[Social] Disgraced

[Katarina Karkov]

"That is what I am hoping," Katarina admitted. "Although it seems unlikely that divine inspiration shall strike; the Divine Right of Queens went the way of the codpiece, I am afraid."

"Oh, thank you so much for the pizz..." Katarina began, and then trailed off when she looked at her slice.

"...Did it fall into the garden on the way here?"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez stifled a little laugh. "That's what the British called 'rocket'. It's kind of like putting spinach on pizza." She smirked a bit and pointed to the princess' slice. "Want me to name 'em all off, or do you wanna jump in blind and see how you like it?"

[Katarina Karkov]

"Wanda was pushing me to introduce more Western values into Symkaria. I believe this pizza is not worth fighting a civil war over," Katarina said, regarding it dubiously.

"Is that...corn?"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Tryyyyyy it." Jez said, taking a big bite out of hers. "Dis is fhrum a gehn-yuh-when..." Gulp. "...real Italian-style place. I figured you deserved the best, not the greasy five-dollar hot-and-readys."

'I don't think they even have those over here.' The standing Jez commented before she moved to slip onto Katarina's bed as well, sandwiching the princess between herselves.

"And I didn't even get the craziest one. There's one with a fried egg on it."

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina carefully eyed her pizza, and took a tentative bite, chewing thoughtfully.

"It is...better than it looks, at the very least," she said, after a moment.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"I legit had never tried tuna on pizza before, but apparently it's a thing in Italy. And honestly... I think it works as well as chicken." It was definitely better than anchovies at least.

The non-pizza Jez just snuggled up to Katarina's side in her efforts to help soothe and relax the Princess. 'Oh, I should get us something to drink.'

[Katarina Karkov]

"And napkins. I do not have a full team here to change my sheets, and I am still figuring out the laundry machines."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"I could lick your fingers." One Jez offered, even as a third had rolled off of the bed and onto her feet to get the pair some napkins and sodas.

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina smiled, with a small blush. "Yes, I suppose you could, at that. But I'm sure you would prefer your fish and leaf pizza, yes?" she teased.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"You... have left yourself open to so many utterly filthy quips." Jez commented before she took another bite, her other self speaking taking up the role of speaking while the first's mouth was full.

"Yeah, we could be making your face more red than your mane right now." She held her hand out, taking a soda and some napkins from her standing counterpart, cracking the can open before offering it to her girlfriend.

[Katarina Karkov]

"Could you now?" Katarina said, coyly, taking the soda. "You do like talking a big game. Punching princes gotten your confidence up, I can see. Ending monarchies, one thump at a time."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

One of the Jez's cupped Katarina's ear as though she didn't want the others to hear, and whispered something about licking and fingers, but not entirely connected.

"Perhaps, though I don't think I'll be testing the extent of my diplomatic immunity anytime soon."

[Katarina Karkov]

Jez was right -- she could get Katarina to turn as red as her hair, despite her talking a big game.

"Well, we'll see how many princes and kings pop up over the next six months; we may need to keep your punching hands busy. Not exactly my new bodyguard, but you seem to have a passing interest in guarding this body."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"More than a passing interest. That duty falls to me now I suppose, so I'm going to have to up my game." While her tone wasn't particularly serious, there also wasn't any sort of quip or joke in there.

[Katarina Karkov]

"I can see it now -- whoever my father sends next will have to fight off a swarm of Jezii, hiding me in your closet or something," Katarina laughed.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Silly girl." Jez said, giving Katarina a squeeze. "A group of Jezii is called a gaggle, not a swarm."

[Katarina Karkov]

"I suppose herding geese does bring me closer to some of the proud farmers of Symkaria," Katarina teased back. "I suppose I shall have to compare notes."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"We are notoriously difficult to work with." Jez warned.
'And loud." Commented another.

[Katarina Karkov]

"I can not argue with any of that," Katarina teased. "But you are surprisingly easy to feed; if this pizza is any indication, you'll eat anything. And I believe, if handled properly, the rewards may yet outweigh the difficulties."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"What, you don't like it?" Jez asked with a mouth half-full, as if she'd forgotten that she had other mouthpieces to speak for her. "I thought it was adventurous."

[Katarina Karkov]

"It is not my thing, no," Katarina said. "But it is adventurous, and I am thankful you want to try new things with me. When I am back home, I am catered to out of fear of...I do not even know. Retribution? Losing respect? My father?

If occasionally eating bad pizza is the price for being treated well, then bring on the bad pizza."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Oh, you have not even BEGUN to experience bad pizza." Jez gloated. "Next time I'm gonna get some of the cheap, greasy stuff. The stuff you eat at 2 am when you're drunk and ravenous."

The other gently squeezed Katarina's arm. "When I met you, it wasn't as a princess, it was as Katarina. And no matter what I've learned since then, you will always be Katarina first, and princess second. Maybe it's unrealistic of me to think it, but I don't see why we can't enjoy good... and bad things together just like any other couple. I would have been your protector regardless, just... now I know I might have to pull a 'get down Mr. President' every once in awhile."

[Katarina Karkov]

"When I am with you, I feel like Katarina. Right here, right now, I can forget about...about Doom. And my country falling apart. And my fr...people conspiring against me. And my responsibility for all of those, and my responsibility to fix them. And the worry that there's someone lurking in every dark corridor," she said, glancing at her new chain on her door.

"With you, I can just be your..." she said, still struggling to find words.

"I can just be yours," she finished, after a moment.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

The Jez's grip on Katarina grew tighter, the sandwich pulling itself closer and burying their faces on either side of her neck and shoulders. Leaving the standing one being the only one to talk.

"... now you're the one saying all of the sweet things." She sniffled.

[Katarina Karkov]

"It is not just sweet; it also happens to be true," Katarina said, pulling her pair of Jezii in closer. "I care much for my guska."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"That just makes it sweeter!" Jez protested, trying like a big girl not to get all weepy.

[Katarina Karkov]

"If it makes you feel better," Katarina said, in a mock whisper, "I'm just trying to butter you up to build an army of my own. You know how it is."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Katarina could feel the two Jez' give little snorts as they stifled their laughter. It had worked, she'd managed to calm them down.

[Katarina Karkov]

Katarina pulled her pair of Jezii in closer. "Doom can keep his Doombots. My elite flock of guska will make me the real power in Eastern Europe. The UN will tremble!"

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"I can't wait to see the uniforms you have in mind for us." One of them chirped, the movie long forgotten now.

[Katarina Karkov]

"Golden, of course," Katarina said, letting herself shift into shiny statue mode. "Or maybe silver, to better contrast."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Hmm, golden goose or silver swan, tough decision."
'But either is better than a tungsten turkey.'
"'Or a bronze booby.'"

She was doing that thing again.

[Katarina Karkov]

"Oh, well, it must be gold for my guska, then. I believe gold looks good on you," Katarina grinned.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"This... feels like it's turning into a Netflix and Chill moment." One Jez pointed out.
'Are you sure that's what you want?' Another asked softly, with a hint of concern in her voice.

[Katarina Karkov]

"I..." Katrina said, her voice wobbling a little bit as her somewhat manufactured bravado was pierced.

"I like the way I feel when I am with you," was what she finally said, a little more quietly. "And I do not want to think about the other things I must do."

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

"Then we can do as much or as little as you like, at whatever pace you like." Jez reassured her.

"And that's not just in our rooms either. If you don't feel up to going to a class, I'll go and take notes for you. We can go out and get some food, or to that mutant festival that's coming up, or we can stay on campus and relax. Distractions come in many forms, I'll gladly do the ones that'll be best for you.

"And... I like the way I feel when I'm with you, too."

[Katarina Karkov]

"I...would like to see the festival, yes. I am worried about being recognized, but perhaps we can do something about that. I would like to spend time with you there," Katarina said, after a moment's thought. "I am...trying to maintain some sense of normality for the time being. It is hard, because this is...not my normal. It never was. But I do not know if I can face my old normal at the moment. So I am...doing the best I can. And I am very grateful you are here to help me.

And...I believe I would not mind if if you, er, 'set the pace'. After all, I am told that I should strive to be more Western. And there's nothing more Western than democracy. And I seem to be outnumbered three to one for the moment.," she added. She was not blushing, you see, because gold statues do not blush. Gold statues are perfect, and do not betray what's going on inside.

[Jezabelle Sherlock]

Jez smiled, two of her gently nuzzling and caressing the reclined golden form in an affectionate and comforting manner. "Alright, we'll do it then. We'll go out and do the things that the peasants do. The... couples do. And if you feel a little overwhelmed or too nervous, we'll find a quiet place to relax, and try again another time." She was curious as to how Katarina was going to get around being recognized, her current alter-ego was pretty eye-catching and a wig could only do so much.

"And if we're setting the pace..." the three girls said in unison, an effect that gave their common voice a bit of extra oomph but also made it a little intimidating. There was a reason she didn't speak that way very often, it was kind of creepy "... then the pace we've chosen for tonight is for you to lie back, relax, and experience bliss."

And like that they were all upon her, not like hyenas on a kill but with softness, even if she was being restrained all the same.

Jez still hadn't asked her about the treatment from Muir. Now was not the time. In the morning perhaps.

[Katarina Karkov]

Or, depending on how many Jezii were involved, the afternoon.

((FTB))