xp_logs | Forge and Medusa - the royal treatment (Reply)

As arranged by Crystal, Forge is brought to the palace in Attilan to be fitted for a prom tuxedo. Thankfully, the Queen shows up and distracts him from the harrowing experience.

Medusa walked through the hallways of the palace, keeping her steps quick as she had an obvious goal in mind for the end of her trip. Leaning in a door, she hid as a smile as she watched Celio buzz about Forge. Celio had been the Boltagon and Amaquelin family tailor for what seemed like decades and there was no doubt he was good at his job. He also didn't seem to know how to do it without talking nonstop and she had a feeling he'd been making comments about Crystal that would make Forge blush.

Standing still with both arms stretched out at his sides, Forge scowled at the diminutive tailor as the measuring process continued. "Look, I'm telling you," he said insistently, "You can hem and taper the left leg at a ten-inch inseam. I'm going to be dancing, I don't want fabric bunching up around the prosthetic. No, wait, stop measuring the left leg, I'm telling you I don't -- your Majesty!" Forge finally noticed Medusa and his face split in a smile. "Fancy seeing you here... only not so much because it's the palace and you're the Queen, come to think of it. Your lovely sister was so gracious to arrange a fitting with Celio here, with the Prom being this Friday and all. I'm thinking I may have pissed her off somehow..."

Medusa smiled, almost grinning at him. "~Celio, are you giving the boy trouble?~" she asked innocently. The old man merely waved a hand at her, staying silent for once due to the pins he was holding in his mouth. "Indeed, you may want to give her some flowers. And perhaps a nice piece of jewelry. That always does wonders for forgiveness," she said, slipping easily between the two languages as her hair shifted in gentle patterns.

"Oh, I think this is just her idea of another practical joke," Forge's voice cracked as Celio tugged roughly at the waistband of his trousers and made another measurement. "She's already had a dress ready and won't show me, so I figure that Torquemada the tailor here probably has his marching orders set out by Her Adorable Highness..."

Medusa's smile softened. She was thrilled her sister was happy. Even better that she was with someone whom Medusa knew would treat the princess they way she should be treated. "Oh, I can all but guarantee that you are being fitted to a tuxedo that will match her gown quite beautifully." She paused and tilted her head, considering. "If you would like, we can select a piece of jewelry from the royal collection for you to give her to wear on the day of the prom."

Forge blinked in surprise, momentarily distracted from the small tailor yanking his limbs around like a ragdoll's. "You'd... well, thank you. I'm sure she can bring it back with her when she..." His face fell flat for a moment, then he sighed and nodded to himself. "When she comes back home to Attilan," he said softly.

"I am assuming you will be here frequently over the summer," Medusa said, raising an eyebrow at his sadness. "You know you have access to our jet for your travels.""I am assuming you will be here frequently over the summer," Medusa said, raising an eyebrow at his sadness. "You know you have access to our jet for your travels."

Forge nodded. "Of course. It's just..." He flinched slightly as the tailor tugged at the shoulders of the jacket he'd thrown onto Forge, yanking back and forth. "It's just that things are kind of complicated right now. We both have a lot of responsibilities, duties and obligations, and of course the big white elephant in the room being my role with the team. I don't know how distance is going to affect that. It's an unknown factor at this juncture, and I don't like unknown factors."

"Responsibilities, duties and obligations do complicate relationships. Distance added to it, well, it takes fortitude to make it through. It just depends on whether or not there is the correct motivation. If there is, it will work regardless of the complications. If it is not, then the complications may hasten the ending," Medusa said, crossing her arms.

"I see why there's no royal ministry of cheerful platitudes," Forge replied sarcastically as he was hustled behind a screen to change out of the suit and hand it back to the tailor. As he shrugged himself back into his simple cargo shorts, he glanced out around the screen at the Queen. "And what of you and Blackagar?" he asked with a grin. "Any wonderful royal gossip? I tried to get some out of him, but I think he's more interested in trying to kick my ass at Tekken some more. Should never have taught him how to play that game..."

"So I have you to blame for that," she said, arching an eyebrow at him. "As for royal gossip, I believe I am more often gossiped about than the possessor of the gossip."

"Perils of the job, so they say," Forge quipped, checking his hair in a mirror and walking over to the door, giving a small nod of thanks to the tailor. "Speaking of, though, if you're free for a quick lunch, I could tell you some amusing stories involving rather creative limericks..."

"And how to stop them, or so I hear," Medusa said, as she glided out the door held open by the now silent Forge.