Patroling the palace (open)

When Evelyn and Malefi... well Malia took over the Palace, they knew they needed reliable subjects. They needed subjects who could do their job well. They needed subjects who would be loyal...

They needed subjects who minded their own business. Once one snooped and found out what was really going on, the Curse would have been for nothing. Well... unless the duo could catch the eavesdropper and eliminate him or her in time.

The Queen felt Tod was reliable enough. As she recalled, he was a fox or coyote or something in the Enchanted World. In other words, a dumb animal in her opinion. With stupidity often came loyalty. Then again, the Queen thought most of the subjects were intellectually inferior compared to her. If anyone came close to being her intellectual equal, it was Malia.

Still, it didn't hurt to check on the help. Such precautions were necessary after all. One false assumption about a loyal servant or guard and that could cost her. She wouldn't fail this time, and she wouldn't allow an underling to cause such failure. Approaching Tod, she gave him a false smile.

"Well now... Tod, isn't it?" she said. "Making sure the Palace is safe from potential villainy, are we?"

@tod

Tod did seem respectful enough. However, she had dealt with "respectful" subjects in the past who turned on her when Snow White and her Prince stormed the castle. But this was a different scenario. Tod hadn't suffered years of being oppressed under the reign of a wicked queen. Evelyn had to be more careful this time. She had to play fair to the people and only show her dark side. She even permitted the silly Summer Festival the village was about to have.

"Your superior?" the Queen said. She knew who he was talking about of course, but it always seemed off when someone referred to some other than herself as a "superior". Still, she wasn't going to have a fit about it. "Well you are doing a fine job so far. And you do love working here, don't you? It's not every day that I chose one to ensure the safety of my palace."

This is where she paid attention to his eyes. He would certainly not be stupid enough to say he didn't like working under her. However, one's eyes always told the truth... well unless one was trained to allow them to deceive as well anyway. She doubted Tod was one of those people. So... she anxiously awaited his answer... and the way he would say it. All the while, she gave him another false warm smile as she waited.

@tod

Evelyn nodded as Tod explained just who he meant by his superior. She loved messing with the heads of her new subjects like this. She loved making them feel awkward when they really had no reason to feel awkward at all.

"Ah yes, him, our good Captain of the Guard," she said. "Well he is doing a fine job too, isn't he? Though I hardly see why he would need to keep a close eye on the likes of you. You seem to be quite dedicated to your job. Who knows, should something ever happen to him, you might take up the position yourself. Would you like that, Tod? Would you like to have that sort of power... that authority?"

Evelyn then nodded as Tod said that he didn't have any complaints about the job. That was certainly to his benefit. If he had any, Evelyn would of course hear them out. However, she would only act if his complaints regarded any who would seek to betray. If he complained about being mistreated himself, she would simply give him one of two options- grin and bear it or leave.

"I'm delighted to hear this," she said. "Let me ask you, Tod, are you willing to go to any lengths to protect your queen?"

@tod