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Post by Admin on Jun 22, 2020 6:39:33 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/xgVySc6/72654-normal~jpg "Stay away from the Courts or you'll find yourself imprisoned like I was and less likely to have an ally able to spring you free.
"If you wish to ride off to war with me I would appreciate it but it is your decision. I could also use someone to stay back here keeping an eye on the family farm."
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2020 3:27:59 GMT
Nat nods. "No visiting the Courts. That shouldn't be a problem. I doubt Merlin would take the time out to rescue a sister he's merely seen once and never spoken to." She looks around the room, considering her options. Ride to war with her father or assume the throne for the time being. Hell, it really isn't that hard of a decision. She thinks. "When do we leave?" Nat asks, returning her attention to her father.
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Post by Admin on Jun 27, 2020 9:01:06 GMT
Corwin smiles through his pain. "I must still gather our strength - and my strength too - before we can set out. I've only been back a few hours and already factories are working to supply our army. Vassals and allies from nearby lands are preparing to march here to join our host."A large bird flies through an open window. It's gold and red feathers leaving a trail of sparks and flame as it flies. The soldiers in the room stop and stare as it circles above. In the hush Natalia realizes how loud all the squawking radios and people were. The bird lands on Corwin's arm. He removes a scroll of paper from its leg and reads it. "And more allies come to join us," he says with a smile. "But now, daughter, I must rest. These guards will show you to your rooms."Two guards covered head-to-toe in leather and rubber suits come to stand beside her. They carry rifles and their faces are hidden behind gas masks. "This way, my princess," one says in an oddly attenuated voice.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2020 19:02:17 GMT
Nat tracked the bird with a sense of wonder. Pretty. She thinks before noting the change in volume. When dismissed, Nat arches an eyebrow and places a hand on her hip, her fingers tapping the guard of the saber attached to her belt in annoyance. "Thank you, but I know the way to my rooms." She glances at the guards and then back to Corwin. "I sure as hell don't require an escort to them and especially from guards I don't recognize or can't see their face."
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Post by Admin on Jul 8, 2020 4:38:58 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/kDYpgrX/72654-normal~jpg "These are dangerous times. You will have guards attend you at all times and they will be stationed outside your rooms for your protection," Corwin says.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2020 1:59:05 GMT
Natalia's eyes narrow in suspicion and annoyance. She stands there, unmoving, for a few moments; practically daring someone to force her. After she sees nobody move toward her, she relaxes her body slightly. Her nails still tap against the guard. "I will listen, for now. But know this, father; ordering me about and not allowing me to be who I want to be and do what I want is one reason I was so willing to leave Connaught. Please do not make the same mistakes Mother did." Natalia suddenly spins on her heel and starts to march out of the room. "Oh, and maybe you should quit kicking your head around the room. It makes you look crazy." She adds, without turning to look at him, before stepping into the hallway. Nat doesn't wait to see if the guards are following her, she leaves and heads to her room.
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Post by Admin on Jul 12, 2020 5:39:05 GMT
As the doors of the throne room close behind her she hears Corwin call for his personal medic.
The two guards shadow her steps as she walks through the palace to her room. Other soldiers march and scuttle about all dressed the same as her guardians. Wires and cables are strung from the walls and ceilings, crisscrossing at intersections and heading off to unknown machines. Doors in the building are always kept closed but on occasion, as she passes, one will be opened to let soldiers or couriers in or out and behind the doors she sees more of the soldiers at their radios or other strange pieces of equipment.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2020 10:50:43 GMT
Nat marches directly to her room, mentally noting the changes. She reaches her room in no time, shuts the doors directly behind herself, and locks the door before her keepers can enter. Nat removes the pistol, bandolier, and blade; placing them on a table. She paces the room as she undresses and flings her clothes into a pile nearby. She heads to her personal bathroom and takes a hot shower, hoping the heat and being clean will make her feel better. It helps, but not really. As she dries off, her eyes keep being drawn to a small painting on her makeup table. Nat has to keep forcing her eyes away. "Running off would not be a wise decision." She mentally reprimands herself. As she dresses, Nat continues arguing with herself. "Well, if he didn't act like such a dictator, I wouldn't be contemplating it. Plus, just because he knows about Nick, doesn't mean he's our true father." She goes back to pacing. "True, but it lends credibility to him." "I wish I had Merlin's trump. I could call him and verify this Corwin's story." Nat pauses in her pacing and thinks about the ill-mannered cousin for a moment, pondering what he would devise of this. "Oh, he'd be suspicious as all hell and most likely would have attack Corwin within moments of meeting." She rolls her eyes and continues pacing. "I could just go for a visit. Leave a note saying I'll be back shortly." "You'd notify him where you're going?" "No. Though I'm certain he's intelligent enough to guess." Once more her eyes shifted to the painting. To an average person, it looks like a normal painting of a cottage in a meadow on the edge of a forest with a castle in the background. Anyone who could sense Trump power would know it was no ordinary painting, but a location trump. Jax and the dead Corwin would know that was Nat's hideaway spot in Connaught. Heck, maybe a few of the servants and the Captain of the Guard might know. The temptation to pack a bag and use it was very strong. She glanced at the clock. "Damn. Yvette should be here to badger me about dinner any minute now." Nat looks at the door, just as there's a knock.
((OOC: Did different colors to make the self conversation more readable. Normal color for one side of her brain, other color for the other side of her brain. Also used italic to note that it's mental.))
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Post by Admin on Aug 6, 2020 4:28:00 GMT
Natalia is correct. Yvette is the one knocking at the door. She has not come to summon Nat to the banquet hall but, rather, she enters pushing a cart containing the meal. Five silver domes cover the plates underneath.
Trailing her by a few steps is a young officer. He enters and stands beside the door at attention. Unlike the other soldiers Nat has seen this one is not dressed in battle gear but in a black uniform with silver piping.
"Here's your meal, dearie," she says while wheeling the cart in."The King has closed the dining halls and has ordered all important people to be confined to their quarters for now.
"This young officer is here as your food taster."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2020 22:25:37 GMT
Nat smiles at Yvette as she enters. She's genuinely pleased to see the tray, that way she won't have to feign a happy daughter around Corwin. Her eyes narrow at the young officer as he enters. Nat rolls her eyes. "Of course he did." She looks at the officer. "That would explain why you are here showing a lack of manners. After all, it is customary for a gentleman to introduce themselves before they enter a woman's bedroom." Nat places a hand on her hip and looks at Yvette. "I assume taking dinner on the balcony is out of the question as well?" She walks over to a table by a pair of windows and looks at the man. "Well, no name food tester, after you." Nat says with a wave of her hand towards the tray.
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Post by Admin on Aug 11, 2020 8:11:06 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/2tXpDNK/Platoon-Under-Leader-Benton~jpg "Oh, don't be so fussy, dearie." Yvette says while rolling the cart out onto the balcony. "He's a good soldier and won't talk unless spoken to by his commanding officer.
"That would be you.""General," says the soldier as he salutes and cacks his bootheels together, "I am under-lieutenant Bretton of your personal guard." His eyes cast across the room as if searching for any last-ditch attempts by an assassin to jump out and poison the meal. If he has any opinion on Natalia's furnishing or decorating his well-trained face shows no hint of it. Once given permission from Natalia he draws out a small folded piece of leather, opening it pulls out a small knife and fork. He cuts and tastes a bit from each plate careful to never have the tines fork touch his mouth. A small eyedropper is used to sample the soup. Finally, a close inspection of Natalia's silverware is done including putting a few drops of liquid from a vial onto each piece. After the long process is complete he salutes Natalia again then takes position by the wall outside on the balcony.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2020 0:40:39 GMT
Nat rolls her eyes. "Well, excuse me if I don't jump for joy and throw a party about my personal freedoms being stripped from me." She says as she follows Yvette onto the balcony. She leans against the wall, watching Bretton test her food and silverware. Once he's done, she sits down at the table, taking the napkin and placing it across her lap. Nat turns to regard the man a moment. "Bretton. Are you going to stand there while I eat?"
((OOC: So he's not wearing one of the masks, like the others she's seen, right? If that's correct, do you have an avatar or a description of Bretton?))
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Post by Admin on Sept 29, 2020 7:44:59 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/2tXpDNK/Under-lieutenant-Bretton~jpg Bretton is tall, rugged, good looking soldier. He isn't wearing the gas mask and other battlefield equipment as most of the other soldiers. "I should stand here, ma'am," he says, "For your protection should an assassination be attempted. Also in case of a slow-acting poison in your food."
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2020 23:20:46 GMT
Nat arches her eyebrow as she sets the fork down, without having taken a bite. "Slow-acting poisons? You know there are many poisons out there that can take days to take effect, right?" She leans back in her seat. "Furthermore, shouldn't you examine my room for venomous animals? I mean a Taipan snake or a Sydney funnel-web spider could have been placed in my room and is merely hiding. And did anyone think to check my bath things before I used them? Someone easily could have poisoned my toothbrush or toothpaste." Nat chuckles. "Corwin isn't the only paranoid parent I have."
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Post by Admin on Oct 8, 2020 4:21:50 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/2tXpDNK/Under-lieutenant-Bretton~jpg "Many of those actions have already been taken care of, ma'am," he says, "and may I add that you are running low on shampoo. I can have the Quartermaster send some more up to you." It is then that Nat notices that the man does smell faintly of her perfume.
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