[M-FIN] Regaining Rajani's Favor {Freds, Georgie, & Rajani}

[LoveByLetters]

" .. but it could work," First is saying under his breath, as he pulls at the front of his new coat, the material still stiff in its newness, the crisp lines somehow making him sleek instead of gangly. The tailor had been an excellent one, and pleased to work on the Queen's Commission; he had outdone himself providing the pair of them with outfits that mimicked -- but did not exactly copy -- the Queen's own guard. The cut was similar, the cloaks just close enough to be recognizable, but on the whole their outfits were geared more towards attractiveness than actual function, and it was taking everything in First's power not to tear off the itchy cloak or rip open his too-tight collar.

"It bloody well won't," Last returns, equally softly, so that Georgie does not hear them. He wears a costume identical to his brother's, although somehow his seems to be uncomfortable in completely different locations. The pants are rather tight in awkward locations and the boots are giving him blisters. "You know how she is. She's going to take it as a blow to her pride that she didn't get to pick the damn thing out herself."

" .. but what if she likes it?" First is persistent, and underneath his stubborn determination, just a little green, unwilling to think about what could happen if it doesn't work. He went to a lot of effort in his bid to obtain the gypsy's forgiveness the only way he knew how: by buying it. He spent his own coin and a considerable amount of time purchasing something he hoped would win him favor in Rajani's eyes, going so far as to humble himself by asking the opinions of those he would ordinarily have derided as 'useless nobbles with no sense.'

The result had been an extremely expensive costume which by all accounts was purported to be quite similar to the uniforms the long-ago Wardens had once worn. Yet it was no more an exact copy than the stylish Royal Guard uniforms the twins were wearing -- something of a gypsy personality had been added, with a dashing red sash about the waist, a bit of an attractive ruffle to the bottom of the coat, and a skirt that stopped at the knees (to allow for easy riding) paired with tight trousers of an entirely different color beneath it. The tailor who had managed it had sat back when he'd described the outfit and given him a long, amused look once he explained that unfortunately he would not be able to present the intended recipient for fittings. As if she'd known what he was about, and found the whole thing very funny. That had been even worse than going to scholars, asking what the old uniforms had looked like.

"Then she's still going to be pissed you're trying to buy her over," Last whispers back, aggrieved. This is not the first time they have had this particular conversation, and he is plainly dead tired of it. First finally seems to realize that if he presses the subject any more his brother is going to sock him a good one and sighs.

" .. don't know what else I could do, anyway," First mutters, giving the scar on his forehead a careful scratch as they make their way through the crowd.

For all that they have kept their tones fairly light until now, this statement finally gives Last a moment's pause and he echoes his brother's sigh paired with a shake of his head. "I don't know either."

With that it's back to the task at hand: pacing gravely behind their youngest sibling, who has by way of a patently ridiculous amount of begging managed to arrange a costume that makes him into a tiny king. Crowns being against all manner of laws, he has instead a paste-board and gilt construction which rather more resembles a pope's hat than a real crown, though a fake scepter and his outrageous outfit are plainly a parody of royal garb. He has velvet pants and boots with little heels, an embroidered vest with a fetching cravat, and to top it all of a brilliantly red cloak with enough of an edging of real fur to make him feel very much the prince. Ariana, trotting behind him, has a matching cloak of her own, and this has been a blessing in disguise. One of the twins pulled the hood up over her head as a joke, but with the fabric blocking her view of most of the parade ground, she had calmed considerably and they'd left the hood up.

Unwanted is similarly garbed, in a cloak more like the ones the Freds are wearing, a jaunty little thing that sits over his shoulders and ties at his throat. He is taking his role seriously, sniffing suspiciously at anyone who gets too close to Georgie, ears forward and tail up. Unwelcome had refused most ornamentation, in the end accepting only a miniature badge on a blue ribbon tied around her throat.

The twins let Georgie lead the way through the festivities, preferring that he take the lion's share of the attention. They are not happy here, and would rather sit in some quiet corner, unnoticed, but circumstances have conspired against them. They know that being seen is the only way to eventually attract Rajani's attention, for when she hears of a pair of men exactly alike -- well, once there is talk enough of them, she'll either come find them or she won't. There's really no telling what she'd have done, after getting a box delivered to her with the fancy costume inside.  

[Nyx Argyros]

The gypsy was on a mission.

Having just parted ways with Soibhan, who was quickly insinuating her way into Rajani's solitary lifestyle, she set out to track down a certain pair of twins. Her progress was somewhat slow - even in a crowd of Guardians, Oberon stood out. He wore a simple crown of oak and mistletoe, but he wore it like the fey king he was dressed as. If that was not enough, he was Awakened, which set him apart from nearly every other Guardian present.

Much to her chagrin, Rajani also drew her share of attention. She wore an artfully variegated array of sheer fabrics and feathers and silks - much more luxurious than anything she would usually don, but it the crown was paying, who was she to decline? Though everything was black, it shone with greens and purples when the light struck it just so. Even her feathered half-mask lie somewhere between alluring and sinister.

The king and the raven: a matched pair they were not, but each was eye-catching in their own way. The gypsy had entertained a vague hope of remaining relatively nondescript, but her dark clothing stood out amongst the bright costumes of the other revelers. She was not entirely surprised, but she was happier with her costume than she would have been in the vibrant colors everyone else was wearing.

While their progress through the throngs may have been slower than she would have preferred, it was very deliberate. She wondered whether the Freds' pride would be insulted to know how easy it was to find them, or if they were flaunting themselves on purpose. It was unlikely that they wanted to be here, but they seemed to have little choice in the matter. A little smirk crossed her lips when she spotted Georgie at the head of the entourage. It would have been impossible for the Freds to refuse even if they had wanted to.

Well, now that she had found her prey, she simply had to decide what to do with them. They still had a lot to make up for, after all. Her temper may have cooled, but they were not entirely forgiven. She wondered what they would make of her refusal to wear their costume.

"I hope you are not planning anything with those costumes," she said from behind them. "Because you would never pull it off."  

[LoveByLetters]

Although they've made a point of trying to confuse things -- Unwelcome often perches on Last's shoulder, and First openly wears a small wooden totem carved and painted to look exactly like Unwanted's actual totem -- it's getting easier rather than more difficult to tell them apart.

At least for people like Rajani ..

At the sound of her voice, First stands bolt upright, as if someone has pulled taunt a string connected to his spine. Even in the crowd she will be able to hear his sharp intake of breath, and it would be hard not to hear Unwelcome's greeting. The pale rook clutches First's hair with one foot so that she can lean out, whistling a cheerful greeting. "Yesraj!" she tells the gypsy with hoarse pleasure, flapping her wings in a way that makes First wince.

Last is quicker to turn about to see her, his surprise writ plain across his face; when a quick glance confirms that she is not wearing the costume First sent her, he stifles a sigh. Small Gods .. didn't he tell his brother? And now he's going to mope, Last just knows it ..

"Oh, if it's pulling off you wanted," Last offers her cheerfully, since First seems to have swallowed his tongue. "They ain't so difficult to remove," he continues with a wink, gesturing to their new outfits, "but we could always use your help anyways, if you was offering."  

[Nyx Argyros]

The gypsy glanced at First, her attention drawn by his shocked gasp, then quickly away. It was easier not to think of him overmuch. Easier to speak to Last. She had the ghost of a smile to spare for Unwelcome. Her own rook was notably absent - off listening to conversations for her, no doubt. He might not properly understand what was said, but Hawthorn was a clever bird with an excellent memory. He could repeat for her every word said within a certain period of time.

Last's words elicited a scowl, but it was halfhearted. It was easier to be annoyed by his petty flirtation than to deal with his brother. Perhaps because it was familiar, and whatever was going on with First was...different. "I wasn't," she assured drily.

Oberon flattened his ears and glared at Last in a way that strongly suggested he change the course of the conversation. Quickly. He might be used to the twins, but that did not mean he approved of their flirtation, no matter how reflexive it was.  

[LoveByLetters]

"Thought we'd try for a disguise," says First, regaining some use of his tongue. Though his expression is a little more strained, he also manages to put on one of his usual roguish grins to match his brother's look. " 'Cause who'd ever guess it were us in this getup?"

Not that they aren't -- no matter their costume -- 110% recognizable, and they both surely know it. But the fact that First is commenting on it in such a way probably means that they are (as she'd wondered) dressed specifically to stand out. To catch her attention, perhaps?

"Now, your loveliness .." Last leans back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Always thought that Dance of a Thousand Veils was more towards the pastels side, but you're makin' this work for you all right."

"-- and every lady of course must have an elegant protector," First inserts rapidly, directly on the heel of his brother's words, before Oberon can figure out whether Last's words were meant to be teasing or not. He bows deeply at the Guardian, as if he is fully deserving of such elegant courtesies.  

[Nyx Argyros]

Rajani gave them both a flat look, one which Oberon mirrored. Clearly, neither of them were amused or convinced by the twins' reasoning. The Guardian himself was only too pleased that his mistress was still cross with the pair of them. Oh, he knew that it would not be too much longer before she forgave them - unless of course they managed to invoke her wrath once more - but it was still nice while it lasted.

"You can forget the flattery and make yourselves useful for a change," she said, unwilling to be moved by their usual over the top flirtation. Or rather, Last's flirtation and First's flattery. It all amounted to the same thing.

She braced a hand on her cocked hip and waved a hand at the general festivities. "You can go out there and bring me some useful information."

Nothing quite like getting straight to the point. She wanted to waste as little time as possible with these two. Never mind that she was technically, partially in their employ - specifically for the task of keeping them informed about the bloody spymaster's interests. That had never stopped her from ordering them about before. Besides, things were a bit beyond that, now. She had been to the north. She had seen what was left of one of those villages. Unless she was very far off her mark, war was coming. They had more important things to worry about than spymasters and the origins of Guardians.  

[LoveByLetters]

They are able to maintain their grins and their casual poses until she says the word useful, as if they do not know what the word means and their lack of understanding troubles them ..

.. or, more likely, it's their understanding that troubles them. The words and the tone and the unwillingness to play their little game indicate that Rajani is still in a Mood, and when the gypsy is in this sort of state it's best to obey her. But she's never taken like this before, not until recently. She's never wanted them to do things that could actually get them in trouble that they couldn't get out of.

Not until now. Not until Oberon --

-- not until the wolves came.

They look at one another, and it is First that looks away, Last that looks back to her with a sigh, like he doesn't much want to but knows what it is he's got to say.

"And what's useful, anyhow?" Some of this he ought to know -- the Freds are more likely to find out things about movement of money, movement of supplies, who's buying up what in anticipation of being able to sell to the Queen's army. Sure, it'd make sense to find out the exact opinions of nobbles on the whole affair, but they aren't likely to be able to do that. It's all about coins with them, but they're treading careful with her now.  

[Nyx Argyros]

Oh, she knew well their strengths and limitations. Despite her mood, she was reasonable...though it certainly was tempting to ask for something unreasonable just to spite them. She was not quite that cruel, however, so she stuck to her original intent.

"Anything that has to do with all of this," she said, gesturing broadly at the party. Or more specifically, at the new Warden Grounds. "This place. Arms. Supplies. Take your pick."

She wanted a better picture of what was happening in the grand scheme. Though the gypsy was not accustomed to thinking in such ways, this seemed as good a time as any to start. It was unlikely that she would ever see things quite like the bloody noble, but she could at least get an idea of it, if she were lucky.  

[LoveByLetters]

They look at each other again, for they know what she'll use the information for. On one hand it's for her, and will probably be used to gauge how she'll approach the war in general. On the other hand, there's that nobble friend of hers that they don't much like, and it runs against their grain to offer some of this information to him. Especially at a time like this -- it's the smugglers, the movers of shady items, that stand to make the most money out of a war, and they've already seen a small uptick in trade.

With news of the Warden Grounds, they're likely to see an explosion ..

"Could be," First says with a great deal of care, "we've heard some already."

"Just a bit here and there, morelike," Last offers, glancing over his shoulder where their little brother has accosted another fair-goer, a man dressed as a jester, and ordered him to dance.

"It'd need somewhere private for the telling," First interjects, with a tone that brooks no argument. If they're going to have to give over their secrets, secrets that could cost them money, he wants something in exchange, even if it's just that the gypsy has to sit down with them somewhere long enough for those secrets to be told.  

[Nyx Argyros]

The gypsy's patience, though not yet at its limit, was never very long of late. She would rather not deal with the twins' hedging just then. If she were going to get answers, she wanted them straight. "After the party, then," she said. "There'll be no place free of ears here."

She glanced at Georgie and was torn between amusement and pity for the jester. Never let it be said that the youngest Grimm was anything but bold. Of course, given the rest of the family, that was hardly a surprise. She had the entire family wrapped around her little finger.  

[LoveByLetters]

"Two nights off in Palisade," Last says sharply, with the air of a farm wife coming to the bargaining table. After all, if it's a deal they're making he knows he's got to be quick and he's got to be clever. It's a gypsy they're arguing against.

"You can meet us at the pub off Winterwood Lane," First continues, his words on the heels of his brother's. The street he's named is just down from where their own tavern lies, the reasoning for which becomes clear a moment later. "The lads can wait in the stable off Two Beers, keep each other company." He sounds triumphant on this note, for surely he won't much want Oberon to be there, lording it over everything he might try to say to Rajani.  

[Nyx Argyros]

"Or tomorrow at the Rose and Crown," she countered. Normally, it would not be much of an issue. However, Rajani had been rather busy of late. Her time was not always her own. She had better things to do than waste her time on the road just to speak to someone who was right here already. "I'll not be back in Palisade for a while."

Oberon snorted. He was not at all amused at the idea that he should be placed in the kiddie pen with...that creature. He eyed the younger Guardian with disdain.  

[LoveByLetters]

That little tidbit of information causes the both of them to regard her with identical thin-lipped expressions of unhappiness -- but after sharing a sidelong look with each other, Last nods. For some reason this causes Unwelcome to make a sound rather too much like a snort of laughter to be coincidence, and she bobs up and down again excitedly on First's shoulder.

"Yesraj!" she tells the gypsy cheerfully, as if somewhere along the way she has decided that this is Rajani's name. Then, against all possible expectation, she goes from bouncing and cheerful to hunkering down, her wings slightly spread, and telling the twins in a guttural voice: "Say it." She sounds like she is mimicking someone else, someone angry, and in fact the boys both wear a pained expression as if this is something they did not particularly want the bird to do in front of Rajani.

First covers his face with one hand, his cheeks and ears turning slowly red. " .. you weren't supposed to have heard that, you daft bird," he mutters under his breath, but Unwelcome whistles angrily at him, fluffing up even further, and he speaks again, more loudly. "Yes, Rajani."

"The Rose and Crown suits," Last agrees, torn between being terribly amused and being embarrassed himself.  

[Nyx Argyros]

Oberon had none of the torn feelings Last was experiencing. Instead, he let out a loud bark that sounded suspiciously like laughter, and went on staring at the pair of them mockingly. Look at you, he seemed to say. Brought so low by a little bird.

If the way her lips were twitching was any indication, even Rajani seemed to be breaking from her foul temper. At least a little.

"Good," she said, glad that she would not have to delay the retrieval of information or make a trip well out of her way. Either one would have been inconvenient. At least this way, the headache would be out of the way sooner than later. Or rather, whatever she learned would likely add to the one that never seemed to go away.

Brilliant green eyes slid over to the smug-looking rook and her lips quirked once more. "Out of curiosity, just where did she pick that particular attitude up?"