She only hesitated at the reinforced wooden door of the cabin, and that was because this WAS someone's property and it WAS something where proper decorum befitting the Valliere name was involved.
Finally she decided that it was HER familiar, therefore HER property, therefore just storming in WAS proper.
Which was her introduction to a locked door and that the door WAS reinforced and that trying to kick in the door didn't actually work very well.
Which was why, when Bane opened the door, his first view was of Louise Valliere jumping up and down on one foot while clutching the other foot.
"There are times," rumbled the worgen, "that I truly do not understand the customs of this land at all."
"Why did you lock the door?" demanded Louise.
"Because there are things in here that I prefer not to share with your entire community, little mage," rumbled the worgen. "Children getting into things and causing themselves serious hurt is rarely amusing."
"Fine," said Louise, putting her foot down and preparing to get to the reason for her visit.
"Good morning, by the way, though it's almost noon. Would you care for some tea?"
"Tea?" asked Louise.
"I come from Gilneas, where we are properly civilized about such things. The kettle's almost at a full boil."
"That's not why I'm here!" declared Louise.
"Pity that. It's too early for Afternoon Tea, but I had prepared some Earl Grey and a light snack."
"I'm here because of the disgraceful behavior you did this morning!"
The worgen sighed and let Louise in, his shaggy head indicating the table in the main room. "Sounds like this might take awhile. You don't mind if I fix a bit of cheese on cracker do ye? I find I get a little peckish at this time of day."
Louise blinked as the worgen went to the stove, took the kettle off, and made himself a pot of tea with swift well-practiced moves. "There's just something odd about an eight-foot-tall wolfman fixing himself tea."
"Really? Seems perfectly natural to me."
"Really," said Louise, before shaking her head and visibly putting that aside. "You humiliated me earlier today!"
"Uhm. Okay. Exactly how did I do that?"
"You went and got into an unauthorized duel with Guiche Gramont, and then there are the times you've used at least line-class magic," stated Louise, nose up. "A servant of the Valliere family must not engage in frivolous or unauthorized use of such things."
"Oh, that certainly clears things up. First, Guiche challenged me to a pet duel. Second, I don't see where I've done a damn thing that was 'frivolous' in the least. Third, I wasn't exactly asking to be ripped from my homeland and transported here."
"You are my familiar now, and you must obey me!"
"What exactly has put that bug up your butt? I'm only here as long as it takes for me to find a way back."
"How crude!"
"Child, if you think that was crude - you haven't spent any time with soldiers at all."
Sensing an argument she wasn't going to win, and that if she pulled out her wand and tried to bully her familiar that the result would be even less pleasant, Louise decided to use the time-honored tactic of changing the subject.
"And what was with that duel? I didn't see much," asked Louise, brow furrowed. Being at the back of a crowd and with her height deficit problem - it hadn't been exactly a great view.
"I didn't know you had pet battles in this land," admitted the worgen, noting the subject change but welcoming the less hostile approach. "Several associates of mine indulge in it, and pooled resources on it."
"Let me see one," said Louise, curious now. Kirsch had found something interesting in the creatures after all, she'd only seen one clearly - that Fel Flame thing made of green fire.
Bane shrugged and made a gesture. She was just a little kid, so not something scary looking or powerful in appearance. Maybe...
"Come forth, from the wastes of the Barrens. Cheetah Cub!"
A small cheetah of less than a year's growth appeared.
Louise stared. The sheer cuteness of the creature was momentarily overwhelming.
Bane noted the stare and the lack of commentary, and thought he might have made the right choice after all.
"My familiar has familiars?" said Louise after crushing down the "cuddle cute critter" response. Such was beneath the dignity of a Valliere after all. Well, except for one of her sisters. Mostly.
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(Posted Thu, 09 May 2013 18:34)
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