linkingup | IN THE FOREST OF THE LOST

...I will not lie. Her feats do sound incredible when you speak of them regarding her.

[ Then, Argenti grants a small smile, gentle all the same. ]

As someone who is more or less new to these parts, I can only hope to understand more about this most radiant princess. I do wonder if this kingdom is in need of knights to serve as her personal guard.

After all, I am a Knight myself.

The gardener appears thoughtful.

The princess is our greatest treasure- she'll always need protecting. You'll have to ask the Queen, however- she decides everything about the princess... but you seem like an honorable sort, and I'm sure Her Majesty will welcome you with open arms.

Of course.

I am also certain that this Queen must be quite generous and kind herself. And, naturally, as a Knight it means quite a bit to be honorable - it is a must, after all. For my fellow knightly companion that remains true for him as well.

[ Then he gestures to Fray who has shown up with him, before looking back at the gardener, sparkling practically perfectly and radiantly at this person. ]

Is there a specific person we must be in contact with in order to reach out to the Queen?

[He's going to let Argenti do the talking, since Argenti clearly has got a handle on this, but he will nod. Stoically.]

Not at all. Please, head to the front gate, and someone will let you in- we can't let just anyone in, after all.

I hope to see you both in the guard. The King is away for diplomacy, so I worry about her and the Queen both.

But of course. I think that will be it for now...you have been so helpful.

[ Argenti even grants the person a very polite and elegantly executed bow. Up to the standards of a Knight of Beauty, naturally.

Then he turns to Fray. TIME TO FIND OUT HOW BAD THEIR COMPANIONS HAVE SOILED THEIR ATTIRE... ]

Shall we?

Edited 2024-09-28 23:30 (UTC)

[Fray mirrors it, though his is nowhere near as elegant and is more functional than flashy.]

Thank you for your time and assistance.

[May as well play along, right? This is Mafuyu's palace, so there's no reason to go making a mess of things... for now, anyway.

(smash cut to everyone else in their dirty clothes)]

Yes, let's.

[And once we've put some distance between ourselves and the others...]

I wonder if they're learned anything of value.

[ At least they're definitely doing well playing along - Fray's functional bow to him looks perfectly executed as if he had been doing it for at least a century.

But, anyway, enough simp behavior for now. ]

I am certain that they have!

Their souls are determined and resourceful...even if loud, at times.

[ And it will show when they're covered in dirt indeed, but ah well. ]

[lum what are you talking about, it's them, there is never enough simp behavior—]

Indeed. I do have to wonder if they've been playing along or...

[...Hmm. Looks like they have not. Eli, are you okay, did you roll around in some dirt or something??]

...I see.

[ So true, so true— ]

...Ah.

[ Yeah...there's Izou, Eli, and he thinks he may have even caught some dirt on Sunrise, Joshua, or Yi Sang depending on how close they get or whenever they pass by...why. Why is this happening. ]

I wonder what happened? I did not hear sounds of blows being exchanged.

[ And yet... ]

We're lucky it hasn't turned into a fight yet.

[Though yeah, how exactly did this happen...? Hmm. To the others with dirt on their clothes:]

What happened to you all?

[ look at least he got dirt for a Good Reason???? maybe???? ]

... I got ambushed.

[ not the whole story but Good Enough. ]

Did you fight them off?

[Damn, that was a fast fight!!]

Just enough to get an opening.

[ if the ends of his pants got that much dirt just from him throwing an attack and running, he doesn't really want to think about what would happen if he'd actually done a complete fight. ]

There's something watching us and it doesn't like us being here, so I opted to cut my losses.

[A nod!]

Wise decision. It would seem that whatever it is that's watching us is not very fond of our actions thus far.

[ Have Yi Sang, with the smudge on his wrist but a mini bouquet. ]

Do not disturb the flowers.

Edited 2024-09-28 23:48 (UTC)

[ HELP...Yi Sang certainly did try his best... ]

...Duly noted. But, the flowers do at least look nice. Did you find anything interesting about them?

We were speaking to a gardener over by the apple orchard, by the way.

It was mentioned that the Queen decides everything about the princess and the King himself is away, among other things about the princess' perfection. I believe it may have something to do with Miss Mafuyu's struggles, however...

The flowers are not as well cared for as they seem. They were wilting, still. Perhaps that is how Mafuyu must feel. Controlled, but still not thriving.

When I picked them... They seemed to look a little better.

...I can understand that. Growing beautifully, yet stifled by that "controlled" aspect, as it were.

[ From even the talk of the gardener here it feels like it certainly connects. Especially factoring in the part about the queen.

But, Yi Sang's words make him give pause, until: ]

Maybe because they had been freed from that environment they were growing in?

[ ...Ah. ]

Yes. And such a thing was frowned upon as some parallel of Mafuyu, so I was summarily punished.

[ Yi Sang looks down. ]

I hope that is the only mean to it. For cutting flowers to some... is still taking their life.

By being marred by dirt...

[ How unfortunate - implications and generally otherwise.

That said, the dire words granted to him make him pause, eyes softening in thought - equal parts concern (because he acknowledges it could be the case) and sentimentally optimistic feelings. ]

...Perhaps so. But, some flowers that are cut can be replanted - thus saving their life, giving them new room to grow. I shall endeavor to hope that it is this interpretation instead.

Are we really getting docked for touching those?

[ Should he really be surprised... ]

I suppose there are strict rules with how meticulously the garden is maintained.

[ points to a wilted leaf. ]

Not that they're truly good at it.

[Anyway, while everyone else is being a disaster, Fray is here with Argenti.]

As am I, should a second be needed.

[...he's the wrong kind of knight, but like, whatever—]

IN THE FOREST OF THE LOST

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