What had begun as a rivalry born out of confrontation at a royal gathering had grown into a strong bond of friendship.  A competitive one to be sure but it remained that the blonde and the redhead were closer now than Tori had thought possible.  Surely she'd hoped and imagined them becoming close after the competition they'd arranged.  This had happened rather suddenly when the pair had chanced upon each other in the Spica woods.  Though it was difficult for Raion  to accept someone wishing to be her friend, she'd eventually agreed.  Both girls had shared close secrets and now they were pretty close.  Well, close enough for the Queen to invite the Lioness out to lunch at the mall near campus.  She couldn't cook herself and didn't know if Raion could either; it would have been impolite to ask her to do so anyway when the lunch was her idea.

As she waited patiently in the food court Tori smiled at the thought of the passionate redhead sharing lunch with her.  A pretty girl coming to see her, to share a meal in a public place.  It was almost a date but they weren't yet romantically attached.  That said she had dressed up for the occasion with a white blouse, knee length navy pleated skirt, tights and flats.  Conservative but fetching all the same.  Her hair was uncharacteristically down, falling down her back and over her shoulders.  She'd decided it was time to show the Lioness another of her looks since she'd been in her more adventurous mode.  Until her friend arrived she had decided to entertain herself with a book on the Seven Years' War, one her father had recommended.  As soon as Raion appeared, though, ti would be put away and the compliments would commence.

Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it all I've got
Gotta live to win, get up, get out, get even
Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it one more shot
Let the game begin, need something to believe in
Ready to roar!

R A I O N
╜───────╓

Raion had agreed to lunch with her new friend. It was just any other outing, so there was no need to dress up at any extent like she had with Tora. Tori would see her street clothes, which were composed of a binding to make her appear more boyish solely for disguise purposes. Aside from the binding, she wore a simple unbuttoned white men's dress shirt atop a red tank top, and simple black jeans with no emphasis on style to them at all. Her hair was also up tightly, giving her a fairly masculine style, but it was accented with a black tie that hung slightly. She had no special attention paid to her ensemble, aside from the binding, and wasn't planning on Tori doing much else. Looking like a street rat was fun sometimes.

It wasn't hard to spot her anyway though, despite her wardrobe change and hairstyle she had an aura about her, much like Raion herself. She was reading, ad thus was probably waiting for quite some time. To apologize, Raion would think of a treat for later to pick up for her while she wasn't looking. But for now...

"Salutations." she said from her standing position, offering a traditionally masculine bow with an arm over her heart. "Sorry I took so long. Disguises aren't my specialty."

╖───────╓
H O N O O

Tori had gotten to know Raion enough that she didn't think the girl would be overly late.  There may be some unforseen delays which nobody could have predicted, but she knew that eventually the girl would arrive.  So she really didn't pay much attention to time as it passed, uncertain of how long it had taken from her arrival until she heard that familiar voice speaking in polite language.  All she knew was that eventually she did  hear it and low and behold the redhead had arrived for lunch and conversation at the mall.  With a demure smile Tori looked up from her book and noticed the oddly masculine attire Raion had chosen to wear.  Her first thought was that people were going to get the wrong idea about the two of them, that they were a boy and a girl and even more than that, were dating.  Eventually they would date, but this was just friends hanging out with someone who was her equal in pride and competition.  A girl who treated her as the Queen that she was.  

"Most pleasant greetings," Tori responded to the redhead, standing up and slipping her book into a brown purse she'd brought with her, "I'm willing to wait any amount of time if it's Lion d'Incindie who I'm to meet.. that disguise suits you oddly well.   It will be my honor to accompany you today."

Then she motioned to the food court, "We may eat anywhere you please, my treat."  After a beat she smiled and asked, "How fares your cub?  I hope she's well."

Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it all I've got
Gotta live to win, get up, get out, get even
Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it one more shot
Let the game begin, need something to believe in
Ready to roar!

R A I O N
╜───────╓

It was interesting how things had played out up until now. At first, she was convinced that the girl would be confused, but as it turns out maybe her disguise wasn't quite so foolproof. Well, they weren't her specialty anyway. The good news was anything was on the table for food options. Yes, she could go all out with this and not feel bad! However, she would not take being treated sitting down. Not directly anyway. She would internalize the price of her meal and then find something of equal value to repay her. Her pride wouldn't allow her to be treated to a meal, but her accepting the offer meant she couldn't raise it into question without being considered rude. She opted for a stealth repay.

"Kisumi is fine, last I checked. People likely know better than to try and change that." she gave a straight and almost threatening answer. "But then, Kisumi isn't here, so I don't need to say it that way do I?" a small laugh, very out of character for her to do so at her own words. "Sorry about that. Some habits are hard to shake."

As they spoke, she offered an arm to her friend.

"Since we're dressed this way, I might as well play the role. I hope you can handle some spicy food."

Of course, Raion herself was a huge fan for obvious, author type reasons. Her offering for them to walk with linked arms was more to play at her current choice of attire than anything. She remembered how easily it made Kisumi melt when she played the masculine role, and decided to test that same fortitude against Victoria. She just had to make everything a challenge.

╖───────╓
H O N O O

Speaking with Raion, interacting with her even as a friend involved a mental game of chess.  Strategizing just what she should say in order to bring out a desired effect in the redhead was an awful lot of fun.  She didn't intend to hurt the girl at all, but trying to outmaneuver her and meet her expectations for classiness was a welcome challenge.  Out of the whole of Astraea Hill there might only be a few girls who could compare to her level of nobility and stature.  Spica's prince was one of them, Raion another.  So having the Lioness begin to defend her Cub even when no threat from Tori existed told the blonde that Raion was still challenging her.  Her voice changed and the tone grew lighter, but it was reassuring to see that continued to have that fire in her eyes, as it were.

Tori took the redhead's arm and commented, "I will defer to you this time, considering the role you've offered to assume.  If I wasn't able to detect your competitive spirit so well I would have been more flummoxed by your disguise.  As things are I'm pleased that you are so adaptable."

Rather than melt on the redhead's arm she walked proudly, a Queen with her knight in shining armor, " Spicy food is completely fine with me, Lion d'Incendie.  Challenge me with whatever you wish, I am up to the task."

Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it all I've got
Gotta live to win, get up, get out, get even
Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it one more shot
Let the game begin, need something to believe in
Ready to roar!

R A I O N
╜───────╓

Nothing about this exchange had any sort of uncomfortable air. This was nice considering the way things could have gone. If Raion had been in any less than a good mood it may have been ugly. Nothing Tori couldn't handle, but enough to make her unhappy.

"You might regret that." she let out a small purr in excitement as she dragged them over to a spot she had seen the other day when she came here. She made a point of ordering water with an exceedingly spicy ghost pepper dish, knowing water makes spice hurt more. It was a tad masochistic, but this was another way she challenged herself. She was a woman of simple pleasures, all of them the pursuit of challenge. This was emphasized in her ridiculously hot food choice and active enabling of it. She wasn't sure what Tori would get, but she was happy to challenge herself so in truth, she didn't think on it too much.

"I insist on treating you after this to something." she said casually. "You're humoring my disguise and even playing along with the game. You deserve something nice."
╖───────╓
H O N O O

Any girl in her right mind would probably have just conceded defeat when faced by the level of challenge set by Raion's example.  Eating anything with that spicy of a food was bound to be a rather painful experience and it being a challenge wouldn't make up for that agony.  That's what some girls would think of course.  Victoria Miller did not back away in the face of any challenge, no matter how ridiculous the challenge of consuming it would be.  In fact she appreciated the difficulty of doing so since it signified Raion saw her as an equal too.  Without thinking about the consequences Tori immediately ordered the same dish for herself.  Rather than water she asked for iced tea with the dish, as an Englishwoman never took other drinks when tea was an option.  After pulling out some cash to pay for their orders she frowned slightly at Raion's insistence on getting hers something afterward.  Wasn't this simply a gesture of Tori's affection for her friend?  It did not need to be repaid, did it?  

"If you are suggesting that my gesture of buying lunch for both of us is something which needs immediate repayment, do not concern yourself.  I'm doing it because you're my friend," Tori began, almost pouting.

Then she caved, smiling as she agreed, "But I do deserve something nice, so I'll accept that as your reason."

She tightened her grip on the redhead's arm slightly and quietly added, "I wonder how many people here think we're a boy and a girl on a date.  It is somewhat empowering to fool them in such a way,  isn't it?"

Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it all I've got
Gotta live to win, get up, get out, get even
Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it one more shot
Let the game begin, need something to believe in
Ready to roar!

R A I O N
╜───────╓

It was fun to take life as a challenge, but there were times she simply avoided conflict entirely. The disguise was her way of doing so, although an argument could be made that she was challenging herself to stay hidden as well. She wasn't sure of specifics anymore herself.

"It's not that." she lied, referring to the repaying. "I just want to. I can be nice sometimes too."

There was a moment she felt a tightness to her arm, and she didn't have to think hard about what the cause was. It had been surprising enough to garner a reaction from her, one of her slightly reddening, but not by much. She was good at keeping her cool, even though she had no idea why she needed to in the first place. Yes, they did rather look that way, and that was her intention upon offering her arm. To fool bystanders, in particular to fool one possible one.

"Ah, right... I'm hiding from my fiance. He's recently moved out here to visit me every month, and if he saw me off campus without him he would worry for my safety." she shook her head. "Actually, no, he knows better than that. I guess I would be worried about what he'd say."

With that said, she pulled out her friend's chair and then sat herself down.

"Be careful. if this is your first encounter with ghost peppers, you may want to ease into it. They aren't the seventh hottest pepper in the world for nothing, after all."

She said this and casually took a bite of her own dish, without any reaction at all aside from a small amount of tears welling up. Even if she was toned to the spice, it had certain inescapable biological effects. Another great reason not to wear makeup.

╖───────╓
H O N O O

Given that the whole point of the disguise was to ensure that a particular boy wouldn't notice the Lioness off campus, Tori felt compelled to do her part to add some convincing details to their performance.  Raion was taking the role of the strong boyfriend in this case, so what did that call for from the blonde?  Continuing to act as a proud, demure girlfriend of course!  So while she clutched the redhead's arm more tightly than at first she maintained her proper posture as they walked.  Getting a reaction out of Raion was enough to give a sense of accomplishment to her.  Winning over the lioness was going to take a lot of time and careful attention, but it would be worth it.  More than before Tori felt the need for this girl to be hers, not in any possessive sense really - more of a mutual affection beyond friendship kind of way.

"Don't worry, my dear.  If he should happen to be in this place today I'll make sure he believes we are indeed a couple.  Though he needn't be concerned about you whatsoever.  You're a very strong person and fully capable without him being worried about you.  He sounds like he cares, but I don't believe your heart is in it that way.  Forgive me if I'm wrong, but that's what it sounds like to me," Tori responded, then smiled as her friend pulled out her chair.  

Taking a sear herself she gracefully took a plastic fork in her hand and dug into the dish.  This was indeed her first encounter with the pepper but she wasn't one for half measures.  Instead Tori had put a rather large amount considering the fork's size into her mouth.  Almost immediately she flinched at the spiciness, tears welling up a bit.  Refusing to let this beat her she chewed slowly, then swallowed with a stoic expression befitting the traditional British stiff upper lip.

"It's not that bad.  More than I was expecting but still nothing a Queen can't handle," she responded, doing her best to smirk despite the way that first bite had burned her throat, "Quite the challenge, isn't it?"

Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it all I've got
Gotta live to win, get up, get out, get even
Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it one more shot
Let the game begin, need something to believe in
Ready to roar!

R A I O N
╜───────╓

"Ah... You're not wrong." she took another bite somewhat slowly, as if debating how to phrase things carefully, and allowed herself time to finish and tear up before continuing. "I love him, yes. I truly do. He's been my best friend for my whole life." To chase the spice, she took a sip of water, knowing it would only enhance the punishment. "But you're right that I don't see him as a romantic partner."

There was a silence she let hang in the air while the information she stated was processed. Perhaps she should say more, but perhaps she shouldn't as well. It was an unstated fact that Raion firmly believed she was in charge of her own destiny at all times in all ways. Tori seemed to agree with her, and that made her happy, or at least that's what she gathered from their previous encounters. An untamed beast, through and through, only containing her animal nature for the benefit of her friends.

"I'd rather decide on my own boyfriend, but I could also do much worse-- Ah, that was pretty brave. Maybe if you survive I'll introduce you to what I call the Supervillain Seven."

Survive was a strong word, but her expression didn't seem to hold any sarcasm. No, she was being serious right now. Most people who aren't accustomed to the pepper don't last beyond the first few bites. It starts of average heat and builds with each new dose. The final bite of ghost pepper salsa is one of the most painful things imaginable to the human cuisine, second only to downing wasabi by itself.

╖───────╓
H O N O O

At first the Englishwoman felt a profound sense of victory at hearing the redhead confirm that she didn't look at her fiance as a romantic partner.  Her senses were right on target once again with someone else, which made her ever more assured that she could win this girl over.  If all went well today they would inch closer to her ultimate goal of making herself the romantic partner of the Lioness of Vincennes.  She felt bad for her friend to be stuck in the unenviable position of being stuck in an engagement with someone you only saw as your friend.  Someone you'd known your entire life who then was expected to be someone you'd marry, if not love.  This was not fair for either person, and as a courageous Englishwoman she would fight to free her friend of the chains of arranged marraige!  And the boy from marrying someone who wouldn't love him in a romantic way.  Of course the lioness also mentioned wanting to find her own boyfriend, but maybe that was just a polite statement, assuming that nobody else around would like girls that way.  Tori started worrying a little bit that she might not be interested in girls, but she'd have to find out gradually.  Her heart might break if she worked so hard to find out her goal wasn't even possible but it'd be better than losing her friendship with Raion outright.

"But of course I'm brave!  An Englishwoman is nothing if not courageous in the face of long odds.  Remember the motto of the Royal Commandos: 'Who dares, wins.'  Whether it's with food or athletics or even romance, I always dare to try things that way," Tori proudly responded, twirling a finger in her hair.

She took another bite, chased it with tea and asked, "Do you think I would've been able to be a Queen at Vincennes?  I've been wondering about that lately."

Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it all I've got
Gotta live to win, get up, get out, get even
Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it one more shot
Let the game begin, need something to believe in
Ready to roar!

R A I O N
╜───────╓

That was certainly true. There was never a point to hold back. No reason to stop trying. If at any point Raion had ever felt lazy she forced it out of herself with training, and if she decided something wasn't worth it she fought off that feeling and fought for it anyway. Daring to win was her lifestyle, so she definitely agreed with the statements. It was easy enough for her to assume such a role, and she found it comfortable to do so with her friend as well. She definitely took note of Tori's gestures and found herself smiling. She was a curious one and her expressiveness, although very entitled, was certainly one of intrigue.

"A Queen? Perhaps." she responded, thinking. "There were not even 600 students, so surely everyone would have known you. If you carried yourself there the way you do here I'm certain you'd have held a good amount of popularity."

She took a pause to enjoy her food and muse with her thoughts on the matter. Tori would look nice in the Vincenness uniform, so that helped. She didn't involve herself in politics though, which meant she would likely not have soared like Belle Eponine or the others. But she would have held a Title without doubt. What would it have bee, she wondered?

"Reine des étudiants. Queen of students."

╖───────╓
H O N O O

There was a very good possibility that the reason Tori had asked that question was in order to receive more praise from the redhead.  Extra words of praise were never unwelcome for the Queen of Spica, so it certainly had played some role in it.  Granted hearing those words from the Lioness made her ever more pleased about what she heard.  She was also genuinely curious about what Raion thought of her chances at another school which had a bit of a different feeling to it than Spica.  Even in a French style school she would rise to the top of the social order, it seemed!  That was the judgment Raion delivered and the one Tori was pleased to hear it phrased in that way.  She was so empowered by the words that she took a few more bites of food with tea mixed in between swallows; tears kept forming but she wasn't letting their heat get to her.  Britannia ruled the waves and an iron stomach which would not be deterred by some meager pepper.  When she heard the French title Tori couldn't help but smile in appreciation of how it sounded to her.

"Reine des étudiants and Lion d'Incendie.  Two forces which together would have caught the imaginations of a school and, of course, helped guide the process of the school's social life!  Without being involved in politics we would make it our kingdom!   More or less," Tori proclaimed, laughed and then moved on, "I'm glad that you think so highly of me as to assess my chances of being Queen at Vincenness so high."

She smirked as she thought of something else, "That look doesn't suit you as well as your dress did, but you make it work quite well.  I can only imagine how ridiculous I would look were the table turned and I had to disguise myself... it would be nice to not have to disguise yourself at all, though, wouldn't it?"

Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it all I've got
Gotta live to win, get up, get out, get even
Ready to roar, ready or not
Ready to give it one more shot
Let the game begin, need something to believe in
Ready to roar!

R A I O N
╜───────╓

Hold the phone.

"I was very involved in my school's politics back home actually." she sprang in. "I was to be the head of my school's faction next year, and then with the right campaign I would be President the year after."

Suddenly, she remembered why she was so heated all the time. She remembered why the need to go home was so great. She had grown soft to Spica thanks to her time there, but it was essential that she return to Vincenness at some point. She couldn't convey this feeling properly, but it was like visiting a relative who was recovering in the hospital. In truth, if not for the gender integration act, the school would have run out of students and money within the next ten years. But now it could recover, and she wanted to see that. Her end goal, yes. How could she have forgotten? She would begin as a Gardiane, and then in time she would take over Vincenness as Headmistress. That was her goal for her entire Primary life. But now...

"I suppose you'll have to see for yourself how you'd do, when I bring Spica against Vincenness after I win this election." she confirmed as if it were already a truth.

"A-aha..." she couldn't hide her face this time and strangely didn't want to. "I've got more elaborate outfits than this for the job. I kind of like doing it now sometimes. But you're right, I do wish I didn't have to. But I'm not the only one who looks great today you know!"

╖───────╓
H O N O O

Bring Spica against Vincennes?  A competition against another aristocratic school would take place in the event of Raion's victory in elections?  Normally Tori did not care much for student government politics since she had taken to seeing herself as above all that.  As a Queen she understandably could not invest herself in the affairs of democracy; a Queen was to be an example of the ideals of her school, not an actual leader with imbued political power.  Besides, not being involved in them allowed her more free time to pursue her greatest interests - enjoyment and flirting, often at the same time.  Now that Raion had captured her attention so fully and dramatically, she found herself actually somewhat interested in such affairs.  Mostly out of curiosity regarding just waht the competition would look like, whether she would be asked to compete and what venue would be used for the clash of schools.

"Whenever that happens you will have a Queen at your side," Tori promised, finishing off another bite of her spicy dish, "Whatever I can do to support you in your bid for office, I would be willing to consider despite the typically apolitical nature of my title."

Then she laughed with a little smile at the compliment, "You have my thanks for the compliment.  I work hard to ensure that my appearance meets the demanding expectations of a public toward their Queen, so my choice of attire merely reflects that.  A Queen must be dynamic yet reserved, beautiful and composed, an example of everything that is good and right about her school.  Perhaps I am the only one who expects such things of myself, but there are high expectations all the same."

She sipped her tea, thinking that another reason she had to act certain ways was because she'd been lectured by the nuns and teachers about being more ladylike and respectable as a student.  Now that she didn't want to leave Spica she had to work harder to ensure she was in good standing there.  That said she nodded to Raion, "Of course I'd love to see some of the more elaborate outfits you have, but regardless of attire you are beautiful.  That is a fact, my dear."