urn:lj:scribbld.com:atom1:indigogirl Gretchen Wagner rahne42@hotmail.com Gretchen Wagner 2011-05-12T02:56:14Z urn:lj:scribbld.com:atom1:indigogirl:1901 2011-05-12T02:56:14Z 2011-05-12T02:56:14Z It was time for the annual State Dinner between the royal houses of Latveria and Ruritania. Her Serene Majesty would discuss affairs of state with the Master of Latveria and his son. The King-Consort would catch up with one of his dearest friends. And the princesses would get into trouble. It was Tra<i>dit</i>ion!<br /><br />As they shook hands in a stately manner in front of everyone, Gretchen muttered, "You. Me. The back-allies of Old Strelsau?" urn:lj:scribbld.com:atom1:indigogirl:1599 2011-02-22T08:44:26Z 2011-02-22T08:46:44Z They'd come sometimes, when The Best Revenge was closed, to talk Business. Pimps, protectionists, other thugs who were unhappy with the relatively new bunch.<br /><br />Eventually they learned to be careful how they expressed themselves. Eventually they learned not to try to intimidate. Eventually, they learned what not to assume based on the young couple's age and recent arrival on the scene. Eventually, they learned what language regarding women, or regarding mutants, was excusable and what wasn't.<br /><br />Eventually, the smart ones figured out what was up with the novel she'd pick up and read when the visitors had blown all chance of being listened to. Eventually, they realized why she'd giggled and sighed over a page when they tried to press, explaining "I love this part. Countess Cordelia comes home with the enemy's head in a shopping bag." And she'd smile like a schoolgirl at the lovesick bastard beside her.<br /><br />They'd soon realized she was trying to scare them off with it. Eventually, they realized she was trying that... to be <i>kind</i>. urn:lj:scribbld.com:atom1:indigogirl:1431 2011-01-06T05:39:14Z 2011-01-06T05:39:14Z Few people knew for sure why the joint rulers of this empire of specialized crimes had called themselves Wildcard and Serenity, but they knew one didn't cross them. Especially Serenity. Which was funny, because in all these years, no one had ever seen her kill a man. In fact, <i>technically</i>, no one had even seen her hurt a man. The lights tended to go out just before that. But what could one expect from a Darkholme?<br /><br />They'd had to do a lot of things she was unhappy about, Gretchen would admit in private, even if none of them were truly Very Bad. But most of that was in the past<br /><br />Their legit enterprises, which they'd eventually been able to open up with the funds amassed over time, were of the highest quality. They'd done well enough, actually, that they'd managed to cut down extensively on their less wholesome activities. But some of those decidedly kept on.<br />Their escort services, just for example, were clean, professional, and in high demand Their administrative fees were unexploitatively low. And anyone causing any of their employees harm or disrespect would be Dealt With. Vice cops didn't tend to give them trouble, either.<br /><br />On the whole, Braddock and Margarete Lebeau had done well for themselves. urn:lj:scribbld.com:atom1:indigogirl:1229 2010-10-23T22:05:21Z 2010-10-23T22:05:21Z Her Most Serene Majesty Judith Rassendyll of the House of Elphburg and the King-Consort were holding court in Strelsau. Assisting the greeting of various Ambassadors was the eight-year-old Princess Margarete Logan Wagner of the House of Elphburg.<br />Gretchen could say "Welcome" in twelve languages now. And it wasn't that they weren't all very nice, but she was <i>board</i>.<br />She looked over at her parents, and for just a moment, the King-Consort of Ruritania made a silly face at his daughter.<br />She kept the giggling quiet. urn:lj:scribbld.com:atom1:indigogirl:556 2010-07-28T05:09:50Z 2010-07-28T06:47:35Z * Your most marked characteristic?<br />Well, there's the obvious. I'm pronouncedly a natural redhead.<br />* The quality you most like in a man?<br />Joy<br />* The quality you most like in a woman?<br />.Joy<br />* What do you most value in your friends?<br />Joy. Go figure.<br />* What is your principle defect?<br />Self-indulgence<br />* What is your favorite occupation?<br />Fencing.<br />* What is your dream of happiness?<br />Happiness for my country that doesn't preclude getting out some.<br />* What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes?<br />Well, I guess there's always accidental eternal damnation<br />* What would you like to be?<br />Doesn't 'The Demon Queen of Ruritania' have a great ring to it.<br />* In what country would you like to live?<br />Ruritania...with an option for getting out whenever I'm about to go crazy.<br />* What is your favorite color?<br />Red..<br />* What is your favorite flower?<br />Tea roses<br />* What is your favorite bird?<br />Nightingale<br />* Who are your favorite prose writers?<br />Orczy, Bujold<br />* Who are your favorite poets?<br />Rilke, Schiller<br />* Who is your favorite hero of fiction?<br />Zorro<br />* Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?<br />Cordelia Vorkosigan. Marguerite Blakeny -- in the better-done incarnations.<br />* Who are your favorite composers?<br />Handel, Mozart, Wagner&#160;(had to, come on), and Parton<br />* Who are your favorite painters?<br />Rembrandt, Rasputin<br />* Who are your heroes in real life?<br />My parents, Uncle Logan.<br />* Who are your favorite heroines of history?<br />Queen Flavia I,&#160; Mom.<br />* What are your favorite names?<br />Marie, Olivia. Adler<br />* What is it you most dislike?<br />How much my country has needed the bigotry kicked out of it. Fortunately, Mom got a lot of it done already. And the culture has a shallowness about royalty that makes certain things a lot easier now.<br />* What historical figures do you most despise?<br />At least 10% of my ancestors.<br />* What event in military history do you most admire?<br />The ones nobody knows about.<br />* What reform do you most admire?<br />The various Ruritanian marriage reforms. .<br />* What natural gift would you most like to possess?<br />A tail.<br />* How would you like to die?<br />.With enough time for some /fantastic/ last words.<br />* What is your present state of mind?<br />Bemused<br />* To what faults do you feel most indulgent?<br />Family's.<br />* What is your motto?<br />Never panic. Watch /them/ panic. It's more entertaining. urn:lj:scribbld.com:atom1:indigogirl:362 2010-07-22T00:31:29Z 2010-07-22T00:32:18Z What <i> was</i> that thing in the Institute backyard, a new twist on the traditional N'garai Holiday Cairn?<br /><br />Margarete Logan Wagner of the House of Elphburg still wouldn't know after she'd fallen with a 'wumph' into a somersault onto...well, still the Xavier's backyard. But something was off....