The Deck, late Saturday afternoon (post-Cheerleading Exhibition)

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

The deck was out of the rain, something important when there were two Firecats and the Son of The Sun to keep dry, which was why Karal had suggested it.

Karal and Altra watched as Solaris made herself comfortable on one of the chairs, her two guards standing unobtrusively in the background. She seemed to be enjoying her time here, which was something of a relief.

He was less nervous than he had been yesterday, nothing disastrous having happened (though Altra was keeping a sharp eye out for gremlins). She smiled her thanks as he handed her a cup of tea and, once she was settled, he leaned forward slightly, the two of them talking quietly about matters both Karsite and Fandomish.

[ooc: Open yay!]

Comments

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"It's all right," Karal assured him, deciding that his weekend couldn't possibly get any more surreal than this. "Here, I'll even fetch you a chair." And he did, pulling up one of the many chairs scattered about the place.

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," Gavin said, taking the seat. "Um, how do you like the island, your...majesty? Holiness? Empress?"

He had no idea.

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

Karal winced as he took his seat, but Solaris merely smiled again. "It would be Your Radiance, but I am here simply as Solaris, so I would ask that you call me by my name. Should you ever come to Karse, it will be titles all around, but for now, at least, they are not necessary."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," he said pathetically. "I don't know any royalty back where I'm from. We use military titles so I'm used to things like lieutenant and captain an commander."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

"It really is all right, Gavin," she said soothingly, deliberately using his name to try and reassure him. "Now, Karal tells me you are something called a pilot? I have to admit, I have no idea what that is."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Um, it means I fly ships," he explained. "In space, in the sky. It's a manmade machine that let's us fly through the air."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "There are devices that can carry a person through the air? What are they used for?" She was already turning the possibilities over in her mind.

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Transportation, recreation, storage and defense," he said. "I fly something called an X-Wing. It's outfitted with weapons and shields."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

"And do you enjoy it?" she asked.

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"That's why I joined," he said, nodding. "It's dangerous but it's rewarding."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes that is all that any of us can ask." She tilted her head, considering him. "We have no devices that can fly, but there are gryphons, who can carry people with them. The insight a pilot such as yourself could offer would be invaluable, if you would ever consider coming to Karse, even for a short time."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"I think I've been on one," Gavin said, looking towards Karal. "I've been on one, right? But, yeah, after I'm done here, I could come there for a little while before I'm called back for duty."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

Karal nodded, looking a little bit stunned, and Solaris told him, "I promise to send him home in one piece," before turning back to Gavin. "I would appreciate that, if your commanders can spare you. You are unique in your experience." Her smile had the tiniest hint of mischief. "We might have to give you a title of your own."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Oh, yeah?" He shouldn't be so excited about the mention of titles. It was kind of sad. "I'd be honored, I mean, if you'd like my help. I've never really...led a lot of people but I've been part of a squadron and I've had good commanders."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

"Iftel has more gryphons trained for war than they can support. I've been discussing having several wings assigned to Karse," she explained. "Who better to help devise tactics for them, both alone and carrying a human, than a human who knows how to fly?"

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"I'd be honored, Your Rad- uh, Solaris," he said, correcting himself quickly. "I'm sure I could get some leave from my commanders. They might actually be interested in gryphons, if I could tell them?"

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

"I can see no harm in it," she decided. "In fact, it may be that, should they be interested enough, that we could exchange people, for the benefit of both our countries."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"They'd probably really be interested in that," he said, nodding. "Because we depend on a lot of things that can run out and supplies are always a hot topic."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

Solaris steepled her fingers. "Whereas Karse produces large amounts of goods for trade," she said thoughtfully. She hadn't intended to pursue politics this weekend, but a potential trading partner and possible source of new tactics and, who knew, pilots for gryphons, were too good to pass up. "I will send formal greetings when I return to Karse for you to pass on to your superiors," she lifted one eyebrow in question, "if you are willing."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Of course," he nearly squeaked. "Um, I am. Commander Antilles will wonder what I've been doing over here but I think he'll be pleased especially since this was all done diplomatically. Not that I expected anything else but my world's been in the middle of the same war for a long time."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

"My thanks," she said seriously. "Karse was at war for generations, so that is something our people share in common, though I wish we didn't." She was silent for a moment, then continued in a lighter tone, "I will assure Commander Antilles that you have been the very soul of diplomacy."

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," he said, laughing. "If I can't tell him I learned anything else, I can tell him I learned how to be diplomatic."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure you've learned more than that," she said lightly. "But that might be the most important lesson." She folded her hands in her lap. "I've probably questioned you enough for one day. Is there anything you'd like to ask me?"

[sixstandingby.livejournal.com]

"Um, hmm." He tried to think of something to ask that didn't sound inordinately dumb. "Is Solaris your real name? I mean, in the way that most rulers ascend to power and before that, they have names like Gavin or Karal and take on new ones. So, I wondered."

[sunlord-son.livejournal.com]

She laughed, and it was like bells. "It is my real name," she told him, charmed by the simple question. "I acquired many titles when I ascended to the Sun Throne, but I kept my name. Very few people call me by it, to most I am the Son of the Sun, or Your Radiance, so in a way you could say that I did give it up."