the burden of a title [c]

Klaus let his gaze drift across the gardens that bloomed in the temperate spring air, his scarlet eyes distant and clouded as absent-mindedly he let the freshly flowered and vibrant flower patches ringed by hedges fill his sight, the sky above a pale sky blue dotted with wispy shreds of pure white clouds. It was a pleasant day, by all means, but his mind was wandering and distracted, taking in his environment but not actively acknowledging or aware of it. He wondered if Lavender remembered their meeting, checking the sun's progress in the sky idly before letting his sight drop again to the flowers eagerly spreading their petals to soak up the day.

The mienshao's tail flicked behind him slowly, contemplatively. Klaus wouldn't be surprised if Lavender had forgotten, it would hardly be the first time, but often Humboldt made sure to keep him on schedule and made sure to regularly check and keep up on the appointments Lavender made or marked down. A good man... if such a word really applied to the Malamar. He's have to remember to invite them to tea or a meal again sometime soon, or perhaps just a walk, to check in on them and ask how things were.

Klaus turned, slowly, ivory claws shifting on the flagstones under his feet as he turned to the canopied table behind him, set and ready in case his wandering pale friend did manage to recall their arranged get together. On it a book lay, its leather cover not even a decade old but already well worn at the corners and along its edges by worried paws. He stretched out one arm, clawed digits resting gently, almost timidly, atop it, the trailing long ends of fur falling over its cover, almost but not quite obscuring the title raised upon the tooled cover. Record of the Gaiteuil Dynasty, Years 339-375, Reign of Jeannot Gaiteuil the Second.

One day, Klaus' son might stand here, looking upon a similar record with his own name. He'd already read through all that the historians who had worked under his father had written concerning the reign of Jeannot II, but for some reason he kept going back to Adarsa, to request this same volume and borrow it from its shelves again. Perhaps it was the lingering heaviness in his heart. Perhaps it was his growing anxiety and worry. Lavender had been quick to come up with a plan of immediate action, and things thus far seemed to be going well, but he couldn't help but fret. And to wonder.

What would Jeannot do with this prophecy, and with these... "humans" who had turned into pokemon that were falling upon his land now? How would he have handled it?

Klaus' thoughts and heart heavy and distracted, the sudden appearance, silent and immediate as always, wasn't noticed at first, but after a brief moment Klaus felt the shift in the atmosphere around him, the Mienshao turning to cast a heavy-lidded gaze upon the pale countenance of his friend and comrade. Long ago he'd learned to find the Gardevoir's habit of teleporting wherever they willed instead of walking to not be so startling, and years having them serving directly under him as Guard and then General eased his initial startlement when Lavender would appear out of thin air beside him. Now he greeted him with a calm blink, and an easy smile, warm and genuine if faint, to see the distractable and over-worked Guild Master had still managed to arrive, and not in the late evening hours as well.

"Lavender." Klaus greeted, softly, almost as though he was purring with the steady rumble of his voice. He nodded, acknowledging the Guild Master, and he flicked his ears to the side, one arm motioning to the table with a gentle sweep of his limb and his cloak behind him. "I am pleased you could make it... and remembered to as well." A note of teasing, gentle and familiar. "Feel free to make yourself at home. Shall I have tea brought for us?"