Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｌｅｃｔｉｏｎ {Ｓｅｍｉ－Ａｄｖａｎｃｅｄ Ｒｏｌｅｐｌａｙ} discussion

James tried to get a less, royal room. But there was nothing he could do. So he ditched as much decorations as he could, and added a piano and some easels.

James sat on the an old truck that had been pushed out so he could sit down while he painted on his esele. He wanted to be doing about a million other things right now, but he told himself that he needed to start acting like a king. Just like his father always said, so really painting wasn't that bad. His choice of paint was what really bothered him. He was painting himself standing at an alter with a girl who had no face, or hair for that matter. He really just couldn't picture himself getting married, and it was all happening soon. Where he would be thrusted into a room with 35 girls, expecting to pick one as his bride. Frankly he felt if half of the girls were men it would be a lot easier. But still he sat back looking at his painting, wondering what the hell was going to happen when he heard his door opening...

Juliette opened the door of her eldest son's room and looked in to see if her was there. She smiled to see that he was and rapped softly on the door before asking, "May I come in?" She tried to never enter her children's rooms without getting permission from them first. She wanted them to have a place that they could retreat to that was all their own. She felt that is was important to have a place that you could call your own. She noticed that he was painting and wondered what it was. She couldn't see what was on his easel from the angle she was at but it looked as though there was quite a lot of white.

"Might as well mother." He huffed not looking at her. He rested his hands on his thighs looking at his painting with a somber expression. "Are you here to tell me that you've found me a wife, she beautiful and will let me do whatever I want, and oh yeah loves me?" He shook his head and threw his paintbrush on the ground . He rose and as he did he kicked the chest with a lot f strength causing it to move several inches. "If not then I don't know why your here." He wasn't a grey with his mother, but it's not like they talked a lot. He wasn't close with any of his family members really, but at least his mother was nice.

Juliette contained her small sigh and entered the room, closing the door behind her. "James, that's not why I'm here. I'm here because I want to know how you are doing." She walked over to him, her light gold dress sweeping across the floor. She bent down and picked up the paintbrush he'd thrown and set it on the trunk. She looked at the painting and it told her much about her son's state of mind. Then she turned from it and looked at him. "I know you aren't looking forward to the Selection. Your father didn't either when it was his turn to choose a bride." She studied his expression, her eyes kind and her expression soft as she looked at him.

James sighed and walked to the window, wanting to move. He stared out and thought, I'm in hell. That's at least what I'm feeling. How i'm doin? How about crawling the walls wanting to call on a maid to relieve his tension. He wouldn't dare tell his mother that though, instead he smiled a cruel smile at the thought of his father. "Another thing in common I have with the man? Great. Maybe he can give me marital advice? Seeing as he's the one making me do this." He knew that what he said wasn't entirely true. It was more of a tradition, then his father forcing him to go through the selection. Still it felt better blaming him anyways. But his anger softened, as he spoke of a question that had been burning in his mind since the day the Selection was announced. "Did Father truly fall in love with you Mother? I know it's a childish thought to think that, when after all we do this for our country, but did he really?"

This time, she didn't hold back her sigh. Juliette followed James over to the window and looked out it with him. "James, do not be so hard on your father. The two of you are not the only ones to be resigned when it came time for their Selection, which you know is tradition." When he asked about Oberon falling in love with her, a smiled crossed her face and a far off look passed over her eyes as she remembered the three month Selection. "Yes, he did. We both did. At first though, it didn't seem like we were going to go anywhere with the relationship because I was so shy."

That brought a smile to James's lips. The thought of his Mother ever been shy was appalling. She was a fit queen, and James knew of people that had crossed his mother. Let's just say that they wished that they never had. But he shook his head, and licked his lips out of an angered habit. "You can not ask me to keep my feelings at bay for that man. Sure his my father, and I don't hate him for that. What does royally piss me off is that he can't seem to stop talking about me become the king to even take a breath to see me... His son! Not an heir!" He pushed off the wall wanting get out of his room, but as he turned his stopped abruptly at the sight of his painting. "I've been having these dreams.... Of her... But I don't ever see her, and it's as if though she's fading away before my very eyes before I can save her." He clenched his hands into fists, trying to control his emotions.

Juliette put her hand out, gently resting it on his shoulder as she turned to look at his painting with him. "Sweetheart, he does see you as his son. But he wants you to be prepared so that you can take the throne." She moved to stand in front of him. She couldn't block the painting from his sight because she was shorter than he was. She reached up and combed down an unruly piece of hair with her fingers. "You will find her. Maybe when the girls are selected, you'll see who it is. Maybe it will take getting to know the girls to find her. But don't worry too much James. She'll be there for you. Have hope."

James gave a dry laugh, before turning back to his mother, with a sad smile on his face. "Do you honest believe that he cares about me... not the prince, and future king he wants me to be? Mother the man has never showed me an ounce of compassion, or has even uttered the words, 'I love you' to me." He shook his head an scoffed. "Look I don't want to argue about this any more. It's just going to end up with me following father's orders like a puppy. Is there something else you wanted? Or can I sit brooding in peace?" He wasn't mad at her, he just didn't know what she wanted him to say.

Juliette looked sadly at her eldest son. "Ask him about our Selection at dinner. He can tell you more about what you are supposed to do than I can. I only know it from the girls perspective. And James, whomever you choose will be the right one for you. Don't try and do it too quickly." She put her hand gently in his cheek before she turned to leave. "Promise me you will speak with your father."

James nodded and laid down on his bed, with his legs crossed and his arms tucked behind his head. "You should know that the only reason I will, is because you are my mother, and I love you more than him." He gave a quick smile to his mother before turning his head to look at the painting once more. This girl, that tormented his dreams... and his day, and soon... she would become a reality. James wasn't sure if he was quiet ready for that.

Juliette watched him turn back to his painting. She hoped that he would be alright. He'd been so distant from them but had made an effort to get back with the family once his Selection was announced. What he had been doing, she didn't know but she wished he would talk with her. But, she knew he needed his space and time alone. He would be surrounded by 35 girls, all trying for his hand soon and time alone would be scarce. "Thank you James," she told him, a small, sad smile crossing her face, before she turned and left his room, closing the door behind her.

Marigold struggled to carry the tray a little with the Queen's soiled dinner clothes on her forearm, but she had offered to Hildergo-who could barely walk in his old age-to bring up James tray in the late afternoon. She'd noticed his gloom more than once, requesting that her mother make pasta with ruby red meat sauce. James favorite. She knocked gently.

Angelina wrote: "{Sorry this took so long.}"
((No problem sorry if I was pestering you ^^))

James, who had tried taking a nap, and suddenly sobered up when he heard plates clinking together. The sound was dull being that his door was closed, but he still heard it. He rubbed his eyes, slowly got out of his bed and opened up his door to reveal Marigold, his brother's... shall we say favorite maid, hold a tray of pasta his favorite meal, along with some of his mother's clothing. He opened the door wider and motion for her to come in. "Thanks Marigold." She had seen him in one of his moods before, and he guess that she remembered that he would always request his favorite meal be brought to him in his chambers, Pasta.

"You're welcome." Marigold gave him a sheepish smile, putting the tray on the side table with a small sigh. There were three melted snowman cookies on the plate.She'd made them on her break in the kitchen and had snuck a few under a cloth napkin. "I'm sorry that I woke you."

He shook his head, and waved off her comment. "No need to be sorry." He sat back down on his bed, and sat with his legs tucked underneath his knees, making it easier to eat. James wanted to ask marigold a question, but had no clue how to go about it. "So... How are things?" He asked nonchalantly.

"Things." Marigold looked at him with blank confusion, twisting her fingers together in a lying knot. She hid her tears with a gulp and put on a brave smile as her stomach flipped. "Things are fine." Marigold didn't like lying. She hated it, but things were less than okay. Alexander didn't seem to want to see her anymore, fighting against it with every secret visit, and then there was the secret.

It didn't take long for James to put two and two together. It seemed that Marigold, and Alex had gotten into a fight, what he didn't know yet, but he didn't care to find out. After all it was none of his business. "For whatever it's worth, my brother is Stupid. With most situations. Just remind him that he needs to take a chance instead of always being so cautious." He started to dig into his meal, twirling his fork around and around.

Marigold took in a shaky breath. She had to tell someone. It might have been an awful choice in someone, but if Marigold let the thought gather in her head for any longer, she would explode. "There was alcohol in the rose drink." Marigold began, but stopped herself to wipe at her eyes. "We didn't know... We didn't know and there's a chance that I might be..." Marigold broke down.

James's eyes opens wide, and he stopped any movement that he had been doings. "Um... For once I'm lost for words." This could be a perfect opportunity to get on his fate he's good side, giving him information that he would desperately need if he didn't want the people to find out. "Well to be honest I only have two comments. One, I'm glad my brother is finally having some fun." He looked a marigold with a certain look that would make anyone blush. "Two, ... I wouldn't breath a word of this to anyone else. Have you told my brother yet of your... Situation?"

"Yes, your brother knows. Don't be an asshole, I'm in a sensitive state." Marigold sniffed, but a glimmer of sass fizzled out despite of her. "Stop! It wasn't like that. We were drunk." For a second, she wasn't talking to the prince. She was talking to Alex's brother, and Marigold hoped that James wouldn't use this against him. "And if you're going to suggest what I think you are, I don't want to be the mother of his secret love child. I want to be his wife." There was only love in her words.

James sighed, finally giving up on eating while Marigold was here. This girl seriously needed a reality check, and James was about to give her one. "Marigold, I love a fantasy as much as the next guy. But there is no possible way that you are going to be his wife. I'm sorry but there's not. Your a six, and he's a one. In a year he's going to be 18, and he will have to go through the selection." Just as I am about to. he thought to himself. "They only magical way that you could have a possible chance of marrying him, is if you are picked for the selection. Which my dear is highly unlikely." James huffed and waited for the obvious tears or yells to start.

{Snickers because he has no idea.}

"I'm naive not daft. Yes, I understand where my position is and where his is. Have you ever once thought about breaking the rules. Of not doing what's expectant of you." Marigold's voice is cold. Unreachable. "Oh wait, I know you do. The other maids talk. I'm not the only one who's hoping for something that I can't have."

James scoffed, "Just because I have a few... Relations with the maids does not mean I'm hopping for more, I would explain further but I'm afraid a lady like yourself could not, and should not handle such talk. All I'm really saying is that, maybe you should seriously think about being his mistress. At lest then you could be with him, and happy." He shrugged and tried to eat a little bite of his food, realizing that it would be cold soon .

"The maids weren't the people I was referring to." Marigold wiped her tears. "Yes, watch the person I love marry someone else. How delightful? That's torture not happiness."

((I kind of did say James... Lol ^.^))

{{They're both clueless. I'm amused. I feel like they'll be allies in the future. Look at him thinking she's stupid. Hahahaha. She's really clever. But at the moment she's upset and afraid.}}

((No I'm saying that James said that what he does with the maids, he knows it's not going anywhere. And you said the maids weren't the ones you were referring too. Do you see it now?))

{Oh.}

((Yeah sorry for the confusion. But I do agree about them being allies. When the selection starts in sure she'll help him with the inside information. ^.^))

{She will though. She'll also be sass master. "Who said who wouldn't be chosed for what Selection? He can marry a three can't he, Jay?" THE SASS BRO-NESS.}

((So are you going to change it or?))

((Hello? O.o))