RP:Pledging To Queen Josleen

From HollowWiki

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc


Summary: Irenic decides he wants to be more of the man Quizical thought of him to be so he pledges to Josleen.

Queen Josleen's Tea Room, Fort Freedom, Larket

Josleen | The main throne room is being repaired after a devastating earthquake and epic power of mega magic and death. The roof caved in and the thrones themselves need a skilled carpenter's loving hand. Those who seek an audience with the king or queen are redirected to their respective offices. Josleen's office is more of a tea room, and she sits on a loveseat reading The Larketian Herald with her afternoon tea. Judging by the many journals and ledgers stacked on a small coffee table before her, the queen is taking a break. She's dressed in a fine gown and simple, but expensive jewelry. Her poodle, Gigi, PRINCE POOCH, lays donut-shaped in his gold-threaded dog bed.


Irenic had enough waiting around, he had enough loss and wanted revenge, but that wasn't evident just looking at the tall Avian. His attire shifted from when Josleen last seen him and she might hear guards directing him to her office; one stopping him to leave any weapons which took a moment. He was ushered in and she would see the six foot eleven man adorned in titanium avain armor and he lift the beaked visor off his face to reveal an eye patch over the eye that is brown. The chilling silver eye falls on her majesty just as he knelt with fist over chest, "Merry meet, your majesty. Irenic Older." That gruff tone sounds somewhat harsher or colder and the seeing silver eye looks a little worn in it's redness… Possibly evident that this man has experienced loss and some sleepless nights since the wedding.


Josleen cranes her neck to look up at the impossibly tall avian in his blinding armor. "Good afternoon. What a surprise." She smiles at him as her mind races to recall his name. How embarrassing, she cannot remember it! Wait, did he even give his name when they met in Frostmaw? Thankfully he kneels and gives his name immediately. She nods and bids him have a seat. His expression and mood is immediately felt. Many Larketians wear the same puffy-eyed, grim expression since the quake. Around the wounded she speaks gently. "Would you like tea? water?" A nearby servant steps forward to take Irenic's order. Once Irenic has responded to that, she asks in that same gentle tone, "What is it you seek?"


Irenic stood once more before scanning her rather dainty looking furniture in this tea room. A beverage was offered, "No thanks… Joslyn, was it?" He really doesn’t mean disrespect by it for he is rubbish with names; that, and he is trying to recall hearing it from the Frostmaw coronation where she was dubbed thane. He also decides not to take as seat, but he backs off the woman whilst tucking those marvelous ivory wings close to his athletic form, taking that favorite scent of her's with him. "I come to you for you are more familiar to me than the king… And I hope you would express some discretion for me and my… 'Situation'." The gaze from that lone silver eye traces over the woman for a time and he knows it's a lot to ask to keep 'hush, hush'. "You might have gathered that I am not a man in possession of sentiment, but there are one of two things that have contradicted me in that…" A sigh would be given, "I do not want a big deal made, but someone close to me had been lost to this disaster. I wish to help in relief efforts or investigate the true nature of this event." The armor he adorns is quite elegant and pristine, but the man wearing it looking a little weathered despite his young appearance and this demeans him to look more like an old decorated war hero trying to relive his glory days. "I conclude there… I wish to pledge myself to the Queen of Larket."


Josleen | "Josleen," she gently corrects without taking any insult. When Irenic hints at the true nature of this event, Josleen's head cocks to the side. She and the King have their own suspicions about the earthquake, but they have not yet shared these except with those they absolutely trust. She's about to ask when he knows when he suddenly pledges himself. She blinks in surprise then rises for the honor, setting down her newspaper and tea. "How unexpected. And of course your efforts, and pledge are welcome and well received. Have you served as a knight before?"


Irenic nodded to her question while citing, "Eldin Corier Juggernaut of the Eleventh Addition to the Avian Military belonging to Island Vere." He goes on to explain, "I changed my name upon switching dimensions into Hollow, but feel free to call me whichever you please. Mind you, I have not told many this information so I do hope you accept such sensitive matters as tribute." Be bows graciously before stepping in closer looking down at the bard before kneeling to her, as he did he placed one elbow on bended knee as the free hand went behind his back between the crevice his armored wings meet his back to pull free a short sword for her to do the honors with that charming smirk he explains, "Seems your royal guard could use some improvement. Everyone stops counting after three, something comforting about the number three." The glint in his eyes may prove he is a force to be reckoned with and that all the braun of his being may be a clever cover to his cunning wits. His head would bow once she accepted the "knighting" sword and that free hand would place fist over heart while in wait for her to do the honors.


Josleen flinches back a little when Irenic pulls a sword out from hiding. Although she feels confident he is no threat, all the same, hidden weapons suddenly appearing in the hands of giant men in armor provoke a flight instinct. He kneels and she smiles awkwardly. She's never knighted anyone before. She should probably check with Macon before knighting near-strangers, but alas, she feels the pressure of the moment. As a bard, she's a romantic who is easily taken with the grandiosity of ceremony like this. And so she does the honors, taking the sword which is far too heavy for her, and with both hands resting the blade broadside on Irenic's right shoulder, then left. She asks if he vows to obey her, protect her, serve her and Larket until his dying breath. If yes, she vows to, in exchange, never ask of him a task that violates his morals, to always be considerate of his service, and respectful of his dignity and character. Is that it? Gigi, who had risen from the dog bed, circles Irenic now they he is kneeling to better sniff his butt. Once Irenic stands again, Josleen asks, "Who did you lose in the disaster, Sir Irenic?"


Irenic vows to obey yer majesty, to protect her, serve her and Larket until his dying breath. He would hesitate before sitting up and giving a glance of acknowledgment down to the dog to which he would offer a friendly pet to it. He takes his gauntlet out to do so and reveals lots of scrapes, cuts and bruises, so he changes his mind on the petting and slides the glove back on. He stood and the question hit those elongated pierced ears when the expression on his face fell, like a slap, for the death was still fresh. "More things I do not often tell…" He cleared his throat before that gruff tone carried on, "This orphan boy, Pete, but we called him Quizical because he was always so curious about everyone and about the world that he would ask a million questions in day." A smile threatened those scarred lips to expose crooked, but white teeth, "He was a bright boy and he reminded me a lot of myself for I too was an orphan." Would make someone wonder how he became a knight all those years ago, then… That lone silver gaze settled on his gauntlet when he gently takes the sword from Josleen to store it away once more, a brush of the hand maybe. "Every week he looked forward to our treasure hunts… Even I started to gain an anticipation for the day as well because his brightness and optimism was so contagious." A shaken sigh was given to subside the sting in his eyes with a pause… "For three nights and two whole days, and I cannot tell you why I even started, but I dug through the rubble and the bodies of the Towering Tenements, saving a hefty amount of people by accident until I found him…" His wings slowly downcast the entirety of his long winded story and his gaze couldn't meet her, "He had passed while some short lady that lives in House of Ara was trying to save him."


Josleen | Gigi accepts the pet and decides bird-men are fine. "Sabrina," Josleen says gently to educated Irenic on the name of an important Larketian. "I am so sorry for your loss, Irenic. And I am glad you are honoring his memory with service to the city." She sits again, waits a respectfully long moment of silence, then asks, "Why do you suspect there are culprits behind the earthquake? Isn't it possible, indeed likely, the earthquake was natural?"


Irenic liked the silence, it felt nice and he liked to think the respect was for the boy. "I do not… For everyone's sake I do hope it was a natural disaster." The pause this time might prove in his tone he is not someone you would want to be enemies with… Hence the title 'Juggernaut'. He pulled himself from the thoughts of the past, "It may not have been up to some menace… But if there is something that comes to light that caused this or was a catalyst for it I want to be there to exact revenge."


Josleen thinks Irenic's suspicions are right, but she doesn't say so. She's a queen who takes a lot of cues from her King. The King has suspicions and how he unfurls his investigation is up to him. "If there were a menace, I would rant revenge too and am glad you feel the same." Gigi, bored with this conversation, returns to his dog bed. "As a knight you'll be part of the royal guard. You should probably speak to them to become acquainted with your resources and how the royal detail works. Here." She writes a note in a small journal, stamps it with her seal, signs it, then tears out the piece of paper and hands it to Irenic. "Give this to the Captain of the Royal Guard and tell him I want you on my personal detail. You should also meet the King soon. I'll introduce you."


Irenic responds, "Certainly yer majesty." He takes the paper in a gloved hand, bows deeply to Josleen before turning on his heel to leave her tea room. His weapons are handed back and headed off to the Captain