Toast to Diplomacy

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Role-Play Name: Toast to Diplomacy Date Started: August 1, 2019 Date Completed: Ongoing Previous Role-Play: Magic Knights Exam: Aspiring Knights Users Involved: User:BQD, User:Great Achlus Setting: Clover Kingdom Characters Involved: Elizabeth Roselei, Tiana Kira, Mentioned: Alexander Kira, Lea Kira, Marco, King Guthrie Clover II

Shocking. That was the only way to describe the events that had transpired during the Magic Knight Exams, or at least during its latest parts. The King himself had revealed Marco's status as a bastard, no, the legitimate heir to the Crownsguard that protected him, while Lea was stripped off this privilege and would only be able to recover it through a showing of skill, one year from now. And although all this new information surprised Tiana, what was more upsetting was the fact that she had never felt...so...invisible. It was almost as if she hadn't been there and it reminded her of the many times others wouldn't accept her as a member of House Kira.

Having recovered slightly from the initial shock, Tiana stood right outside of the coliseum's main entrance, as per instructions of her Captain, who remained inside as per request of the King. Truthfully, she had chosen the Blue Rose to even her own surprise. It was so...unfitting to say the least. There was something about the squad that drew her to it. When she stared at Elizabeth's eyes, she could sense courage and diligence, two attributes that she was drawn too. There was also the fact that the woman was a complete badass, if she did say so herself. Tiana crossed her arms as she looked at the floor, her mind pondering off. She had a lot of questions for her father, but those would have to wait.

"Right now I should focus solely on myself, I'll have time to talk to him later." she thought, pushing the issue to the back of her mind.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, steadying herself after the debacle. All things considered, she had been focused on a) her daughter making a MK squad (much to Liz's joy and worry) and b) landing a new recruit of her own in Tiana. Then the shitstorm with House Kira ensued; Lea choosing the Black Bulls of all squads, a bastard revealed and then made full heir, a fight for the heirship, and then one of her fellow Captains being suspended for giving the king sass. Though, Liz admitted what Korag had done was admirable, something she never thought she'd say about the lecherous drunk. Then again, everything else seemed to go sideways in that snapshot of a time so why not have a pervert suddenly do something respectable?

The Captain shook her head as she finally left the Coliseum. As expected, her recruit waited dutifully. "Good," Elizabeth commented by way of greeting, before motioning for Tiana to walk with her.

"How are you holding up? I know what just happened hit close to home." Traces of concern could be found in her tone as she led to an elegantly understated carriage, decorated with blooming roses on the doors. Truth be told, while Liz understood the general reasoning for why her King did what he did, so publicly, she couldn't help but be disappointed given the repercussions for those involved.

A blank expression rested on Tiana's face as she walked behind Elizabeth. "Haha, it's....alot to take in to say the least." she said, forcing a smile as she scratched the back of her head. Following Liz inside, she sat in the carriage, letting a deep, well-deserved sigh escape her lips. After her fight with Haruhi was over, she had felt her legs giving up on her but did not let others notice, acting as if she was all right. Now, after a well-earned victory, she got the rest she deserved, as the carriage began to move forward, slowly at first, until it took a constant, faster pace.

Liz remained unconvinced; she decided not to push her on the subject, however. At the very least, Tiana seemed to relax a bit, heavy fatigue present in her body language. She noted that the girl did a good job of hiding it earlier. "It's a start."

"Answer me this. What led you to choose my squad? If you don't mind walking me through your decision making process of course," Elizabeth commented, leaning back a bit as she nestled into her seat. Her storm blue gaze rested on Tiana while she waited for an answer.

Tiana’s blank expression turned into one of surprise, even if it was for less than a second. Why was the captain asking her this all of a sudden?

In any case, Tiana remained silent for a while, trying to phrase her answer properly. Her eyes met Liz’s and right there, she was able to formulate a response.

“Your eyes.” She said, blatantly “When I looked at all the captains, your gaze called to me the most. I don’t know how to explain it, I guess you could call it a gut feeling.” Taking a pause, she crossed one leg over the other as her gaze diverted from Liz and to the window, her visage occupied by the changing landscape. “With all due respect, I am not sure I’m fit for this squad, making speeches or negotiating were never my kind of thing. But you must’ve seen something in me that I didn’t see in myself, and because of your eyes I trusted your decision.” It all came out rather calmly, as if she was talking to a friend she had known for a long time.

Liz studied Tiana for a bit as she watched the girl's mind work. She smiled dryly. It seemed that Tia wasn't prepared for this; the question now was how the girl would respond, ad hoc. So she listened, measuring each word Tia chose, why she said what she said. Her smile widened a bit after Tiana finished.

"My eyes you say? Good choice. They're a window to the soul and something that must be discerned, just like the words you hear someone speak. They help you find..inconsistencies and get a bit closer to the truth. Nonetheless, speeches and negotiations are a learned skill; talent and proclivity will only take you so far. Besides, you just demonstrated something important for any diplomat: ad hoc. Thinking on your feet is invaluable."

Her own gaze turned to the passing landscape. "Feel free to rest a while. We have a ways to go before we reach our destination."

"Got it." Tiana stated as she continued to look through the window, trying to occupy her mind off of the pressing issues with her family.

Welcome to the Garden

The carriage would slow down as they pulled up to an immaculate estate. Somehow, through painstaking design and more than a little magic, a building had been created which unfolded like a blooming rose. A blend of marble and other materials, it was nestled in the natural scenery around. Surrounding the structure was lush grass and plant life, functioning as the "bed" from which the rose was born. Elizabeth wondered, not for the first time, whose idea the estate was. Nonetheless, it was a marvel to behold, one she didn't tire of seeing.

She turned her attention to a sleeping Tiana, noticing the girl's head resting against the window. At the very least, the worry creases faded away from Tia when at rest. She couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. No child should have to deal with such chaos in their home life, especially when it marred an otherwise joyous occasion.

Liz tapped her lightly. "Wake up Tiana. We're here," she said, the carriage pulling to a complete stop. A few moments later, the door opened.

"Ehhh~" Tiana managed to make an odd sound as she woke up from her slumber. She moved her head, which was previously resting against the window and her visage was met with the awe-inspiring architecture.

She rubbed her eyes, as if to confirm the existence of such a place. The Kira's manor was truly a beautiful place but the base of operations of the Blue Rose was something else, at least from the outside.

Tiana hopped out of the carriage, walking alongside Liz as she contemplated the nature that surrounded them. "It's a little extra for me, but it's..." she was unable to find a word as the building unfolded, she was out of words.