Drag

By Kez Ramsey& Aislin Oriel

The girls . . .

Estell, Ceres, Emille, Miranda and Shana sat regally, trying to see who could best imitate King Albert. Unfortunately, Emille, having most exposure to him won the contest hands down. Once this was unanimously agreed upon, they all went back to their usual style of lounging. Ceres was sprawled over one of the couches in the room all to herself. Miranda, on a chair beside her, had to occasionally swipe away Ceres' legs which she was flailing about in laughter to Shana's impersonation of Ellis. Estell was sitting on the floor, all stretched out in comfort. Emille stood up and motioned for some refreshments to one of her attendants. Five stunningly gorgeous manservants appeared, sweet-smelling drinks in tow. Ceres and Estell pounced on them as they entered the room, claiming five beverages each.

"I gots them! I gots them!" Ceres declared, clutching the glasses to her quite possessively.

Emille looked on in wonder, surely thinking things that are not appropriate to voice when one is royal.

"We were deprived as children." Estell explained, taking a sip of the, what she thought would be wine, but could only be described as, liquid.

"We only got hand-me-downs. No beverages." Ceres made sad puppy-eyes. "Just spit."

Estell would've welled from sheer laughter if she wasn't about to cry from the disflavour of the uh, liquid. She was eyeing her sister to see her reaction once she too took a sip.

Emille couldn't mask her surprise at the sound of seriousness in the explanation of their ravenous behaviour regarding the drinks, "That's . . . terrible. So. . Sad. You poor dears."

Ceres hid her grin by gulping down half of her first beverage. She then immediately deposited it all over Miranda in a furious regurgitation. Estell spit hers back into her cup, having saved it until the inevitable action and began laughing.

Miranda was busy screaming bloody-murder and being disgusted while Ceres glared at Estell and then demanded of the queen, "What the hell is this?"

In a completely refined manner, Emille voiced, "Um . . . it's . . . an acquired taste . . ."

"Yeah, but what did you try to poison us with?" Estell asked after calming down from her laughter episode.

"Do you have any manners about you?" Miranda suddenly piped.

Both Winglies spun around to face her, "Define manners." Estell said.

Miranda ignored the comment, she turned directly to Ceres, "Look what you did to me!" she gestured to the stain all over her front side.

"I think it's a nice improvement to that rugged look of yours, Miranda." Shana quipped.

Estell directed back to Emille, "With all sarcasm aside, what is this?"

"It's non-alcoholic wine made from flower nectar, it's a delicacy of Serdio." the queen replied.

With a mutual glare at the partially consumed drinks, both gave a slight, "Eww."

"Anyways," Shana cut through the moment like she always does.

"It's very . . . expensive . . ." Emille pointed out.

"One glass is worth more than you own, that's for sure." Miranda informed.

"Excuse me," Ceres remarked, "See this," she held her skirt up to show, "this is hand-stitched embroidery." The manservants still in attendance quickly averted their eyes as she hauled off the garment and handed it to her sister. Fortunately, she was wearing shorts underneath.

Estell looked the skirt over, "Well, this doesn't compare to my boots, but I'd wager a few thousand gold. How about you Shana?" she tossed the skirt over to the surprised girl.

"I hate to break it to you, but they're probably right about the value . . ." Shana informed quickly and handed Ceres back her clothing.

"Aw . . . that's depressing . . . These are the most expensive things I own . . . well, kinda the only things I own." Ceres shrugged dejectedly, egging Shana on that her opinion really counted. She began to pull the skirt back on, while adding, "These and that one guy . . ."

"But what's he worth? Dirt?" Estell teased.

"Did you say Dart? I don't think he has a value." Ceres stuck out her tongue.

"I know, he's priceless." Estell said smugly with a toothpaste commercial smile.

"You like . . . Dart?" Emille gasped.

"Dart! Ha! Now, there's a guy with a big nose." Ceres chimed.

"Oh I see . . ." Shana began as she glared over at the two sisters, "I would really like to know just what exactly Estell thinks of Dart."

"Well, I think he's a good kisser. But his need to over-emphasis everything is a little odd." Estell replied casually.

Shana was busy fuming and contemplating pulling her hair out so she didn't share the shocked expressions that everyone else displayed.

"But that's not as odd as Lloyd. 'Over here!' I mean, c'mon Ceres, what were you thinking?" Estell continued, displaying her most awesome Lloyd-alike. Her sister glared at her evilly, which only made Estell smile wider.

Everyone else was still busy trying to interpret the information that had just been thrown at them in a rush of teasing jabs.

"So you mean to tell us that you two are involved with Dart and Lloyd?" Miranda used her splendid calculating skills to put two and two together.

At the same moment both young women answered,

"Lloyd?" Estell groaned dryly and grimaced, "He's like my brother!"

"No! Dart? Yuck! I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole!" Ceres achieved a painful look to rival that of Estell's.

"Um . . ." Emille cleared her throat.

Immediately, realizing their error, Ceres corrected, "Oh. Oh, yeah. Yup."

Estell nodded quickly after cluing in also.

Miranda frowned in thought, "Hmmm, but-"

"What?" Ceres asked.

"I was under the impression that he and my sister Wink . . ."

"I thought that he and Leenus . . . " Emille added.

"Well, isn't he the village bicycle." Shana shot in.

Ceres grimaced, "Yeah? Yeah, well Albert loves Dart and he wears funny clothes."

AN: Hey, if you're wondering who the hell these weird people are, then you should check out my fic "The Legend of Dragoon: Essence". Anyways, this is a joint effort between myself and the best INUYASHA/GW/CHRONO CROSS (What else you got?) fanfic authoress, Aislin Oriel. There's lots more if you want it – antics ensue! – just please review so we know you want more! Thanks – k. ramsey