Nov. 4 - Buckingham Palace

[Brett Wakely]

Brett and Rhi arrived the gates of the palace about 20 minutes before the ceremony was supposed to start, just to make sure they could get a good view of the proceedings. Even so, there was already a bit of a crowd gathered there.

"This is it. Not too shabby, right?"

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"Oh, I can't belive this is real. There is nothing like this at home." Rhi gushed, clinging excitedly to his arm.

[Brett Wakely]

He beamed at her. "It is pretty amazing, isn't it? All of the marble and the statues...gah, it's been to long since I've been here."

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"What's it like where you are from, Brett?" Rhi tugged at the straps of her yellow sundress, it had a habit of slipping, as she gave him her most winning smile.

[Brett Wakely]

"It's not bad. People there speak with funny accents compared to the rest of the country - or so we're told. A lot of people go to Bristol to see the cathedral there, but it's not as big of a deal when you're a local, I guess. Parts of town are a bit dodgy, but I still like it there. It's home. What about where you're from?"

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

Rhi shrugged.

"Same as anywhere I guess, school was my whole world - with the cheerleading and stuff. I didn't see much of it before... then Jayda and I came out here."

[Brett Wakely]

He nodded. "The weather's a bit cooler here, I imagine," he half-stated, half-asked. "Probably about as humid at times if I'd have to guess, though. Do you have a good view? It should start in a few minutes.

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"I'm a little shorter than you, yes, can we move forward a little more?" Rhi lead him forward through the crowd a bit, her fingers twined through his.

"Did you like high school?"

[Brett Wakely]

"Sure." He inched his way a bit closer to the edge of the crowd with Rhi, where spectators were cordoned off to give room for the guards when they marched out. They weren't at the very front, but thankfully, the few who were ahead of them were mostly short. "It wasn't too bad. I was pretty good in academics, and I was active in football. That was also when my brother left home, which made my life much easier." He rolled his eyes.

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"You play football? I'm a cheerleader - though you could probably tell that from my room, right? OH! You mean soccer though, don't you.." Rhi laughed.

"..and you didn't mention a brother."

[Brett Wakely]

"Yes, I mean soccer. And I have an older brother. Unfortunately," he added with a smirk.

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"Whats he like?"

[Brett Wakely]

"A bully. He felt like it was his birthright to pick on me or something. Eh, I shouldn't make him out to be a monster, he really isn't. Besides, I think he's a bit jealous that I have a power, so I have, as you might say, one-upped him."

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"Is it not normal for siblings to both have powers?" Rhi asked curiously.

[Brett Wakely]

"If one or both parents are mutants, it's very normal, I think. But neither of my parents are mutants, sooo...maybe that makes it a bit less likely in my case."

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"You were probably special before your power catalyst, I can tell." Rhi nodded, very sure of herself.

[Brett Wakely]

"Not especially," he admitted. "But I do like rubbing it in my brother's face. Of course, he'll say a few generic mutant insults, but I know how he works, heheh. Now, you on the other hand, seem most exceptional."

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"You know what, Brett? I think you might like me." Rhi teased gently, slipping her hand in his with a giggle.

[Brett Wakely]

"What's there not to like?," he asked her with a smile, sliding an arm around her. "I could get used to being around high spirits, you know? Well, that, and you are really pretty..." His faced turned a bit red upon blurting that out. Yeah, that sounded smooth...

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"You are very good looking too, Brett. Definitely rate up with the hottest guys on campus." Rhi grinned.

[Brett Wakely]

"Right. You know it," he said with a hint of sarcasm, though he smiled and blushed regardless. "Thanks anyway."

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

Rhi gave his hand another squeeze and turned her eyes back to the guards.

[Brett Wakely]

A few more minutes passed before they heard some members of the guard beging to play music as they marched inside of the gates. Some of it was very traditional and formal, but they also threw in "Hey Jude" that turned into a Beatles medly of sorts.

From there, the gates were opened, with a number of guards lines up. They played music again as they marched outside in a procession, eventually making their way around the Victoria Memorial.

As they played Brett turned to Rhi and smiled. If she hadn't seen anything like Buckingham Palace, she probably hadn't seen a procession quite this fancy, either.

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

Rhi was happily awestruck, drawn in by the formality and spectacular of the event.

"I keep waiting for a princess.."

[Brett Wakely]

Brett chuckled, barely audible over the fanfare. "It's actually an even bigger deal if there's royalty involved in a parade." After a few more minutes, the previous guard were relieved from duty and those who had muched out to replace were now in place, as the gate closed. The crowd began to disperse.

"So how'd you like it?"

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"It was amazing, I've never seen anything like it. Do you think they do it at all the castley places or just this one?"

[Brett Wakely]

"Hm...some of them, yes. Most of the castles were still have aren't royal residences, of course, but if memory serves they have a Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle. There may be others, too."

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"I wish I lived in a palace." Rhi sighed lingering a moment longer as the crowd dispersed wrapped up in her own fantasy land.

[Brett Wakely]

"That would be pretty cool, wouldn't it? You could just sit up on your balcony and wave at people while your gaurds marched, heh."

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"You'd come visit right?" Rhi asked with a laugh.

[Brett Wakely]

"As often as I'd be invited." He grinned. "So, weren't we going to go find some food?"

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"Oh god, yes, I thought you would never ask!" Rhi rubbed her stomach in a display of hunger and it rumbled in response.

[Brett Wakely]

"Alright, what kind of cuisine would the fair princess like for lunch?"

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"Hot dogs? burgers? fries? Milkshake?" Rhi suggested with a laugh at the look on Brett's face.

"I'm totally cool with anything you choose really.."

[Brett Wakely]

"In that case, maybe we should just wander until we find something that strikes our fancy." He grasped her hand gently, smiling. "Sound like a plan?"

[Rhiannon Nightridge]

"Awesome." Rhi grinned at Brett, a little smitten.

[Brett Wakely]

"Great. Maybe we'll find something without having to go too far.