Grid: J-10
Location: Orion
“Aha, take that, you scurvy knave!”
“Ooohh, you’re gonna pay for that one!”
No, Hans and Adrian were not ‘play’ sword fighting again. There weren’t even playing together. These sounds of heated battle came from the sitting room of the Slacs-Scl manor, where Adrian and Cate were at a small tea table, animatedly playing chess with Hans’ new Talonjain chess set. Cate craftily pushed a rook forward.
“En guarde, Sir Knight!”
With her rook, she captured Adrian’s remaining Shadow Knight, knocking it aside triumphantly, a wicked grin on her face.
“Oh, the pain!” groaned Adrian, then pushed a dark red and black queen figure with a grinning white skull-face and cackled, “Fear my terrible queen!”
Across the room, lounging on the newly-bought sofa was Hans, who was having an enjoyable time assembling his model Viking ship.
“These figures are uber-sweet,” he said, holding one up close and examining it, “And -- whoa! -- check it out! The horns are removable! Sweetness…”
Back at the chess game, Adrian had managed to plow through Cate’s ranks of crossbow-wielding pawns and had checked the king with his devilish black queen.
“Take that, King Matty!” crowed Adrian.
“Take that, Mrs. Vladek!” returned Cate, capturing the black queen with a barbie blue bishop.
Adrian groaned. Hans, from across the room, exclaimed, “Check it out! A dark green locknest! Rrahh!”
Hans proceed to attack his boat with the locknest, tossing little figures overboard.
“Gah!! It’s a locknest! It will eat us all!”
“Crunch snarl granamble chomp grhshaspble….”
Cate rolled her eyes and giggled.
“You’re such a child, Hans.”
“Aye.” nodded Adrian.
Hans snorted.
“And you two are the pinnacles of maturity. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. I hear and see your battle of the titans…”
All three of them laughed, which was then interrupted by a loud horn blast. Cate gasped.
“Oh, goodness! I, like, totally forgot! The parade!”
Adrian stood, as did Hans, who placed his model ship and locknest on a side table.
“Let’s go!” said Hans, “It not far from here!”
“But, but!” Cate was frantic, “What will I wear?!”
Adrian snorted.
“You look fine! C’mon, I don’t want to miss this!”
“But!” cried Cate, “I look ghastly in this frock!”
“So you don’t mind looking horrible in front of us, but you must prim yourself up in front of a mindless crowd?” said Hans, pulling on his boots.
Cate stamped her foot.
“That’s -- different, you two! You’re --- friends! I don’t need to look good for friends!”
“Oh, I see.’ nodded Adrian wisely, “We not ‘good’ enough…”
“Aye,” continued Hans, “We’re
just friends. Here that, Adrian, we’re
just friends…”
“That’s not what I meant!” snapped Cate
Hans and Adrian laughed.
“We know that!” chuckled Adrian, “But come on! Honestly, you’re like tied to the wardrobe!”
“Alright, I’ll come!” sighed Cate, flinging a shawl around her shoulders, “Am I okay?”
“You’re fine!” sighed Adrian.
“You look great.” said Hans sincerely.
The trio rushed out the front doors of the manor and made a sharp left onto 21st Avenue, then crossing over 22nd Avenue and halted at 23rd Avenue, where they had to push and shove their way through the crowds to get a decent spot. They were just in time. The first marchers were just coming down the street.
Formendacil wrote:The parade was led by a regiment of Tridentine knights in dress armour, led by Commander-General Vincentius. Behind them came the first of the marching bands fielded by people of Orion. Next came the first of many floats featuring merchants, local lords, and civic officials, all decked out the heraldry of their leaders or guilds. Then came another marching band, and then a company of Club Knights from Talistrand under Sir Victor de Graff, in dress armour.
Next came the contingents of foreign dignitaries and officials. Not every nation had decided to contribute, but those that did were quite impressive. The Eastern Knights’ Kingdom put on a colourful show unmatched for brilliance. The Crusaders had an entire regiment escorting their Chancellor on a red, yellow, and blue float.
Then came another marching band, followed by a regiment each of the Chevron Knights and Crimson Knights, then a final band- the Imperial Cavalier Marching Band, and the final regiment, the Imperial Cavaliers, escorting several carriages of dignitaries and nobles, the last-most of which were the Emperor and his son.
As the last of the floats and marchers vanished around the corner, Adrian said, “Impressive. Most impressive.”
Hans nodded. “Aye.”
“It makes me so excited!” cried Cate, “The ball, it’s so close! C’mon, we must get back home!”
“To finish the chess game?” asked Adrian.
Cate shook her head vigorously.
“Oh, bother the chess game, you were winning anyhow. No, we must get read for the ball!”
Hans and Adrian’s step noticeably faltered.
“Like,” stuttered Adrian, “As in dressing up?”
“Of course!” said Cate, “And we must have one last lesson of dance etiquette, too!”
Hans and Adrian groaned.