To court a prince (closed)

[Warhaven]

"I can't particularly blame you. It's not everyday you encounter this kind of situation."

The Emperor played on, making up a tune as he went.

"Well, I guess that takes care of two of the introductions from tonight. Pardon, I mean five of the introductions. Although, I guess it could be construed as Eight. I mean, the Aquamarinians DO have a Hive Mind after all. I'm sure by now the whole damn hive has at least a sense of who you are.

Don't touch green ones by the way, their poisonous. A giant once stepped on John and died in under three nano-seconds. Try not to cozy up to Lucy either. Pink Aquamarinians exist solely for the purpose of breeding. They don't care with who, or what either.

I guess that'll leave The Masters, and Bahamut. As well as anyone I might've forgotten offhand.

That means we'll have nothing to do but be as irresponsible as we possibly can and party until the wee hours of the morning so that we can get as little sleep as possible and be cruel and grumpy tomorrow. Since that's the case I best think of what I'm going to yell at somebody for tomorrow, as well as who." Tajen said.

"Nah, I'll just have to work on seducing Cara instead, probably fall asleep about midnight." he said a moment later.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Thanks for the Warning about the Greens and The Pinks" Carol said gratefully "Hopefully that'll go towards the Pile of information I'll use to avoid making a fool of myself this evening Anything Else I should Know?"

[Warhaven]

"We ballroom dance, in the classic style. Anything else, just follow the prince's lead. Oh, look at the time, we only have an hour to get ready. Allow me to help you back to your room." Tajen said.

Everything went dark, and Carol would get the sensations of flight, freefall, and getting vaporized all in the same instant, then light would return and she'd be in her room without any sign of harm.

[The Floor Kippers]

Carol Rubbed her Eyes and Looked around to See she was back in her room
"And to think that CVE Travel was strange" She said "Now It almost Seems like walking to the shops, Well I'd Best start Getting ready"
She Began to Change into her New Dress and Shoes, Idly Wondering What Her Father would say If he could see her now

[Warhaven]

After Carol had finished getting ready...

A knock on the door sounded, and Lara came in the room.

"It's time."

....

Carol was directed through the main front doors. The grand ballroom was laid with black marble tile, the pillars with gold and silver. All eyes were upon Carol.

"And thus brings me to the end of my speech, and the introduction of Ms. Carol Miller." Tajen was saying.

Pondera waited in the middle of a large empty circle, wearing a formal tuxedo.

"Come to me."

The words resounded in her mind, as Pondera held out his hand.

A hidden orchestra struck up a waltz.

OOC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz7JREul ... re=related

The waltz

[The Floor Kippers]

Carol Took Pondera's Hand and danced with him, Ignoring the fact that everyone else was probably staring at them.
Once she Had Forgotten that fact She began to Enormously Enjoy herself

[Warhaven]

Pondera danced with utmost grace and skill, leading her masterfully. His was a style that many thought flowed like a river.

After the first song, they were given a round of applause, then general dancing began.

"I heard you already met my parents, and the royals. I hope you weren't overwhelmed, they can be a bit, much, at times. Ahh, here comes someone important." Pondera said.

The creature approaching them looked like a dragon in stuffed into human form. He had four sets of wings wrapped around his body, and no hair, but a great snout filled with razor sharp teeth.

"Allow me to introduce Lord Bahamut, king of the Celestial Dragons. His name and title is both his real name, and ceremonial. Any Celestial Dragon who attains his rank loses their old name and assumes the name Bahamut. Unless their female. Then their named Tiamet. But we can go into Celestial Dragon biology another day.

Lord Bahamut, Lady Carol." Pondera said.

"A pleasure, milady." the creature said with a nod of his head.

"They live in space, and usually rival starships in size and power." Pondera said.

"I pray you'll forgive my early exit, but my kind has never been comfortable in an atmosphere, especially since in our natural forms such conditions would crush us to death." Bahamut said.

"Oh, not a problem." Pondera said.

The creature nodded to Carol once more, and then left.

"Anyway, there's a buffet off to the side, the masters are milling about, or we could go into another dance. It's your choice." Pondera said.

[The Floor Kippers]

Carol Enjoyed the Dance Wholeheartedly

"No I wasn't THAT Overwhelmed," She Said "Well Yes I was, But only when Your Father Told Me His and Your Mother's Background"

She Looked Lord Bahamut and Thought About What He Might Make of the Dragons and Draco Sapiens Back home

"Lord Bahamut" Carol Said inclining her head in response "It is An Honor"

At Pondera's Comment about Celestial Dragon's Rivaling starships in size and power, She Thought of the Legendary Rage of Spiridon

"Well, I'd Like another Dance" Carol Replied

[Warhaven]

"And away we go." Pondera said moving seamlessly from just standing there to more dancing, whirling Carol along as though the entire pause had been but a single dance step.

Exquisit women of all descriptions came near and left, but his eyes never strayed from Carol's, as though she were the only woman in existence, and he the only man lucky enough for the privledge of her company.

[The Floor Kippers]

Carol Was Enjoying dancing More than She ever Had in her Life
"Where did you Learn to Dance this well?" She Asked, looking into his eyes

[Warhaven]

"Three sources, the first being my own mother, the next being Mistress Kalia, and the third being Master Xos. Of course, it was Kalia and Xos who taught my mother."

[The Floor Kippers]

"You Are the First and therefore Only Person Who hasn't Stood on my feet while Dancing" Carol said "And I Say I've Got quite Big Feet, So that's some Achievement. They Taught You well"

[Warhaven]

"Well, they are a few million years old, I suppose it's only natural they'd perfect one or two things in their time. Besides, as they've said, physical size is irrelevant. Thank you for the compliment though, your the first woman that wasn't one of my instructors to actually keep pace with me."

[The Floor Kippers]

"Thank you For the Compliment" Carol said "This Is Actually The Best Dance I've had In ages, Hardly anyone I've Met wants to do the Proper dances"

[Warhaven]

"Not everyone is willing to enjoy something that takes skill and practice to be good at, wanting instant gratification. We've staved off, or at least redirected such an attitude here in The Bureaucracy, simply by my parents and I being a bit more public about our personal lives.

They were imitated at first, and then competed with, and as I've grown, it's simply become a fact of life, instant gratification isn't always gratifying."

[The Floor Kippers]

"Exactly" Caron Nodded "The Best Kind of Gratification is Earned Gratification, Its Like Eating a Homemade Meal"

[Warhaven]

Pondera merely smiled, and let her have the last word on the subject.

He lead them off to the side.

"My sincerest apologies, but, I'll be right back. Too much tea earlier." he said, and dashed off to the restrooms.

Carol was by herself.

A woman with hair as dark as midnight, white as the driven snow eyed Carol directly in the eyes. They held no love, no joy, no positive emotion of any kind. All they held was the desire to kill, and to consume all that she came into contact with.

As she approached Carol, her black dress slithered on the floor behind her, people hurrying to get out of her way with frightened looks.

"So, your her, are you? Interesting, we will be having tea of course, in a few days. I'll get to know you better then. But it's rather useless, I'll probably cancel, so don't look forward to it." the woman hissed.

Her voice was raspy, and chilling to the core. An almost oppressive silence hung in the air around her despite the carousing of the crowd.

"I have some friends who would be delighted to meet you. They enjoy meeting monsters of every breeding stock. But I'll spare them the unpleasantries of your company, it's only by bloodline relation that I'm forced to endure it."

She turned to walk away, but paused.

"If you hurt my grandson, or cheat on him, or break his heart, then I'll hunt you down and you won't live to tell anyone about it." the woman said, before she simply dissintegrated on the spot.

The Emperor did say Carol would be tested in her courage.

About that same time, Pondera returned.

"I think before she arrives, I should warn you about my Grandmother on my father's side. Jiralyn, The Dark Priestess, the reason the word bitch was coined. Though I hate saying that about my only grandmother." Pondera said.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Too Late" Carol said With A raised eyebrow "The "coinage" has Just Had a Lovely Little chat with me, Oh Yes, She Skimmed over the Issue Of My Lineage and Species But frankly I've Heard it all before. Do I actually Have to Have Tea with her? My First thought Is to cancel it before she can."

[Warhaven]

"Too Late" Carol said With A raised eyebrow "The coinage has Just Had a Lovely Little chat with me, Oh Yes, She Skimmed over the Issue Of My Lineage and Species But frankly I've Heard it all before. Do I actually Have to Have Tea with her? My First thought Is to cancel it before she can."

"No, frankly I avoid her as much as I can. I'm surprised she made it here honestly. It's illegal for her to enter the city. Her specifically. There are an entire section of laws on her. She eats people. Literally, eats them. It's why we keep her away. Before we targeted her specifically with laws, she'd use her skills to skirt around the law and kill people to eat them. She's not human you know. She was actually in disguise.

Don't worry, no tea with her.

Let's move on to something more pleasant. You probably won't see her again.

Allow me to introduce Ray Ignintantus and Chris Morganson. Together their known as The Jesters."

A man leaped out of a burning torch. He wore a suit that looked like it was still on fire. He had red hair and burnished white skin.

At the same time, a nearby fountain activated, and squirted out a man in a blue suit that looked like the watery depths. It had to be a special suit, because a fish randomly swam across his chest. He had blond hair and blue eyes, like the prince, but that was the only similarity.

"A pleasure milady."

"Always a joy to meet a lovely woman."

They spoke simultaineously, and appeared to have smiles permanently etched on their faces.

A crowd spontaineously gathered, apparently they were well known.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Ah Fantastic, The Entertainment of another culture" Carol said enthusiastically, Putting Pondera's Grandmother to the back of her mind "This should be Interesting. A Pleasure to Meet you, Mr Ignintantus and you too Mr Morganson." She Curtsied as she said this

[Warhaven]

"Not only that, but we're actually two of the Twelve Masters of Warhaven. Don't tell anyone though, they might actually expect us to do something impressive." Ray, the red haired one said.

"I know, we told our wives once, and they expected us to actually keep house with them. Housework, the horror!" Chris, the blond haired one said.

"Shh, not so loud, they might hear. You know Kado can hear a whisper from a mile away through a hurricane and a full orchestra playing playing Beethoven's fifth symphony." Ray said worriedly.

"I know, just imagine what the people would do if they found out. We might have to act like wise old know-it-alls and sit around giving sagely advice and training youngsters." Chris said.

"Isn't that what do you do now?" Pondera asked.

"No, we stand around giving timeless advice and teaching youngsters." Chris said, adopting an expression of mock outrage.

"Their two entirely different things, can't you tell? Besides, since when have we acted wise?" Ray asked, his expression almost identical to Chris's.

[The Floor Kippers]

Carol Giggled at the dialogue between the two of them

[Warhaven]

"We noticed you encountered a moment of irony earlier." Ray said.

"Oh yes, but we understand you may not understand. So let s help you understand." Chris said.

Ray caused an illusion of Jiralyn to appear, as Carol had just encountered her. Then the illusion morphed into a terrifying monster with five heads, scales, and a spider's body. She still had a woman's torso, but it had six arms.

"A moment of irony." Ray said.

"But enough of unpleasant people. We have to return to our wives, or they might get jealous." Chris said.

"We'll talk again, when the time is right." Ray said.

"But your going to be busy tomorrow with the Aquamarinians. Oh so very busy. Their IQ tests are not to be taken lightly. Ray failed five times." Chris said.

"At least I'm not the one who got registered as a highly intelligent ape." Ray said.

Both went off.

"Their right though. The Aquamarinians have planned to test your IQ for tomorrow. It's a simple affair, they connect you to the Hive Mind briefly, then disconnect after sending a test download to your mind. You won't lose anything in the entire process." Pondera said.

[The Floor Kippers]

"We noticed you encountered a moment of irony earlier." Ray said.

"Oh yes, but we understand you may not understand. So let s help you understand." Chris said.

Ray caused an illusion of Jiralyn to appear, as Carol had just encountered her. Then the illusion morphed into a terrifying monster with five heads, scales, and a spider's body. She still had a woman's torso, but it had six arms.

"A moment of irony." Ray said.

"But enough of unpleasant people. We have to return to our wives, or they might get jealous." Chris said.

"We'll talk again, when the time is right." Ray said.

"But your going to be busy tomorrow with the Aquamarinians. Oh so very busy. Their IQ tests are not to be taken lightly. Ray failed five times." Chris said.

"At least I'm not the one who got registered as a highly intelligent ape." Ray said.

Both went off.

"Their right though. The Aquamarinians have planned to test your IQ for tomorrow. It's a simple affair, they connect you to the Hive Mind briefly, then disconnect after sending a test download to your mind. You won't lose anything in the entire process." Pondera said.

"Will They Be Able to See Into my mind?" Carol Asked again Putting the Image of Pondera's Grandmother to the Back of her mind "Will My thought Be shared to the Hive?"

[Warhaven]

"Surface thoughts are, yes, those you are conciously thinking. However, they won't invade your mind and read your subconcious, or your memories or knowledge. It's like what we're doing now, except entirely in the mind. However, it won't be broadcast to the entire Hive. Only the royals will know what's on your mind. The rest of the Hive will only know you've connected." Pondera said.