First Trump To Amber

Thump. Thump. "Hey! Wakey Wakey, hands off snakey!"

"Wha?"

"Surprise! It's yer old man! Now bring me through, this is a bitch and a half to maintain."

"Wha? Oh. Yeah."

"Woo Hoo! Holy crap, have I got a lot to tell you. Got anything to drink?"

"Dad? Waitaminnit...DAD?!"

"Quiet, everyone will want one. Get rid of the dancing girls, get me some coffee, comb your hair and then we've gotta talk..."

"Um. Yeah."

Pause

"How the hell did you get back here? Where the hell have you been for the last five years?"

"One at a time, one at a time. I trumped you, it hasn't been 5 days for me, and we won the war. We were busy enough."

"What about Grandfather?"

"He's... He's gone. We saw his funeral procession along the black road. I'm sorry."

"He didn't think he'd make it."

"He meant a lot to you, didn't he?"

"We got along all right. But it's no surprise; I've had five years to get used to the idea. What about Brand?"

"Dead. Fell into the Abyss with arrows sticking out of his vitals. Bastard took Deirdre with him, though."

"Oh, Dad ... My condolences. What about the throne, then?"

"Brand did a lot of damage, but he didn't break us. The king stuff is all resolved, though."

"Who?" pause "Your majesty."

"What about my majesty? Is it showing again? I'm gonna have enough of that from the court, let's not you start."

"Ah, shit."

"Luck of the draw, boyo. So, what've you done to my kingdom?"

"Tried to keep it from falling apart?"

"Did you?"

"For some values of not falling apart, yes. We'll have to go down to the basement. It's pretty ugly and -- oh, Dad, Gerard --"

"Is he alive and busily Regenting?"

"Yes, but --"

"No buts. There's a lot to talk about first and if we go see him, it'll be five years of reports."

"You're thinking of his son Vere. Do you know how many cousins I have?"

"Eight with the army, more or less, plus this kid of Gerry's and Eric's two. Did you know he had some wild hair that you should marry his daughter? Crazier than 'King Random', even if nobody else knew it. There's an even dozen of you. Apparently I was the only one who didn't figure out not to admit paternity."

snort "Dad, there are thirteen of us."

"You're shitting me. Oh, wait, Merlin mentioned someone named Paige, is she the thirteenth?"

"I shit you not. That's thirteen here in Amber. Yes, Paige is one of them."

"Um, Merlin suggested that you and she were..."

"Washed up. Merle's information is out of date."

"Ah. So tell me about these thirteen kids."

"Kids. I forgot. There's fifteen of us. Flora is a grandmother. Twice."

"You are shitting me."

"I shit you not. Start with Jerod and Cambina; you know them. Then Gerard's kids. Vere is from outshadow, good kid, steady, repressed as all get-out. Solange he hid in Garnath, right under everyone's nose. Fiona has two. Conner's a diplomat, says he knew you in Rebma."

"Yup, that's interesting."

"Isn't it? Her daughter Brita could kick the ass of your average Triton, and she paints trumps to boot."

"Tritons don't have asses, son."

"And she showed up with her tutor, Reid. He's Osric's son."

"This time you are shitting me."

"I have not shit you yet."

"This is gonna be a long night. That's nine. Keep going. Tell me about Flora's daughter."

"His name is Lucas and he's good at having everyone underestimate him."

"You know, I think I met him once, at one of her parties in shadow. He fooled me. He's got kids?"

"Yeah, he's married. The girl's really sweet, but Christ, her mother, Lady Vesper..."

"Lady Vesper? This tall, really long face, and her hairdresser apparently used to coil ropes for a living? Oh, that's rich. She was, as they say, 'romantically linked' to Eric for a while. How does she get along with his kids?"

"As little as possible, especially if they see her coming first."

"So, who's left?"

"Paige. Bleys' daughter. Robin, Julian's daughter. And then there's Ossian. No clue whose he is, but he's walked the Pattern. He was Brand's student, but I try not to hold it against him ... too much. If he weren't so immersed in his 'Art' he could be dangerous."

"Quite a crowd. Want me to tell you about your cousins with the Army?"

"There's one more, Dad."

"Well, that sounds ominous. Tell me I'm not a grandfather."

"Not unless you've got another kid I don't know about."

"Don't think so. So, tell me about number thirteen."

"Her name is Folly. She says she knows you."

"O....kay. Do you have anything stronger than coffee? 'Cause I really need a drink now. How'd she end up here?"

"I brought her back from Texorami. Oh, yeah, almost forgot. Soren says he's still got your skins."

"Um. This is." pause "Has she met Vialle?"

"They get along remarkably well."

"They're more alike than they would seem."

"You don't know them very well, do you Dad?"

"Hmmf. That's as may be. Why don't you ask me about your cousins now?"

"Tell me about my cousins, Dad."

"I'll just do that. Julian has two more on that side. Jovian, who came complete with a squadron of teleporting, flying, flamethrowing, telepathic, gargantuan dragons, which I hope he doesn't intend to have perch on the battlements as they'll be awfully rough on the statuary, and Adonis, who seems to have a little Chaos in him and to like being a fertility god.

"Then there's Brennan, whose father was Brand. They fell out some time ago, apparently. He'll do fine in court. Marius is Deirdre's, another orphan. Also tres political. Navy, tied to Caine. I wonder if Conner knows him?

"Oh, this is good. Benedict has three: Dara, who you know, another daughter called Lilly, and Dara's cousin Aisling. Aisling, we hear tell, was here, gathering information on us for her faction. Chaos' politics, my lad, are just as screwed up as ours are. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

"And Merlin, who painted this pasteboard likeness of you. I'm glad I had it."

"He's a good kid. I'm glad he's all right. Is Dara coming back?"

"Funny that. She had it out with Corwin and the answer seems to be 'no'."

"She's dangerous. We haven't heard the last of her."

"Let's hope you're wrong. I don't want to have to place armed guards on the pattern again."

"It's a little late for that, Dad, and anyway Dara's not that kind of trouble."

"You know her, I don't. Anyway, here's the plan. I need to have a smoke, to talk to my wife, to have another smoke, to talk to Folly, to have a drink, and then to figure out how we're going to tell this City that there's a new monarch in town. Unlike your Uncle, I can't strike down my own tomb with red lightning."

"There's a monument you might want to consider instead."

"Not until I've seen it in the daylight, son. C'mon. Is my wife still in the same quarters I had before?"

"No, they moved everyone around...It's a long story. Christ." pause Lemme throw on some clothes and I'll show you where she is."

long pause, some rustling

"Come on."

It's about three weeks after the return of Jerod and Solange when everyone gets an unexpected early summons to show up in the Throne Room at the start of forenoon watch (about 8 AM, for those of you not on Naval time).

Everyone except Brita is staying at the Castle.

Martin personally delivers the summons to Reid, and asks him to Trump Brita in. When Reid draws his Trumps out, they are cold, and he is able to reach Brita without difficulty. It's obvious to Reid that Martin knew in advance, but he doesn't seem inclined to explain himself. He does suggest to Brita that cleanup after arriving from the field might be a good idea.

Brita is thrilled that the Trumps are working again. Obviously something big is up.

In what order do people arrive in the Throne Room, and at what time compared to the planned start of the meeting?

Vere will seek out Solange and suggest that they go to their Father's room about half an hour before the meeting time, to inquire into the reason for the summons and accompany the Regent to the Throne Room for the meeting.

Solange readily agrees, and shows up dressed as if she were going to be hearing Court cases -- an olive green woolen gown with subdued decoration, worn over a golden-brown linen shift embroidered with blackwork. She's coiled her braid at the back of her head, and even added a little Juliet cap. Since the meeting's in the Throne Room, she figures formality is her best bet.

Folly arrives about ten minutes early and takes a seat by herself in the back corner of the room. She scribbles madly on the stack of blank paper she brought with her, seemingly oblivious to the world around her. Remarkably, she's wide awake -- a little manic, even -- and not as rumpled as usual.

Paige follows her in not long after. Not having to be dressed for the courts today, she's in a simple dress of embroidered silk with a delicate leaf pattern. Her feet are in simple green slippers to match and her hair is just pulled back in a loose ponytail. In the time waiting for the others, and not wanting to interrup Folly's "creative process", she unwraps her Trumps from their silk, cuts them and seated crosslegged on the floor. Over the great unicorn seal, she lays a spread of cards, her eyes growing wider as the cards seem to click...

Conner arrives about then dressed in formal court garb of blue and green, smile even more dazzling than usual as he takes in Folly's manic scribbling and Paige's casting of the cards. Conner takes a seat towards the front but all the way to the left side.

Jerod goes off to collect his sister and see if she knows what's up. Not knowing that the trumps are working, he's figuring it's something typically official, but what is another matter.

He is dressed very well (as usual), black and silver uniform type clothing (like his trump description). And he'd be arriving a few minutes early for the event, as always.

Cambina disclaims all knowledge of official plans, but she looks as if she hasn't slept all night and is using makeup to cover that fact up. If asked about it, she will reply "I didn't sleep well. I was having nightmares about these hideous little crabs running all over my body. Just...unrestful."

Her clothes complement Jerod's nicely, black with deep green and muted red accents.

Jerod gives her one of his semi-rare hugs, the kind usually reserved for his family as opposed to regular family. "Well, let's hope this meeting is short and quick. We can have lunch, someplace nice and quiet.

One or two minutes later Ossian steps into the throne room. He is dressed in light blue trousers and a shirt of exactly the same colour with white embroidery in an abstract complicated pattern. As always he carries his sketchbook and a pencil. When he sees Paige and the Trumps he gasps "Do they work?" and then quickly picks up his Trump cards from his shirt pocket to see if they have become cold. He smiles when he realises that the Trumps work.

Jerod looks at Cambina after hearing this. "Do they work?" he asks her quietly.

Brita will have pulled out her "formal" red jacket (left at the castle since that is the only place she would ever where it). She shines up her boots as well before arriving at the Throne room about 5 minutes before the appointed time. She has never had occasion to actually go to the throne room before and is looking around with interest. She will probably gravitate towards Jerod, Conner, or Reid depending on who is there first. When she reaches Conner, she whispers excitedly, "The Trumps are working! Reid used mine to get me here! I have to make one of you."

Conner smiles wide. "I look forward to that sister mine. I suppose this means they are all coming home soon. Should be quite interesting."

"Trumps are working, I mean really working?" Paige asks, looking up from the spread of cards, shuffling them together and cutting out a small handful of cards. She seems almost too worried to actually attempt any of them as she fans them out in front of her.

[For the curious, the cards include Bleys, Fiona, Martin, and a few others. [OOC: Correct me if I remember wrong here GM] A dark haired young man sitting on a wall during a festival, curiously watching the proceedings; a ornate room some might recognize as Paige's room in Heerat; another for her room at the Prince; and the keen eye might've seen her shuffle Brand back into the deck.]

Ossian immedeately starts making sketches in his sketchbook. From the way his eyes move he seems to make quick sketches of the cousins present. This is indeed what he is doing; there is no sketch clearly indentifiable as Jerod, though.

[Yes, I know there is not enough time for Ossian to capture more than one or two cousins. He is just excited, and tries to prepare later Trump work.]

When Ossian looks at the various cousins he gets a very clear look from Jerod, who catches his attention without trouble. The expression Jerod has on his face can only be translated as "Don't even think it."

Ossian grins, winks back at Jerod, flips a page in his sketchbook, and starts to draw something. He now and then looks up to study Jerod closely. [High waters will note that Ossian is up to some mischief.]

Jerod's return look is not good for Ossian...(who would realize that Jerod is always armed, even in the castle). Ossian gets the impression that continuing this course of action would not be a good idea. (Jerod doesn't bluff very well in cards, and Ossian knows right now that Jerod's not bluffing).

"Boys, don't make me come over there," Folly says without looking up from her writing. She sounds edgy.

"Then I suggest Ossian stop his little game before I take his sketchpad and put it somewhere he won't like." Jerod says. The high waters will detect there is something other than anger driving Jerod at this moment, almost fear. And that's not good.

Paige has put away all her Trumps, save one which she keeps in hand, her thumb worrying away at the reverse image. "Jerod, this is foolishness, even for you. Ossian's got a good enough eye and feel that he doesn't need sketches should he decide he wants to create a Trump of you, and it's not even been suggested that it's what he's doing."

She shakes her head and looks at Ossian, "Cousin, if nothing else, your teacher taught you to respect the art. Consider Jerod as such and don't antagonize him. He's bad enough as it is without giving him reason for his mania."

"Is this already what we have to look toward?" she asks whoever's assembled. "We may not have always agreed about what we were doing, but we did it together." Holding up her father's Trump, she continues, "Is the promise of bringing our parents home going to let us lapse back into the schisms that fueled this war in the first place? Were these last six years in vain so things can just continue as they were before?"

She stares down Jerod, declaring, "I won't let it come to that."

"Then you'd better make sure our esteemed cousin remembers your words." Jerod replies, returning the gaze directly. "I might not be able to stop him in private from drawing my trump, assuming I never find out. But I know what I can do publically. And I remember what Brand did with his trumps. His protege doesn't get that chance. I doubt anyone's going to care too much if I decide to protect myself from an unwanted intrusion. So long as I don't kill him." and Jerod smiles a bit, a chilling look that implies there are far worse things for an artist to suffer than death.

Ossian has been quiet during the angry exchange between his cousins, when he puts down his pencil and speaks up: "Sincerely, cousin, I don't think Trumps are any more dangerous than swords. Or guns. And a little doodling won't hurt anyone."

Ossian turns his sketchbook so everyone can see what it is he has drawn: it is an almost cartoonish picture showing a mad-eyed cow riding a bicycle whilst drinking beer from a large jug.

Jerod smiles thinly. "Do all the doodling you want. Post'em up on the castle walls if you want. Just make sure my likeness isn't in it."

Ossian seems satisfied with the outcome of the discussion, even if he probably is a bit afraid of Jerod. "We'll see. Someday you might even want that Trump. Only Cambina knows the future."

"Then she will draw it." Jerod says. "And I'll be satisfied with it in her hands."

[Cambina]
"In the future, maybe we won't all get up on the wrong side of the bed. You both need to get out of the habit of giving away family secrets, even to me..."

"Premptive strikes based on our Elder's actions will only fill graveyards." Conner comments mildly.

"So, you do plan on going right back to the way things were!" Paige fumes at Jerod. "Am I now suspect for my role in my father's attempt against yours? Should I as another student of Brand's and a teacher to a son of Chaos have to fear your righteous wrath, Jerod?" she asks, obviously trying to calm herself down, but not having much luck.

"And when it comes to it, who in the Hells gave you the right to tell any of us what to do? Ossian's drawing isn't the problem here, is it?" Paige crosses to stand before him, defiantly, daring the physical response that seems inevitable.

"It's the Elders' return and the idea that you're going to lose what power you have that's the issue here. So instead of trying to help, you're going to micromanage the things you can, and enforce them with brutish strength if others don't harken to your wisdom." Paige laughs sarcasticly and turns her back on him, stalking away.

"Seems that a few years of cooperation can't erase centuries of distrust. I'm sorry, Jerod, that you feel this way. I really had thought... Well, it doesn't matter, I suppose." She takes a seat not far from Conner, shaking her head gently, looking at her father's Trump.

Conner slides over and places a comforting hand on her knee.

Paige smiles at Conner, quietly, all her ire for the morning spent on Jerod, apparently.

"Spare me your psycho-analysis." Jerod replies. "I'll give you a little clue as to how I perceive what happens when our uncles and aunts return. Everything will be hunky dory for a little while. They'll have to figure out who's King or Queen and they'll make nice for awhile. But once that's done and he or she has time to make a few decisions that people don't like, they'll be back at it. Not me. I'll be there doing what I do best...supporting the King or Queen, whoever it is. That's the little message you haven't seen in the last five years Paige. You've been so eager to jump on people who bring up the past that you've focussed on, that you've forgotten something...I haven't brought it up in five years. So don't bitch at me for something you've still got an issue with."

"As for who I am to tell you what to do...I've got every right to decide who does something that invades my privacy." Jerod says. "You don't consider an invasion...I DO! You don't like that...go pound salt. You make a trump of me without my permission, you'll get the same response as Ossian. I figured you'd be smart enough to ask first, or not even bother drawing it. You can tell me later if I'm wrong."

And he laughs for a moment. "As for my power, consider this well Paige. When our uncles and aunts return, you are quite right. As of now I have no lands, no titles, no power. When they return that will be doubly so...they will make certain of that." and he grins. "And I will have no obligations as well, unlike the rest of you. Consider that well when they do return...your parents will be expecting more from you...including you in their agendas...making sure you help out, obey and don't cause trouble for whatever they might be involved in. You'll be bound by rules and regulations and unwritten rules of conduct that they'll be pushing on you. How do I know? I've been there."

"And I won't be bound by the regs. You and the others will have considerable power, and virtually no choice as to how you use it. I will have no power...and all the freedom to make choices I could ever want." Jerod says. "I'd say I make out for the better. Bring the family back now I say...I look forward to it."

"Well that's one reading of the future to be sure." Conner smiles. "The politcal winds will be quite turbulent I expect I don't think think any of us should be looking forward to the return until we know who wears the crown and who supports the Throne."

"But it's not the future, Conner," Paige says. "It's the dystopia that Jerod wants to believe will be the future. And if the suppositions about unconcious influences on Shadow are true, then we can't believe that sort of thing."

"He'll be free?" she asks sarcastically. "Ha."

"He's the brightest brand anyone could throw on the fire in trying to overcome whoever does sit the throne next. The son of the dead King. A self professed 'Loyal Son of Amber' who'll do what's best for the Kingdom. One wonders how easy it'll be to convince him that King Jerod the First is the 'best' for Amber." Paige looks to Jerod, "Everyone has differing opinions on what's 'best' cousin, and most like their own opinions best. It's why they're always espousing them." Even moderate waters hear the unspoken _As you do._

"As to the matter of the cards, have no fear, I have more pressing matters to attend to than creating something that would prove so useless."

"Then I hope you won't feel too much disappointment when I prove you wrong." Jerod says.

Ossian shrugs and turns to Paige with a hint of a smile on his face: "I guess we'll have to write letters to him instead."

If there is a lull in the bickering (amazing what people do when they are unsure of what is going on), Brita approaches Jerod. Her brows are drawn together in confusion and she looks somewhat hesitant. "Jerod? You do know there are ways to prevent Trump contact, don't you?" She pauses. "This probably isn't the best time to mention it, but I would like to make a Trump of you and will willingly give you one of me in exchange. It would make it easier to meet for sparing matches when I'm based in Arden and you are here," she laughs a little, obviously nervous and ready to back off if Jerod lashes out.

Jerod looks at Brita for a moment, still seething though the self-control asserts itself very quickly. "After we're done with the...well, whatever's happening, we can talk about it." and he takes a deep breath. "Since you've been good enough to ask first..." and he stops again. "We'll talk after this." he says finally, just as Martin comes into the room with Vialle.

It's at about this point that Martin arrives, with Vialle on his arm. Martin looks mildly cross, which is to say that he probably is quite cross, and Vialle looks excited and something like happy or even triumphant.

After a moment of consideration, Martin escorts Vialle over to Jerod, in the hopes that he will take her off his hands.

If Jerod does him this favor, he finds a nice spot against a wall to lean against where he has a reasonably good view of everyone, and isn't really close enough to anyone to invite conversation.

Paige smiles and rises to meet them, but when she sees Martin's direction, she sits again, laying her head on Conner's shoulder, whispering softly to him.

Jerod, saved by his friend from having to continue a rather vexatious conversation (neat-o...used a big word...:), takes Vialle off his hands, giving Martin a quick look on the order of "you okay?", but doesn't say anything. He knows better than to push at the moment.

Martin is ignoring the conversation between Jerod and Paige, and gives Jerod a "later" look in response to his unspoken query. Vialle looks a little worried at the thrust of the discussion as she and Martin enter, and is just as pleased to interpose herself between her quarrelling kinfolk.

Folly looks perhaps a little queasy all of a sudden, but she looks up from her writing long enough to mouth a silent "thank you" to Martin. She smiles at him, more with her eyes than her mouth, in an "everything will be OK" sort of way. It's not clear which one of them she's trying to convince.

Jerod will inquire after Vialle to see how she's doing...since she seems quite happy he's interested in knowing more...but he doesn't pry (mostly cause the player knows it'll all come out later...:)

Vialle whispers, "It will all come clear in a few minutes."

Jerod nods, pursing his lips at the reply. And he settles down to wait patiently.

Reid shows up on time, alone. He's let Brita go off to get ready and figures he doesn't need to formally introduce her to the court again since she's been living here a few years. He suspects something is up, since the destination is the throne room, so he comes appropriately dressed for first impressions. He's advised Brita to do the same.

Although his clothes are fitting for a royal summons, his hands are a bit smudged from various art supplies, and it looks as if he dressed in a hurry. It would seem after Trumping Brita to the castle, he spent a little time with his art before dressing at the last minute.

Lucas arrives fairly on time.

Backing us up just a little, Vere and Solange had gone to Gerard's room about a half hour before the meeting, intending to accompany their father. Are we entering with him now? Or did he shoo us away and tell us to join the other Cousins? If the latter, then we would probably have come in at some point during the friendly Family by-play.

GM Bad, missed that with all the squabbling. No, Gerard wasn't in his room at the time, and when you found him you got shooed.

Right. In that case Vere was standing quietly in a corner of the room while his Cousins squabbled, and other than looking at Solange briefly with an expressionless gaze he remained silent and motionless throughout the universal brouhaha.

Solange would have chosen, in this case, to stand next to her brother, and likewise would have remained quiet, mostly because her player was away from the keyboard while all the fracas was going on. Also I doubt she's had breakfast.

After everyone has settled down a little from Martin and Vialle's arrival, Gerard wheels himself in through a door in the front of the room, behind the throne that the King normally uses when arriving for official audiences.

[Reminder: this is the Throne Room, so there are no chairs. Anyone sitting is on the floor.]

Once he has everyone's attention, which I assume is immediately, he says: "We've had word from our forces in Chaos. We've won the battle, and the war, it looks like. Brand is dead; Caine showed up and killed him. Sadly, Brand took Deirdre with him when he went. But we won, and the rest of the family is all right and will be coming home as soon as possible.

Paige's eyes brim with tears, a mixture of sadness and joy in the news.

"There's also definite word of my father's death. I know some of you have been worried about the succession, but it happens that the Unicorn has provided, and my brothers and sisters have sworn allegiance to our new King. I myself have done so privately, and I hope you will do so also now."

The door behind the throne opens, and the observant among you notice that Martin has straightened before Random comes into view. Random stops in front of the throne and says: "I'm not big on formalities and I didn't like 'em when I was in your shoes. But I've got to run this place and I hope you'll make it easier and not harder. That'll be a novelty around here." And he smiles.

Reid hastily pulls out the rather large, crumpled sheet with a sketch of the family tree as he understands it. The one Cambina gave him when he first returned to Amber. The process is not unlike that of a lost tourist with an unwieldy map. He leans to whomever is closest and whispers, not too quietly, "Um, which one is HE again?"

The Jewel of Judgement shines like a red star from his breast.

Lucas nearly loses his cocktail.

Paige looks to Martin, and back to his father, the King? Random continues, breaking her train of thought...

Conner shakes his head with a smile clearing thinking, "That is classic Random."

"I hear tell you've been keeping the city together, and you have our thanks for that. I'll want to talk with each of you after this, but the circus is about to come to town, and I've got to be able to count on you to back the family play here. I suppose the traditional way to do this is for you all to confirm your allegiance to the throne of Amber."

Martin is on one knee before his father has finished speaking. Vialle is slower to move, but does not need help to make the appropriate gesture. Cambina also seems to have anticipated Random slightly.

Gerard says in a resoundingly loud voice, "Long live the King!" and Random looks at him, surprised, for a moment before looking back out at the crowd of nieces and nephews.

Folly is on one knee almost as soon as Random has finished speaking. Her hand is over her heart, where she seems to have gathered some of the fabric of her dress into her fist. She gives Random a lopsided smile and echoes, "Long live the King!"

Solange quickly follows their lead, and is very, very glad that she wore a full-skirted gown, because they make it so much easier to curtsy. She echoes her father's "Long live the King!" in a low, clear voice.

Jerod looks over at Martin during Random's speech as understanding sinks in. And for a brief moment there is a look of sadness on his face...not for himself, but for his friend.

Then he smothers it and he smiles, pulling out his sword and kneeling, putting it point first to the floor while holding it, an offer of allegiance as dictated by custom. And he also calls out..."Long live the King!".

Reid gets to one knee, takes the opportunity to use the floor as a surface as he circles Random's name and sketches a crown above it... in pencil... before looking up and joining in with "Long live King," checking paper... "Random!"

Brita draws her sword and lays it cross wise across her hands as she kneels before King Random and offers it up to him. "My sword and allegience are sworn to Amber and to you, King Random. Long may you reign in peace." She pauses and cocks her head to one side. "I'm Brita, by the way, daughter of Lord Vidar of Asgard and Princess Fiona of Amber."

Ossian hesitates for a moment when:

"Long live the King," Vere says in a conversational tone, as he goes to one knee. He regards King Random with an interested, evaluating stare.

Ossian raises an eyebrow, kneels and says "Long live the King!" with a non-wavering, clear voice.

Lucas will join in with the happy family kneeling.

Paige kneels, meeting the eyes of this new King in sharp appraisal, taking in the face and manners for her next artistic endeavor apparently. Questions screaming in her head as to her father's safety, their grandfather's pardon of her actions, the price paid for this throne, they all threaten to drown out her clear voice. "Long live King Random."

Conner slides to one knee easily with a diplomat's practiced grace. "Long live King Random." He echoes his smile dazzling.

Robin kneels too, and shouts "Long live the King!" hopefully timed so that it comes out in rough chorus with everyone else.

"That'll do. I accept your allegiance and thanks for the several offers to do violence in my name. Now on your feet, 'Random Says' is over and you all won..." He looks at the sea of faces, stopping on the slightly disappointed expression on Vialle's face. "Sorry, I can't help being flip. It's been a pretty enormous week for me, y'know?

"Right. There's supposed to be a big family breakfast back in the wing where you're all supposed to decide that I'm a real person and a King and that you'll adopt, at worst, a wait and see attitude. You tell me all the stuff I don't know but should and I tell you what I did on my Chaos vacation. Then we figure out how to break the 'King Random' story and then we do something important.

"We need to get your parents and cousins back from Chaos."

"C'mon, I told them I wanted migas. We'll see what they did with that request."

The King leaves, Gerard harumphs and wheels after him.

Jerod rises to put away the sword, looking at Vialle for a moment. "It looks like I'll have to request an audience for lunches now, your majesty." he says, with a teasing note in his voice. There is, however, no sign of anything other than he is pleased for her.

Folly bends down to gather up her papers, letting her hair fall in her face so it hides her expression. Some of her cousins may get the feeling this is intentional.

When she has collected her papers -- and herself -- she rises and offers her hand to Paige. "Shall we?" she asks in as neutral a tone as she can muster.

Paige links her hand with Folly's, smiles a smile just for the singer she loves, and squeezes her hand gently. "Of course" _I'm here, honey._ They'll follow the others in.

Ossian soon follows: "So that is Random. He doesn't seem very regal," he comments to Folly. "I wonder if that is good or bad."

"Well, it scores points in my book," Folly says, "but I don't suppose that matters so much." She smiles, but she seems distracted.

"A regal king has certain aesthetic advantages, but Random seems to be playing with a totally different palette." Ossian says "certainly interesting."

Conner comes over to Vialle with a wide smile. "Alive and unchanged. You must be so relieved. May I escort you to breakfast, My Queen?" Conner says in the same teasing but pleased tone Jerod used.

Vialle seems a little miffed at having been left behind by her husband. "Yes, please," she says to Conner, "but I need to send a page for Solace and the children. Random said he wanted to see them."

Jerod looks over at Martin for just a second and his expression goes a little more serious. "Though we still have to get that fleet out of here sometime soon." he says, mostly to himself and he looks back at Vialle. "We'll talk soon?"

"Of course," Vialle says.

Once she has replied, Jerod does his half bow/nod (his acknowledgement that he would give to Gerard as Regent, or that he gave to his father), and moves over to Martin, lowering his voice enough that only he can hear. "Pick a place...I'll take care of the entertainment." The expression on his face is one of sympathy, that he knows what's coming and doesn't envy Martin.

"Thanks," says Martin at about the same volume. Then, louder, for the others to hear: "Let's get some breakfast. This is going to be a busy day."

Jerod nods, going over to collect his sister before making their way to breakfast. "You wouldn't happen to have had a vision about what migas are, have you?" he asks Cambina as they head out.

"Hideous Elder Things from Beyond Time and Space, probably fried. If I recall from when he was Father's 'guest', he tended to get wild hairs about particular outshadow food and drink. Remember the Zambonis? He taught me to make those about ten years ago. I'm not sure if breakfast is to be eaten or drunk."

"Or killed." Jeord adds. "Good thing I'm armed."

Vere looks at Solange, "Shall we?" he asks, offering his arm.

"Food," Solange agrees, and takes her brother's arm.

Brita sheaths her sword as she rises. She turns to the nearest cousin and says "What are migas?" as she heads towards breakfast.

"I don't know, but I know there'll be coffee," Solange says, her voice betraying just how fast the caffeine addiction's come back now that there's coffee in Amber again.

She looks over at Martin to see how he's taking the news.

Martin is talking to Jerod, as mentioned elsewhere. To Solange's eyes, he seems cross and agitated, but coping. (He always copes.)