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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 6:28 pm
Today the sleepy little neighborhood surrounding the udon-ya is uncharacteristically full of noise and racket. The house next to Setsushi's -- an uninhabited, moldy, creaky shack larger than his, but confined to a similarly small plot of land -- is experiencing for the first time in perhaps years a flurry of activity; three human workers move in and out or climb up and down the newly-erected scaffolding to bring hammers and power tools to bear against the structure.
Rika stands on the sidewalk, holding a glass of cold juice in one hand. She does not seem to be there to complain about the noise, though; rather, she seems to be just quietly observing...
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 6:48 pm
And Tenkyuu can see a project manager at work as she approaches Rika. The Heavenly Bow pauses at the Imperial Princess' side, her eyes surveying the progress of the workers before peeking to Rika. With coffee in hand, Tenkyuu sips the hazelnut blend while wondering what the Imperial Princess is overseeing.
It seems like quite a project, after all--is she preparing herself a proper abode for herself as she creates their way back home?
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 6:51 pm
Ryoua strolls along the street a few blocks down from the udon-ya, hands clasped behind his back. It's a pleasant morning, what with the trees rustling, the fluffy clouds floating by, the--hang on, what is that odd hum? As he approaches, it grows louder and more defined: drilling, hammering, odd sawing noises...
And there's an unfamiliar woman standing outside. Ryoua quickly rifles through his memory for blond Porcelain he knows (of which there are few), but none of them wear a monocle.
He sends her a greeting of polite deference as he approaches. Is she Sir Setsushi's new neighbor, he inquires, after catching sight of the old house under construction.
He extends the greeting to his mother, coupled with projections of warmth and affection, when he sees her arrive to stand next to the stranger.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:16 pm
Rika nods in acknowledgment to Tenkyuu, then turns her attention to Ryoua. Adjusting her monocle to peer at the young man closely, she inquires: "Is this your son?"
As for the house... when the pair ask her about it, she turns to gaze back over the edifice, her face fairly expressionless but her eyes carefully regarding the work. "Actually... I purchased this house with the intention of passing it on to your family," she tells Tenkyuu, coming straight to the point. "The building needed extensive repairs anyway, and so I am having a new story built as well.
"What do you think?" she asks, looking between their faces carefully.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:25 pm
And Tenkyuu turns, smiling warmly at her son before she extends a hand to lightly grip his own. After a few moments of merely basking in his endearing presence, she releases his hand and nods faintly.
Imperial Princess Rika, meet Ryoua; Ryoua, meet the Imperial Princess. Tenkyuu turns her eyes back to the building, listening to the sounds and watching the sights pertaining to its construction...
... when Rika drops her gift into the Heavenly Bow's lap. Tenkyuu pauses before a smile appears on her lips, her head swaying from side-to-side. No, Tenkyuu cannot take such a gift--it is far too generous and kind of the Imperial Princess. In addition, such a refurbished structure would not fit one such as Tenkyuu.
Tenkyuu must politely decline.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:34 pm
Ryoua returns his mother's smile, but it turns into a look of faint horror when he is introduced to the newly-identified Imperial Princess.
Ah! Ryoua bows deeply. He hopes that she will please forgive this one; he did not know the, ah, nature of her identity. Ryoua humbly thanks her for her generous offer on behalf of himself and his absent sister, but it is surely too much. He reinforces the thought with feelings of great respect.
Then, privately to his mother, he wonders why the Imperial Princess is buying them a house!? gonk
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:37 pm
Rika's eyebrows raise slightly with surprise, though she continues to conceal her own emotions. "Why? Is there something wrong with it?" She looks back at the workers, her expression now worried. "It should be quite comfortable after they finish repairing it... At least more comfortable than Setsushi's drafty little shack.
"And you need not worry about the expense. I have come into a great deal of gold quite suddenly." Mumbled, blasé projections concerning the madness of Gaians start to come out of her mind, but she restrains them.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:42 pm
Tenkyuu, for the moment, focuses on the Imperial Princess though her hand slips to her son's forearm to reassure him. As she speaks with Rika, Tenkyuu maintains a level smile as she shakes her head.
There is, in fact, nothing wrong with such a grand place. It would be fitting for someone of great status to live in such a building. Tenkyuu does not feel she is worthy of such a gift, however, and would prefer to work for all she owns. While Setsushi's shack is truthfully drafty, she finds it to be well-suited to her old, frequently high temperatured body.
With warm emotions, Tenkyuu suggests that the Imperial Princess take such a home--honestly, she is the one who deserves it most.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:50 pm
Ryoua's concern over the house abruptly switches to concern over another thing entirely, as he realizes...
Ryoua humbly begs her pardon for asking, but, well, is the Imperial Princess... all right? That is, how did she come to be here? If it was anything like the way they and the other Knights arrived...
What he means is that the Empress must be quite anxious for her daughter knowing that she is missing, and by unfriendly means.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 7:58 pm
"I came here under my own power," Rika answers Ryoua. "But it may take me a month, perhaps longer, to prepare the spells and devices needed to bring us home."
So, in the meantime, she found some work and invested in this building, to begin with. And, Rika finally says projectionally, with feelings of earnestness, she would really like Tenkyuu to accept. "This is no grand house;" it's just a little bit bigger than a bachelor's-apartment, really. And although it is true they will probably return to the Empire soon, they may very well be able to establish regular travel between their world and Gaia, and Tenkyuu will have this lovely vacation home.
And Rika believes it would be nice for Tenryuu and Ryoua to live near their mother, as well, to have their own rooms, washrooms, and a yard and garden, as well. "What do you think?" she asks Ryoua, suddenly turning to him.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 8:27 pm
And if such a time comes where travel between the Empire and Gaia is an easy task, Tenkyuu will happily buy the home from the Imperial Princess at an inflated price due due to her gratitude. At this juncture, however, Tenkyuu has no money and cannot rely off of Imperial Princess Rika's enormous generosity. When Rika turns the focus of the conversation on her children, however, the Heavenly Bow cannot but blink and stare for a few moments at the adroit move.
... Tenkyuu is an old warrior, however, and has many strategies at her disposal.
Tenkyuu bows her head faintly to Rika as she suddenly smiles broadly. What her children decide, however, is up to them--they are adults. If they choose to take Imperial Princess Rika's overly kind offer, then she will stand by their decision. Tenkyuu cannot bring herself to move from Setsushi's domicile. When she makes enough money, she will happily leave the shanty but her foolish pride, and necessity, require her to stay where she is.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 8:43 pm
Ryoua becomes excited and discouraged in one breath when Rika reveals that their return home may still be a while in coming. Still, he cannot help but feel admiration for the Imperial Princess -- that she was able to come here of her own accord astonishes him.
He flounders a little at the directness of her question. He agrees that it would be nice to live nearer to their dear mother, but it really is such a grand gift. And, well. It is a house. A whole house. Ryoua is not usually this blundering... sweatdrop
Pe-Perhaps they can rent it from her? He glances nervously at his mother, as if to seek her approval. Both he and Tenryuu do make a small wage, after all.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 8:56 pm
"This is no enormous generosity," says Rika, her eyebrow betraying a bit of annoyance; "The expenses were not so great. And I would be very happy to live close to Tenryuu and Ryoua.
"... But I think you should also move in with them, Dame Tenkyuu. You will have your own bed, after all, a family kitchen, and still be near Setsushi's house -- an arm's length, really."
And even though Rika's mind once again opens to send out earnest, insistent feelings, of concern and kindness, something about the way that Rika puts emphasis on the words 'bed,' 'kitchen,' though, seems to imply that Rika is trying to suggest something else.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 9:29 pm
"I must admit that the expense is too immense for my liking," says Tenkyuu gently as she moves to survey the home, "Here you have taken a rotting corpse and started to renew it with life--you revitalize it for one such as myself who is wilting."
She watches the home thoughtfully before shaking her head, her eyes shifting to her son. If he so wishes to rent the domicile, he must ask the Imperial Princess. Tenkyuu, as well, would be happy to live near her children--in fact, her heart swells at the thought.
But she cannot, with good conscience, leave Setsushi's home when her wages are so meager. Her eyes shift to Rika and her smile becomes almost too sweet as she bows her head, her thoughts becoming increasingly formal.
Tenkyuu will make do with the kitchen and bed she now has. She can never forget the Imperial Princess for her infinite generosity towards herself and her family. Her actions in her family's time of need will only make Tenkyuu more diligent in her service to the Empire.
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Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 10:04 pm
Well well, what is going on here?
If asked, Tenryuu would attribute her lateness to the potted plant she carries; a cheap but healthy yellow daffodil meant as a sort of housewarming slash Mother's Day gift. While not quite the holiday she recalls, Tenryuu feels that it is worth celebrating in some way. The television box recommended flowers, which Tenryuu isn't sure will be useful, but they will at least brighten up the shack of an udon-ya.
However, judging by the work being done, it seems that she should have brought another housewarming plant. Oh well. Not terribly concerned by it, she eyes the construction for a few moments before noticing that others are doing the same.
She approaches Ryoua first, lightly punching him on the shoulder. "How could you leave without me?" she asks crossly, though she clearly isn't truly angry.
While attempting to pull him into a mock-headlock, she greets Tenkyuu as well... and, with only mild surprise, Rika.
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