The Streets of Sidra, Morning, Thursday (Fandom Time)

[glacial_queen]

They rode into Sidra proper around noon, Karla's silver and blue banner flying. The night before, they had debated heading in early, just before the sun rose, but Karla had refused. She was not going to skulk into her city like a thief. No, she was going to march in there, head high and shoulders back, and demand what was hers by right.

The last thing she could afford right now is the appearance of weakness. Let them judge her on her brazenness if they must, but they would never see her cower.

Of course, the time they had spent waiting and preparing had given the city a chance to prepare for their arrival, too. And they were hell-bent on showing Karla that she was not wanted.

Their parade was met with jeers and taunts, Blood lining up on either side of the street to heckle and toss garbage their way. Shields protected their entourage, but it was a sober reminder that they were in the heart of Hobart's own territory. Some people called her an impostor and tried to spit. Others hissed at the Hourglass she wore openly. Others just called her a liar, a bitch, a whore. Karla did not respond and only spoke to keep her Court in line. As much as their words and anger hurt, they were not her focus today. She had a meeting at the estate to get to.

Worse than the catcalls and the filth were the posters. Some enterprising people with a the ability to hold a pen and access to a printer had printed up hundreds, perhaps thousands of rude, salacious broadsides. Karla was, as to be expected, featured prominently in most of them, though if the Fandomites cared to look around, they'd see themselves represented, too--just not kindly or accurately.

By the third time they had passed a picture of Karla riding a chicken (no, not in a way that required a saddle or bridle), Julian had had enough. "Remove those," he snapped. "They are an affront to our Queen."

"Really?" Karla said, letting her voice be heard. "Well, I'll grant you the composition is trite and the merit slim, but I don't know if I'd consider myself affronted. More disappointed that with was the best they could offer. I had my hopes set on something a little grander to show their contempt."

[NFB, for those who are here with her.]

Comments

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

"I meant of your cock, you ass," Julian said, rolling his eyes while Morton sniggered. "And you're just jealous that I'd look better in a gown than you would."

Boys. Boys. This is not going to go anywhere good. You all knew that right? Nowhere good.

[furnaceface]

"Don't tempt me," Jono warned. "I'm not above showing everybody down this street exactly what you'd look like in a frilly dress, mate."

It would be a waste of power, but so help him, he could do it.

"As for my cock and my opinion of it... I could go ahead and prove that that's justified, too, but there are children about." Jono smirked. "Does a 'may the Darkness be merciful' back when I was being measured for my Ring warrant a high opinion, by any chance?"

[glacial-warlord.livejournal.com]

"But he'd look so pretty!" Morton singsonged at the same time Julian said, "You did not!"

[furnaceface]

"I'd stick a hand down the front of my trousers right now and take it off to prove it, but Karla would have a fit," Jono sniffed, because defending the honour of the body part that he sorely neglected seemed to be extra important when hanging around these two.

"I'm thinking something with extra ruffles for Julian's dress, though."

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

"I'm calling bullshit," Julian declared. "Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit."

[glacial-warlord.livejournal.com]

"You wanna put your money where your mouth is?" Morton said, grinning wickedly.

He really did look a lot like Karla sometimes.

"I've got a wager."

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

"Money where my mouth is, eh?" Julian asked. "You sound like you've been looking at these posters for too long. But sure...I'll bite."

He waggled his eyebrows at them.

"Terms?"

[glacial-warlord.livejournal.com]

"Once we're out of view of prying eyes, Jono shows off his Ring," Morton said. "If he's right, Julian you wear the prettiest, ruffledest dress we can find. If he's all brag, no balls...we get to dress him up in horns and put a bell on his neck. Fair?"

[furnaceface]

"Not like I have anything to lose," Jono replied, giving an easy shrug of his shoulders. "I think very little could possibly cap off a day like this quite the same way the promise of Julian in pastel-coloured taffeta does."

[glacial-court.livejournal.com]

"Deal," Julian agreed. "I'm going to bell you like a cat, Jono. It'll be hilarious."

[glacial-warlord.livejournal.com]

"And witnessed!" Morton said. "May the most hilarious outcome triumph!"