Well, it's been awhile since Jennastasia has decided to take over on me.
She decided to poke Fiona - and with more than one stick.
Jeff, you might find this amusing.
[Castle Library, the eve of Morgan's wedding.]
Seeing Princess Fiona, who she had managed to keep at enough of a distance to avoid an introduction until now, Jenna stops. All her defenses come up on alert.
'She does look just like my mother,' Jenna thinks, and after four years the thought was more amusing than disturbing. Now she understood a good deal more than she had at seventeen, analyzed and interpreted any number of possibilities concerning why her father had decided to marry a woman who looked so much like his sister. While not all of those were amusing, the absurdity of the situation makes her smile, and not just politely.
'No avoiding it now,' she thinks, and walks over to the table the princess is seated at.
Jenna curtsies, "Your highness. Somehow we've managed not to be introduced. I'm Jennastasia, Julian's daughter."
Fiona is sitting at the large main desk (seems even larger considering her petite stature). The desk has several piles of books and a few scrolls on it. The space right in front of Fiona is clear.
She watches Jenna's approach and turns her chair from the desk to greet Jenna. Her expression is on the lighter side of neutral. She nods at Jenna's curtsy. "It has been managed though I doubt either of us should take the credit. I am pleased we have this informal opportunity to break with that tradition, Jennastasia.”
"I have just sent for tea, would you care to join me?" The reading materials on the desks seem for the most part to be histories and treaties.
Jenna nods. "Tea would be nice. I hope you won't mind if I start my research while we wait for it to arrive."
"By all means." She will watch Jenna for a moment. Then selects a very old looking book from the bottom of one of the piles from the desk. She sits back with it open on her lap, casually reading.
Jenna is looking for books that have histories of Rebma. She's looking for histories that seem more traditionally scholarly than storytelling by biased individuals. She will use whatever reference is available to get this done (likely a librarian, I'm guessing.) She'll start with about five.
She doesn't expect to find answers pertaining to King Morgan's announcement this evening in these – she just wants to get more of a feel for Rebma, starting topside. Early treaties or paperwork between Amber and Rebma would be a special treat. (And here Liz realizes Fiona may very well have everything Jenna is looking for… laughing!)
GM: No staff currently in the library. Most likely sent away to collect tea. No immediately apparent organization method. Jenna probably heard from Auric, Andrew, Aros, or maybe Fitzgin that the library is roughly organized by section per family member (Oberon’s in the largest portion taking up over half). After that the sections are maintain per the individual family member's taste (either explicit or implied). Generally the staff just tracks where books belong, they don't really have right to study these texts for content.
How long will Jenna look for books in this huge two-story room? Does she try any particular method(s)? Would she ask Fiona for any assistance?
L: She will not ask Fiona for assistance. She’ll start by trying to locate Llewella’s section, because that makes sense to her. If the tea makes it before she’s done, she’ll sit down for tea, and let the librarians know she’ll have some questions for them when she’s done.
G: How much would Jenna have been paying attention to Fiona while looking for Llewella's books?
Jenna locates a small section (5 to 6 shelves) that seems likely to be Llewella's. Many of the books are on waxed papers; a few seem to have the writing sewn in.
Then the tea arrives. The lady pushing the tea trolly is quite old, but seems nimble enough of movement.
The books et. al. on the desk have been moved to either side, so there in a clear path across the middle. Fiona sits where she was and a chair on the desks opposite side is available for Jenna. The servant is setting out the china.
Jenna comes over and sets her things aside too. (As for watching Fiona, she kept her eyes about what she was doing, but her alertness and defenses are pumped up. She certainly listened.) She smiles up at the librarian and takes her seat.
"The distribution of books here is fascinating," she notes to her aunt. "It must be nice to have your own section. I'll have to start building one."
Fiona seems in a pleasant mood. "A noble endeavor. I believe there are some unoccupied shelves in the southwestern corner and stacks. I am sure the King would not mind you adding to the library." She maintains eye contact, but does not seem to be offering any challenge. "Just as I am certain the rest of us will be interested to see what you place there."
Jenna grins. “I’m sure it will be telling. What it will be telling is another matter entirely.”
Jenna offers to serve the tea, freeing the servant up, if she’d like.
Jenna (after the servant is out of ear shot) begins, “So, there never seems to be a dull moment around here. Did I just come in at a busy time, or is it generally always so dramatic?”
Fiona nibbles at a cookie. "A little of both I suppose. We each always have our pursuits. Now though the Family is still dealing with restructuring after the War. Which is keeping us more occupied than usual with pursuits beyond our normal spheres of interest.”
"Contrarily, the Drama of the One True Realm is never diminished. Although we may need to rename it, in light of King Morgan's efforts. As a Family member fairly new to these dramatics, how do you interpret the events of today?"
“I know just enough not to jump to conclusions. It is wonderful to finally be in residence for a historical moment, as opposed to just hearing about them. I do wonder if he considered all the consequences of what he was about to do. But then, people rarely do have such foresight.” A small grin, just for Fiona, accompanies that. “I suspect Morgan’s announcement was hardly a shock, to some of you.”
Fiona inclines her head. "Morgan has been around long enough and was raised well enough to know when to take credit… even if the action was not intended for the purpose he is crediting.”
"I hope for Rebma's sake that he considered enough of the consequences. Historically when the rest of us strive to draw our own conclusions the odds tend toward someone playing an unfavorable hand.”
Jenna nods, and sips. "I was wondering if someone was going to make an announcement to the people. Our Queen, perhaps? The streets were chaotic this morning, and without strong leadership people are going to just grow more rattled. Things have been too unstable."
“Bleys is certain to have address the City. Gerard is likely to have Vialle address the nobility in the Castle.” Fiona sips.
Jenna nods, sets down her teacup. Something about Bleys addressing the city amuses her, but only her eyes show it.
“Unfortunately, until Random is well, we rely on many of us to lead where the people are used to a monarch for their stability.” She seems slightly more amused by this than chagrined. ”While these responsibilities are keeping me and my siblings occupied enough to stay out of each others way for now, I wonder if we may be neglecting our (now apparently teeming) charges. Morgan’s ascension certainly caught many people by surprise. What surprises are the rest of your generation are plotting?” Again she seems slightly amused at the idea (but only slightly).
Jenna smiles. “Oh, I’m sure there will be a few more surprises from us, just as we’ll be surprised by your reactions. For my part though, I’m not sure Morgan should be classified as part of my generation. Is he not over half a millennia old? Or am I thinking of Gerard’s son?” Her brow furrows in thought.
“According to the Amber calendar they are both supposedly that old. Whether they spent more time in Shadows moving faster or slower to Amber’s pace is not clear. For the academics of that, how old are you now? Is your personal age more significant than the time pasted in Amber? If you were to stay off in Benedict’s training while a year passed here, would you still be younger than your parents? If not would that place you in a different generation?” Fiona delivers all the questions rhetorically.
Jenna just grins in great amusement at this string of questions she isn’t expected to answer.
“When you mention finding your parent’s and their siblings reactions surprising, would you go so far as to suggest that Morgan moved the sea bed for shock value as much as anything else?” Fiona asks, and that question isn’t rhetorical.
“Morgan? I don’t know him, but from his demeanor, I sincerely doubt it. I think he did it because he could put his Kingdom in a better position, quite literally, it seems. ‘Yesterday I entombed my mother, this morning I raised the land of my people, tonight I marry.’ I think he knows exactly what he’s doing and doesn’t really care much what people think. He seems to have it all under control so far. How long before his wife is pregnant?” Jenna asks, but hers is rhetorical as well.
“He also chose a time when it was practically guaranteed more than one of Amber’s royal family would be in residence in Rebma for the event. Again, I don’t believe he was aware it would be as dramatic as it was, but he knew it would noticed by those who can tell such things, I’m sure. Perhaps he thought it would be a metaphysical movement instead of a literal one. I’ll have to ask him, when I get the chance.”
Fiona continues with tea, nibbles a cookie while talking. “You are unlikely to find much to prepare you for that meeting in those.” Nods towards the books Jenna collected. “Morgan and his cousins have made no contributions here, as yet, and Llewella has not left anything that reflects on Rebma. Her books in the Rebman library, however, are quite detailed in regards to her mother’s land.”
“Oh, I might not learn anything useful for that, but I’m bound to learn something,” Jenna says rather offhandedly. “Are you going to be at this duel between your brother and Andrew?”
“I suppose I must. No matter how pedestrian the play, when ones immediate family is on stage it is only basic politeness to attend, try not to yawn, and clap when expected.
“What of yourself? Will you be standing in the sand to watch Andrew’s misplaced indignation rail against Bleys’ supposed moral obligation?”
Jenna gives her an amused eyebrow over her teacup. “Andrew has a lot to be angry about. As long as this doesn’t go to the death, I’m not at all sure his indignation is misplaced. His anger, perhaps, but not his indignation. I will be there, unless something comes up to prevent it. Understanding the etiquette of the event is hardly the same as witnessing it firsthand.”
Fiona seems to have an honestly quizzical expression. “You believe Bleys has embarrassed and/or insulted Adrew? And to the level that this duel is not in fact an excessive misjudgment?
“While I understand that you may be justified in challenging Bleys on those grounds, I am curious what you believe Bleys has done to Andrew (or his mother) that was either insulting or embarrassing?”
Jenna can’t contain her smile. “I don’t betray confidences. I do believe you know your brother walks a tight line, and some people don’t appreciate such subtleties. Some of us are not yet bored enough to enjoy such games.” She sips her tea.
“But I do not intend to give Bleys the pleasure of a challenge, myself,” Jenna adds. “Andrew may have an argument with him, but common sense would indicate inviting Bleys to duel is excessive misjudgment. But, of course, Andrew is hardly common.”