With a raised eyebrow Yuzuki looks towards the shrubs where Grimm's voice comes from. Her eyes divert in Genessa's direction then at the mention of her name, a skeptical look upon her features. He has sworn his allegiance to her.. but he isn't representing her very well. Or keeping himself in a condition to be of use to her.
Strange people.
A small smile is on her lips as she looks back in the direction of the Grimm sounding shrub, and then it's Benjie's voice that gets her attention. He says he doesn't understand her intentions… which is fine. He doesn't have to. But the more he speaks, the worse it gets. While her smile has faded, her features seem unphased. Neutral, utterly calm. She speaks in an almost eerily calm tone.
"When first I faced him, I was taken by surprise. I thought him my father, but it turns out he is actually a distant descendant of my clan. And he has the sword that I forged with my own hands. So, understand this." She now takes a step towards him, her dark eyes staring into his.
"Seek to come between myself and this man, between myself and regaining the honor I had lost… and I swear to all I hold dear that my blade will bathe in your blood. I care not who you are, or why you wish to be in conflict with me. Test me, and I will end you." She falls silent as she stares at him, her anger baaaaarely held in check.
Harry comes up to Benjie, and Yuzuki immediately turns her attention away from him. Not caring how many of the others heard all that. A smile is suddenly on her lips as she looks towards Richard. She had heard foreigners refer to her lands as the 'Orient'… someone explained it once to her, but she had forgotten exactly the reason. Her head tilts a little to one side as he uses another term she isn't familiar with. She knows what a 'fence' is… it's a barrier. Does he build fences? Repair them? In his world, is it necessary to use a sword in order to make fences? She has a sort of lost look upon her features, and she laughs awkwardly and gently as she speaks to him. And he would notice every few moments she glances in Benjie's direction.
"Sir, I am afraid I am not familiar with the 'fencing' styles. I've never actually heard of such. But it would be my honor to show you a little of what I know." Of course, her style of swordsmanship (swordswomanship?) is literally an ancient one. And it's very possible that not many from Burton's world actually practice her style anymore. When the samurai died out… much of their genuine arts were gone with them.
"And as payment, you can show me how it is you fight in your world." She says in a genuinely curious tone. Until now, it hasn't really donned on her to try and learn other styles. Styles of combat from worlds and times she can never imagine of.
And then a problem arises. A real problem. Niji the unicorn suddenly dashes right towards Anne, skidding to a stop behind her. She leans towards Anne and bumps her hat with her snout, huffing loudly. The unicorn then rears up a little and lets out a loud whinny, and shakes her head rapidly as she lands on her front hooves.
There is a bird in her (her as in Niji) hat. A winged creature has made a resting place of one of Niji'a favorite (and tasty) playthings. Anne's hat.
She snorts loudly again, blowing air against the bird as she stares at it with wide eyes. The bird reacts with a few quick tweets and flapping her wings… and Niji reacts by bolting. She jumps a little and darts away from Anne, galloping at almost full speed for the distance of 20 feet. She then goes into a trot and comes about face, letting out another loud whinny. From a safe distance.
Shalana stands dutifully near her mother, her hands folded into the sleeves of her gown. Her eyes are half open as she watches with seeming disinterest, but in all reality she is eagerly and discretely studying the Strangers. She has never seen a group this big of them at once. Her cousin, Magda, would be envious of this opportunity.
When her father joins them, her attention moves back to her parents. And then.. he mentions that they should have a guide. Despite her want to seem neutral and uninterested, her eyes do widen a little.
Someone who not only knows the lands… Shalana has most of these lands memorized from her 'research' trips… and knows a bit about diplomacy!
She can stand with the Strangers, of course!
She has a lifetime of experience!
She is of THE royal line!
She stands between her parents, the King and Queen of these lands, looking between them with expectation. Her toes curl and uncurl with excitement…she has to do something and not give away how happy she is with what she is about to be asked!
Her smile now widens and the excitement just spreads over her young features, not bothering to be subtle anymore. Yes, she
is the lady for the task!
"Yes mother!" she says the moment the first syllable of her name moves passed Qweyr's lips.
"I would be thr--" At this moment, if you could take the heart scanning device used to show just how the Grinch's heart had grown 3 sizes and apply it to Shalana's heart… well you would see her pretty heart just crumble. The disappointment is TO obvious on her features. She stares wordlessly as her mother turns, and then she looks towards her father. Are… are they serious?
But she obeys, of course. She walks with her mother then, her cheeks and nose and the tips of her faintly pointed ears as red as a firetruck.
Queen Gweyr, Shalana and Genessa approach the group now, Shalana looking veeeeeery unhappy. One of her handmaidens approach her from the side, wanting to ensure she was okay and to perhaps offer aid. But Shalana just glares at the handmaiden. If her eyes were capable of it, the handmaiden would burst into flames with the strength of Shalana's angry gaze. Fortunately the handmaiden is okay. But she needs to see that look on Shalana's young face for a mere moment… and she immediately turns with a bow and skitters away from the group. Shalana looks back towards the group… well the general direction of the group. In reality as she walks behind the Queen, her eyes are on the back of Gweyr's head, as if trying to
see exactly what the hell she is thinking. Sending
Genessa instead of herself?