[Central] Attendance [Akuji & Uru]

[Quaji]

So many trips back and forth from the East to the Central house that she might as well consider herself one of the middle house at this point. This was another one of those trips, but for another reason on top of the normal check-up on the crown prince. There was a wedding happening soon, in the West though and a house that she hadn't been to yet. Really she hadn't been to any of the others yet, but she had heard from some in the Central house that it was one of the more beautiful sections of the Tianxia's land.

There was no need to escort her anymore, she knew the way around the Central house and it's layout, at least enough to know where she was needed. With a bag around her neck, she made her way through the grounds and into the dens with a bow of her head to the royal guards that were strategically positioned. The guards knew her by now and knew why she was there, at least minimally. She was important enough to obtain audience with the crown prince on a regular basis.

"Lóng Fengwei?" Uru called into the dens as she made her way towards where he was usually found. Maybe he had gotten up and visited the grounds of the Central house and he wasn't even there. It was wishful thinking at this point, but the weather was nice and the sun was out with clouds occasionally blocking the bright rays. The breeze up here was lovely though.  

[Quaji]

Poking her head around the corner, the seer smiled. "Are you working on something?" Uru asked, letting herself into the room, being sure to not disturb any of the stones on the ground, even the ones away from him, as she approached. Of course she had to dance around them, she had no idea if they were important, but they seemed like they were since there were a number of them sitting in front of the crown prince.

"Any word on that honey or that herb from the south?" Those two things were incredibly important, but the lioness' ears fell back as she looked over Akuji's face. "Nevermind about those, how is your leg today?" Pausing for a moment, Uru let him consider her question, but before he could answer, "Feeling well enough to make a field trip, your highness?"  

[Quaji]

She was pretty obviously excited as she slightly bounced on her paws while she sat herself down far enough away to stay respectful, sort of, it would be enough hopefully. "Well, a messenger came to the East and I'm sure your father has already heard as well, but there's to be a wedding in the West, Duke Zhong Jilie's to be exact. It's to be a beautiful event and I thought..."

What in the name of all the rain in the sky was she even thinking?! Was she really about to ask the crown prince of the entire Tianxia to go to a wedding with her? MAYBE. It was a horrible idea and with those thoughts running through her head, her words fell into silence.  

[Quaji]

She didn't know much about the politics of the Tianxia of any houses beyond her minor knowledge of the East and Central houses. If this house rarely wed, surely this would be an event that many would attend. That was likely the reason for the messenger!

Glancing to the side, Uru broke eye contact with the crown prince. She could only imagine all of the traditions or rules she was currently breaking and the scolding she would receive from Nyati later on, or even the one she might receive from Akuji right now.

"Well...I was thinking the fresh air might do you good and the journey might help strengthen your muscles, if you were feeling up to it of course. You know your body and what it's capable more-so than I." She was excited, sure, but at the same time there was a nervousness in her voice. Normally Nyati was with her, but the steward had been nowhere to be seen when she had arrived. It was unlike her, but Urur hadn't thought anything of it at the time. The voice that would tell her to sit up straight, when to bow her head, how to address anyone, it wasn't there. Maybe that was why she was acting so casual with him. Maybe it was because she wasn't raised here or still hadn't been part of the Tianxia for that long, that she didn't see him as someone unreachable or that different from herself.

"I'm sure the people would love to see their crown prince, but if you are unable or unwanting to make the journey, I am sure they would understand."  

[Quaji]

The sigh was definitely not a wonderful sound to hear.

'We could go without them.' Is what Uru wished she could simply say, but that was not the case. She was not in the Mvauiko any longer, this pride had different customs and he, above all others (aside from his parents), was expected to abide by them. As he began to list all of the things that would need to be tended to in order to even consider the possibility of him attending, with or without her, her ears began to sink. It had been a foolish thing to ask.

Opening her mouth to protest as he rose onto his feet, she quickly shut it as he began to speak. "I'm glad you're keeping up with your tea. I do hope the honey is helping with being able to take it easily, well, easier anyways." Hopefully the root from the Kalahari would return quickly, but she hadn't heard word form Nyati surrounding the status of it in some time now.

Jumping, startled by the clattering of the stones hitting against one another as he sat once more. She expected a no, something along the lines, scolding for her impolite manners earlier, something. Not what she got. 'It is a possibility'. How high of a chance was this? Uru knew it depended on so much going right but... "I hope that it's a large possibility. The wedding is only weeks away. I know it would be a larger matter for your family should it have been a Lord or Lady, or even one of your siblings, but...it's not." It was a small wedding, being held for the third son of the Lord and Lady of the West, who was nowhere near the throne and who had apparently already caused issues with his previous betrothal, if the rumors Nyati informed her about were to be believed.

Glancing him over, she frowned. Suddenly Uru puffed her chest, her head held high and her chin up. Posture befitting her previous station. "If I see to the organization of everything you may need..." There was a slight pause, glancing away in embarrassment for a second, a hard swallow, and she continued. "Would you accompany me? I see it...unbefitting, some may even see it unacceptable that I travel myself such a distance, to such an event, unescorted."  

[Quaji]

'Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea.'

He was laughing. Her previous brave face vanished so quickly that there was nothing else but embarrassment and shame written on the previous-waterspeaker's face. Of course Uru knew she couldn't just leave, no matter how much her racing heart and heated face told her to bolt, to leave and not look back after making such a fool of herself asking him like that. It had been a foolish idea, something he would likely tell his sisters about. Oh the rumors that might spread...Was he even that kind of guy? Would he even do that? Well he was laughing at her, so at this point Uru wasn't overly confident that she wouldn't become the laughing stock of the Tianxia.

"I am...glad I was able to make your highness laugh." Her voice was much quieter, meeker as she spoke softly while he caught his breath from laughing so hard for so long. Maybe it would be wise to be sure that her half-sister was present next time she visited, if he even wanted her to continue treating him. Assuming she wasn't exiled of course.  

[Quaji]

It was nice to finally hear the laughter stop, the apology issued despite the fact he really didn't need to given his position and then the fact he referred to her by her name instead of referring to her as his healer or something along those lines.

Oh she wanted to be angry though. She wanted to be mad about him laughing and then having the gall to ask her to accompany him after that was the very thing she had just asked him. Well, maybe it was reverse and that was something odd in the Tianxia, but for whatever reason it was more okay for him. Okay so he was the crown prince...and so what if she was just a student. STILL.

Uru frowned, looking him dead in the eyes as she stayed silent for a moment. Letting him sit there as she pondered on his question. If she said no...she'd be laughed at more for not accepting, especially since it was her duty to attend to him as his physician. If she said yes...what of the rumors? Anyone could be there and she didn't want his reputation being sullied from her being there, but surely that was something he had already taken into account. This was his world after all. He had to have already considered so many options and scenarios before he asked.

"Fine," the seer replied, her tail brushing against the stone as it came to rest at her other side. "Even though I already asked you, I'll accept your request. Though I have one condition. I won't be attending as your healer, not just that anyways. I would like to go as you...friend." The last word was weird to say, to consider him a friend, but she had already spent so much time with him and for the rain's sake, she got him to laugh, at her expense, but still. That had to count for something.

"And you better not laugh at that." She quickly added, her brows furrowing as she frowned, just waiting for him to laugh again despite her speedy request.  

[Quaji]

The frown quickly melted away to give way to a smile that only widened as he spoke that he would agree. The student knew she would need to be there as both, but to be called a friend...it was something else. She had always had followers, nothing quite like a friend beyond Nyati, but she was blood. Suddenly the smile, its growth halted as he began to voice concern. He wanted her to be careful, but was it for his sake or for her's? That much was something Uru couldn't get a read on, so instead she simply nodded. Then he was concerned about others. They were unhappy with him being the heir to the Tianxia? Why, she couldn't understand, but they surely had their reasons. Horrible reasons though they likely were. Again, she nodded.

"I will assume you have your guards in mind, as well as my assistant. I also have..." Uru raised a tattooed leg as she over her body before looked back up to him. "...nothing to wear. Is there as sort of attire I should see about acquiring? I've never been to a wedding before, let along a gathering since I arrived. Should I bring a gift? I only presided over eternal bonding's in my old pride, but I'm sure they were nothing quite as grand." If the Tianxia was good at one thing, it was definitely living in luxury. The last thing he needed was his guest embarrassing him because she showed up under-dressed and without a gift for the couple.