nautical

[aetheling]

Cymbeline doesn't really like boats, but they're the only way to get anywhere in a reasonable period of time, especially when "anywhere" isn't on the mainland. Today he is sailing to Vectis, to oversee the change of governorship; his father the king is needed for courtly matters back home and his mother the queen, despite being the source of his royal blood, declines to involve herself in affairs of state when she can avoid it. Zoyah takes more after Ranae than after Charles in this department. So, it falls to Cymbeline.

Walking on a boat is even more difficult than walking on land, and Cymbeline is no great shakes at the latter to begin with. Unfortunately, neither he nor Kerem, the court magician and Cymbeline's confidante, have been able to figure out how to apply the principles of practicable magic to alleviating princely clumsiness. So Cymbeline is clinging to the railing of the boat, watching the waves, trying to avoid having to walk anywhere.

Comments

[treasuresuntold]

Jade resists taking off the leather top, but is willing to layer over it. She greets the revelation of the existence of corsets with an expression of mild horror. In general, anything that's snug around the waist is an instant rejection.

[alicornucopia]

Hermione tries to coax her into one until she realizes that the gills are the problem, and then she improvises as best she can in the absence of proper foundation garments, muttering to herself about strange beach women with gills. Eventually Jade has been attired in a layered dress and stockings and a spare pair of Zoyah's shoes, which are too big for her, and Minnie shows her down to the dinner table, apologizing in Zoyah's ear about being unable to talk Jade into a corset.

[treasuresuntold]

Jade is quite cheerful about all this once the gills problem has been sorted out!

Dinner is a whole different kind of adventure.

[aetheling]

Cymbeline is somewhat dismayed by her lack of table manners. "Just - do what we do," he suggests the first time she uses her fork backwards.

[treasuresuntold]

Jade blinks at him.

[aetheling]

He takes her fork out of her hand, turns it around, then mimes eating with his own.

[treasuresuntold]

She smiles. This is a more effective way to use a fork! Excellent!

[aetheling]

He continues correcting her as the meal proceeds. His parents look at her quizzically.

[treasuresuntold]

Since most of these corrections make Jade better at eating their weird food with their weird utensils, she accepts them all and follows them diligently.

But when it comes time for dessert and he cautions her not to lick the bowl, she stares him down and then goes right back to it.

[aetheling]

"Jade, no, really - don't -" says Cymbeline, dropping his face onto his hand.

[agnatic]

"Ew," says Zoyah.

The king says, "I understand that a gilled, green woman found on the beach is an interesting curiosity, but if she can't eat like a civilized person she's going to have to take meals in the servants' quarters as long as she's here, Cymbeline."

[treasuresuntold]

Jade puts her bowl down triumphantly, having cleaned it of every available drop of pudding.

[aetheling]

Cymbeline is still completely exasperated, trying to think of some way to explain what's going on.

[agnatic]

Zoyah is not so hindered. "You can't do that," she tells Jade, "and if you do you can't eat with us."

[treasuresuntold]

Jade makes her 'I don't understand' face.

[aetheling]

Cymbeline says, "May I be excused?"

And the queen says, "Yes."

And up he gets and off he goes.

[treasuresuntold]

Jade looks around; it's not obvious to her where Cymbeline went or what's going to happen now.

[agnatic]

The king, queen, princess, and other members of the household who eat at their table - Kerem, a few other court persons - sit around talking for a bit longer, and eventually disperse. Servants take the dishes away; Jade's is the only one that has been licked.

[aetheling]

Presently Cymbeline returns with the book of signs in his hand. "Jade?"

[treasuresuntold]

She looks up at the sound of her name and smiles at the book.

[aetheling]

He leads her back to the study, and starts skipping around in the book, looking for the words he needs.

After he's picked up the necessary pieces, including a lengthy detour to explain "if", he says, "You will not eat with me and my family if you lick things."

[treasuresuntold]

Jade gives him a suspicious/quizzical look.

[aetheling]

"My father doesn't like it," he summarizes, since he's at a complete loss for how to define 'manners' in terms of anything he can draw or mime.

[treasuresuntold]

Understanding dawns. She nods.

[aetheling]

That's better. Cymbeline smiles, and goes back to where they were in their more linear approach through the book.