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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:28 am
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Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:38 am
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((Yes, please, jump in at any time!))
Dee smiled and nodded as they came to the door, forgetting to acknowledge the fact that Indya seemed afraid. "Mhm," he said, and produced a big golden key from his waistcoat pocket. He fit and twisted it in the heavy lock, and a loud click signaled that the door was free to be opened. He reached forward, turned the handle, and swung the door wide open.
"Here we are," he said, wrapping an arm around Indya's shoulders and smiling triumphantly at his ultimate solution to 'saving' the kingdom.
((Sorry for the cliffhanger, but I'm soooo tired right now, I can't finish this till later. More to come!))
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:59 am
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:13 pm
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"Don't be silly, my sweet," Dee laughed, taking her hand and striding confidently among the rows upon rows of his creations. "My brother and I designed them ourselves to make sure they would never harm anybody we wouldn't want them to."
It was an army of robots-- like Tick-Tock had once been, until the Caterpillar had taken her through transformation-- only they were sleeker, more agile and more dangerous-looking, with blades where their fingers should be and compartments in their chests that looked to be storing countless more weapons. Dee stopped in front of one and barked, "On!"
The robot's eyes began to glow red, first soft and then brighter as its system was setting itself up. "My system is functional," it said in a soft female voice.
Dee grinned at Indya, then turned back to the robot. "Do you recognize this young woman?" he asked it.
The robot turned and stared at Indya, scanning her up and down for a split second before raising an arm and preparing to attack her with its razor-sharp fingers. "This is an intruder," it said, its sweet feminine voice never hardening once. "Target acquired; the intruder must be destroyed."
"No," Dee said firmly, and the robot paused. "This is Indya, and you will recognize her as your queen. Send this information to the rest of the army. Not one of you shall harm her. Is that understood?"
The robot slipped back into its place. "Affirmative. I understand, my lord."
Almost immediately, Dee and Indya were surrounded by pairs of glowing red eyes as the rest of the robots powered themselves on. Each turned toward Indya, bent down on one knee, and in a chorus of voices-- some soft and dainty, like the one to whom Dee had spoken; some gruff and masculine; some sly and sugary like the Knave of Hearts-- chanted, "Long live the Queen!"
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:14 pm
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:57 pm
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Dee's urge to chuckle was overpowered by a strange wave of genuine concern, one that felt so sincere it made him nervous. "Oh, my dear, are you all right?" he asked, kneeling beside her and feeling her head where she had hit the door. "Here, let me help you up."
He pulled Indya to her feet and glared at the army of robots. "Rise and power off," he commanded. "Don't even dare to rise until you hear the command from me, Indya, or my brother." The bright red eyes faded out into darkness. "I'll have this door torn down and repaired immediately," he promised Indya. "Come, let's sit you down and give you something for your head."
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:02 pm
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:49 pm
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Dee walked Indya back down the hallway, wrapping an arm tightly around her shoulders. He was so wrapped up in taking care of her, though, that he neglected to notice two things: for one, he had left the door open; and two, the lost-looking serving-girl that they encountered had very familiar crimson eyes.
Nana came to a screeching halt as the hallway she ran through connected with the one that Dee and Indya were traveling and almost ran into the couple. She immediately dropped into the deepest curtsy she could muster and-- making her voice higher-pitched and more breathy so that neither he nor his brother could easily recognize it-- said, "I beg your pardon, my lord, milady. I was running through so quickly I hardly saw you! Please accept my deepest apology."
Dee made an annoyed, dismissive motion with his hand, an indication for her to rise. "Yes, yes, of course. Why are you traveling this way? Are you lost?"
"I'm afraid so, sire," Nana said, casting an ashamed, puppy-eyed glance at him before lowering her eyes again. "I-- I'm rather new here, and I haven't memorized the hallways. I was trying to get to the cellar."
Dee practically snorted. "You're far out of your element, little girl; you were supposed to make a left three doors ago, back up the stairs."
"Oh-- I'm dreadfully sorry! The entire staff is in such a tizzy about tomorrow's festivities-- my most sincere congratulations to you both, by the way! And thank you so kindly, milord!"
"Go on, about your business then!" Dee snapped, his moment of kindness long gone. Before Nana could say 'Yes, milord, thank you, milord,' he rushed Indya down the hallway and made a sharp turn up the stairs and out of sight.
Nana took her chance, and sped off in the direction from which the soon-but-not-for-long-to-be-king and his devious soon-but-not-for-long-wife-to-be had come. What she didn't know, however, was how very little Indya herself knew now.
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 12:24 am
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 1:58 pm
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Dee inwardly groaned, but dutifully scooped up Indya and began carrying her the rest of the way. "Please, my dear, don't blame yourself," he said, his voice sounding more tender than he had anticipated. "It's that wretched heavy door. I'm going to have it fixed immediately."
They rounded a corner and Dee set Indya down for a brief moment so he could open the door into one of the many parlors. He picked Indya up again and carried her over to a long sofa, setting her down and propping her head up on a pillow. He clapped loudly and a servant came dashing in, skidding to a halt and delivering a low bow. Dee rolled his eyes. Servants these days were never as good as the ones he'd had as a child.
"Go fetch my dear Indya some ice," he snapped. "She's had a bad accident. And tell my carpenters to do something about that hideous and obtrusive basement door!"
"Which basement door is that, sire?" the servant boy asked timidly.
"The one that goes to my workshop, you blithering fool, now get out of my sight!"
The boy gave another low bow and hurried out of the room. Dee turned back to Indya and said, "Forgive me, darling, for seeming so sharp; I cannot tolerate lackadaisical behavior in my castle."
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 2:10 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 2:04 pm
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:16 am
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"Y-yes, of course," the servant stammered, his willpower cracking as he let the odd, harsh young woman into the front parlor. "If you would be so kind as to wait here...? I'll return shortly with one of the masters of the house."
~~~
Dee nodded. "Perhaps we were a bit hasty," he agreed. "Still, no sense in revoking their vacation. A whining, unhappy staff would surely put a damper on our most joyous of occasions."
He paused and frowned as he became aware of a heavy panting and hurried footsteps that grew louder each moment, until the servant posted at the front burst into the room, gasping, "Sir-- milord, there's a young lady-- in the parlor-- she would not introduce herself-- but she speaks like royalty, sir-- and she demanded--"
"Yes, yes, I get the point!" Dee snapped, his patience stretching and snapping. "You could have just as easily gone to see my brother about this!"
"He demands-- solitude, sir," panted the servant.
Dee heaved a loud sigh and knelt beside Indya, feeling her head before rising to his feet again. "Please wait here, my sweet," he said. "The servants will be here with your ice. I'd better greet this... visitor."
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:56 pm
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