Ice Cream, however, was still standing at her end of the table, her eyes narrowed at Black Diamond. She might be the Royal Matron, but the position of Gardener was, in Ice Cream's opinion, more vital to the very core of the Tulips. Without her, there wouldn't be a new crop to choose from, at least not in the manner set down by their founder, and she and her assistant were the only ones allowed to tend the tulips within the vault. "I would be very pleased to sponsor Lucky Strike, and I think either of Beauty Queen's daughters would make an excellent first tap," she said, with a smile toward her friend, "but I would like to state for the record that I predict that Snowflake is more in need of the lessons I could teach her than the ones she's already learning from you. She'll come to me for advice in the end." Finally she sat, her chin still held high. "However, I will defer to you, Royal Matron, and pick Lucky Strike as mine. I also suggest that perhaps we should choose the first tap by a vote, as there is more than one qualified candidate." She kept her stare level on Black Diamond across the table.
"Let it be noted," Black Diamond said, nodding at Red Dynasty regarding Ice Cream's opinion of Snowflake, not once removing her own gaze from the other woman across the table. "And after the notation is made, Red Dynasty, please lead the vote."