((Note: This is a collab--not a GM post. Posting this due to Becca being largely away from her home for the holidays.))
This was her chance. Everyone else would be dispersing to give themselves opportunities to rub elbows with the rest of the group or to process everything that had just happened. Catrin slid through the crowd towards Kouri then began to sweep into a curtsy for the Princess. Rather than properly hold the respectful gesture she dropped to her knees in front of Kaiser and offered a and for him to sniff.
"Good morning, Kaiser. Good morning, good morning!" Her voice was almost sing-songs, as most people talk when addressing a sweet dog. If he seemed to accept her after sniffing her, she would start to gently scratch behind his ears and continue cooing at him. "And good morning to you as well, Princess Kouri."
"Ah, fair lady," the Princess bows her head respectfully in greeting. "I am afraid I did not catch your name?"
Kaiser cautiously sniffs Catrin's hand, learning her scent. Once he realized she was no threat and she was attempting to appeal to him with her higher tone of voice, he bows his head and pants happily--though his ears remain perked up, as he remains ever alert for trouble.
"Lady Catrin Thorngage, Princess. Please, only call me Catrin. Under your rightful rule I have no ladyship to lay claim to." She didn't lift her head to meet Kouri's gaze as she continued to skritch behind Kasier's ears and try to kiss the top of his head.
Kaiser simply sits obedient as he is kissed on the head, though his tail swishes back and forth for a few moments in happiness at Catrin's affections.
Kouri, on the other hand, appears somewhat perplexed by Catrin's answer. "What do you mean, that you have no ladyship to lay claim to?"
"Should I join the newfounded Kingdom of Renalta, as I wish to, I will not be Lady Thorngage as I was before. I have renounced my title in Liveria, but my alliances seem to hold steady anyhow. How could I serve the monarch of one land while profiting in another?" She kissed Kaiser's head a few more times while petting him before slowly rising and moving to take a step back.
"I am loyal to you, Princess Kouri. Liveria may no longer claim me."
"I see." Kouri replies, simply and indecisively. It seemed that she wasn't certain how to take it at that moment, but nonetheless, she nods. "I thank you for your loyalty, though I am afraid I have not really earned it from you."
Catrin swept into another curtsy, smiling at Kouri once she was upright again. "You have earned it by being what the legends say so far. You haven't given me a reason to believe you do not deserve my loyalty. Should that day occur, I may change my mind. You seem more than worthy so far, Princess."
The words felt odd in her mouth. No one had ever refused loyalty from her before. Court had been such a tortuous web of shifting loyalties and honeyed words that such a response was unheard of... until now, of course. Princess Kouri was a curious one. She bowed her head then left the princess so that others may have her time.
Catrin and Kouri: Titleless
((@Becca as Lady Catrin, @Nilum as Princess Kouri and Kaiser the Royal Hound))
((@Becca as Lady Catrin, @Nilum as Princess Kouri and Kaiser the Royal Hound))
This was her chance. Everyone else would be dispersing to give themselves opportunities to rub elbows with the rest of the group or to process everything that had just happened. Catrin slid through the crowd towards Kouri then began to sweep into a curtsy for the Princess. Rather than properly hold the respectful gesture she dropped to her knees in front of Kaiser and offered a and for him to sniff.
"Good morning, Kaiser. Good morning, good morning!" Her voice was almost sing-songs, as most people talk when addressing a sweet dog. If he seemed to accept her after sniffing her, she would start to gently scratch behind his ears and continue cooing at him. "And good morning to you as well, Princess Kouri."
"Ah, fair lady," the Princess bows her head respectfully in greeting. "I am afraid I did not catch your name?"
Kaiser cautiously sniffs Catrin's hand, learning her scent. Once he realized she was no threat and she was attempting to appeal to him with her higher tone of voice, he bows his head and pants happily--though his ears remain perked up, as he remains ever alert for trouble.
"Lady Catrin Thorngage, Princess. Please, only call me Catrin. Under your rightful rule I have no ladyship to lay claim to." She didn't lift her head to meet Kouri's gaze as she continued to skritch behind Kasier's ears and try to kiss the top of his head.
Kaiser simply sits obedient as he is kissed on the head, though his tail swishes back and forth for a few moments in happiness at Catrin's affections.
Kouri, on the other hand, appears somewhat perplexed by Catrin's answer. "What do you mean, that you have no ladyship to lay claim to?"
"Should I join the newfounded Kingdom of Renalta, as I wish to, I will not be Lady Thorngage as I was before. I have renounced my title in Liveria, but my alliances seem to hold steady anyhow. How could I serve the monarch of one land while profiting in another?" She kissed Kaiser's head a few more times while petting him before slowly rising and moving to take a step back.
"I am loyal to you, Princess Kouri. Liveria may no longer claim me."
"I see." Kouri replies, simply and indecisively. It seemed that she wasn't certain how to take it at that moment, but nonetheless, she nods. "I thank you for your loyalty, though I am afraid I have not really earned it from you."
Catrin swept into another curtsy, smiling at Kouri once she was upright again. "You have earned it by being what the legends say so far. You haven't given me a reason to believe you do not deserve my loyalty. Should that day occur, I may change my mind. You seem more than worthy so far, Princess."
The words felt odd in her mouth. No one had ever refused loyalty from her before. Court had been such a tortuous web of shifting loyalties and honeyed words that such a response was unheard of... until now, of course. Princess Kouri was a curious one. She bowed her head then left the princess so that others may have her time.