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OoC:...
They all gathered quickly, none of them straying too far, all of them sobered from the chaotic afternoon. Jacquez's dark eyes lingered on Ruri, feeling a shade of guilt that she had been lost in the shuffle. She had familiarized herself with the beach, both by touch and by scent, but it was unkind to leave her behind both ways, coming and going. He let his gaze wander from her slight frame to each separate member of their ragged band. Firefly, putting on a brave face, but shaken by the notion of losing her friend. Leroy, busying himself to avoid the pain seeing of his memoryless mate. Haven, chilled by the firsthand experience of real violence. Svara, teetering on her weak legs, clinging to the deer pelt as they all filed into her chamber. It was not the bold and glorious beginning he had planned, but Lady Luck had always been a fickle mistress. He had known that long before his handsome ship had been dashed on the rocks, his crewmates scattered and lost. He had known from the beginning that he had no natural forces on his side - why else would he have an arm taken from him, before he could even remember how it happened? One could not dwell on petty things such as luck. One simply had to survive.
"Mes amis," he began, rich voice filling the room. "What happened today should be seen as a wakeup call. As lone wolves, as strays, we are the dregs of society. Those in packs will look down upon us, attack us, even kill us for trespassing. But we will not stand for it any longer." The collie-hybrid paced slowly in the small room, one arm tucked behind his back, the words to his impromptu speech arranging themselves in his mind moments before he spoke. "We spoke of building our own pack, a place for those unwanted and malcontent to gather safely, to lick their wounds and draw solace in the fact that they are not alone any longer. And you, my faithful five, have pledged your allegiances to me, your trust that I will always keep your best interests in mind." He paused for effect, whirling on his heel to face them. His proud plumed tail waved slowly behind him, matching the tempo of the patriotic music he could hear playing in his mind. If only they had a flag, to hoist behind him...
"It is no longer in your best interests to remain loners! We must form our pack now, tonight! Svara Thames nearly died today because she was alone. It was nothing short of a miracle that she survived the wounds as well as she did. We are all miracles, surviving the great losses that life has taken from us. Some are physical -" He waved his claws as a gesture towards his empty shoulder socket, toward Ruri's clouded eyes, toward Svara's mangled tail, -"And some are emotional." He nodded towards Haven, and then Leroy, and then Firefly. "But we all survived. And we will continue to survive! No matter who wants to hurt us, to cut our hearts open, to wish we were dead! Because we, the first and founding members of the Cour des Miracles, the Street of Miracles, do not submit so easily to the demands of others. We are a den of solitude, where we can scoff at the rules that others play by, and act on our impulses without repercussion. We are all of the same race - the race that looks for one another, where loyalty is our greatest asset. As long as we have each other, we will never fall!"
Jacquez planted his feet apart, hand firmly on his hip - the pose of a conqueror, the same he had adapted when he first alighted on their shore. He knew they would all look after one another; already they had bonded, they trusted each other, they trusted him. He was their king. And his first act as king would be to establish their nobility; they were more than mere lackeys. They were of his royal court. They deserved titles. He would give them what they deserved.
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