Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Cerebral Paladin" data-source="post: 3431897" data-attributes="member: 3448">Alistair and Mirabelle made their way among the paintings, concentrating on ones that were by artists of Gates or depicted people or events involving the Cities of the Gates.  Mirabelle demonstrated that she was, indeed, well-versed in art and possessed of good taste, while Alistair showed off some of his own knowledge and much greater familiarity with the collection. Kit could read Mirabelle’s thoughts as the Princess gradually grew more impressed with Alistair and relaxed, realizing that there was more to him than a warrior and that he did not seem like the savage killer he was rumored to be.  But Kit worried more about a strange pattern in Mirabelle’s mind rather than what she was thinking.  It was like there was a second mind, riding along.   Princess Mirabelle smiled up at Alistair.  “You are a very interesting person, your grace.” “Not half as interesting as you are, your highness.” Dame Brionna rolled her eyes to Kit in the passageway. <<Well, yeah, actually, in a technical sense. If she's actually two people, then she is twice as interesting as he is.>> Alistair and Mirabelle made their way to one of the plush couches in an alcove in the gallery and began kissing. <<Do I need to interrupt?>> asked Dame Brionna. <<Not yet.>> <<Is she safe?>> <<Yes.  There is something weird about her mind, but she isn’t a threat.  Brionna - I'm going to drop for a second. I'll be back.>> Kit reached out with her mind, trying and failing to reach the second mind along with the Princess.  After a moment’s thought, however, she tried reaching out to the idea of Anna and suddenly found that the connection was clean and clear.  In fact, when she read Anna’s mind, she realized that the entire identity of Mirabelle was a lie.  The elder twin and heir-apparent had died, killed in action leading one of the Gates armies, not Anna, but the Dowager Queen had decided that that was unacceptable.  So Anna had been forced to become Mirabelle, denying her own existence and acting as her sister.  The princess had no doubt that her mother would have viewed the whole situation as much easier if she had been the one who had died, but there was no choice but to carry on in her new identity.  While Kit recoiled in horror at the idea of how the Princess’s family had treated her, she began watching with her eyes again instead of just her mind, and she found a new reason to be horrified. Alistair and Mirabelle were enthusiastically making out on the couch.  With rising distaste and anger, Kit realized that Alistair had clearly decided to seduce Mirabelle-Anna, and that the Princess, while nervous and trepidatious, was entirely willing to be seduced.  Kit sent an angry mental message to Alistair-- <<No more succession crises!  Use protection, damn you!>>-- and then grew even more angry as Alistair ignored her message and blithely carried on. Dame Brionna looked questioningly at Kit.  “So we’re just watching this?”  She could arrange for a patrol to interrupt them, but she knew that Alistair would not want her to, and even though he had not left any specific orders, he was her liege-lord.  Besides, the diplomatic fall-out could be disastrous. “I think I’ve concluded there’s no security risk here.” “I haven’t.” “Fine, you can watch,” whispered Kit bitterly, before turning and walking away. <<I’m staying. I have to.>>  Dame Brionna’s thoughts felt apologetic. <> sent back Kit, softening her mental tone-- it wasn’t Brionna she was furious at. A few minutes later, she received another thought.  <<Oh dear, I hope she wasn't a virgin.>> <really inexperienced.>> <<Does he have no self-control?>> <<No, he doesn't.>> Alistair and Mirabelle quietly talked and embraced afterwards.  Finally, Alistair said, “We had best return to Aunt Cecilia’s rooms.  It wouldn’t do for people to start worrying about our absence.” Mirabelle nodded and began doing her best to rearrange her gown.  Worry crossed her face as she realized just how disheveled they had gotten, but Alistair smiled and waved his hands, singing softly.  Moments later, the prestidigitation had restored them to respectability.  He offered her his arm and escorted the princess back.</blockquote>

Verification