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[ the tablet is sat in Elizabeth's lap, she hasn't worked out really how it works beyond hitting buttons until something seemed to happen. Which she's frowning so at it then far too pleased with herself when it seems to do what she wants it to. ]

How on earth do they make the little images move -- ? [ but it is no real, matter. She's learning to just accept the fact she doesn't understand how half this stuff works ] I've a few questions that I cannot ascertain simply from watching if I may be so bold... [ she licks her lips briefly before continuing. ] ... where does one find material to make clothes from? As I've yet to make sense of the items I find here made already, but the clothes I arrived in are... not fitting for most daily activities. [ It had only one layer of clothing and... no. No that seems wrong and strange and not at all decent. ]

As well as... [ she lent her head on her hand as she hummed. Making requests is strange, there ought to be people swarming about her, accompanying her wherever she went but now there isn't and its so odd to ask. ] Would I be able to request someone to take a walk about the city with me? Someone who is familiar with the times, so to speak, as I find myself unable to make sense of very much of it. England was a very different place to me, and I cannot make heads nor tails of her now. I do not ever recall her raining so much. [ and she smiles very briefly. ]

My thanks for your time.

[ ooc: my mistake, this should read as coming from Victoria Guildford. forgot to add it in, all my apologies for the confusion. ]

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[ Anne is there only moments later, carrying a closed umbrella that hangs at her arm, but she relies mostly on her cloak today since it is a lighter drizzle (in comparison to average).

It's easy enough to spot the other woman, who must be about the same age Anne would guess, with her bright hair and particular clothing. Anne must offer a full appreciative glance before curtsying just slightly, one arm before and one behind in friendly exaggeration as she looks up from beneath her hood. ]

My lady?

My lady. [ And in reply Elizabeth gave a curtsey in greeting. Taking her time to look the other woman over. Just as appreciative of her clothing, how she held herself. Yes, someone she could talk to finally, that would have a proper understanding of such matters. ] Forgive me for not mentioning it earlier, but I find the method of communication here far too impersonal. I am Lady Victoria Guildford. Lady in waiting to Her Majesty, Elizabeth of York, Queen of England.

[ She's grown comfortable saying it, she stumbles less on the words now. Even if it still tastes bitter to do it, she can smile over it regardless. Court had taught her well about hiding almost everything. ]

[ Guildford? Well that's familiar enough, though the woman's name itself isn't. Who she attends is far more interesting, and Anne's eyebrows certainly perk at the news. It takes her a moment longer than she would normally need to reply, because damn this woman attended Henry's mother. ]

My, I think our times very close indeed. My name is Anne Boleyn; I am lady in waiting to Her Majesty Katherine of Aragon, Queen of England.

[ Elizabeth in the end had picked the name completely at random, a half remembered name she remembered from reading over old accounts of court. ]

It is a pleasu-- [ and then her mind caught up with what her ears were hearing, and she stopped. She could feel her heart hammering in her chest. Because it couldn't be. ]

Boleyn? Of the Boleyn and Howard families? [ Her fingers curled in tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to still her racing pulse as she tried to keep her face calm, keep her mask in place. Names like Anne were too commonly used, she reasoned, and there might of been another Boleyn family she knew not of.

Never mind that only one was worth noting that served Queen Katherine.

It couldn't be true. She wanted to refuse it with all of her heart, all of her mind.

It would be too cruel. ]

[ The reaction is only suspicious because the woman couldn't seem to finish her own part of the interaction before inquiring further. Curious, because there should be nothing too strong of note at the time to gain such a reaction, but Anne just continues on with a low nod. ]

Yes, that is so. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Victoria.

I think I -- [ she paused, swallowing down on her words and grappled with her lie again. What had her cousins done before they came to prominence in court? ] -- I know of your mother, she also serves Her Majesty.

[ and she laughed, softly, as if it were a normal thing. ] Forgive me, it is strange to hear of the Princess Katherine spoken of as if she is already Queen. Her betrothal to Prince Arthur was so recent as well. [ and that felt to sufficiently covered her slip at least.

She was doing her best, with the confirmation, to keep her face pleasant, calm, as if she had not a care in the world or a worry in her heart. It was as if a ghost stood before her. Only it was not a ghost, it was a young woman that no idea of what was to come, no idea that she was to have a daughter at all. ] Shall we be about our tour then? [ And she gestured Anne ahead of her, letting the other woman lead the way, as was fitting, since Elizabeth had no idea where she was going. ]

[ MOMMY. It's Anne's turn to resist getting misty-eyed thinking of her own mother. She is accustomed to being away from home often, but it is a different situation here altogether.

Prince...Arthur, right. Anne doesn't have it in her to let her know how that turns out, so she just shakes her head in disbelief. It's still strange to be the one looking into the past. ]

Yes, of course.

[ Anne is still getting accustomed to her way around, but she at least knows which general areas to head towards! ]

Have you been here for a very long time?

[ Elizabeth took the moment when Anne turned to start walking to let her face fall, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. Trying to use the pain to cut through the shock. It gave the briefest moment to draw in a breath, to let her mind grapple with the facts whilst Anne seemed to be distract with her mother -- her grandmother that she had perhaps been in part named after.

Yet another woman Elizabeth had never known.

Elizabeth blinked away the slight blur in her vision. Tears had no use nor place here.

So she set off follow -- her mother, that was her mother and if what she said was true, she had no idea she even had a daughter. A daughter that would get her killed. ]

But a month or so. Not very long at all.

[ It might be a bit before they reach the market, so she's happy for idle conversation. Sometimes a distraction is the perfect solution, if only temporary. She can even muster up an exaggerated scoff on cue. ]

I have been here for but a fortnight or longer than you, my lady. I am truly not certain how much help I may be!

[ Elizabeth laughed at that, she'd been reclusive at least. But she always had been one to shut herself away when grief as deep as the one that hit her when she arrived here. ]

I have been nervous about approaching people here, so my knowledge has been limited. But now I see I had never needed to have been.

[ Her mind was strangely empty, because this was older than the fear of failing. Caught between watching her mother's face, memorizing how she spoke and talked and coming to terms with it at all. How many times had she had this dream? Of walking beside her mother, doing something so simple as mother's and daughters could. The background details might of changed the feeling remained the same.

But at the same time, it was all wrong. She wanted that smile turned on her with the full knowledge that despite everything, Elizabeth had become Queen, she wanted to see her mother's pride and wanted to babble the promises that she hadn't failed her, that she triumphed despite it all.

The words to do so composed in her mind over and over again -- and yet she said not one of them. She would have her mother happy and living and breathing and oblivious. That meant more than any of Elizabeth's own wishes. ]

I am very glad to have met you, my lady, and for your help in this matter. [ She tried to keep her tone light, to suit the day and their tasks. ]

[ She offers a great sigh in response to the other woman's claim of nerves, unaware of the true turmoil wreaking havoc inside of Victoria. Isn't the current situation sorrowful enough on it's own? ]

For true, I insist you may yet be in better care with another. Our dress is one such cause of any hostility you may have experienced from the local refugees. To show any sign of being a Transport marks you for bad luck in their eyes, and there is little to dissuade them but our own persistence and kindness.

[ Well, they did say Anne had been incredibly clever, and she was happy to find them not wrong. ]

Perhaps so, but I cannot make heads or tails of most of them. [ Which it was never unkind, when they tried to help, but it was a little daunting just how differently they all thought. ] You think kindness will help them think differently of us? [ That would require a great deal of patience to say the least. ]

Most of the other Transports seem to be overflowing with good Christian charity, but not so with the other refugees. Those that are from this time, and many not native to England. But...they are still it's people now, and as such they are our people. They have not seen it this way, for as you see they are poorly dressed and cared for, and have died from recent attacks on the Hold.

I think it to be our duty, nay, our honor to bring color back into this world, through whatever means possible. There can be no progress if one cannot love the land they fight for.

[ She's a little stunned at that, because she hadn't thought of them as soldiers of England. That made her stomach churn all over again. Made her feel small, these people were fighting a war for her country and they were no doubt dying for too.

She felt small and like she was at the portrait of her father's feet again, weeping because what is she to do? There were her people father, please speak to her, on heaven or on earth, she needed to know what to do.

( Elizabeth tried not to think of the irony that she was still in fact asking a parent of hers what to do, but it was too twisted and bitter to think on too long. )

But that all came down to the same thing: ]

I am in full agreement, my lady. We must do all we can to boost their spirits, in all manners that can be done. [ a pause, and she cast her eyes about. ] Have you always had such fervor for the English people?

I am glad you agree.

[ She shifts to glance over her shoulder, noting that the other woman always seems to be a step or so behind her. The poor woman must still be so troubled by the situation; Anne can sympathize. ]

I have only the dearest love for my family, and so I must love the land that nourishes us, and our lord and sovereign who protects and guides us. I must always have these thoughts in my mind no matter where I go, and I know I will not stray. It is God's will.

Wholeheartedly.

[ and when she caught the lady looking, she gave a smile, as untroubled as she could manage. Her very best to be cheerful. ]

So it would seem, and I am glad I am not... the only one to think such things. I must confess I do not understand how they think here sometimes.

[ With a scoff, good-natured as it is, Anne waves her hand in an almost dismissive motion. ]

Trouble yourself not overlong. There is much to learn, and I would never suggest limiting yourself in this time, but I caution you not to grasp at everything. We must always represent our England, I should think, though it is in our favor to learn everything of theirs.

[ And then, a light nod of her head in near deference. ]

At my lady's pleasure.

Edited 2013-08-25 02:16 (UTC)

Of course, madam.

[ This felt rather like receiving instruction, like Kat had done a dozens times before. ]

Which store shall we go to first, my lady?

I fear I have no knowledge of the superior tailor as of yet, but one or two places nearby have had...passable fabrics. I am sorry for it is unlikely you will find much of quality in as fine as that of your mistress's court, or mine for that matter.

[ But there's always a chance, of course, and even if not what are they if not resourceful. Anne really doesn't have a favorite for this reason, though, so she opts for the nearest shop several minutes away so that they can get out of the rain. ]

We are so very far from court. [ she thought on that a brief moment. ] It is such a shame that England no longer has one, when His Majesty set about making England a place of grandeur for all the world to see.

[ She followed Anne into the shop, and despite her best efforts, her hair already felt sodden. ]

[ Once inside, Anne pushes her hood down to free her long hair and allow her a true gaze around. With an easy sigh at being inside a dry place, she turns head head to smile brightly at Elizabeth. It's forced, because she cries over that very same tragedy sometimes when alone. ]

For true, England is no less beautiful in my memory. I do my best to hold it clear in my gaze wherever it might fall, for we must not give up on our land any more than we ought give up on her people.

[ and for a woman supposed to being a maid, she is far too direct in her questions. It had always been a problem, and she could hear Cecil groaning in frustration. ]

So you would consider the transport the people of this land, as much as the ones that have been here since the King's fell?

[ Whenever that was, she's not sure, and there's not small amount of bitterness in her voice for it. ]

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