Welcome to Gaia! ::

Alvaro was surprised by the butterfly kiss but accepted it nonetheless. "That's fine. We all have our days. keeps my girls in line!" he called, chuckling. "Yes, someone very familiar." and turned, Lewis having the same thought as they kissed. "Hm, I surmised as much." and kissed down the man's jaw, though hearing what the prime minister had planned the king could only grin, raking his teeth across the spot. "We'll find out soon enough."

"What's a silkie?" Kashi asked in a mutter, gasping as the leather and shirt turned back into fur. Oh dear god, he'd skinned Tsume. the hare seemed to pale momentarily at this thought until the slight playfulness in the words made his cheeks color once more, fur being handed back somewhat quicker the needed. "Yes, it does." he said simply, pausing as an eari lifted. Elliot's voice was faint in the next room, Nayiin's just as muffled before their voices quieted, no doubt in some sort of discussion. "I suppose he's back. I wonder where he ran off to." it must have been a hilarious sight, one ear was flopped as it normally was while the other was perked, listening. "I suppose I should go fetch more to drink for the prince, now. If you'll excise me." and stood, fixing himself before walking around the couch and toward the door.

(( time skip for everyone to dinner! ))

Elliot had to admit, the table was lively. And by lively he meant that Ipo was chattering away, annoying the hell out of Tsume, Emily was doing her best to talk to Nayiin, Martha was harassing Justin and Annabelle was talking to Nix. On the other side of the table Kashi was talking to Ms.Megan about household chores while his father and the Prime Minister spoke amongst themselves and occasionally brought the poor head maid in.

"Leo," he asked quietly, cutting into the fish. "Please let me kill myself later. This is too many voices and too many people." He was irritable. The prince had never been forced to sit with so many people he knew (he actually didn't know the head maid very well, surprisingly) and socialize with every. Single. One. Of. Them. "Or I could do it now."

"But Tsume!" Ipo's voice whined. "If you don't cut my food how am I supposed to eat it? I'll starve to death! I'm already so hungry I haven't had anything to eat all day!"

"And that's the book Emily is writing." Annabelle finished, nibbling on a slice of carrot. "I think Miss Lily is going to draw it though. We're supposed to tell as many people as possible."

"But it's not true," Martha said, turning away from Justin to look across the table, fork pointing. "How am I supposed to believe in something if I don't see it?"

"I agree with your sister,' Nayiin said. "It's nothing more then a children's tale, Emily. I applaud your humanitarian work but winter will still come and go without the reindeer."

"but it's like air!" she explained for the bazillionth time, Justin patting her shoulder at her frustration. "You can't see it but you know it's there and you believe in it!" her head hit the table, Justin still patting her shoulder.

"You should have some juice." he said, bringing her glass closer. "and should I refill your glass, Nix?"

"Always saying I should join." The black haired woman said, sipping her wine. "You'd think you were fifteen again."

"But we have a new partner and he's adorable!" Alvaro said, Kashi blushing in his seat, black ears practically limp. "I'm sure we can work something out, can't we Lewis?"

Elliot groaned, Kashi having given him some light wine earlier and now he was happily sipping from it. "Make this noise stop." but on the plus side, he wasn't talking with Nayiin. She was trying to win his sisters' favor.

The prince took another sip of his wine as Leo leaned in. Yea a distraction would be-- what?! The prince choked and coughed into his cup, setting it down quickly to continue coughing into the napkin. "That's a rather interesting topic, Miss Lily." he said softly, clearing his throat, pausing as the other nibbled on the carrot, pink tongue poking out to taste it before he resumed nibbling. "I shall try to make time to discuss that. I do have a busy schedule for the next week." he explained, taking another bite of his meal. "I shall try to make time sometime this evening." and softly smirked at the other, though it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "How has your stay been though, Miss Lily?" After all Leo was pretending to just visit. "You've been here a bit longer then Miss Nayiin," the woman perked, changing conversations to look at the prince beside her. "Has your stay been enjoyable?"

The noble smiled at Lily, realizing that she was so much more beautiful up close. She hated it. "We only met once this morning, hello. I'm Nayiin von Sier. I've heard a little bit about you from your personal servant." and why were servants dining at the table anyway? Plus she realized the rabbit wasn't bi-polar, they were twins. It would have been easier to know that sooner then she wouldn't have made the quiet one cry sometime after lunch. The wolf had come to his rescue and explained it. "Would you like to join me in the drawing room for a puzzle? I was shown a wonderful collection during the afternoon snack and I played a game of checkers with the prince. I would love to talk with you and do a puzzle. Even we need to relax, right?"

"I bet you're used to shoving things into people, huh?" Ipo asked with all the innocence of a child, though it was hardly such. "So I eat it like this?" he stabbed the fish and lifted the entire thing, opening up and chomping down. "No bones, lucky me." and continued to eat, unaware of the horror on his brother's face down the table. They were hares! They didn't eat fish! What did Ipo care? He did what he wanted.

Emily frowned at Nayiin, the woman having left mid conversation. Her fork clinked against the plate making her look down, white and blue china empty.

"You ate it all, Princess." Justin said weakly. "Let me serve you some more. What would you like?" And took her plate from her, looking at the array of food curiously before back at her. She didn't respond so the boy filled it with pork this time.

"really Martha," Annabelle huffed. "You can be so closed minded. Emily would never tell a lie!"

"Oh she lies all the time. I bet you anything she snogs Justin." she said easily. "And you Annabelle, when you fight with the stable boys."

"Shh!" the girl demanded, face red as she threw a potato square at her sister. "you promised not to tell!"

Martha silenced, chewing on another bit of steak before looking at Nix. "You're different because I can see you." she said. "and everything is dead during the winter anyway how can it be alive?! I just think that Emily should share it with us because we're family."

"I promised him I wouldn't show him off! But he's bigger then Mr. Tsume," or it seemed that way "and he carries the winter on his back and his antlers had ice on them and he was really really old and tired!"

"No, because if I go I'll be proven wrong!"

"Well you're wrong either way, just accept it."

"I'm not believing it, Annabelle!" and shoveled some broccoli into her mouth to prevent anymore discussion from being had.

"Oh he's so red." Megan said, using a gloved hand to stroke the still loose red hair. "It makes me wonder if you're making it up."

"I've seen him in action," Alvaro said. "Trust me he lives up to his species. He goes above and beyond!"

"I'd really rather not discuss this." he muttered, lifting some celery to his mouth. "And you're all lying. You held me against the piano and made me keep my eyes open.' he whined quietly. "It was so embarrassing. Ms. Megan please give me more work so I don't have to suffer!" and leaned against her shoulder.

"Oh dear, you boys are so mean to him. He's my best worker and you're off distracting him. Poor Kashi."

Elliot could wait, he did have other paperwork he needed to do since suddenly his father had gotten busy with the gods only knew what. Maybe the girls playing a quick game of chess or even a puzzle would be good for them. But suddenly the nails on Leo's hand began to move and he had to pause, understanding why until he realized. Silver eyes moved to look at the Falian who was smiling and discussing with Nayiin like she wasn't doing anything vulgar to his captive hand. He swallowed what he had in his mouth, finding it difficult to do so before taking a sip of water from a second glass.

Nayiin stared, watching the other just sort of pause. Maybe she didn't want to play chess. Was she discussing things about her country with Elliot? Nayiin understood that, she could always hang out with his sisters until she had free time. Oh, maybe she could silently sit in on their conversation. "Oh he's an advisor. I feel terrible he didn't clarify that. I apologize, Mr. Tsume, for calling you a servant." but the woman responded and she smiled. "Oh that's lovely! I'm sorry the temperature doesn't fit with you, so we can make it a quick game I promise. I'm very excited, I've never met someone so beautiful as you. You must tell me your secrets."

"Oh don't feel bad I call him a beggar all the time." Ipo said cheerfully, receiving a glare from Elliot and no doubt one from Leo. Oh come on, he meant it playfully. "Well, I suggest everyone finishing up because my brother and I will be bringing adding the finishing touches to our dessert!"

Kashi would have hit his head against the table in a similar manner to Emily had Megan not been holding him up, stroking his hair and continuously moving his ears from his face. At Ipo's voice he stood up quickly, nearly knocking back his chair in the process. "Yes, dessert. I'm coming brother." and quickly walked away behind the other, giving a loud whine as his ears were tugged on before they disappeared behind the kitchen door.

Megan laughed. "Well you certainly won't be getting me tonight." And they never will just like they never had. Maybe they exchanged kisses on occason but the woman really never allowed more then that. "Well we are lacking just a bit in female staff. A lot of the women who married in the spring are pregnant and I'd hate to stress them out to much. We might need to hire more or let the butlers work on it. I'm never sure what they're doing. Thank you sweetie." she said, Justin having left his spot to refill everyone's glasses.

The boy smiled before walking around and refilling the others' drinks as well. he hadn't been properly invited like his mom so he still had work. But the chef let him take this duty because she was here. He had to thank him somehow.

Martha stared at Nix like she'd just backed her into a corner of guilt. And judging by her sisters' smug looks Nix had indeed. "F-Fine! I'll go to the gardens with you, but we still have training with Tsume so we can't be too long!"

"Like a mouse in a mousetrap." Annabelle said with a smile.

"Ah, then it must run in the family. Your sister is very pretty as well." And very pale, she noticed. Incredibly pale to the point where it wasn't even possibly normal. Lily's skin tone was at least close to normal, though still pale. "Oh thank you, that's so sweet. Would you like to play a game after dinner or sometime later?"

Elliot felt the hand leave his, and while he was relieved he reached out, touching the other's fingers gently as comfort. It was different now. He couldn't ask Leo to forget the past, but things were different. It would take time. "Thank you Justin." he added quickly, the boy having already walked past to fill Leo's before moving on.

Martha looked away. "Fine. I'll trust you. And stop holding my hand!" she snatched it away, wiping it on her clothes. "Honestly you girls are so touchy feely."

"You're a girl too." Emily pointed out. "Or else we wouldn't be identical triplets."

"She looks too boyish to be related to us. Her hair is blue and her chin is sharper then mine." Annabelle commented.

"because I'm a boy!"

Justin couldn't help but smile, he was getting so many compliments today just for doing his job. Tsume was a bit rough but he grinned up at him before moving on. So many compliments. Then his mom thanked him as well before he moved to do the Prime Minister's. "Aah!" he yelled, pitchers spilling onto the rug as he was hugged quickly. "Hi, Prime Minister." he greeted, a little shaken by the surprise. "I'm not so big. I'm only eight." and was placed back down. He smiled anyway and went back to his original chair, grabbing some unused napkins and going back to the mess to clean it up.

"that's wonderful! I'm so glad you wish to play with me."

"Dessert is here!" Ipo exclaimed, rolling out with a tray, Kashi behind him. "Brother why don't you tell them what's for dinner? I'll clean these plates away."

Kashi nodded, motioning toward the cart which held a rather large tart. "Today's dessert is a tart with banana pudding with small bits of broken chocolate inside, the outside decorated with powdered sugar and strawberries. The tea which matches this is a masterpiece is a natural mint tea which will bring out the subtle hints of chocolate. Please enjoy." and began placed the small dessert plates down on the table in front of their respective recipients, teacup and saucer being placed down as well before being filled.

"Except you can't have any, wolfy boy. Dogs can't eat chocolates." Ipo said, pausing to poke the other's cheek, leaning in close. "You're missing out on something quite delicious." and licked the tanned cheek before moving away quickly and laughing.

Elliot paused as the food was offered to him, Nayiin suddenly frowning at the piece of food over his shoulder before turning to her dessert and cutting it with her fork, taking a piece and offering it out as well.

"You should try this right now before you ruin the flavor, my prince."

Elliot looked at the other offered food, finding himself wanting to shrink under the table. He gave a small shift and dropped his fork. "Oh, excuse me a moment." and escaped quickly to the floorhaving to lift the table cloth to find the utensil. "Ludwig. Stop licking the grease off that." he scolded gently. "Now I can't eat off of it. Scat, shoo.' and motioned the dog to go toward the end of the table where Annabelle was, grabbing his fork and sitting back up. "Luckily this isn't a dessert fork."

"Yes sir." and smiled, enjoying the feel of a kiss before moving to sit back down, Kashi placing a dessert in front of him. "Wow, thank you!"

He smiled. "Everyone gets to eat some dessert today." Though the chef made it for Lily mostly. Pregnant or not that baby was going to need sugar.

"Even you?"

"Of course. I just need to resume my seat." but Ipo wasn't found in his, no doubt to escape the wolf's wrath. Rolling the cart back over he set his own plate and cup of tea down before finally sitting.

"Welcome back, Kashi." Megan greeted, laughing at Lewis. "Oh dear, Prime Minister. You seem to have forgotten your chair again.

Honestly the nerve of that foreigner, offering the prince some of her already bitten food. Of course he wouldn't eat the food. Things may have been different in her country but she should at least respect the table etiquette of this one. Nayiin ate the desert piece on her fork, sulking though that the prince didn't take her desert. She hadn't even touched it with her mouth and he still refused.

"It's no problem." Elliot said, slicing into his own dessert. "I didn't know which one to pick, you were both so earnest in your offerings." he said, looking between them both. They were lost in their emotions, and he was no doubt the reason for them. The prince went silent and ate his dessert.

"Harey?' Ipo asked, turning in time to be picked up. "Tsume I'd hate to tell you but I don't like men. You'll want my brother for that." he explained as they went down the hall. "but your muscles are very broad, I'm impressed. I suppose being a wolf does that to you. Ah, are you going to bathe me? I'm afraid I'm not so handsome." and was thrown into the hard porcelain, cold water falling on his head and ears making him shriek very loudly. "Tsume!" he shouted, voice anything but playful, eye narrowed and glaring at him. "Tch, so you want to play that way, don't you mongrel?"

Martha looked up as Tsume returned. "Why don't you like Ipo? he's licked all of us once."

"He likes licking cheeks." Emily said. "Lucky me his tongue was dry and not slimy."

"I really don't think he should be licking anyone, Princess." Justin pointed out.

""It's Kashi, Prime Minister." the hare corrected softly, taking a small bite from his own dessert. This was good. He was ready to take another bite until he blushed darkly.

"now now, leave him alone, Lewis. You'll make the poor boy explode with all hat blood in his head."

"well we can save him and make it travel down south." The king said with a grin. "We're good at doing that."

"Honestly," she sighed, though smiling. "The two of you have hardly changed."

"That's fine."

Nayiin gave a small chuckle. "I was being childish as well. I apologize." though she would suit the prince much better. She was shorter, not taller. Perfect size. "I do still hope you'll play a game of chess with me after this, though." get to know Lily better, question her about her relation. She'd been here a while hadn't she? How long?

"Really? They would force him to be his mate?" Annabelle asked. "Seems sort of, rash."

"he only meant it playfully, though." Martha said in the hare's defense. "Though I guess he can be a little weird."

"He was screaming in his room earlier.' Justin said softly. "We had to get Kashi to quiet him down. He was just screaming and yelling. Kashi still won't tell us what about."

Emily frowned at this, looking at Nix curiously as though she had an opinion to give as well. She could feel minds, what did she feel?

"Prime Minister?" the hare asked softly.

"Lewis are you all right?" the man watched his lover cry. "Lewis," and stood, offering him the napkin.

The woman only smiled, slicing another bit of her tart off. "You're welcome, Lewis. You are very welcome." and in her eyes he was. When she first laid eyes on Lewis all those years ago, the king had been so protective so careful. It was no wonder Lewis fell for him, admitted it, and the king took him as a second lover. "You're still just as beautiful as well, you know," from when he'd touched her, all that she took in. She'd seen it, the soul. "If I looked again I am sure it has grown so much more in beauty."