Soleanna Royal Castle – The price of fame

[Val]

Feet apart, weapon level, don’t take your eye off your opponent but always be aware of your surroundings. Blaze repeated this to herself over and over as she stared through her mask at her fencing instructor, garbed in the same white training gear she was. Though the morning sun occasionally caught her eyes, making them sting, she refused to look away, knowing an attack was coming…unless it wasn’t? What if this was the point of the lesson? Not to be too defensive? What if it was a trap to make her open herself up for a counter? Her muscles tensed as she struggled to decide.

[Wren]

First of all, Blaze was so cool. Second, Delta didn't really know what to do about asking for a picture.

Sure, she'd... snuck into the royal grounds. That was a crime. Definitely. But she also had her fans waiting on her. Delta, so far, had only taken photos of Blaze at public events, where it was a free-for-all, but her fanciful dreams demanded she get closer to the action. Hands trembling on her camera, she knew she wanted to take a photo, right here and now... right in the middle of her striking down an opponent! Another one for the 'Warrior Princess' collection! It wasn't the first time that Delta had come so far in getting action shots. She was good at her job, for one.

But... as she held up the camera to take a shot, something stopped her. Should she say hello first? Or would she get thrown off the royal grounds immediately? Well... if she snuck in once, she could do it again. Why not take the friendly approach?

"Your highness?" The tuxedo cat began to shake all over, knowing this was the closest she'd ever been to her dreams. She stumbled out of her bushes, and quickly put her camera behind her back. "Hi! Hello! Pleasedon'tthrowmeoffthegrounds-- I just...!"

Think, Delta, think for once in your life!

[Val]

Delta had chosen to reveal herself at the exact moment chose to act, thrusting her blade forward and clashing with her tutor, digging her heels into the training mat at a struggle of brute strength began…for about three seconds. Behind her mask the Princess’ face flashed between surprise, confusion and frustration.

“Who are you?” Blaze snapped, jumping back just in time for her tutor who seemed to simply be ignoring the fellow feline to launch a follow up. A ring of several parried blows rang through the garden.

[Wren]

"I--"

The blows took her for a shock. PErhaps she hadn't... quite... picked the right moment? She should have spent her time ogling how cool it was to see her fence in the first place! Duh! Tail tucked between her legs, Delta looked shamed. But, before letting any weakness show, she perked up. Now was the time to be confident, not acting like a little girl!

"I'm Delta the cat! I'm-- I'm your biggest fan!" Wait! No! A fangirl would be thrown off the premises immediately. "I'm also a reporter!" Double no. She was putting her foot in her mouth over and over. "What's important is, I'm not here to hurt you or interrupt or do anything bad! I've always just really really wanted to meet you!"

[Val]

Her excitement was…draining, ironically. It reminded the Burmese princess of Marine; her mouth being faster than her brain. The word reporter sent a shiver through her fur. Those, she most definitely did not appreciate. Poking their noses into her personal life, hounding her with mindless questions, trying to use her powers as an excuse to harass her…Though the mention of being a fan threw her slightly. As far as Blaze was aware, she didn’t have many fans. Certainly people of her kingdom may appreciate and respect her position but fans? And ones as energised as this girl, it felt odd.

Gesturing to stop, Blaze lowered her blade, her tutor doing the same as he turned to stride off.
“I’d expect you to’ve already called the guards by now.” Blaze called after him.
“You’re royalty, my lady.” Was the reply, “You’ll need to learn to deal with this sort of thing sooner or later.”

“Hmph.” He was right but to be so casual about it. Lifting her mask off, she took a breath of fresh clean air before looking back to the self proclaimed biggest fan. “You broke into my home. I could have you arrested, that doesn't seem worth the risk just to meet me.” She stated matter-of-factly.

[Wren]

"Not worth the risk to anyone else, no-- but for me, it's been a dream." She confessed, stuffing her camera in her pocket and clasping her hands together. "I've always wanted to meet a princess, and Soleanna has the best one there is! You've done so much for us! All the time! What's cooler than a princess who will take the front lines with her people! I'm just... it's so cool to meet you! I always wanted to be a prin..."

She coughed, clearing her throat before she got too far. She knew Blaze wasn't easily bought by praise-- she was a serious princess with better things on her mind than silly fangirls, Delta presumed. "Um. I was wondering... I write for the Daily Sun. You have an amazing number of fans, my princess. Would it be too much trouble to get a picture and ask what things are like at the castle? I mean, even if there's no picture, I'd love to learn what it's like living here!"

[Val]

Blaze reached for a bottle of water as Delta ran her mouth. The bottle hesitated as the fellow cat stumbled over her words.

‘Always wanted to be a princess.’

Of course. Everyone saw the glamour, the wealth, the privilege of being royalty. They never saw the weight of responsibility bearing down on your every waking moment. Being active, guarding the kingdom and Sol Emeralds…it wasn’t something she did just because she felt she had to. It was her sworn duty from birth…though hearing some praise for doing so was a pleasant change of pace.

As Delta finished making her request, Blaze lowered the bottle from her lips and wiped some sweat from her brow, her hand brushing against the small ruby in her forehead.

“Yes.” She said simply. “It would be too much.”

[Wren]

"... Oh."

Delta drooped, slightly. She'd been waiting for this moment her entire life, and being told 'no' was basically a smack in the face. Still, she couldn't give up. Blaze must have a reason for saying 'no'. Unrelenting and doggedly determined, this cat wouldn't let good enough be.

"May I ask why? Is it because I broke in? Because I can leave and knock on the gate if that makes you feel better!" She pleaded in earnest. "Even just knowing the teensiest bit of what goes on in your life would make mine so much brighter!"

[Val]

“You’re naïve.” The purple cat answered, though it was soft and not harsh as she’d expected the words to sound as she spoke them. “You think being a Princess is all about looking pretty and waving at crowds.” Blaze continued, not even looking at Delta.
“My life is my duty to both my kingdom and all of Terra.” Reaching up, she stroked the ruby in her forehead. “This is my life. Not frilly dresses and parties.”

[Wren]

As she was saying this, Delta was quietly taking notes in her mind. The princess believes it's so much more than being pretty, she truly honors her duty to us, both in her kingdom and all of Terra...! That'll be a really glowing piece to write on her. It's almost as if the message was sailing gracefully over her head, like an arrow hitting an apple perched there.

"That's what makes you the best, though. You're always protecting us, and you're always there in the nick of time. I'm sorry to offend, Princess! I didn't want it to seem like that was all I thought of you!"

[Val]

Blaze sighed. She was missing the point. It was pointless trying to explain anyway. If it became public just how much pressure she was under and how it affected her, she may look ungrateful or dismissive of her duty.

“It doesn’t matter.” She said, sounding defeated. “I’m…glad there are still people who don’t see me as a problem.” Glancing to her hands, Blaze thought back to all the articles and comments she’d seen accusing her of being a ticking time-bomb, a threat. All she wanted was to protect her kingdom and she had been treated like a monster.
As superficial as it was, knowing some people considered themselves her “fans” did lift her spirits, if only a little.

[Wren]

"There's a lot of you who really believe in you. Do you read the Daily Sun? I get fan questions about you all the time, but... I never have a good enough answer because I never met you, you know? Like, sure, some are about your wardrobe or your love life, but some are about your stance on economics and if jobs will open up in Gaia under a travel visa, and, uh..."

She seemed to lose her train of thought. She was much better with the wardrobe questions, after all. Portraits that did leak online, Delta was the first to pounce on. She could only say things like 'Blaze favors the color purple, clearly!', but that didn't give her fans much to gush about. Right! Right.

"I'm sorry. I presumed a lot, didn't I? I guess I always had a certain dream about being a princess... I'd probably be a really unpopular one if I couldn't do half what you do."