Setting the Stage {Finished}

[Jenn]

Holding his breath, barely daring to breathe, Atreju curled himself close to the charismatic patchwork and smiled. He opened his mouth to reply to her thinly nearly purred challenge when another sound - harsh and grating - caught at his ears. He blinked and turned his head as she did, ears both flicked forward to try and identify the foreign noise. It almost sounded like something being dragged across the floor.

He understood immediately when the macabre creature slid into view, complaining in a thick and raspy voice about something he didn't care about. No wonder the accent was so bizarre. He was missing most of his nose! In morbid fascination, he watched the ropes of slime that seemed to glisten around his rotted lips and gums, more of the viscous stuff coating his chest and darkening the fur. Hiding the feelings of disgust that coursed through him at the sight and smell of the old Euclides, he smiled tightly and slowly shook his head. "No, I don't believe I've had the pleasure of making your...servant's?...acquaintance. I would certainly have remembered such a unique encounter."

Once she resettled herself next to him, he relaxed a bit and looked to her for direction. This was her home, after all, and he wasn't about to alienate himself when he'd just earned his welcome.

[Nathalia]

Dayobi smiled indulgently, raising a paw to the old Torn in a dismissive manner.

"Of course," She turned toward Atreju. "Dear Atreju, this is a servant of my Court, his name is Mulsej, he will help you if you are in need of assistance. Mulsej?"

The creature bowed his head. "Yesh, M'lady?"

"You are to assist Atreju as you would assist the others."

Mulsej sighed heavily, as though vaguely annoyed. "Ahf coursh M'lady, anything the young master wants," He threw a glance at Atreju, his sunken eyes, searching the Feline's face. "...The young master shall have...in due time, y'know, whenever I kin drag m'self over there."

Dayobi smiled at him. "Thank you Mulsej, you are faithful, there is no more I could ask for in a follower."

The Torn appeared slightly embarrassed; he puffed his chest slightly, grinning. "Ahf coursh, M'lady, anythin' yeh want."

The Masquerade waved Mulsej off, though not unkindly, and spoke in a lilting tone. "Why don't you enlist the assistance of that Lapine, have her help you set up Atreju's quarters, I want him in the third room down the hall on the left, if you will."

The Torn bowed his head, once to Dayobi, and once to Atreju. He then turned and dragged himself away down the hall, the noises of his progress fading as he left their range.

Dayobi turned her face to Atreju's once again. She smiled.

"Before you make a snap judgment about our Mulsej, remember," She leaned in to him and gently dragged her tongue over his cheek. "Help can be found in many...especially those who are overly willing to assist..." She drew her head back and stood, holding a paw out to indicate he should follow. "He may not look like much, but he manages to get into places that I would never be able to set foot. But let us not dwell on him, dear Atreju, come I would like to escort you to...my quarters, if you will follow..."

[Jenn]

Atreju nodded his head politely, automatically, as introductions were made. He accepted the offer of servitude with a slight smile, better understanding the gruesome male’s position as Dayobi’s personal attendant. Every queen needed a handmaiden...or a hand-whatever-he-was...to assist them with the daily grind of life as a leader. He himself would soon serve as her ‘royal playwright’ and chronicler of her marvelous deeds.

Perhaps this queen was also in need of a consort. The smile hovering on his muzzle widened as he accepted her invitation and moved to walk to her right, beside but leaving space to follow her lead. ”As you say, milady. I believe I understand. And while my quarters are being prepared, as you have so graciously put into motion, I shall be delighted to follow your lead anywhere you’d like.”

This position would inspire the most dramatic tales. He could already feel it, niggling at the back of his mind, the excitement at his new prospects. Foremost over all other thoughts, however, were those of a baser sort. Even an artist – especially an artist – could not resist the promise in those soulless eyes.

[Nathalia]

Dayobi walked with a sashaying movement, rolling her shoulders and swinging her hips. Her mind bubbled with laughter as she heard Atreju follow. She had seen his face; she knew what sorts of thoughts were tumbling through his thoughts.

She led the way down the curiously long corridor, they passed about fifteen doors and another long, low, hallway, it didn't seem as clean or as well kept. Down at the end Mulsej could be seen, rapping his paw on a door. Dayobi led the feline behind her onward. The door they eventually came across was made of dark cherry wood. It had been polished recently, and had a delicate, silvery knob.

Dayobi raised her paw to the doorknob and pulled it open.

The chambers inside were of an impressive size for being underground. A four-poster bed seemed to have been pirated, along with a large amount of curtains and hangings, plastered about the area, hung up on walls, to masquerade as windows and tapestries. The aroma of grapes wafted through the room, a few vines crawled up the bedposts and walls.

"Dear Atreju," Dayobi purred. "What do you think of my abode?" She gestured with a paw, there was a stool, set up in front of a slightly dusty mirror, propped up against the wall, there was a large yellowing book in the corner, a few bottles of ink set around it. The Patchwork leapt up onto the bed and stared down at the other Euclides, admiring his form.

"Atreju?" She smiled. "Won't you join me?"


((OOC, this could be the end if you like, or you could post once more XD Whatev's <3))

[Jenn]

((Sounds like a pretty good end to me. You can safely assume what his response to that suggestion's going to be. XD Whee! He has his future Cast.))