unevenly hemmed on purpose, leaving her with a nicer look, but still one that matched her usual 'aesthetic' as she called it. The dark blue of the long sleeved v-neck she'd scrounged up added a pop of color that matched the skirt it was tucked into, and covered up her scars while still looking nice, instead of 'prudish'. Add that to a list of bad words.
Celeste glanced at Sue, her brows furrowing slightly as though she was thinking, before she smiled at the girl. Was that a wink? Probably. "Wish me luck?" She asked, stepping towards the door as Pluto rose from where he'd been napping on the bed, hopping down to lick Sue's hand before following Celeste.
Sue smiled slightly. "Of course. Good luck." She said, watching them go.
The captain offered her his arm. "I will be escorting you to the King, who will be presenting you and King Lin to the court." He explained, leading her down the hallway. He had brown hair that was cut short along the sides, and intelligent grey eyes. "As we walk, however, i have a few questions for you."
Celeste studied the captain for a moment, before accepting the arm and letting him lead her. Though her instinct was to be wary, especially around a man with a sword, Sue hadn't seemed worried. And she trusted the girl. "Should have worn orange." She mumbled to herself, referencing the earlier pumpkin comment, despite the fact that Mikhail would have no clue what she was talking about. When she spoke again, it was with a clearer voice and a friendly smile. "Ask away, then."
"Please answer honestly. If you don't, and it is discovered later, the punishment will be far worse." The captain said. "Do you intend harm, of any sort, towards my king or my country?" He asked, grey eyes flickering over to study her. His steps were measured and even as he led her through the palace.
Celeste looked up at the captain, blinking once. "You lead with a question I wouldn't even have to lie about. I do not intend to harm your country, or your king. You can rest assured that that is the furthest thing from what I am trying to do." She promised, shaking her head slightly as she looked forward once more.
"Hm. You've made about half my other questions worthless, then." Captain Mikhail said with a soft laugh. "Why are you here, then? And what are you planning on doing?"
"I-I don't know if I can tell you. But-" Celeste added, before he could speak. "I can tell you that I'm just here to find something." Lin hadn't said to keep it a secret, but it was implied that she shouldn't tell anyone that might then decide to get in their way. That's why she'd been willing to tell Sue. Maybe he could be of some help, though… "I'm looking for a stone."
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "There are thousands of "stones", throughout the castle. Most used in the palace construction. You'll have to be a bit more specific." He said, looking at her. "So please clarify." His job was to keep King Soren safe, and then everyone else in the palace. But Soren would always be his priority.
Soren was waiting for them to arrive. He had changed into more formal attire, the crown still on his head, his hair combed back.
Celeste furrowed her brows as she looked off to the side, unaffected by his look. "I can't…remember much about it." Her memory wasn't the best, but she almost always managed to remember what things looked like. All she had though, was a vague memory of the stone. "It was a sort of milky and pale lilac, like the color of the clouds as dusk descends on a summer day. Like…my hair, I guess. That's the closest I've ever come to finding a matching color. That's a bit ironic, now that I think about it."