Strong Harrow Tavern

@§Kyungmi-Kwangju ( Semi-Hiatus ) [Sure? Why not. o/]

-clicks tongue and shakes head-
What is the world coming to.
Even the youngsters have no respect for their elders, ah me...
-eyes twinkle in some amusement-

-arches an eyebrow-
My dear, don't think me to be the sentimental sort and back you in every decision just because of our history together.
I have my own people to look out for.
My own children I care for.
I would rather not be engaged in a senseless war, or one that's started on a whim or several.

-sits back, eyeing you seriously and drumming my slender fingers on the table-
I will make my decision on an alliance when I find out your motives, Domina Kyungmi, not before.

-stays in my seat as you stand, and bows my head elegantly-
It was... insightful, meeting with you.
A real pleasure.
Best not to keep the Council waiting, though.
Patience was never one of their virtues.

@♀Heechul-Seoul ((timeskip and change in location? How about the Throne Room in Kwangju?))

@♀Heechul-Seoul /laughs/
I'd hardly call Domina Sohee part of MY generation.
/winks at you teasingly/
If anything, her age is closer to yours, my aging friend!

/raises my eyebrows and shrugs/
Well, what's the fun of a war if I reveal my reasoning in such advance? You'll find out my motive in time; do not worry.
/stands, re-draping my cloak around my shoulders/
Anyhow, I must be on my way. I have a meeting with the Council at sunset. You know how surly those hags can get.

@§Kyungmi-Kwangju ( Semi-Hiatus ) -shrugs and tilts head back-
There IS something to be said about basing one's qualifications on one's gender rather than... well, the qualifications.
But such is life.
It'll take youngsters like yourself and Domina Sohee to shake up the old folks, mm?

-smirks when you give your approval, then raises my eyebrows-
Invade?
Well. I'm sure you have valid reasons for wanting to invade when nothing's happened yet.
One of those military strategies, no doubt?

@♀Heechul-Seoul /chuckles lightly as I rub my forehead/
If only I had the charisma of my grandfather. Those ridiculous geezers in the Council believe me unfit for the throne because I don't have a in my pants. Damn leeches!
They even approved of my father before his death and my father was a known worshipper of Mars! Would anyone with be better suited for kingship than someone trained for the role since birth?!

/calms down and groans before pushing my beer away/
Obviously...
/laughs breathlessly/
I've had enough to drink.
But yes, if you can-please do investigate on their side. Domina Sohee is a prick, but I need more motivation than that to invade her kingdom.

@§Kyungmi-Kwangju ( Semi-Hiatus ) -arches an eyebrow when you make that suggestion, then smiles a little when you correct yourself-
Well do I remember.
It's thanks to your grandfather that I'm Dominos now, so I can't say that I'm not partially grateful for all the trouble he caused.
Still, I did lose a few... coworkers. Some employees.
But I still had everything I really needed, just needed to live slimmer for a while.

-purses lips and sits back-
Well now...
Two female rulers, I'm sure the kingdoms must be abuzz.
Worry not, darling, I'll have my birds relaying information to me in few weeks' time.
We'll see just what's going on over there.

@♀Heechul-Seoul Might as well, huh?
/laughs once more, shoulders shaking, before I pull my hair to one side/
Unfortunately, Dominos, I'm not as brave as you...I know that I cannot risk any more of the council against me by marrying for love...Rather, my marriage can be loveless and powerful while I can take my dear Kai as a concubine, can't I?

/shakes my head/
No, no, that'd just cause more drama within the palace. My grandfather-Dominos Jongin-did that, you know. He ended up banishing his Domina so that he could rewrite the laws and marry his concubine; but everyone knows what happened to him...The poor man went insane trying to protect his love! Converted to the Temple of Mars, practiced dark magic, and started the Years of Blood!

/eyes narrow as I lean forward, suddenly serious/
Bussan, you say? After my cousin's death, that wife of his has taken reign-Domina Sohee.
/clears my throat, wanting to say more but biting my tongue/
If it not be obvious, I don't quite...favor her. Especially with that Doctore of hers, Seunghyun. They're plotting something, I'm sure.

@§Kyungmi-Kwangju ( Semi-Hiatus ) -arches an eyebrow at you before tilting my cup in your direction-
Well, that may be true, but there are a fair amount of women whose robes have more substance than their brains.
Mindless men can at least be used for soldiers.
Mindless women, well...

-arches my eyebrows at the mention of a slave boy-
Was it really that long ago?
I've quite forgotten.
Of course, that would have been... well, when you were 13 and I was 21.
Just coming into my own, really... but I'm glad you like him.
Might as well marry him, if he's been with you for so long and you've liked him that long.

-shrugs elegantly, nibbling on some fruits-
A woman, several women, a man, several men, blend of both...
Who's to say you can't take more than one lover?
At any rate, you'd probably be best off not being distracted by anything or anyone.
My birds tell me that the trouble in Bussan grows ever more turbulent.
I may well have to pay a visit there one of these days to sound out the situation.

@♀Heechul-Seoul /laughs, popping a grape into my mouth/
He's a good man, I promise you, I just feel that some soldiers lead with their "appendages" rather than their minds...if you know what I mean!
But yes, yes, I must keep all of my options open.
/sighs and rests my chin in my hand/
Ff I were to have my way, I'd find a kind and supportive husband and just live calmly. Maybe even have a child or two, hm?
/smiles softly/
Oh, yes, I do know that your people are heavenly in beauty. Do you remember that slave boy I bought from your palace a decade ago? By Apollo, he's grown so handsome and compassionate these long years. Kairo the Gypsy...He's my highest advisor, now! The twists of fate-you'd never believe them!
/tucks my hair behind my ear/
Truth be told, I'd rather marry him and be content than wed a pompous fool and be unsatisfied.
But all serious matters be ignored!
/chuckles/
Perhaps I should try the taste of a woman; who knows what I'll find attractive? I should visit your Pleasure Houses should the time permit me.

@§Kyungmi-Kwangju ( Semi-Hiatus ) -smirks and tilts my head, watching the people with lined eyes-
What can I say, my genes win out.
And I do like to think I've settled down some... though the idea of me having an ex-Champion as my Guard of Loyalty does speak to my reckless nature.

-chuckles and shakes head-
Tranquility, maybe. Balancing act, most definitely so.
But you're right, we haven't really fought over anything.
Probably worked out all our biggest issues in our younger years.

-raises eyebrows at that bit of information-
Is that so? Well now...
-has heard some whispers going on around this Yunho character-
If he does insist so much, I might insist on meeting him myself.
Young men need to learn to prioritize things, really...

-shakes head-
Mm, don't worry, I'm sure there are some lovely young lords in Kwangju for you.
If not that, then Seoul. Even if they AREN'T lords.
-smirks a little-
Seoul does pride herself on her beautiful young men and women.

@♀Heechul-Seoul Oh, the babe takes after its mother, I see.
/chuckles with a shake of my head/
Always restless, always looking for entertainment, one way or another.

/hums/
Ah, the tranquility of partnership, is it? Luhan has no fights but only words of gentle love for his pregnant soulmate! You cheesy bunch!
/grins/

/drums my fingers along the tavern table/
Not particularly, no. I appointed Lord Jung Yunho-you know, of the Eastern Mountains-as my Doctore, like I told you last time. He seems so adamantly set on wooing me while simultaneously handling our hostile situation with Bussan, but he's so handsome I don't quite feel like admonishing him!
/laughs/

But all jokes aside, it is true that I need to find a husband soon. My uncle jokes of my becoming a spinster.

@§Kyungmi-Kwangju ( Semi-Hiatus ) -chuckles and shakes head, swirling my cup of fruit juices around-
That so? Well, don't let your baby rule the house and be a tyrant.
Lots of good families ruined by their wayward children, so I've heard.

-shrugs and takes a sip of my beverage-
Mm... The baby's healthy, as far as I know.
Always moving around, doesn't seem to want to stay still.
As for my personal life, well... we're alright there.
Nothing special to report.

-tilts chin up at you-
And yourself?

@♀Heechul-Seoul I feel like-
/takes a swig of my beer/
not being able to drink would be one of my main reasons for never getting pregnant.
/laughs, taking off my hood since we're at an Underground inn/
You know me, love, alcohol is my baby.
But do tell-how is your lover faring now? And your babe, does it grow healthy?

@"Kyungsoo-Kwangju It was good to be outside the palace for once. Here, in the heart of Kwangju's capital, the people were loud but friendly and she saw her subjects as they were: a proud and passionate empire. But as much as she would have like to relish the oblivion of those that she ruled, the Heiress had a mission today.

Canvas cloak pulled close to her face, she covered her striking obsidian eyes in the shadow of her hood. She learned from her past mistakes, that much was sure. A left made at the emerald vender from Seoul, go straight for 30 paces, and then hug the corner to make it to the small inn at the far east end of marketplace. "Do's place", it read. Her destination.