Gossip

[Random NPC]

OOC: Occurs right before Queen to Knight Two - Checkmate

Sitting in the lobby, Daniel, Red Fountain's resident gossip, turned to another of the lounging students and said with a crude laugh, "You know, you've got to hand it to Sky - for all the crap that he gets for being spineless, he sure knows how to get with the ladies. And not just any old ladies - he gets with the hottest of the hot." Resting his hands behind his head, completely oblivious to the fact that one of Sky's so-called 'ladies,' Christine, was sitting within hearing range, he continued, "First there was that smokin' blonde princess. Sure that was an arranged marriage, but we've all seen the pictures of them canoodling - she had the hots for him big time. And then there was Bloom who was just unimaginably hot - if you ask me, she's the best looking one that Sky's dated. It's just something about that fiery red hair, you know? Perhaps now that she's free, I ought to get with her . . ." at this, a grin darted across his face as he slipped into his fantasies before he shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Anyhow, then there's Christine, who we all know. She's quite the looker too - and even though they never officially came out as a couple, I bet you a hundred bucks that they were doing . . . couple-y things, if you get my drift. I mean, how could they not, what with them practically being in the same dorm. And you know, I've seen her go into his room quite a few times - and often late at night or reeeeally early in the morning. It looked like they were doing some sneaking around, so they must have been doing something that they were hoping to keep on the downlow. Well, too bad they weren't sly enough to keep me at bay."

Pausing for a moment to catch his breath, he continued to the small audience he had attracted with his bawdy talk, "But poor Christine, she's giving it up and she doesn't even know that Sky's playing her. Get this - I was at the Java House a few nights ago and you'll never guess who I saw getting cozy in a corner booth. That's right - Sky. He was with that chick, Alice. Let's just say that she ain't just 'Alice' to him, she's his Ice Princess." Hooting at what he considered a clever jab at Alice's Winx, her being the fairy of winter and all, Daniel slapped at the armrest for dramatic effect, successfully getting the other guys around him riled up. As he continued to laugh, his face turning red and having to gasp for breath, for a long moment, he didn't realize that the others around him had suddenly stopped laughing. Finally realizing the change, Daniel wiped at the tears streaming down his cheeks and said, "What?" He didn't have to wait for an answer, however, when the crowd parted and he saw that Christine was sitting on a sofa a few feet away. His face quickly draining of color, he whispered, "Oh."

[Chris Strongheart]

Christine looked every inch the queen she had been crowned, a regal tilt to her head and she carried herself in a very proud manner. She had fully stepped into her role as queen and did not approve of being talked poorly about.

"In the future, Daniel," she began calmly, her voice never straying above the calm tone she had developed, "do make sure that one of the subjects of your gossip isn't in the same room as you."

She took a small cleansing breath. She was not going to lose her composure and give the others something more to talk about. "And I do not think it's any of your concern as to what Sky and I did or did not do. My personal life is just that mine. I don't discuss your personal life with anyone and I'd appreciate the same courtesy."

[Random NPC]

From the growing crowd of onlookers, one of the students who still bristled at the idea that Red Fountain was actually home to a girl called out, "Hey, Dan, you gonna let her talk you down like that?"

At this, a few other voices chimed in, "Yeah, where's your pride, man?"

Turning bright red at the slams against his manhood, Daniel wavered for a moment. While he knew deep down that Christine was right, he was a new student and he wanted desperately to be accepted by the guys. And if letting her speak to him that way was going to jeopardize his chances at that . . . well, he just wouldn't allow it. Turning to Christine, he said, his voice shaking slightly, "Shut your trap, woman." Hearing hoots of a laughter and someone shouting out 'You tell her, Dan,' Daniel felt himself grow bolder as he said, "If you've got a problem with the way I talk, that's too bad; why don't you go run along and cry to your beloved prince - I'm sure he has room enough in his harem," at this, Daniel paused, and then gave his lowest blow, "for a half-breed like you."

[Chris Strongheart]

Christine's eyes widened in disbelief and then narrowed in anger. "How. Dare. You." she hissed, her voice frosty. "My bloodline is of little consequence here." She rose up, and stared down at the men, or little boys as they were acting. "I'm just as capable of wrangling dragons, discussing politics and countless other little boy sports as you are. True, I'm built a little more delicately then you, but I can handle myself."

[Random NPC]

Knowing that if he backed down now, he would be the laughing stock of Red Fountain, Daniel replied coolly, though inwardly he was quivering beneath Christine's icy gaze like a bloody fool, "You say you can handle yourself, but you can't - not without Sky. Ten bucks says that before the night is done with, you'll go running to him to tell him what mean things I've said about you."

[Chris Strongheart]

Christine's composure never faltered, although she was fuming as she stood before them. "Ten bucks?" she repeated. "Fine. You're on."

[tashii]

Tash who had come to Red Fountain for a couple of reasons had peaked into this room for a moment when she caught part of this littler conversation moving further into the room Tash watched it play out, knowing the worse thing she could probably do is back up Christine. As much as she wanted to if she were to do that then the boys would have even less respect for her.

But what could she do that would perhaps teach them a lesson. Oh yeah that would work now to wait for the right moment. Perhaps after Dan agreed to this little wager.

[Random NPC]

"Well, I might as well go ahead and say thanks for your money," Daniel snickered. "Although, for someone like you, your highness," he drawled, sarcasm clear in his voice, "ten bucks is probably peasants' change, isn't it?"

[Chris Strongheart]

"Or the reverse can be just as true," she said simply. "I don't always need Sky to defend my honor. I'm quite capable of doing that myself." She brushed her bangs off her forehead and gracefully walked from the room. She would not discuss this with Sky, not now, not ever. This was something she had to do - alone.

[tashii]

Once Christine had made her exit, Tash moved forward a look of sheer amusement on her face. Stopping just in front of Dan, "Want something to gossip about? Gossip about this..." Tash said loud for all the other boys to hear before she leaned into Dan and whispered. "I was going to kiss you but that is even to disgusting to think about, however how jealous to do you think Psi would get if there was a rumor going around that I kissed you? And I would so hate to see you hurt because of a little rumor." Tash said pasting a flirtatious look she had seen Kevyn use so often on her face. Let the boys think what ever they wanted about this. "Think about what I said?" Tash asked a little louder so this time the boys closest could hear then abruptly turned foot and walked to the door. At the door Tash paused and looking back at the boys grinned, "Are your lives really so pathetic that you have to make them better by gossiping about other people and who they associate with? Your supposed to be hero's not these beanie bopers that you obliviously are." Tash didn't wait to see what they were going to say to that one, she just walked out of the room.