SaDiablo Hall, Kaeleer, Friday Afternoon [Fandom Time]

[nothornlessrose]

Cassidy had stayed in the guest room she had been shown to for a lot longer than she normally would have. She had slept some, but that didn't get rid of the tiredness or the emotions that she was still feeling after the last couple of days. Finally, needing to get out and be in the open, she quietly headed downstairs and out the doors. She was hoping that she would be able to settle enough before they returned to Fandom.

	Cassidy was being quiet as she wandered around the places that guests were allowed to go. She didn't want to add to any of the tension that she could still feel, but she was glad that everyone was safe and back at the Hall. To be honest, she rather hoped she could come visit here again. The Hall felt interesting and she felt safe while she was exploring.
	"So, you're the one who has Aaron all in a tizzy." A young female, only a few years older than Cassidy, stepped out of the music room and into the hallway, giving Cassidy a smile. "I'm Kalush," she said, her voice low and a little husky. "From Nharkhava."
	Cassidy smiled at the other Queen, offering her her hands in greeting. "It's very nice to meet you, Lady Kalush. I'm Cassidy, from Dharo, as I'm sure you everyone here knows by now," she said with a smile.
	Kalush slid her hands above Cassidy's. "Sister," she greeted, giving her an impish smile. "I suppose Aaron was yelling loud enough to be heard by everyone in the Hall, it's true. He was most aggrieved to see you here, so much younger than he's used to."
	Oh, she liked Kalush already. "It seems that like my brother, Aaron seems to think that volume will get his point across and get him his way." She grinned. "He would be wrong in that assumption." Cassidy tilted her head. "I would have been much more sympathetic to his confusion and concern had he not immediately started in with the yelling and then the shaking." She gave Kalush a considering look. "I suppose that it is too much to hope that when I return to school with Karla he'll forget that I'm younger than him and restrain himself from fussing or checking up on me?"
	"I hope he doesn't," Kalush said, giving Cassidy a shy smile. "If he's stomping around fussing and fretting about you, he's not doing the same for me." Or Sabrina, but he didn't fuss over her in quite the same way. "And you know how males are. They turn to bluster to cover up being nervous or scared or confused." She sighed. "Such babies they are, sometimes. Just be glad you didn't get grumped at by Lucivar."
	Cassidy had to smile about that. "Then, Sister, I will do my best to accept the fussing and fretting from far away if it helps you get away from it some of the time." Really, she was becoming very glad that so far only witches had shown up at Fandom. She wasn't sure what would happen if a warlord or warlord prince showed up in Fandom. "So far I have managed to avoid getting the attention of Lucivar," Cassidy said. "I'm hoping that my luck holds until I return to Fandom. However, I do agree with you that men can be such babies at times. They would have a much easier time if they just agreed that we know what we're doing and let us do it with less fussing." That last was said with a grin.
	"And the sun will shine in Hell tomorrow," Kalush agreed with a sigh. "Though, if it would mean less fussing, we might be able to convince Jaenelle to give it a shot." She'd stopped the sun for three days. Getting it to rise in Hell had to be much easier than that. "So, how old is Aaron where--when--whatever you're from?"
	Cassidy had decided that she definitely like Kalush a lot and then on the heels of that decision was the realization that she might ever see Kaluh again if she wasn't allowed to come back with Karla to see them, if they didn't visit Fandom. That sadness was very clear around her. "Aaron in my world is 8 or 9 I believe. He spends a great deal of time when I see him following my brother around to see Clayton in reading or doing." There was fondness in her about her family.
	Oh, they'd meet again. Just not for a few years. But Kalush had very definite plans towards one Prince Aaron and those plans most certainly involved meeting his whole family some time. "Eight or nine?" Kalush squealed a bit. "He must have been such an adorable, solemn little thing. I didn't meet him until almost three years ago." It had taken two, possibly even three days for her to fall desperately in love with him.
	Cassidy gave her a grin. "He's a Warlord Prince so he tries to be serious," she said nodding. "He can be solemn, but he and Clayton can also get into mischief together."
	"You have to tell me all about it," Kalush said, patting the grass next to her in invitation. "I need something to tease him about when he decides to get all maddeningly Warlord Prince-y at me."
	Oh Aaron didn't have a chance when it came to Cassidy being given an invitation like that from Kalush. She was happy to take the invited seat. "Does he still make that face where he looks like he bit into something sour because he's trying to decide how to move the conversation to his advantage?" Cassidy was pretty sure she was going to be great friends with Kalush by the time they were through exchanging stories.

Morton	Morton was wandering the grounds, too. Trying to bleed off tension now that everyone was back and mostly together. There was going to be fallout, but at least... well, at least things had worked out in the end. When he spotted Cassidy, he paused. Not quite sure if he should approach or not.
Cassidy	Cassidy looked up from what she was staring at and smiled when she noticed Morton. He was always welcomed to approach her, so she made it easy by heading in his direction. "How are you feeling," she asked quietly. She imagined that as hard as it had been for her, the fact that Karla was his cousin had made things even more difficult for him.
Morton	"I'm... fine." Yeah. Well, that wasn't the most convincing lie he'd told. Still, Morton mustered up a smile. "And you, lady?"
Cassidy	Agreed, the lie wasn't all that convincing. Then again, she figured that it would be awhile before any of them could lie convincingly after what they had seen and been involved with. "I'm... settling," she said after a moment. She wasn't going to lie to him and say she was okay. "It's been something new to try to think about."
Morton	"Is there anything I can do to assist with that?" Anything so that he could feel useful.
Cassidy	"I could definitely use your company, Morton. Walking alone right now has me a little unsettled, and I believe that you probably could assist me it not going where I shouldn't." A lame request at best, but it was still enough of a way to give a warlord something to do to serve to help him settle, too.
Morton	He knew what she was doing. And he appreciated it. Morton sketched a brief little bow and smiled. "I would be honored. Though I don't know if I'd have too much confidence in my ability to steer you with any sort of facility."
Cassidy	She smiled back. "Perhaps, but probably better than allowing me to just wander about here by myself. This place is as huge as it is beautiful."
Morton	Morton paused, then looked around. "You know... it is. I get so wrapped up in everything that... it's easy to forget." "Thanks for reminding me."
Cassidy	She nodded. "Sometimes we all need a reminder to take a break and look around. It can be easy to forget."
Morton	"And I'm very forgetful," Morton chuckled.
Cassidy	She didn't say the first thing that came to mind, mostly because she liked Morton. She shrugged. "It happens to the best of us," she grinned.
Morton	Morton grinned over at her. "And, luckily, you're around to help us out, huh?"
Cassidy	She laughed. "That wasn't what I was thinking... at the time, but there are some of us girls who believe that."
Morton	"There are?" Morton gasped theatrically. "I've never met any of them!" Except for all of them.
Cassidy	That caused Cassidy to giggle as she looked at him.
Morton	Hey, if she was going to be amused, Morton could keep going. "No, really! Most of the girls I know are so retiring and insist that they need male guidance to do anything!" His face twitched just a bit there as he thought about some of the girls he knew back in Glacia. Who were that way.
Cassidy	Cassidy was trying not to laugh about the idea of the women he knew acting like that. "They sound very boring," she managed to get out. "Not sensible at all."
Morton	Her smile was enough to bring him back. "They're so much work to keep track of. If you're not careful they wander off into lakes and stuff."
Cassidy	"That must be a very difficult task for you, keeping track of so many witches that obviously need maps."
Morton	"If only they only needed maps. But I don't know if any of them can read a map."
Cassidy	"Oh... oh well that could be very troubling for you," Cassidy said, grinning.
Morton	"Please, please, please tell me, Lady Cassidy, tell me you can read a map."
Cassidy	She grinned, nodding. "I can indeed read a map, Lord Morton, so you won't see me wandering helplessly into lakes."
Morton	"You have officially made my day, my lady."
Cassidy	She grinned and dipped a curtsy to him. "I am happy to have done such a good thing."
Morton	"And you now have me in your debt," Morton suggested with a chuckle.
Cassidy	Cassidy laughed. "I've never had anyone in my debt before."
Morton	"I suppose that I am honored to be your first debtor, then," Morton laughed. "Just don't tell my cousin. She'll probably give you some sort of advice about what to do with said debt..." And that advice was almost certain to be somehow deeply embarrassing for Morton.
Cassidy	Cassidy's lips twitched. "Why, Morton, are you suggesting that I should keep a secret from my Sister? What kind of witch or Queen would I be if I did something like that?" Except that she would in a heartbeat if she thought she needed to. Or if someone asked her to.
Morton	"The kind of witch or Queen who has no interest in seeing my humiliated by whatever insane advice my cousin might give you?" Morton suggested a bit dubiously. Then he sighed and shook his head. "Who am I kidding?" he muttered. Funny thing, though. He sounded fond.
Cassidy	Cassidy laughed and squeezed his arm gently. "How about I won't tell her and if she somehow found some other way to offer insane advice to pick on you, I would use my own judgment on whether it was good advice or not?" That was supposed to be reassuring, really!
Morton	Morton reached over to lay his hand over the one on his arm. "I think that's the best offer I've ever gotten," he declared, just barely managing to suppress a laugh.
Cassidy	Cassidy grinned, then ducked her head to hide the blush she was sure was covering her cheeks. "What Karla doesn't know won't embarrass one of us," she said nodding.
Morton	"Well, assuming we're lucky," Morton agreed, the laugh managing to break through this time. "Though I don't suppose that protects me from you, now does it?"
Cassidy	"There's two of us, surely that should give us a better chance," Cassidy said. Because she was adorable when she thought like that. "You don't have to worry about me embarrassing you," she declared firmly. Embarrassing herself in front of him might end up being another story entirely.
Morton	Morton snorted in amusement. "Are you a Queen?" he asked. He could have also asked if she was female, since that's all it usually took to get him flustered, but whatever.
Cassidy	"I would never purposefully or willfully embarrass you?" She amended. "I can be a klutz at times." In so many ways. She had never had this much fun talking to a handsome boy, before. Okay, she had never been around a handsome boy that she had noticed, much less talked to for any length of time. However, she was very much enjoying the time she was spending with Morton.
Morton	"You're not a klutz," Morton objected. Not that he'd known her long enough to know, but he was pretty sure that he was supposed to defend her from such accusations. Even if the accusations were hers. Cassidy was... oddly relaxing, really. Most of Karla's friends were... intense. It felt nice to be able to loosen up a bit.
Cassidy	Cassidy was surprised to hear him defend her and she had to admit, that it was a nice feeling to have a male not her family say something so nice. "I'll make sure to remind you of that if I ever step on your toes or trip you up." Cassidy was only intense on rare occasions -- or when people really made her annoyed or angry. She would be thrilled to know that Morton was able to relax with her.
Morton	"When Karla does those things she always tells me that they're part of her duty as a Queen," Morton suggested helpfully. "I don't see why you shouldn't do the same."
Cassidy	She smiled at him. "And how often does that work?" She wondered if that would work as an excuse if she ever had to kick her cousin again?
Morton	Morton laughed. "Define 'work'." He usually let Karla get away with it. Though, to be honest, he let Karla get away with a lot...
Cassidy	Cassidy nodded. "That's what I thought. I may have to consider using that as justification on my cousin in the future."
Morton	"If you do... just don't tell him I told you about this particular little strategy, okay?" Morton would appreciate not being blamed for this one!
Cassidy	"Of course not," She said, shaking her head. "It's none of Aaron's business what I learn or from where." So she may still be annoyed at her cousin for ... well, for being a Warlord Prince at her.
Morton	Morton caught that tone. He stopped walking and glanced over at her. "What did he do?" Morton asked softly.
Cassidy	It wasn't in Cassidy's nature to tell tales about her feelings being hurt, and the last thing she wanted to do was have one of Aaron's friends annoyed with him. "He was being a Warlord Prince," she finally said. Because that would explain everything?
Morton	"Being a Warlord Prince, or being your cousin who is a Warlord Prince?" Morton asked, sounding sympathetic.
Cassidy	Cassidy gave him a faint smile, acknowledging that there was a difference. "Being my cousin who is a Warlord Prince... and somehow older than me here," she said. "Why are some males so difficult?" She paused. "Since you are his friend, I should probably admit I kicked him." After he started shaking her.
Morton	"We take special classes in being difficult," Morton answered with a small smile. "I'm pretty sure they're like the ones that all you females take." "As for the kicking," Morton cocked his head. "Did he really deserve it?"
Cassidy	"Oh yes," she assured him quickly. "I wouldn't have kicked him if he hadn't truly deserved it." Of course, male vs. female definition of deserve might come into play here. "He's lucky that I was not wearing the boots that my friend, Alice, gave to me."
Morton	"Your friend Alice gave you dangerous kicking boots?" Morton asked with a grin. "One of Karla's friends did that for her."
Cassidy	Cassidy grinned and nodded. "They are black and tie all the way up to the knee, and they have shiny metal caps on their toes. She and her niece said I was too breakable, and wanted me to have shoes that wouldn't hurt my feet if I kicked someone."
Morton	"That's a good gift," Morton smiled. "Though I hope you never feel like you need to use them on me."
Cassidy	"I don't see how you would ever deserve to be kicked, Morton," she said with a smile. "But, I also promised myself that I would never wear them home where if I kicked someone, they might really get hurt." Because no matter her temper, she wouldn't have wanted to break something on her cousin by kicking him with those boots on. She didn't like the idea of hurting anyone. Though, for Karla, Morton... and really, any of the people she met at the Hall, she probably would hurt someone to protect them. Yes, even Aaron.
Morton	"I think you should tell Karla that next time you get a chance," Morton decided with a grin. Not that he thought it would help, but...
Cassidy	"If there is a chance that it would keep you at least mostly bruise free, I definitely will." Oh look, she was blushing and the ground was very fascinating.
Morton	"Really?" Morton sounded a bit surprised at that. Though it was a very gratified sort of surprise. He didn't notice her looking down at the ground because he was looking off to the side himself.
Cassidy	"I wouldn't like to know that you were getting bruises from dangerous kicking boots," she said shyly. "So, if I can help in that, I will."
Morton	"Putting me further in your debt?" Morton suggested in a teasing tone. "Not that Karla's kicking boots leave bruises."
Cassidy	Cassidy blushed again and shook her head. "Not in my debt. Think of it more as a witch looking out for the males she cares for and are her friends."
Morton	Morton's smile was clearly audible when he spoke. "I like that thought. "You're a good woman, Cassidy. A good witch. And a good Queen. I count it an honor to be your friend."
Cassidy	Cassidy looked up and she had a shy, but happy smile on her face. "It's an honor that is happily shared. But with the man part instead of woman. And the Warlord instead of Queen..." And she was babbling now.
Morton	"Thank you." Morton might have flushed just a bit himself underneath that friendly little laugh of his.
Cassidy	"Thank you," she said with a smile. "And you're welcome."

[[OOC: Pre-played with the always awesome glacial_witch and glacial_warlord. Thanks to blondecanary for the coding assistance!]]