[Plot] The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.

[Alex Sablinova]

"I'm sensing a theme -- and not a good one -- on your part, sir."

[Drake Martin]

"The theme of even you could be better?"

[Alex Sablinova]

"See, there you go, talking nonsense again," he smirked.

[Drake Martin]

"I suppose you're right. Prize specimens like us need no improvement."

[Alex Sablinova]

"I'm sorry, but I'll believe you'll find I'm a rung or two above your everyday, run-of-the-mill college student.

How long do classes normally last? I am eager to see the princess once more."

[Drake Martin]

"First, I'm anything but run-of-the-mill. Second, it depends on her schedule but it could be hours yet."

[Alex Sablinova]

"Ugh," he said, groaning theatrically. "Then we shall need another round of refreshments. Barkeep!"

[Basil Benson]

"I'll drink to that!" Basil replied, more than happy to go for another, until however many it took.

[Drake Martin]

"Relax, your highness, this might be fun...

Once you're drunk."

[Alex Sablinova]

"What might be fun, precisely? And use specific, concrete detail, if you can," the prince nodded.

[Basil Benson]

"Socializing with people below your station." Basil interjected before Drake could say anything too foolish.

[Alex Sablinova]

"Then he is probably right; I'd have to be drunk for this to be particularly entertaining," he sighed, taking another large swig.

[Drake Martin]

"Hey, it's not that... okay, it is pretty dull in here. We need to level up this pub crawl."

[Basil Benson]

"Is the prince up for something so bold as all that?" Basil asked, seemingly daring their new aristocratic 'friend'.

[Alex Sablinova]

"I'm afraid it's more the quality of the company, rather than the quality of the establishment, that is at issue here."

[Basil Benson]

"Do you think Katarina would feel the same way?" Basil asked, sounding genuine enough with his question, though a particularly savvy person might be able to suss out the ulterior meaning to the question.

[Alex Sablinova]

"Mmm. Hard to say. Does she spend much time out in establishments like this with the lot of you?"

[Basil Benson]

"A fair amount, I think. She has contacts from the school who are common folk that she seems to enjoy the company of, certainly. At least, I think she must or she wouldn't associate with them.

For example, My Madame has been helping her learn how to cook. Simply for the enjoyment of it, the princess doesn't pay her for her instructions. So one has to assume they just like being around one another."

Basil wasn't about to let Jezabelle's name slip. Not at this level of sobriety anyways.

[Alex Sablinova]

"Or she feels she has something to gain from the instruction, of course."

[Basil Benson]

"Maybe. Though it seems unusual to pick a random culinary student to instruct you for free when you could literally go to any culinary school you desire or even have a five star chef train you when money is no object."

[Drake Martin]

Drake was rapidly tiring of the noble's superior attitude. He was a dragon, damn it. He didn't have to take that from anyone.

"Maybe she's just enjoying experiencing the real world for once," he grumbled to himself.

[Alex Sablinova]

"There have been rumors that the princess is an unusual girl," Alex admitted. "I tend to not put too much stock into them."

[Basil Benson]

"You do her and yourself a disservice by not." Basil replied, his tone becoming serious. " Usual people keep history running. Unusual people make it."

[Alex Sablinova]

"I find putting faith in defamatory rumors to be, on the whole, borderline treasonous. These sorts of rumors are often sewn by our enemies, to weaken faith in our institutions and generate unrest among the people." Alex replied.

[Basil Benson]

"Defamatory how?" Basil asked, genuinely curious if being 'unusual' was code for what he was slowly suspecting it might have been.

[Drake Martin]

"Yeah. I'm dying to hear the logic behind that, your highness," Drake said, sarcasm edging the title.

[Alex Sablinova]

"Your lordship," Alex corrected. "It is not that difficult to remember."

"Symkaria is proud to be a traditional country, and our royal family is proud to uphold those traditions. The Princess is a symbol of our bright future, and wouldn't sully that future with...untoward activities."

[Basil Benson]

"Like what? Being a mutant?" Sounding skeptical of Alex's intentions.

In truth, Basil didn't think that was what the Prince meant, but he thought if he feigned offense the Prince might stop being so vague.

[Alex Sablinova]

"Oh, of course not. Symkaria has been at the forefront of mutant approval and cooperation, long before the Western world had begun. We are very proud of the princess' abilities; it is a sign of good fortune."

Basil and Alex were having a decorum-off!

[Basil Benson]

"Well if not that then praytell, what could it possibly be that causes one to accuse her of untoward behavior?"

[Alex Sablinova]

"Are you looking for gossip, dear sir? Something you could hold against her at a key moment?" Alex said, sternly.

[Basil Benson]

"Of course not. If I thought there was something to gossip about I wouldn't be so perplexed right now."

Well, that part was true, so it sounded pretty convincing.

[Alex Sablinova]

"Well, then. I guess the princess' reputation is in the clear.

I'll leave you gentlemen to your drinks; I must be off."

[Basil Benson]

"Ta." Basil said, holding his glass up to the other gentleman, making no move to stall him. Doing that would only make him more suspicious.

Basil fished the phone out of his pocket with his left hand, and intending to shoot off a text to Jezabelle as soon as he could without the prince present.

[Drake Martin]

After the prince left, Drake said sarcastically, "What a strong case for the value of noble classes."

[Basil Benson]

Basil snorted through his nose, attempting to suppress his amusement.

"Thanks for helping to try to keep him busy as long as you could, though I will admit I'm unsure of your motive."

[Drake Martin]

"It's not every day I get to try and see what makes a prince tick."

[Basil Benson]

"I would like to think that he's a minority and that royalty are better than that... But one must admit passing on status titles based on who slept with who isn't exactly the best way to determine one's place in a society.

Royalty and nobility are the precursors to eugenics." Basil observed, though having been so used to the congenial Ms.Sherlock, he didn't put together that the Genoshan sitting across from him might not have such a sour taste in his mouth about the concept that superior genes made people inherently better.

[Drake Martin]

"I agree with you there," he answered, "Far too many of my countrymen fall into believing their better mutation means that they're better people."

He notably made no mention of feelings toward humans.

[Basil Benson]

Basil had been texting since the Prince excused himself.

"Sorry to hear that. It's unfortunate that we as a group can't see past our own nose enough to realize we must be unified to in order to make strides as a whole."