kitchen_maid | (no subject)

Even with the chief conspirator rather definitely dealt with, there is rather a lot that has to be addressed in the wake of an attempted royal coup. The others involved must be located and taken care off, a nervous populace must be reassured.

Arrangements must be made for the room and board for Norman the Royal Dragon of Ambergeldar.

The heroes of the day must be properly thanked and acknowledged. (Which means finding a new Protocol Officer who can throw together an appropriate ceremony and celebration, immediately.)

In the meantime, however, those heroes have earned a bit of a rest. Amy made sure, personally, that everyone had a room, fresh clothes and anything else they want.

She also has the Royal Family's Sitting Room set up for their use. The room is full of comfortable chairs, and has a lived-in feel, with Perry's books and Amy's handwork and several of Merry and Susan's toys scattered about.

There is also, on a long, low table, rather a lot of food -- bread, meat, cheese, a couple of pies and a tray of other pastries, fruit from the palace greenhouse, pots of tea, pitchers of apple cider and milk and wine.

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X considers this in silence for a moment.

"I do not think he gets sick. Like that."

Beat.

"Sheep are very bony, too."

Plus the fleece. It's not that different from court finery, is it?

Though the metal might be a problem. Hmm.

Parker laughs.

"I meant more in the spirit that that was one awful person he ate," she tries to explain.

Yes, she knows that there were probably shades of grey, etcetera, etcetera. Maximillian had been human, and all that jazz. But he had tried to kidnap Amy, and then taken a shot at her.

She finds her sympathy well to be on the dry side.

"So, how exactly did you guys wind up here? Amy came and got you, I assume?"

There are still lots of bits and pieces of each others' stories that they haven't had time to tell yet.

"Oh. I do not think that is biological."

Beat.

"Yes. She was worried. I did not -- "

She stops herself, frowning slightly. Perfect recall is all well and good, but words help, too.

"We did not want you to be hurt. And we are good at finding people."

They could have taken the dragon, if it came to that.

X has no lack of self-confidence in her martial prowess. Sometimes it shows.

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right about that."

Parker nods.

"It looked like you guys were well on your way to getting to us. What was with all those little gnome...things?"

Parker had noticed them, but had many other things on her mind at the time.

"They were in the trees," X says.

She offers a one-shouldered shrug, quick and slightly awkward.

"I do not think Tom liked them."

"I had never met Tom before."

Parker remembers his exchange with Perry. And smiles a bit.

"He seems to fit in pretty well here, though."

She seems to recall that there was a 'Lord' in his introductions there somewhere.

"He is Lord of the House of Arch. Through the painting in the bar."

Beat.

"He is good at magic."

Maybe that explains why he fits.

Parker nods. She does know some about the House of Arch by dint of knowing Amy.

"I guess a wizard would be a good person to have on your side here."

"Gnomes aside, how was the trip?"

"It was okay."

Beat.

"I do not think 494 and Tom like each other."

She does not appear much bothered by this. Clearly X-23 has the patience of a saint. Or the obliviousness of a small child. Or both.

"But it is okay. No one is dead."

"Oh yeah?"

Parker raises her eyebrows, half amused.

"Was there any danger that they were going to kill each other?"

"I do not think so," X says. Quickly.

And then --

"I would not have let them."

And she really is fairly sure they would not have tried. But --

Maybe Parker will appreciate the reassurance.

Parker nods and grins.

"That's because, as a woman, you are far more capable of keeping a rational head."

Solemn.

"But I'm glad you didn't have to referee."

"I am well-trained," X says.

Very seriously.

"And it is good they did not fight."

Edited 2009-04-07 18:56 (UTC)

"Out of curiosity, which one of them was starting it?"

"Or was it more of a mutual irritation thing?"

X considers this.

Carefully.

And then --

"You have talked to 494 before."

It's not a very good direct answer. But does it have to be?

Parker hazards a guess as to where that statement is leading.

"Tom didn't know how to take his sense of humor, huh?"

That wouldn't surprise Parker much.

Granted, she's only recently met Tom. And so far, she likes him in as much as she knows him. But he does seem like the sort of guy who takes himself very very seriously.

494 had probably had fun with him.

X mulls this over for a moment or two.

Then she shrugs, one-shouldered and quick.

"He does not know when to shut up."

The delivery is very careful, like someone trying very hard to get it right.

The real question is: Did X just make a joke?

Edited 2009-04-07 23:23 (UTC)

If Parker's grin is any indication, the answer is 'yes.'

Especially as the grin morphs into a laugh.

"There's that too. God love him, he is a talker."

X is slightly perplexed by Parker's reference to God. But --

"You like him."

Not many people do. At least in X's experience.

For somewhat obvious reasons. (X just thinks those are not relevant anymore.)

"Well, of course. He's my friend."

It helps immensely that Parker can dish it right back to 494.

"You do too, don't you?"

She's pretty sure she's heard Laura use the word 'friend' in relation to 494.

"Yes," X says. It is only a little awkward.

"But some people do not."

She never knows what to do when that happens -- when two of her friends are fighting. Well, besides break up the fight and arrest them. But if there are no punches --

It is confusing.

"Well, that's their loss."

One thing about Parker. She is intensely loyal to her friends. She'd have the same response to someone who had a problem with Laura.

X just studies Parker for a moment, in silence.

Then she nods. Just once.

It's true. Probably.