Family Brunch ( Lucinda, Aria )

[Lucinda Noru]

Lucinda listened as Aria continued to enlighten them on what she knew and her idea for helping the Fated, as well as the general community. The princess couldn't help but smile. The idea sounded exactly like something a champion of Saden would suggest and it was a great idea. She looked to Noku as he thought it over and listened to his reply. He seemed to approve for the most part but she wasn't going to take this on assumption. "Am I to understand that you agree with her suggestion, cousin? I think it's brilliant myself and very fitting coming from Saden's Champion. As for my brother, I will send him notice as soon as possible," she said, pausing to finish off her juice.

As Noku mentions a guard and places Aria under her care, Lucinda nods. "Of course. I would expect nothing less and am used to being followed about by guards. Do not worry about Aria, she will be well protected as well. Did you not already assign her your captain of the civilian guard?," she added, "We are very grateful for your concern and the safety provided by your guards, your highness," she finished, giving Noku a warm smile.

Lucinda munched on some fruit as he addressed Jeon and then perked up when he mentioned playing Rich Man, Poor Man. "That sounds delightful! I haven't had a good game in a while," she answered, grinning widely and her blue eyes twinkling in anticipation.

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Aria tilted her head curiously as the King spoke, she wasn’t sure if she had just pissed him off or if he actually thought her idea was good. There obviously was just a decision made regarding the Fated, however she just wasn’t exactly sure what that decision was….at least it sounded like they weren’t all going to be sent to the slaughter house. It was a start at least. Aria was thankful for Lucinda’s interjection, however blushed deeply at the compliment. Praise was not something she was use to.

”Thank you Princess”

Aria scratched her nose as Lucinda praised the guards; Aria had slightly different opinions on them. But none the less…it was going to take adjustment to get use to having someone fallow her about that she wasn’t allowed to loose.

”It will be an adjustment for me, but you have my word on being more cautious as well”

She sighed.

”Championships will be interesting…”

Aria watched the interaction between Noku and Jeon with a small smile; both to Lucinda and Jeon now, Noku had taken on a teacher like roll…he was a bit… abrasive. But he did seem to care to see his family live up to their expectations. Aria raised her eyebrow at the King when he announced he wanted to play cards and was sharp in his youth. he was what? Only thirty? Around that...that wasn't that old. Still a baby compared to some of the people she knew.

”How do I play? It sounds fun”

[Noku Noru]

"Now here's a fine game. Some of the most important decisions of the kingdom have come down from contests between our ancestors. The statue of our great-uncle, Lucinda, that stands in the middle of the dockyard at Kanto, and greets the vessels coming into port, was originally crated for the same man in his own image, to adorn the gardens here in Nova. His brother, after an afternoon of friendly drinking, struck up a game, and wagered that the loser must travel to the winner's kingdom and pay homage to their citizens, as a joke. Well, the king of Canto had intentionally laced his brother's cup with Lunar Nectar, and easily won. However, instead of having him pay an embarrassing visit, he ordered his brother's statue, newly finished, carted off and placed lazily in port so he could enjoy his victory forever. And today, every sailor recognizes that same statue, weather-worn and chipped, as a sign of wages, women, and wantonness. HA!!"

A servant approached the gazebo with a deck of cards, the back of each gilded with silver and bearing a pattern of the Noru crest interwoven with grape vines, rose vines, and thorns, at each of the heads, respectively. Noku thanks the servant and shuffles quickly, several times, while in explanation of the rules.


"Seven cards each; the deck is open to draw, or to swap what is discarded. You must pair suits or values, either in blocks, or as a series. Once all seven cards have been matched, the round ends, and you receive points for each of your cards. At the end of the game, the lowest score wins. Aces are one, twos are two, and so forth through to the king."

Noku grinned mischievously, and dealt out the cards, a warm expression replacing his normal pensiveness. Games of subversion and deceit had always intrigued him, and such practices were encouraged in young nobles to hone their perceptive abilities. Noku, in particular, savored such pastimes, and would never shy from exerting his experience to his advantage. He had a welcome opponent in Lucinda as well, it having been many years since their last game, and the chance to test himself against a newcomer of so uncertain a nature as Aria had urged him on. He was enjoying himself already.

[Lucinda Noru]

Lucinda nodded at Aria's comment concerning the championships. "Indeed. I am also looking forward to the championships. Will you be taking part this year then, Aria?" she asked, curious. She wasn't sure how their plans would effect her standing as the Champion of Saden. "What do you think, cousin?" she asked simply, yet so much could be taken from the question. She was clearly concerned about the shared curse between them.

As the subject turned to that of the game at hand, Noku began a tale concerning the statue at Kanto. Lucinda had seen it of course, on a trip with her parents once, and had thought it a very odd place for a tribute to their great uncle. She laughed as he finished the explanation, the sound ringing lightly through the gardens. "Well, that certainly explains a lot! What an underhanded thing to do but amusing at least. Terrible stuff to be remembered for though, I must say," she commented, still laughing a little.

The princess listened attentively as the king explained the rules of the game. "I must admit, it has been quite some time since I've played. I'm afraid I'm a bit rusty, my liege,"she apologized, though she was determined to give him a good game at least. It should prove amusing either way and her dear cousin certainly seemed rather interested, if his grin was anything to go by. "Let's see, the person to the left of the dealer goes first, correct?" she murmured, looking to Aria and then checking her hand.

[Deleted]

Aria listened with shocked look on her face to the king’s tale, a laugh escaped her throat as he finished his amusing tale. Now that was a piece of information she did not know, and was a wonderful story. Aria turned her attention to Lucinda with a large grin on her features.

”Remind me not to gamble with any Noru’s. However as losses go that one is an amusing one. I’ve never heard the tale before. Do you have any more like that?”

She did love stories, and she could not hide the eagerness in her voice. Story time to her was just as good as any sweet…well almost. Then again stories lasted longer. Aria’s attention turned back to the problem of championships, scratching her chin in thought.

”That’s a sticky situation now….Frankly I didn’t get my championship by fighting. Jeon here took pity on my situation on looking for work that was familiar to me and stepped down. However in the final championships there will be fighting. While frankly I’m more than a fair hand with a sword, and daggers I don’t think it wise I participate given the recent circumstances. It’s one thing to put my own ass on the line, and another when it affects someone else. Frankly it won’t kill Saden to lose this championship, though I don’t think he will be pleased that his champion is likely to be backing out….I’ll have to accept the consequences when they come down the line.”

Her nose scrunched up, she knew exactly what her father did when he was displeased with her. Hopefully this Saden would be a bit different. Either way one could tell what she was expecting wasn’t going to be pleasant. It was yet another one of those screwed if you do, screwed if you don’t situations. But Aria had already learn life’s hard lesson about consequences; they came whether you deserved them or not.

Aria listened to the rules, trying to think if she had ever seen a game like that before. She thought she might have which made her have another question come to mind.

”Any house rules I should know about?”

She studied the cards, running a finger over the back of the face down cards she had been dealt. Considerable time had been put in to make this deck, and she appreciated the fine details.

”I’ve always wondered….what does the Noru crest stand for?”

[Noku Noru]

Noku observed his hand, then thought to himself a few moments while the two ladies discoursed. After they had finished, he first answered Lucinda "that is correct, and so I believe the honor of the first move goes to you" then, turning to Aria, "there are no particulars; it is a tradition of nobility in games of deceit to at least grant your opponent a full turn, uninterrupted, so that you may punish him more fully for any flaws of judgment. And, as to that notion, in light of the events at hand, abstaining from a show of combat would be most pragmatic." He placed his hands flat, shoulder width, on the table, his eyes resting on the space between them, and spoke more slowly. "It has been known to the lineage of Cain that an unfortunate aspect of the transformation is near complete loss of sensibility, and therefore, control. Hence, it has been tradition that a secretly appointed person should always be prepared to intervene with a powerful sedative in the event that it should occur." He raised his eyes to Aria's. "Consider for yourself what may have become of that misguided woman who assailed me and attempted to flee. Consider also what may have occurred that night at the Gallow's within the royal box, where sat the majority of the influential regents and nobles of this kingdom." He paused here, allowing the silence to punctuate the gravity of what he implied.

"To answer your other question," he resumed, placing the tips of his fingers together, "the royal crest is a symbol of the foundation of our clan as the ruling family in this part of the world. The three minor serpents are representative of Palico, Canto, and Nova, respectively, and the major central one symbolizes the unity of the Noru family's power, as well as our common lineage."