[center][img]https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/357353496057610242/564662374775259137/crimsonred.png?width=240&height=301[/img][/center] [center][h2]Karamir and Diana[/h2][/center] [center][u]Best Friends Forever[/u][/center] The air was swampy and dense. The two had trekked for what was by Karamir’s standards, far too long -- but at least it had been in a straight line. Wide leaved ferns crushed underfoot as they made their way through a primordial jungle, a cacophony of birds and various tree dwellers taunting them. Diana seemed unmoved by it all, her eyes all but closed as she hummed a strange tune to herself. The hum was new, and to Karamir’s utmost surprise, actually catchy. For once, something that could not be described as unpleasant radiated from the woman, and if not for the itchiness of his own sweat and that uncomfortable feeling her very presence gave him, he may have called it unoffensive. The hum stopped on a sour note and the mood seemed to sink. Her boot scuffed as she suddenly came to a stop, “That does it.” She suddenly announced, pivoting on her heel to face her companion. The sudden turn caught him off guard, and he nearly collided into her before he came to a stop as well. [color=yellow]”What?”[/color] Karamir asked, in a confused tone. “This,” She waved her hand as if presenting Karamir, “All of it -- It won’t do anymore. On an umbrella in the sea, maybe. In the forest meeting new people, hardly. Prolonged company with a lady, definitely not.” She crossed her arms, “You’re going to have to learn to be a gentleman and to--” She grimaced at his furs, “Dress like one.” [color=yellow]”What?”[/color] Karamir repeated. [color=yellow]”What’s wrong with this?”[/color] “What?” Diana mimicked with a goofy baritone, “What, what.” She shook her head, “Even your confusion is unrefined.” She tapped her chin, “You want to improve, yes?” [color=yellow]”Yes…”[/color] Karamir answered with some hesitation, [color=yellow]”...but I don’t see what needs to be improved.”[/color] “I know you don’t, dear,” She shook her head sadly, “You have an affliction known as ignorance, but for your unrefined tastes, let’s just call it stupid eyes.” She walked around him with such a look as if inspecting his very existence. Karamir narrowed his eyes. [color=yellow]”My eyesight is fine,”[/color] he told her. “So very simple,” She patronized and clasped her hands together, “Do you know what a puppy is?” [color=yellow]”No.”[/color] “I thought not,” She waved the question away. She thought for a moment and then flourished her hand through the air, a round brimmed hat appearing in her grasp. It was a dark velvet with a stiff, flat top and a wide band around the base. She pushed it towards Karamir, “Here, try this on.” With suspicion in his eyes, Karamir looked at the hat, then up at Diana, then back down at the hat again. Then, he reached forward to take it from her, and after looking inside it to make sure it was empty, he hesitantly put it on his head, anticipating some sort of trick -- but to his surprise, there was none. “Do you like it?” Diana asked with a evil grin. Karamir shrugged. [color=yellow]”It’s comfortable, I suppose.”[/color] Then his suspicion returned. [color=yellow]”Why? What else does it do?”[/color] “Oh dear,” Diana’s eyes widened and she snapped her fingers, a sudden discomfort coming to his head, the hat sitting tight in some areas and loose in others “I’m so sorry about that. There, all better.” [color=yellow]”Stop that.”[/color] “You’re too kind,” Diana gave him a polite smile, and snapped her fingers again. Karamir seemed to black out for a fraction of a second as reality warped around him, his mortal mind refusing to recognize the fabrics that were torn from Galbar. When it all stopped, he found himself standing extremely straight, his form densely clothed in a strange outfit. He wore slim grey trousers cuffed by sleek black boots, a long white shirt was tucked under it and a clasped belt. Pulled over that was a beige vest and draped over that was a long black jacket, punctuated by a puffy white ascot. In all it was strange, foreign, but not completely uncomfortable -- but he would never admit that. Karamir took a step back as he glanced downward with a shocked expression. [color=yellow]”What…”[/color] he looked toward his new sleeves, then back down at his feet. [color=yellow]”What is this?”[/color] “Real clothes,” Diana huffed and crossed her arms, “And now you look the part of a gentleman, mostly.” Karamir furrowed his brow. [color=yellow]”Why? What purpose does any of this serve? What do these do that my old clothes didn’t?”[/color] “Such a--” Diana bit her tongue and smiled wide, “Karamir, you just received a gift. A gift from your closest friend, may I add. A gentleman would thank the giver, hmm?” [color=yellow]”Thank you, but I want to know what these actually [i]do[/i].”[/color] Karamir said. “Oh dear, you’re really intent on them serving some grand function, aren’t you?” Diana teased the question. [color=yellow]”I’m not, I just want to know if there is anything they are already capable of.”[/color] “Making you look presentable,” Diana frowned, “It’s it obvious?” Once again Karamir shrugged. [color=yellow]”I still don’t see what was wrong with my old clothes.”[/color] “Fine,” Diana’s smile returned and she snapped her fingers, but nothing seemed to happen. She gave him a curt nod and smiled, “Now they serve a purpose that ousts your old clothes, can we continue working on your manners, please?” At the sound of snapped fingers, Karamir flinched. When nothing happened, he looked back up at her. [color=yellow]”Manners? What do you mean?”[/color] “You’re a bumbling fool in conversations and in company. It was amusing at first, but really its boring me.” She crossed her arms, “It’s time you learn to talk.” [color=yellow]”We are talking right now. What makes you think I’m incapable?”[/color] “I say something that confuses you, and what do you usually bark at me?” Diana questioned, raising a finger. [color=yellow]”What, why, something like that. Why is that a problem?”[/color] “It’s just… primitive. You don’t want to be primitive, do you?” Diana glared at him with her bloodshot eyes. [color=yellow]”And what do you mean by ‘primitive’?”[/color] he challenged. Diana cackled, “Stupid, foolish, unbecoming, ignorant, and most importantly: inappropriate.” She mulled a thought and rolled her head on her neck, “Especially for someone with such big plans as yourself, hm?” Karamir glared at her. [color=yellow]”And how would these ‘manners’ help me?”[/color] “Oh my goodness,” Diana put her fists on her sides, “You’re just difficult every step of the way, aren’t you?” [color=yellow]”You’re the one refusing to answer my questions,”[/color] Karamir countered. “Am I, or do you just never stop?” Diana gritted her teeth into a grin, “Listen to me, you need manners because a world without manners is hardly a world worth living in. You have big plans, and big aspirations, but will harbor absolutely no respect if you go about it with you knuckles dragging and your diction no better than a bunch of misplaced grunts.” She crossed her arms, “Besides the obvious, you’d think you’d want to learn some manners for yours and my own sake.” Karamir sighed. [color=yellow]”I suppose I don’t have anything to lose. What do I need to know?”[/color] “Oh too much,” Diana nodded solemnly, “This will take a while, but we have plenty of time. Besides, hardly a chore spending quality time with your dearest friends, hm?” She smiled wide. [color=yellow]”Let’s get on with it, then.”[/color] “Mhm,” Diana gave a disappointed grunt, “Well I suppose we should start at your most glaring problem.” She walked around Karamir once more and stopped, “When I say something, and you don’t understand, you do not say ‘what,’ you should say ‘I’m sorry?’ or even ‘Excuse me?’ to show that you are apologetic for your misstep in the conversation. It isn’t their fault you don’t understand --and even when it is-- it is best to be apologetic when asking for clarification. Simply grunting ‘what’” She mimicked his baritone, “Makes you seem like a crude primitive. Do you understand?” [color=yellow]”Fine. What else?”[/color] Karamir asked. “No no no,” Diana shook her head, “I asked you if you understand, you should either acknowledge that you do understand or let me know if you don’t.” She paused, “For instance, say “Yes, I understand’, or ‘No, not quite’-- and if it is the latter, a good gentleman would attempt to clear up any misunderstanding with a polite question, ‘I bet your forgiveness, but could you elaborate’ or in more casual situations a simple, ‘what-ever do you mean?’ could work.” She tapped her chin, “But you are already casual enough.” Karamir sighed. All of those were just longer ways of saying what was essentially the same thing. [color=yellow]”Yes, I understand. What next?”[/color] “What [i]IS[/i] next,” Diana corrected, “Oh foo, this is going to take a while.” She smiled wide, “At least we are having fun, hm?” Karamir frowned, but remained silent. “Oh I can just feel your excitement,” Diana cackled, “Very good, very good. Hm…” She started walking away, “Well come on -- a gentleman always walks parallel with his company, a good two shoulders away usually.” The frown deepened, but he followed, quickening his pace to walk alongside her. With a slight distance, of course. Every now and gain she would swerve a little close, putting his footing off and making the walk anything but pleasant. She didn’t seem to notice, the soft hum returning as she continued their walk. Every now and again she’d toss a hard to swallow piece of advice, or some rule he never thought to give mention to. In between those she’d correct him, and occasionally fix his posture with a commanding thwack to his back. Their walked continued in this way, all the way west. [hider=Summary] On their way west, Diana hums a foreshadowing hum and then decides its time to make a Gentleman out of Karamir. Karamir isn’t very receptive but eventually capitulates. He then endures not only a makeover, but a barrage of grammar rules. In the end they continue their walk, Karamir dressed as a Gentleman, and Diana buffeting him with pointers. She is happy to have a friend around. [/hider] [hider=Might] 2 MP and 1 FP start 1fp used to curse Karamir, he will now only find gentlemanly duds comfortable, while all others are rash inducing and itchy. 2 / 5 Misery 5 / 5 Nightmares 2 MP and 0 FP remaining [/hider]