PRP - Princely princesses - Kadentsu and Queen Stephanie

[Bardess Ookami]

Queen Stephine checked her reflection in the smooth section of the odd surface. Once, she could tell, the whole oval had been smooth and reflective, like a still lake on a sunny day. Except this lake had once been encircled by something dark that looked almost like a felled tree, but carved into intricacy. It had been beautiful once, she could tell. As beautiful as she herself was now, perhaps. She shook out her main then turned to examine the rest of the space.

She had stepped over a low rubble pile, long and broken, as if there had been one of those fences humans seem so fond of, but without gaps and entirely what would have been inside the human creation. Humans always seemed to do this, to make forests of stone to live within, to build their own caves and then decorate them. Some, she knew, were made of mud or felled trees, but those she usually ignored, it was these, the caves that once soared to the sky, these were the ones that she loved to explore.

In this section of the cave, there had been the still lake, which was now broken, leaned awkwardly against the remaining stone. There had been cloth on the floor that had since been half eaten away by time and mold. to one side was a sort of rectangle of felled trees with an odd sort of cloth thing rotting atop it, covered with more moth eaten cloth. It had four tall corners, like trees shorn of bark or leaves, supporting a canopy of more molded cloth.

To one side, behind a square of what she had learned was called metal, that had once held yet more cloth, was a large pot that smelled quite unpleasant. She avoided that. There were more things made of felled trees also whose purposes she could not fathom, with pitted surfaces that may once have been flat, and in one case, odd balls on the front that looked like fruit but hurt her teeth.

Then something caught her attention and made her breath catch. The rest of the room could have fallen away and she would have made no note. Carefully she picked her way through the debris until she was almost nose touching the object. Made of a kind of metal was an example of why she learned the word metal. Because humans used metal to make things like this. It was called a crown, she knew, and only the most royal of humans wore them. They fascinated Stephanie like nothing else did. She studied the bright ringlet of metal, something that managed to shine brightly in the sun even as the rest of the cave's fillings rotted away. No neglect dulled the shine of sun colored metal, nor did grime hide the beauty or splendor of the small colored things that were almost clear, but at the same time dazzling with color and shine. Her wings, for this. Any physical thing she had ever owned, for this, and it was here... for her to take, if she but dared.

She was so fixated on the circlet that she was unaware if anyone else had approached, human or Soq or familiar. For once, and it was a rare thing indeed, her guard was completely but not irrevocably, down; her world was condensed to a ring of shiny ornate metal.




 

[~Twilight...Angel~]

Kadentsu had wandered a bit further than usual, seeking out some structures she knew had once stood tall. She had seen old maps from the humans and other Soquili showing these structures. Figuring that there might be something useful hiding out among the ruins. She didn't expect much considering the place had been empty for so long, but you just never knew.

Kadentsu walked along, going rather deep inside. As she stepped into what she figured was the throne room (having grown up raised a Princess by her mothers), she saw what appeared to be a mare. She drew closer, watching her step over the various larger pieces of stone and such. As she got closer, she saw what the mare was fixated on. A rather beautiful crown fixed with many different precious gems. Coming up to the right side of the mare, she wondered to herself if the flutter had even noticed her.
 

[Bardess Ookami]

She wouldn't have noticed the other at all, as fixated as she was on the crown. The approach went unremarked upon even as the other mare stood beside her, until an errant gust of wind blew some hair from the other across Steph's face. She blinked, startled and glanced up to see what had touched her, and fluttered her wings in surprise when she saw another Soq standing so close. She backed off a step, for facing her meant they were even closer yet, then gave a respectful bow, trying very hard not to grab the circle of metal and run....

 

[~Twilight...Angel~]

Kadentsu was a bit startled when the mare fluttered her wings, but didn't move away. Looking at the mare a bit as she stepped back, taking a better look at her, then returning the mares bow. She was certainly curious as to why the other mare was there, and was sure that the mare probably wondering the same thing.

"Hello there."

Kadentsu smiled at the mare.
 

[Bardess Ookami]

"Hello," she returned with a regal incline of her head. She found the other Soq quite nice to look at, and as she took in the cloth, found herself somewhat envious. What would it be like to wear cloth like humans did? To have that level of regalia. She wanted that crown, she wanted clothes. She wanted to provide for her foals, so that they could be regal and... clothed....? Maybe? Wow.... She shook her head to clear it slightly. Such daydreams could come later. For now, there was someone before her, someone she could perhaps befriend, or perhaps not. It was not often she found other Soqs where humans had once held sway.  

[~Twilight...Angel~]

Kadentsu found herself frowning a bit. She understood that she had scared the other mare a bit, but the hello was certainly much less enthusiastic than her own. She stepped closer to the crown and examined it a bit. Not anything in particular was special about this crown. She preferred circlets herself, they were much more feminine.

Looking at the other mare, she smiled again.

"May I ask what your name is?"
 

[Bardess Ookami]

She tossed back her hair proudly, and grew in pride at the perfect way it bounced and settled along her neck. She allowed her self a regal smile. "I am called Queen Stephanie by all but my parents, who I fear, still insist upon calling me Princess. Not that I mind over much," she said with a small humorous smile that invited the other Soq to be amused. "Might I ask after yours?"  

[~Twilight...Angel~]

Kadentsu watched the other mare flip her hair, rather amused that the mare seemed to take so much pride in such a question. She figured she might as well throw out her own title since the mare was doing the same!

"Of course! I am Kadentsu. Born and raised a Princess."

Kadentsu was rather amused by how bouncy this mare seemed now. Even though before she had seemed quite reserved stating at the crown. She smiled widely at the mare.

"So what brings such a mare to a place like this?"

Kadentsu looked around as she posed the question, indicating the state the former palace was in now.
 

[Bardess Ookami]

She lowered her front into a bow respectful of one of similar rank. "Princess Kadentsu, I am most honored to make your acquaintance." she stood regally and kept a warm expression of welcome on her face, even as her thoughts spun in different directions.

For one, she was pleased to meet another raised as she was. It was lonely, being royalty when so few acknowledged their obligations to the rightful rulers of the land. For how they lived her parents could have been commoners. The very thought! But here... here was another gently raised soul like her own, born and bred to the duties of noblesse oblige. Another with whom she could commiserate and perhaps share joys as well. A friend of her own rank, who might have much to teach her, and be eager to learn from Stephanie as well. How wondrous.

Of course, this fair mare could also have a claim to the ring of metal festooned with beauty. She had just found this place, and knew it not. This could be the home of the other, and had she trespassed she not only owed apologies, but she would never get to wear the odd artifact of human royalty.

She followed the glance of the other as the question was asked. Too casual for it to be Princess Kadentsu's home? Perhaps, or perhaps that was just how she was. Better then to act with the utmost respect and take no chances. "I find myself drawn to such locations," she admitted. "There is a regal bearing, even in this state of," she stopped herself, annoyed. If this truly was the other's home, how dare she be so insulting as to finish that sentence to the conclusion she had been approaching. She had been raised better than that. But the first half of the sentence had been spoken, committed to air, and a princess did not stumble about with apologies as a commoner might. Nay, she took what she had begun and did her best with it, to make it work. So words like disarray and decay were out. "Nature," she finished, as the ruins were clearly reverting to a state as they must have been in before the two-legged ones had transformed it. Already grasses and flowers poked up here and there between unnaturally even stones.  

[~Twilight...Angel~]

Kadentsu smiled at the other mare and gave a short bow herself, out of respect for the other. She certainly didn't want to insult such a stately mare. Clearly the other was refined and knew her manners. Kadentsu liked others like that. Though formalities were something she didn't often find outside of her families lands. She enjoyed such things.

"It certainly is taking a long a time for this place to, in fact, be reclaimed by the land. Human structures tend to do that. Though it does remind me much of my own home."

Kadentsu smiled widely at the mare. Then remembered about the crown the other had been looking at. Pushing some things away from the crown, she carefully picked it up and placed it on the broken throne. Often when exploring such places, she enjoyed paying a bit of respect to the previous owners, though was not against taking jewels and other valuables that no one else has found.

Personally, she just liked looking around. Paying respect is simply something she was taught to do in such places. Even if it meant paying the respect then having another take the object. She never minded. And was sure that the humans had no idea anyway.
 

[Bardess Ookami]

(Congratulations on the mixer. Does that mean that you are no longer interested in possibly mating them, however?)

Not the other's home! Her heart almost sang. Perhaps she could have the circlet after all. Then she watched the other princess move it to the tall human item that was flat towards her and tall at the far side, with shorter wall like things to the other sides, leaving only the side before her low to the platform. She had seen such things before, but did not understand what they were. She was curious, but also saddened to know she could not now take the small beautiful thing.

"Your home is like this in what way?" she asked, allowing herself to be taken by her curiosity about the other princess. It was unseemly to let oneself appear greedy, and she would not seem less before the other mare. Not when she had here a chance to have a friend that could well be her peer. An equal. Not one she needed to save, not one who thought she herself needed protecting. One, rather, that she could discuss all manner of things with. How wonderful that would be.  

[~Twilight...Angel~]

Kadentsu looked at the other mars, who seemed to get a glint of excitement in her eyes. She was sure the mare was simply excited to see the crown in much more of it's glory. Though not many Soquili understood past buildings of man. She could understand that. Being fascinated by them led to her own knowledge of the structures.

"My home is stately, such as this one used to be. We don't have the seats of men, but we have a grand hall such as this. Our own home has plenty of green covering the walls as well. Well taken care of so as not to take over our home, but green none the less."

She wandered over to a side door she could just make out under the rubble.

"Do you enjoy exploring deep into the ruins of castles? Or do you prefer to stay where there is never ending light?"

She posed the question to the other mare slowly. She didn't want her to think Kadentsu was being snide or disrespectful, she just wondered how far in the other was willing to go. Not many ventured where Kadentsu found the best materials and left over treasure.
 

[Bardess Ookami]

Queen Stephanie had followed along side her, listening to her words. Oh what it must be like to live in such a place! Her mouth almost watered with thoughts of it. To be surrounded by such grandeur all the time. She wished she could at the least visit it, see it once. It sounded amazing.

"Castle," she said, turning the word over in her mouth like the sweetest of berries. "If this is a castle, then this is a thing that I love to explore," she said softly. "Is Castle the human word or your own?" Queen Stephanie asked. So much to learn, and here was one who could, and possibly would, teach her!  

[~Twilight...Angel~]

Kadentsu smiled at the mare, she always enjoyed teaching those willing to learn. Especially when it came to things not a lot of others knew about.

"Castle is a word that humans use to describe structures such as this. It's a good word and seems to describe these things well."

Kadentsu continued through the doorway, entering further into the castle. She had remembered from the maps that the inner rooms where located behind the hall. Figuring that, though they weren't labeled as such, the King's and Queen's rooms were more than likely located behind here. The rooms were good sizes, there should be plenty of gems and fabrics in those rooms.

"Do you often explore places such as these?"
 

[Bardess Ookami]

Stephanie looked around, fascinated. This place this... castle... was amazing. How she envied the humans living in such a wonderful structure. The artificial cave walls were fascinating. Did humans just sit and stare at the artistry? How did they ever do anything?

"Whenever I can," Queen Stephanie replied, awed.