NationStates Jolt Archive

(No, I was totally serious. It's cool to read about it! I just wish I had that much imagination to come up with one!)

"Well, I was planning a romantic evening with Sara," Yarrum's cheeks were tinted pink, "... a night at the pizza joint where we first met... but when I let it slip that you were on the other line, I think she actually fainted from embarrassment. She should be okay by tomorrow."

"You were? Then why aren't you out with her still?"

"Jeff does tend to have that effect on people," put in Christin, wondering if she could beat out both Kate and Chris.

Katherine and Chris started laughing while Jeff, cleared his throat, "I.. er.. well... I think you're probably right," he grinned.

"You were? Then why aren't you out with her still?"
"Well, it's a bit difficult to have a romantic evening with someone who's unconcious, heh," Yarrum pretended to cough a bit. "But she should be as good as new by morning. Yes, I think she should."

"Jeff does tend to have that effect on people," put in Christin, wondering if she could beat out both Kate and Chris.

Katherine and Chris started laughing while Jeff, cleared his throat, "I.. er.. well... I think you're probably right," he grinned.

Yarrum tried to understand what Christin meant without looking puzzled.

"You were? Then why aren't you out with her still?"
"Well, it's a bit difficult to have a romantic evening with someone who's unconcious, heh," Yarrum pretended to cough a bit. "But she should be as good as new by morning. Yes, I think she should."

Jeff blushed a little, "I.. yeah, that's a good point. It would be hard. And illegal!"

([/blushes like James] :oops: Thanks, man, that really means a lot to me!)

"It's all love, Jeff," asserted Christin with an mischievous grin on her face. She looked up as James sideled into the room. “Sir Meow find the nursery all right?”

“Perfectly. Lizzie and John’re looking after the kids.” James looked about. “Ah! I was just thinking I was a little dry! Weathers, could I -”

“One glass of wine, Gadsani red, from up near Lakeriverwood. 1941 (1997)* vintage, if I remember correctly.”

“What would I do without you, Weathers?”

“I haven’t the faintest, your Majesty.”

(* depending on what year Iansisle exists in for you ;))

Jeff blushed a little, "I.. yeah, that's a good point. It would be hard. And illegal!"

Yarrum snorted.
"Oh, you're a witty one, Jeff!"

(Seriously, I hadn't thought about it that much. It's kind of odd to have someone faint and not wake up 'til morning, isn't it?)

([/blushes like James] :oops: Thanks, man, that really means a lot to me!)

"It's all love, Jeff," asserted Christin with an mischievous grin on her face. She looked up as James sideled into the room. “Sir Meow find the nursery all right?”

“Perfectly. Lizzie and John’re looking after the kids.” James looked about. “Ah! I was just thinking I was a little dry! Weathers, could I -”

“One glass of wine, Gadsani red, from up near Lakeriverwood. 1941 (1997)* vintage, if I remember correctly.”

“What would I do without you, Weathers?”

“I haven’t the faintest, your Majesty.”

(* depending on what year Iansisle exists in for you ;))

(anytime man. ;) 1941.. 1997... not much of a difference there. :P )

"Ya know," Jeff winked to Niven, "That does sound very good..."

Niven peered at Jeff, "Nice try. I don't think so."

Yarrum snorted.
"Oh, you're a witty one, Jeff!"

Jeff chuckled, "I have my moments. So is Sara asleep at the hotel now? How are you two getting along?"

(It's not that wierd, that explains the majority of my dates since... um... puberty ;) )

James looked on with interest, but Christin seemed vaguely unsettled by the topic.

"Well, how are the children getting along with Sir Meow?" Katherine asked James after he sipped his wine.

"Pretty darn well, it seemed," replied James, a little shocked by the conversation suddenly shifting towards him. He almost told them about John and Lizzy, but they were in mixed company. "Much better than you'd think a tiger should be with small children."

Christin coughed into her hand slightly and leaned up against James.

Katherine nods, "I was a little worried about them with the tiger, but Conner seems to get along well with him."

She heard Christin cough, "You all right, Cris? Can I get you something for that cough? I have the perfect recipe for a drink that might pick you up!"

"And woe unto the tiger if he did try anything with an Imitoran in the room," grinned James. Christin elbowed him.

"No thanks, Kate," she replied, holding up her glass of water. "I think this'll be fine for right now - my throat's just a little dry."

(I'm off for an hour or two...see ya soon, Lark!)

"And woe unto the tiger if he did try anything with an Imitoran in the room," grinned James. Christin elbowed him.

"No thanks, Kate," she replied, holding up her glass of water. "I think this'll be fine for right now - my throat's just a little dry."

(I'm off for an hour or two...see ya soon, Lark!)
(Cool! Catch ya then! I just rolled into the Casa myself, then I'll get the walking poop machine.. er.. my dog, ;) walked )

Jeff went pale at the mention of 'an Imitoran in the room'. He figured James was talking about John and Elizabeth. Still all these years after killing her husband, he had a hard time facing her. Jeff finished his glass of water, "Excuse me, I'm going to grab another drink. Anyone want anything?" he said before heading to the bar.

James had barely sipped at his wine, and Christin's glass was still half-full. They both said 'no thanks' as Jeff got up.

(I almost hate to say it, man, but I don't think this RP is going much of anywhere without A+H and Yarrum...think we ought to let it down?)

(Yeah, we probably should. I'll get started on the election thread since all the usual suspects will be there, I hope ;) )

The usual suspects and one newbie, as well :)

I've been waiting a while to use him in a proper RP; that last Rev. post was a little premature.

(Cool!! )

Jeff chuckled, "I have my moments. So is Sara asleep at the hotel now? How are you two getting along?"

"Actually, she's at our house in the Disputed Territories. And, well..." he paused, mouth slightly open. "The course of true love never did run smooth, you know."

"Excuse me, I'm going to grab another drink. Anyone want anything?"

"I'm fine for now, thanks."

(I was going to bring in another character eventually, if you think it will help I could do it sooner.)

"Actually, she's at our house in the Disputed Territories. And, well..." he paused, mouth slightly open. "The course of true love never did run smooth, you know."

"God, don't I know that's the truth," Katherine purred to Yarrum as she wrapped her arms around Jeff from behind, "But it's so worth it..."

God damn it...I can't seem to convince my computer's clock that we don't do daylight savings time here in Arizona. :?

(Don't you hate that? these things are supposed to make our lives easier and all you get is more stress... *waits for computer to shut down for uttering such blasphemy* )

"One might say that, if it did run smooth, it probably isn't really true love at all," said James, perhaps less than insightfully, as he put an arm around Christin.

(I know! After ten minutes fiddling around with the control center, I've just had to put it on Pacific Standard. Honestly, we got rid of daylight savings to save time (ba-dum tish!) and now I have to go through this hassel? [/sigh]

*computer eats post just to be malicious*)

( :lol: That's what you get for having to be contrary and not suffer along with the rest of us! ;) )

(Hey at least you don't live in Indiana!)

Ann had tended towards being a wallflower for most of the converstion just sort of listening more than anything. She was going to speak up in defense of Sir Meow but then decided that Sir Meow was his own best emmissary.

"Love has the power to forgive wrongs, but some wrongs should never be forgiven..." she says outloud while looking at her drink. Realizing that she just spoke outloud. She gives a embarresd smile and then has a brilliant idea. "Ladies, to the few good blokes in this world. Which is why it's nice to have Jeff back. After all we need a few hero's to counter the bastards of this world."

She sips at her drink and trys to think of a new line of conversation. "So Jeff, what are your kids into these days? Well besides all wanting to play with a tiger?"

***
The Tiger sat down to listen to John talk about 'being raised by tigers...' He stiffed at the phrase Gallagan Tiger, as though such narrow minded creatures shouldn't even been called a 'tiger' in his opinion.

"Ladies, to the few good blokes in this world. Which is why it's nice to have Jeff back. After all we need a few hero's to counter the bastards of this world."

"To heroes everywhere," agreed Christin, raising her glass of water, "But especially to our own hero right here. We're glad to have you back, Jeff!"

--

"But daddy, you can't go! You have to finish the story!" protested Ashley.

"I know, princess, I know," said John, kissing her on the forehead. "I'll be back in just a couple minutes, I promise."

"That's what you always say," sniffed Ashley.

Elizabeth walked over and put her arms around their daughter. "There, there, Ash. He'll tell you the whole story in just a few minutes. In the meantime, why don't we all sit around and sing a song?"

"I don' wanna sing," said Ashley sullenly. "I wanna hear the end of the story."

"Just a few minutes, Ash," said John, standing up and looking over his shoulder. "I'll be back in just a few minutes."

"Ladies, to the few good blokes in this world. Which is why it's nice to have Jeff back. After all we need a few hero's to counter the bastards of this world."

"To heroes everywhere," agreed Christin, raising her glass of water, "But especially to our own hero right here. We're glad to have you back, Jeff!"

"Yes," Katherine said raising her own glass, "I'm glad to have you back sweetheart."

She kissed Jeff before sipping her wine, "Well, I'm very glad to be back, I have to say. Thank you for the kind words everyone," he said with a smile.

OOC: Hey Yarrum, my nation just received your issue. :D Good one!

Ann attempt at diverting the conversation to a less painful course was proving to be a miserable failure.

Ann just smiled a bitter little smile and looked for some new track to take. She leaned over to Jeff and whispered..."When you have a chance I need to discuss buisness Ambassador Williams..."

***
Sir Meow saw how upset Ashley was and began to nuzzle her a bit.

Ashley giggled despite herself and patted Sir Meow on the head. It wasn't a perfect distraction, especically since Elizabeth still didn't seem all too comfortable with her daughter being nuzzled by one of the larger members of the cat family, but it did buy John some time to deal with whoever was on the other end of the phone.

Ann attempt at diverting the conversation to a less painful course was proving to be a miserable failure.

Ann just smiled a bitter little smile and looked for some new track to take. She leaned over to Jeff and whispered..."When you have a chance I need to discuss buisness Ambassador Williams..."

"No problem," Jeff replied, "Nothing too serious I hope?"

She shook her head, "I don't think it's that serious, well it is a serious matter...your going to have to deal with a full fleged Royal Envoy soon...preparing a posting of a Klatchian Grand Ambassador to the New Highlands Alliance. Of course things move so slowly in Port Olympus that Conner might be the one greeting the Grand Ambassador."

**
Sir Meow didn't understand why humans need the odd 'speakthings' but his mistriss used it offen enough that he thought he needed to distract all the children in a quiet manner. He flopped down and exposed his white belly to being petting by the children.

edit: fix atrocious spelling mistakes...

"A.. A full fledged Royal envoy? I see. Well I'll try to be ready for them. It sounds exciting! Hopefully the most excitement I'll have for a while. Is there anything special I should be ready for?"

-----

Conner and the twins were as happy as could be rubbing Meow's belly and petting his head.

She hid a smile in her glass. "Well, not having to have her staff save your hide after falling in some nasty bush would be a good start."

Ann realizes that the 'party' is sort of at a lull and winks at Kathrine..."I'm going to steal Jeff for a moment and talk buisness if you don't mind..."

Jeff blushed at the bush statement, "Ummm, that's a good point."

Katherine nodded to Ann, "Don't keep him away for too long," she smiled.

"So what can I help you with?" Jeff asked as the two walked.

"Well, before your untimley death I was sent your way by Ambassador Bradsworth, who really doesn't care for me all that much. I was assigned the task of writting a report on who best would serve as a Klatchian Grand Ambassador to the New Highlands Alliance." Her hands are sort of waving about as she describes her tasks.

"Now with my recent saving of your hide has gotten someone's attention, or specifically military affairs since I haven't responded in my capacity as military and commercial attache in Calarca..." She looks at Jeff with eyes that seem to say You can see what the hell these bastards have been doing to me

"Well the Peers got wind of the buisness and demanded a full report in the Grand Chamber. The Outer Minister basicly found that all of the Keys were pissed off. Seems they were not to happy about the Outer Ministry sending me back to Iansisle and breaking the 'gentlemen's agreement about me. Well the opostion parties smelled blood and you can guess what the ensuing fracas looked like. They actually dragged me in to a video confrence to confirm the facts. That it wasn't some other random woman with a pet tiger running about."
S
he laughs "The Peers are actually demanding that the task of setting the groundwork be done by a Royal Envoy...Of course his Grace has put forward the Baroness of Winton to be confirmed by the College at end of the week..."
She paused to let the title sink in, "And the Baroness would like herself to get moving about aranging diplomatic quarters and meeting the various New Highlands represenatives in the Golden Agate."

"I see," Jeff nods, "So they're really putting your through the ringer, huh? Well, congratulations on your new assignment, it could be worse.

"As far as diplomatic quarters, there will be a house waiting for you in the diplomatic sector of Golden Agate, probably in the foothills of the mountains and close to the ANH headquarters building. I'll make sure something's lined up for you, house and staff, car with a driver, all the diplomatic perks."

"Ah, well I don't need a staff Jeff, I'm a Royal Envoy which means I get Marines to do almost everything for me. It's actually a military posting, so the only people I'm going to need to hire is a cleaning staff..."

"They consider this to be a military post? That's interesting," Jeff said with a smile. "At least you'll be well protected, just in case anything happens. That'll put my mind a little more at ease."

"Ah not really Jeff...a Royal Envoy came out of sending Admirals off to do negotations with foreign powers. As such they became endowed with certin military statues and other paraphanillia as first Admirals went then retired Admirals, then a royal family member"

Her hands waved somewhat in the air agian, seeing the long list of heros, statesmen, and royal family members she has joined. "...today Royal Ambassadors and Envoys report directly to his Grace, while the rest of the nations Ambassadors report directly to the Central Minister. Since I'm reporting directly to the Crown, and am a direct represenative of his Grace, then I have to use Crown personel, which leads us to Marines. Of course there is one other benifit, I get to be fully knighted finally...strange Jeff, saving you has brought me back to where I wanted to be when I was a girl, an officer of His Graces Navy...I just want to say...well Thanks..."

She's thanking me for saving my life? I really ought to be thanking her more.

"So you'll be knighted before you leave for Golden Agate? When will that happen? Is it a private ceremony?" Jeff asked.

Way to go Jeff, you sound like a blithering idiot... again.

"I mean... what I need to say is... well, I wanted to thank you again for saving me," Jeff said

She looked at Jeff with somewhat watery eyes..."Jeff, somehow you earned a whole pile of Karma in your short life. And this is going to sound strange but saving you was the best move of my life so far..."

Now if only you didn't have such a great wife and family I'd be damn near set... She thought.

She turns away for a moment, wipes away the tears and looks back at Jeff, "Now then, as for me being knighted, well it's more of an upgrade thing...I was a knight cadet but with getting the equivilent of my commission finally, I get to be elevated to a knight commander. All I need for that are two knights in good standing to be present. I've got Sir Meow, who might be in the dog house recently but not with the Earl Marshall...so all I need to do is find a second knight as a witness when Sir Roland gets here to replace Lord Astbury...of course the poor dear doesn't know he's being recalled."

Jeff smiled at her, "Thanks," he said quietly.

"You need another knight? They have to be of a certain order don't they," Jeff let the thought fade out.

Cause I'm techincally a knight.. maybe not in good standing though..

"Ah, well if I was being knighted fully and not this odd 'brought into the order' you'd be correct. I'll be honest Sir Meow is actually the only living member of the Order of St. Henry, which is actually a Cawahaba Knighthood. It sort of got left in the List of Orders so that the Royal Family could knight a Vrakian if need be. I doubt until Meow, anyone thought that the sole knight of that order would be unable to perform more than duties of a Knight Lieutenant. And I am on a foreign station so..."
She just shrugs...

"In reality Sir Roland can probably decide who qualifies and who doesn't. He was the Master of the Order of the Griffen, and I'm only the fourth knight cadet in my countries 300 plus year history. Almost anything I do is precident setting. Hell, I'm the only knight cadet to ever be forced to resign as a midshipmen..." Her voice turns dark..."Well then...I made a very poor choice in lovers..."

Jeff bit his lower lip at this point, he really didn't know what to say. It seemed like Ann was bringing up bad memories, and he didn't know how to cheer her up.

"I, well if this Sir Roland guy determines who's in good standing or not, I could stand in that second spot," Jeff said. "I've done some good deeds, and I've got more than enough character witnesses, and I'd love to."

She seemed to jump out of the dark spot again and went..."Well, only if Kathrine agrees...I"m not going to have your wife thinking I'm trying to hijack her husband."

Although if you two didn't have kids... was a short thought qucikly driven out by a vision of little Conner looking up at her.

I really need to find a guy who doesn't walk on all four feet...

"Awww, I'm sure she won't mind. After all, you did keep me from dying right in front of her," Jeff grinned, "That's gotta be worth some serious points. From her and James.. er... his royal majesty," he added with a wink.

He gave Ann a friendly hug, "It'll be great, you'll get promoted, congratulations for that! You'll have a great time in Golden Agate, there's a lot to do there. Depending on what you like to do."

Not having to look at the flag of the bastards that tried to kill me and Meow, and killed all my crew will be nice

Ann smiled and have a hug back. A fairly strong hug considering she played with heavy swords most of her life..."Well, your her husband....Although I'm surprised she let's you run around without a wedding band. That's just inviting trouble you know..."

Jeff looked down at his hand, and Ann saw the blood drain from his face, "Oh crap! Where did I leave it? Damnit! I was in Gallaga.. Fred and I were trying to book passage on the plane and didn't have any .. Oh no... I was so caught up in getting to Jameston, I must have left it on the plane..."

Since Ann had long ago stopped looking at married women's hands and wedding bands she didn't realize that it was in her possession.

"Ah, well I'd call them up and have them send it back to you...I assume they forgot about it after that nasty hard landing."

"Yeah, there was a lot going on. But I'm so stupid, how could I have forgotten it? There were enough diamonds and platinum in it I could have bought my own plane.. crap!"

Ann just stood frozen for a second...and then laughed..."Ah you have a platinum and dimmond wedding band? You realize...You realize that losing that ring actually saved your life?" Her giggles turned into a fairly nice little roar of laughter..."You...owe....Meow....Big Time...I...mean without...him...you'd...be...in...serious...trouble."

Jeff looked confused, "I do? Huh? What do you mean?"

Ann looked at him then realized that he didn't have a clue. "You dropped your ring or someone did at the landing site. Meow found it...he was poking it with his nose when I noticed the thorns on that Dart Bush covered in blood. I would have never seen it if I hadn't thought Meow was getting into something, and Meow wouldn't have poked his nose around there without something nice, bright and flashy."

"Therefore the person you owe for both finding your wedding ring and saving your hide is that bundle of fur called Sir Meow."

She goes completely non-serious, "And if you want that band back you had better think of some nice gift to give my furry companion or I'm locking it up in the Embassy safe until Doomsday and you can explain to Kate what it's doing there."

She is obviously being playful with the last bit, the sparkle in her eyes and the laughter in her voice are almost intoxicating in a woman like her.

Jeff looked shocked, then surpised, then happy, then concerned, then happy all in five seconds time. Jeff then roared in laughter and picked up Ann in a bearhug and spun her around the sitting room quickly.

"I'll give him whatever he wants. If he's hungry, I'll find him a Hell Bovinian to... Well, the Duque might kill me," Jeff smiled. "You have no idea how grateful I am for you finding this. I've been so wrapped up in getting back, then rushed to the hospital and god knows what happened in the church when I was still up on the antitoxins... That must have been interesting."

Ann wasn't a lightweight...and a bit shocked..."Jeff put me down before the whole place is gossiping. Don't you know I come from the 'decadent, immoral Klatch...." After regaining the ground she gives a fairly large smile. "I don't think that you need to worry about feeding an intelligent cow to him. However a nice fresh Orc would make him happy..."

She pauses to consider what to tell Jeff about his antitoxin escapades. "Well, it did envolve a good deal of kissing Kate, and you getting locked in your own coffin. Which you'll not be able to resuse...sort of smashed it up, along with the cross from the High Alter."

(Need to go for the night, thunderstorm and I left my car windows open, plus I'm tired...)

"The immoral what?" Jeff asked, feeling a burden fall off of his shoulders as he saw his wedding band again.

"A nice, fresh Orc? Where will I get something like that?" Jeff continued.

Upon hearing the story of what he did he started laughing again, "I locked myself in my own coffin? That must have been an interesting sight. And let me take a guess who's idea it was to get the High Cross involved... dad?"

Katherine walked over to James and Christin, "I hope things are all right in there," she said pointing to the room Jeff and Ann had gone into to discuss business. "Ann said she needed to discuss some business with Jeff."

"I was wondering about that myself," said James, glancing back at the door they'd gone through. "I hope it's nothing too serious."

"Just between you and me, Kate," he continued, "I don't think I like that woman too much. It's not anything specific...it's just.." James paused to search for words, "Well, she's not part of the family. Not like you, or Jeff, or Dad."

"Well, we've just met her," Katherine said, "She seems like a sweet person, a bit standoffish. She's not part of the family, but she did save Jeff. I owe her big for that.

"What's wrong James? Maybe I can help you figure it out."

James laughed. "It's nothing, really. I owe her my life for saving Jeff's; I think these feelings are just..well, silly, really."

"I think I know what it is," said Christin. "She reminds you of Hoot."

"Hoot?" asked James, his voice suddenly taking on an icy tilt. "There's a name I'd be happy never to hear again in my entire life.

"No, I don't think she does," he said after a moment's consdideration, "I don't feel like running her through with the nearest pointy object whenever we're in the same room."

"Hoot?" Katherine asked, "Who's Hoot? We're not talking about the owl are we? Jeff's mentioned the name a few times."

"Hoot is an annoying little sprite who seems to take no pleasure but in the suffering..."

"Stop it," laughed Christin, slapping him on the belly. "Hoot's an Imitoran, but not one I know very well. I think he's special forces..."

"And banned from ever entering Iansislean or Imperial territory again, on pain of death," cut in James.

"I think he's saved Jeff's life once or twice, as long as we're counting," continued Christin, putting her hand over James' mouth.

"mmphh mm mmph," said James.

"That's where I remember the name from," Katherine said. "He was in Daezeman right after I was... well, right after. He said he heard Jeff was in the area and came by to visit. Jeff seemed glad to see, what was it he said.. 'a friendly face'."

"Mmmph mp mmmm mpph!" said James, crossing his arms sullenly.

"Right after..?" Christin started to ponder, before realizing it obviously wasn't a subject Kate wanted to expand upon and blushing.

"I'll tell ya sometime," Katherine said, "We'll go out for a few cocktails and I can tell you about it. Or this one," she tapped James chest to get him from crossing his arms, "Can tell you."

(speaking of everyone's favorite pain in the butt, did James get the chance to read what Hoot sent Jeff in the other thread? )

(erm...I need to admit to skimming over a large part of the posts in the thread, so there's a good chance I haven't read it ;)...I'll go look up the incident in question after this post.)

Christin looked at James curiously. He unfolded his arms, both in response to the poke and to shrug. As Christin moved her hands, he said "I think over cocktails would really be the best."

Just then, Quinton stepped in the room. “Mr Frederic Longley, RIFC Retired, and Ms Mary Baird, Your Majesty,” he announced to James. No one followed him in; at least at first. After a (not-so) subtle gesture, Fred walked in, his five foot nine stature looking positively gigantic compared to the tiny blond Shadoranite woman standing next to him. They were both done up in their finest (though still relatively shabby) church clothes and blushing deeply enough that the red on their faces threatened the Honeycomb’s predominant golden hue.

“G-good evening, Your M-majesties,” stumbled Fred. He recognized Kate at once, too, and added “Your Grace” onto the end. Mary looked too scared to say anything.

(So you missed the whole they're about to be attacked thing at the end? :P Just in time to try and wake Jeff up from whatever that high priestess lackey did with him ;) )

Katherine smiled as Fred and Mary as they walked in, "Hello Ms. Baird, Mr. Longley," she said, extending her hand. "I still haven't had the chance to thank you for finding Julie, and bringing Jeff home to us."

(um...yes :oops: *reads other thread*)

"Thank you, Your Grace," said Fred. He was still clutching a well-worn fedora in his hands; obviously, Quinton's (not-so) subtle attempts to take it from him had gone in vain. "But really, Julie found us, and it was J - His Grace saved my hide more than a few times."

He'd been working on a way to worm out of the compliments the entire boat ride over from Ianapalis.

"Please, Mr Longley, Ms Baird, come in; sit," said James waving his hand to an empty couch. Fred turned, if it was possible, even brighter red; he hadn't realized that Quinton couldn't close the Honeycomb's door while they were standing on the threshold. He and Mary hurried over to the couch and sat down with as much dignity as they could muster.

Katherine winked at him, "Don't call him 'Your Grace' when he comes back, cause god knows how embarrased he'll be. Please sit down and relax, can I line up anything for you two to drink? "

"No! No thank you!" said Mary quickly, and Fred shook his head. James regarded the both of them with an amused expression.

"A glass of wine for both of them, please, Weathers."

"No, Your Majesty, that's quite all right!" insisted Fred. "You don't have to --"

"I think you're pronouncing my name wrong," replied the High King with a grin on his face. "It's 'James', not 'Your Majesty.' To friends of Jeff's, at least."

"Yes, I thought there was something wrong with that," Katherine said. "James sounds much better.

"So tell me a little bit about yourselves," Katherine said to the pair as they tried to process everything that was going on.

"Thank you!" Mary said as Weathers handed her a glass. She didn't seem quite sure what to do with it, and stole a glance or two to see what others were doing with theirs.

Kate's question evidently took Fred by some surprise. He'd been holding the glass almost too carefully - after all, it was red wine right above a sea of upholstery - and the shock nearly made him spill it on the Larkinian-build couch.

"Well, I help fly for the government now," he said after carefully recovering, "and Mary, um, cleans houses in Coastal Paradise." He sounded ashamed of the statement.

"Really?" Katherine said with a warm smile. She noted Fred's tone and went on, "Fred, Mary, don't ever be worried about what you do for a living. What you do is not indicative of who you are inside. Right now, I'd say that you two are more welcome in James' house and mine, than any number of lords, ladies and dukes."

"The immoral what?" Jeff asked, feeling a burden fall off of his shoulders as he saw his wedding band again.

"A nice, fresh Orc? Where will I get something like that?" Jeff continued.

Upon hearing the story of what he did he started laughing again, "I locked myself in my own coffin? That must have been an interesting sight. And let me take a guess who's idea it was to get the High Cross involved... dad?"

(Ah, sorry Ann left the wedding band back at the Embassy :cry: )

"Yes, I mean...Vrakians go around nude all the time, or with just silly little hats on...As for the Orc, don't worry about it...you'd need to go Orc hunting in the northern Klatch and Kate would hunt me if I allowed you up there...Especially considering that there is no real government anymore for that part of the Klatch...."

She nods about the High Cross, "I'll admit I thought about it but really, desecrating a cathedral of a foreign power isn't high on my list of priorities. Especially considering I'm in poor graces with his Majesty...of course his Majesty's navy is in my poor graces also..."

"They do?" Jeff asked, "Nude, huh?"

Don't Jeff-o, innocent flirting or not, you're married. She's really sweet and I think we'd be great friends...

"Yeah, Kate might get upset if I went running out again so soon after getting back from Gallaga. Maybe there's someplace I could order some Orc from and get it overnighted to him."

"Your navy is? Well, if you ever get the urge to go sailing, I have a small boat that we haven't nearly been on enough," Jeff added. "Maybe an outing is in order. Does Meow get seasick?"

"Ah, get dirty thouhts out of your head Jeff...think Seacows...like the Bovines? Their Walruses..."

"I was refering to King James, Jeff...I'm from a Grand Duchy which means that theoretically you and Alexander the Third are at the same social level. Although I doubt that you own an entire continent...even if it is somewhat in theory... for Alexander..."

"Perish the thought. I'm as pure as the newly fallen snow."

Outside a coal plant, maybe...

The clue finally kicked in for Jeff, "Ahhhh, I understand. And I don't own anything, I'm just lucky enough to take care of the land and the people on it. Heck, I have a hard enough time mowing the yard at the estate, although it is a pretty big one."

She just shakes her head..."Jeff, until now I thought I was the most clueless noble in history. Mowing your own lawn? I'd hate to see what your financials look like...no, let me guess you let Kate take care of those things. Just trying to keep tabs on the expenses for my Barony is troublesome..."

"Well, we let the accountants work on that for us," he said. "Our accounting firm (Arthur Andersen :P ) keeps tabs on our finances.

"Umm, it's a bad idea to mow your own place then? I'm still getting used to this whole nobility thing."

"Ah, well they never do seem to keep the books strait (You realize they hired people without degree's as 'consultants' if they looked cute :? ). I guess I don't want to spend what little free time I have mowing the twenty acres of gardens and paths."

She stops and considers things, "Actually, I've been told I have a black thumb and should avoid playing with the flowers in the garden on pain of death by my gardener..."

She then looks at Jeff, "Although I inherited my title and all, I am completely clueless about how to act as a Peer. My grandfather disowned my mother for marying my father, well life decided to complicate things...but when my Uncle took a nose dive into the Dark Sea...guess who got to play Baroness. Maybe we should start a support group for clueless peers. The International Society of Newbie Nobles, ISNN"

"No they don't, at least they try to... I think."

(So that explains why I never landed that job there! I wasn't cute enough! ;) )

Jeff nods, "We should start a group like that. Here and now we'll be the first two members to sign up.

"Life decided to complicate things? Well, maybe this posting in Golden Agate would be a good thing. A chance for life to make up for the problems it caused you earlier?"

(I wonder if Jeff's accountants are from out of Iansisle -- it must be fun coming from Larkinia to a country with no computers or paper money ;))

"T-thank you, Y- Kath- Your Grace," half-whispered Mary, obviously confuse as to how far she was allowed to use Christian names.

"'Katherine,'" said James. "Come on, we're all friends here, and we all have first names." Fred looked a little more at ease, but Mary seemed about ready to freeze up. "We just want you to be comfortable around us; despite the myriad of others who would have you thinking we're gods or some such nonsense, we're just living, breathing human beings, like you."

*Meow eats another post*...I'm going to have to put the poor guy on a diet soon...

"Charter members...Ah, well who knows Jeff. I may completely screw up in the Golden Agate. I may come out of it succsfully...I've got my furry companion and savior, a few new friends...All I need is good man, let me guess no unmarried brother Jeff?" She decides to tease him a bit.

(They hired a guy who was so dim we called him 'absoulte darkness' of course he was sleeping with the cutest girl in the dorm also... :? )

(Now how in the hell does that happen? )
Jeff smiled at Ann again, "I think you'll be successful there, and you've already landed some new friends today."

He looked down when Ann asked about a brother, "Nah, James is the closest thing I have to a brother. He's more of a brother than any blood-related brother I could have ever had. Although my friend Chris might be looking," he winked.

-----

Katherine nodded, "Yeah, please just call me Katherine. So, tell me more about you, how did you two meet?"

*snip*

"Well, um.." Fred was mumbling, but Mary seemed utterly incapable of speaking, "during the War, the Dasher we were taking to Port Laughlin developed some problems, and we had to make a belly landing just a couple hours out of Lakeriverwood.

"We came down in a corn field a few miles out of Coastal Paradise. Mary lived in the nearby town, and came out to see what'd happened, and well..."

The entire story had been told nearly incoherently, and Fred trailed off as it came to an apparent close.

(Ah, women want cute more then they want intelligence or any other attribute?)

Ann smiles a wicked grin, "Hmm, well maybe I'll just wait until Conner's eighteenth birthday..." She giggles..."I'm sorry but he's the only guy to look at me with eyes of admiration in a good while."

She looks at her watch..."I think we'd better reappear or their going to send the Royal Guard looking for us."

"Well, um.." Fred was mumbling, but Mary seemed utterly incapable of speaking, "during the War, the Dasher we were taking to Port Laughlin developed some problems, and we had to make a belly landing just a couple hours out of Lakeriverwood.

"We came down in a corn field a few miles out of Coastal Paradise. Mary lived in the nearby town, and came out to see what'd happened, and well..."

The entire story had been told nearly incoherently, and Fred trailed off as it came to an apparent close.

"And she nursed you back to health," Katherine said, "How romantic! So Mary, what did you think of Fred when you for saw him?"

(Ah, women want cute more then they want intelligence or any other attribute?)

Ann smiles a wicked grin, "Hmm, well maybe I'll just wait until Conner's eighteenth birthday..." She giggles..."I'm sorry but he's the only guy to look at me with eyes of admiration in a good while."

She looks at her watch..."I think we'd better reappear or their going to send the Royal Guard looking for us."

Jeff was about to say something about how Ann probably had a lot of people interested in her, but decided against it considering her statement about her prior relationships.

"Yeah, he is a great little guy," Jeff smiled. "He's got just enough of his older sister's mischeviousness to him that we have to keep an eye on him."

Jeff then nodded, "You're right, we'd better get back out there, or Katherine will come looking for me, and she scares me more than the royal guard." Jeff opened the door, "After you," he said with a great smile.

Fred started to mumble something, but Kate's next question cut him off. He didn't seem upset about the interuption; on the contrary, he seemed positively delighted by it.

Mary shifted uncomfortably after being put in the spotlight by the Duchess Williams in front of the Imperial High King and Queen. Unlike Fred, she'd had no time to get herself ready to meet some of the highest ranking nobles in and the royal head of the Commonwealth.

"Well, I was just wondering if he was going to be all right," she replied, stuttering just a little. "But I guess they hadn't been going very fast; they all seemed fine. Pa said it would nice of us to put one of them up for the night, seeing as how they were fighting for our freedom and all."

"If I remember correctly, he didn't like me one little bit," said Fred, trying to come into his own in the conversation. However, he didn't expand on the idea, and Mary didn't take it up either. Instead, she sat with her glass of wine over her long skirt and stared straight ahead, though carefully at none of the room's other occupants.

Fred started to mumble something, but Kate's next question cut him off. He didn't seem upset about the interuption; on the contrary, he seemed positively delighted by it.

Mary shifted uncomfortably after being put in the spotlight by the Duchess Williams in front of the Imperial High King and Queen. Unlike Fred, she'd had no time to get herself ready to meet some of the highest ranking nobles in and the royal head of the Commonwealth.

"Well, I was just wondering if he was going to be all right," she replied, stuttering just a little. "But I guess they hadn't been going very fast; they all seemed fine. Pa said it would nice of us to put one of them up for the night, seeing as how they were fighting for our freedom and all."

"If I remember correctly, he didn't like me one little bit," said Fred, trying to come into his own in the conversation. However, he didn't expand on the idea, and Mary didn't take it up either. Instead, she sat with her glass of wine over her long skirt and stared straight ahead, though carefully at none of the room's other occupants.

"And why wouldn't her father like you Fred?" Katherine asked, then looking at the two of them added, "If it'll help you relax, just picture them without anything on," she winked before looking up and seeing the door open and Jeff and Ann walk out.

"I say." Jeff boomed as the two walked over, "Is that Fred I spy sitting there?"

Ann smiled at the comment about Kathrine. And followed Jeff out the door.

"Jeff!" Fred sounded delighted to see someone he could actually, on the basis of past acquaintance, talk to easily, and bounded up from the couch. Mary followed him, albeit a step behind, and blushed deeply. Apparently she was an avid reader of the Williams Saga in the local IanCorp paper.

He either didn’t notice or disregarded Ann’s presence.

James, however, looked directly at her. “I trust everything went well, Baroness Winton?”

Jeff smiled as the two walked back to the group at the couch. He shook Fred's hand warmly as he and Mary stood up and walked over. "How are you Fred? I'm so glad you could make it!"

He turned to look at Mary, "And this must be Mary, the love of your life," he said with a grin, as he smiled and squeezed her hand. "You didn't say she was so charming."

Katherine elbowed Jeff, "Behave yourself," she grinned before turning to James, "I'm sure their meeting went perfect. Come on you two, this is a party, a time to reflect and be happy."

"Yes, basic arangements have been made for the Royal Envoy to the Golden Agate" Ann replied with a civil tone.

James laughed. "How silly of me; I'd forgotten." To Ann, he simply said, in a somewhat dry tone, "I'm glad to hear that. The New Highlands have never minded an interloper."

Meanwhile, Mary had just about fainted, and only Fred's supporting arm kept her upright.

"I'm doing much better now that I've had the chance to dip myself in a body of water without the threat of contracting yellow fever or any sort of parasite," shrugged Fred. "I never thought I liked Shadoran all that much, but it's good to be home."

Ann just eyed the King and gave the Queen a bit of a smile. "Now your...Fred and who is this young lady with you?"

"Er... right," Katherine said. She knew better than to get in between these two. Eventually they'd work things out, she turned around and helped Fred lower Mary back to the couch.

"That's going to be great, isn't it?" Jeff asked. "It's amazing, when you're out in someplace like Gallaga, how much you miss the simple things your own home has to offer you. Although if you'd like to go out on a flight sometime. I've got it! You and Mary, James, Christin, Ann. Meow and Katherine and I can go out on a day on the boat!"

I have to be stuck on a boat in Iansisle waters again...with Mr. Stuffed shirt here. Oh please Athena preserve me. was Ann's thought. She hid her displeasure in finishing off her drink.

"Yes, Fred," he said. Ann's face seemed familiar - he couldn't quite place it with the savior from the hospital - and he didn't want to seem too ignorant, so decided to be vague instead.

"This is Mary, my -- " Fred drew up short. Like anyone who read the IanCorp mass-media publications, he knew full well the consequences that fell upon he who should be so brazen as to look at a woman before marriage. He left it at 'Mary'.

Being invited to a day on 'the boat' with the High King, Queen, Duke and Duchess of Williams, and...some other people wasn't quite what Fred had thought would be near the first thing out of Jeff's mouth. Still, he recovered nicely.

"That'd be great! Although, I had an invitation of my own." He pulled an envelope from his pocket. "The Gulls are playing the Commonwealth All-Stars in a couple days, an exhibition game before the next Cherry Cup. I could only get us seven tickets, though..”

The tickets Fred tried so calmly to refer to were actually five and a half general box seats, which had cost him a week and a half’s salary to buy.

"Hey! That sounds like a great idea!" Katherine said, squeezing Jeff's arm, "We haven't been to a game yet!"

"Hockey, huh?" Jeff winked to Fred, "Looks like I wasn't the only one taking notes during our talk on the flight back," he smiled. "I think the two of us would love to go!"

"And the kids?" asked Fred, before realizing that he'd just de facto excluded the High King.

"It's all right," said James quickly. "I'm sure Cris and I can pick up another two adjacent tickets from somewhere."

"I think they'd like to come along!" Jeff nodded.

"Now then," Niven said, resting a hand on Jeff's shoulder, "You'll not leave me behind on another trip, even if it's to the arena. So James, maybe you can score another couple of tickets. But I need a cohort in crime..." he winked at Ann, "What do you say?"

Ann knew what Hocky was...but living in a country where finding frozen bodies of water not located in high mountian passes was near impossible knew nothing of the game but a single phrase...
"I went to a fight and a hocky game broke out..."

She looked for someone to refresh her drink

"I think they'd like to come along!" Jeff nodded.

"Now then," Niven said, resting a hand on Jeff's shoulder, "You'll not leave me behind on another trip, even if it's to the arena. So James, maybe you can score another couple of tickets. But I need a cohort in crime..." he winked at Ann, "What do you say?"

"Yes, Doctor Niven I would be more than happy to accompany you..."
I'm going to watch men kick a little black puck around for god knows how long?

"Excellent," Niven smiled.

"Hey, that's great!" Jeff said. "Now if we can score the extra tickets, which shouldn't be a problem, we'll be set!"

Weathers seemed vaguely uncomfortable with the idea, but supposed that proper security around the arena could probably be arranged.

Besides, this meant that he'd be going to the game - a thought which spread a smile on the young Shadoranite's face.

Fred meanwhile, was estatic that his idea had been so well received. "They have a new player this year," he said. "They say he'll be the next Martin St. Amour."

Fred's voice was very confident; after all, the Gulls had been close runners-up to the Mighty Ducks of Eizen in the last Cherry Cup; a youngster comparable to the greatest player in franchise history certainly couldn't hurt their chances!

(I think this is a good place to end this, with everyone going to watch a hockey game :) )

(fine with me...it's starting to get a little bulky too

Darn you, NS server! There IS a page there, I swear it! It has a link)

OOC: I agree however need to tie up a few lose ends...

Three Days Later
Gunfire is heard outside the Alconian Embassy as an attempt is made to kill Embassy Staff. It is believed to be retributions for Alconian activity with Clarca. Ann is slightly wounded with a bullet to the shoulder, but otherwise unharmed.

Four Days Later
Lord Astbury is found to be missing from his post. Later investigation reveals that he has skipped out of most known territory.

Six Days Later
Ann is made Royal Envoy to the Grand Agate and Knighted with Jeff as a knight in good standing :wink:

One month Later
Lord Astbury's title and lands are Attainted by act of the Grand Chamber and college of Peers. Some beleive that Astbury has hired people to kill Ann...

Six Days Later
Ann is made Royal Envoy to the Grand Agate and Knighted with Jeff as a knight in good standing :wink:

(OOC: Can I get a "whoop whoop" for that ;) )

One month Later
Lord Astbury's title and lands are Attainted by act of the Grand Chamber and college of Peers. Some beleive that Astbury has hired people to kill Ann...

(OOC: Oh man, Jeff's gonna have to cap that fool...)

Six Days Later
Ann is made Royal Envoy to the Grand Agate and Knighted with Jeff as a knight in good standing :wink:

(OOC: Can I get a "whoop whoop" for that ;) )

One month Later
Lord Astbury's title and lands are Attainted by act of the Grand Chamber and college of Peers. Some beleive that Astbury has hired people to kill Ann...

(OOC: Oh man, Jeff's gonna have to cap that fool...)

(OOC: Jeff needs to worry about Ann putting a bullet in Ann six months later...)

OOC: Good point. I think Jeff can talk her down.