Fancy Feline

Oh goodness. Ribbons. I loved coloring those ribbons. The hair was fun too, putting all those stripes and watching it change. It took a good three hours but I loved every minute of it.

I've been trying all week to make something --anything!-- for *Ryu-No-Joou and failing every time. When I was able to make something decent, I felt selfish because I really liked it and didn't want to mail it off. But it's on its way to you, Friend, and I'm sorry for spoiling the surprise again!

Young Mingxia is preparing for one of her first days listening in on meetings at the Tiger Court. In my Big Story, each species of animal in each country has its own Court of... well, I guess you could call them nobles. But these aren't the kind of nobles who just sit around and be rich all day, hell no. Those at Court have EARNED their places.

Mingxia was born within the walls of the Chinese Tiger Court. She is a bastard, but no one ever treats her like one because both of her parents are well-known and well-liked. She was trained in a fierce brand of diplomacy by both of them. Her father is a doting nobleman and her mother... not so much. But her mother had the bigger influence, keeping her attention with an introduction to the treasures inherent in the opposite sex. Mingxia is educated and intelligent enough to represent her area of China but her heart is not in it at all. She'd rather be pursuing men...

Keitai is able to pass in and out of Court as he wishes; it comes with the prestige of being married to Sumiyuki. After working his ass off he is in good standing as a diplomat/

Ink spirits live a long time and are regarded as wise because of it. But ink has no court nor hierarchy. Sumiyuki is accepted in most Japanese Animal Courts because her advice is valuable, but she is not officially part of any of them. Before a certain terrible fire, she was last seen at the Fox Court.