| Logs |
2000-09-10
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
The Queen's Masquerade Birthday Ball
Matthew comes by early on the morning of the Queen's Birthday to conduct the St. Genevieves to the festivities. "You won't be expected to present any gifts, of course, since you're not landed vassals. You'll be seated with the guests of honor near the Queen."
Carroll nods and murrs, "Thank you, Matthew. After the official presentations I do hope there will be an informal moment where I may present the Queen with a small gift."
The fox you're looking at, Carroll Waynewright St. Genevieve,
seems completely at ease in the uniform that denotes him Captain of a
ship. His vest, a rich scarlet velvet trimmed in gold and embroidered
with the family crest, covers a yellow undertunic. He wears a pair
of rust-colored breeches, which reveal through their dags and slashes
soft yellow hose. Completing the outfit is a feathered, rust velvet,
rolled hat, which he wears with style and casual elegance. His russet fur
seems to glow with life, the white under his muzzle and the flash at the
end of his full tail standing out against the red-brown of his jacket
and breeches, which blend well with his own fur. He wears a brooch at
his breast of sparkling gold and a few tiny diamonds, the pentacle and
sword both the family's crest and note of his station. Gold cufflinks
and watch-chain gleam subtly from his sleeves and vest, while his rapier
hangs at his side.
Matthew nods. "Her Majesty will be the last to enter, and when she is seated the guests will sit as well. The nobles will bring their gift tokens up in order of precedence, and then the embassies will do their presentations as well. It's really a bit dull if you've seen it before, but it's one of those things that we have to deal with once a year." He grins then. "That will be after the official ceremony, Captain. There will be some time between the formal presentations and the party tonight, and I think you're pencilled in for one of the slots."
Carroll nods and murrs, "Thank you, Matthew. Having not seen the spectacle before, I fully expect to enjoy it."
Matthew taps the side of his head. "I'm forgetting... the invitation to the party this evening is for the three of you and any guests you may wish to bring."
Alex grins quietly... she's very much looking forward to the dancing at the party that night! Then she glances curiously at her brothers, wondering if they have anyone they wish to bring... she certainly doesn't.
You see an emerald-eyed young vixen with fiery scarlet fur,
proud carriage, and a quietly thoughtful demeanor. She wears with calm
assurance high leather boots and dagged rust-colored breeches gathered
at the knee. There are hints of soft yellow hosen showing through the
multiple decorative dags and slashes, and an antique gold undertunic
glows similarly from within the wide, full sleeves of her gold-buttoned
and -embroidered, dashingly scarlet, rich velvet vest. About her neck
depends the gold crescent and tree medallion, on a green-and-green
ribbon, which signifies she is a Knight and Royal Companion of the
Queen of Maidstone. She wears her full feathered, rust velvet, rolled
hat at an angle to free one golden-ringed ear, and her obviously-worn,
practical heavy rapier depends from the same sturdy leather belt she's
tucked her gloves into.
Carroll murrs, "Hmmm. We'll have to think about that. Off the top of my head, I think most everyone I know in Maidstone who would enjoy such a party will already be there."
Horatio nods quietly at the mention of guests. I wonder... I mean, I would like to see if Jessie does want to go there. But what if she doesn't want to go...?
A bit shy of five and a half feet tall, Horatio is the shortest
of the St. Genevieve sons, and the youngest. He has some noble fox
features to him, though they certainly appear muted and subdued. He wears
the uniform of his family; a pair of russet breeches tucked into a pair
of high leather boots which are folded down at his knees. Close across
his chest is an elegant scarlet vest, finely embroidered and buttoned in
gold, but not expensively so. Beneath the vest he wears a pale yellow
undertunic, also modestly embroidered but still fitting for a noble's
son. Perched snugly and evenly atop his head is a rolled, russet velvet
hat, and across his chest is the dull leathern strap to his ever-present
satchel, though interestingly his sword is not present.
Matthew leads the way to the carriage and continues his orientation talk on the ride to the palace. "You'll be entering the Great Hall from the side with the other guests of honor. I'll put you next to Captain Winthrop, in fact, so you'll have someone to talk to."
Carroll smiles, murring, "Thank you, Matthew, that is very thoughtful. It will be a pleasure to see the Baroness-Captain again."
Alex looks around curiously, watching the passers-by The streets are festively decorated with green bunting, and the citizens are already turning things into a rather noisy celebration. Some side streets are completely blocked off for dancing and drinking, and the taverns are doing a land-office business. In spite of this, the carriage gets through to the palace with no major problems.
Matthew conducts the siblings through side passages to a room near the Great Hall, where he turns them over to a stuffy badger who notes their names and leads them over to stand with Captain Winthrop and a few other furrs. "We'll be going into the hall in a quarter hour, milords, milady. If you need to (ahem) attend to anything, the room is just down that way." He bustles off to see to another group of arrivals.
Alex covers a grin, then turns and bows politely and smiles to the coati captain, "Pleasure to see you again, captain Winthrop!"
Carroll nods and smiles to the badger, before turning to the coatimundi and murring, "Good morning, Baroness-Captain. It is always nice to see a familiar face."
Horatio smiles and nods politely to the captain. "It's good to see you again, Captain..."
Winthrop smiles in turn. "Welcome back to Maidstone." She introduces the siblings to her companions -- a stout peccary who wears the same uniform she does, but with a double-crescent medallion on a green and white ribbon, and a slim weasel-femme in a civilian gown. "Her Majesty has a tradition of inviting everyone who has gained recognition in the previous year to be a Guest of Honor at her Birthday ceremony."
Carroll smiles and introduces his family to the Captain's companions. Alex bows gracefully to the navy captain and the lady. Horatio bows politely as Carroll introduces him. The little group chats for a few minutes, trading stories and explanations. The peccary also distinguished himself in an anti-piracy action, while the weasel turns out to be a healer who was honored for discovering an effective method for preventing the deterioration of stored water on long sea voyages. Soon it is time to enter the Great Hall for the ceremony, announced by a trumpet fanfare.
Grand Ballroom
The Great Hall of the palace is a long
room paneled with the finest woods and furnished with the finest fabrics
and craftsmanship. It is crowded today, the formal presentations by the
kingdom's nobility and leading citizens for the Queen's Birthday bringing
dozens of important furrs to the capital from outlying areas. The
diplomatic corps is also out in force, with the representatives of
the other League cities and Maidstone's trading partners present to
pay their respects as well. Security is maintained by a guard detail
of twenty armsmen, ten on each side of the Hall, in formal uniforms
with the green-on-green of the House of Dunbarton. The queen's personal
bodyguard, a cold-eyed white tigress, stands behind her throughout the
ceremony.
Carroll goes to where Matthew had explained they should go, with the other guests, and watches the ceremony, curiously. Alex sticks properly to Carroll's left, pacing along quietly next to him -- but still looking around with great interest and curiosity. Horatio follows along quietly behind Carroll, looking about with interest but some worry. While he doesn't really expect another assassination attempt now, he wouldn't want to run into one again.
When the two dozen or so guests of honor are in place, the trumpets change tune and begin the Royal March. Queen Arianna enters, dressed in a truly elaborate court outfit that leaves her barely able to move, apparently. She paces slowly to her throne and takes her seat, timing things so that she sits just as the music ends. "Be at ease, my friends, citizens and guests of our fair realm." Everyone in the room sits, with the exception of the guards along the walls and Ludmilla, of course.
Queen Arianna is perhaps not overly pretty, but her features
have a regal strength to them, and her eyes are penetrating. The queen is
a completely dark-phase fox, her fur black as midnight, and is shorter
than she seems, her 160 cm. somehow larger than life with the force of
a dynamic personality. She is dressed in full formality today, sitting
stiffly on her throne with her green-booted feet resting on a rough,
rusty-black basalt boulder. Her undergown is white silk, while her gown is
the bright jade green of her house colors, embroidered with gold thread
and seed pearls. An unadorned tabard in dark forest green completes her
clothing, while a heavy gold chain supports a medallion with the double
crescent moons of House Dunbarton. The State Crown she wears is a heavy
construction of gold, rubies, and dark green satin which matches her
tabard. The State Sword she holds in her lap, in interesting contrast,
is a simple antique gladius with a nicked steel blade and a wire-wound
hilt.
Alex sits, neatly tucking her tail under her. She's faintly amazed... poor Arianna! what an extravagant -- and frightening -- outfit! She whispers softly to Carroll, during the rustling as folks seat themselves, "What does the boulder signify, Carroll?"
Carroll quickly murrs to Alex, very low, "Tradition says that's the original throne the first king was acclaimed upon, while seated on it."
Alex blinks, her eyes widening as she studies it... then she flashes a quick smile up at her brother and whispers, "Thanks!"
The seneschal, Baroness Morgana (Matthew's mother), rises and approaches the throne and bows low. "An it please thee, your Majesty, thy subjects wish to honor you on this day." The queen responds, in an obviously scripted ceremonial wording, "They do me more honor than any monarch could expect. Let them come forward, milady." This appears to be the signal for the gathered nobility to rise and bring small gifts to the Queen, one by one. First is Duke Vortalon, who bows and presents the queen with a lump of native copper.
Alex watches in fascination, wondering if these gifts are the taxes... if so that must be quite the pricey lump of copper. She grins -- symbolism is just so neat to watch! She'll have to ask Carroll about the sword too, later. Carroll watches the ceremony. He thinks, 'Ah, a royal paperweight,' and succeeds at not smirking at his internal flippancy. He looks quietly about the room, keeping an ear towards the ceremony.
Duke Redtail is next, with a chunk of firewood and what appears to be a small container of turpentine. Arianna accepts them with a warm smile, and Redtail returns to his seat with a bemused look on his face. White Haven is third, carrying a small basket of nails. Alex glances at the other high nobility, wondering if Redtail kno- ah, guess not, from the bemused look. She grins, watching the huge elk... then frowns slightly, glancing towards the affectedly dressed puma. She wonders idly, watching Westmark and his daughter, what it must be like to be considered nothing more than an undesired sidekick... she feels sorry for the daughter.
When the Dukes of the Realm are finished with their gifts, the next rank of the nobility approaches. Viscount Westmark is third in this group, preceded by an elderly deer and an equally elderly squirrel whose gifts are grain and apples, respectively. Westmark's gift is a bolt of cloth. Things continue in this vein long past the time when it would have been interesting, with odd little knick-knacks and product samples piling up around the throne.
Horatio watches the procession with more interest than would perhaps be expected. With Westmark's gift it is confirmed to him what he thought: this is effectively a catalog of what all the fiefs in Maidstone produce. Carroll pays attention to names, ages, and what each House brings the Queen, trying to remember them all as they go walking by. A better way to pick up the local nobility he couldn't ask for, and he appears to be perfectly alert and politely focused.
Alex is by this time avidly people watching, for lack of anything more interesting to do. She covers her yawns discreetly, and wonders amusedly just how poor Arianna handles it! The gallery is a riot of color, each noble in his house colors and the ambassadors in the traditional dress of their own realms... Alex has a great deal to watch when she gets bored with the procession of gifts. Alex gets fascinated after a while, amusing herself by trying to guess where each differently garbed group is from, and what each noble house produces... and, although she'd never admit it, curiously watching the gentlemen and wondering who would be fun to dance with.
The line finally comes to an end, Baroness Morgana announcing the youngest of the landed barons, a shy-looking skunk-femme who gives the queen a small basket of mushrooms. "Your Majesty, thy fellow monarchs also wish to honor thee on this occasion. How say you? Will you speak with their representatives?" The queen nods. "There is naught that would give me greater pleasure than the respect of my peers, milady. Let them also approach."
Carroll looks pleased; once again he will be able to put names and countries and faces together. Hardly a better opportunity could be presented to him, and he takes it happily. He quietly wonders who the new ambassador for Starfall is, and expects he'll find out in a little while.
The Karadan Empire is given pride of place, being one of Maidstone's largest trade partners. Monsignor Jean-Claude Duvalier, the ambassador from the Empire, is a rabbit with medium-brown fur and elaborately ringletted headfur. He is dressed formally, in his case in white breeches with brown boots, a cloth-of-gold waistcoat with paisley embroidery and a wine-red sash, and a wide-brimmed floppy hat. He comes up to the throne, almost sauntering in a languid sort of way, and doffs his hat to bow. "Your Majesty."
Arianna smiles back at him, although the smile seems to stop at her eyes. "Ambassador. We are honored by the Emperor's good wishes."
Alex raises a thoughtful eyebrow, wondering if that vaguely distracted way of walking is an Empire affectation... she'd consider it insulting except that she's seen Westmark do that too -- and everyone she's talked to says he's always excruciatingly polite. Carroll doesn't miss the Ambassador's approach, or the Queen's response to him.
The rabbit is soon replaced by the ambassador from Costa Yermo, Don Carlos Chavez y Altamira, a coyote dressed in an elaborately frogged, dark brown, short vest and breeches, knee length riding boots, and a ruffled white shirt with a string tie. His bow is, if possible, even more florid than Duvalier's. "La reina Arianna. Thees one ees overwhelmed by your beauty, and ees deestraught that you are not yet my queen. Weel you not reconseeder?"
Alex blinks startledly! -then hastily covers her mouth so she doesn't giggle! Carroll smiles at the chevalier and watches for the Queen's reply.
The queen looks a little cross and a little amused at the same time. "I have been reconsidering, Don Carlos. But this is an important decision for my realm as well as for myself, and there is still time. It would help Prince Iago's suit if he would press it in person, you realize."
Alex smiles, wondering if the queen really wants this person's prince hanging about and making the same florid bows and 'distraught' public proclamations! Carroll suddenly understands, and nods quietly to himself.
The coyote shrugs, an eloquent gesture. "I have said thees myself, your makhesty. But weeth hees father's health, he does not weesh to leave hees people now."
Horatio listens intently; it takes him a moment to realize that Don Carlos is inquiring after a marriage proposal made to Arianna by his own monarch. He shakes his head quietly, agreeing with the queen's words: The fellow really should come himself, especially on her birthday. Why, if it was Jessie... He blinks at that and returns his attention back to the proceedings.
Juan Alvarez, the ambassador from Hamasura, is a stocky, brown-furred capybara wearing a white linen tunic, plaid kilt, and sandals. He is followed by several ambassadors from the minor realms of southern Normarka and Boveya. Alex watches the capybara with interest -- she's never seen one before!
Msana Rishala, the Hasheeran ambassador, is a stocky caribou whose antlers are in velvet phase at the moment. She is dressed in the standard summer clothing of her nation, a short tunic with garishly splotched colors -- hers actually seems to include an eye-watering flowered pattern -- medium blue trousers, and black boots, liberally embellished with jewelry. Her bow is a bit perfunctory. "Your Majesty. The Council has asked me to give you this in honor of your birthday." What she hands the queen is a finely wrought necklace in gold and emerald.
Alex blinks a bit startledly at the shirt, then grins. Horatio blinks, getting the feeling that the shirt is reaching out to his eyes and twisting them around in his sockets. He blinks. A lot.
The representatives of the other cities of the League seem to rate as slightly lower than ambassadors, presumably because they are fellow members of the same government, but they too get their turn eventually. Carroll's curiosity is satisfied, though probably startled, when he sees that Starfall's acting ambassador is apparently the former military attaché. Commander van der Berg looks a bit nervous with the ambassador's silver sash over his military dress uniform, but delivers his birthday greetings without bobbling them. Alex grins encouragingly at the bobcat -- she'll have to be sure to tell him he looks quite dashing!
The ceremony finally draws to an end, and the queen stands and leaves to another playing of the Royal March. The honored guests follow her out, leaving the other guests and participants to find their way out by the main doors. Carroll stands and collects his family and moves outside, making quiet small talk with the Baroness-Captain. Alex whews softly to herself... and wonders, as she stands on Carroll's cue, if she's got time for a quick bit of acrobatics exercise before the party! Be nice to stretch out a bit, after all that sitting. Horatio walks out quietly with his siblings, thinking quietly to himself about the ceremony. There wasn't much to it, certainly not for them, but the offering of gifts to Arianna was certainly interesting.
Alex waits until there's a quiet moment and the siblings aren't surrounded by others, then interestedly taps Carroll's arm. Carroll looks to Alex and asks her, "Did you enjoy the ceremony?"
Alex grins amusedly and rolls her eyes at her brother, then murmurs softly to him, "Hey Carroll! That pretty necklace the caribou gave the queen was magical. Would it be rude to ask her what it does?"
Carroll raises his eyebrows and murrs, "Magical? It might be a bit rude to ask her what it does, but it might also be prudent to ask her staff if they know that it's enchanted."
Matthew comes by a few minutes later. "Ah, there you are, Captain. The queen will have a little free time in a moment, she sent me to find you. If you'll come with me?"
Alex grins encouragingly at Carroll, patting his arm lightly, and whispers, "Don't forget to ask for me, please, if you can?"
Carroll smiles and murrs, "I would be pleased to, Matthew." He pauses only to make sure a page will be bringing the gifts that the family has arranged, and to assure his sister he will try.
Matthew nods. "Yes, we'll pick up your package on the way." A few minutes later, he knocks at a door after leading Carroll on a somewhat confusing trip through the palace corridors.
Alex waves, "Have fun!" then turns to Horatio, trying to stifle giggles.
Horatio smiles quietly to Alex. "Do you think he'll have fun giving his gift to the queen?"
Alex laughs softly, her eyes dancing mischievously, "Sure hope so!" She glances around, making sure she's not overheard before she murmurs to Horatio, "At least Carroll has the decency to come to her birthday party -- not send someone else to talk for him!"
Horatio shakes his head. "Well, I know enough that the Don's-" He looks around quickly, then drops his voice. "Enough that the Don's words are a thin veneer over a purely political marriage. Or at least a mostly political one. It'll certainly bode ill for Don Carlos' prince."
Alex nods quietly to Horatio, "I don't envy her having to make a decision like that."
Horatio grins slightly. "If it'll help Carroll's ease any, I would say her answer is going to be a rather firm 'no.' Especially after today."
Alex chuckles, then murmurs softly, "I'm guessing he's more fun than any old don anyways!"
Horatio says, "Well, most likely. I'm sure Queen Arianna would prefer a more... sociable relationship than one based on politics. Still, it's in her best interest to draw out the possibility of the marriage to the don's prince as long as possible."
Carroll does his best to keep track of where they are in the palace, but doesn't let it bother him if he does get lost. He is smiling and seems genuinely pleased to be seeing the Queen, not apprehensive or nervous as some might be. Ludmilla opens the door. "Yes? Oh, yes. Come in, Baron. Arianna will be out in a minute, they're getting her out of that court dress and into something more comfortable."
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Of course." He comes in to the room and murrs to the tigress, "My sister's sharp eyes noticed today that one of the gifts to the Queen was enchanted, the necklace from the Hasheeran ambassador. Have you any idea what it might do?" He comments mildly, "Myself, I might worry about having unidentified magic about my throat."
Ludmilla grins. "I'd have to agree with you, Baron, but in this case it's not unidentified. That was just a subterfuge in case anyone objects to Ha'Sheera helping us out... it was just a birthday gift, of course..."
Carroll smiles and murrs, "As long as everyone is comfortable with it, and it is not an unplanned surprise, Baroness, I shan't worry about it. This doesn't mean I'm not curious, but I won't be worrying." He pauses, looking the tigress up and down, and asking tentatively, "May I ask you an odd question, Baroness, while we have a moment?"
The tigress shrugs. "You can ask."
Carroll chooses his words carefully, murring, "After today's ceremony I am certain that the Queen has no shortage of suitors of various levels of seriousness and tact. I understand that particular burden myself, but it must be much worse for the Queen." After a small pause he murrs, "I was wondering though how many real friends she has lately, and how one would go about getting to know her as a person, without all the formal trappings of office in the way?"
Ludmilla frowns at the question, but in a serious way, not an angry one. "Hmmm."
Carroll comments, "I find the presumption of this Prince Iago fairly large, to consider such a question without having actually met Queen Arianna. I wouldn't want to consider such a question of someone I didn't actually know." He lets the other option go unsaid, carefully gauging Ludmilla's reaction.
"Not enough friends, that's for certain. I like to think I'm her friend, and Morgana -- but we're nearly always on duty when we see her. Maybe a few of her ladies-in-waiting, but..." The tigress snorts. "Iago? The only reason we didn't laugh in his face is that it would probably have gotten our traders harassed if we had, as soon as he takes over. The only reason his father's health is precarious is because Iago doesn't want to get caught..." She breaks off as the queen enters the room. "Your Majesty." She turns to leave, winking at Carroll on her way past. "As for the other, you're doing fine."
Carroll smiles to Ludmilla as she leaves, and then directs his attention to the Queen, bowing and murring, "Your Majesty, it is my pleasure to return to Maidstone and to see you again."
Queen Arianna smiles. "It's always a pleasure to see you, Captain. How did you like the ceremony?"
Queen Arianna is perhaps not overly pretty, but her features
have a regal strength to them, and her eyes are penetrating. The queen is
a completely dark-phase fox, her fur black as midnight, and is shorter
than she seems, her 160 cm. somehow larger than life with the force of
a dynamic personality. She is wearing a simple green gown at the moment,
the heavy crown and court dress left behind.
Carroll smiles and replies, "I enjoyed the ceremony, Your Majesty, with its chance to see all of the local houses and their dutiful contributions to the crown, as well as the colors and styles of the different houses and ambassadors."
Arianna nods. "Colorful is definitely a good word for it. It does get me in touch with everyone once a year at least. Some of them never do anything different though. Every year a basket of peaches from Baron Macon. White Haven and Vortalon at least have some originality. I may actually keep that interesting copper nodule."
Carroll nods, murring, "I don't know Duke Vortalon well, but I have a difficult time seeing anything that the Duchess White Haven does as 'boring.'" He chuckles, adding, "I have a gift to present to you, too." With a smile he adds, "You'll have to judge whether or not it's interesting."
The queen looks interested. "You didn't have to, Captain. Is this from the St. Genevieve family, from Starfall, or just from you?"
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Actually, Your Majesty, I have a gift from the House St. Genevieve, and something that is just from me, that caught my eye in the marketplace in Starfall and I thought you might enjoy."
Arianna smiles, a little lopsidedly. "A gift just for me to enjoy? That hardly ever happens." She waits to see what Carroll has.
Carroll signals the page to bring the painting forward, murring, "First the one from the House, I think." The painting is draped with a cloth and hidden. "After we returned to Starfall and had managed to regain the family's position and lands, we did think it important to honor you and the important contribution you had made in our success. We wanted something that would be relevant to the journey, but not something that would seem to be gathering favor for the House." He pauses, waiting for the Queen to pull aside the cloth and see the artwork. Queen Arianna waits for a moment, apparently used to people doing this sort of thing for her, then realizes that Carroll is unconsciously treating her like a regular person. She gets up and flips the cloth out of the way.
Carroll smiles and watches the Queen as she reveals the painting, fully expecting a blank stare -- and he leaps in with an explanation, "This is the island of Mount Kali, a cursed and enchanted island." The painting shows the island in the daylight, with the green aura of magic and whirlpool effect painted over it. He explains that too, "The green is the abundance of magical force on that island. It is a strange, dangerous, and powerful place, and it is there that we managed to retrieve our missing Father. It is a critical part of our journey, which makes it important to us, and a mystical and well-known place, which makes it worth a depiction of its own." He looks at the Queen and murrs, "I would be pleased to tell you the entire story sometime, when it is convenient."
Queen Arianna looks at the painting carefully, obviously trying to puzzle out the magic vortex. "Did it really look like that? I've never heard that about the Nexus points."
Carroll walks up to stand next to the Queen, also looking at the painting. He murrs, "To someone with the Gift for magic that is what the Nexus point looks like, according to both my sister Alex and our ship's mage, Cleo. To those of us without the talent, the power is invisible."
Arianna nods, actually shivering a little. "All that power, and most can't even see it... how did you manage to come through it safely?"
Carroll shrugs and murrs, "It's a long story. Perhaps prudence and care, perhaps simple luck. Strange things happen there. Unlike most, our strange thing was beneficial." He looks at the painting for a moment and murrs, "This is from the House St. Genevieve, to show our gratitude for all of the support you gave us in a very difficult time." He looks back at the Queen, smiling happily.
Arianna smiles again. "It will have an honored place in the palace collection. And if you could give me the name of the artist, I'd be obliged. Now, what did you bring me just from yourself?"
Carroll's smile widens a bit, barely avoiding the status of 'silly grin,' and he gestures to the page again, who brings over a nicely finished wooden box with a brass latch and hinges -- a little smaller than a breadbox. He murrs, "This has no meaning at all. I saw this in a little shop in Starfall and thought that it was something simple you might enjoy." He presents her with the box, so that she can open the latch herself. Queen Arianna opens the latch and lifts the lid of the box.
Inside the box there is a round tube made of finely finished and polished hardwoods, one end larger than the other, about 25 centimeters long, with brass fittings on each end. The smaller end contains a lens and the larger end has a lens with a slot in front of it and a little latch. There are also four round discs, about half a centimeter thick, which are finished in brass and filled with odd bits of stained glass, or loose bits of sparkling gemstones between thin sheets of glass. Carroll asks the dark fox, "Have you seen one of these before?"
Arianna picks it up. "A telescope? I've seen telescopes before." She looks through it, then puts it down again. "I don't think it works."
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Not a telescope, a kaleidoscope." He directs her, "Open up the little latch over the slot on the large lens and put in one of the slides. Latch it in securely, then look at the light through it and turn it slowly." He's holding the box so she'll have to do it all herself, and he hopes his directions are clear.
Arianna follows the directions, still frowning in puzzlement until she gets to the part where she looks through it again. "Oooh!" She turns the tube, fascinated by the sparkling patterns. "That's amazing!" She puts it down for a moment, grinning like a little girl again. "Thank you. This is a pretty but completely useless thing, isn't it?" She goes back to looking at the patterns. "Like most of my jewelry, now that I think about it. Fascinating, though."
Carroll smiles and murrs, "If it can make you happy it is not useless, although that's all it really does -- is to make pretty patterns to look at." He watches Arianna looking through the kaleidoscope and smiles, because it gave her a moment of unadorned delight, and will hopefully give her more moments of quiet happiness.
The queen grins again. "Thank you, Captain. It's certainly unique. You don't mind if I share this with my little sister, do you?"
Carroll smiles and shakes his head, murring, "Of course not, Your Majesty. I am pleased you like it."
Ludmilla raps on the door and sticks her head in. "Your Majesty? Almost time for your next meeting."
Arianna gives Carroll another lopsided smile. "Back to work, then. Thank you for the gifts. You will be at the party this evening, won't you?"
Carroll glances over at Ludmilla, and for a moment wonders if she was watching or listening, although not very hard. He looks back to the Queen and murrs, "Yes, I will, and I will look forward to seeing you there." He turns to leave, adding, "If you like, I would be happy to tell you the whole story of our journey, when there is less demands on your time. Please let me know if you would be interested, and when." He bows again, murring, "Happy birthday, Your Majesty," and makes his way towards the door.
The queen nods. "I think I would enjoy that, Captain. Sometime soon." She turns away then and lets Ludmilla put things away to be ready for her next visitor...
Carroll and Matthew pass the Ha'Sheeran ambassador and her guide in the corridor. Carroll smiles and nods to the ambassador as he passes, and continues on. When he reaches his family, he is still smiling. Alex's ears are up in interest as her oldest brother approaches... then she sees his smile and a broad grin spreads across her small mask. Carroll makes a point to tell his sister what he learned about the necklace, that it was expected and a good way to give the object to the Queen, but he didn't find out what it did or why Hasheeran is helping out Maidstone.
The carriage is waiting to take everyone back to the ship, and returns later that evening to take everyone back to the palace for the Queen's Birthday Dance. Matthew meets the group at the palace entrance - he is rather fancifully outfitted as a bat, though the wings seem to be giving him some trouble. "How do they manage to get around lugging things like this?"
Alex giggles behind her fan at Matthew's comment, then grins and helps a little, tucking up a trailing wingtip, "Maybe Skeee could tell you later?"
Carroll chuckles at the mouse and murrs, "Yes, ask Skeee, who will probably look at you oddly and ask how you can function without them." He puts on his mask, which covers his face and head, a scarf of the same yellow-gold as his tabard, with holes for his ears and eyes, rather like a golden Zorro.
Alex giggles softly, then adds, "You look quite dashing tonight, Carroll!" She grins mischievously, sweeping a graceful bow with a swirl of full skirts, as her brother looks at her.
Carroll smiles and murrs, "Thank you. You look lovely yourself, and I expect you'll have a line of interested young men waiting to dance with you." He adds, "Perhaps they'll be able to keep up with you all night."
Alex laughs softly as she bounces lightly on her toes, her emerald eyes sparkling with excitement, "You're sweet, Carroll -- and yes, I'm hoping there'll be lots of dancing!"
Horatio gets out of the carriage and turns to help Jessie get down. The mink huntress has already gotten down though, vaulting out of the carriage, which leads to a few moments of mutual embarrassment. "My guest, Matthew. Miss Jessie Hunter, from Ettore."
Jessie has decided to go as herself, figuring that at the least it will be the most authentic 'costume' there. She's dressed in her favorite hunting outfit, a green hooded cloak and loose brown trousers and tunic. In deference to the occasion, she's got her hood up and is wearing a mask as well, and her bow is 'strung' with a rather poor grade of twine rather than a proper bowstring to satisfy the palace guards. She does have a proper bowstring stuffed in her pocket, just in case, but hasn't told anyone about it.
Matthew nods to Horatio and greets Jessie. "Welcome to the Palace, ma'am." He starts to offer a hand and gets fouled by his costume wings again. "Drat."
Alex hms... then suggests thoughtfully, "Maybe if you keep them tossed way back behind you, Matthew?" Carroll watches as his family emerges, and has a quiet wish that his father could be here, for about four different reasons. He's not, and Carroll will manage, but he thinks that the Count might enjoy watching Horatio grow up, as he is likely to, tonight.
Grand Ballroom
The Grand Ballroom is lit by magelight
chandeliers tonight, the soft light reflecting from the hundreds of
mirrors that line the walls. The musicians sit at one end of the room,
behind the queen's throne, while chairs line the walls, interrupted at
intervals by the ever-present guardsmen. The parquet floor gleams as the
dancers sweep over it, the fine woods complemented by the gold framing
of the mirrored walls. Refreshments await on tables in adjacent rooms,
replenished by a horde of servants.
Carroll collects the family behind him and strides in to the room confidently, the head of this small phalanx of foxes. He smiles and looks over the room, guessing who is who and letting them figure out who these new arrivals are.
Before you stands Carroll Waynewright St. Genevieve, heir to
the St. Genevieve legacy. He wears a pale gold tabard trimmed in dark red
that flares out below the waist and has wide shoulders, but is cinched
tightly to his waist with a red sash; over a loose, long sleeved tunic
(which is a slightly reddish tan) with thin vertical stripes of the
same dark red that trims the tabard. His leggings, of the same tan and
red stripes as his tunic, are also loose, and tucked in to soft boots,
which come most of the way up his calves, with their tops folded down. The
subtle glitter of gold shows at his throat, where he wears a chain with
the family crest upon it, and again at his waist, near the red sash, where
his watch chain shows against it. His sword belt also emerges from under
the sash, with the blade obviously at his side. A perfectly white lace
collar blends with the white underfur at his throat and spills out over
the tunic. What little of his russet fur that shows is brushed neatly,
smooth and glossy, matching fairly closely the vertical stripes and sash,
as the white lace blends in to the white of the fur under his muzzle,
and making the white flash at the end of his full tail into something
striking, rather than a dissonant note. He smiles graciously and nods
at your glance, eyes twinkling behind the mask for the costume, which
is more of a yellow scarf with holes for his ears and eyes, tied over
behind his head; something like a golden Zorro. A soft, wide brimmed
hat replete with red feather tops his costume, set at a rakish angle
and casting a shadow over his eyes.
Alex steps lightly in on Carroll's right. She flashes a grin at him before she too sweeps the room once with her gaze... then paces with quiet pride next to her oldest brother as he enters the room.
You see an emerald-eyed young vixen with fiery scarlet fur,
proud carriage, and a quietly thoughtful demeanor. She wears, with
calm assurance, a high-flaring mask of cobalt with glittering emerald
trim. Soft, full, gently waving azure feathers sweep back from the mask
and over her shoulders in a proud, cresting mane. Her matching dress is
lovely… the full dancing skirt swirls cobalt velvet and silky azure, and
gold trim accents her small paws, at the end of her shining, close-fitting
indigo satin sleeves. The snug and glittering golden brocade bodice
nicely accents Alexandra's slender form, while its slashed and poufed
shoulders allow glimpses of the gleaming indigo silk underdress. The
sparkling jewelry she wears is more understated than not, allowing her
to dance with grace.
Quite a few guests are present already, possibly including the Queen. Ludmilla is standing near the entrance, glowering at everyone, but she is not shadowing anyone in particular. The musicians are playing something quiet, though for the moment the guests are mingling, tasting the food, and talking rather than dancing. The costumes are varied, from minimal effort to fanciful and elaborate creations -- a few even seem to be magically enhanced, to Alex's trained senses.
Alex's ears tilt forward curiously... she'll have to wander by a few of those later, to see what they're doing -- what an interesting idea! She'll have to try something like that for a costume too next time. A pair of magically swept back wings maybe, or something else interesting... Carroll looks curiously about the room to see if he can recognize anyone. The Queen or the Duchess White Haven, in particular, one by the gaggle of hopefuls, and one by what he expects to be an unusually revealing costume, and perhaps her own little harem.
If the queen is here, she's managing to stay secret for the moment. Duchess White Haven, however, is easily spotted... she's the one by the buffet tables, dressed (if that's the right word) in a rather fanciful -- and definitely gauzy -- harem costume. The mask the Duchess is wearing is the only opaque part of her whole outfit. At the moment she seems to have cornered someone (could it be Don Carlos? Hard to tell, but who else would wear a matador costume?) and is apparently attempting to feed him oysters. Carroll smiles and decides to head that way and mingle, listen, and make small talk. He looks for others he knows, such as the Baroness-Captain, and continues to keep an eye out for the Queen. He makes his way to the buffet, listening closely to everything around him.
Alex will wander properly next to her brothers for a while, taking the occasional casual sip or nibble of refreshments and looking around in interest at the costumes. She wonders curiously if she'll be able to recognize any of the court people she knows... well, the high nobility's rather distinctive, she thinks amusedly. The antlers are quite the giveaway for Redtail, after all. She smiles, wondering if he's figured out yet that the St. Genevieve siblings accomplished with great success the quest he'd asked them to take on. Duke Redtail is indeed here, his huge frame and distinctive antlers impossible to disguise. He is currently talking with a much shorter furr, a female wolf dressed as an ancient warrior.
Alex paces quietly around, at one point or another casually wandering past the two entirely magical costumes she detects. They're quite distinctive, she thinks -- one's the wolf femme dressed as the ancient warrior, and the other is dressed as a dragon. She admires the costumes politely, even as she thinks amusedly that if she were the queen she'd use a costume like this to entirely hide in!
Carroll moves as subtly as someone dressed as The Golden Avenger can possibly manage down the buffet, coming up behind the Duchess White Haven, quietly trying to overhear the matador's side of the conversation, to determine whether or not the man wants to be rescued from a furr worse than death, or if he's content to be left alone.
"...I assure you, senyora, I am not needing the feesh of the esshell to have manly veegor." The harem-duchess giggles. "But they're tasty, dear, and it certainly wouldn't hurt you, would it?"
Alex grins, watching her oldest brother moving quietly behind the intent duchess... then giggles softly behind her fan at Jessie trying much the same trick with the oysters on Horatio! Looks like everyone's fine... she'll look around interestedly, then wonder idly if the wolf warrioress would mind if she wandered over and chatted with them.
Carroll decides Don Carlos can take care of himself and deliberately abandons his poor brother to the younger mink. He collects his pate of nibblies and drifts slowly through the crowd, smiling.