010 Summons ❈ Dictated ❈ Backdated to the 9th

[ninjainviolet]

[Unaware of just how much time had passed while she dreamed and shared experiences, Sheena awakens from sleep more tired than when she started. Although it's more a mental exhaustion than physical, it's still draining enough that the idea of falling back to sleep is a very appealing one.

However, the notion that what she has just gone through being the result of the castle and one of its trick won't die, so after several minutes of debate, the young ninja leaves the relative comfort of her bed and changes, taking what she needs for where she's going.

A place away from the castle and possibly anyone else. Flipping open her journal, she speaks quickly.]

Hey. Sheena here.

I'm not exactly sure what just happened, but if anyone wants to talk or something, we can do it over this thing, or--

[A pause]

Or if you need me, I'll be staying in the stables for a little while.

[Filtered to Zelos]

...

[She has no idea what to say here but maybe he'll get she understands--sort of.]

[Filtered to Once-ler]

That's what you didn't want to tell me, wasn't it? I-- I really can't hold it against you, Once-ler, and you saw why.
And--
I'm sorry about trying to kill you.

[Filtered to Ino]

I really couldn't stop myself from trying to kill you. I-- I just wanted you to know that.

[That done, she closes the book and hightails it to the stables.]

Comments

[ninjainviolet]

[Of course, she's treating him like a threat. He just implied he'd be taking Onyx from her without permission.]

You might want to ask their owners before you do something like that. Or even the horses themselves. They're pretty smart, you know. [Onyx nods in agreement.]

Agent Cupcake? [She can't hide her surprise at the non sequitur as she replies.] Is that someone from your world?

[sandoval]

[He canonly thinks it's cute when someone threatens him with being boiled alive. He's never been serious about those sorts of things.]

Oh? [He actually does show some seriousness, now, when she mentions their owners.] Do all of these darlings have owners already? Dear oh dear... where am I to get one now?

[He lets out a bit of a sigh, fully sitting on the wall, reaching out to gently stroke Onyx's mane for a bit.] Where can you get a horse for yourself, then?

Oh, no, Agent Cupcake is a friend I met here. Or, rather, met their writing. They told me I could call them Cupcake since they never gave me their name. [A light shrug.] Ah, well, I will find them some day, yes? I've been told we don't get a say in how long we're stuck here.

[ninjainviolet]

[She can arrange something along those lines if he'd like, then see how cute he thinks she is.]

As far as I know they do. [Her tone is still serious, yet loses much of its threatening quality.] You might want to ask someone named Percy about it. Unfortunately, I don't know his last name, but he's the one who helps takes care of them.

Sorry, I've never heard of anyone by that name here, but you can always write or speak just to them in the journal by using a filter. [This time, the look she gives him is an understanding one.]

No, we don't. That's left up to the castle.

[sandoval]

[Still the cutest :D]

Percy? Well, drat, this is going to put a damper on my plans. I suppose I'll have to think of something else, in the meantime, until I can meet this "Percy" fellow. [But the seriousness flies out the window with a grin as he looks back at Sheena.] Have you met him? Is he cute?

Yes, yes, I know about filters already. I've been told twice about them, actually! Handy little things, I'm sure. Not that I have any secrets to hide, of course!

[He doesn't seem to mind this bit of information, unlike many of the other residents probably do.] Well, it will be nice not to practice politics for a while. And the Mistress is here, so there will never be a dull moment!

[ninjainviolet]

[Now cut that out, or have a giant rodent with a bow fall on you!]

Percy? Cute? [She thinks.] I, uh, never really thought about it. He's really nice-- [She's still thinking, her cheeks reddening when she realizes:] Yeah, he's kinda cute.

Well, if you were told about them, then why ask everyone about him? No one sees the filter, and it'll be a lot better than someone telling him days later that you were looking for him. If it's important, that is.

[She tilts her head in confusion; she's never thought she'd find someone else who liked it here. Raine had been right.] Who's the Mistress? Is that your boss?

[sandoval]

[And Sandoval can only grin at her, almost knowingly at the blush on her cheeks.] Oh? Then I simply must meet him, if he's even remotely cute! Do you think you could introduce me to him sometime, crumpet?

Well, it's all very simple, really. I'm the type to make... physical connections. I don't like meeting people through letters, and magical journals are almost the same thing! I want to meet them in person, of course! Writing's just not the same.

[He's not fond of all of the castle, and he's likely going to want to miss home in a few months, but all the same, he's used to moving around as an ambassador.] Oh, no, Mistress is simply a very good friend! Though she does love bossing everyone around, myself included.

[ninjainviolet]

Why do you keep calling me crumpet? Isn't that a type of food?

[Oh yeah, trips to the library to look up different foods has finally paid off.

And she's not blowing off the question about Percy at all. Really she's not. Maybe. She's just had her attention grabbed by something else.]

Well, I can understand that, but you can always use the journal to set up that meeting, you know. [Sheena logic is a go.]

A bossy friend? [Yeah, if certain people were there, they'd say she's sounds like Sheena, but they're not, so it's not being said by her.] I don't think I've met anyone by that name.

[sandoval]

Well, you haven't given me your name, of course! I have to come up with something to call you, so I chose crumpet - unless you would prefer pumpkin? Peaches? Coeur à la crème? I could even go for sugar puff, just for you!

Oh. Well, I suppose I could do that. Good thinking! But, Agent Cupcake didn't seem the type to break the mystery so easily, though... well, no matter, I'll try as you suggest when I have the time! Very busy looking for horses, you know. [And that's all he really has to say for the moment on that subject.]

Oh, you should, she's really quite fun! People get so turned off by all the rumors of torture and murder - but she is such a wonderful hostess.

[ninjainviolet]

Yeah, I haven't given you my name, but why food? [So not going to ask about eating her.]

But it's Sheena Fujibayashi.

[She looks at him.] Is it important that you meet up with him? Like something will happen if you don't?

Torture and murder? [She gives him a wry look.] Yeah, I can't imagine why anyone would stay away from someone like that.

[sandoval]

[Probably a good choice.] Because they're convenient, of course. Would you prefer animals? Kitten? Dove? Tigress, perhaps?

[He does light up a bit as she does give him a name, though.] Well it's wonderful to meet you, Sheena, dear! I am the Ambassador to Xoan, Sandoval - I do hope we can be good friends from now on!

Well, no, not really - I'm just curious. But I've been told, as you remember, that anyone can be sent home at any time, at the whim of the castle... and wouldn't it just be awful if I didn't meet Agent Cupcake before it sent them home?

Well... [He gives a bit of a smile.] You have to get to know her first. She doesn't torture and murder everyone! Nobody has enough time in the day for that.

[ninjainviolet]

[One of so few on Sheena's part.] I'd prefer none of those, actually.

[She can't help smiling at his reaction and returns the greeting.] It's nice to meet you, too, Sandoval. You're also an Ambassador? [That can be taken in another way, but she's one as well.]

Yeah, the castle does as pleases where we're concerned. [She sighs.] I hope you meet him before it does anything to either one of you.

Why does she torture and murder people to begin with? [Genuinely curious.]

[sandoval]

Hmm... then how about flowers? Tulip, Buttercup?

[He notices her smile, and seems to relax quite a lot at that, even going so far as to move down from the wall on which he currently sits, and stand with her in Onyx's stable. He gently pets Onyx's nose again a few times as he speaks.] Ah, another Ambassador! And where is it you're from, Sheena? [Another ambassador still might be able to negotiate some sort of diplomatic relations... and, of course, he's also quite curious!]

I hope so, too. But, we mustn't fret about it now! No sense doing so right at the moment, when we have other things to discuss! Like the castle itself, as you mentioned - what sort of things does it do? I've only ever heard of it making parties for the people here... does it do other things?

[Now that part, he has to think about.] Well, it's mostly people trying to murder her first - assassins and the like, you know. She's managed to catch all of them before they got into the castle so far! I would say it's the lard that catches most of them. It's a shame, too - lots of them were really cute. [Though for the record, Sheena, he doesn't seem to have a problem with the assassin part at all. He's saying all of it rather nonchalantly.]

[ninjainviolet]

[She shakes her head. They remind her too much of "hunny".] Not those, either. Sorry.

[She watches him as he approaches the horse, relaxing when all it seems he wants to do is pet the mare. Onyx also relaxes, allowing Sheena to drop her guard, since the horse can take care of herself.]

I'm from the planet Tethe'alla. The King made me an ambassador thanks to someone's suggestion. [She doesn't sound too happy about that, does she?]

Oh. Well, I can under--[Hold it. While she CAN understand the whole going after the assassin thing--it was a risk she used to take, there's something he said that confuses her.]

The lard?

[sandoval]

Well, I suppose I'll have to settle for Sheena. [But he gives a small smile.] Which is perfectly all right! It's a lovely name. Did I say that already? I believe I did!

[He listens quietly to her... well, admittedly short story, nodding a bit as he does.] Tethe'alla sounds quite nice! Rather exotic. Perhaps it will be one of those things that Brock was telling me about - you know, where the castle changes locations? You'll have to show me around, then!

[He does smile a little bit at her tone - it's a tone he knows rather too well from some people - and so he stops stroking Onyx for the moment, turning a bit more to face her as he leans against the stable wall.]

Well, at the very least, being an ambassador, even an appointed one, does give a few perks, no?

[He shrugs simply at her question.] Oh, yes, the lard. The guards put it on every windowsill, so that when they try to sneak in, they slip and fall! Honestly, the gate's wide open, why do they never go through the gate?

*////* I think I closed this tab before hitting comment, then deleted the notif... I AM SO SORRY...

[rose_of_battle]

[Shaking her head, she returns his smile.] I think you did, but thanks again.

[Her smile disappears at his suggestion.] I don't know if I want the world to change back home. [Foot-in-mouth time.] But, don't get me wrong; not because I don't want you to see it, but... I don't know if I can handle seeing home then coming back here, you know?

[But it returns in a smaller version from before as she replies.] I really don't like special treatment, though. I even try to get people to stop being formal with me when they call me "miss". It's not me, you know?

Well, that's one way to get rid of assassins, I guess... But, you seriously want assassins, who are supposed to be sneaky, to enter the gate that's probably heavily guarded? There'd be no point. At least they have a chance of getting through the window--as slim as it is.

It's totally fine! <3

[sandoval]

[He does seem a bit interested in her comments about home.] How long is it you've been in the castle, exactly? Or is that too personal of a question?

Well, I suppose you could always use your special treatment to make people stop treating you specially! But at least you won't have to worry about me calling you miss, either.

I think the Mistress just doesn't enjoy the extra work involved in searching out sneaky types. Though I doubt any assassination attempts could actually work, she is one of the most powerful sorceresses in the land, if not the most!

[rose_of_battle]

[She starts stroking Onyx's mane as she thinks.] I've been here since the month they call June. So... four months? [Don't laugh. She's not good at this stuff.]

I can't do that, either. Or at least, I don't feel like I can, since it's basically the same thing if you think about it. [She shakes her head.] Eventually, they'll figure it out. I hope.

And thanks. Just "Sheena" is fine with me.

[Once more, she shakes her head.] I hate to tell you this, but even if she is that powerful, it's not impossible for someone to finally succeed. They just have to know what they're doing. [She's a former assassin turned protector. Listen to her.]

[sandoval]

Oh, I see! Is that a long time? [Don't worry, Sandoval doesn't really understand these "months" either. You're not the only one.]

Not really... you're basically only using your power temporarily and giving it up, correct? Whereas otherwise you'd be using it a bit more permanently. I don't really think it's the same thing, but, I may be wrong.

And just Sheena is fine with me! Though I must request that you call me just Sandoval, in return. Fair is fair, no?

[He shrugs; it's obvious he hasn't really considered that a possibility.] It's an effective strategy, at any rate, the lard. But, she has her own shady techniques of dealing with people. Mostly seeing through everyone's plans and calling assassins on people herself. Why just the other day we were talking about sending an assassin after the Primate of Gar when we get back!

[rose_of_battle]

[She shrugs.] You know, I'm not exactly sure. It kinda feels like it is, but at the same time it doesn't. Probably because things keep happening every month. [Which is more than likely the castle's plan.]

It'll feel the same to me, and that's what counts, isn't it?

[She smiles and nods.] Okay! Sandoval it is!

[Sheena gives him a pointed look.] Maybe she should also do something about the roof. [Just a suggestion.] Now, she's not just being neurotic, is she? The King of my home was kinda like that, but that was because of people lying to him. Things did get straightened out, though. [Because you really want to go after the right person; otherwise, you may do away with a potential ally.]

[sandoval]

I'm not sure how long it's been, for me; but that would be a convenient way of telling time, I should think!

I suppose not. It's always your choice, of course. But I feel ambassador privilege may be useful, sometimes.

Oh, the roof? It's teeming with guards, so I doubt anyone would stand a chance up there. But one would have to climb up quite a few stories before they even got to the roof - so I'm sure they'd be tired out, the poor things.

Neurotic? How so? [He's genuinely curious. He sees no fault in any of her plans.] Their falcon turned out to be complete crap, you see, and they were asking for an assassination before that.

[rose_of_battle]

I think convenient is a matter of perspective--because sometimes you don't have a choice when it comes to some of these things happening. [Although, the whole family thing was kinda nice.]

If someone trains hard and long enough, you'd be surprised at how far and high they can climb in order to get to a roof. And if they're good enough, they'd be able to slip past those guards without a second thought. [Have her comments made him realize she knows more than just being an ambassador?]

Sometimes, people lie to those who rule in order to gain favor or to remove whoever they feel is in their way. Then they become targets for something that isn't true. [She looks at him.] However, if there was a genuine reason, then it's not neurotic at all.