“Say Princess!” The camera man held up bunny ears above his lens as the flash exploded, even the daylight not quenching its brightness. In front of the camera a group of a little over a dozen stood close together, their own bunny ear fingers out as they smiled brightly for the camera. At the center of this gaggle was one young Trinity Avondale, Princess of her namesake. Around her were the fighter pilots of the 203rd Combat Fighter Squadron assigned the Fighter Group South-East. Trinity giggled at the photographers prompt, her bright smile enough to make the flight jockeys all jockey with each other to get closer to her.
Trinity’s popularity had skyrocketed since the incidents of a few months ago. People from all across Ackesia wanted to see her, hear her, or be her. Even on the republican military base (a place she trepidatiously visited due to her encounter at the palace with the army) she was an idol. Airmen came out of the woodwork to get a signed photo of her, take pictures with her, and lay eyes on the beauty of the east. One such airman after receiving a signature on a photo of Trinity from a few years back, praised loudly to Beo as he held it in the air and hugged it. Of course behind him his senior NCO gave him a quick thwack on the head, an encounter the girl would not soon forget, laughing about it even now.
Taking it all in stride Trinity enjoyed the light hearted visit to the air base, it was on special invitation of the commander to commemorate her 20th Birthday. It was a bit belated, but Trinity did not feel much like celebrating when her home was under siege by Ackerman’s men.
Most importantly she was anxious to receive her birthday present from the squadron, a ride up into the skies in an Ackesian Air Force F-14E Accipiter. Behind her the sound of dozens of young pilots who pushed and shoved to be close to her, and the whine of the engines that sent a chill down her spine. The girl was eager for some adventure to try and alleviate some of the dark in her life.
“Milady are you ready to go up?” The commander of the squadron held a helmet and mask in his arms as he stood before the Princess. Trinity already wore her custom squadron flight suit, one that they even embroidered with her name and rank of Princess.
“Yes sir!” Trinity stood up straight and eager.
Several of the young pilots lunged forward, standing swiftly at attention before their commander.
“Sir my pre-flights are checked out, I am all ready to take her up.” One said smartly, his chest puffed out.
“Negative poltergeist passenger, I am ready sir.” The next disputed.
“Sir I have flown the most combat missions here, it should be me.” A third came between the two others.
Soon the whole of the contingent was rambling about how it should be them to take Trinity high into the sky alone. The Princess giggled, not really bothered or embarrassed by their eagerness, just amused by the whole thing.
“At ease!” The commander finally yelled, the masses silent as they await to hear who would be the officer to take the darling of Ackesia in the air.
“Milady, We are very happy to have you here to give you this honor.” The older man smiled down at Trinity, she thought his expression much like that of her fathers.
“But these fools I have here… children playing with toys.” He glanced at his men, their heads hung low as they knew they pushed it too far.
“That is milady, compared to the pilot you brought with you.”
Trinity looked perplexed at the commander, wondering why he had such low confidence in Ackesia’s finest aviators and who was the pilot she brought with her.
“Captain Reqyn here…” the commander shook his head and smiled. “...I served with him in years past and you won't find a better pilot than that crazy bastard. All that time in Group getting crossed trained on different weapons platforms and I would have done anything to steal him for my squadron.”
Julian froze, having previously coordinated Trinity’s security element he heard his name faintly before he understood what was going on. A chill ran up his spine, and as he and Trinity’s eyes met he could tell she was flustered as well.
The Princess coughed suddenly, her stomach fluttering at the commander’s words as a rosey red donned on ber cheeks.
“You know Reqyn, why don’t you take her up?” He tossed a spare helmet to Julian.
“Perhaps milady would be more comfortable with the captain flying you than one of these goons?” The commander asked obliviously.
They had not spoken in weeks. Ever since their extra judicious encounter in Trinity’s office the two had not said a word to each other. It was not for lack of amazement or wonder the experience brought to the Princess, instead the experienced and tested public speaker lost all words and expression whenever she saw him. She wanted desperately to speak to him, to feel the way she felt with him once more, yet something stopped her, a gap in her throat.
Julian on his part wanted to reach out to her too. But her sudden silence pushed him to the thought that she regretted their encounter, thus he stuck to the promise he made her from afar. This was despite how often their duties intersected.
In the distance a snorting laugh briefly escaped Petra as she watched near the limo. Both handmaidens have watched this play out since the day Trinity collapsed crying into his arms. Both extremely bold girls amused how childish the princess could be, even though Julian and Trinity’s relationship and feelings were unorthodox and tangled with unhealthy impediments.
“Milady?” The commander still didn’t know what was going on.
“Oh… uh yes. Yes the captain would be… great.” Trinity looked to Julian, exchanging one of their signature wayward stares into each other's eyes.
Julian took a deep breath.
“Sir its uh… been awhile.” He shrugged, trying to make an excuse so the Princess didn’t have to be with him. He did not think she wanted to be, and wanted to spare her of that.
“Nonsense!” The clueless commander waved his hand. “No one else here had taken out three boogeys in one sortie like you did in the war.” Several eyebrows from the envious pilots were raised. “And in a beat up old rig too I might add.” The commander doted on Julian to the real pilots.
“Those were desperate times.” Julian tried to deflect.
Trinity wondered just how much she still didn’t know about him, his many talents often coming as a surprise.
“I don’t mind if you are… up to it Captain.” She had a timidness to her, a fragile expression painting her face as her eyes consumed Julian once more.
“See indulge your boss! Maybe you’ll get a promotion!” The commander cackled as he motioned for a few of the other pilots to get him a flight suit.
Relenting, Julian turned to get ready, behind him Anya and Petra smiling as bright as can be.
“Ugh… just don’t today.” He shook his head as he walked past them.
After a few moments of suiting up and pre-flight checks, Trinity and Julian boarded their F-14E on the tarmac of the air base. Up front Julian ran through a systems check as The small girl in a baggy green flight suit climbed up the ladder with some assistance before heaving herself into the second seat.
“Aight Captain she is all yours.” The commander referenced both the bird and the plane Julian was about to fly with. “Go easy on her eh?” The ladder was soon retracted and canopy closed.
There were no words exchanged between the two for the longest time. Trinity too timid as she stared at the back of Julian’s helmet and Julian too concerned with bothering her. It was a strange relationship they had, and understanding how to handle each other had not quite developed. But there was a definite trust between them, a trust to be expected with the promises they made each other. Trinity despite not eluding it, felt more comfortable with Julian in front of her than any pilot in all of Ackesia.
“Alright, flight control this is violet wun, permission to taxi to runway five for immediate cross vector lift.” Julain spoke into the mic as they began to lurch forward in the mighty bird.
“Are you ready for this Princess?” He grabbed the handle bar on the canopy as they taxied.
That was the first words he had said directly to her since… that day. She felt a lump in her throat as he peered back at her, taking a deep breath which Julian assumed was nerves. But for Trinity the only thing she feared right now was him, whenever she saw him, locked eyes with him, there was both life and death…
Finding her nerves she leaned forward, coming as close to him as the seat belt would allow her, the closet she had been to him since.
“Uh huh, I am ready. Despite what the good commander says don’t go easy on me.” There was a confident and reckless tone to her voice. Julian knew the young girl was seeking a thrill to distract herself from her pains. It's a stage everyone goes through.
“So you sure are a man of many talents Captain…” Julian could see her green eyes staring at him in the mirror. “What other dangerous hobbies do you have?”
Julian twerked his head, wanting to say “fooling around with princesses was the most dangerous thing he has done yet” but didn’t have the guts to do it. Instead he decided to go with the vague answer.
“Well milady when you do what I have done for a living then you do whatever you need to survive.” He flipped a few switches to get the engines hot as they reached the runway.
Trinity grimaced, Julian seemed content to remain a mystery to her.
“Didn’t I tell you that day to just call me Trinity?” Her tone more sultry, Julian even more confused about how the Princess felt about him.
“Uh… well ya, you know they can hear your mic right…. milady?” Julian looked at the girl who clearly didn't realize ATC, squadron, and god knows who else could listen in on their comms.
Trinity’s face turned red, her body sinking back so small into her seat.
There was that stone cold face she had been giving him again, Julain sighed as the two of them took one step forward and two steps back.
“Alright… this is Violet wun, pulling out.” Julian hit the throttle on their F-14E, turning the nozzles of the thrust vector fans up and throwing the plane forward. If the princess didn’t want it easy, then he had no issue giving it to her hard.
Pulling back the plane sprinted down the runway, and once they gained some air, the nimble fighter jet pulled backwards and shot straight up, Trinity grabbing on tightly as she “woohoo’ed” her way into the sky. It was the first time he had seen Trinity smile that brightly and freely, her excitement and joy in that moment something he would never forget as her eyes widened with the increase of G-forces.
Distracted by the beautiful girl, and the internal promises he made himself about her, he entirely forgot to level out. His passenger soon slumped back in her sleep as the blood rushed to her head.
“Ah shit…” he brought them down a notch, coming level with the clouds over Ackesia. For a brief moment he saw her sleeping there in her seat, soft cheek picking up the rays of sun as they flew together.
Julian knew he was going to hell, how could he look at himself knowing he was forsaking the memory of Chiyo with the connection he made with this girl?
Soon Trinity came too, her woohoo’ing and exclamations of amazement unending as Julian took her on a trip through the clouds.
—-
Palace of Avondale-
“And so I want to thank you all, for coming here to my home this weekend. I hope we can all build memories together and enjoy the best of what the Principality of Avondale, and Ackesia has to offer…”
Julian watched her effortlessly orate her way through the opening of the reception kicking off the weekend long celebration of her belated birthday. The blood looked to have returned to her cheeks some since their flight together yesterday, his eyes wandering around her as he stood near the door supervising security that evening.
The reception was an intimate affair, held in one of the smaller dining rooms meant to only seat 50 guests. Here Princess Trinity thanked those that attended, monarchs from foreign lands, diplomatic representatives, businessnessmen. She held a flute to her special guests from Produzland, Pathaonopia, Lunderfrau and Meronnia, giving them her brightest diplomatic smile.
Yet Julian knew from seeing her high in the sky that was not her real smile. The strong and diplomatic woman standing up before the crowd of her guests tonight in an elegant blue dress and done up blonde hair was a far cry from her true self smiling in the clouds with him. If only he could live that moment over again…
“Please enjoy yourselves during your stay, my home is your home.” Trinity nodded to her staff who began to bring out drinks and the courses of tonight's meal. She sat down in the middle of the table, noblemen and women from Parthonopia, Produzland, Lunderfrau, and Meronnia all around her.
This was one unpleasant affair that Julian would not be able to save her from, his eyes drifting to the pretty-boy princes eying her with hunger.
Friday Evening: Arrival and Reception Dinner
Saturday AM: Tour and Free Time Around Avondale
Saturday Afternoon: Charity event at Orphanage
Saturday Evening: Ball, dinner, fireworks
Sunday AM: Farewell brunch
OOC
The idea here is your parties have all already arrived, the reception is going on. Feel free to make posts (long or short) of folks talking or doing things. We will move to the next event in one RL week.
Feel free too to break away from the single reception as well. Things can happen outside of these events as well (some probably should)