Finding Her Queen[closed][dated]

Roulette quietly slipped out of the front door of the shop labeled Xarith's General Goods, using the key she had managed to find for herself. Locking the door back up behind herself, she made her way onto the chilly streets of the city.

The 'ling still wore a set of bandages around her midsection to keep her slowly healing wounds safe, but she was more than well enough to walk around be herself. So long as she didn't cause any trouble. ...Which actually was a long-shot for her.

It had been two days since she woke up in the shop after the attack and she was just glad to be alive. Though, she still needed some time to have on her own and just get some air. Staying in a room above a shop with an alchemy room doesn't make for the freshest of air after all. Normally, she'd have woken up Etulia to ask if she wanted to come along, but being watched all hours of they day left her with a feeling of wanting to be by herself for at least a little bit.

Rounding a corner, Roulette found herself in a dim alley. Wincing ever so slightly, she was forced to take a seat on the ground behind a large wooden box to rest.

Her wound began to act up again, but it didn't bother her much since she knew it was healing. She simply closed her eyes, laying her head back against the wall and taking in the fresh cool winter air.

'H'mm, how long has this changeling been here; Why hasn't she contacted the hive...' She though quietly to herself. It hadn't taken long to learn how to walk softly, especially in a place where you had to be someone else to get what you wanted, but she was a queen and as far as she was concerned everything else could go bite her tail. She was allowed to look however she wanted.

Destracting prior conversations aside she had moved to looked at the changeling. Bandaged, red mane, calm and collected. Probably hurt by whoever owned the house, but her mother had always told her to speak first liquify later. Instead her magical grip wrapped itself around the old create before lifting it slowly.

"My usually outings are usually entertaining, griffons, ponies, snacks, running, and more." She paused as she dropped the create a few feet away. "But never... have I found a changeling, that wasn't a patrol." She spoke calmly, though it was obvious she was trying to control her excitment. She lowered her rump into a tall, rather regal looking sit, across the alleyway from the other changeling she had found.

Roulette calmly glanced to the side as the box lifted its self off of the ground and away from her, about to speak up but forced into a pause as the tall shape filled her view. She had expected to see a unicorn, or at least no one near the one she was looking at just now.

"My queen? The dice haven't rolled snake eyes for you yet? When the war erupted, I was afraid I was one of the last left." She said, voice calm and collected despite the racing heart inside of her chest. She fell silent once her queen began to speak, wishing to bow to her, but feeling it would be better to simply lower her head and not risk irritating her injury by shifting position too often.

Keeping her head down and eyes closed, the 'ling spoke up once more. "I am sorry for not being here for you my queen. I was torn away from the family the moment the griffons ran us through. If I knew you were here, I would have come much sooner."

"Don't bow to me; makes me feel ooolllld." She stated with a roll over her eyes before looking back down to her servent. "Can't say the same for my mother. Honestly I thought the Manehatten outpost was all that was left. Are you the only survivor of your group?" She then paused before waving her hoof to dismiss the question. She honestly didn't want to know the answer to that. "You're hurt, how... why... please tell me you didn't try to cut your underside open in a fit of suicidal depression." She asked, the hoof that had waved now making a motion for the bandages on the others waist.

Roulette rose her head, giving it one slow shake to answer 'no' in response to the questions.

"No, nothing of that sort. My friend and I were attacked two days ago by some thugs that thought we might have something worth stealing. I took a knife for her." She replied simply, looking down at her bandages. "Luckily, the dice rolled in my favor and I survived to play another day. Luck has always seem to favor me. ...For the most part anyway."

"So you have another changeling with you? That's good, I have plenty of room in the expansion of the new hive. Plus the two of you would be a nice addition and a huge boost to moral. I could finally convince the generals that small scouting party's should be launched to find other changelings." She spoke calmly, more to herself then to the other, he hoof resting upon her chin as she stood up, her gaze turning down to the thing at the ground. "Where are you staying right now?" The question was complimented by the raise of an eyebrow as she looked from one end of the alleyway to the other, her facial expression slowly turning into that of disgust. "Sure hope it isn't here..."

Roulette kept her eyes focused onto those of her queen while listening to her speak. Waiting for the words offered to her to finish coming, she finally spoke up herself.

"No, she is not a fellow changeling. She is a pony." She replied simply. "I saved her from some griffons who were going to eat her, and she's been following me since."

"And no, I am not staying here in this alley. I was taking a walk and simply stopped here to rest. I didn't want to roll the dice on my injury. I am staying in a shop very close to here. I was taken there after the attack and the owner patched me up."

Androconia stared at her, several thoughts running through her head before she finally spoke very slowly. "The shop owner is a changeling?" The question seemed a tinge desperate as she stared down the other changeling.

"And uh... is that the only injury you sustained fighting the griffons?" try to dodge the question of how she managed to convince a snack to follow her around was just a touch to far. But it wouldn't have been the first urge she'd fought off this conversation.

"No, my queen. The shop owner is a zebra." Roulette answered calmly, yet bluntly. She didn't say much else while letting her words linger in the air around them. She knew enough about reading faces from her gambling to see that the larger changeling with her was having some troubles with her thoughts.

Remaining silent about the fact, she simply listened to the next question offered to her. "Yes, it is my first injury. It only happened because they came from behind in a surprise attack. I tried to chase them off with threats, but they called my bluff, so I lost the hoof."

She shook her head, her expression slowly turning into shock. "Well I think you came out on top, you've got two food sources. I would like you to report back to the hive and debrief him on your ability to stop griffons with minimal injury. Though what he asks you to do afterwards is his goal. I won't tell you can't come back but I would be cautious if you bring your... friend?" The last word was more tact on, not quiet sure if she should state it that way.

Roulette stood up to get as close to her queen's level as she could get. "Sorry, but I can't return to the hive. If my situation was different, I would go without any hesitation. But, things are not different." She stated simply. "I owe it to Etulia to stay with her, she needs a guide. Anything that might make me unable to be that one for her isn't worth it."

The 'ling paused for a short moment, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I also owe my life to that shopkeeper, him and her are the reason I'm still alive and standing here today. I still believe in the hive, but my loyalties are greater elsewhere."

"Wha..." She let the comment of the changeling sink in for a moment. She didn't even know the other lings name.

"Did you just..." Her face went from shock to what seemed to be irritation. "It wasn't a request... The information and abilities you hold are vital to the hive. You clearly have the ability and experience we need to combat griffons, and you're refusing to share it because you don't want to leave a pony and a zebra for maybe an hour?" Could feel her irritation turning into angry. A lot more was running through her mind then how this changeling was basically ignoring her whole race.

She took a deep breath and let her eyes fall shut. "If you're so obligated, then bring them with you..."

Roulette kept her expression neutral despite the grin she was wearing on the inside. Years making a living off of money won by gambling didn't come without knowing how to make a perfect poker face after all.

"Alright. I'll give you anything I know in exchange for being able to stay where I am currently located." She replied calmly. "However, this is all I'm willing to do. I wish to remain neutral. I may not like the griffons, but the connections I've made are too important to just risk by doing dangerous things."

"Why are you being so stubborn about this? It's not like I'm asking you to abandon them forever." She blew a few hairs out of her face in frustration before turning away from the other and took a few steps away. If she didn't leave, she'd probably do something she'd regret. Her ear then parked up and she looked back. "What's your name?" She was watching her through the corner of her eye, over her should, she could care to turn around anymore then that. She was still a changeling, and was still important one way or another.

"I've simply spent my life in the casino, and I've finally won something I'm not willing to risk." Roulette replied simply, not seeming to mind just who it was she was rejecting as she completely made up her mind. "Roulette, Roulette is my name. I'm sorry I couldn't help you more than I'm already offering my queen. If the situation was any different, your cards probably would have been better."

Andro gave a small huff. Turning back to face the way she was walking, Her whole day no officially ruined. "I'll remember it." Was all she could say as she wandered to the end of the alleyway, squish one of the small metal trash cans as she walked. It was painfully obvious she was mad, maybe just a touch of a tantrum. With the turn of a corner they were out of sight of each other.

Roulette watched as her queen left her alone, simply turning away. Without another word, she made her way back to the shop that functioned as her home to get back before anypony else would wake up. Her emotions were rather neutral despite what had happened and her expression showed it. She didn't quite know what to think about it.