Prose log with Queen

[percivalthegale]

Who: Percival and Queen (queenofcastle
When: shortly after this meeting
Where: outside in the courtyard
What: a kind conversation intended to convince Queen not to leave

Clutching her bag to her chest tightly, Queen shakes her head as she paces a little at the castle gates, fighting the indecisiveness about leaving for good. The shock of Elaine's words might have worn out but Nash had unintentionally brought it back, causing her to storm away from him. She stopped pacing for a moment and stood still with her face buried in the bag material. "I can't believe he of all people ..."

Having taken a few minutes to get out of his armor and into something more comfortable, Percival was making his way back down to the stables to see Midnight bedded down for the evening. Along the way, he saw that Queen was still near the gate, so he decided to divert his path and check on her once more. She seemed so distraught... "Queen?" he wondered when he was in range of a normal voice tone. "You're still here?"

She had to take a moment to compose herself before looking back up at the sound of Percival's voice. Smiling slightly, she nodded. "I only took a few steps to the side, it seems. It's too difficult. I can't make up my mind still."

Even though he noticed the bag, Percival wasn't completely positive what she meant. People came and went on travels all the time. He came up to her and stopped close by. "What precisely are you trying to decide? Maybe I can help..."

Hugging her bag now, Queen glanced over her shoulder towards the plains. "Whether or not to leave Budehuc. For good." She shook her head again, trying to maintain her composure for as long as possible. "I don't think I can take much more of Elaine's crap anymore."

Percival started in obvious surprise. "For good? I...I...I didn't realize..." His dark eyes softened in sympathy. "Simply because of that Elaine...?"

Queen nodded as her eyes narrowed in a glare. "I don't know how she found out that I had children but she ..." Shaking her head again, she continued, "She brought them up in her attempt at insulting my looks. I don't care what she says about how I look since she apparently needs to put other people down to make herself feel good, but my children are none of her damn business."

"I'm sorry," Percival said immediately, shaking his head. "That does sound cruel, intentionally or not. But..." He made a face, clearly trying to figure out how to properly phrase his question. "...would she not take even more satisfaction in learning that she'd driven you out?"

Frowning at that, Queen hesitated and reluctantly nodded. "You're probably right. But ..." She shook her head yet again as she kept thinking back to what Nash said. "You would think Nash would be supportive of my feelings right? It hurt me even more that he ... that he dismissed her words to me as unintentional. That she probably didn't have any bad intentions. How the hell could he defend her?!"

Percival shrank back a little at her vehemence. "Er...I...I don't know. That doesn't sound like something he would do." He scratched the back of his neck, wearing a genuinely perplexed look. "I know he's been trying to ingratiate himself to you at every turn...perhaps he's been so out of practice at charm that he completely missed this time. I wouldn't know for sure - my opinion of him has never been all that great."

She let out a sigh, bringing her bag back to her side again. "I'm just ... tired of the constant reminders. I can't remember the good memories anymore. They're all clouded by the painful ones. And every moment that I spend here, and every time Elaine instigates me, I despise being here the more."

"Ah. Well, then. I'm not sure there's anything I could say that could change that." Percival's eyes looked sad, though. "I'm sure a great number of people would miss you, and be unhappy that you've left. There would be a great hole in the hearts of many here, without you. But far be it from me to try to convince you that your feelings aren't valid or that they don't mean anything. If that's how you truly feel, well..."

"I'd miss ... quite a few people too. I suppose, letting Elaine upset me so much is stupid but ... I can't help it. She crossed the line." She turned and faced away from Percival in case she'd lose her composure entirely.

Percival moved to match her step, coming up behind her and setting a hand on Queen's shoulder. "Perhaps she did...but do you really want to admit that one person has this much control over you? A person you dislike, no less," he added with a droll down-note. "It's a far cry from someone you admire or care for ruling your life. And even then, I don't see you as the kind of person to let anyone rule them."

Her eyebrows knotted as she frowned. "Of course not." Queen shook her head. "But I'm not trying to compete with her. Not like she always wants to do. I ... I couldn't care less what the hell she says of me. But my children ..." At the thought of them, she swallowed a sob. "Percival, I'm not the woman I was before I settled down here. I used to not let anyone close to me. Obviously, that changed."

The knight squeezed her shoulder gently, letting her know he was still there for her. "Of course it did...few can go through life without changing somehow. If you ask me, it's not a bad thing. Else, how could you claim to have so many friends here?"

The corner of her mouth turned upwards ever so slightly. "So, are you saying that I didn't have many friends before I began to change?"

"O-oh. Ah, no, hardly!" Percival stammered as he tried to backpedal. "I mean, well...I only know from the war. Your team was social enough but then, many of us kept to our own familiar circles. Time has certainly changed a lot of us, really."

"Heh, relax, Percival. I know what you mean." Queen turned around, smiling a little more. "It's true though. Especially since we don't have our original groups here at the moment. I do miss the rest of the 12th but I can't say that I haven't met some pretty nice people while here."

"And I miss the other knights as well, although if they were here you would never get me to admit it to their faces." Percival stepped back to give her space and laughed a bit. "It is a little too much to hope that the good and perfect times would last forever, but we are all strong enough to handle the changes. Reeds in the wind and all that." His eyes, at least, still showed his sympathy. "There have been some tough ones, I'll admit."

Smirking a little, she nodded. "You men. I bet none of you would ever admit it, even on pains of death." Queen shifted her bag over her shoulder again as she glanced back at the castle. "Yeah. Nothing lasts forever. Good or bad. I should know that very well by now."

"And yet..." Percival tilted his head again. "...nothing says you can't fight to keep it for as long as you have the strength. Ah, I should probably speak more plainly, I'm not very good at hiding behind metaphors." He turned squarely toward her, loosely folding his arms over his middle. "No one really has the right to tell you not to leave here, but many of us have the will to. We're selfish enough to want to have your company. But really, you're the only one who can decide what's best for you. All things considered."

Nodding again, she turned her gaze back towards the plains. "I know." She didn't say anything more for a few moments before turning to him again. "There's no need to talk to that wench, right? Of course I have no intentions of seeking out her company, but I mean that you're not going to confront her about what she said to me, right?"

"Oh, well...no. If you don't want me to, I won't." Percival frowned a little. "Behavior like that is uncalled-for, but it isn't my place to confront her. Especially if you ask me not to. I tend to obey the wishes of my friends." The frown eased up, then. "I would think that avoiding her presence would be the best course. Probably not the easiest, but..."

"It will be easy enough on my part. However, if she chooses to continue to aggravate me, that would be her fault." She smiled a little more. "I appreciate everything, Percival. But trust me. The last thing I want is for anyone to speak to her on my behalf. It will probably do more harm than good."

"I can understand that," Percival nodded. "Sometimes it's best to just leave well enough alone and give each other a wide berth." After all, that was his favorite way of not dealing with his own problems. He smoothed down the front of his shirt with a hand and then smiled. "I dare say we have enough trouble around here without adding to it. We all need each other's trust and company."

Calmer now, Queen began taking a few slow steps back towards the manor. "Indeed. Enough space is all most of us need. And for those of us who are decent human beings, yes, we do rely on one another for support."

Percival raised his arm in a gentlemanly manner, offering it. "It seems you and I might be going the same way, milady. Would you like some company?"

Her smirk softened into a warmer smile as she accepts his arm. "Why, it certainly appears that way. Thank you, Sir Knight." Raising an amused eyebrow, she adds, "I swear, if only more people could be as well-mannered as you~"

"Honestly, I don't know about everyone else. I was raised by my mother to be polite and chivalrous." Percival smirked knowingly as he casually walked with Queen back towards the manor, taking it slow since it was such a nice evening for early autumn. "I've known Lizards with manners and noblemen without them, it really makes one wonder sometimes."

Smirking again, she cocked her head slightly. "That is true. I can think of one such knight, at least. But perhaps that is only due to his terrible temper."

"Oho, well, believe me - there are far worse," Percival said with a breezy smile. "If I weren't in the position I'm in, there are a few around the capital I would just as soon kick in the teeth. Alas, I have a reputation to uphold." He was doing his best to cheer her up as they walked, already heartened that Queen chose to walk this way instead of out the gates. It was a good first step.

The image of Percival kicking out the teeth from obnoxious noblemen certainly amused her plenty. "I know. Harmonian aristocrats are completely insufferable. None of the Zexen nobility can compare, as terrible as some of them might be."

Percival laughed warmly. "Oh, I don't doubt it. Though, I admit the idea of a noble who is even more insufferable than the ones I've met sort of chills me. Here's hoping they remain closed away in Crystal Valley where they feel it's safe from us barbarians."

Queen sighed. "'Yeah. The merchants are bad enough. And I'm sure you're aware of the class distinctions in Harmonia. It's terrible really, their idea of a certain group of people being superior to other groups. And Harmonia enslaves the citizens of countries they conquer. Nothing is half as bad on this side of the world."

"I am," Percival nodded, his humor sobering a bit. "For all its evils and suffering, the war did open my eyes to the wider world. I've learned so much. If I can let go of my prejudices toward Karayans, that already makes me far nobler and fair than anyone who supports Harmonia. It's sad, but there you have it." He reached across with his other hand and patted Queen's where it rested on his arm. "We shall have to simply sit here on our end of the continent and feel smug about that, won't we?"

"Mm. Not necessarily be smug but grateful at least. It's not easy growing up third-class citizen. You might as well be dogs." Not dwelling on Harmonia any further, she smirked again. "Speaking of which, I heard Redrum had a mishap with them some time ago."

Percival raised an eyebrow. "Again? Or is that regarding the theft of his clothing that one time? I swear, the man gets himself into trouble simply by living here. I speak of my bad luck but some days, he outdoes me." He shook his head ruefully.

Snickering, she nodded affirmatively. "That'd be the incident I heard about. I only wish I was there to see it. It must have been an amusing sight."

"The next time," Percival said wryly, "I should just sigh and walk off, and say 'oh, Borus. Fix it yourself.'" He chuckled, though. The teasing was his favorite part. He led Queen up the stairs to the main door of the manor. "Well, then. Shall we part ways here? I was actually on my way to the stable, originally, but I can't pass up a damsel in distress."

"For his sake, he should hope there's not a next time." She smiled as they stopped in front of the manor. "There you go again. Such a sweetheart. Go on and do what you need to. I'll head to my room from here."

"Have a good night, then." True to his nature, Percival slid the hand on his arm gracefully into his grasp so he could kiss Queen's knuckles delicately, and then stepped back. "Remember that your friends are here with you. Do take care of yourself."

Smiling warmly as he took her hand, she nodded. "I will. And you do the same, Sir Knight Charming. It wouldn't be right for you to ask it of others and not expect if for yourself."

"I shall indeed." Percival perked up with a bright smile as he turned and headed back down the steps. Seeing Queen smiling again was totally worth it.