[Thread, Closed] Return of the Captain

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Characters: Vayne, Steiner, Garnet
Progress: Ongoing.
Summary: The queen and her knight are reunited. And Vayne is creepy.
Location: Alexandria
Date: 13th April, 1803, pretty much straight after this thread.
Warnings: None

The queen awaited them on the balcony. Steiner paused outside to address Vayne.

"These are the queen's private quarters. I shall go and fetch her. You should not have to wait long; it is the work of but a moment."

This of course was an excuse for Steiner to have a quick private word with Queen Garnet, so that she wouldn't meet Vayne completely unsuspecting. He didn't think that Vayne would like to wait too long, so he hurried towards the balcony at once, the clanking of his armour announcing his arrival.

As soon as Steiner caught sight of Garnet, he bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty! I, Captain Adelbert Steiner, have returned!"

Comments

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

"Beatrix," Steiner murmured. He'd heard already that she was missing, but that didn't stop it from hurting. And when both of them were gone, the queen had been left unprotected. It didn't even bear thinking about.

"Fear not, your Majesty!" Steiner addressed her in a clear, confident voice. She needed reassurance, so that's what he would give her. "Surely they will all return soon, as both you and I did. I am certain of it!"

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

Garnet lifted her head, and smiled once more; it was sad, but she was trying.

"I really hope you're right. I keep thinking, they'll have to show up soon. But days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months..." she trailed off, gaze wandering again.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

"You cannot give up," Steiner urged her. "I know your spirit is stronger than that."

He cast around, wondering if there was some way to distract her from her worries. Of course...

"Oh, before I forget, your Majesty... I want you to have this." Steiner took out the glowing green orb he had hidden in his armour and presented it to Garnet. "I found it in Lindblum, while I was imprisoned. I believe it contains magic, perhaps like your summon gems. Do you have any idea what it is?"

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

Garnet blinked. Steiner's words drew her gaze, but it was the subtle glowing orb in his hand that held her attention. She stared at it with awe and fascination; it was unlike anything she'd ever seen before. Hesitantly, she reached out for it, running her fingers over the smooth surface before taking it delicately in her hands.

"No... I've never seen one of these before," she admitted softly, as she turned the orb over in her palms.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

"At any rate, I am sure it is magical!" said Steiner. "Perhaps Doctor Tot would know. I'm certain that you and he could figure it out."

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps he would," Garnet mused softly, holding the sphere up to the sunlight. "Maybe I should call him. I could send it to him, but I don't want it to get lost."

Tilting her head slightly, she finally pulled her eyes away from the material. "If it is magical, I'm not sure how to use it. You said you found it in Lindblum?"

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Steiner nodded. "Yes, your Majesty."

[crowned-jewel.livejournal.com]

"I wonder what it was doing there..." the young queen mused quietly, before tucking the orb between her palms, concealing it from view.

"I will have to put it somewhere safe. We can't go letting something unknown get into just anyone's hands."

With another soft smile for the knight, she added, "It's really wonderful to have you back, Steiner. I trust that you won't mind if I go put this in my quarters immediately."

And as she inched around Steiner, making her way towards the door, it became clear that this was meant to be a form of dismissal.

[captain-rusty.livejournal.com]

Steiner bowed. "Understood, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave."

Steiner himself had a lot of work to do. First of all, he needed to assemble his Pluto Knights and make sure none of them had disappeared or done anything stupid in his absence. Which, knowing them, was very likely.

Satisfied that he had told Garnet everything he needed to, Steiner hurried away to resume his duties.