The Great King or Queen

[Victoria Blackwood]

"I now declare you Princess... Sorry, what was your name again?" Vicky asked, suspending the paper tiara over the little girl's head. Thankfully the younger kids were a bit more forgiving when she forgot. Maybe they understood the difficulty of trying to remember around an entire five grades worth of kids? Somehow Vicky doubted that, but the kids were actually being very sweet. Like her soon-to-be crowded princess who kindly reminded Vicky that her name was Catherine. "Right! I knew that. I was just testing you!" She played off with a wink. It earned her another giggle, and Vicky's smile got wider.

She cleared her throat. "Anyways, I now declare you Princess Catherine!" She placed the carefully cut tiara down on the little girl's head to the chorus of happy little noises from the girl. That was around the twentieth crowding Vicky had done today, yet the pleased feeling she got from seeing the kids so happy never got old. Man was she glad she'd volunteered to help out with the school's mini field trip that day. She loved the little kids. And from the way they approached her so easily, they liked her too. Kids were always the easiest for her to get a read on their emotions. They were so open and innocent. It helped to lighten Vicky's already happy mood even further.

One of them came up and asked why she hadn't crowded a king or a queen yet. "Oh, that's because we haven't found one yet!" She explained. Vicky got more of her construction paper out and started working on another headpiece. Only this time it was bigger and more intricate. "In order for the king or queen to be found, you have to go find them!" She instructed. "It can't be me because I'm the crown maker. But maybe someone else in this park is worthy of being king or queen! Since you're all princes and princesses now, I'm sure you'd be able to find them." Vicky realized she was encouraging a large group of kids to essentially pick a stranger to be crowded.  Even as she realized this, it was too late to stop them. They were already off to drag an unfortunate soul over while being surrounded by a whole flock of crown-wearing children. Oops.

[Marcey Langston]

”You try visiting your daughter the one time she’s going to the park, and you can even find her?” Marcey huffed as she looked around. ”Great going, Marcey. The trip will be over before I even see her.”

Marcey had remembered her little Angie mentioning their field trip to the park. Seeing an opportunity to visit her little girl, Marcey had been eager to end her shift and hurry over to the park. She was even considering taking her daughter out for ice-cream before going straight home from school. Unfortunately Marcey was having a hard time finding her child in the first place! However suddenly she was surrounded by little kids who were tugging her away somewhere. Marcey was about as surprised as anyone else could be when a bunch of munchkins started dragging her off. However she recognized them from Angie’s class, so Marcey simply smiled and played along dramatically.

”Oh no you fiends! Where are you taking me?!”

Marcey soon got her answer as she was brought before some girl making a paper crown. She looked a little young to be a teacher from what Marcey could tell. Still, the kids seemed to know her well enough to drag marcey towards her. So Marcey kept up the act and made a face.

”What do you want with me, villain? Your adorable minions have carried me off to you.”

[Victoria Blackwood]

Vicky wasn't sure what she was expecting when the mass of students ran off to ambush someone to be a king or queen. She just busied herself with making the new crown, a smile on her face. Her hands moved deftly and delicately while she crafted, and she sort of got lost in it. The noise from the children returning was what made Vicky look up, but it was their captive that made Vicky stare. That bright red hair was very similar to her own, but everything else was not. Vicky found herself tracing a jawline with her eyes before she realized what she was doing.

But Vicky snapped out of it before the girl got any closer. Ogling the soon-to-be "queen" in front of the rest of the kids was probably a bad idea. Even if most of them likely wouldn't understand the looks. Fortunately for Vicky, the attractive captive proved an excellent distraction and perfect way out of Vicky's own thoughts. "Villain? Oh no! That wasn't our intention." Vicky promised with a light laugh. She held up the newly made crown for Marcey to see. It was more intricate and carefully cut that the children's, as Vicky had wanted to make it superior for the king (or in this case queen).

"We wanted to crown you! See we've got all these princes and princesses." She motioned around to the various paper cut headwear the children were sporting. "But we don't have a king or queen! So I told them to go out and find someone who seemed suitable, which just so happens to be you." Vicky smiled. "I'm just the crown maker so I couldn't rule. But I can pronounce the next queen! The great ruler of our lands!" The other woman had been playing along, so Vicky saw no reason to step out of character. "Will you promise to take all the responsibilities that come with this title, Lady..." She trailed off since she didn't know the other's name.

[Marcey Langston]

"Villain? Oh no! That wasn't our intention.”

Marcey looked Vicky over with a hint of curiosity. She seemed like a pretty kind person from what Marcey could see. Had Marcey been imagining the other girl was staring for a few seconds? Although it was probably because Vicky had been curious to see who the children brought.

"We wanted to crown you! See we've got all these princes and princesses. But we don't have a king or queen! So I told them to go out and find someone who seemed suitable, which just so happens to be you.”

Marcey would be lying if she said she wasn’t even a little bit pleased the kids had chosen her to be this “queen.” It likely showed in the smile that grew on her face and reached her eyes. Besides, from what she could see the crown was actually pretty well done.

"I'm just the crown maker so I couldn't rule. But I can pronounce the next queen! The great ruler of our lands! Will you promise to take all the responsibilities that come with this title, Lady…”

The fact Vicky was going along with everything made Marcey giggle a little. She could tell it was all for the kids, and she could easily appreciate that. So Marcey decided to play along and stay in character too.

”Lady Marcey at your service! With a reason like that how could I say no?” Marcey gave a bit of a bow before kneeling. ”I humbly accept your crown, good crown maker, and all the responsibilities with it.”

[Victoria Blackwood]

Without realizing it, Vicky found herself staring a little again. Especially when that pleased little smile appeared. She could feel the slight satisfaction coming off the girl. It made Vicky herself smile, although that wasn't exactly the hardest task to do. Still, she was finding this new queen the kids had found increasingly nice. Especially based on the fact that Marcey continued to play along. When she even bowed and knelt down, Vicky had to bite her bottom lip to keep from giggling. Marcey was her name. Vicky made a mental note to remember than.

Vicky cleared her throat and shifted a little. Then she held up the crown, putting on the most straight-faced expression she could manage at the moment. "Then Lady Marcey, it is my honor to declare you Queen Marcey! The wonderful ruler of our park." Gently Vicky placed the crown down upon Marcey's fiery hair. It really did resemble her own. Once the crown was on her head, the children seemed more than happy to have a queen. Vicky let herself smile again and sit back, although she had to check her watch. From what she could remember teachers telling her, the kids would have to head back relatively soon.

Still, Vicky had fun. She'd even met someone completely new. Although that wasn't too hard since Vicky herself was fairly new. Eventually Vicky actually addressed Marcey normally. "Hey, thanks for playing along. I feel like most people would freak out a little bit if a bunch of kids suddenly kidnapped them." She said with a wide smile. "Also thanks for playing along. It definitely made it for these guys."

[Marcey Langston]

"Then Lady Marcey, it is my honor to declare you Queen Marcey! The wonderful ruler of our park.”

Marcey’s face lit up with grin, but upon seeing the other woman’s semi-serious face Marcey tried her best to match it. She was fairly certain she had failed it while straightening herself.

”Thank you, oh great crown maker! I will wear it with pride.”

Marcey was finding it increasingly hard not to giggle. Luckily for her, the rest of the kids rejoiced and soon enough she felt she was allowed to smile without breaking the little game. Unfortunately she didn’t see Angie among all the kids, which didn’t solve her original problem.

"Hey, thanks for playing along. I feel like most people would freak out a little bit if a bunch of kids suddenly kidnapped them. Also thanks for playing along. It definitely made it for these guys.”

Marcey’s attention was once again drawn to the older girl sitting there. Surely she might be able to help Marcey find out where Angie was before the school left! She offered Vicky a smile.

”No problem! I’ve got a little girl about their age anyways, so I’m used to this sort of thing!” She explained before her smile turned slightly sheepish. ”Actually, I’m trying to find her. You wouldn’t happen to know where a little girl named Angie is, would you? She’s got blue eyes, and really sweet. Maybe you gave her a crown?that or she tried to make one herself.”

[Victoria Blackwood]

When Marcey grinned, even if it was brief, Vicky had to note the way it lit up her face. It nearly made Vicky's expression shift into a smile. But she managed to hold it long enough to crown Marcey before the kids attacked her. After that, Vicky let herself laugh and smile once more. It was beyond entertaining to watch, and Marcey seemed to be enjoying herself as well. Overall, the whole thing seemed to have turned out far better than it could have ended. The kids had picked a very good queen for themselves, and Vicky couldn’t help but smile.

Then Marcey mentioned having a little girl of her own, and Vicky couldn't help but be surprised. She seemed her age, but she already had a kid? Vicky couldn't help but wonder if the girl was married. But when she looked she didn't see a ring, which raised a few questions. Still, for their single interaction Vicky had a feeling Marcey was a great mom for whichever kid was hers. She was also looking for her little girl. Someone named Angie. Vicky had to think back to all the children she'd interacted with that day. She'd be lying if she said she could easily recall everyone's names. Sadly she shook her head and offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I'm still fairly new so I won't be much help." She said. But then she got an idea and slowly got up. Her joints popped and groaned in protest from the amount of time she'd been down, but eventually she managed with an exhale.

"But! I'd be more than happy to help you look for her." Vicky offered, gathering up all of her things. She'd be more than happy to help Marcey, especially when she'd played along for the rest of the kids. Besides, it was getting close to the end of their field trip anyhow. "We have to round everyone up, so you can find her then."