BuzzingBee

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

After a bit of searching the knight was able to located the captain near the great hall. She dipped her head to him as she approached. He eyed her for a moment before returning the gesture. "Hello... You're Vermillion's daughter right?" he asked. It was difficult to tell if he meant that as a good or bad since his voice was a bit gruff but his expression gave away no signs of displeasure. Regardless, she didn't dwell on it.

"Yes, sir." she said politely and nodded. "I don't believe I was able to formally introduce myself before. My name's Penelope and I'm the lieutenant of a baroness named Mia Chandler."

"I see..I remember you working for the castle guard before too." Tybalt crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow at her. "You're pretty far from the warfront for being a lieutenant."

"Yes well, my father required some assistance and I have work to take care of here. That's actually why I was coming to speak with you." Penelope explained offering a small smile. "I still have to get approval from my baron but if I do, I was wondering if I could arrange to take up a job as a guard again.. Perhaps, not as a full on guard like before since I might have to leave again before the end of the war but just a temporary position."

Tybalt fell silent for a moment as he thought over her words before giving a small shrug. "Get your baroness' written approval and I'll figure out where to squeeze you in, Vermillion. You can keep the sleeping quarters you currently have."

"Will do. Thank you." she said gratefully. She dipped her head to the captain before leaving him. At least she had solved one small detail of adjusting her life to the sudden change that was happening. It made the knight feel a little less overwhelmed. Now all she had to do was get Mia to let her leave the front for a while. If the baroness understood her reasonings to want to end the war, then she likely wouldn't fight her decision to leave the war front. At least, she hoped she wouldn't. Penelope focused her gaze ahead as she headed down the corridors to the waiting room where she was to meet Crow.

She felt a bit of anxiousness as she wondered how his meeting with his father was going. The king would likely be rather pleased to know that Crow was taking his offer but there was still the matter of Crow wanting to leave to the outer villages. She let out a small sigh, hoping that he would prove since she knew how important it was to the thief. Penelope eventually reached the room and stepped inside. She swept her gaze over it, finding it to be empty, before she moved to sit down at the bench to wait for Crow.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Honestly xD I'm also kinda thinking Gavin tries to work with Crow (and maybe the princess after she's had a bad time xD) to figure out a better solution where everyone's not miserable lol
He'd probably try to help Penelope first but she won't listen to him cx I imagine he'll be a little annoyed that she just gave up since he doesn't really understand why and thinks it's Crow's fault at first until he sees he's just as miserable lol

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Penelope gave a small frown as Crow insisted that he had to meet with his companions in the outer villages. She agreed that it would be the best way to get them to listen but she worried that he might not have that option if the king denied his request. If he couldn't travel to the outer villages, he wouldn't have many other options for getting in touch with his companions. For all of their sakes, she hoped that his father was understanding enough to grant him the time away from the castle.

Before she could reply, a knock came from the door and she turned her head to look as it opened up. Hunter stepped in and was followed by Eldon. She raised an eyebrow as the physician made his way over to Crow and handed him a strange vial. The knight figured it was for his cough but it didn't look like the medicine that Hazel had prepared for him before. As the physician went on to claim it to be a cure, her eyes widened in thinly veiled surprise. It was hard to believe that the head physician had the cure for his illness but his certainty made it hard to think he didn't.

She watched the physician leave before her gaze flickered over to Hunter, who surprisingly remained. The knight had expected him to leave with Eldon. As he stated that the king wished to see Crow already, she blinked and glanced over at the thief, also shocked by how quickly the king was willing to see him. Penelope gave Crow a small nod and got up from her chair as well, feeling it'd be awkward of her to wait around in his room.

"Alright." she mused and moved to step out of the room after them. Once out in the corridor, she met his gaze and offered a reassuring smile. "I'll meet you at the waiting room that's near the council chamber, the one my father showed us to before. Good luck, Crow." Penelope gave a small nod of acknowledgement to Hunter before turning and heading off down the corridor. Assuming that his meeting with his father would take a bit of time, she intended to kill it by speaking with Tybalt about her stay in the castle since she'd likely be around a bit longer than she originally expected—even if she was to leave with Crow for a week.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Nice. Penelope would definitely not be happy with her own choice cx
she's going to be pissed with the gods during that time lol

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Penelope smiled at him as he assured her that his mind was made up. "Just making sure." she said with a small laugh. As he went on to explain that he had already asked Hunter to tell the king he wished to speak with him, the knight was a little surprised he was moving forward with his decision so fast. His confidence was reassuring to her and she felt her heart begin to beat with a hint of excitement again.

As he went on to mention his companions, she nodded her head in agreement, leaning back in her chair. She didn't know his companions very well but they seemed like good friends and good people—even Rikki, whom she wasn't overly fond of. "They don't." Penelope mused in agreement. "And hopefully your father will allow you go." The knight crossed her arms and gave a thoughtful look as she wondered about the king allowing Crow to leave. It'd be a somewhat difficult request to make, especially since she wasn't sure if his father would trust he would return.

"Well, if he insists you need a guard or something to accompany you, you can always throw me in." Penelope told him offering him a smile. "I can use that time to go speak with the barons personally instead of writing them like I planned if it works out like that." Thinking it over, she realized it might even be easier than trying to write them. After all, it was faster to argue in person rather than over letters. Her only worry was that Mia might insist that she stay at the warfront. With so much to do within the inner kingdom, she hoped that the baroness would understand her decision to leave, especially since part of it was to convince the king to end the war in the first place.

She shrugged and met his gaze. "Even if he doesn't agree, I'm sure we could still figure out a way for you to meet with them.. It just might have to be somewhere within the inner kingdom rather than the outer villages." she said.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Yeah I imagine that won't too great ^^;

Also that made me think, maybe Albin also makes things worse by trying to pressure Penelope to break off the courtship cx I could even see it kinda working since she'll already be feeling bad with being the one who pushed for the war's end at the beginning anyways

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Penelope smirked musedly at his words and returned his embrace. "I'm just glad it wasn't. For a moment there, I was worried my father wouldn't be as willing to leave me on 'guard duty'." she mused, her featured softening into a smile as she looked up at him. As he offered her some of his food, she gave a small laugh and moved to take his hand. "I'll have a small bite. Since we ate kinda late yesterday, I'm not that hungry."

She gave a small shrug and looked over at the food. Though there was quite a bit still left, she noticed he had already made a dent in it. The knight turned back to him with a playful smirk. "Honestly, I'm surprised you're still not slowing down yet. I'm starting to think your gut has no limit." she teased, squeezing his hand affectionately. Penelope let go of his hand and moved to take a seat at the table. Grabbing a small cut of bread, she took a bite and looked back over at Crow, falling quiet for a brief moment as she let her thoughts wander.

"So," she spoke up again in a bit more serious tone this time as she studied him with a hint of concern. "are you still sure about your decision?" He had seemed rather certain of it the night before but perhaps things had changed after sleeping on it. She could still barely believe that he was choosing to accept the job offer and despite being excited, was still a bit worried he would end up regretting his choice. At least if he was feeling any doubt about, she could still reminded him he could change his mind.

Penelope offered him a small smile. "I know you said you were yesterday but if you've changed your mind at all, just say the word and we can get out of here. I cause a distraction while you fill up a bag." she winked jokingly.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Yeah cx John's just going to be like 'what the hell? I was starting to like you' xD

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

The sound of shuffling stirred the knight from her sleep the next morning. Penelope reluctantly opened her eyes and turned to look over to see her father getting up from his bed. It took a moment for the past day's events to resurface in her mind, most of it nearly didn't seem real. She ran a hand through her hair and slowly sat up. "Morning." she mumbled to her father with a small nod. She stretched for a moment and then got up from her bed and let out a long yawn.

"So.." Penelope mused tentatively as she glanced over at her father. A hint of hope seeped into her voice as she asked, "...Am I still on guard duty?" Things would likely be changing soon enough with Crow taking his father's offer but she still wanted a reason to be there with him until it did. After all, if his father did approve of him taking a week to go to the outer villages, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to join him or see him for that time. With so much going on, she wanted to be at his side as much as time allowed.

Unfortunately her father seemed a bit reluctant to let her go, unlike before. The older knight didn't reply and pursed his lips together as he studied her. John let out a small huff. "For now, I suppose." he finally grumbled with a small nod. "He shouldn't be needing one soon enough if he meant his decision last night anyways." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Just don't do anything to make me change my mind about this."

Penelope brightened slightly and nodded her head. "Of course. Thank you." she said before turning to head out of the room. She was glad that her father had agreed rather easily to let her still take over 'guarding' Crow, especially considering what the day would likely bring. She hastened her pace slightly as she headed to his room again, pausing outside to knock before opening the door to step inside.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Makes sense xD I imagine Penelope will be annoyed too lol
especially since I think Edward will be kinda pressuring her and being like 'you better not screw this up' xD

cute cx John will come around eventually cx
I'm also now looking forward to John reacting to the Princess from Younis coming in xD