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Of a Sweet Deal
Rose: Sweet Deal
Rose had followed LISA out of the coffee-house, and conversed to Kyrre very quickly in their short-sign language that LISA was to be trusted totally, and to just go along with it. The frowns she got in return she ignored, but did flash back a quick "you know i can take care of myself", to which they had nothing they could retort with.
So they got in the strange vehicle, and listened to LISA explain a few things. Rose was impressed, but didn't say much. She knew that messing with the future- and knowing too much about one's future- could be detrimental. So she observed mostly silently. When they passed a dense forest, even Rose felt a pang of homesickness she had not expected. It looked like a lovely, rich forest.
And then the forest led to the ocean. Rose wasn't one to get sea-sick, but the stress of the thought that at any moment a wave would overpower them or something in the ocean would reach up and crush them did make her quite uneasy.
And then the city. It was immense, and crowded. While Rose appreciated its beauty for what it was, she was a little freaked out by all the fake sunlight and multiple levels of streets. She felt clausterphobic almost, and yet not. She shuddered.
And then they saw what had to be the Castle- it had no other description. Rose was awed. Her castle was... well, hers was an enormous tree. Quite rustic in comparison. As they got out of the car, she saw Kyrre staring her down, as if trying to keep eye contact with her long enough to start a whole other signed conversation, but she turned and followed LISA.
The meager business atmosphere at the ground level of the castle was underwhelming. But she supposed it was necessary. Not only for streamlining things (she really needed to work on that in her realm), but also to remind the people that this wasn't a place for miracles, but required seriousness. She liked it.
As LISA addressed the secretary, things got strange. Of course, LISA introduced them and all, but the flood following shortly thereafter of men who had to be part of the King's Cabinet was unexpected. Rose smiled and nodded to those who spoke to her, but she could tell she was in over her head. Her administration had nothing on this place. She was outclassed and out... well, outintimidated, to be certain.
And finally, they went up an elevator to go meet King Ezekiel. For this, Rose had to prepare again. After all, this place was unlike any she'd ever seen. Of course, they were in the future, so that explained a lot. The elevator ride was calming, but Rose was still trying to collect her thoughts when she stepped into a large room reminiscent of her own Glade. Kyrre and the Gaurds Larn and Meekal were asked to depart, and they again tried to persuade Rose of something. She shook her head once, waved them on, and then turned to regard the King.
King Ezekiel was handsome in his own right, despite the scar, and soothingly easy-going in attitude. He wasted no time, and offered her licorice before he explained.
Rose grabbed a piece of licorice, and sat down. She was quiet while Zeke spoke, and kept a calm small smile on her face. When he finished and held out his hand, she lowered one eyebrow. "Now, I may be new to this- I'm certain you've had more practice, but I feel like I'm missing something here." she paused.
"Like what?" He scratched his head, with a goofy grin across his face.
"You're offering my people... access to technological advances ahead of our time, as well as a trade agreement." Rose hesitated to add that their exports were... well, she couldn't even remember what they were at the moment. "So, what do you get from this agreement, exactly?" Rose asked, trying not to be harsh in her bluntness.
He nodded a bit, sitting down on his desk, before staring back out the window. "Hopefully? Some more people to this planet." He paused and smiled. "Not to mention a girl around my age in the same boat as I, for someone to talk to. Platonically of course. I'm bethroed to some girl." He quickly added with a blush.
Rose nodded thoughtfully, and laughed at the way he mentioned being betrothed to some girl. "You seriously just want more people here?" she paused, as twenty different things flitted through her mind at once. She took in a deep breath. "As your own subjects? Your own warriors? Permanently?" Rose felt her face flushing. She still didn't understand this, and she was worried.
He tapped his chin in thought. "Well, that would be indirect. You could just send the Academy a few transfer students from your colleges. Maybe a Kitsune or two decides they like the future better then the past and stays. Kitsunes in this quadrant of the galaxy are so incredibly rare that we'd get all sorts of people coming by to see why a Kitsune would anchor here. I don't know. I don't like grandious plans."
Rose's face finally broke into a genuine smile. "Huh." she said- not her best comment so far, to be sure. "So, like, we could perhaps build and maintain an Embassy here? Perhaps create a small town in the forest from which kitsunes could go to the academy without forgetting their customs?" Rose paused, still smiling. "Allies." she said finally, and nodded.
He smiled as well and leaned back over the decsk, landing on his chair. "Exactly."
"Then, Your Majesty, I do believe we have an Agreement. If you require, we can sign a treaty. Or whatever you feel comfortable with. Other than that... just let me know what you'd need me to do."
He typed away on a keyboard hidden beneath his desk, causing a holographic display to appear in front of Rose, with the terms they just talked about on an informal contract in front of her. A small stylus pen appeared in her left hand, and a glowing X appeared at the bottom. "Sign there." He said with a grin.
Reading quickly (Rose again was thankful that kitsunes were able to do many things at a very fast pace), Rose had no difficulties in seeing that there would be no legal issues in this. She signed the holographic document easily.
"So... I suppose you've probably got a hundred other things to attend to next?" Rose said, uncertain again. The need to get home and explain this weighed on her now. Though, she really did like chatting with this Ruler who seemed to be such a kindred spirit.
He shrugged and tilted back in his chair. "I suppose so. Although, it's not really mandatory. It's not like this job is every waking hour, Lady Blueaecid. It's just like every other job. It just comes with a company HOUSE instead of a Company Spaceship. Er, Car, I guess would be the termanology for your time period." He stood up and began to chew on a piece of licorice himself. "I am quite glad to have such a wonderful and fuzzy ally." He said before kissing her on the hand and helping her to her feet.
Rose laughed at his comment as he then helped her up. But something he had just said....
blueaecidsrose: "I don't want to deceive you, King Ezekiel." Rose said. "So I would like to clarify."
He blinked. "You can just call me Zeke..." He said before scratching the top of his head. "What'd I say?"
Rose almost giggled, but was determined to continue. "I am the Queen of the Kitsunes of Southern Gaia. But I myself am only part kitsune." Rose blushed. Considering her tail and ears were apparent, this seemed obvious. "I am a mixture of a few other things as well- and I'd just rather ensure you knew that. My people are all kitsune, of course. I'm just also part demon, fairy, angel." she paused. "Thought it only fair you should know. I'd like you to be able to trust me."
He smiled before tussling his own hair and lifting up his shirt a bit, showing off rather toned abs temporarily. "A lot fuzzier than I, M'lady." He paused. "Isn't that redundant?" He tapped his fingers. "Wait wait... You're 1/4 devil?"
Rose flinched. "I'm... not exactly sure which term is more accurate? My parents didn't get a chance to really explain it to me before they died. But, yes." Rose couldn't bring herself to ask if this was a problem.
Zeke rubbed the back of his head. "Well, no there's nothing wrong with being part Devil. It's just... Well the Academy fights a type of Devil, a Nightmare Creature to be exact, and I wouldn't wnat you to feel like you'd get attacked for that." He blinked. "So you don't know what kind of Devil you are?"
Rose felt a little relieved. Nothing wrong with it. Right. "I'm not completely sure. As you might suppose, that branch of my heritage is not on cordial terms with me." she paused. "I don't feel as if you or your people would take issue with me, nor would I take issue with a battle against evil demons."
Zeke smiled. "Good, that's a good thing to hear. I don't have any problems trusting Faeries, Fox Demons or Devils that are not evil. I don't exactly know what an Angel is, but I'm sure that's no problem for the people. I could arrange a trip down to this Southern Gaia to introduce myself to your people in a few weeks if you'd like." He said with a nod.
Rose smiled. "That would be wonderful. It would also give me time to work with my people and perhaps arrange a founding group to travel here."
He paused, before typing away on his desk again, causing a screen to appear again. It was backwards to Rose, however, despite her standing behind Zeke.
"Alright, Lady Blueaecid. It's all set. That portal your friends went through shall take you home to your kingdom." He smiled and gave her a small basket of random candies and assorted sweets. "To a new friend." He said softly before pushing her into the portal, which disappeared as she suddenly found herself sitting on her throne.
Rose sighed, seeing herself home again, and realized that she wasn't the only one. Sahm and Kyrre had sighed in unison with her at her appearance back. She smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Now what did I tell you? You were worried again?" Rose teased Kyrre. His half-smile was pathetic. "Well. I would ask what I've missed, but first I have to let you know what you've missed. Assemble the Council."
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