Chapter 23: Meet and Greet
Location: National Museum
Ten minutes later…
"God this is boring," Sonic complained.
Geoffrey rolled his eyes, but otherwise kept his tongue stilled as he sipped his Martini. Eyeing the crowd, he spotted an elderly-looking woman float into the room seated in an anti-gravity chair. Flanked by an entourage of people, he surmised that she was a person of incredible importance.
"Honestly, you'd think they would've dealt with the vermin when they rebuilt this place," she said, her voice rising above the crowd.
"Who's the hag?" Geoffrey asked.
"Andrea Tygore," Carmichael sighed, "She's the matriarch of the Tygore Family."
"I've heard that name before," Sally stated, staring at the gnarled woman.
"One of her family members murdered two kids, then got sent away to a rehab facility instead of prison," Molly reminded.
"Ugh! Now I remember."
"Oh dear god she's coming this way," Miranda said.
"It's kinda ironic that she's in a museum, she must be visiting the other relics."
The other guests had made way for the woman, allowing her to maneuver her anti-gravity chair up to the group.
"Andrea! Lovely to see you as always," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Drop the act, Carmichael. You don't like me, and I don't like you," the woman said with a noticeable drawl.
"Very well. What made you climb out of the tar pit this evening? Looking for a building inspector to bribe perhaps?"
"Yes, because you stand on such a moral high ground."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Tygore. I am Sally Acorn; Princess of the Kingdom of Acorn."
"Ew...get away, you're probably infested with fleas. Why you flea-bitten mongrels were allowed within our territory I will never know."
The Mobians were stunned into utter silence, but Sally somehow managed to recover first.
"Now wait just on second!" Sally said, feeling her anger rising.
"Andrea! What a lovely surprise," a voice called out.
Those gathered turned to see a tall man strolling through the room, dressed in a dark blue suit. He was approximately middle-aged, with messy blonde haired and a bushy moustache that had been waxed. He was in the company of two women, each of his arms hooked into their own. One of them being a green-eyed blonde in her early twenties, dressed in a red gown that shimmered like countless rubies. The other was a tall with red hair and pale skin, clothed in a white silk gown that showed off her slim, willowy figure.
"Tino. Good to see you," Andrea said.
The group took notice of the vain bulging on his forehead, yet he managed to maintain his outward composure.
"Do you have a moment?" Constantino asked, "There something that I'd like to ask you."
There was a sigh of relief as Andrea hovered away with Constantino in tow, with a moment elapsing before Sticks finally spoke.
"I hate her," the Badger announced.
"To be fair, if she hadn't have said it, I probably would've," Sonic whispered to Geoffrey.
"She just likes winding people up, don't let her get to you," a younger man said approaching the group, "Valerian Mengsk."
He was the living definition of a pretty-boy, with short blonde hair, grey eyes and dressed in an outfit that was both regal and yet militaristic at the same time, with a red cape that flowed behind him.
"How is your grandfather doing? Your father said he hadn't been doing well as of late," Carmichael stated.
"Grandfather's doing fine now, thanks for asking. The kidney transplant was successful."
"I suppose the chances that his body would reject was greatly reduced given the fact that it was cloned from his own body," Miranda commented.
"Hello, Uncle Victor," the young woman said, kissing the Prime Minister's cheek.
"Hello, November. I'm surprised to see you here."
"When I heard that the museum was reopening, I begged daddy and Eleftheria to bring me," Nova replied, gesturing to the red head.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Prime Minister," she said.
"I see Bella's didn't come in with you," Miranda stated.
"Mrs. Terra has chosen to remain behind in Tarsonis City," Eleftheria replied.
"Wait! Is she not his wife?" Sally whispered to Molly.
"No. Marriages amongst the Old Families are rarely done so out of love," she explained, "It's a union of bank accounts and genes, nothing more then that."
"That's...seriously messed up," Chris muttered, readjusting the tie of his cream-coloured suit.
"It seems that your father once again saved my ass," Victor sighed, immediately turning his attention to the group, "Constantino and I attended university together."
"He knows how much you don't get along with her," Nova stated.
There was the sound of a fork being tapped against a wine glass near a microphone causing everyone to focus their attention on Doctor Atsumi who was addressing the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen. If I may have your attention, please."