George & the Queen, at the Royal Estate
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@wouldbebard said in PC Central - Homecoming: Kith and Kin:
George has been visiting the Estates on the regular, looking to meet with his Queen when she is free.
George finds Dowager Queen Martha Fisher at the royal estates, where she is heavily guarded both by the Goldfish Company ("G.F.C.") mercenaries, under the command of her nephew Prince Adrian Fisher, and Peltarch Defenders and Marines, under the command of Captain Hrresh.
Specifically, he finds her at the grave of her former husband, the first King Fisher post coronation. The gravestone is found in a small clearing near the lake, still within the bounds of the royal estate.
Both the G.F.C. and the Defenders give George a silent greeting.
Eventually, the Queen kisses her fingers, touches the grave with the same, rises, and begins to make her way back to the main courtyard. It is on her way back then that she finally sees George.
"Lieutenant Longcloak," she begins, with an aloof-yet-warm tone. "If you intend to talk, you shall also have to walk."
She listens, making her way steadily forward.
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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George smiles, a bit sheepishly perhaps.
"I suppose not, my lady. It is more about you. Admittedly, this is more of a social call than many of my other recent visits have been. If now is a bad time, just say give the word, and I will return some other day..."
His eyes scan the courtyard, the place he had sat so often with his friends. Recalling the debates and the arguments, the planning and scheming, the meandering conversations, philosophical and comical, his smile becomes more true. More proud, even.
"I have been wondering, as I do quite often. It's a curse, really.
As we were discussing our then upcoming trial and the still upcoming arrival of the Lady Temperance, Prince Adrian wanted to know what drives me.
This isn't about that, mind. I know who I am, and why I do what I do.
Every step of the way is clear, in hindsight, and I regret none of them.""You will no doubt have heard about my love of a good story. How I've pushed to learn what drove the people, when most people would simply accept and move on."
"I began to wonder about you, my Queen. Again, there is much written, and even more said. Gods know not all of it is praise, but those who praise you all do so with fiery conviction.
I know the Queen. The insightful and charismatic stateswoman. The noble lady for whom men and women are willing to risk life and limb.
If I may be so bold, however... Who was Martha?""Were you nobility born and raised? Educated on matters of state? Or an adventurer like the Geese, perhaps? With an inner fire like yours, ma'am, I'd wager you a sorceress.
Or was this life thrust upon you, leaving you no choice but to learn how to swim with sharks?"
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Walking slowly along the estate's lakeside path, the Queen is quiet for a fair while. That is, before she finally responds. George can tell, based on the cadence and tone, that it is not a response she's spoken before.
"Before General Del'rosa knocked on our door to tell my husband he was a King..."
She pauses, frowns, and walks along. Eventually, she continues.
"He was always a confident man. Fearless, even. Some might say careless, but I think he understood that worry was a waste of effort. He would spend his time hunting, fishing, and teasing his brother for public service."
"But he always had a way to make you feel like the most important person in the world."
There is a quiet pause.
"After he became King..."
Again, she continues, eventually, her tone more guarded.
"Busy. He was very busy."
. . .
Finally, George and the dowager Queen arrive at the courtyard. She turns to him, and smiles warmly. Her tone is as before, warm and welcoming, despite her question, which is deliberately laced with amusement. "Did you come all this way just to ask about my husband?"
[DM Xanatos Gambit]
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George makes his way past the G.F.C.s and Defenders with a few nods and silent smiles, being on good terms with many of them, but unwilling to disrupt the Queen's quiet contemplation.
He waits at ease while she greets her late husband, thenknuckles his forehead in his own greeting to the former King's final resting ground as she passes him and starts off half a pace behind her.
"By all means, your majesty."
After but a few paces, George looks behind him with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Begging your pardon, my queen, but... What was he like? Not King George, I mean. There's plenty written about our former King and even more is told. What was George like?"
