N_e_s’s Comments (group member since Nov 15, 2023)

N_e_s’s comments from the ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ ᴏꜰ ᴀꜱʜᴇꜱ: ꜱᴇᴍɪ-ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ʀᴏʟᴇᴘʟᴀʏ group.

Yasmine tapped her chin with her finger as she thought. If the Crimsons didn’t know where to start looking then… perhaps there was no one to look for at all?

She shook her head at that grim thought. No. There was no way she was the last of the royal blood left alive. Even her standing there with an ally to the crown like Aldo was proof of that. There was hope.

She reached out and gently pat the troubled guard on the shoulder.
“We will find Remus. And we’ll find all the rest of the royal family and our allies too. We’ll just have to stay vigilant. And careful. We don’t want to be found out, I certainly wouldn’t want you being called a traitor by those Crimson fools.”

She knew what she would have to do. Keep working at the bar, sleep around, try to get in close with higher up Crimsons and find a way to infiltrate their network. Staying in touch with allies like Aldo and getting the inside scoop would be a great asset to her.

Reaching into the basket of flower she was holding, Yasmine took a plump red rose and offered it to the man with a beaming smile.

“Here, a token of my thanks for not arresting me on the spot and a sign of our new alliance. If you ever hear anything, or if you want to talk to the old days, you can find me at the bar in town. When I’m not working there, I stay in a loft on the second floor. Ask for Vada, that’s my name in hiding.”

Yasmine smiled warmly.

“It’s wonderful to meet you Aldo. Oh look at me! Coming in to steal some flowers from those Crimson gits and leaving with a new confidant!”

She laughed heartily, but then cut her joy short as she remembered they were still on Crimson ground.

Leaning in as she spoke in a whisper, she asked,
“So what have you heard about the Crimsons plans to locate the fallen royal family? I tried to get in close with one of the Crimson heads, Venus, but she wouldn’t give any information. If we know where they’re focusing their search, perhaps that will give us a start?”

Nodding to herself, thinking, Yasmine reached a hand up to tug at her brown curls.
“I’m willing to bet wherever the rest of the royal family is, your brother would be there too… it’s highly likely they escaped together with him protecting them.”

Standing up after him, she placed her hands up as of to soothe his excitement. She was so relieved that he responded in a positive manner, but her worried were not yet gone.

“Yes yes of course, but that’s the problem sir! I’ve been trying to find out where my family is, the past queen the princes, even members of my court but I can find nothing!”

Looking around in a sort of panic, she tried to see if anyone was watching them.

“I’ve had to be so quiet. I’m sure you know being a guard hard harshly they would punish me if they found out who I was. But with your help, your inside knowledge maybe… maybe we can find them? Rally everyone together!”

With so much hope in her eyes, she instinctively reached out to hold one of his hands in hers, steadying him. How badly she needed a friend now, amongst all the Crimsons chaos. She was so tired of hiding. This day, finding an ally of the fallen crown, it was what she had been waiting for for so long.

“Sir, I’m not sure I gathered what your name was yet?”

((That’s ok! I just didn’t wanna hold you up at all))

Smoothing out her dress nervously, the woman prepared herself to tell the truth. She looked into the guards eyes, trying to find any sign of deceit. But all she could see was a deep sadness in him, and it drove her toward confidence that she could reveal her secret.

“Before the Crimson uprising, before the bloodshed and the destruction and the confusion… I was once someone quite powerful.”

She swallowed, her throat becoming dry, the overwhelming anxiety of it hitting her all at once. The woman had not spoken her true name in so long she wondered if she could even say it right. And what would it do to speak it aloud? Would a hundred Crimson swords be at her neck in an instant. Finding her courage, she continued;

“I am Yasmine Ilta Gille. I was a dutchess, holding authority over Renoa. I am in hiding. I am looking for my family too.”

When she spoke her name, she half expected to faint. How ever speaking it gave her a strong sense of strength. She felt a power in it, in her identity. Sitting up straighter, her expression one of confidence, Yasmine placed a hand over her heart as she spoke.

“The prince you mentioned of is a distant cousin of mine… and I’m sure at some point I met your brother as well, being that he was a guard. I wonder… I wonder if we can help eachother?”

((Bumping ya, but I may move on to a new rp with her if you’re too busy, no worries))

As Davy picked out the apple, Levitt watched with a certain anticipation as the man bit into it. He wasn’t sure what he was waiting for. Why was it that he felt so hung up on the reaction of the guard?

He wasn’t sure what it was he wanted at all but their goodbye was brief and he watched as Davy left back down the gravel path.

Shaking his head, disapproving of the confusion thoughts in his mind, Levitt grabbed his basket of tomatoes and made his way into his home.

The matter of the people and making a meeting with Aubree was heavy on his head, and he knew that he would be in for a lot of work in order to make things right. For his people, whatever needed to be done, he would do it.

“Oh, please don’t worry about me, I can handle my own I assure you.”

Unsure of how to proceed, and noticing he the closeness of where he was standing near the bench, Levitt turned and idled a bit toward the plants.

The only thing he could think to do was keep working. Kneeling back down on his knees, Levitt placed the basket on his lap. With gentle hands he started pluck more of tomatoes from their vines.

Looking back at Davy, he held one up.

“Would you like some tomatoes? I can send you home with a basket if you like.”

Looking around the garden, he continued in a soothing voice;

“You can pick anything you like really, I wouldn’t mind, fresh strawberries, sweet apples from the trees. I… I would be happy to share with you Sir Davy.”

He glanced back at the guard, his usual stony expression now soft and almost inviting.

Listening intently to what Davy found out, the head of agriculture became more and more agitated.

’No that can’t be…’ he thought ‘How could I not hear of this sooner…’

Rubbing his chin in contemplation, his brow furrowing as he started to pace, Levitt was very visibly worried. This was not good news at all. He knew that the farm folk must be under so much pressure to even consider revolting. And it was so odd too, the whole thing sounded suspicious to him.

“The water supply… I’ll have to get to the bottom of that immediately. I suspect some meddling from ex-royal supporters, trying to sow conflict within the village any way they can, don’t you think?”

Standing tall with his hands on his hips in a power stance, the man nodded to himself.

“Yes I’ll have to make a visit myself and see the conditions, meet with the people. I will schedule a meeting with Aubree promptly, discuss fair wages and the possibility of an uprising.”

Looking to Davy with a serious yet appreciative gaze, Levitt walked forward so he was standing closer to the bench, and reached out his hand to shake.

“I cannot thank you enough Sir Davy, this intel will not go to waste. I shall do my duty to assist the people and make this all right.”

Levitt nodded, smiling politely, though he was sure it appeared misplaced on someone as strict as him.

“Yes, nice to see you as well. Ah, please come in, I was just doing some morning gardening.”

He led the other man through the quaint garden toward the light area where he was working. Gesturing toward a cast iron bench with plush green cushions, Levitt invited Davy to sit.

The head of agriculture stood by the tomato vines, not yet continuing his work, wanting to give Davy his full attention.

“I see you received my letter. You seem well, I hope there wasn’t any trouble for you with the… the mission.”

Levitts eyes carried a concern, a sort of caring that he usually only showed to those who came to be special to him. Truly he did want to help the community, however he hoped he did not put Davy in harms way at all through the investigation.

Levitt lifted his head, hearing a knocking nearby. He looked towards the house, only seeing the silhouette of someone by the back door. Standing, the man left his basket behind and walked back toward the gate. He was not sure who would be visiting so early in the morning, and he could only think of a few who knew of his family home. Squinting down the gravel path, barely able to see in the brightening light of the morning sun, Levitt suddenly recognized who it was.

Levitt smiled, he could feel a strange heat reach his cheeks once again, thoughts of their past encounters entering his mind. Trying to relax himself, he shook the expression away and regained his blank facade. The man stepped a foot out of the gate, one hand braced on the wooden door and the other waving as he called out.

“Sir Davy? Is that you there?”

The man was glad that his letter had reached the guard. Of course he had not expected the invitation to be acted on so soon, but he was nevertheless pleased to see the other man had come. If not for the serious nature of the information he was expecting to receive, Levitt would even feel quite excited having the guard as company. This was rare feeling for the head of agriculture, he reminded himself silently that he must stay professional, ignore whatever odd feelings seemed to be appearing.

((Posted))

The dawn was only just rising as Levitt Turner walked on the gravel path around his home, carrying an empty woven basket. It was quiet and serene, except for the sound of birds calling to each other from the forest and the rocks and twigs snapping under the man’s feet. He entered through a creaky wooden gate into the small garden on the side. A canopy of leaves from apple and orange trees shaded him as he trailed through the garden, till he reached the farthest area where the light shown on all those plants which needed the most sun.

In the dim morning rays, Levitt kneeled down near a tomato plant. Rolling up the sleeves of his cotton work shirt, the man carefully plucked the ripest red tomatoes from their vines, placing them into the basket.

This was the work which made Levitt whole. The give and take of nature. The peaceful action of planting seeds in the soil, tending to what grows, in order to graciously accept the gifts given back by the earth.

He focused on the plant as he worked, a calmness in his eyes and experience guiding his hands.

((Sure! I’ll start it up now))

((Maybe Levitt sends for Davy I mean))

((I just requested a home for Levitt, maybe Davy sends for him to meet there? The thread would have to be made first))

Levitt Turner, a small home near the planting fields, where he grew up, has its own garden on the side where he plants vegetables and fruit trees

Levitt couldn’t help but glance at the mans hand on his shoulder. Swallowing his nervousness he nodded his head in affirmation.

“Very well then.”

It was Davys next words which threw Levitt completely out of his straight faced posture.

’Handsome? Did he just call me…’

The man did not know quite how to react. He watched with raised eyebrows and a slightly agape jaw as the guard once again rushed away from him.

He could feel a warmth on his face, unsure if it was from flattery or confusion. He raised his hand as to wave at the man as he fled.

Left standing alone again, Levitt chuckled to himself a bit.

’I wonder if he’ll make a habit of running off on me… yet still he said…handsome…

With much to think on, the head of agriculture walked his way off the ruined training ground. He sauntered back toward the castle to continue his work and ponder new feelings he had not yet identified.

Levitt smiled back, awkwardly but with sincerity. Warmth and social cures were not the man’s strong suit but his intentions were no less rooted in kindness.

Finding himself staring a bit too much at Davy, he turned and began to pace around the training dummy.

“You would be doing a lot of good for many folk, thank you. I would be sure to use the information for the better of the people.”

Thinking on what could come of this investigation, Levitt frowned slightly. The idea of having to challenge Aubree and any new powers in their way of leading was daunting however… he wasn’t fully opposed to it. Levitt knew that he would do whatever he had to for the working people. And if that meant shaking up the new powers then… he would do it.

“Tomorrow morning. That will be fine, I’ll patiently wait for your response, no rush is the investigation takes some time. And, don’t worry about any issues with the rest of my Crimsons Administration. I shall take the responsibility should they have any questions about our inspection.”

Nodding shortly, Levitt was reminded that his status as Head of Agriculture might make the arrangement unequal.

“And of course,” he continued, some nervousness leaking into his voice, “you wouldn’t have to view me as a superior in this mission. I suppose it would just be me asking you as uh… as a friend?”

He cautiously eyed Davy as he said the last part. Not wanting to push too far with this near stranger, Levitts only goal was to assert his genuine interest in creating a bond with Davy.

“If it’s any concern as well, I would pay you for your efforts… so when would you consider starting your investigation?”

((No worries at all))