Open to Join Looking for Lelouch [5TL20]

Duke Regent of Noon
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Lelouch was perched elegantly on the window shelf, his golden eyes half-lidded as he basked in the afternoon sun filtering through the glass. His ears twitched as the unmistakable sound of jingling approached, disrupting his serene moment. Turning his head, he caught sight of the low-born calico prancing through his ivy-encased archway, a clump of lavender awkwardly clasped in her teeth.

He watched her for a moment, noting the unrefined way she shook her pelt and the ungraceful manner in which she trotted through his meticulously kept garden. A delicate, almost imperceptible wrinkle formed at the bridge of his nose. Who was this to enter his domain with such brazen informality?

As Sushi approached, Lelouch meticulously rose to his paws, arching his back in a delightful stretch, His feathered plume of a tail swept behind him with a grace that seemed almost effortless. Stepping just beyond the tempered glass, and into the backyard, but still on the legde, Lelouch inclined his head ever so slightly, his expression one of practiced indifference.

"Bonsoir, petite" Lelouch began, his voice a smooth, velvety purr tinged with an accent that added an air of near sophistication to every word. "I am indeed Lelouch von Noon, first of his name, heir to the Duchy of Noon. But pray tell, what business does one such as yourself have here, in my garden?" His gaze flicked briefly to the bundle of lavender she had placed on the ground, his eyes narrowing slightly as if to assess its worth.

"It is not often I receive... visitors from the lesser quarters" He continued, his tone polite but carrying an undercurrent of condescension. "Yet, here you stand, bearing a gift, I presume. How charming. Do enlighten me, mademoiselle—what has brought you to seek an audience with one of my stature?"

Lelouch's tail flicked lazily as he awaited her response, his posture regal and his expression one of guarded curiosity, as if weighing whether this interruption was worthy of his attention.

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Sushi tilted her head to the side for a moment, her ears swiveled to try and make sense of the tom-cat's wordings, she knew what he said, but the way he worded his things was rather odd, and she had no idea what the more fancier sounding words were, but it wasn't her business to be bothered by it. She just assumed it was a greeting of some extravagant kind. Either way, it was rude not to respond to such a high ranking cat's questions, though she could hardly tell much difference between herself and him species-wise aside from the fancy collar, perhaps that made him higher in ranks.

"Yes! A gift!" She confirmed, nudging the fragrant flowers towards the fancy feline. Sushi was a fair deal smaller than him, but she wasn't considered small breed wise as far as she knew, she didn't even know what breed she was, nor did she care if she was honest wit herself. "I wish to be friends! From what I've heard, you're of high stature." She added, her paws light against the grass so she didn't ruin the lush green that the garden bore. "Not that your position is the only reason I'd like to be friends, of course, I believe everyone deserves a friend, I want to be that friend to everyone!"

The plump calico took a seat in front of the regal tom-cat. "If we can't be friends yet I'd be super happy just to chat, I love chatting too" Sushi cooed, her dappled tail swaying behind her contently.

Sealed within noble blood, inherent greatness, exalted by ancestry's flood
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Lelouch’s golden eyes remained fixed on Sushi as she nudged the lavender toward him, a faint expression of amusement mingled with a subtle hint of disdain flickering across his face. He inclined his head ever so slightly, the gesture more a show of manners than genuine gratitude.

"How très... quaint." Lelouch murmured, his voice dripping with a refined condescension. He gazed down at the unkempt lavender bunch as though it were an artifact of some lesser culture, something to be appreciated from a distance but never truly valued. "How thoughtful, though one might say such tokens are rather... rustic."

Lelouch eyed the calico though the gesture was elegant, there was a distinct air of formality to it, as if this simple exchange were a ceremony of great importance. He extended a paw and jumped down from his white perch, and delicately tapped the lavender. As messy as it seemed, it still smelled nice and matched the northern flowerbeds in color. His gaze lifted. "You wish to be my friend, ma chère? An aspiration most would consider... ambitious." His eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he looked her over, his expression now one of thinly veiled superiority.

Lelouch's tail flicked behind him, the motion betraying a hint of impatience. "Friendship is a precious commodity, not to be granted lightly. Yet, you seem so... eager. And I must say, there is a certain... charm in your simplicity, though I fear you may not fully grasp the intricacies of the social circles I frequent." Friendship was a delicate dance, one of trust, respect, and mutual... understanding. This dance was not easily mastered.

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, as if sharing a great secret. "Let us say, for now, that I am willing to entertain the idea of such an arrangement—though I must warn you, such an arrangement comes with certain... expectations. One must be prepared to rise to the occasion, to meet the standards set by those of us who walk in more esteemed company."

Lelouch straightened, finding that he had held his breath as he leaned in closer to talk to her, his posture regal as ever, and offered a smile that was more a display of his own superiority than any genuine warmth. "For now, we shall call ourselves acquaintances, with the potential for more... should you prove yourself worthy of such an honor. Conversation, at least, I can offer freely."

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"Acquaintances, got it" Sushi gave a bold and certain nod, but her smiled always tugged at the corners of her mouth and her swaying tail betrayed her joy, but it wasn't uncommon for her to be this happy. Sushi gave her pelt a quick shake, making the belled collar make high pitched tinkling that made her ears perk her use her paw to lightly bat at the bell.

Though she didn't know what 'acquaintances' really meant, Lelouch never told Sushi no to her offer of friendship, so to her, they were sure to be friends now! But before she could say another word, her ears picked up on pawsteps from another cat who walked through the ivy archway and twitched her ears with curiosity. Two friends in one day! How great is that! She purred to herself and turned her head to the dark shape.

It seemed her was directing himself to the tall stone stature that was raining water. Who knows why he was so interested in it, maybe he house-folk weren't able to give him enough water? That was probably it. Regardless, she cleaned up her fur and called out a friendly greeting, sure he would respond positively, because why wouldn't he? All cats of any type could use a friend, and Sushi was happy to be that friend to all. "Hi there! My name is Sushi! What's yours?"  

Marquess of Noon
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Lelouch's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed the dark-furred intruder, his finely tuned sense of decorum ruffled by the tom’s casual disregard for the sanctity of his garden. The stranger's boldness in bypassing the conversation to drink from his fountain was an affront, a breach of the unspoken rules that governed proper social conduct.

Lelouch’s gaze flicked from Sushi, who seemed blissfully unaware of the impropriety, to the new arrival. His tail lashed once, betraying a moment of irritation before he smoothly masked it with an air of haughty indifference.

“Charmed, I’m sure.” Lelouch began, his voice silky yet edged with a faint chill as he addressed the dark tom. “Though I must confess, such... unannounced arrivals are rarely welcomed with enthusiasm in Whitehart, especially when they involve partaking in another’s hospitality without so much as a proper introduction.”

He stepped forward, positioning himself between Sushi and the fountain, his posture effortlessly regal. “One would expect, at the very least, a certain level of decorum when entering the grounds of a noble house.” He continued, his tone suggesting that this expectation was hardly being met. Though there was something vaguely intriguing about the newcomer, Lelouch was not one to let such interests override his principles.

“If you’ve come seeking refreshment.” He added, his voice softening just enough to avoid outright hostility. “You may do so, but know that this is the home of Lelouch von Noon, Marquee of Noon, and those who enter are expected to observe a certain... propriety.”

Turning slightly to acknowledge Sushi’s cheerful introduction, Lelouch allowed a small, tight-lipped smile to grace his features. “It seems, dear Sushi, that my garden has attracted more company than usual today. How delightful.” He said, the word laced with irony, before returning his focus to the dark tom. “Now, monsieur, since you’ve already helped yourself, might I at least have the pleasure of knowing the name of this... uninvited guest?”

Friendship knows no bounds, and neither do I.

✿✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 🍣 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✿

The cat introduced himself as a prince, quite a lot of this fancy royal business in this neighborhood that was for sure. Sushi wasn't sure what was up with all of these fancy words these cats were saying in the slightest, she had no idea what a marquee or a prince, king or princess even was, pretty words regardless, but they royal status held no meaning to her. But she was sure of one thing, he was a cat who travelled from place to place, saying so himself.

"You travel? You must always be thirsty, I have a lovely pond at my home, perhaps I could lead you there some time" She offered, then she realized that an empty pond wouldn't be as appealing as a free flowing water source such as a fountain. "There are dappled fish in there that swim and cause ripples, there are smooth pebbles around it with pink flowers lacing the edges, it's not hard to spot" the plump calico explained, using one of her paws to make almost exaggerated gestures that added to the bounce in her words. 

With a flick of her ear, she had realized she hadn't properly introduced herself to this cat. The fluffy feline shook some grass from her coat. The bell that hung over her throat rang clear, a sweet, simple sound, though Sushi always had to resist the urge to bat at the bell once it made its tinkling sounds, as tempting as it was. 

Finally she chose to speak again, positioning herself comfortably on the grass "It's nice to meet you Sushi, I am the friend- acquaintance of Lelouch!" Sushi purred with pride, it was almost apparent that Sushi wasn't big on labels, labels except friend of course.

Marquess of Noon
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 Lelouch watched Aodhan with a measured gaze, taking in the tom’s casual demeanor and the way he stretched out languidly along the fountain’s edge. The contrast between the newcomer’s laid-back attitude and Lelouch’s own cultivated poise was striking, though Lelouch wasn’t easily impressed. Still, the mention of royal lineage piqued his interest, even if he suspected the claim was more bravado than reality.

As Aodhan introduced himself with a flourish, Lelouch allowed a slight, knowing smile to play on his lips. The title of prince - whether true or imagined - added a touch of intrigue, though Lelouch was hardly one to be swayed by titles alone. After all, he had encountered many who claimed noble blood but lacked the refinement to back it up.

“Prince Aodhan, you say?” Lelouch’s voice was smooth, almost purring with subtle condescension. “How fascinating. Camelot must be quite the kingdom to produce such... humble royalty.” He dipped his head in a small, almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgment, a gesture that was more formality than genuine respect.

His gaze shifted to Sushi, who was speaking with her usual exuberance. “Indeed, Sushi, you are my... acquaintance.” Lelouch painfully echoed, his tone indulgent as he glanced at the plump calico. Lelouch took a step closer to the fountain, his golden eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and aloofness.

“I trust you’ll find the Noon estate to your liking, Prince Aodhan. We are, after all, a household of distinction. What brings you to this corner of Whitehart? Surely a prince such as yourself has more pressing matters than wandering through gardens and quenching his thirst at fountains.”
There was a challenge in his words, though it was veiled by his polite tone. Lelouch was testing Aodhan, curious to see if the self-proclaimed prince could match his airs of nobility with substance.

Friendship knows no bounds, and neither do I.

✿✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 🍣 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✿

Sushi's bright eyes sparkled with interest as she listened to the toms exchange words, her tail flicking with excitement. The talk of kingdoms and royalty was so fancy, it made her feel more important to be included in the conversation. She imagined what a place like Camelot might look like, with grand structures and beautiful gardens much like the one the cats were seated in, a place straight out of a fairytale. She puffed out her chest a little, her bell jingling to re-establish her presence to the noble company.

"Camelot sounds so magical!" She mewed, her voice high and cheerful. Her mind raced with thoughts of adventures in such a place, sure she had small adventures in the wilderness with the funny wild cats, but Camelot seemed a lot more like a fairytale from what she has heard. "I wish I could have seen it! Maybe you can show me where you're staying sometime, Prince Aodhan?" She added with a giggle, clearly entertained by the idea of trudging about by the side of a prince. 

Turning her attention to Lelouch, Sushi gave him a quick, playful nudge with her nose. Her plump calico body nearly bounced with energy. "Oh, Lelouch, isn't it exciting to have a real prince here?" She said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I bet you don't get many of those at the Noon estate!" Sushi loved the idea of being in the presence of a place where such interesting cats gathered. 

Sushi then looked back at Aodhan, her whiskers twitching in curiosity as she imagined what his sister might be like. "Do you think your sister will like it here too?" She asked, genuinely interested. The idea of meeting another cat from a place as mysterious as Camelot filled her with anticipation. "I hope she is as nice as you!" Sushi added giving Aodhan a warm, friendly smile, her eyes reflecting a kindness that seemed to come so naturally to her.

Marquess of Noon
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 Lelouch listened intently as Aodhan recounted the fall of Camelot, his expression remaining composed, though his mind whirred with curiosity. The tales of distant kingdoms, of royalty and noble bloodlines, stirred a familiar sense of nostalgia within him. This Aodhan, with his regal bearing and mysterious past, intrigued Lelouch greatly.

Sushi’s bubbly excitement, however, was a sharp contrast to the gravity of Aodhan’s words. As the calico chirped about the wonders of Camelot, Lelouch rolled his eyes. "Ah, Sushi. Indeed, it is not every day that a prince graces us with his presence. The Noon estate has always been a place of refinement and tradition, but even I must admit, having a prince among us adds a certain... je ne sais quoi."

He shifted his gaze back to Aodhan, his golden eyes glimmering with interest. "Your tale is one of both tragedy and intrigue, Prince Aodhan. The fall of a kingdom, the mystery of your sire’s fate... Oui, such things are the fabric of legends. Whitehart may not be Camelot, but it is a place where such stories are appreciated."

With a graceful flick of his tail, Lelouch continued. " I, for one, would love to hear more of your adventures and perhaps share a few tales of my own." Languidly he gave his chest fur a lick, noticing a single hair was out of place. Couldn't have that, could we? Especially in such noble company.

"As for your sister, I hope she finds this land well. It is not often that we receive visitors of such noble lineage...."