Vulpan Keep [ACRO]

[FireFox]

Matt nods and returns the kiss. I love you Patty, and I don't want Angela to get pissed at you. Or me for that matter.

[The Bushranger]

Rule one, don't piss off a goddess. Patty pauses. Unless you're Tobias... She grins.

[FireFox]

Matt laughs and pulls Patty into his arms for an affectionate hug.

[The Bushranger]

Patty grins more and hugs Matt back tightly, giggling girlishly.

[FireFox]

Matt kisses her forehead, a goofy grin on his face.

The maids make themselves scarce, and a score or so of young men in uniform enter the dining room, laughing about something.

[The Bushranger]

Patty grins back, and gives the young men a rather more cursory glance than she did the scullery serving maids.

Of course, they're probably paying more attention to her than to Matt...

So, are these to be our dinner partners? she asks with a lopsided smile.

[FireFox]

When they notice the two, they all stop and, as one, salute. And yes, Patty is given a lot of attention.

Yeah. Matt walks towards them. Please tell me I can concentrate on dinner.

Erm, there's nothing major going on, sir. Just some sort of problem with that girls' Basic Training program. He's respectful towards Matt, even though he's more Patty's age than his, and he doesn't seem surprised at all there was a problem with the girls pretending to do a man's job.

[The Bushranger]

Patty follows, at Matt's side - perhaps half-a-step behind - and smiling happily, tossing her hair back off her shoulder.

This means her holy symbol pendant is probably more visible...

What sort of problem? she asks, sounding curious, then blushing a little as she realises it's probably not proper protocol for her to have spoken up.....

[FireFox]

The man looks at Matt's for guidance, and when the boy nods he turns back to answer Patty. Then he sees her holy symbol and draws a sharp breath. Ah, um, sir...?

Matt just smiles and steps back, clearly letting Patty field it.

[The Bushranger]

Patty gives Matt a quick, appreciative look, then steps forwards, drawing up to her full height. If you have a problem with what I am, I suggest you stow it, because I'm the Consort of the Crown Prince and while I won't demand respect, I won't be giving any of my own to people who don't give it to me. And that goes for everybody here. She then softens a bit. That said, I do want to get along with everybody, if I can. And if there's a problem, I guess I'd probably be the best to deal with it, rather than some of you men - She flashes a smile. So what's the problem?

[FireFox]

The man doesn't back down, staring calmly at her with his hand on his sword. I am a Commissioned Officer in the Vulpan Army, and I do not take kindly to Selinite spies in the military center of my nation.
He doesn't know anything about Angela, oddly.

[The Bushranger]

Patty rolls her eyes.

I'm the fiancée of the Crown Prince of Vulpania, and I don't take kindly to being threatened by commissioned officers in his army. She's discreet enough not to say it's hers - yet - although the fingers of her left hand are curling into a fist... There's been a bit of a change in management in the particular part of the Selenite pantheon I'm part of, and you clearly didn't get the memo. And regardless of your personal likes or dislikes, I'm here, and I'm not planning on leaving - unless you're going to run Matt off with me. So if you or anyone else still has a problem with me, it'd better be had out right here, right now. She takes a deep breath. OR we could actually discuss the problem, which I asked about, and you so-called gentlemen so rudely acted torwards a lady when I did so?

[FireFox]

Patty might be able to hear Matt grinning behind her, highly amused.

The young officer realizes he made a mistake and is in over his head. He's not going to backpedal though. How would you like to have it out?

Oh, there's still one maid here, watching the confrontation.

[The Bushranger]

Patty can tell Matt is amused. The maid happens to be part of the background at the moment, though, as she concentrates on the confrontation at hand.

I couldn't help but notice you have your hand on your sword. How good are you with it?

She isn't armed...visibly, anyway...

[FireFox]

As a soldier in the Vulpanian Army, I am highly skilled with all forms of weaponry.

Matt gets a little worried and tries to step in. Captain, need I remind you dueling is against the Code of Conduct? I appreciate your concern and caution.

[The Bushranger]

Patty gives Matt a sideways look, half relieved, half annoyed at his interfering. I can take care of myself, handsome.

[FireFox]

Matt nods to her, but is going to end it anyway. Consider the order of Lunarian Clerics to be co-opted, with a new Goddess and new, Good, doctrine. Patty is the High Priestess of this religion, and she is for all intents and purposes the Princess here. You do not take orders from her, but I suggest you remain respectful. Any questions?

There are none.

[The Bushranger]

Patty huffs a little, but gives Matt a grateful smile, before turning back to the group. Good. Now that's settled. Can someone please explain what the problem that started all this is, then?

She does notice the remaining maid now, and smiles in her direction briefly.

[FireFox]

Another young man speaks up with a lazy drawl. "We don't know the specifics, only that a girl got hurt in training and was sent to a cleric for a bit, ma'am..."

The maid, a cute girl of about eighteen with curly red hair and freckles, smiles back at Patty and continues curiously listening in.

[The Bushranger]

Patty nods to the soldier. Well, don't the boys get hurt in training all the time?

[FireFox]

"Well, yes ma'am..." He looks at her in confusion. "Overzealousness in hand to hand combat practice..."

[The Bushranger]

Well, Patty does her best to keep a 'well, duh' tone out of her voice... How is it a problem, then, if one of the girls got hurt in training? Unless it's simply because they're girls...

[FireFox]

The man, a puzzled look on his face, looks over his shoulder at his buddies, trying to figure out if he missed something. "Uh, ma'am, intending the Princess no disrespect, but you don't see the problem with recruits getting hurt in training, ma'am?"

[The Bushranger]

Of course I do. Patty nods, a serious look on her face. Ideally, nobody'd get hurt. But the way Captain Brown here said there was 'some sort of problem with that girls' Basic Training program' made me think there was more to it than just that.

She's pretty good at mimicking voices, it might be noticed.

[FireFox]

The man just shrugs uneasily. "They haven't had the physical conditioning most boys get when they're young... It seems prudent to expect more problems and delays with people who aren't necessarily highly conditioned..."

((Bleh, two more tests left to take today, and then I'm done... See you Sunday.))

[The Bushranger]

Maybe so. Patty nods again, looking rather more relaxed. But at the same time, it shouldn't be taken as a deficency on their part that would keep them from being considered suitable. Now, if once they're conditions, they keep having more problems, that would be another matter. She steps back to Matt's side, hoping she did alright...

((Have fun!))

[Moofin Bard]

There's a hesitant knock on the door...

[The Bushranger]

Plot clone in 3, 2, 1...

"Princess" Patty, happening to wander while Matt, the guards, and the cute maid are glomped in deadtime ooze, hears a knock at the front door of the castle, and peeks out!

[Moofin Bard]

She'll see "Princess" Ari standing there. Ari looks a little sad but mostly nervous. She sees Patty and smiles shyly. Oh and Moofin wants to remind BR that they technically aren't Princesses until they marry Matt. Just saying.

[The Bushranger]

True. But Matt has already told the guards to treat her as such, so, needless to say, she's enjoying that.

Patty smiles back through the peephole, then opens the door and hurries out to give Ari a big, tight hug!