The Princess and the crow

[Owain]

Owain shook his head, still grinning. Ah, the pride of those with false confidence. It was absolutely wonderful how flustered she got. Owain briefly pondered how else he could elicit such reactions from her. Purely to annoy her of course, not that he liked the way she got flustered so easily. Of course not. "Well, thanks," he said to her, before turning his attention to the younger sister. He could faintly see a resemblance, but their dynamic was enough for him to work off. "So! Celeste, right? What's it like living on a forsaken rock on the edge of the galaxy?" he breezily asked.

Time to ignore Felicity for a bit, give her time to recover before engaging in another duel of words. It was only fair - she wouldn't be any fun if she didn't have time to prepare.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

...And now he was ignoring her in favor of her sister. Why was it always like that? It was the same at parties too. Oh Celeste, you're so pretty! Oh, Celeste, how sweet you are! Oh, Celeste you're so bright! Oh Celeste, let me kiss your little feet and worship the ground you walk on!
The blond narrowed her eyes, the red fading from her face.

The little girl shrugged at his question, obviously much less bothered by the wording that Felicity would have been.
"It's alright. When the wind dies down, sometimes I can play outside. When it doesn't, well, we don't get many visitors on those days."
She glanced around, wondering when the rest of the family would show up.
"And how was your home world?" she asked politely, "Bright and sunny? Lots of flowers and trees? Happy little birdies? I bet everyone was just absolutely lovely."


[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

"Yeah, you're pretty isolated. Must get lonely," he commented, glancing at Felicity. Ooh, she definitively wasn't pleased. "And uh...well I was born on Korriban, which is pretty similar to this place but without the storms. It isn't really a pretty planet," he shrugged. "No real birds, mostly just dangerous pests, and people there were basically ba-" he stopped himself from swearing in front of the little girl. He figured his uncle wouldn't approve. "I mean, everyone there has to be selfish to survive," he finished lamely, as Elliot finally appeared, humming an old marching song to himself.

"What, none of you know how to cook for yourselves?" he asked the gathered children with a critical sigh before shaking his head and walking into the kitchen.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Celeste gave Felicity a look. Not her usual 'don't expect me to stick up for you' look. It was a 'I've got your back, sis' look.

"...Really? It's that bad? Interesting..." The little girl smiled at her uncle when he arrived, but quickly turned her attention back to Owain.
"So... if your home is basically just a rock with awful people... how does that make it any better than this, exactly?"

Felicity almost choked trying to hold back a snicker. Leave it to Celeste. She was just as sneaky as Felicity.

"Thanks for cooking Uncle," Felicity snickered, looking over at Owain.

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

He had been expecting something like this, but not from Celeste. The girl was clever, and would prove most troublesome in the future, he could tell. Still, his counter was still valid. He smiled as if humoring the little girl. "It has history, it has significance. I challenge you to tell me how anything has changed on this planet in the past hundred years," he shot back, feeling secure in his victory.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

"Well," Felicity interrupted, motioning around the table, "We're here, aren't we?"

She thought that was an even more valid point. It wasn't much, but they lived here now. They survived. And more importantly, they were comfortable. Felicity was bored, and often, but they were safe. This planet was probably one of the safest planets to lie on in the Galaxy, if only for the fact that the wind storms made it almost inhospitable.

Celeste cast her sister a smile.
"Every world has to start somewhere," she added, "And we have more than most already. We have a Queen."


[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

Owain raised an eyebrow at the interruption. "And...? Colonisation tends to be a bit of a footnote in history," he pointed out, folding his arms across his chest. "A Queen? Really?" he asked, sarcasm quite evident in his tone.

In the kitchen, Elliot nearly choked out a laugh. Oh the boy was really walking into this one. It was going to be glorious, and hopefully humbling.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Felicity and Celeste exchanged looks. A twin smile crept onto the faces of the girls. He had no idea. None.

"Mom."
Felicity motioned to a painting, visible on a wall just outside the dining room.

"You... do know that Naboo has a Queen," Celeste added, "right?"

"I don't think he does know that," Felicity laughed, "Silly boy. Didn't you wonder where our parents were?"

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

He followed the indication Felicity gave. "Huh, so some rich lady indulges in vanity, not like she's the only to have ever done so," the youth said, brushing aside the girls' claims. "And Naboo may have a Queen, but it's one measly planet," he shot back with a small smile. Who cared about Naboo anyway? Only idiots with something to prove. The planet was worthless in a strategic sense - it cvould be relatively easily isolated from any neighbouring sectors and blockaded into submission. "And I always figured they were as far from you as possible," Owain added, looking at Felicity.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

"He doesn't get it, does he?" Celeste inquired, looking concerned. This attitude was the best way to keep Felicity's temper under control. Still, it didn't prevent her from getting irritated.

"No. He doesn't," Felicity snapped, fingernails clawing the table.
How dense was he? Did she need to write it out for him? Draw him a map?

"The Queen of Naboo," Celeste began, "is our mother-"

"You idiot!" Felicity added, "And don't you ever talk about her, or Naboo like that again!"

She glanced to Uncle B, wondering if he was going to step in and lecture him about speaking ill of the lady of the house. Honestly! This boy had no manners!

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

"Sure. Until I have some proof though, it doesn't matter," Owain shrugged as Elliot entered with a tray of bread and some spreads. A simple breakfast, but their supplies were running low when it came to the finer foods. "Fine, fine," the youth said with a wave of his hand, focusing on his uncle. "So, uncle, are we going to hang out today?" he asked as the tray of food was palced in the centre of the table, within reach of all of them.

Elliot glanced at him and nodded. "Of course Owain. We aren't going to head out for a while yet though - the wind storm is going to last all week at this rate. I'll show you the armory though. Anyway, how are you kids getting along?"

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Felicity growled low, ready to pounce, but before she could Uncle B arrived with breakfast.

"Uncle B! Tell him who our mother is! He doesn't believe us!" Felicity pointed a finger across the table at the boy while Celeste, looking entirely bored with the conversation went right to her breakfast.

"If you still don't believe me, then... then..." she struggled for a moment, her cheeks glowing the color of blood, "Then I'll just have to invite you to the palace for a week to see for yourself!"

The moment she said it, her sister dropped her bread back onto her plate, staring at the blond with wide eyes. Felicity just... invited him somewhere? Did it really bother her that much that he thought she was lying?

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

Elliot was sipping his tea and nodding sagely as the children argued. Ah, now Dis felt like a home again. It had been too quiet lately, a terrible environment in which for children to grow up. Who knew his nephew would provide such entertainment? "Owain, remember your training," he said sagely, nodding his head.

The youth in question looked at his uncled. "You mean the rules of war? I don't think "Yes in the back, pity they were awake" is relevant-"

"The OTHER rule."

"Uhm..."Never take anything for granted"?"

"That's the one."

Owain tapped his chin in thought. Well, whilst the odds of the girls having a Queen for a mother were slim. they still existed, so there WAS a chance that was the case. But it seemed to annoy the blonde princess, so he wasn't going to admit that she may be right. Then she made her offer, making him stare at her. An...invitation? For a week. With her parents. Oh, she was just handing these to him on a silver platter now. Owain grinned as he replied.

"Hmm, maybe I'll take you up on that, but aren't we going a bit fast? Surely we should go on a date before you introduce me to your parents," he pointed out, leaning on the table.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Felicity had started eating her breakfast while he and Uncle B spoke. Couldn't Uncle B just give him a straight answer? Put him in his place? Ugh... now she really was going to have to have him over. She opened her mouth to take a bit of toasted bread...

The quickly changed her mind at the boys comment. Instead, she flung it across the table at him, aiming for the head.

"Yeah, right! Like I'd ever go out with you! In your lonely, pathetic dreams!"

Her face was bright red again. What was his game? Was he trying to embarrass her? The very idea of... well, anything like that with him? How stupid.
...Yeah.

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

The bread smacked into his face. Luckily it wasn't buttered or it would have been stuck there. Owain just blinked as it slid off his face and stared at Felicity, unable to fully grasp what had happened for a few seconds. Then he just resumed eating as if nothing had happened, his uncle sipping his tea to prevent his own laughter bubbling up.

"I do like that you have however admitted that you aren't going out with anyone," he pointed out calmly. That should have been the first counter-argument she made. Telling. "What's the problem, all the boys and girls unable to put up with your attitude for more than a minute?" Hmm, he was back on the attitude thing, not good. He had to mix things up. Let's see, how else could he annoy her...

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

"I do like that you have however admitted that you aren't going out with anyone,"

Felicity might have taken that comment the wrong way. She blinked across the table at him as if this was the first time she'd actually seen him. Maybe he wasn't so bad. Was he actually happy to hear that she wasn't going out with anyone? Would he be jealous if she said otherwise? Did she want him to be jealous?

...Then he made it clear to her what he actually meant, and ruined the illusion that she might ever be able to get along with him.

"For your information, the boys at the Academy find me very attractive indeed! The only reason I'm not taken is because none of them are good enough for me! That's it!"

Celeste raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with Uncle B.
"Yeah, because you'd just break them..." the little girl mumbled, spreading butter over her bread.

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

"I never said anything about you being unattractive, " Owain countered. "I merely mentioned your attitude," he corrected her, somewhat annoyed. If she was going to take issue with him, she may as well take it over his actual words. Honestly. The nerve of the girl.

Barnabus chuckled and ruffeled Celeste's hair, nodding slyly as he turned his gaze upon his nephew. Time to knock him down a peg or two. "Owain, it's rude to conduct a covert interrogation at the table," he pointed out idly, taking another sip of his tea.

Owain started at that. "W-what?"

"I mean, I understand you being curious about Felicity, given she's probably the first girl you've spoken to for more than a day," Elliot continued, raising his voice slightly to remain audible over Owain's protests, "but really, using your Academy training to find out her tastes and preferences?" Owain had gone a curious mix of white and red by this point. Elliot winked at Felicicty over the rim of his cup. "Especially in front of someone who is much better at word games than you? I won't deny, you've done well, getting a lot of information whilst revealing little of consequence yourself..." the old man continued, enjoying the look of dread that overcame the youth.

Owain stared at his uncle, stunned by what the man had just said. What in the name of Revan had THAT been about?! "W-what?!" he repeated, outraged and too stunned to form a better response at the moment.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Attractive? He really thought she was attractive? That little confession was probably not as important as he thought it was, but it really was telling. She was dissecting him now, trying to peel away the layers of his personality to get to the core of his meaning. People were difficult.

She went to snatch up something else to eat, when Uncle Barnabus spoke. She paused, wondering where this was going, before slowly pulling a slice of bread towards her. She couldn't help but smile.

As it stood, the score was tied between her and Owain. But Uncle B had just torn past them both and was at the finish line before either of them could blink.
Still, she still had time to come in second here.

The blond girl grinned, stood up, and while he was struggling for something to say, she swept past him.

"Aww, Owain! If you liked me that much, you should have just said it."

Felicity didn't play nice with other kids and she fought dirty. There was only one thing she could think of to do now. The perfect cherry on top. She leaned in to plant a kiss right on his stupid pink cheek.
Game over.

[member="Owain"]

 

[Owain]

He just...and then she...but...

Owain jerked away from the girl as if burnt, torn between indignation and anger. his eyes flew from Felicity to Elliot, and his mind was made up. "BASTARD!" he roared, leaping over the table at his uncle, who merely laughed and took the tackle. The two males fell onto a heap on the floor, wrestling for a moment. Owain's blows were passionate and uncoordinated, easily blocked and deflected by the still laughing older Barnabus. Now this was family bonding, the old man thought before making his move.

Owain blinked as he flew through the air, crashing into the wall and sliding down to the floor. His uncle stood up and dusted himself off, still smiling, before walking over and offering him a hand. "You good?"

The youth eyed the offered hand, then his uncle, before grinning and grabbing it too. "Yeah, I'm good." He'd lost this fight, but the war was far from over. Felicity still had a whole day before she was going to leave for Naboo. More than enough time for him to get his revenge.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

And then the men did what only stupid men could do. They fought. Stupidly. Celeste didn't bother to even watch. She ate slowly, like a little lady while Felicity cheered for Uncle B to put him in his place. Like night and day, were the two girls. So different.

When it was over, Felicity turned on her heel.

"I'd like to be excused now, Uncle B," she glanced over her shoulder, smiling and giving a little wink to the nephew, "I'll catch you later, Owain."

She walked away, nibbling at her breakfast as she went.

[member="Owain"]