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 Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 6:27 am
 She was growing quite fond of Miandui. He was a good lion, and Ting Lan was quite confident she had made a good choice. Spending more time with him since the marriage certainly proved helpful on becoming closer, at least by the Empress' standards. Which, since this was a very different relationship than she was used to, might be a little different than those of her Pridelander mate. Well, still, things were good. Still, there would always be some business to attend to.
Ting Lan had awoken earlier that morning and gone for a short walk by herself. She didn't take long, and found she might have preferred going with company. This was rather alien to her, because usually the empress was quite alright just walking alone. Maybe she was growing soft. She didn't really mind much.
So she decided to head right on back to where she had left her husband. Either he'd still be asleep, and she could wake him up, or he'd already be awake.
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 7:15 pm
Miandui was doing his best to not oversleep. By comparison, Ting Lan seemed to be an early riser, earlier by his standards from his homeland. After the wedding, he deemed it was only right to start adjusting to her schedule. It took time, and she seemed to be patient with it. He had just awoke, shaking off the ugliness of morning off of his fur. One day he'd get used to having a guard shadowing him everywhere, but for now he was grateful. He got a slight warning before his wife appeared, radiant as ever. How did females do that? "Good Morning, Ting Lan," he said with a smile.
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 7:27 pm
She was glad he was awake, because Ting Lan didn't wish to make it a habit to be a nuisance. She'd always resented being awakened as a cub, after all. "Good morning, Miandui." She said, and stepped closer to affectionately headbutt him. It was still a bit awkward, but she could get used to being warmer.
"Has my Emperor had a good night's sleep?"
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 7:32 pm
Miandui was a little flattered that she was being affectionate so early. It...well, it made him feel a bit...fluttery? She didn't have to act like this, but she did. There was definite affection towards her, but he wouldn't quite call it love. He only hoped the affection would grow into devotion. Love was...too tricky and finicky for the situation between them.
"I did, thank you, my Empress," he said with a slight smirk. Being married now, he didn't feel as if he had to tip toe quite as much, so he could give her little verbal pokes here and there. A little soft teasing never hurt.
"I assume you did, as you've already greeted the sun and then some."
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Posted: Thu May 31, 2012 7:41 pm
"Of course, I always sleep well." A little white lie, but she delivered it with a smile. Sometimes Ting Lan didn't, really, but she hardly ever showed it. Never, maybe. She was always on her toes.
She could only joke about sleeping for so long. "I imagine in a few days we'll need to tour you around the houses." Since the wedding they hadn't really done much. Ting Lan would usually be dividing up her time between the houses, but after a wedding, some time should be spent with her husband. She was sort of itching to get back to work. And Miandui needed some actual experience.
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 12:38 pm
"Yes," he said, a little look of concern showed on his face. "It is still strange that the Lord and Lady of the West didn't show, though their heirs did. It makes me curious. Perhaps we should go visit them first?"
His tail swished behind him, more curious. Would it be better to do it as a surprise? Or to announce it formally? There was little risk in moving between the houses, but it could be interesting to see how the house was functioning under normal circumstances. He knew the Central house well, but not any of the other ones.
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:57 pm
"... Yes, quite strange." Ting Lan hadn't liked that one bit. It just wasn't proper, that was all. She didn't need attention, by any means, it wasn't that. It's just it was the wedding of the empress, and the crowning of the emperor. When the Lord and Lady weren't present, it just looked bad, that was all. Especially considering it was the first of such event in the pride. "I think it sounds like a good idea to start there. The West is the most populous house right now, you'll have plenty to see there."
She visited the other houses with some level of frequency, though Ting Lan didn't always bother to meet with the lords and ladies. It wasn't always necessary, and sometimes she just felt like spending a day somewhere else.
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:00 pm
"The largest house? That would be interesting to see." He sort of missed the insanity of his homelands, and how there was always lions everywhere. The central house was so quiet, and there were only a few of them that he saw on a regular basis, one being his private guard and his wife.
"Yes, that sounds like a plan. I have to admit, I'm a little excited to be able to stretch these legs out. As well as my diplomatic brain," he said with a wink. He was really feeling comfortable with Ting Lan, and she was an easy lioness to get along with. It helped that they were equals - he didn't think say, a regular hunter would ever speak to her in the manner he could.
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:09 pm
"Mhm. Perhaps we can figure out where the people like to relax, and you can join them. If you'd find that fun." She had never done such a thing herself. She was a bit of an outcast in her own pride, which meant if she just showed up things would probably get awkward. Perhaps Miandui could still enjoy something more similar to what he'd had in his birthlands.
She laughed lightly at his comment. "Your diplomatic brain. Perhaps we should think up something specific to discuss with them, so you can really get a work out."
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:12 pm
"I'd rather spend the time with you," he said to her, giving her a long look. He was intent on figuring her out, the female that was so different, and yet a bit similar to him. She was so much more mature than any other female around his age he had known, and it sort of excited him. Intelligent eyes always seemed to meet his.
"Well, we certainly will have to deal with the Lord and Lady. If I recall, the Lord is quite...stubborn. Like an old man." Which could be a problem to deal with. If he didn't want to give up his position, it could get rather ugly.
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:21 pm
She wasn't quite the lioness to blush, or feel embarrassed, but Ting Lan really didn't know how to react there. So she just smiled, a bit differently than how she usually did. "I think that sounds good too."
It was sweet, but she was somewhat relieved the attention had turned to something she already knew better how to deal with. "He is. Lord Xíongwěi is pretty old." She laughed, amused that she was talking in such a way about one of her lords. "He and Lady Rén lead the West since my parents founded Tianxia. From what I understand, he's always been stubborn, but he's smart." At least that much. As far as Lord and Lady went, the West house pair did well. At least up until recently.
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:02 pm
Miandui nodded. He didn't really have much else to say about the West house. His opinions would me impressed upon him when they arrived.
"So, in secret it is? Should we keep our guards with us, and just that?" He was curious, not used to constantly having a guard around him, but he was started to get used to it. It helped that he was confident in his guard, and trusted him. Ting Lan's guard was so good she was barely seen unless she wanted to be. He didn't understand how she was so good at concealing herself with the coat colour she carried.
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:27 am
She nodded. "Yes, that works." She'd had her big blue shadow since Ting Lan was young, though the occasionally told Jian to leave her be for a while. Since she had never actually been in danger, and she was well respected in her home, having a guard was mostly just habit now. She rarely really thought things would happen.
He brother did creep her out a bit, though, and at times she was glad she knew Jian was only a shout away. And the blue female really was good at her job. She was good at fighting (Ting Lan sparred with her on occasion, to say sharp), and at hiding, somehow. She'd never be invited over for a chat, however. She was nice enough, but couldn't quite maintain an interesting conversation. Neither of them seemed to mind that much.
"This will be fun." She mused. "I think." She didn't usually do things 'for fun', so this might be a nice change.
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:58 pm
Miandui smirked at his wife. She really did seem to have a little fun with the idea of springing a surprise visit on the West House. He would enjoy it for a more educational purpose, but as Ting Lan knew them for...most of her life? it could be a lot of fun.
"I think it will be a lot of fun. You'll be in your element, and I'll learn. Quickly." He wasn't too shabby at being poitical and diplomatic, but the finer points he still needed to learn from Ting Lan. This would be perfect.
"I think we should leave soon, if not immediately," he grinned wickedly. Ryger wouldn't mind too much, as they hadn't really left the Central House yet, and he was only going to be away from his own wife for a short bit.
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:06 pm
She nodded, agreeing. Yes, she could have a bit of fun at this other wedding. She thought of all kinds of silly things, like thinking about saying her own wedding had been grander, but not saying anything out loud. Ting Lan immediately decided she had never had more ridiculous, pointless thoughts, but figured she didn't mind much.
Perhaps it would be all good and proper for her to warn someone before she headed on to the West House, at least Jian or her father. But Ting Lan was Empress, and she could do whatever she wanted. Now she felt like being a little reckless! "Yes! Let's go." She nodded, and led the way West. How exciting!
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