A Talk With The Lady - RPLOG
Participants
Date
6/8/479
Log
It's a warm, sunny afternoon, and Terry... Well... He finds himself waking up somewhere completely different from where he went to bed. And he's tied to the chair he's apparently been placed in, although his body is left free enough to reach his plate.
Across from him, at the opposite of the table, another feline is seated... Black fur, expensive clothes, and deep, crimson eyes, piercing from beyond a mask, looking far more expensive than the masks Katrina tends to wear. Behind her, another panther stands. Black fur, male, and dressed in expensive clothes.
Finally, several other beings of various species are running around, setting the table.
Hugo saunters along the table, taking a seat rather nearer to Terry than to Sylvio and the masked feline at the far end of the table. "Honestly, Sylvio," he says, "Are the theatrics really necessary? The boy would have worn a blindfold if you had asked." The huge, white lion leans his ornate cane against his chair and strokes his luxurious mane.
Terry wakes up with a soft yawn, shaking his head briefly as he regains his consciousness. His sleepy eyes and dazed look quickly give way to a panicked glance around, followed by a brief struggle against his bonds, and finally a soft sigh as he resigns himself to his fate... again. It's not the first time he's been in this situation, and it certainly won't be his last. He looks up at the two felines across from them, offering them a shy smile. He stays quiet for now, simply watching the other beings - the servants, presumably - as they set the table. He looks up at the familiar form of Hugo on hearing his voice, offering the great white lion a nod of agreement, before returning his attention to 'Sylvio'.
"Standard procedure, Hugo, you know that," the male panther offers, smiling as he watches Terry wake up. "Ah, it seems our guest of honor is awake. Welcome. It's a pity Lady Katrina was unable to join us, but she is... Otherwise occupied. In either case, allow me to introduce... The Lady," he offers, gesturing at the feline femme-fatale besides him.
"The -true- Lady," he adds with a small sneer, before seating himself.
"It is not everyday one is granted an audience with The Lady, mister Terry..."
Hugo carefully lays his over long tail over the arm of his plush chair and lounges as only a lion can. "I confess," the lion says, "I am surprised that the Lady required this audience so soon. It is usually years before a new family member is brought to the table." He looks sidelong at Terry. "Unless he is not here as a family member?" The lion does not sound especially concerned, either way.
Terry pins his ears back a bit as the panther speaks, the small feline feeling even smaller as he's introduced to 'The Lady'. He refocuses his eyes on the female form in front of him, only managing very brief eye contact with the masked being before he looks down at his plate. Unwilling to offend, he simply listens to the other felines until Hugo's last sentence. He does look concerned, his mind quickly making the connection he is implying. He ponders leading with an apology, apologizing profusely for whichever slight he might have commited, but instead he looks up at 'The Lady' once more, awaiting what is likely to be her judgment.
"Not yet, Hugo. Not yet," Sylvio offers, a small smile towards Terry, as the lady reaches for a piece of meat and takes it onto her plate.
{Please. Eat}, a strange, yet familiar voice sounds out... A very strange sensation, indeed. The voice is calm, yet incredibly threatening... Dark, controlled... The kind of calm one would associate with an assassin, a serial killer, or something worse.
{Mister Terry is here to be educated about the family. And, of course, to be congratulated on the heist that delivered us something very valuable, several months ago}, she offers, holding up her hand, to show the signet-ring that Terry stole from Longtail Manor a good while ago...
Hugo does not frown at the revelation. He quite deliberately does not frown. "Very impressive," the lion says, "I am sure that congratulations are in order." He shakes his snowy mane and picks up his wine glass, swirling it around before sipping. "And why am I here?" he asks, "Is this a reprimand, Lady?"
Terry shows a startle of surprise as the seemingly disembodied voice is heard, though he looks up at the feline that clearly spoke at him in the shadowy tongue. He's been taught to understand it, and has become somewhat able to speak it, but doesn't trust his ability enough to reply in kind. "Y-yes 'maam. Thank you." He says as he's offered the meal. He smiles briefly on seeing the signet ring. He's quite proud of that particular heist. "It was my pleasure, 'maam." His brief relaxation wanes as the Hugo speaks out. He'd not been much of a fan of Terry's.. methods. He follows the Lady's lead and picks out a small cut of meat for himself, placing it on his plate and aking a smaller cut into his mouth to chew on.
{Of course not, Hugo. You've been as valuable an ally as always}, the she-cat notes, a small smile hidden behind her mask. {However, I've been informed you've been questioning my... Grandfather's decissions, and the actions of the previous Hand? Or has my Hand misinformed me?} the Lady questions, her tail flitting behind her, before her gaze settles upon Sylvio, who pulls an old, tattered book from an inner pocket.
{A copy of what records we have. Redacted with regards to irrelevant and information, of course}, she notes, as the booklet is offered to Hugo. {Perhaps it will shed some light on Reginald's reasoning, as well as Mother's, and the reasons we remain in the shadows}
{As for you... I'm sure you've figured out our last name, by now}
Hugo does not seem particularly ruffled by the Lady's or perhaps Sylvio's accusations. "I admired your Grandfather," the lion says, "And you know that Sylvio's predecessor was my mentor and like a brother to me. Still, I appreciate the gesture. It will be a privilege to read Reginald's own words." The Lion remains seated, sipping at his wine, meaning that Sylvio must either hold the book awkwardly, or bring the book to Hugo. It seems there is no love lost between the two felines.
Terry watches the exchange with apprehension, secluding himself in his food, lest he risk angering any of the other beings in the room with him. He'd he hard pressed to pick which one he's more fearful of. He's in mid chew as the Lady poses her last comment, directed at him. He looks at her briefly, then nods slowly. The signet ring was a good clue, and so were a few of the other tidbits he's caught while listening to his trainers, handlers and contacts during official 'assignments'. "Yes' maam." He replies, plainly, unsure if speaking the name is some breach of confidence, or taboo. He eyes the book, the center of tension in the current exchange.
{There isn't much, of course. Many of the records were lost during the exodus}
{Now, have either of you heard the story of Lady Alessa?} the she-cat notes, gesturing at the old, carefully maintained painting above the fireplace, depicting a cheetah-lady, already past her youth, but not quite having reached old age yet.
{The first Longtail, and the first Spymaster}
