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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 9:58:41 GMT -5
Mika stood quietly a moment, completely blanking on what to say for a second. Would a 'hello' be a proper greeting here? Was he supposed to just assign him a task right off the bat? He'd never actually seen what the staff was like on their first days, most of them had been here since he was a child. He couldn't worry about that too much now, it again seemed wrong to him to let the boy stay kneeling any longer.
"Please rise." He spoke finally. After a brief hesitation, he continued. "What have you been told so far? Were you introduced to any of the other staff members yet?"
It was probably unlikely, but other staff members were probably a little more helpful in this sort of situation than he would be. It would probably be appropriate to ask about his level of training. From what he knew, the staff members tasked to waiting on his parents were present during nearly all their waking hours, so they were well-practiced in most of the activities that fell under his parents' interests in order to make themselves useful. It was very likely that this new boy would be expected to do the same, if not by Mika, then by his family and the higher-ranking staff members.
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 6, 2016 11:47:53 GMT -5
Yoongi stood when he was told to, reaching up to brush his bangs out of his eyes. He couldn't bring himself to meet the prince's eyes, so instead he let them travel lazily, back and forth, along the floor.
"Only that I am to serve you, sire." Beyond that, Yoongi knew nothing. It wasn't as if he'd grown up anywhere near the royal family or in any conditions that could hope to be compared to the grandeur of the palace. He knew next to nothing about the King, the Queen, and the Prince standing in front of him. He'd never concerned himself with learning, because in all his life, he'd never imagined that he would get the chance to see them up close, nevermind enter the palace or speak with them. "And no, I have not had the chance to meet anyone aside from you and the guards."
The other staff members. Where had they come from? Yoongi wondered briefly if any of them had come from backgrounds similar to his, but then he'd heard in passing that the royal family's staff were comprised of only well-trained individuals, many of them born into the industry and trained from birth. Yoongi himself had been born to bakers. His parents made pastries to sell. As a child, unconcerned and untainted by the world's unfairness, he'd spent his days eating those pastries, admiring them, helping on occasion to sell them to passersby. Those memories were fond and good. Yoongi wondered how things might be different for him now if his parents hadn't died.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 12:04:06 GMT -5
Mika gave a small nod in response to his answer. He would have requested the boy just call him by his name if it helped him feel more comfortable, but something like that might not go over well with his parents. He could already see his mother's reaction to a staff member calling him only by his name in her presence. Red-faced, terrifying scowl. Even if he claimed responsibility, there was no doubt they'd both be in trouble, the boy more than him.
"I see. Well, I'll introduce you to a few people who can help you find your way around." Seeing that the boy never made eye contact, Mika couldn't help but give a concerned frown. "It was Jackson, right?" He asked. Maybe addressing him by his name would help? It also didn't hurt to make sure he was pronouncing it right, or that he hadn't misheard the nobleman during the introduction.
Hopefully talking to other staff members might help. Either of them, really. Mika still needed to ask exactly what to do in this situation but without causing his parents to react by hiring another etiquette tutor. Or worse, to demonstrate with one of their personal staff.
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 6, 2016 12:28:45 GMT -5
It was only when the Prince addressed Yoongi by name that the boy lifted his head, dark eyes cautious as they found Mika's. "Jackson." He repeated, his tongue feeling heavy with the weight of that name. It would be easy, at this point, to correct the prince, claim that his name was Yoongi. He would always be Yoongi. But Jackson was his shield. In an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar standards and people, Yoongi decided it would be best to keep silent for now. "Yes."
He shifted slightly, turning his gaze to the door. The other staff members. The ones that had been standing in the Hall, when Yoongi arrived? He wasn't sure if he should be nervous or excited to meet them. "That would be helpful. Thank you." If he was going to be staying here for the foreseeable future, he might as well get on good terms with the people who could be his potential allies. "And, sire...if you don't mind my asking...how many are there? The staff, I mean." How many would a royal family need?
And was it common, he wanted to ask, for someone to be handed over as a gift? For someone to come into this palace the way he did? But Jackson's cautious nature overruled Yoongi's curiosity. Until he knew more about this prince and what he was like, it would be best to tread carefully.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 12:55:06 GMT -5
Oh no, how many where there... He had to think about this for a bit. The gardeners for the courtyards, animal keepers for the stables, decoration and cleaning for different sections of the castle, the guards, the kitchen crew, Julian and the other medical staff members, personal staff like Jackson, the tutors and there were probably more. There was a lot... He didn't even have a proper number to guess. "Well, I want to say the exact number is kept by the higher ranking staff. I'd have to guess minimum seventy, eighty? I mean, that includes the guards and everyone... My guess is probably far off." He admitted.
He took a step back before turning around to walk toward the door. "Come this way, I'm sure Valkoinen's probably at the training grounds by now." She seemed like the best person to start with. Her distress earlier during Jackson's presentation made a bit more sense to him now. He knew that she had two daughters and a son, all separated from her at early ages and gifted off to other families as signs of good faith. She hadn't been allowed to contact them since their departure. He couldn't say he blamed her for being upset.
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 6, 2016 13:10:53 GMT -5
"Oh." Yoongi tried not to look too surprised by the number he was given. Seventy or eighty, and that was the minimum. What could one family possibly need with that many staff members? He supposed that the palace was a large place, though. He couldn't imagine being one of the people whose job it was to clean this place.
As the prince turned to head out the door, Yoongi let out a small sig and proceeded to follow. His legs felt heavier today than they normally did and he couldn't tell if it was from fatigue or dread. Not exactly dread over meeting other staff, just...apprehension for what his future would hold. He wasn't even going to try to pronounce the name Mika had given. What kind of name was Val--Valk...Val-something? So he settled for, "Training grounds?"
The prince didn't seem opposed to Yoongi asked questions, so he figured he might as well. If only to keep an awkward silence at bay.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 13:26:35 GMT -5
"Where the guards train." Mika replied. "She's been my combat instructor since I was a kid. She's also been the reason for most of my trips to the medical wing." He added with a small smile, trying to offer some humor forward. That part was true though. Valkoinen was a strict teacher and somewhat fearless. According to her, there were no rules in the ring. Perhaps the only reason she never got in trouble about clipping him in training was because her methods usually worked. Mika had become a decent fighter because of her, and she'd helped in training a good percentage of the guards and all of the personal staff. Part of the reason why he wanted them introduced soon, she would most likely begin teaching Jackson in the next few days.
He lead the way through the hall, guards they passed all standing at attention briefly. Mika wasn't much concerned or distracted by this, as ever since he could walk this was how it had been. He looked back occasionally to be certain Jackson was following and not too confused. He wasn't certain why, but for some reason he felt like he'd look back at one point and Jackson would have somehow been separated down another hallway or something. He couldn't figure out why, but he didn't seem like he quite fit just yet. Perhaps his mannerisms? Most of the other staff members were very careful to avoid asking him questions. Not that he minded them, it was just a little unusual.
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 6, 2016 15:31:40 GMT -5
"Oh." Combat training...? Yoongi wondered if he would be expected to learn how to fight as well, if that was the reason why Mika was showing him to the training grounds first. It wasn't as if Yoongi hadn't been in his fair share of fights, though. His defiance in many matters and refusal to cooperate had landed him in too many troublesome situations. Perhaps that was one of the reasons why he needed to be able to put 'Yoongi' aside, why 'Jackson', the name that had started off as an unwelcome addition to his already terrible life, had become so important to him. Why 'Jackson' became something like an entity of his own.
The guards they passed all stood at attention as their prince walked on by. Yoongi watched them through narrowed eyes, unsure how he felt about their constant presence. He also noticed Mika checking up on him occasionally, as though he might somehow disappear, as though he might try to make a break for it. It was unnerving, in a way, and Jackson decided to keep his mouth shut.
Well, there was no point in trying to run. In a sense, he had been the one to give himself away. He could have tried to escape from the nobleman, but fear of losing his hand or worse had kept him there. No matter what happened, Yoongi made it a point to try and keep his body intact and whole.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 15:33:21 GMT -5
(DnD's starting again, so i'll be a little slow)
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 6, 2016 15:49:57 GMT -5
{ Alright, that's fine c: }
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 16:03:02 GMT -5
When Jackson fell silent, Mika did as well. He just assumed the boy didn't want to talk. He continued walking, leading him out into the courtyard. He headed across the gardened area, the path designated by stone tiles criss-crossing the entire yard. Again, there was an abundance of guards present, as well as a good number of gardeners tending the various flowering plants. There was a wide variety of flora from across the continent, most of them sporting bright colors and vibrant patterns upon their blossoms.
The path led them to a part of the courtyard where the tiles turned to sand. There weren't any training dummies present, Valkoinen repeatedly insisted swinging at a sack of hay wouldn't improve anyone's skills, so really the training ground was a few targets set up for archers to practice on. The rest was weapon stands and then the ring of soft, loose sand. Valkoinen had already started sparring with one of the guards, and it was clear she was taking out some frustration on him. Her swings were relentless, striking off her opponent's shield again and again as he struggled furiously to block, unable to make any attacks of his own.
Mika waited patiently, waving for Jackson to stand next to him. Valkoinen kept swinging the blade until the guard's hold on the shield faltered slightly. She took a step to the side, turning the blade and striking the flat side over his helmet. The guard took a knee, dipping his head to let her know he was done. She gave a small sigh and sheathed her blade, waiting for the guard to stand and lead the ring before turning to the two waiting. The pale woman gave a slight frown seeing Jackson but she wasn't exactly the type to smile often. She gave a small bow to Mika. "With all due respect, you're not due for training until tomorrow afternoon." She said.
Mika nodded. "I'm aware, thank you for reminding me. I wanted to introduce you to Jackson. Jackson, this is Valkoinen."
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 6, 2016 16:30:03 GMT -5
Seeing that the outside was lined with guards as well, it was now easy for Yoongi to see how there could quite possibly be upwards of a hundred staff members serving the royal family. Half of them are probably guards. There were gardeners as well and Yoongi couldn't say that he envied them, never having been one to enjoy taking care of plants, not that he's had much practice in it anyway.
Coming to a halt next to Mika, Yoongi watched in something close to awe as a woman, he assumed she was the trainer Mika spoke of, fought with one of the guards. She was fierce in the way she struck, decisive and relentless in her attacks and it was no wonder to Yoongi why she was the combat instructor. Eventually, the guard seemed to surrender (Yoongi didn't blame him, he would have surrendered, too) and the woman came their way. She seemed to frown slightly at the sight of him and at that, Yoongi ducked his head.
He mumbled "Hi" when Mika did the introductions, looking up briefly. She had been in the hall when Yoongi arrived. He remembered seeing the look of discomfort on her features. Again, he wondered why that was. Her name was still difficult for him, but he tried repeating it in his head. Val...koinen...? He would get it, eventually. He had to. He was going to be here a while, after all.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 17:08:57 GMT -5
Valkoinen gave a nod when introduced. Her expression slowly became more neutral as Mika started to speak.
"I'm fairly certain you'll be assigned a training schedule with Jackson soon. Seeing as he's new here, I thought I might ask you to help him in his adjustment to living and working here. You know, show him what he needs to know and don't let the guards give him a hard time." Mika told her.
The pale woman gave a small sigh. "I don't have the time to properly set up another session. I'll just train him in the same timeslot as I train you. You need a sparring partner, anyways. I can't see where you need improvement unless I'm outside the fight and observing."
"Are you sure you can train two students at once?" Mika asked, not sure if this was inconvenient for her or not.
"Easily. You think I trained every guard individually?" She asked with a slight smirk. She gave a shrug with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Anyways, yeah, I can show him around and keep the guards off his back." She looked back at Jackson, gesturing to the ring. "I've got a few moments if you want to show me what you already know." She offered.
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 6, 2016 18:07:15 GMT -5
Yoongi looked up as the other two mentioned training him. Of course, he had been expecting that, but he hadn't been expecting Valkoinen to suggest that he be trained in the same timeslot as Mika, and he certainly hadn't expected Mika to agree. Perhaps he was just stereotyping, but he'd always seen the royal family as being a bunch of uptight snobs. That's unfair. They could just as easily stereotype me, if they knew where I came from.
He was chewing on his bottom lip when Valkoinen gestured to the ring, asked him to show her what he "already knew." Yoongi blinked in surprise, his mouth falling open slightly as he turned to look at the ring of sand and he frowned. "I, um..." He didn't really know anything about fighting. His experience in fights had taught him only how to take a punch and to deliver one, how not to end up dead in an alleyway. Valkoinen's style of combat was much more elegant than that, more composed and practiced. He couldn't do that. "I don't really...I've never handled a sword before."
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 18:25:32 GMT -5
Valkoinen gave a nod. "Knowing how to fight without a weapon is just as important. A lot of gatherings won't allow a personal ." She told him, waving her hand for him to step forward if he wanted to spar. Based on his reaction, she assumed he had very little combat training despite the nobleman's words. She removed her scabbard from her belt and passed it over to Mika, who took it and turned to Jackson.
"You don't have to fight if you don't want to. You can wait to start tomorrow if its too much for today." He said. He still wasn't certain how it was to be passed from one house to another, but he imagined there had to be a lot more to it than just accepting you were somewhere else. It had to be exhausting. Judging from Jackson's hesitation, he probably wasn't up for it today. They might just want to stick to introducing him and showing him around. There was even the chance that might overwhelming for the first day. Would he be recuperated enough by tomorrow to hold up in their training session?
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 6, 2016 18:56:03 GMT -5
While Yoongi might not have been able to swallow his pride and admit that he wasn't up for sparring today, Jackson certainly had no trouble giving Mika a small smile in gratitude. "If it's no trouble for you, sire, I would rather wait until tomorrow." Yoongi was used to taking things as they came and he hated weakness. He hated that Mika seemed to be taking his feelings into account because Yoongi didn't like feelings and he certainly wasn't friends with his own. Jackson, on the other hand, took any pity or kindness granted to him without a second thought.
He glanced at Valkoinen, that smile still gracing his lips, bowing ever so slightly, as though in apology. The way she had spoken, he figured that she must have assumed that he already knew at least some basics of combat. Perhaps because the nobleman lied about his background, lied about where he came from and exaggerated the skills that he had. There had a grueling hour and a half where the nobleman and his men asked Yoongi a list of what must have been a hundred questions, intent on gleaning all there was to know about his life, to handpick out the bits and pieces that would be useful to deliver to the royal family when the time came. Yoongi knew the nobleman had intended to exaggerate. Never would he admit that he had simply picked up a poor, starving orphan from the streets.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 19:13:36 GMT -5
Valkoinen nodded, holding her hand out for her sword back. As Mika passed it back, she spoke. "Probably for the better. Your hand-to-hand needs some work, sir." She told him bluntly as she reattached it to her belt. "Now, please excuse me. I have more guards-in-training to humiliate."
Mika dipped his head a bit. "I'll work hard to improve. Thank you for your time, Valkoinen." He turned his head to Jackson. "We should probably show you where the medical wing is next. From there, I can show you the halls to take to get back to your quarters from about anywhere." At least this way he'd have a sense of direction and where to go for emergencies. It was easy to get disoriented and lost here. There were times long ago when he was little, he'd end up very turned around and lost in his own home until he found his way back to the courtyard. That or until one of the staff found him. The rest Valkoinen would have to show him, as he wasn't certain where else he should show him.
He continued. "Julian's one of the head doctors here. He's good at his work and he's a kind-hearted person, but he's a little nervous. I don't think you're the sort of person I have to tell this to, but loud, sudden noises can startle him pretty badly so I advise against them."
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 6, 2016 19:49:12 GMT -5
Yoongi nodded. It would indeed be helpful to know where the medical wing was, and how to get to the servants quarters. He was certain at this point that he'd already forgotten what the door the guards had pointed out looked like; there really were too many rooms in the palace.
I live here now.
That thought was scary to him and Yoongi fought the urge to physically shake it away. This wasn't for forever. It couldn't be. His life would not culminate in this, culminate in servitude. He was meant for more than just this...wasn't he? His mother had told him so... But Hyunsuk said that she had lied. But she hadn't been lying. Perhaps, at the time, she really did believe that Yoongi could be much more than what she ever was, but what mother wouldn't hope that for her child? In that respect, Yoongi had already failed her.
"I will keep that in mind, sire." Yoongi couldn't see why he would purposely make loud noises anywhere and any time, but he supposed this was a reminder to be careful not to accidentally knock something over. Both for his own sake and for Julian's.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 6, 2016 20:08:51 GMT -5
Mika lead Jackson down another set of hallways and up a flight of stairs. Two more halls, and they reached the medical wing, which was its own hallway with four rooms to keep patients close by while they rested and recovered from injuries or illness, two rooms for medical practice, a room full of supplies, and then a set of small rooms where the medical staff stayed. Taking the size of the castle into consideration, it was just more efficient to have the medical staff live very close to where they worked in the event of an emergency.
He checked the open doors to the practice rooms, finding them empty. He paused a second before going over to the supply room. He tapped the door lightly before opening it. He gave a small smile when he found Julian pulling items from the shelf, counting them out, making note of the quantity on a scroll, then replacing them and moving on to the next item. He didn't look up from his counting until he heard Mika speak. "You know its alright for you to take a break every now and again. That's the third time this week you've done inventory."
Julian returned the items in his hands to the counter and turned to face them. "Sorry, it's just easier to keep my mind on a task. What brings you here? No one's feeling sick, I hope." He asked, looking briefly to Jackson.
Mika should his head. "No, no one's ill. I'm trying to show Jackson the important parts of the castle so he knows his way around." He turned his attention to Jackson. "Jackson, this is Julian."
Julian offered a thin, tired smile, though it was mostly to be polite. "It's nice to meet you properly. Please don't be afraid to seek help if you need it."
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 7, 2016 10:37:14 GMT -5
The medical wing was, in Yoongi's opinion, unnecessarily large. But then, with so many people living and working here, he supposed that it made sense. The doctor, Julian, looked as though he'd been working away for days on end, what with how tired he seemed and all. Yoongi recognized him from the hall. He'd been with the woman, Valkoinen. He'd been the nervous looking one. Yoongi was uncertain as to why.
When Julian addressed him, Yoongi bowed slightly and nodded. "Nice to meet you, too." He didn't add that he wasn't really looking forward to visiting this side of the palace again. He hoped to avoid the medical wing as much as possible, it wasn't a place that he was comfortable in. And he'd survived this long without the attention or help of doctors, he was sure he could avoid them a bit longer.
Looking around, Yoongi wasn't quite sure what else he was supposed to say. It seemed to him that Julian was once being polite, that he would much rather go back to doing inventory. He supposed that was just as well. After this, Mika would show Jackson how to get back to the servants quarters and then...that was all. It surprised him that Mika didn't seem to expect anything from him, or want him to do anything in particular, but he also suspected that, as time went by and the prince grew used to having him around, he'd be expected to do much more than just follow the guy around.
For the time being, it would just be nice to get a feel for the palace, learn his way around. This place would be a nightmare to get lost in.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 7, 2016 14:36:21 GMT -5
Julian nodded quietly, though he didn't seem to have much else to say. Mika offered a smile to him, taking a step back. "We won't keep you from your task, but please don't over do it. Try to at least get some sleep to night, alright?"
"Yes, I'll try. Thank you for your concern.." Julian replied, dipping his head before he turned to go back to counting the items on the shelves.
Julian had always kept himself unnecessarily busy, ever since Mika had known him. He had the suspicion Julian might be an insomniac or very paranoid, or perhaps a mixture of both, but no one seemed to take issue with it. Whatever the cause, no one seemed to ask as far as he knew. Still, he imagined most of the staff probably had similar issues working as hard as they did, though they were less prominent.
He turned, stepping back a few more times to move around Jackson as he headed back to the hall. He held the door until Jackson was in the hallway with him before closing it carefully to avoid slamming it. "Alright, so next I'll show you some of the main halls so you have a way of finding your bearings if you get turned around."
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 7, 2016 15:59:16 GMT -5
Yoongi was, quite honestly, surprised that Mika thought to hold the door open for him and he would have said as much, if he were already comfortable in this new job he'd procured for himself. Instead, he merely tilted his head slightly and said, "That would be most helpful, sire...but you know you don't have to hold the door for me. I should be doing that for you." It was strange, Yoongi thought, how Mika treated him. He'd been expecting something very close, or at least similar, to the treatment given him by Hyunsuk, but Mika so far seemed to be regarding him as more of a guest than anything else.
He wasn't complaining, just suspicious.
But he said nothing about that. Just wondered if it would be safe, then, to give Mika his real name. It would be comforting, to have himself be referred to once again as 'Yoongi', but he saw the giving of his real name as an undeniable tool that could be used against him.
Stop thinking. You haven't even gotten through the first day yet.
As far as he knew, this 'Mika' was just a front.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 7, 2016 16:15:48 GMT -5
Mika paused at that. Perhaps it might be strange, but was it really so bad to open a door on his own and hold it for the next person out? He had to think about how to word this. He didn't want to snap or seem like he was upset in his response. Part of it was he didn't want the door slamming and startling Julian, the other part was that he didn't need to rely on someone else to open a door. "It isn't that big of a deal." He said, deciding to just leave it there.
Really he still wasn't certain he wanted this. Someone following around after him like Jackson was meant to. He couldn't exactly reject the boy, who knew where he'd end up if he did something like that. Worst case scenario, he'd be sent back to the nobleman, and that didn't seem like it would end well. But if he went with it, there might be more 'gifts' like this... He didn't want to end up like either of his parents with their own separate entourages of personal staff following them around and waiting on them. Truthfully, it wasn't any problem at all to do things for himself, and going things on his own had some small sense of independence he feared he'd lose if he started requesting Jackson to do them for him.
He continued walking out of the medical wing, stopping when they reached one of the main halls. "Usually you can figure out which of the halls lead through a majority of the castle. They tend to be a little wider with more portraits and sculptures." He said before he started walking again, turning left and leading onward.
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 7, 2016 19:44:21 GMT -5
Yoongi fell silent at Mika's answer. He didn't understand this. He didn't understand any of this. The nobleman had made it very clear what Jackson's role was going to be inside the palace and so he'd been expecting to be serving some spoiled brat of a prince who was used to having everything done for him. In a way, Yoongi thought he would have been able to handle someone like that better than Mika, because with someone who was spoiled, you were at least always aware of what was expected of you.
They paused in what seemed to be a main hall and Yoongi nodded along with what Mika was telling him. He wondered, briefly, how long the royal family had been here, how long it's been this same family. They'd already passed by so many portraits, he wasn't sure he even wanted to know how large the family really was. Yoongi himself only knew of three family members. His father, his mother, both dead...and then...once upon a time, he thought he'd had a brother. But that brother might as well be dead. All Yoongi could remember was a name and a smile.
Yoongi's discomfort only grew as he followed Mika down yet another hallway. Eventually, he would have to voice his concerns about the situation, about how Mika didn't seem to want anything. As much as he hated the idea of being in this position for the rest of his life, as of now, this was the best place Yoongi could be to collect himself and figure out his next move. But...if Mika wasn't going to ask him to do anything, if Mika didn't need him to do anything...then what was to stop the prince from telling the King and Queen and having Yoongi sent away? Possibly back to that nobleman? His brow involuntarily furrowed at the thought and his eyes darkened, no longer sweeping the hall, but focused on the ground in front of him. I don't like that nobleman very much.
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 8, 2016 4:13:24 GMT -5
Mika was beginning to grow somewhat concerned about Jackson's silence. Maybe it was just in the boy's nature? Well, if it was, that was fine, and if he was nervous, it was understandable. As they walked through another hall, he remembered the other training he might be required to do in order to be a part of his own interests and activities. He looked back briefly. "You wouldn't by chance know how to swim?" He asked.
There was a large plot of undeveloped property very close to the castle. It was considered to be the property of the royal family, and though there were never guards posted about, it was considered very illegal to trespass. It was used as a hunting ground and a place for learning to ride horses. Sometimes Valkoinen moved combat training there to practice fighting while navigating vegetation. Mika most loved the docks that had been built on the little pond and the stream that ran through it. Ever since he was little, he'd taken his free time to visit. Of course, not by himself. His parents always insisted he be accompanied by a guard or a few staff members. Usually he asked Valkoinen along, but he'd learned that she abhorred the water. She couldn't swim, and she was very afraid of falling in a drowning. He couldn't even get her to approach the shallows. He'd stopped asking her shortly after he'd found out about this. Most of the guards he asked to go with him always seemed bored and eager to leave. Fortunately, since he was older, his parents required less staff to go with him. Perhaps he could convince them he'd be fine on his own if he had at least one person with him who knew how to swim in case something happened.
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 8, 2016 9:09:37 GMT -5
"Swim?" Yoongi chewed his lip, looking up from the floor to meet Mika's eyes, if only for a second. "Yes, sire...but I learned when I was very young and have not been in the water for years." As a child, Yoongi remembered his brother taking him far from the industrialized part of the city, down cracked stone roads and dark alleyways, through areas where the only population were those who begged for a living. But they always ended up by patch of green, untouched, it seemed, by civilization and teeming with wildlife. His brother led him through the trees, into the woods, which Yoongi had found to be more expansive than it at first seemed.
There had been a small lake hidden within those trees and that was where his brother taught him to swim. The memory of Namjoon tugged at Yoongi's lips, threatening to make him smile, but he forced it away, knowing that, just as easily, the memories could make him cry. And he wasn't going to cry, not in front of the prince, not in front of anyone.
"Why do you ask, sire?"
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 8, 2016 13:20:54 GMT -5
Mika gave a small nod at his answer. "Ah, well, I like to spend as much time as I can at the pond. I just wanted to know if you were alright to be around the water. Even if you don't swim, it's a good way to get out of the castle for a bit. I'm just more comfortable bringing you there if you know how to swim." He replied. No need to tell him about Valkoinen's very nervous trip to the pond or how she'd been terribly upset with him the following week.
He still noticed Jackson avoided his gaze, though he wasn't certain if he should say anything. If he was just a little nervous about his first day, it would go away in time on its own. He offered a brief smile and turned back to continued walking down the hall. "We're almost back to where we were before." He let him know. After only a few more paces, they turned another corner and the door to the staff's quarters was visible from where they stood. Instead of stopping there, Mika continued, walking over until they were at the door. "Forgive me, I can't remember if there's any other rooms you should know now. When Valkoinen is done training for the day, she'll show you most everything else."
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Post by נσкσмαтσ on Aug 8, 2016 17:55:02 GMT -5
{ O-O Sorry! I had it in my head for whatever reason that I had already replied...oops }
Yoongi nodded in response. It would be nice, admittedly, to swim again. He hadn't gone swimming once since his brother disappeared. "In that case, I would be more than happy to accompany you to this pond, sire." With this information, he reassured himself that he had made the right choice in coming here. Well, Jackson had been sure all along.
He hoped that he would be able to remember how to get to this door now that Mika had been kind enough to show him around. How embarrassing would it be if he had to ask for directions again? He doubted the guards would even want to help him. "That's no problem, sire." For a moment, Yoongi just stood there staring at the door, wondering what the servants quarters looked like, wondering how many people he would be sharing a room with. He wondered how he would even be able to figure out where he was supposed to go beyond this door. Perhaps he could ask Valkoinen later.
"Is there anything you'd like me to do, sire? Either now or in the future, so I know."
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 8, 2016 18:53:14 GMT -5
(Its fine~ I'm just working on Homework. We're doing stylized textures and I'm really enjoying it)
Mika thought just for a moment he could hear a bit of... was it confidence? in Jackson's voice. This made him smile a bit. It seemed it wasn't impossible to make him feel comfortable after all. When Jackson asked for instructions, however, Mika's smile faded a bit. Now he was the uncomfortable one. He still wasn't quite used to the idea of Jackson's presence being for his convenience.
"I..." Mika hesitated. His mind still blanked, but he'd started speaking. He had to come up with something to say. "I might head to the library. It's up to you whether you follow or stay here and wait for Valkoinen."
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Post by ValkoinenLeuka on Aug 9, 2016 9:42:00 GMT -5
(I'm in lab now, but I'm done with my work. I should be out of class around 2 or 3pm)
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