Welcome to Gaia! ::

If the Cosmos Knight had been forced to choose one word to describe Castle Ebonwing it would have been rustic. Little of the more advanced technology that peppered other worlds could be found at the capital of the Corvidians-- Oh, they did have indoor plumbing and a network of light fixtures throughout the walls, but he imagined it was a Mauvian's nightmare to be cut off from everything else.

He found it fascinating however, which was why he had jumped on the opportunity when the assignment had opened for a Knight of Cosmos to spend time in the Corvus Cluster. It had been a surprise to find out that the Senshi of Vengeance he had heard tale of-- the warrior 'princess'-- was so young. History had it that she had awoken during this cycle as a child, brought up in the ways of her people and graduated from Chibi Sailor Corvus to simply Sailor. It was a pity that he hadn't been around to see that.

After the tour of the castle he and the young woman had retired to one of the studies where she had insisted he play her in a game of chess. The significance of the game was not lost to him, nor was the request that she play against him. Chess was a very good way of getting to know someone-- The way they treated each piece on the playing field a potential reflection of who they were.

Unfortunately, Knight Mag Mell of Cosmos had never taken enough interest in chess to be any good at the strategy side of it and his penchant for rushing in head first often infuriated those he played against. Sailor Corvus's reaction was no different and it was all he could do to keep his lips from twitching into a smile as she glared at the board in an attempt to predict his next move.

"I've been sitting here across from him long enough to have figured out how he has been playing, cousin," she snorted as she straightened herself out, reaching across the board to claim one of the knight's rooks.

"You're generally more polite when it comes to interrupting a game with a guest... I trust Uncle told you that we were expecting a guest this week." Her eyes lifted from the game board to briefly look up to her cousin. "Mag Mell, Knight of Cosmos, allow me to introduce you to Sailor Arsinoe, my cousin."

He laughed as he shifted to move a piece on the board without looking only to rise from his chair, offering his hand to the young man. "A pleasure to meet you."

"No harder than any partner at chess I've ever had tends to be when it comes to my unconventional methods of playing the game." His grin was warm despite the soft snort coming from the teenage girl still seated at the table. He gave Arsinoe's hand a firm but gentle squeeze before releasing it so that he could return his attention to the game.

"Mother told me that you would be arriving over breakfast this morning, but Mag Mell arrived first not long after that and you already know your way around Ebonwing, whereas our new guest does not." It wasn't often that she was granted a day to do as either she or a guest might please and she had been taking advantage of it as best she could. "We're heading to the hall for supper after this, though, if you'd care to join us. The game shouldn't last much longer..."

"You can watch as long as you promise not to touch the board and not to tell either of us what to do." She looked up to her cousin, waiting for him to confirm that he wouldn't interfere with the rest of the game before moving her next piece. The game between she and the Knight of Cosmos didn't last much longer, her usually calm face twisted in frustration and irritation as she stood glaring at the board.

"You win. This time."

He laughed, leaning back in his seat for a moment. "I accept your offer for a rematch at a time of your choosing, m'lady." The way her nose wrinkled had him resisting the urge to laugh all over again, the twinkle of amusement making its way up to his eyes.

"It would be my pleasure." He tipped his head politely before backing his seat up so that he could rise to his feet, waiting for the two of them to decide where they would be heading next.

"It should be. Would you be so kind as to show Mag Mell back to the hall? I promised Eta that I would get her when it was time for supper!"

The Cosmos Knight shook his head slowly as the young woman brushed past the two of them while holding her layers of skirts up just enough that she could move briskly down the hall. He could understand why others had been interested in this position just as he could understand why it might have stayed open for a bit longer if he had not expressed interest in it. Checking in on the Corvus Cluster and its surrounding areas was bound to be work. He would have to brush up on his diplomacy...

"Yes, she did." He nodded as he followed Sailor Arsinoe into the hall, rolling his ringers over the ring he wore on his thumb to twist it against his skin. "The study was the last stop on our tour, she assured me. We started with the courtyard."

"She said that the wind was too strong to walk the wall earlier-- Given that this is her primary place of residence I took her word for it." Certain that his habit of fidgeting with his hands was unbecoming, he stopped sliding his ring around, crossing his arms at the wrist behind his back instead as they walked.

"Provided this visit goes well, I'd like to think that I will be back through in a few months to see the courtyard in full bloom. The garden seems well cared for; similar to some of those that I've seen elsewhere in my travels. The fish were magnificent-- Koi, was it, that she called them?"