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A wave of relief washed over Melina. She hadn’t said anything awful, at least not by her cousin’s standards. She had made the paint herself? Melina envied her younger cousin’s ingenuity. Melina did not have a talent of any sort unless you called flowed arranging a talent, and even then Melina was sure there were those who could do better. But to be a painter that makes their own paints… truly her cousins were the ones that were blessed by the gods.
Or not. Because they had a cousin like Melina who attracted the worst luck. A moment later wine glasses spilled on the three. Of course, wine would spill on Melina. She had started the day confident, even trying to look fabulous in her outfit, but ended it a disaster. But suddenly, her cousin began to sway. Melina caught her with both arms, “Imma, are you al-” The worried tone cut off suddenly.
Now, the thing that needs to be known about Melina is that she is typically not a coward. She might get nervous, she might need to give herself pep talks, but she isn’t a coward. It is hard to be a coward when you have the Leventi name and someone like Xanthippe typically at your side.
But there were three fears the Lady had. The first was understandable. Disappointing her father. Despite disappointing him frequently, the fear remains prevalent, and with good reason. The second was horses. Melina did not trust the creatures, and childhood trauma kept her from loving them like the rest of her family.
The last, and most pertinent in this given point of time, is blood. Melina had never been able to handle blood. Even a paper cut would cause the girl to swoon. The servants were very good to keep it out of her sight when she was at home. Every accident was swiftly cleaned, and every drop quickly dealt with. But they were not home. There was a bleeding cousin in her arms. And it wasn’t just a little blood. It had stained her arms when she had held up her hands, and now freely flowed from her fingertips, getting on Melina’s own chiton each time Imma’s hands hit against her.
Oh gods. Melina’s eyes shot up to the sky. “We need a healer!” Melina’s own face had grown ghostly white. She could see the black spots begin forming in her vision. Melina tried blinking them away rapidly, but everything else was continuing to grow dark. Drip, drip, drip, the blood continued to move from Imma’s fingers and palm onto Melina and the ground below them.
No longer could Melina’s knees stay strong. The world was spinning, and as it did it was taking Melina with her. The black spots grew larger and larger, and before she knew it Melina was following the example set by her younger cousin and found herself falling into a realm filled with darkness and nothing.
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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A wave of relief washed over Melina. She hadn’t said anything awful, at least not by her cousin’s standards. She had made the paint herself? Melina envied her younger cousin’s ingenuity. Melina did not have a talent of any sort unless you called flowed arranging a talent, and even then Melina was sure there were those who could do better. But to be a painter that makes their own paints… truly her cousins were the ones that were blessed by the gods.
Or not. Because they had a cousin like Melina who attracted the worst luck. A moment later wine glasses spilled on the three. Of course, wine would spill on Melina. She had started the day confident, even trying to look fabulous in her outfit, but ended it a disaster. But suddenly, her cousin began to sway. Melina caught her with both arms, “Imma, are you al-” The worried tone cut off suddenly.
Now, the thing that needs to be known about Melina is that she is typically not a coward. She might get nervous, she might need to give herself pep talks, but she isn’t a coward. It is hard to be a coward when you have the Leventi name and someone like Xanthippe typically at your side.
But there were three fears the Lady had. The first was understandable. Disappointing her father. Despite disappointing him frequently, the fear remains prevalent, and with good reason. The second was horses. Melina did not trust the creatures, and childhood trauma kept her from loving them like the rest of her family.
The last, and most pertinent in this given point of time, is blood. Melina had never been able to handle blood. Even a paper cut would cause the girl to swoon. The servants were very good to keep it out of her sight when she was at home. Every accident was swiftly cleaned, and every drop quickly dealt with. But they were not home. There was a bleeding cousin in her arms. And it wasn’t just a little blood. It had stained her arms when she had held up her hands, and now freely flowed from her fingertips, getting on Melina’s own chiton each time Imma’s hands hit against her.
Oh gods. Melina’s eyes shot up to the sky. “We need a healer!” Melina’s own face had grown ghostly white. She could see the black spots begin forming in her vision. Melina tried blinking them away rapidly, but everything else was continuing to grow dark. Drip, drip, drip, the blood continued to move from Imma’s fingers and palm onto Melina and the ground below them.
No longer could Melina’s knees stay strong. The world was spinning, and as it did it was taking Melina with her. The black spots grew larger and larger, and before she knew it Melina was following the example set by her younger cousin and found herself falling into a realm filled with darkness and nothing.
A wave of relief washed over Melina. She hadn’t said anything awful, at least not by her cousin’s standards. She had made the paint herself? Melina envied her younger cousin’s ingenuity. Melina did not have a talent of any sort unless you called flowed arranging a talent, and even then Melina was sure there were those who could do better. But to be a painter that makes their own paints… truly her cousins were the ones that were blessed by the gods.
Or not. Because they had a cousin like Melina who attracted the worst luck. A moment later wine glasses spilled on the three. Of course, wine would spill on Melina. She had started the day confident, even trying to look fabulous in her outfit, but ended it a disaster. But suddenly, her cousin began to sway. Melina caught her with both arms, “Imma, are you al-” The worried tone cut off suddenly.
Now, the thing that needs to be known about Melina is that she is typically not a coward. She might get nervous, she might need to give herself pep talks, but she isn’t a coward. It is hard to be a coward when you have the Leventi name and someone like Xanthippe typically at your side.
But there were three fears the Lady had. The first was understandable. Disappointing her father. Despite disappointing him frequently, the fear remains prevalent, and with good reason. The second was horses. Melina did not trust the creatures, and childhood trauma kept her from loving them like the rest of her family.
The last, and most pertinent in this given point of time, is blood. Melina had never been able to handle blood. Even a paper cut would cause the girl to swoon. The servants were very good to keep it out of her sight when she was at home. Every accident was swiftly cleaned, and every drop quickly dealt with. But they were not home. There was a bleeding cousin in her arms. And it wasn’t just a little blood. It had stained her arms when she had held up her hands, and now freely flowed from her fingertips, getting on Melina’s own chiton each time Imma’s hands hit against her.
Oh gods. Melina’s eyes shot up to the sky. “We need a healer!” Melina’s own face had grown ghostly white. She could see the black spots begin forming in her vision. Melina tried blinking them away rapidly, but everything else was continuing to grow dark. Drip, drip, drip, the blood continued to move from Imma’s fingers and palm onto Melina and the ground below them.
No longer could Melina’s knees stay strong. The world was spinning, and as it did it was taking Melina with her. The black spots grew larger and larger, and before she knew it Melina was following the example set by her younger cousin and found herself falling into a realm filled with darkness and nothing.
This was… horrifying. It was as if everything that could go wrong at this event was, and Theodora felt there was little she could do to stop it. The day had seemed to start out so nicely, but everything was quickly spiraling out of control. What should she do? What would Selene or Olympia do if they were in her situation? She couldn’t help but think her two more poised sisters would be handing this so much better. Perhaps if they were in charge, this wouldn’t have even happened to begin with.
“Imma!” she cried out in horror, interrupting her inner musings as her youngest sister presented bloodied hands, bits of glass sticking up from her palms like quills on the back of a porcupine. “Oh gods, are you—” Before she could even finish her question, Melina was wrapping her arms around the fainting girl, holding her up for a precious few moments before—
“Melina!” she cried out, just as uselessly and with as much shock. Arms tangled up in each other, her sister and her cousin were both collapsing to the ground, a rush of courtiers flocking in like harpies with gasps and exclamations of shock and horror. The Queen thought she might melt into the ground right there; surely that was a kinder fate than this. One thing that could be said for this gathering, at least… no one would ever forget it.
Granted, Theodora might have wished it was unforgettable for different reasons, but of course, she couldn’t have everything she wished for. “Everyone, please back up,” she ordered those moving in too close, gently ushering them back so as not to crowd Imma and Melina. “Let them breathe.” Looking to Basilides for help as he seemed to be the one least marred in the accident, she asked, “Can you help me keep some space around them? I can’t imagine they’ll be happy to have a million faces in theirs when they wake up.”
“A healer, please! Someone fetch a healer!” She added her voice to Melina’s, unsure if she’d even been heard before she was collapsing herself. Spotting her cousins still lingering nearby, she waved at Evangelina and Xene with the same pleading look on her face that she had shown to Basilides. “Will you one of you go to find a physician, Evie, Xene? And will one of you come help me look after Imma and Melina? Please?”
Shaking her head, Theodora did her best to keep the panic from her face and her voice, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She needed to stay calm, even in this chaos. The last thing anyone needed was for her to freak out too, particularly not with all these eyes on her, watching to see what she might do.
Kneeling beside the collapsed pair, she carefully pulled Imma from Melina’s limp grasp after ascertaining Imma was the only one actually injured. She wasn’t sure why Melina fainted in that case, though perhaps it was the blood pouring from her sister’s hands. Grimacing, she clenched her jaw and took one of Imma’s wrists, holding it in place as she started the painstaking process of picking the bits of glass from her hand. This wasn’t going to be pretty, and she was sure to get as bloody as Imma and Melina, but she couldn’t just let them lay here while a doctor was fetched, either. She needed to lead by example, to show not even the Queen was afraid to get her hands dirty. Especially not when it came to her family.
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This was… horrifying. It was as if everything that could go wrong at this event was, and Theodora felt there was little she could do to stop it. The day had seemed to start out so nicely, but everything was quickly spiraling out of control. What should she do? What would Selene or Olympia do if they were in her situation? She couldn’t help but think her two more poised sisters would be handing this so much better. Perhaps if they were in charge, this wouldn’t have even happened to begin with.
“Imma!” she cried out in horror, interrupting her inner musings as her youngest sister presented bloodied hands, bits of glass sticking up from her palms like quills on the back of a porcupine. “Oh gods, are you—” Before she could even finish her question, Melina was wrapping her arms around the fainting girl, holding her up for a precious few moments before—
“Melina!” she cried out, just as uselessly and with as much shock. Arms tangled up in each other, her sister and her cousin were both collapsing to the ground, a rush of courtiers flocking in like harpies with gasps and exclamations of shock and horror. The Queen thought she might melt into the ground right there; surely that was a kinder fate than this. One thing that could be said for this gathering, at least… no one would ever forget it.
Granted, Theodora might have wished it was unforgettable for different reasons, but of course, she couldn’t have everything she wished for. “Everyone, please back up,” she ordered those moving in too close, gently ushering them back so as not to crowd Imma and Melina. “Let them breathe.” Looking to Basilides for help as he seemed to be the one least marred in the accident, she asked, “Can you help me keep some space around them? I can’t imagine they’ll be happy to have a million faces in theirs when they wake up.”
“A healer, please! Someone fetch a healer!” She added her voice to Melina’s, unsure if she’d even been heard before she was collapsing herself. Spotting her cousins still lingering nearby, she waved at Evangelina and Xene with the same pleading look on her face that she had shown to Basilides. “Will you one of you go to find a physician, Evie, Xene? And will one of you come help me look after Imma and Melina? Please?”
Shaking her head, Theodora did her best to keep the panic from her face and her voice, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She needed to stay calm, even in this chaos. The last thing anyone needed was for her to freak out too, particularly not with all these eyes on her, watching to see what she might do.
Kneeling beside the collapsed pair, she carefully pulled Imma from Melina’s limp grasp after ascertaining Imma was the only one actually injured. She wasn’t sure why Melina fainted in that case, though perhaps it was the blood pouring from her sister’s hands. Grimacing, she clenched her jaw and took one of Imma’s wrists, holding it in place as she started the painstaking process of picking the bits of glass from her hand. This wasn’t going to be pretty, and she was sure to get as bloody as Imma and Melina, but she couldn’t just let them lay here while a doctor was fetched, either. She needed to lead by example, to show not even the Queen was afraid to get her hands dirty. Especially not when it came to her family.
This was… horrifying. It was as if everything that could go wrong at this event was, and Theodora felt there was little she could do to stop it. The day had seemed to start out so nicely, but everything was quickly spiraling out of control. What should she do? What would Selene or Olympia do if they were in her situation? She couldn’t help but think her two more poised sisters would be handing this so much better. Perhaps if they were in charge, this wouldn’t have even happened to begin with.
“Imma!” she cried out in horror, interrupting her inner musings as her youngest sister presented bloodied hands, bits of glass sticking up from her palms like quills on the back of a porcupine. “Oh gods, are you—” Before she could even finish her question, Melina was wrapping her arms around the fainting girl, holding her up for a precious few moments before—
“Melina!” she cried out, just as uselessly and with as much shock. Arms tangled up in each other, her sister and her cousin were both collapsing to the ground, a rush of courtiers flocking in like harpies with gasps and exclamations of shock and horror. The Queen thought she might melt into the ground right there; surely that was a kinder fate than this. One thing that could be said for this gathering, at least… no one would ever forget it.
Granted, Theodora might have wished it was unforgettable for different reasons, but of course, she couldn’t have everything she wished for. “Everyone, please back up,” she ordered those moving in too close, gently ushering them back so as not to crowd Imma and Melina. “Let them breathe.” Looking to Basilides for help as he seemed to be the one least marred in the accident, she asked, “Can you help me keep some space around them? I can’t imagine they’ll be happy to have a million faces in theirs when they wake up.”
“A healer, please! Someone fetch a healer!” She added her voice to Melina’s, unsure if she’d even been heard before she was collapsing herself. Spotting her cousins still lingering nearby, she waved at Evangelina and Xene with the same pleading look on her face that she had shown to Basilides. “Will you one of you go to find a physician, Evie, Xene? And will one of you come help me look after Imma and Melina? Please?”
Shaking her head, Theodora did her best to keep the panic from her face and her voice, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She needed to stay calm, even in this chaos. The last thing anyone needed was for her to freak out too, particularly not with all these eyes on her, watching to see what she might do.
Kneeling beside the collapsed pair, she carefully pulled Imma from Melina’s limp grasp after ascertaining Imma was the only one actually injured. She wasn’t sure why Melina fainted in that case, though perhaps it was the blood pouring from her sister’s hands. Grimacing, she clenched her jaw and took one of Imma’s wrists, holding it in place as she started the painstaking process of picking the bits of glass from her hand. This wasn’t going to be pretty, and she was sure to get as bloody as Imma and Melina, but she couldn’t just let them lay here while a doctor was fetched, either. She needed to lead by example, to show not even the Queen was afraid to get her hands dirty. Especially not when it came to her family.
It was entirely a Leventi trait, Basilides assumed, for the flush across the cheek to precede the smile. He recalled noting such with Lady Nana and the present Queen, even in brief passing. There was a good chance that this seemingly inner-glow that spread outward was likely from the rumored blessings the entire family had. After all, he was not blind. They were all gorgeous in the way that only true-blooded nobility could be.
"Brilliant," the merchant grinned, his eyes following Lady Imma's sightline to Lady Melina. He was aware of the young noblewoman's...discomfort in larger groups. In his rare, fortunate times to keep the company of her mother, Basilides had heard talk of how most of Lady Eirini's children tended to linger as wallflowers. In what little ways he could, be it conversations of interests or little tips he had learned from the troupe performers he once worked alongside, he tried to help boost the young woman's confidence here and there.
At the point Lady Melina made, Bas' eyebrows shot up, blinking a few times - not verbally admitting his ignorance to it, but intrigued nonetheless.
Bas had to be honest, he did not know how the pigments were made - just that they sold extremely well to the artists and fabric dyers. If Lady Melina was right and it was made from beetles...
That had Bas glancing down at his own clothes to see if there was any red pigment used in the fabric, his lips tugging at the thought of being covered in bugs or crushed snails. Truthfully, he did not much think about the way his clothes were made - just that he put forth enough coin to keep them well-kept and of the most luxurious fabrics he could order.
The moment Lady Imma spoke, not only affirming the truth, but adding her own knowledge to it as well, Bas turned his attention from his clothes to her. It was impressive for a young woman to not only be so knowledgable of such, but also to admit to making the paints herself. The merchant's smile broadened.
"Perhaps, then, if you know of specific minerals and pigments for your purposes, I could pass them along to my brother, and he could seek them out."
Basilides felt the sharp clap of the glass on the back of his head, then the shock of chilled wine dousing his hair and back, dribbling several ticklish drops down his spine and along his arms. His hand immediately sought out what would likely be a nice lump towards the crown of his skull and his hissed a moment before blinking and seeing the damage around him.
"My Lady, ar-"
It seemed to happen all at once and in slow motion.
First, he saw among the burgundy of the wine a flash of scarlet - blood from Lady Imma's hand. They all looked at it at the same time, and before he could put his own wine glass down in the grass, she was keeling over into Lady Melina....who then looked at the blood and keeled over herself.
"Shi-" he started, biting his word short as he tried to avoid the glass himself and shift over to try to catch Lady Melina before hitting the ground too hard, particularly on the lingering shards of glass.
In a flash, the Queen had arrived, just as he was trying to help lower the two entangled ladies to the ground as best as he could. Catching eyes with the royal, her order was heard loud and clear. Unfurling his delicate hold on the girls, he passed them to their new royal ward before making his way to stand, which allowed another long trail of wine drip down his neck and under the hem of his chiton.
A well-worn, dissuading expression immediately fell into place on his face - one often used when it came to dispelling the players from gossiping in corners and curtains when the should have been rehearsing. A slight downward angle and sidelong tilt of his head said all he did not want to trust to words in this company - after all, even under a Queen's order to disperse the crowd.
A few noble women were crowding in further, eyes hungry for the most information to spread amongst the gossips of the court. Shifting himself to stand before them, blocking their view entirely, he blinked a few times. Then, with a gentle flick of both wrists, he issued them a very tame 'shoo' motion, accompanying it with a grin that he knew could be just as persuasive, "Ladies...please."
There was just enough tittering and slightly too much rubber necking around him for their interest, at least that close, and they both sidled off, modeling for others to do the same - at least from a distance.
When the area cleared, the gossip still burned - though now a half-dozen feet away. Bas took a few steps back towards them, kneeling back down alongside the Queen. After a brief moment of lifting his eyes to find Princess Xene somewhere among them, he returned to Queen Theodora.
"Should we move them? At least to the shade and away from the worst of the prying eyes?" Basilides knew that if he was well-aware of both of the young ladies tender self-esteems, then the Queen, being kindred to them both, would know that even better.
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It was entirely a Leventi trait, Basilides assumed, for the flush across the cheek to precede the smile. He recalled noting such with Lady Nana and the present Queen, even in brief passing. There was a good chance that this seemingly inner-glow that spread outward was likely from the rumored blessings the entire family had. After all, he was not blind. They were all gorgeous in the way that only true-blooded nobility could be.
"Brilliant," the merchant grinned, his eyes following Lady Imma's sightline to Lady Melina. He was aware of the young noblewoman's...discomfort in larger groups. In his rare, fortunate times to keep the company of her mother, Basilides had heard talk of how most of Lady Eirini's children tended to linger as wallflowers. In what little ways he could, be it conversations of interests or little tips he had learned from the troupe performers he once worked alongside, he tried to help boost the young woman's confidence here and there.
At the point Lady Melina made, Bas' eyebrows shot up, blinking a few times - not verbally admitting his ignorance to it, but intrigued nonetheless.
Bas had to be honest, he did not know how the pigments were made - just that they sold extremely well to the artists and fabric dyers. If Lady Melina was right and it was made from beetles...
That had Bas glancing down at his own clothes to see if there was any red pigment used in the fabric, his lips tugging at the thought of being covered in bugs or crushed snails. Truthfully, he did not much think about the way his clothes were made - just that he put forth enough coin to keep them well-kept and of the most luxurious fabrics he could order.
The moment Lady Imma spoke, not only affirming the truth, but adding her own knowledge to it as well, Bas turned his attention from his clothes to her. It was impressive for a young woman to not only be so knowledgable of such, but also to admit to making the paints herself. The merchant's smile broadened.
"Perhaps, then, if you know of specific minerals and pigments for your purposes, I could pass them along to my brother, and he could seek them out."
Basilides felt the sharp clap of the glass on the back of his head, then the shock of chilled wine dousing his hair and back, dribbling several ticklish drops down his spine and along his arms. His hand immediately sought out what would likely be a nice lump towards the crown of his skull and his hissed a moment before blinking and seeing the damage around him.
"My Lady, ar-"
It seemed to happen all at once and in slow motion.
First, he saw among the burgundy of the wine a flash of scarlet - blood from Lady Imma's hand. They all looked at it at the same time, and before he could put his own wine glass down in the grass, she was keeling over into Lady Melina....who then looked at the blood and keeled over herself.
"Shi-" he started, biting his word short as he tried to avoid the glass himself and shift over to try to catch Lady Melina before hitting the ground too hard, particularly on the lingering shards of glass.
In a flash, the Queen had arrived, just as he was trying to help lower the two entangled ladies to the ground as best as he could. Catching eyes with the royal, her order was heard loud and clear. Unfurling his delicate hold on the girls, he passed them to their new royal ward before making his way to stand, which allowed another long trail of wine drip down his neck and under the hem of his chiton.
A well-worn, dissuading expression immediately fell into place on his face - one often used when it came to dispelling the players from gossiping in corners and curtains when the should have been rehearsing. A slight downward angle and sidelong tilt of his head said all he did not want to trust to words in this company - after all, even under a Queen's order to disperse the crowd.
A few noble women were crowding in further, eyes hungry for the most information to spread amongst the gossips of the court. Shifting himself to stand before them, blocking their view entirely, he blinked a few times. Then, with a gentle flick of both wrists, he issued them a very tame 'shoo' motion, accompanying it with a grin that he knew could be just as persuasive, "Ladies...please."
There was just enough tittering and slightly too much rubber necking around him for their interest, at least that close, and they both sidled off, modeling for others to do the same - at least from a distance.
When the area cleared, the gossip still burned - though now a half-dozen feet away. Bas took a few steps back towards them, kneeling back down alongside the Queen. After a brief moment of lifting his eyes to find Princess Xene somewhere among them, he returned to Queen Theodora.
"Should we move them? At least to the shade and away from the worst of the prying eyes?" Basilides knew that if he was well-aware of both of the young ladies tender self-esteems, then the Queen, being kindred to them both, would know that even better.
It was entirely a Leventi trait, Basilides assumed, for the flush across the cheek to precede the smile. He recalled noting such with Lady Nana and the present Queen, even in brief passing. There was a good chance that this seemingly inner-glow that spread outward was likely from the rumored blessings the entire family had. After all, he was not blind. They were all gorgeous in the way that only true-blooded nobility could be.
"Brilliant," the merchant grinned, his eyes following Lady Imma's sightline to Lady Melina. He was aware of the young noblewoman's...discomfort in larger groups. In his rare, fortunate times to keep the company of her mother, Basilides had heard talk of how most of Lady Eirini's children tended to linger as wallflowers. In what little ways he could, be it conversations of interests or little tips he had learned from the troupe performers he once worked alongside, he tried to help boost the young woman's confidence here and there.
At the point Lady Melina made, Bas' eyebrows shot up, blinking a few times - not verbally admitting his ignorance to it, but intrigued nonetheless.
Bas had to be honest, he did not know how the pigments were made - just that they sold extremely well to the artists and fabric dyers. If Lady Melina was right and it was made from beetles...
That had Bas glancing down at his own clothes to see if there was any red pigment used in the fabric, his lips tugging at the thought of being covered in bugs or crushed snails. Truthfully, he did not much think about the way his clothes were made - just that he put forth enough coin to keep them well-kept and of the most luxurious fabrics he could order.
The moment Lady Imma spoke, not only affirming the truth, but adding her own knowledge to it as well, Bas turned his attention from his clothes to her. It was impressive for a young woman to not only be so knowledgable of such, but also to admit to making the paints herself. The merchant's smile broadened.
"Perhaps, then, if you know of specific minerals and pigments for your purposes, I could pass them along to my brother, and he could seek them out."
Basilides felt the sharp clap of the glass on the back of his head, then the shock of chilled wine dousing his hair and back, dribbling several ticklish drops down his spine and along his arms. His hand immediately sought out what would likely be a nice lump towards the crown of his skull and his hissed a moment before blinking and seeing the damage around him.
"My Lady, ar-"
It seemed to happen all at once and in slow motion.
First, he saw among the burgundy of the wine a flash of scarlet - blood from Lady Imma's hand. They all looked at it at the same time, and before he could put his own wine glass down in the grass, she was keeling over into Lady Melina....who then looked at the blood and keeled over herself.
"Shi-" he started, biting his word short as he tried to avoid the glass himself and shift over to try to catch Lady Melina before hitting the ground too hard, particularly on the lingering shards of glass.
In a flash, the Queen had arrived, just as he was trying to help lower the two entangled ladies to the ground as best as he could. Catching eyes with the royal, her order was heard loud and clear. Unfurling his delicate hold on the girls, he passed them to their new royal ward before making his way to stand, which allowed another long trail of wine drip down his neck and under the hem of his chiton.
A well-worn, dissuading expression immediately fell into place on his face - one often used when it came to dispelling the players from gossiping in corners and curtains when the should have been rehearsing. A slight downward angle and sidelong tilt of his head said all he did not want to trust to words in this company - after all, even under a Queen's order to disperse the crowd.
A few noble women were crowding in further, eyes hungry for the most information to spread amongst the gossips of the court. Shifting himself to stand before them, blocking their view entirely, he blinked a few times. Then, with a gentle flick of both wrists, he issued them a very tame 'shoo' motion, accompanying it with a grin that he knew could be just as persuasive, "Ladies...please."
There was just enough tittering and slightly too much rubber necking around him for their interest, at least that close, and they both sidled off, modeling for others to do the same - at least from a distance.
When the area cleared, the gossip still burned - though now a half-dozen feet away. Bas took a few steps back towards them, kneeling back down alongside the Queen. After a brief moment of lifting his eyes to find Princess Xene somewhere among them, he returned to Queen Theodora.
"Should we move them? At least to the shade and away from the worst of the prying eyes?" Basilides knew that if he was well-aware of both of the young ladies tender self-esteems, then the Queen, being kindred to them both, would know that even better.
It wasn’t a giant stretch to think that Evangelina’s thoughts had drifted down the same path that Theodora’s had. This was miserable. Glancing sideways as the mealy-mouthed, Lady Eiola prattled on about how Theodora couldn’t help her. ‘Forgive me, Your Majesty, I… I should not have made a scene. I should have just stayed home. Please, I think I should just go.’ Slanting a concealed, vexed glance at the lady, she was ready for the woman to depart now anyway. She’d tried to help her and the woman wanted to linger in her troubles then find something constructive to do with herself. Evangelina had little patience for those unwilling to pick themselves up, she felt and hurt for their troubles but coddling wasn’t a part of her nature.
The woman was on her feet and stiffly curtsying, moving to her feet, seeing as both Xene and Theodora still outranked the woman, but she did not. Curtsying herself as Theo reached out a but not before the woman was scuttling off in a hasty retreat. Sighing, she eased back down into her chair and pressed her lips together as she met Theo’s gaze. You tried… Can we go home now?
Their new Queen raised to her feet and she held her breath fairly certain that they were about to be released from this social engagement. Thank the… The thoughts were never finished as a clatter ran out nearby and she winced before finding her head craning to glance over her shoulder to see what had happened. Even though the other group wasn’t that far away, she couldn’t discern the extent of what had just happened, but she did note that her cousins were right in the middle of it.
Was it bad that her first thought was? At least it wasn’t me...this… time.
Theodora was already sweeping through the crowd to her sister and cousin and that Basilides’ fellow. Blinking, she glanced at Xene, her eyebrows knitting together with concern and perhaps a bit of annoyance at the fact that being released from this social engagement had been delayed by whatever catastrophe had just happened.
She wasn’t close enough to hear the entire conversation going on, but she found herself watching it with curiosity. It was then that Imma seemed to swoon. What the blue blazes? Her lips parted in a surprised ‘o’ but a sound didn’t come from her. Dark, blinking eyes moved across the others of that group trying to discern what had just happened and that was how she noted Melina’s ashen face tinged with the faintest shades of green.
“What’s….” Her voice croaked just as Melina swayed and collapsed too. Was the wine poisoned? Was that her throat tightening? Her hand reached up to touch her throat. She wasn’t sure what had happened in between those thoughts and meeting the desperate glance of Theo and her brain seemed to click in as Theo beckoned aid.
‘Will you one of you go to find a physician, Evie, Xene? And will one of you come help me look after Imma and Melina? Please?’
Looking to Xene, “You’re more familiar with the Palati, I’ll help her while you fetch a physician!” She didn’t wait for the Princess to shift into gear, before she was marching through the crowd to her family. “Excuse me. Pardon me. Excuse me.” She murmured as she weaved in and out of people to get over there but what she found when she stepped up, caused her to blanch. “What in Hades happened?” She was quickly scanning over Imma bleeding. A quick glance at Melina and she pursed her lips and inwardly sighed as she looked to Imma again. It appeared that Melina couldn’t handle seeing her young cousin bleeding.
‘Should we move them? At least to the shade and away from the worst of the prying eyes?’ She glanced at him and then to Theo and Gianna and back to Theo. They should get the guests out of here, but would Theo want to leave her baby sister? Probably not.
“Let’s grab some napkins or something and let’s see if we can stop that bleeding…” Evangelina murmured as she moved over to Melina and kneeled down bending over Fotio’s middle daughter. Reaching out with her palm, she rapped Melina’s cheeks. Once. “Melina.” She swallowed. Twice. “Melina.” Three times.
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It wasn’t a giant stretch to think that Evangelina’s thoughts had drifted down the same path that Theodora’s had. This was miserable. Glancing sideways as the mealy-mouthed, Lady Eiola prattled on about how Theodora couldn’t help her. ‘Forgive me, Your Majesty, I… I should not have made a scene. I should have just stayed home. Please, I think I should just go.’ Slanting a concealed, vexed glance at the lady, she was ready for the woman to depart now anyway. She’d tried to help her and the woman wanted to linger in her troubles then find something constructive to do with herself. Evangelina had little patience for those unwilling to pick themselves up, she felt and hurt for their troubles but coddling wasn’t a part of her nature.
The woman was on her feet and stiffly curtsying, moving to her feet, seeing as both Xene and Theodora still outranked the woman, but she did not. Curtsying herself as Theo reached out a but not before the woman was scuttling off in a hasty retreat. Sighing, she eased back down into her chair and pressed her lips together as she met Theo’s gaze. You tried… Can we go home now?
Their new Queen raised to her feet and she held her breath fairly certain that they were about to be released from this social engagement. Thank the… The thoughts were never finished as a clatter ran out nearby and she winced before finding her head craning to glance over her shoulder to see what had happened. Even though the other group wasn’t that far away, she couldn’t discern the extent of what had just happened, but she did note that her cousins were right in the middle of it.
Was it bad that her first thought was? At least it wasn’t me...this… time.
Theodora was already sweeping through the crowd to her sister and cousin and that Basilides’ fellow. Blinking, she glanced at Xene, her eyebrows knitting together with concern and perhaps a bit of annoyance at the fact that being released from this social engagement had been delayed by whatever catastrophe had just happened.
She wasn’t close enough to hear the entire conversation going on, but she found herself watching it with curiosity. It was then that Imma seemed to swoon. What the blue blazes? Her lips parted in a surprised ‘o’ but a sound didn’t come from her. Dark, blinking eyes moved across the others of that group trying to discern what had just happened and that was how she noted Melina’s ashen face tinged with the faintest shades of green.
“What’s….” Her voice croaked just as Melina swayed and collapsed too. Was the wine poisoned? Was that her throat tightening? Her hand reached up to touch her throat. She wasn’t sure what had happened in between those thoughts and meeting the desperate glance of Theo and her brain seemed to click in as Theo beckoned aid.
‘Will you one of you go to find a physician, Evie, Xene? And will one of you come help me look after Imma and Melina? Please?’
Looking to Xene, “You’re more familiar with the Palati, I’ll help her while you fetch a physician!” She didn’t wait for the Princess to shift into gear, before she was marching through the crowd to her family. “Excuse me. Pardon me. Excuse me.” She murmured as she weaved in and out of people to get over there but what she found when she stepped up, caused her to blanch. “What in Hades happened?” She was quickly scanning over Imma bleeding. A quick glance at Melina and she pursed her lips and inwardly sighed as she looked to Imma again. It appeared that Melina couldn’t handle seeing her young cousin bleeding.
‘Should we move them? At least to the shade and away from the worst of the prying eyes?’ She glanced at him and then to Theo and Gianna and back to Theo. They should get the guests out of here, but would Theo want to leave her baby sister? Probably not.
“Let’s grab some napkins or something and let’s see if we can stop that bleeding…” Evangelina murmured as she moved over to Melina and kneeled down bending over Fotio’s middle daughter. Reaching out with her palm, she rapped Melina’s cheeks. Once. “Melina.” She swallowed. Twice. “Melina.” Three times.
It wasn’t a giant stretch to think that Evangelina’s thoughts had drifted down the same path that Theodora’s had. This was miserable. Glancing sideways as the mealy-mouthed, Lady Eiola prattled on about how Theodora couldn’t help her. ‘Forgive me, Your Majesty, I… I should not have made a scene. I should have just stayed home. Please, I think I should just go.’ Slanting a concealed, vexed glance at the lady, she was ready for the woman to depart now anyway. She’d tried to help her and the woman wanted to linger in her troubles then find something constructive to do with herself. Evangelina had little patience for those unwilling to pick themselves up, she felt and hurt for their troubles but coddling wasn’t a part of her nature.
The woman was on her feet and stiffly curtsying, moving to her feet, seeing as both Xene and Theodora still outranked the woman, but she did not. Curtsying herself as Theo reached out a but not before the woman was scuttling off in a hasty retreat. Sighing, she eased back down into her chair and pressed her lips together as she met Theo’s gaze. You tried… Can we go home now?
Their new Queen raised to her feet and she held her breath fairly certain that they were about to be released from this social engagement. Thank the… The thoughts were never finished as a clatter ran out nearby and she winced before finding her head craning to glance over her shoulder to see what had happened. Even though the other group wasn’t that far away, she couldn’t discern the extent of what had just happened, but she did note that her cousins were right in the middle of it.
Was it bad that her first thought was? At least it wasn’t me...this… time.
Theodora was already sweeping through the crowd to her sister and cousin and that Basilides’ fellow. Blinking, she glanced at Xene, her eyebrows knitting together with concern and perhaps a bit of annoyance at the fact that being released from this social engagement had been delayed by whatever catastrophe had just happened.
She wasn’t close enough to hear the entire conversation going on, but she found herself watching it with curiosity. It was then that Imma seemed to swoon. What the blue blazes? Her lips parted in a surprised ‘o’ but a sound didn’t come from her. Dark, blinking eyes moved across the others of that group trying to discern what had just happened and that was how she noted Melina’s ashen face tinged with the faintest shades of green.
“What’s….” Her voice croaked just as Melina swayed and collapsed too. Was the wine poisoned? Was that her throat tightening? Her hand reached up to touch her throat. She wasn’t sure what had happened in between those thoughts and meeting the desperate glance of Theo and her brain seemed to click in as Theo beckoned aid.
‘Will you one of you go to find a physician, Evie, Xene? And will one of you come help me look after Imma and Melina? Please?’
Looking to Xene, “You’re more familiar with the Palati, I’ll help her while you fetch a physician!” She didn’t wait for the Princess to shift into gear, before she was marching through the crowd to her family. “Excuse me. Pardon me. Excuse me.” She murmured as she weaved in and out of people to get over there but what she found when she stepped up, caused her to blanch. “What in Hades happened?” She was quickly scanning over Imma bleeding. A quick glance at Melina and she pursed her lips and inwardly sighed as she looked to Imma again. It appeared that Melina couldn’t handle seeing her young cousin bleeding.
‘Should we move them? At least to the shade and away from the worst of the prying eyes?’ She glanced at him and then to Theo and Gianna and back to Theo. They should get the guests out of here, but would Theo want to leave her baby sister? Probably not.
“Let’s grab some napkins or something and let’s see if we can stop that bleeding…” Evangelina murmured as she moved over to Melina and kneeled down bending over Fotio’s middle daughter. Reaching out with her palm, she rapped Melina’s cheeks. Once. “Melina.” She swallowed. Twice. “Melina.” Three times.
Melina hoped that when she opened her eyes she would be dead. Death sounded like a better alternative than waking up to a bunch of gossiping nobles. This would be a day that Melina would never live down. She fainted. In court. Because of blood. To be fair Melina would probably lie. She was feeling ill. The heat of the sun was getting to her. The excitement… startled her?
Charon, take me across the River of Styx. She thought darkly. She could hear chatter in the distance, but her eyes had not willed themselves to open, nor was her brain ready to fully rejoin the waking world. The darkness was more inviting, and the prospect of seeing the ruby droplets of blood was enough to keep her unconscious. It was in these moments Melina was safe from the gossips and judgment. She wouldn’t have to suffer from the embarrassment or feel the crushing horror of knowing she had made a fool and a spectacle of herself. While her eyes remained closed, Melina could remain invisible. She did not have to face the consequences of her actions, even in the actions that were beyond her capabilities to suppress.
Should her brain be kind, it would consider the fact that her fainting was involuntary. The fear she had of blood was born of trauma from a childhood experience. While the years may have come and gone, the horror of the poor stablehand was something that she would never be able to forget. Thus, she shouldn’t feel ashamed that she fainted. But her brain was not kind, and so Melina would be filled with shame. She would desire to lock herself in her room and not show her face, only to remember that she was allowed to do that. The desire to cross the River was a reality still so far away.
Melina. Melina. Melina. Each time she heard her name, a slap hit her face. Finally, her eyes slid open, and as it cleared she found herself staring at… someone. It wasn’t Charon, as much as she may have wished. It was someone probably far more beautiful than Charon- Evangelina, her cousin. She was slapping her awake. Beyond her was the Queen, and a bit farther back was Basilides trying to usher back the prying eyes. Melina could only react in one way. She could only say one word.
“Ow.”
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Melina hoped that when she opened her eyes she would be dead. Death sounded like a better alternative than waking up to a bunch of gossiping nobles. This would be a day that Melina would never live down. She fainted. In court. Because of blood. To be fair Melina would probably lie. She was feeling ill. The heat of the sun was getting to her. The excitement… startled her?
Charon, take me across the River of Styx. She thought darkly. She could hear chatter in the distance, but her eyes had not willed themselves to open, nor was her brain ready to fully rejoin the waking world. The darkness was more inviting, and the prospect of seeing the ruby droplets of blood was enough to keep her unconscious. It was in these moments Melina was safe from the gossips and judgment. She wouldn’t have to suffer from the embarrassment or feel the crushing horror of knowing she had made a fool and a spectacle of herself. While her eyes remained closed, Melina could remain invisible. She did not have to face the consequences of her actions, even in the actions that were beyond her capabilities to suppress.
Should her brain be kind, it would consider the fact that her fainting was involuntary. The fear she had of blood was born of trauma from a childhood experience. While the years may have come and gone, the horror of the poor stablehand was something that she would never be able to forget. Thus, she shouldn’t feel ashamed that she fainted. But her brain was not kind, and so Melina would be filled with shame. She would desire to lock herself in her room and not show her face, only to remember that she was allowed to do that. The desire to cross the River was a reality still so far away.
Melina. Melina. Melina. Each time she heard her name, a slap hit her face. Finally, her eyes slid open, and as it cleared she found herself staring at… someone. It wasn’t Charon, as much as she may have wished. It was someone probably far more beautiful than Charon- Evangelina, her cousin. She was slapping her awake. Beyond her was the Queen, and a bit farther back was Basilides trying to usher back the prying eyes. Melina could only react in one way. She could only say one word.
“Ow.”
Melina hoped that when she opened her eyes she would be dead. Death sounded like a better alternative than waking up to a bunch of gossiping nobles. This would be a day that Melina would never live down. She fainted. In court. Because of blood. To be fair Melina would probably lie. She was feeling ill. The heat of the sun was getting to her. The excitement… startled her?
Charon, take me across the River of Styx. She thought darkly. She could hear chatter in the distance, but her eyes had not willed themselves to open, nor was her brain ready to fully rejoin the waking world. The darkness was more inviting, and the prospect of seeing the ruby droplets of blood was enough to keep her unconscious. It was in these moments Melina was safe from the gossips and judgment. She wouldn’t have to suffer from the embarrassment or feel the crushing horror of knowing she had made a fool and a spectacle of herself. While her eyes remained closed, Melina could remain invisible. She did not have to face the consequences of her actions, even in the actions that were beyond her capabilities to suppress.
Should her brain be kind, it would consider the fact that her fainting was involuntary. The fear she had of blood was born of trauma from a childhood experience. While the years may have come and gone, the horror of the poor stablehand was something that she would never be able to forget. Thus, she shouldn’t feel ashamed that she fainted. But her brain was not kind, and so Melina would be filled with shame. She would desire to lock herself in her room and not show her face, only to remember that she was allowed to do that. The desire to cross the River was a reality still so far away.
Melina. Melina. Melina. Each time she heard her name, a slap hit her face. Finally, her eyes slid open, and as it cleared she found herself staring at… someone. It wasn’t Charon, as much as she may have wished. It was someone probably far more beautiful than Charon- Evangelina, her cousin. She was slapping her awake. Beyond her was the Queen, and a bit farther back was Basilides trying to usher back the prying eyes. Melina could only react in one way. She could only say one word.
“Ow.”
This entire situation with Lady Eoia was profoundly awkward, and Xene found herself sipping longer upon her cup of wine. Her own words had done little to cheer the woman, and furthermore, the Queen's had not either. So that meant that she was going to drink and try not to make a fool of herself by trying to no avail. Admittedly, it was somewhat of a relief to be freed from the requirement that they help the older woman with her not-so-quiet grief. When Xene's gaze met Lady Evangelina's, she could see the same thoughts flash across Evie's features.
The princess wanted to return home as well, hopefully with her little sister and her friend at her back, and perhaps with the Queen's arm looped into her own. Court held a sour taste for her as of late, and though she was here to support Theodora on her very first session, her heart wasn't in it. She did not feel like celebrating and she did not feel like being social. As much as she tried, her initial outburst at some of the gossiping ladies in their group was the one and only sign that Xene needed to realize that maybe she shouldn't have come. But that would have been an insult to Theodora, and she couldn't have done that to her cousin even if she did want to.
She didn't wish to hurt her feelings, so she had come. With Lady Eoia gone, she felt like she might be able to breathe a moment. Compose herself. Make herself more presentable to those around them. But as luck would have it, calm was not on the horizon just yet. It did feel like it all happened in slow motion. Xene's gaze caught the movement, the crashing of glass and wine upon three of Queen Theodora's guests. One of them being Basilides, though she knew the man to be hardier than he often gave himself credit for. It was Lady Imma and Lady Melina that had the princess on her feet beside the queen and rushing over to help. Or attempt to.
With Lady Imma fainting from the sight of blood and Lady Melina seeming to do the same, the princess found herself frozen and looking to Basilides. This was an all too familiar sight. The last time she'd heard call for a healer, Captain Krysto had been there to help. To no avail whatsoever, despite her own efforts to save her uncle, but this situation still didn't settle the sudden knots in Xene's stomach. It was Lady Evangelina's request that Xene find the Palati's healer that had the woman immediately turning away from the scene and almost running in the direction of the old man's workshop.
Tense, irritable, and out of breath as she quickly navigated the halls of the Palati, the princess found herself almost throwing herself down sets of stairs and barging into the healer's space, her blue gaze a little wild and now very much worried for the two ladies in question. "There's a situation in the gardens and your services are being requested," the princess said, watching the old man struggle to rush to his feet. He grabbed his pack of supplies and took off in front of her, a few of the Palati guards cutting in to follow.
Heron caught up to her, silent, but saying everything without saying anything at all. The small group of them made it back into the Palati gardens, the old healer surprisingly spry for his age as he approached the two prone ladies, huffing and puffing and entirely out of breath. "What has happened here?" the old healer groused at the group of them, pausing once to bow to all of the nobility and royalty at once.
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This entire situation with Lady Eoia was profoundly awkward, and Xene found herself sipping longer upon her cup of wine. Her own words had done little to cheer the woman, and furthermore, the Queen's had not either. So that meant that she was going to drink and try not to make a fool of herself by trying to no avail. Admittedly, it was somewhat of a relief to be freed from the requirement that they help the older woman with her not-so-quiet grief. When Xene's gaze met Lady Evangelina's, she could see the same thoughts flash across Evie's features.
The princess wanted to return home as well, hopefully with her little sister and her friend at her back, and perhaps with the Queen's arm looped into her own. Court held a sour taste for her as of late, and though she was here to support Theodora on her very first session, her heart wasn't in it. She did not feel like celebrating and she did not feel like being social. As much as she tried, her initial outburst at some of the gossiping ladies in their group was the one and only sign that Xene needed to realize that maybe she shouldn't have come. But that would have been an insult to Theodora, and she couldn't have done that to her cousin even if she did want to.
She didn't wish to hurt her feelings, so she had come. With Lady Eoia gone, she felt like she might be able to breathe a moment. Compose herself. Make herself more presentable to those around them. But as luck would have it, calm was not on the horizon just yet. It did feel like it all happened in slow motion. Xene's gaze caught the movement, the crashing of glass and wine upon three of Queen Theodora's guests. One of them being Basilides, though she knew the man to be hardier than he often gave himself credit for. It was Lady Imma and Lady Melina that had the princess on her feet beside the queen and rushing over to help. Or attempt to.
With Lady Imma fainting from the sight of blood and Lady Melina seeming to do the same, the princess found herself frozen and looking to Basilides. This was an all too familiar sight. The last time she'd heard call for a healer, Captain Krysto had been there to help. To no avail whatsoever, despite her own efforts to save her uncle, but this situation still didn't settle the sudden knots in Xene's stomach. It was Lady Evangelina's request that Xene find the Palati's healer that had the woman immediately turning away from the scene and almost running in the direction of the old man's workshop.
Tense, irritable, and out of breath as she quickly navigated the halls of the Palati, the princess found herself almost throwing herself down sets of stairs and barging into the healer's space, her blue gaze a little wild and now very much worried for the two ladies in question. "There's a situation in the gardens and your services are being requested," the princess said, watching the old man struggle to rush to his feet. He grabbed his pack of supplies and took off in front of her, a few of the Palati guards cutting in to follow.
Heron caught up to her, silent, but saying everything without saying anything at all. The small group of them made it back into the Palati gardens, the old healer surprisingly spry for his age as he approached the two prone ladies, huffing and puffing and entirely out of breath. "What has happened here?" the old healer groused at the group of them, pausing once to bow to all of the nobility and royalty at once.
This entire situation with Lady Eoia was profoundly awkward, and Xene found herself sipping longer upon her cup of wine. Her own words had done little to cheer the woman, and furthermore, the Queen's had not either. So that meant that she was going to drink and try not to make a fool of herself by trying to no avail. Admittedly, it was somewhat of a relief to be freed from the requirement that they help the older woman with her not-so-quiet grief. When Xene's gaze met Lady Evangelina's, she could see the same thoughts flash across Evie's features.
The princess wanted to return home as well, hopefully with her little sister and her friend at her back, and perhaps with the Queen's arm looped into her own. Court held a sour taste for her as of late, and though she was here to support Theodora on her very first session, her heart wasn't in it. She did not feel like celebrating and she did not feel like being social. As much as she tried, her initial outburst at some of the gossiping ladies in their group was the one and only sign that Xene needed to realize that maybe she shouldn't have come. But that would have been an insult to Theodora, and she couldn't have done that to her cousin even if she did want to.
She didn't wish to hurt her feelings, so she had come. With Lady Eoia gone, she felt like she might be able to breathe a moment. Compose herself. Make herself more presentable to those around them. But as luck would have it, calm was not on the horizon just yet. It did feel like it all happened in slow motion. Xene's gaze caught the movement, the crashing of glass and wine upon three of Queen Theodora's guests. One of them being Basilides, though she knew the man to be hardier than he often gave himself credit for. It was Lady Imma and Lady Melina that had the princess on her feet beside the queen and rushing over to help. Or attempt to.
With Lady Imma fainting from the sight of blood and Lady Melina seeming to do the same, the princess found herself frozen and looking to Basilides. This was an all too familiar sight. The last time she'd heard call for a healer, Captain Krysto had been there to help. To no avail whatsoever, despite her own efforts to save her uncle, but this situation still didn't settle the sudden knots in Xene's stomach. It was Lady Evangelina's request that Xene find the Palati's healer that had the woman immediately turning away from the scene and almost running in the direction of the old man's workshop.
Tense, irritable, and out of breath as she quickly navigated the halls of the Palati, the princess found herself almost throwing herself down sets of stairs and barging into the healer's space, her blue gaze a little wild and now very much worried for the two ladies in question. "There's a situation in the gardens and your services are being requested," the princess said, watching the old man struggle to rush to his feet. He grabbed his pack of supplies and took off in front of her, a few of the Palati guards cutting in to follow.
Heron caught up to her, silent, but saying everything without saying anything at all. The small group of them made it back into the Palati gardens, the old healer surprisingly spry for his age as he approached the two prone ladies, huffing and puffing and entirely out of breath. "What has happened here?" the old healer groused at the group of them, pausing once to bow to all of the nobility and royalty at once.
While Theodora was eternally grateful at those who had sprung into action so quickly, she wanted nothing more than for all of them to be gone. This had been a disaster, and she couldn’t think of anything that could make it better now. With two Leventis passed out on the ground and shattered glass everywhere, it hardly seemed appropriate for this Court session to continue. It took only a moment for the Queen to decide that’s exactly what would happen; this would no longer continue. No one besides family needed to be here any longer.
However, before she could announce it, Xene was returning with the healer, an old man who seemed none too pleased with the circumstances. Well, she had news for him—she wasn’t pleased, either. If she could have listed the ways she hoped this day would go, none of the things that happened would have been on her list.
Nodding her gratitude to the princess, she addressed the elderly physician with a sigh, “My sister and my cousin are both out cold.” A sound at her side of Melina coming to had her quickly amending her statement, “Excuse me, my sister is out cold. Lady Imma got glass in her palms and fainted, and Lady Melina… well, I’m not entirely why she fainted, but she did.”
As the doctor came forward, she gently eased Imma from her grasp, holding out the girl’s bloodied hands for the man to take. Glancing down at her now ruined chiton, she shook her head. It didn’t matter. As long as Imma was okay, she could ruin a million of her gowns. The state of her dress was hardly Theodora’s biggest concern at the moment.
Leaving the physician to attend her fallen relatives and gently squeezing both Evangelina’s and Basilides’s shoulders in thanks, she stepped away from the little group surrounding Imma and Melina to address the rest of the Court. “My lords and ladies, friends of the Court, thank you for coming today,” she began, straightening her shoulders and doing her very best to look as if she wasn’t on the verge of panic, nor covered in her youngest sister’s blood. “But I think we can all agree that Lady Melina and Lady Imma could use their space right now. While I hate to call an early end to our afternoon, I believe that seems to be the most appropriate action.”
Though it wasn’t an outright order, it was a clear dismissal, Theodora offering a falsely warm smile to those gathered. While the nosier members of the Court made clear their disappointment, the Queen let their little barbs fall off her shoulders. Why should this travesty continue after blood had been spilled? This wasn’t a battle. This was Court, gods damn it, and she was the Queen. If she said to leave, they needed to leave.
Slowly, the area began to empty of its temporary inhabitants, courtiers offering bows and curtsies of farewell in a seeming show of respect, though most were craning to look over her shoulder at what had just happened. She kept her smile in place as well as she could, though what she really wanted to do was scream. How had this gone so wrong?
Surely, next time would be better, smoother. Gods, it had to be, didn’t it?
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While Theodora was eternally grateful at those who had sprung into action so quickly, she wanted nothing more than for all of them to be gone. This had been a disaster, and she couldn’t think of anything that could make it better now. With two Leventis passed out on the ground and shattered glass everywhere, it hardly seemed appropriate for this Court session to continue. It took only a moment for the Queen to decide that’s exactly what would happen; this would no longer continue. No one besides family needed to be here any longer.
However, before she could announce it, Xene was returning with the healer, an old man who seemed none too pleased with the circumstances. Well, she had news for him—she wasn’t pleased, either. If she could have listed the ways she hoped this day would go, none of the things that happened would have been on her list.
Nodding her gratitude to the princess, she addressed the elderly physician with a sigh, “My sister and my cousin are both out cold.” A sound at her side of Melina coming to had her quickly amending her statement, “Excuse me, my sister is out cold. Lady Imma got glass in her palms and fainted, and Lady Melina… well, I’m not entirely why she fainted, but she did.”
As the doctor came forward, she gently eased Imma from her grasp, holding out the girl’s bloodied hands for the man to take. Glancing down at her now ruined chiton, she shook her head. It didn’t matter. As long as Imma was okay, she could ruin a million of her gowns. The state of her dress was hardly Theodora’s biggest concern at the moment.
Leaving the physician to attend her fallen relatives and gently squeezing both Evangelina’s and Basilides’s shoulders in thanks, she stepped away from the little group surrounding Imma and Melina to address the rest of the Court. “My lords and ladies, friends of the Court, thank you for coming today,” she began, straightening her shoulders and doing her very best to look as if she wasn’t on the verge of panic, nor covered in her youngest sister’s blood. “But I think we can all agree that Lady Melina and Lady Imma could use their space right now. While I hate to call an early end to our afternoon, I believe that seems to be the most appropriate action.”
Though it wasn’t an outright order, it was a clear dismissal, Theodora offering a falsely warm smile to those gathered. While the nosier members of the Court made clear their disappointment, the Queen let their little barbs fall off her shoulders. Why should this travesty continue after blood had been spilled? This wasn’t a battle. This was Court, gods damn it, and she was the Queen. If she said to leave, they needed to leave.
Slowly, the area began to empty of its temporary inhabitants, courtiers offering bows and curtsies of farewell in a seeming show of respect, though most were craning to look over her shoulder at what had just happened. She kept her smile in place as well as she could, though what she really wanted to do was scream. How had this gone so wrong?
Surely, next time would be better, smoother. Gods, it had to be, didn’t it?
While Theodora was eternally grateful at those who had sprung into action so quickly, she wanted nothing more than for all of them to be gone. This had been a disaster, and she couldn’t think of anything that could make it better now. With two Leventis passed out on the ground and shattered glass everywhere, it hardly seemed appropriate for this Court session to continue. It took only a moment for the Queen to decide that’s exactly what would happen; this would no longer continue. No one besides family needed to be here any longer.
However, before she could announce it, Xene was returning with the healer, an old man who seemed none too pleased with the circumstances. Well, she had news for him—she wasn’t pleased, either. If she could have listed the ways she hoped this day would go, none of the things that happened would have been on her list.
Nodding her gratitude to the princess, she addressed the elderly physician with a sigh, “My sister and my cousin are both out cold.” A sound at her side of Melina coming to had her quickly amending her statement, “Excuse me, my sister is out cold. Lady Imma got glass in her palms and fainted, and Lady Melina… well, I’m not entirely why she fainted, but she did.”
As the doctor came forward, she gently eased Imma from her grasp, holding out the girl’s bloodied hands for the man to take. Glancing down at her now ruined chiton, she shook her head. It didn’t matter. As long as Imma was okay, she could ruin a million of her gowns. The state of her dress was hardly Theodora’s biggest concern at the moment.
Leaving the physician to attend her fallen relatives and gently squeezing both Evangelina’s and Basilides’s shoulders in thanks, she stepped away from the little group surrounding Imma and Melina to address the rest of the Court. “My lords and ladies, friends of the Court, thank you for coming today,” she began, straightening her shoulders and doing her very best to look as if she wasn’t on the verge of panic, nor covered in her youngest sister’s blood. “But I think we can all agree that Lady Melina and Lady Imma could use their space right now. While I hate to call an early end to our afternoon, I believe that seems to be the most appropriate action.”
Though it wasn’t an outright order, it was a clear dismissal, Theodora offering a falsely warm smile to those gathered. While the nosier members of the Court made clear their disappointment, the Queen let their little barbs fall off her shoulders. Why should this travesty continue after blood had been spilled? This wasn’t a battle. This was Court, gods damn it, and she was the Queen. If she said to leave, they needed to leave.
Slowly, the area began to empty of its temporary inhabitants, courtiers offering bows and curtsies of farewell in a seeming show of respect, though most were craning to look over her shoulder at what had just happened. She kept her smile in place as well as she could, though what she really wanted to do was scream. How had this gone so wrong?
Surely, next time would be better, smoother. Gods, it had to be, didn’t it?
The old doctor got to work quickly, observing the two ladies in question. He listened to the queen's words, but found himself far more focused on the bleeding hands of young Lady Imma. they would need to be bandaged, for sure, there was no question of that. But Lady Melina would just need a bed and some water once she woke. Hysteria, most likely. That was the root cause of all of this, and he said as much as he lifted his grey eyes to the queen. "Your majesty, might there be a place we may move Lady Imma so that I may work on her hands? Lady Melina will simply need a bed and some rest," he noted calmly, glancing around once the queen had given her orders for everyone else to leave.
The two of them and some guards could surely take it all from there.
Breaking away from the queen and the healer, Xene silently found herself coming up behind Basilides, her fingers reaching for his shoulder. "I think you need some new clothes and a bath, Basilides," she said softly, her smile a little nervous. She was willing to buy him new clothes and send him to one of the Palati's private baths if he needed to ensure that all of the glass was out of his curls. She was listening to Queen Theodora's order to make haste and remove herself from court, knowing that this was turning into a rather private matter just as quickly.
"Come," she offered her hand to him in a show of deep friendship, "Let us give the queen her space with her family," she said softly, "And we will freshen you up before we continue with our day," Xene added, looking for any excuse to leave at this point. Her gaze drifted toward Lady Evangelina, her smile soft as she nodded to the woman. She was sure that the lady felt the same way. They'd both wanted to believe before chaos had set in, and now they were unwilling participants to utter calamity.
With or without Basilides, however, the woman was going to leave. She paused briefly, setting her hand upon the Queen's shoulder and then leading in. "If you need me, my queen, please send for me. But I shall take my leave so that you may tend to your sister," she said softly, "I'll instruct the kitchens to start preparing your luncheon a little early. I'm sure Imma shall need the food when she wakes," she noted quietly, and then was pulling away, making her way toward the exit of the gardens and back into the Palati once more.
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The old doctor got to work quickly, observing the two ladies in question. He listened to the queen's words, but found himself far more focused on the bleeding hands of young Lady Imma. they would need to be bandaged, for sure, there was no question of that. But Lady Melina would just need a bed and some water once she woke. Hysteria, most likely. That was the root cause of all of this, and he said as much as he lifted his grey eyes to the queen. "Your majesty, might there be a place we may move Lady Imma so that I may work on her hands? Lady Melina will simply need a bed and some rest," he noted calmly, glancing around once the queen had given her orders for everyone else to leave.
The two of them and some guards could surely take it all from there.
Breaking away from the queen and the healer, Xene silently found herself coming up behind Basilides, her fingers reaching for his shoulder. "I think you need some new clothes and a bath, Basilides," she said softly, her smile a little nervous. She was willing to buy him new clothes and send him to one of the Palati's private baths if he needed to ensure that all of the glass was out of his curls. She was listening to Queen Theodora's order to make haste and remove herself from court, knowing that this was turning into a rather private matter just as quickly.
"Come," she offered her hand to him in a show of deep friendship, "Let us give the queen her space with her family," she said softly, "And we will freshen you up before we continue with our day," Xene added, looking for any excuse to leave at this point. Her gaze drifted toward Lady Evangelina, her smile soft as she nodded to the woman. She was sure that the lady felt the same way. They'd both wanted to believe before chaos had set in, and now they were unwilling participants to utter calamity.
With or without Basilides, however, the woman was going to leave. She paused briefly, setting her hand upon the Queen's shoulder and then leading in. "If you need me, my queen, please send for me. But I shall take my leave so that you may tend to your sister," she said softly, "I'll instruct the kitchens to start preparing your luncheon a little early. I'm sure Imma shall need the food when she wakes," she noted quietly, and then was pulling away, making her way toward the exit of the gardens and back into the Palati once more.
The old doctor got to work quickly, observing the two ladies in question. He listened to the queen's words, but found himself far more focused on the bleeding hands of young Lady Imma. they would need to be bandaged, for sure, there was no question of that. But Lady Melina would just need a bed and some water once she woke. Hysteria, most likely. That was the root cause of all of this, and he said as much as he lifted his grey eyes to the queen. "Your majesty, might there be a place we may move Lady Imma so that I may work on her hands? Lady Melina will simply need a bed and some rest," he noted calmly, glancing around once the queen had given her orders for everyone else to leave.
The two of them and some guards could surely take it all from there.
Breaking away from the queen and the healer, Xene silently found herself coming up behind Basilides, her fingers reaching for his shoulder. "I think you need some new clothes and a bath, Basilides," she said softly, her smile a little nervous. She was willing to buy him new clothes and send him to one of the Palati's private baths if he needed to ensure that all of the glass was out of his curls. She was listening to Queen Theodora's order to make haste and remove herself from court, knowing that this was turning into a rather private matter just as quickly.
"Come," she offered her hand to him in a show of deep friendship, "Let us give the queen her space with her family," she said softly, "And we will freshen you up before we continue with our day," Xene added, looking for any excuse to leave at this point. Her gaze drifted toward Lady Evangelina, her smile soft as she nodded to the woman. She was sure that the lady felt the same way. They'd both wanted to believe before chaos had set in, and now they were unwilling participants to utter calamity.
With or without Basilides, however, the woman was going to leave. She paused briefly, setting her hand upon the Queen's shoulder and then leading in. "If you need me, my queen, please send for me. But I shall take my leave so that you may tend to your sister," she said softly, "I'll instruct the kitchens to start preparing your luncheon a little early. I'm sure Imma shall need the food when she wakes," she noted quietly, and then was pulling away, making her way toward the exit of the gardens and back into the Palati once more.
Imma was swimming deep within the ocean. The sun far above her cast its rays into the water, illuminating the blue-tinted beauty of the world beneath the sea. Brightly colored fish flitted around her and coral grew in many brilliant hues. I can breathe underwater, she realized with wonder. Turning her head, she saw that the lower half of her body had turned into the tail of a fish, with lovely fins that looked like the most delicate lace.
I’m a mermaid! Her heart filled with joy and she did a long slow flip, then swam upwards, twisted, and dove toward the ocean floor. In the distance, she could see a beautiful palace that looked as if it was made entirely of pearls. She swam toward it and the closer she got, the more merfolk she passed. They all bowed respectfully to her. Am I a mermaid princess? Or perhaps I am their queen!
Her powerful tail whipped through the water as she continued to glide toward the sparkling palace. Imma felt a slight pressure on her hands and held them up. Little golden fish were nibbling on them. How cute. Their cuteness didn’t last very long. The started growing and their teeth became long and sharp, sinking into her tender flesh. The pain was agonizing and overwhelming …
Imma’s eyes flew open. The grass was soft beneath her back and she was staring at the sky. She had only been dreaming. But why didn’t the pain go away? Why were her hands hurting so much that she could hardly think? Lifting her head, she saw an old man bent over her, looking at her hands. Myriad shards of glass were stuck into them, glittering in the sunlight and they were covered in blood.
My hands are ruined! I will never paint again! She tried to scream but only a pitiful whimper emerged from her lips. The man … he must be a healer … looked over at her and a moment later, he held a cup to her lips and told her to drink. She did. The pain began to fade and the sky began to spin. Her eyes closed and her body relaxed.
This time, she didn’t dream.
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Imma was swimming deep within the ocean. The sun far above her cast its rays into the water, illuminating the blue-tinted beauty of the world beneath the sea. Brightly colored fish flitted around her and coral grew in many brilliant hues. I can breathe underwater, she realized with wonder. Turning her head, she saw that the lower half of her body had turned into the tail of a fish, with lovely fins that looked like the most delicate lace.
I’m a mermaid! Her heart filled with joy and she did a long slow flip, then swam upwards, twisted, and dove toward the ocean floor. In the distance, she could see a beautiful palace that looked as if it was made entirely of pearls. She swam toward it and the closer she got, the more merfolk she passed. They all bowed respectfully to her. Am I a mermaid princess? Or perhaps I am their queen!
Her powerful tail whipped through the water as she continued to glide toward the sparkling palace. Imma felt a slight pressure on her hands and held them up. Little golden fish were nibbling on them. How cute. Their cuteness didn’t last very long. The started growing and their teeth became long and sharp, sinking into her tender flesh. The pain was agonizing and overwhelming …
Imma’s eyes flew open. The grass was soft beneath her back and she was staring at the sky. She had only been dreaming. But why didn’t the pain go away? Why were her hands hurting so much that she could hardly think? Lifting her head, she saw an old man bent over her, looking at her hands. Myriad shards of glass were stuck into them, glittering in the sunlight and they were covered in blood.
My hands are ruined! I will never paint again! She tried to scream but only a pitiful whimper emerged from her lips. The man … he must be a healer … looked over at her and a moment later, he held a cup to her lips and told her to drink. She did. The pain began to fade and the sky began to spin. Her eyes closed and her body relaxed.
This time, she didn’t dream.
Imma was swimming deep within the ocean. The sun far above her cast its rays into the water, illuminating the blue-tinted beauty of the world beneath the sea. Brightly colored fish flitted around her and coral grew in many brilliant hues. I can breathe underwater, she realized with wonder. Turning her head, she saw that the lower half of her body had turned into the tail of a fish, with lovely fins that looked like the most delicate lace.
I’m a mermaid! Her heart filled with joy and she did a long slow flip, then swam upwards, twisted, and dove toward the ocean floor. In the distance, she could see a beautiful palace that looked as if it was made entirely of pearls. She swam toward it and the closer she got, the more merfolk she passed. They all bowed respectfully to her. Am I a mermaid princess? Or perhaps I am their queen!
Her powerful tail whipped through the water as she continued to glide toward the sparkling palace. Imma felt a slight pressure on her hands and held them up. Little golden fish were nibbling on them. How cute. Their cuteness didn’t last very long. The started growing and their teeth became long and sharp, sinking into her tender flesh. The pain was agonizing and overwhelming …
Imma’s eyes flew open. The grass was soft beneath her back and she was staring at the sky. She had only been dreaming. But why didn’t the pain go away? Why were her hands hurting so much that she could hardly think? Lifting her head, she saw an old man bent over her, looking at her hands. Myriad shards of glass were stuck into them, glittering in the sunlight and they were covered in blood.
My hands are ruined! I will never paint again! She tried to scream but only a pitiful whimper emerged from her lips. The man … he must be a healer … looked over at her and a moment later, he held a cup to her lips and told her to drink. She did. The pain began to fade and the sky began to spin. Her eyes closed and her body relaxed.
This time, she didn’t dream.
Melina had to get out of here.
She hated the stares. She hated the idea of knowing that she had just made an utter fool of herself. The worst part of it was that Xan wasn’t here. If Xan was here she would have already had the carriage ready and protected Melina from the gazes. She would have ushered Melina away seamlessly and Melina wouldn’t have to feel quite so humiliated. Melina wouldn’t have to feel quite so… alone.
It was mean to blame Imma, so Melina would blame Lady Eoia. That jerk! If she hadn’t ran away in such a fashion, spilling wine that would lead to Imma’s hand getting cut, then Melina wouldn’t have passed out. Melina could have continued her awkward conversation with Bas and Imma (and maybe explain to her cousin that snails cannot live without their shell) and she wouldn’t look like such a disaster.
Imma at least had an excuse. She got hurt. What was Melina’s excuse? She had none. She saw blood and that was enough to do her in. She would be a laughing stock where Imma most likely would have sympathetic looks. All because of stupid Lady Eoia. Melina hated her. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
But none of that was important right now. She had to get away. She could rant about how much Lady Eoia in her diary later. Right now she just needed to get in her carriage and go. So when her cousin had taken a step back from Melina, she stood up still feeling a bit woozy but otherwise fine. She purposefully kept her gaze towards the sky, just in case there were droplets of blood around her. She… didn’t want to even risk making more of a scene.
“Would you escort me to my carriage?” Melina had asked Bas quietly. She didn’t want to just shuffle away by herself. She knew that Princess Xene just offered to have him follow her, but she didn’t think it would be bad if he took her to the carriages and then follow the Princess if that was what he chose to do.
With that, Melina just gave a nod to her cousins and quickly left the scene with Bas as her escort. This day was utterly terrible. And Lady Eoia… she was on the list of people Melina was never going to forgive. That… bitch.
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Melina had to get out of here.
She hated the stares. She hated the idea of knowing that she had just made an utter fool of herself. The worst part of it was that Xan wasn’t here. If Xan was here she would have already had the carriage ready and protected Melina from the gazes. She would have ushered Melina away seamlessly and Melina wouldn’t have to feel quite so humiliated. Melina wouldn’t have to feel quite so… alone.
It was mean to blame Imma, so Melina would blame Lady Eoia. That jerk! If she hadn’t ran away in such a fashion, spilling wine that would lead to Imma’s hand getting cut, then Melina wouldn’t have passed out. Melina could have continued her awkward conversation with Bas and Imma (and maybe explain to her cousin that snails cannot live without their shell) and she wouldn’t look like such a disaster.
Imma at least had an excuse. She got hurt. What was Melina’s excuse? She had none. She saw blood and that was enough to do her in. She would be a laughing stock where Imma most likely would have sympathetic looks. All because of stupid Lady Eoia. Melina hated her. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
But none of that was important right now. She had to get away. She could rant about how much Lady Eoia in her diary later. Right now she just needed to get in her carriage and go. So when her cousin had taken a step back from Melina, she stood up still feeling a bit woozy but otherwise fine. She purposefully kept her gaze towards the sky, just in case there were droplets of blood around her. She… didn’t want to even risk making more of a scene.
“Would you escort me to my carriage?” Melina had asked Bas quietly. She didn’t want to just shuffle away by herself. She knew that Princess Xene just offered to have him follow her, but she didn’t think it would be bad if he took her to the carriages and then follow the Princess if that was what he chose to do.
With that, Melina just gave a nod to her cousins and quickly left the scene with Bas as her escort. This day was utterly terrible. And Lady Eoia… she was on the list of people Melina was never going to forgive. That… bitch.
Melina had to get out of here.
She hated the stares. She hated the idea of knowing that she had just made an utter fool of herself. The worst part of it was that Xan wasn’t here. If Xan was here she would have already had the carriage ready and protected Melina from the gazes. She would have ushered Melina away seamlessly and Melina wouldn’t have to feel quite so humiliated. Melina wouldn’t have to feel quite so… alone.
It was mean to blame Imma, so Melina would blame Lady Eoia. That jerk! If she hadn’t ran away in such a fashion, spilling wine that would lead to Imma’s hand getting cut, then Melina wouldn’t have passed out. Melina could have continued her awkward conversation with Bas and Imma (and maybe explain to her cousin that snails cannot live without their shell) and she wouldn’t look like such a disaster.
Imma at least had an excuse. She got hurt. What was Melina’s excuse? She had none. She saw blood and that was enough to do her in. She would be a laughing stock where Imma most likely would have sympathetic looks. All because of stupid Lady Eoia. Melina hated her. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
But none of that was important right now. She had to get away. She could rant about how much Lady Eoia in her diary later. Right now she just needed to get in her carriage and go. So when her cousin had taken a step back from Melina, she stood up still feeling a bit woozy but otherwise fine. She purposefully kept her gaze towards the sky, just in case there were droplets of blood around her. She… didn’t want to even risk making more of a scene.
“Would you escort me to my carriage?” Melina had asked Bas quietly. She didn’t want to just shuffle away by herself. She knew that Princess Xene just offered to have him follow her, but she didn’t think it would be bad if he took her to the carriages and then follow the Princess if that was what he chose to do.
With that, Melina just gave a nod to her cousins and quickly left the scene with Bas as her escort. This day was utterly terrible. And Lady Eoia… she was on the list of people Melina was never going to forgive. That… bitch.