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 Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:01 pm
Jace lifted a brow at his friend, frowning a little when his attention moved to the Ponyta who seemed to perk at his attention. However when the gleaming blue eyes landed on him Ryder immediately seemed to droop and look away, tail practically wilting behind him. With a smirk the Mightyena looked back to to Logan before his eyes narrowed and expression soured a little; he didn't sulk.
"I don't sulk! Besides, I just won, nothing to sulk about. Jace muttered, clearly disgruntled.
Ryder shifted a little closer to Logan, blinking owlishly up at him and slowly canting his head to the side. Hesitantly the Ponyta leaned to the side to peer around the growlithe and look at Jace, his eyes wide. He certainly wouldn't call the expression on the other boy's face cute... More like terrifying. Despite that he offered his new friend a tentative smile and gave a slow nod.
"Rabbit? I like that..." he mused, smiling shyly. "You can call me Ryder or Rai, whatever's easier I guess."
Jace glanced at Logan at his words, brows lifting before he snorted, giving a quick nod in agreement; Malo was obnoxious so he couldn't bring himself to care what he thought. However he was distracted suddenly by the Litwick grabbing his collar and beginning to float, causing his eyes to narrow. He really hated people that couldn't seem to control themselves and Malo was one of those; didn't he realize he was just making a fool out of himself?
When the smoke blew in his face he immediately closed his eyes and coughed, but didn't move to lash out; no, he'd come out as the better person in this. "Take your tantrum somewhere else, Drippy!"
However he was shocked when Logan jumped to his aid, leaping on Malo, causing Jace's red eyes to widen a little. He stood there, stunned, watching Clarence pluck up his friend, his lip curling and hackles raising. How dare someone, even an adult, do such a thing to a friend of his? He took a step forward but, then Logan was set down, causing him to settle and calm a little, ears still flat against his head.
"You didn't have to do that..." Jace muttered, not looking at Logan, opting to kick at the ground instead.
"That was so cool and brave, Rabbit!" Ryder cheered, his eyes practically shining with adoration.
When they were told to follow the adult, Ryder practically bounced into motion, looping his arm through Logan's and beaming at him, oblivious to any social norms he might be breaking. His tail was flicking behind him, back and forth, almost as if it was wagging, though he was a Ponyta so that was weird. He stopped when they were told, attempting to peer over everyone's head at the Red Queen, his blue eyes wide.
Jace hesitantly moved to follow Clarence closely as instructed, glancing back at his friends, jealousy boiling in him; why did everyone else get to hang on Logan anyways? He stopped behind Clarence, shuffling a little so he could see around him, his eyes widening as he stared at the Red Queen. Okay, so he typically wasn't very easily impressed but she was... Something else. He'd never seen a female before, never mind one quite as pretty as her, so he let his eyes widen, reaching up to tug off his hat and tuck it inside his jacket, finger combing his messy hair into place. He followed Clarence's lead and bowed, not really enjoying having to do so, but, oddly, not minding it as much as he normally would have.
When she told him to step forward his eyes widened and he glanced back at Logan, the Phanpy he'd never met, and Ryder briefly before hesitantly moving forward. It seemed to take an eternity to get to her but, by that time, he'd regained a little of his confidence. When she held her hand out to him he blinked dumbly at it, wondering if he was supposed to kneel, if he was supposed to grasp it or... Then Clarence came to his rescue and he leaned forward, gently pressing his lips to her knuckles without actually touching her hand, his hands folded behind his back to keep him from doing anything stupid.
"Y-your Majesty." Jace stammered softly, bowing his head to stare at his feet; now what did he do?
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:09 pm
When Jace said he didn't have to do that, Logan shrugged. Yeah, he didn't, and he probably never would again, but... something about Malo setting on Jace made Logan descend into blind rage, and he just didn't have time to think about it. Usually, Logan was more nonconfrontational than that. Ryder's cheering made Logan smile, though, so while he'd taken Jace's muttering in stride, he grabbed hold of Ryder with one arm around his shoulders, pulling the Ponyta into a half-hug. He raised his other arm, as if about to grab hold of Jace and equally hold him, when he looked at Jace and paused, hand out, looking sad.
Logan let go of Ryder and kept his hands to himself then, silent. Thinking. Until Ryder clearly interrupted his introspection by slipping his arm through Logan's. In response to Bigsby's support again, Logan nodded his thanks to the blue-haired, impressive infant. At least Logan never had to worry about being such a rabbit, with eager and strong friends like Bigsby, or deadly ones like Jace. And then there was Ryder. Logan smiled faintly to himself thinking of the group that he'd acquired over this.
Jace was meeting with the Red Queen, now. Logan watched his back, proud of Jace without being able to express it...
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 2:30 pm
The Red Queen was resplendant, and though her expression was definitely something along the lines of Don't f*ck with me, I am the justice of death incarnate, she smiled gloriously at each infant. Her eyes skimmed across them, and she waved to each: Isaac, Briar, Malo, Bigsby, Ryder, Zale, Logan.
And then, her eyes rested on Jace. On the champion. Her expression, at first, was indiscernible as Jace pressed his lips to her knuckles without touching her hand. After a moment, she motioned vaguely to Jace that he should follow her to her throne. And Clarence ushered the other infants away for tea.
"Come, come! Time to go, we have a very important schedule to keep, lovely infants. Thank you for not trying to get your sticky fingers all over the Red Queen, her dress is very difficult to clean, thank you, thank you~" Clarence led them out, and back through the garden.
Logan hesitated before leaving Jace, but what was he supposed to do?
Eventually, it was just the Queen's Guard, her personal Knight, Garnet herself and Jace, standing on the dais. Garnet went so far as to dismiss the others. Her Knight stood by the throne, looking as though he may as well be a statue. She didn't bother to reiterate; if he stayed, it was for a reason. In fact, she motioned to him. "No one will see today the gift I am about to bestow upon you. Pup, you know that justice is necessary, and it is not always sublime, do you not? I suspect that you already know, or you would not have such eyes," Garnet began, reaching one hand out behind her as her knight approached. He placed a long object in her palm, gently.
"This is Fenris. It, like all blades handed down from one bloodline to another, is a harbringer of justice through killing. Though we recover our bodies... it may not always be so. As my champion today, I bestow Fenris upon you, and with it the necessity of judgement," Garnet elaborated, holding a curved dagger in its leather sheath. All that was visible of it at the moment was the dark crown that served as a pommel.
The knight stepped back behind the throne, and Garnet lowered herself onto one knee to present the blade to much shorter Jace. Her red curls bounced as she did so, and her lips curved into a vicious smile. "There will come a time, or many times, when you decide whether to take or spare a life, Pup. Remember me each time that you do."
Garnet, having given the kris to Jace, stood and returned to her dais. She didn't sit down in the throne, but rather left in the company of her Knight. Though Jace likely would not realize it, Garnet clearly liked the boy. For reasons she could not explain, nor would she try. And in the back of her mind, worry clouded her thoughts; worry about a man, whose grip on sanity was slipping. Worry for the future of those he oversaw.
Helpfully, Clarence appeared seconds later, trailed by Logan who was hiding in the bushes. And covered in thorn scrapes again. He had clearly disobeyed, making sure Jace was alright. Clarence would lead both of the boys out, after scolding a very nonchalant Logan who clearly wasn't even listening.
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:07 am
Jace glanced behind him when the Queen gestured for everyone to leave, staring back at Logan and biting his lip. Once everyone was gone he slowly glanced back to the Queen, then her Knight, swallowing thickly but otherwise not really moving. Briefly he wondered if he was in trouble but he figured that the Queen would probably do such a thing in front of others. What could she possibly want with a little Spades brat, anyways?
He tilted his head when she mentioned a gift, eyes wide when he blinked. Nobody had ever really given him anything before. In fact most of what he had was just hand-me-downs, used until he outgrew it altogether. However when the Queen spoke, asked her question, he swallowed and slowly nodded, his awe slowly shifting to curiosity and wariness; that was closer to normal. However when he saw the object that was placed in the Queen's hand his eyes widened again, shocked that anyone would give him something so... Beautiful.
When the Queen knelt he swallowed and stepped forward, reaching out to take the blade reverently, looking back up at her with a soft question; 'are you sure?' Of all the people to give this to, why had he been chosen? It seemed like something that a noble knight deserved, not a rebellious street punk. Despite that he swallowed and clutched it to his chest, nodding slowly, his expression grateful and... Determined.
"I will, Your Majesty. Thank you. I will not forget this." he breathed, swallowing thickly, watching her leave.
Jace then turned, the weapon still clutched to his chest before blinking at Clarence, then Logan. With a small smile he approached them, quickly tucking the Queen's gift away inside of his jacket. It was something special, something that he would never forget, something that he would always keep and cherish, so long as he lived.
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