[Closed x2] In The Garden / Visiting Daath

[jewelboxes]

001. In The Garden. (Sophie & Richard)

[The sun is high, the breeze is pleasant, and Barona's royal gardens are awash with spring colors. Adorned with hyacinths and tulips, proud irises and creeping phlox, the castle's walled backyard has become a veritable treasure trove of sweet-smelling flora, something straight out of a fairytale.]

[Richard passes under a trellis, brushing a curled vine aside as he checks the grounds for a certain lavender-haired girl that he has no doubt he will find here.]

Sophie?

[If ever he had been granted a younger sister, Richard suspects the affection he would have felt for her would be something much like what he feels for Sophie, and he looks forward to her visits. It's simply a shame that his schedule is so unfortunately busy. Although he himself is partially to blame for it, there is much more that's completely beyond his control. He can't remember the last time he had an afternoon off, and it's certainly been months since he's been able to set time aside to visit Lhant.]

[At length, he discovers her whereabouts, smiling gently.] There you are. You'll have to forgive me. My advisors were quite insistent that I stay for the entire banquet.



002. Visiting Daath. (Anise & Asbel)

Man, I sure hope this is the right place...

[Asbel frowns a little as he peers up at the imposing building before him. Calling it a "sanctuary" doesn't quite do it justice; it looks more like a fortress. In fact, he's pretty sure it's even more massive than the castle back in Barona.]

[Ever since Cheria found out about the piles of proposal letters shoved into the back of his writing desk, she's made it her personal goal in life to see that he responds to each and every one of them. Something about how he should take responsibility...whatever that's supposed to mean. It's been an arduous couple of months to say the least, but he's finally down to the very last letter. And because the return address got smudged, he's even here to deliver it himself. Unfortunately, he has no idea what this "Anise Tatlin" even looks like. From the letter alone, she seemed pretty young, but beyond that.]

[With a nod to the guards stationed at the doors, Asbel heads into the cathedral with its warm shadows and dazzling stained glass windows. How's he supposed to find this girl in a place like this?]

[Asbel slowly lifts a hand to try and attract the attention of someone who seems to work here, feeling entirely out of place.]

Hey, um, excuse me. Would you happen to know where I can find an "Anise Tatlin"? I have a letter for her from House Lhant.

Comments

[jewelboxes]

Something like that. [He returns the expression fondly.]

Being a king means having a responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of all those who dwell within the kingdom as well as maintaining a favorable relationship with foreign nations. To do this requires a great deal of paperwork and a considerable amount of discussion.

[It's a condensed explanation at best, however, Richard would prefer to spare Sophie the boring and decidedly less pleasant details of rulership. Besides, this is their time together.]

But let's set aside such things for now. How have you been, Sophie? Is all well in Lhant?

[namedbytheflower]

I've been okay. Everyone is fine. [It's been life as usual, more or less.] Asbel has a lot of paperwork to do, though.

[jewelboxes]

I'm glad to hear that. Although, it's a shame about the paperwork. I know that Asbel still has a great number of things he'd like to teach you, and reviewing paperwork is quite the tedious and time-consuming process.

[Imagining Asbel diligently bent over a desk isn't difficult, but he expects that such responsibilities have the unfortunate side-effect of cutting into time the young lord would otherwise be spending with Sophie.]

You're still tending the gardens back in Lhant, correct?