Gives You Hell

Date is March 4th. Closed to Merida and Clopin, but will open up later on down the line to other heroes. No risk thread.

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Having just returned after a long leave of absence, the gypsy king was ready for action. But from the way things looked around the camp, there wasn't too much "action" to count on. At least, not anything that he could think of. The camp itself looked devoid of life, with the blanket of darkness hovering over the Pridelands. The gypsy king sighed as he slunk around, musing over a couple spells that he had begun to practice. They were nothing too major, like summoning demons. It was more alchemical in nature, like turning gold to even more gold. Clopin stepped into the mess hall, which lay somewhat empty, save for a few soldiers fighting over small morsels of food. He was surprised that there weren't more people. Where was everybody?

What happened while he was gone?

Everyone looked like they were starving and depressed. Had the camp run out of food and supplies? Had no one even bothered to try and take care of such a large issue such as hunger? Supplies? He would've thought that at least Simba would've been taking care of those who fought for his name, for his purpose. But as he had been hearing from bits and pieces of hushed conversations in tents, the king was nowhere to be found. Clopin was almost sure the lion was just cooped up somewhere in Pride Rock, but then again...he wouldn't let this happen. Had Simba been abducted? Or did he no longer care for his troops? The gypsy king refused to believe such a thing. The leader he knew was a good-hearted soul, who shared the same views as Clopin. Take care of your people, and they will take care of you. 

Pride Rock wasn't too far away from the camp, and it wasn't like he had anything else to attend to. As one of the generals, and a fellow king, Clopin felt the need to tend to the soldiers beneath him. He wasn't going to let them starve. With an irritated look on his face, Clopin marched out of the mess hall, straightening his hat as he walked. He was going to go over to Pride Rock, find Simba, and drag that insolent fool out if he had to. What he was doing was in no way any leader was supposed to treat their soldiers. As he came closer to Pride Rock, the gypsy king noticed a small figure off in the distance. From the looks of it, it seemed to be a young woman, with fiery red hair, and a bow and arrow, and was it...poised perfectly towards...him?

She was perched beneath the massive slope of Pride rock. Often the lions stood there and looked down across the camps, but sometimes Merida liked to sit in the utmost crooks, carving away little designs with a knife into the outermost layer of the wood on her bow. She admired the thing with adoration in her eyes; how she loved that bow, its curve the way it sat in her hands, the decorated stones embedded into the wood.

It reminded her of home.

A heavy sigh, and she shook her head, wild curls flying in all directions before she lifted a hand to subdue them. She had to think less. Less of home, less of the woods, less of... Well. She spent too much time thinking these days, and with this darkness who could stop or blame her really. It was close to maddening after a month of it. She peered to the darkness, those blue eyes narrowing as they fell across a tall figure. A man, with a hat. Merida had never seen him before and something shivered at the back of her neck as she realized the error.

She'd seen it time and time again, where newcomers merely walked into the place without a second or third glance. Having been around the army for a fair amount of time, Merida could safely say she'd never seen this man. Quietly, she took up her bow, tilting it sideways so it stretched out on either side of her frame. Slipping an arrow from the quiver that was tightly strapped to her back, she knocked it into place with the slightest of noises, and moved to raise her bow hesitantly.

She wasn't going to shoot him, but she was wary. Perhaps wait for him to get a little closer... No sooner had she devised her watchful plan had he looked up, and apparently focused his gaze on her. She could see the recognition settle into his gaze, and alarmed, Merida took action. She released some of the tension in the string of her bow without firing, slid down the steep rock on the soles of her boots before taking to a quick jog from the speed of her momentum. Trying to regain some control, she dug her heels in and skid to a stop, still a safe distance from the gypsy but close enough to call over to him and talk.

"Who're you?" she asked, her accent dragging out the last word rather roughly. "Don' recall seein' anyone like you here before. Feel like Ah'd remember." she confessed. Her tone was not as aggressive as one might think, especially with how she squinted so skeptically at Clopin. Although no one could mistake the distrust in her voice, or even blame her.

Clopin's eyes widened as he noticed that the bow and arrow were aimed straight at him. But then he noticed that the young woman had slid down the steep rock, and was now walking towards him, bow and arrow at her side. The gypsy king paused for a moment.

When did the heroes get a guard? Wasn't everyone supposed to guard the camp? Or perhaps this particular young mademoiselle was just very eager to play her part. He listened to her questions, and he could hear the distrust in her voice. He understood where she was coming from, as he hadn't been around in so long. He had never seen her before, so it was very likely that she had joined during his absence. But he would've thought that at least someone mentioned his name....


No matter. The gypsy king was perfectly capable of introducing himself. He strode a little closer to Merida, so that he wouldn't have to yell. He puffed out his chest a bit, and tipped his hat to her.

"Mademoiselle, I understand the apprehensiveness. But rest easy. I am one of Simba's generals. My name is Clopin Trouillefou, king of the gypsies, and it is a pleasure to meet you." Clopin said, as he extended a gloved hand towards her, for handshake.

That...was what people did, no?


"I have been away for some time, but now I am back to help all of you with my new knowledge. I was just on my way to see Simba, regarding our soldiers. It seems that many of you are going hungry, and I simply cannot have that. As a fellow king, Simba should know to treat his people better, no?"

Merida instantly tensed, her hand flying to the arrow that she'd left knocked in the string while she ran down and kept it readied at her side. Her brow furrowed as he bowed, and she watched carefully as he then proceeded to introduce himself. His tongue she wasn't familiar with, and she wasn't entirely sure what to do when he extended his hand out. Part of her wanted to take it and be polite, he really did seem nice. But then again, wouldn't an intruder want to come off as nice?

"Alright..." she said reproachfully. Gripping her bow she tried to look fierce as she hesitantly decided not to shake his hand, but mostly just looked worried instead. He was a general? That sounded fake.

He continued talking but she was still caught on one detail. Shaking her head, those wild red curls getting throw askew once again, she fixed him with a frown.

"Alright." she repeated, "So f'your a general, why don' I know who yeh are?" she asked. Merida had been around for a while so if Clopin had been a general then he'd have been here before her arrival to the war. The timing seemed suspicious, and mostly was what didn't sit well with her. She could let him walk for the sake of him being polite and that she actually seemed to like him. But on the other hand, what if she just let him walk on in and he was part of the said Human Villain army?

That didn't look good either. She didn't release the grip on her bow, and although she wasn't pointed at him, the line was taut and it was aimed at the ground just before his feet. So in the event things got more shifty she'd be ready, and no doubt he'd notice that.

He didn't seem stupid to her.

Clopin watched her carefully, taking note that she hadn't shook his hand in return, as he brought it back to his side. She looked more worried than welcoming, and the gypsy king couldn't help but smirk. Nothing really gets past this one, does it? Clopin thought, as he met her gaze. He knew very well that her arrow was aimed towards his feet, most likely so that she could be ready in case he tried something. It wasn't that he was afraid, oh no, he had the security of his scythe, should he need it. But the gypsy was smart with his words. Since his coronation at such a young age, his father's vizier taught him how to be diplomatic with his words, and to remain calm. As he grew up, he came to be quite the diplomat, even if he did manage to piss off neighboring tribes of gypsies.

"Well, madamoiselle, I am indeed a general. You can ask anybody around here. Even Simba would confirm that for you. You don't know who I am because I've been gone for such a long time. If I had been here, I most likely would have trained you to be doing the exact thing you're doing right now: guarding us. For that, I applaud you." Clopin said. He sincerely hoped that would be enough to sway her, but something in her eyes told him that even with his carefully chosen words, she still could not believe him. For all the hell he had raised in battle, he could not believe that no one talked about him.

How dare they.

"I believe it would make the conversation a little bit easier if I knew your name. Otherwise, we're just two complete strangers talking to one another, no?" Clopin stated. He figured this "negotiation" would take a while, so he crossed his arms over his chest, and shifted his weight back to one leg, to make himself more comfortable while standing. He would have rather been talking to Simba about the hunger in the camp than trying to deal with his new guard dog. Whatever did their leader need a guard for? Had someone been trying to kill him while he was gone?

"Merida." she responded fairly easily, sucking her lip back behind her teeth. Perhaps she shouldn't be so friendly, but she was so curious about all these things the man was saying. Her brow furrowed, and Merida shook her head. For the time, the range of her bow was lowered even more, the taut of the line slackening as she let the bow rest against her side. Though she still had her hands placed and ready to go.

"Simba," the mention of the lion had peaked her interest. If he had been gone, he most likely didn't know about any uprising. Merida hadn't been involved, but she heard rumors and had occasionally seen the new faces of different lions around camp. She shook her head, "The lions, they're havin' ah- dispute..." she said, sounding rather undecided on the word. Truthfully Merida didn't know what to call it. She shook her head.

"All the same, I need proof before I let yeh loose-" she spoke decidedly, a prominent frown upon her lips. Those were high claims this man was making, and however much they'd been said to make her more at ease it had done quite the opposite, "So yeh won't be mindin' if I take yeh up on that offer." she added skeptically, in regards to 'asking anyone around here' about his supposed status.

"Merida. What a lovely name, madamoiselle." Clopin said, with a smile. It was about high time that the girl told him her name,if she was going to be questioning him like this. He drummed his fingers absentmindedly as he listened to her speak. However, she got his attention rather quickly when she mentioned the lions having a dispute. A dispute? Perhaps that was why Simba hadn't been taking proper care of his troops. However, as a king, it was also part of his responsibility. Being a king was far more than the title itself. Clopin knew that well. He shook his head, and pushed the thought to the back of his mind. He could always deal with that later.

She then said that she needed proof from either him or someone else, that he was indeed who he said he was. Clopin drew in a sharp breath, and resisted the urge to roll his eyes in annoyance. Instead, he pinched the bridge of nose, as he closed his eyes and shook his head. By Mahomet's beard, this was going to be a long day. He crossed his arms over his chest again, and shifted his weight to his other leg. He was in disbelief. How was it that nobody had mentioned the infamous General Clopin Trouillefou? The one who had caused hell in battles, the one who led spy missions, the one who had risked his life far too many times? In Paris, most people knew who he was. He could not fathom how it wasn't the same here. The gypsy king concentrated his slowly growing frustration inwardly, as he remained poker-faced on the outside. A smile graced his tan features once again, as he held his hands out, and loosened his shoulders a bit.

"Come now, Merida, you can't possibly believe that I'm lying? I have important matters to discuss with Simba, and I don't have much time to discuss trivial things like this." Clopin said.

“WHAT in the-Merida! What’re you doin’?”

Tiana almost tripped over herself as she spotted Merida and Clopin at the edge of the pridelands. Merida had taken to protecting them and Tiana had taken to bringing her treats because she did. Nobody else seemed to be doing it so Tiana felt Merida deserved a little desert or cookie for her trouble. Today, that desert was a round cinnamon roll the girl could just stuff in her mouth while she surveyed the land. Merida had also brought her game to chop up for the troops. Between her bringing African meat and Casey bringing back shrimp and crawfish from New Orleans and other places, Tiana was perfectly content with getting the flock fed.

However, spotting Clopin, a grin rolled onto her face. Now what had he gotten himself int-holy hell! Merida had him pinned up! She rushed to the pale princess’ side and placed one hand on her shoulder.

"Dangit, Merida! Ha, lower the gaurd, girl. Got a cinnamon roll ready for yah if ya let our General down from your wrath." She winked at Clopin.

At the pressure Clopin was laying on Merida seemed to look conflicted and worried. Both bothered by the fact if he actually was being waited on by Simba then Merida was holding it up. But if he was lying, and he'd be doing a good job, then she'd be letting who knows what loose upon the camp. She silently cursed to herself that this place wasn't better watched over, and that anyone could walk in. Luckily there was no more time for deciding on the matter when a familiar voice called out her name.

She jumped, her shoulders hunching as she turned around with a rigid frown and wide eyes. Tiana? Blue orbs glanced downwards at the pastry all set up and prepared before glancing back up at Tiana without recognition right away, and then she started to grind her teeth together in a grimace at the rest of Tiana's words.

"Oooooohhh." she drawled out, turning to look over her shoulder at Clopin with a sheepish attempt of a smile. "Soooo." she continued with that thick accent, although she were going to deliver a speech like her mother instructed her many times on how to do "The good news, is tha' we have an honest one here..." Merida fixed Clopin with her best apologetic smile.

Merida wasn't going to touch up on the bad news. But she did return her arrow to the quiver and tentatively tuck her bow over her back with the string across her chest. Yeah, no need to dwell in the bad news. Putting her hands behind her back, she rocked backwards onto her heels.

"Well!" she quipped with an exhaled sigh of relief, "Yeh're good teh go! On yer waaaay, general!" followed by a salute as she quickly tried to dismiss him and put herself out of her own shame. She thought about making light of the situation by arguing that Tiana bought Clopins freedom with sweets. But perhaps that one could be made for another time. She was already feeling out of place as it was, and likely making a fool of herself more with every sentence. Nothing new for the young lady.