The chatbox has been hidden for this page. It will reopen upon refresh. To hide the CBox permanently, select "Permanently Toggle Cbox" in your profile User Settings.
This chatbox is hidden. To reopen, edit your User Settings.
With each passing day, she grew more and more certain.
It began a few small nuisances and annoyances that could have been explained by anything. When her head began to ache, she assumed it was the change of weather going into the winter months that irritated her, as the growth of flowers in the spring did to Dysius. When the food she enjoyed seemed to turn on her within her stomach or seemed to taste bitter and unwelcome on her tongue, she assumed some fever was sinking in.
When more and more of her chitons came back from the laundress feeling tighter and not fitting quite well across her hips and chest, she immediately ordered the servant to survey for another laundress in Midas, no matter how far off the new shop would be. Thea was not going to have each of her finer gown ruined by someone who could not care for the fabric properly.
It was only when nausea began to haunt her after each meal that the pieces of the broken vessel seemed to align, and Thea felt herself struck with fear.
All these years, she had prepared a specific tonic to prevent this fear. After the first scare, she refused to ever feel fear such a consequence for such enjoyment. Her mind knew the brew by heart, able to make it swiftly and without issues following every tryst she ever had from the time she was seventeen.
Diligent as ever, Thea had taken the tonic upon returning home that evening. Everything was prepared as always. Nothing had changed.
...yet, her courses were now more than two weeks late.
That never happened.
Too many things aligned for this to be the case. Her tonic had always been preventative, to discourage the mixture of life giving seed and women's blessing to bring forth life. It never caused her to bleed or delay in its nature. Never before had she questioned its effectiveness, until now.
"Nethis?" Thea called, her voice echoing softly as she swiftly stepped through the corridors of the house, as if seeking her sister out in the next few moments as opposed to the moments after would change the course of things to come differently.
"Nethis," Thea said, finding her sister's study door open. She had stopped so abruptly upon finding her that the skirts of her loosely fitting peplos swirled around her ankles as she took several quick strides into the room. A waft of pungent incense on the air. Though the room had a window, it was curtained from midway down, only allowing in the shallowest of light. Much like the serpents that adorned their heraldry, Nethis found herself in one of those beams, as if sunning herself.
Though her face did not show the rapidness of her heart's pace, there was a slight widening to her usually heavy lidded eyes. Thea was usually a steady force within these walls, but the pace at which she stepped into the room only to turn about and make for the door to seal it would have been indication enough that something was amiss.
No sooner had the latch clasped shut did Thea all but hiss the words, "I may be with child."
Stepping further into the room, saying the words aloud seemed to knock the wind out of her, though swallowing quickly allowed her to maintain her composure, turning that deep seated fear and lack of understand as to how into a low, simmering hint of rage and frustration to her hushed tones.
"I do not know how it is possible," Thea started, realizing her words and shooting Nethis a warning glance not to make light of this circumstance before continuing, "I took the tonic, as always, but my courses are late. Everything I eat has a horrid bitterness to it, like bile. My stomach rejects everything yet, none of my gowns fit as they do. I blamed the laundress at first, but...we have seen this before, with Evras."
Thea huffed lightly, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to lean more into her frustration than her fear. That realization alone struck an even deeper chord, knowing that she was not one to usually dissolve into such a deluge of words - that usually was reserved for Mihail or Dysius in their fits.
"Gods, am I more temperamental than usual as well?" she all but hissed under her breath as she strode across the room to glance out the window for no particular reason at all before snapping the curtain shut and recrossing her arms, pinning Nethis with a steadfast stare.
"I need a solution. Quickly. I cannot have this child."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
With each passing day, she grew more and more certain.
It began a few small nuisances and annoyances that could have been explained by anything. When her head began to ache, she assumed it was the change of weather going into the winter months that irritated her, as the growth of flowers in the spring did to Dysius. When the food she enjoyed seemed to turn on her within her stomach or seemed to taste bitter and unwelcome on her tongue, she assumed some fever was sinking in.
When more and more of her chitons came back from the laundress feeling tighter and not fitting quite well across her hips and chest, she immediately ordered the servant to survey for another laundress in Midas, no matter how far off the new shop would be. Thea was not going to have each of her finer gown ruined by someone who could not care for the fabric properly.
It was only when nausea began to haunt her after each meal that the pieces of the broken vessel seemed to align, and Thea felt herself struck with fear.
All these years, she had prepared a specific tonic to prevent this fear. After the first scare, she refused to ever feel fear such a consequence for such enjoyment. Her mind knew the brew by heart, able to make it swiftly and without issues following every tryst she ever had from the time she was seventeen.
Diligent as ever, Thea had taken the tonic upon returning home that evening. Everything was prepared as always. Nothing had changed.
...yet, her courses were now more than two weeks late.
That never happened.
Too many things aligned for this to be the case. Her tonic had always been preventative, to discourage the mixture of life giving seed and women's blessing to bring forth life. It never caused her to bleed or delay in its nature. Never before had she questioned its effectiveness, until now.
"Nethis?" Thea called, her voice echoing softly as she swiftly stepped through the corridors of the house, as if seeking her sister out in the next few moments as opposed to the moments after would change the course of things to come differently.
"Nethis," Thea said, finding her sister's study door open. She had stopped so abruptly upon finding her that the skirts of her loosely fitting peplos swirled around her ankles as she took several quick strides into the room. A waft of pungent incense on the air. Though the room had a window, it was curtained from midway down, only allowing in the shallowest of light. Much like the serpents that adorned their heraldry, Nethis found herself in one of those beams, as if sunning herself.
Though her face did not show the rapidness of her heart's pace, there was a slight widening to her usually heavy lidded eyes. Thea was usually a steady force within these walls, but the pace at which she stepped into the room only to turn about and make for the door to seal it would have been indication enough that something was amiss.
No sooner had the latch clasped shut did Thea all but hiss the words, "I may be with child."
Stepping further into the room, saying the words aloud seemed to knock the wind out of her, though swallowing quickly allowed her to maintain her composure, turning that deep seated fear and lack of understand as to how into a low, simmering hint of rage and frustration to her hushed tones.
"I do not know how it is possible," Thea started, realizing her words and shooting Nethis a warning glance not to make light of this circumstance before continuing, "I took the tonic, as always, but my courses are late. Everything I eat has a horrid bitterness to it, like bile. My stomach rejects everything yet, none of my gowns fit as they do. I blamed the laundress at first, but...we have seen this before, with Evras."
Thea huffed lightly, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to lean more into her frustration than her fear. That realization alone struck an even deeper chord, knowing that she was not one to usually dissolve into such a deluge of words - that usually was reserved for Mihail or Dysius in their fits.
"Gods, am I more temperamental than usual as well?" she all but hissed under her breath as she strode across the room to glance out the window for no particular reason at all before snapping the curtain shut and recrossing her arms, pinning Nethis with a steadfast stare.
"I need a solution. Quickly. I cannot have this child."
With each passing day, she grew more and more certain.
It began a few small nuisances and annoyances that could have been explained by anything. When her head began to ache, she assumed it was the change of weather going into the winter months that irritated her, as the growth of flowers in the spring did to Dysius. When the food she enjoyed seemed to turn on her within her stomach or seemed to taste bitter and unwelcome on her tongue, she assumed some fever was sinking in.
When more and more of her chitons came back from the laundress feeling tighter and not fitting quite well across her hips and chest, she immediately ordered the servant to survey for another laundress in Midas, no matter how far off the new shop would be. Thea was not going to have each of her finer gown ruined by someone who could not care for the fabric properly.
It was only when nausea began to haunt her after each meal that the pieces of the broken vessel seemed to align, and Thea felt herself struck with fear.
All these years, she had prepared a specific tonic to prevent this fear. After the first scare, she refused to ever feel fear such a consequence for such enjoyment. Her mind knew the brew by heart, able to make it swiftly and without issues following every tryst she ever had from the time she was seventeen.
Diligent as ever, Thea had taken the tonic upon returning home that evening. Everything was prepared as always. Nothing had changed.
...yet, her courses were now more than two weeks late.
That never happened.
Too many things aligned for this to be the case. Her tonic had always been preventative, to discourage the mixture of life giving seed and women's blessing to bring forth life. It never caused her to bleed or delay in its nature. Never before had she questioned its effectiveness, until now.
"Nethis?" Thea called, her voice echoing softly as she swiftly stepped through the corridors of the house, as if seeking her sister out in the next few moments as opposed to the moments after would change the course of things to come differently.
"Nethis," Thea said, finding her sister's study door open. She had stopped so abruptly upon finding her that the skirts of her loosely fitting peplos swirled around her ankles as she took several quick strides into the room. A waft of pungent incense on the air. Though the room had a window, it was curtained from midway down, only allowing in the shallowest of light. Much like the serpents that adorned their heraldry, Nethis found herself in one of those beams, as if sunning herself.
Though her face did not show the rapidness of her heart's pace, there was a slight widening to her usually heavy lidded eyes. Thea was usually a steady force within these walls, but the pace at which she stepped into the room only to turn about and make for the door to seal it would have been indication enough that something was amiss.
No sooner had the latch clasped shut did Thea all but hiss the words, "I may be with child."
Stepping further into the room, saying the words aloud seemed to knock the wind out of her, though swallowing quickly allowed her to maintain her composure, turning that deep seated fear and lack of understand as to how into a low, simmering hint of rage and frustration to her hushed tones.
"I do not know how it is possible," Thea started, realizing her words and shooting Nethis a warning glance not to make light of this circumstance before continuing, "I took the tonic, as always, but my courses are late. Everything I eat has a horrid bitterness to it, like bile. My stomach rejects everything yet, none of my gowns fit as they do. I blamed the laundress at first, but...we have seen this before, with Evras."
Thea huffed lightly, crossing her arms over her chest and trying to lean more into her frustration than her fear. That realization alone struck an even deeper chord, knowing that she was not one to usually dissolve into such a deluge of words - that usually was reserved for Mihail or Dysius in their fits.
"Gods, am I more temperamental than usual as well?" she all but hissed under her breath as she strode across the room to glance out the window for no particular reason at all before snapping the curtain shut and recrossing her arms, pinning Nethis with a steadfast stare.
"I need a solution. Quickly. I cannot have this child."
If Nethis was to ever be accused of anything, let it never be said that she did not plan ahead. After all, when one wanted to ensure one's bloodline was placed on a throne, one had to be very careful with their plots. It had been a tricky journey, but the road to success was never paved with ease. To find someone willing and capable enough to enter the kitchens of the Dikasitirio, and then coming up with a reason to leave without bringing up suspicion took much planning.
Of course, the fool king of Taengea helped a great deal. Nethis almost laughed when she remembered how he had assumed it to be the servant who had served Vangelis. Did he think it to be such a quick job, to conceal such poison in one's food that the temporary King would not sniff or smell it out? No, he underestimated her.
If only her sisters had not been so quick. At the mere thought of them, the eldest of the Thanasi coven's jaw tightened, but only by a fraction as she perused the documents which needed her attention from the various baronies owned by their family. She had been working, or was supposed to be a the very least, but for once, the eldest of the Thanasi's had been distracted. Her plans had been placed into motion for a while now, but they should be coming to fruition...
... Just about now.
The dark-haired woman smiled to herself when she heard a familiar voice calling her name. Only few would be allowed such easy access to their household without the servants notifying her first, and of the few, she already had cancelled out a few. Mihail would never be calling so calmly, Dysius would never call at all, and Evras's last meal with their family had not been what Nethis would call peaceful.
Which only left Thea, exactly who Nethis expected.
Putting up a picture of pure sereneity as she purposefully studied the documents scattered on her table, the woman looked up with her piercingly dark gaze when her sister materialized at her doorway, putting on a surprised look as she laid the parchment down and stood up from her seat.
With one hand grasping the edge of her deep turq0ise chiton so it would not hinder her movement, Nethis made the move to approach her sister, only to freeze, blinking in what she could only hope was a look of surprise enough at Thea's sudden annoucement. But her sister was on a roll, apparently. Without giving Nethis a chance to respond, the younger Thanasi girl barrelled on with her news and explanations, which left Nethis in no other position then to listen at her ramblings - but it was nothing she was surprised with, really.
See, when one held the reins to servants and a vast knowledge of herbs and roots, it wasn't easy. When the eldest of their family had heard the grapevine that her sister had been discreetly seeing a very well-known crown prince, it did not take a genius to put two and two together. Evras was her sister too, but much to Nethis's dissapointment, despite being married to the second prince and with their nephew closest to the throne, her third sister had no ambition to speak of, and was now enamoured by motherly instincts. That she did not want Dion or her unborn child to take the throne had enraged Nethis... but why force something when she could make sure it happened with her own hands?
Dion may be close, but who would be even closer to the throne, was a child of the crown prince himself. His engagement was no impediment to Nethis, not at all. Not when she had servants and seamstresses at her beck and call.
Appearing to listen intently to her sister, she leaned against her table as the other spoke, but allowed the silence to linger once Thea asked for a suggestion. She had to at least appear as if she was trying, right?
Raising a brow at the last hissed question from Thea, her gaze mutely followed the younger one's stride across the room, meeting the steadfast stare with a pointed one of her own, before heaving a sigh. "You really should have thought of your not having this child, before you... Any idea who the father would be?" she murmured softly in a calm manner, her usual dispassionate tone as she waited for an answer.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
If Nethis was to ever be accused of anything, let it never be said that she did not plan ahead. After all, when one wanted to ensure one's bloodline was placed on a throne, one had to be very careful with their plots. It had been a tricky journey, but the road to success was never paved with ease. To find someone willing and capable enough to enter the kitchens of the Dikasitirio, and then coming up with a reason to leave without bringing up suspicion took much planning.
Of course, the fool king of Taengea helped a great deal. Nethis almost laughed when she remembered how he had assumed it to be the servant who had served Vangelis. Did he think it to be such a quick job, to conceal such poison in one's food that the temporary King would not sniff or smell it out? No, he underestimated her.
If only her sisters had not been so quick. At the mere thought of them, the eldest of the Thanasi coven's jaw tightened, but only by a fraction as she perused the documents which needed her attention from the various baronies owned by their family. She had been working, or was supposed to be a the very least, but for once, the eldest of the Thanasi's had been distracted. Her plans had been placed into motion for a while now, but they should be coming to fruition...
... Just about now.
The dark-haired woman smiled to herself when she heard a familiar voice calling her name. Only few would be allowed such easy access to their household without the servants notifying her first, and of the few, she already had cancelled out a few. Mihail would never be calling so calmly, Dysius would never call at all, and Evras's last meal with their family had not been what Nethis would call peaceful.
Which only left Thea, exactly who Nethis expected.
Putting up a picture of pure sereneity as she purposefully studied the documents scattered on her table, the woman looked up with her piercingly dark gaze when her sister materialized at her doorway, putting on a surprised look as she laid the parchment down and stood up from her seat.
With one hand grasping the edge of her deep turq0ise chiton so it would not hinder her movement, Nethis made the move to approach her sister, only to freeze, blinking in what she could only hope was a look of surprise enough at Thea's sudden annoucement. But her sister was on a roll, apparently. Without giving Nethis a chance to respond, the younger Thanasi girl barrelled on with her news and explanations, which left Nethis in no other position then to listen at her ramblings - but it was nothing she was surprised with, really.
See, when one held the reins to servants and a vast knowledge of herbs and roots, it wasn't easy. When the eldest of their family had heard the grapevine that her sister had been discreetly seeing a very well-known crown prince, it did not take a genius to put two and two together. Evras was her sister too, but much to Nethis's dissapointment, despite being married to the second prince and with their nephew closest to the throne, her third sister had no ambition to speak of, and was now enamoured by motherly instincts. That she did not want Dion or her unborn child to take the throne had enraged Nethis... but why force something when she could make sure it happened with her own hands?
Dion may be close, but who would be even closer to the throne, was a child of the crown prince himself. His engagement was no impediment to Nethis, not at all. Not when she had servants and seamstresses at her beck and call.
Appearing to listen intently to her sister, she leaned against her table as the other spoke, but allowed the silence to linger once Thea asked for a suggestion. She had to at least appear as if she was trying, right?
Raising a brow at the last hissed question from Thea, her gaze mutely followed the younger one's stride across the room, meeting the steadfast stare with a pointed one of her own, before heaving a sigh. "You really should have thought of your not having this child, before you... Any idea who the father would be?" she murmured softly in a calm manner, her usual dispassionate tone as she waited for an answer.
If Nethis was to ever be accused of anything, let it never be said that she did not plan ahead. After all, when one wanted to ensure one's bloodline was placed on a throne, one had to be very careful with their plots. It had been a tricky journey, but the road to success was never paved with ease. To find someone willing and capable enough to enter the kitchens of the Dikasitirio, and then coming up with a reason to leave without bringing up suspicion took much planning.
Of course, the fool king of Taengea helped a great deal. Nethis almost laughed when she remembered how he had assumed it to be the servant who had served Vangelis. Did he think it to be such a quick job, to conceal such poison in one's food that the temporary King would not sniff or smell it out? No, he underestimated her.
If only her sisters had not been so quick. At the mere thought of them, the eldest of the Thanasi coven's jaw tightened, but only by a fraction as she perused the documents which needed her attention from the various baronies owned by their family. She had been working, or was supposed to be a the very least, but for once, the eldest of the Thanasi's had been distracted. Her plans had been placed into motion for a while now, but they should be coming to fruition...
... Just about now.
The dark-haired woman smiled to herself when she heard a familiar voice calling her name. Only few would be allowed such easy access to their household without the servants notifying her first, and of the few, she already had cancelled out a few. Mihail would never be calling so calmly, Dysius would never call at all, and Evras's last meal with their family had not been what Nethis would call peaceful.
Which only left Thea, exactly who Nethis expected.
Putting up a picture of pure sereneity as she purposefully studied the documents scattered on her table, the woman looked up with her piercingly dark gaze when her sister materialized at her doorway, putting on a surprised look as she laid the parchment down and stood up from her seat.
With one hand grasping the edge of her deep turq0ise chiton so it would not hinder her movement, Nethis made the move to approach her sister, only to freeze, blinking in what she could only hope was a look of surprise enough at Thea's sudden annoucement. But her sister was on a roll, apparently. Without giving Nethis a chance to respond, the younger Thanasi girl barrelled on with her news and explanations, which left Nethis in no other position then to listen at her ramblings - but it was nothing she was surprised with, really.
See, when one held the reins to servants and a vast knowledge of herbs and roots, it wasn't easy. When the eldest of their family had heard the grapevine that her sister had been discreetly seeing a very well-known crown prince, it did not take a genius to put two and two together. Evras was her sister too, but much to Nethis's dissapointment, despite being married to the second prince and with their nephew closest to the throne, her third sister had no ambition to speak of, and was now enamoured by motherly instincts. That she did not want Dion or her unborn child to take the throne had enraged Nethis... but why force something when she could make sure it happened with her own hands?
Dion may be close, but who would be even closer to the throne, was a child of the crown prince himself. His engagement was no impediment to Nethis, not at all. Not when she had servants and seamstresses at her beck and call.
Appearing to listen intently to her sister, she leaned against her table as the other spoke, but allowed the silence to linger once Thea asked for a suggestion. She had to at least appear as if she was trying, right?
Raising a brow at the last hissed question from Thea, her gaze mutely followed the younger one's stride across the room, meeting the steadfast stare with a pointed one of her own, before heaving a sigh. "You really should have thought of your not having this child, before you... Any idea who the father would be?" she murmured softly in a calm manner, her usual dispassionate tone as she waited for an answer.
Thea, while known for being one of the more steadfast and grounded of their family, was still a Thanasi. There was no denying the shared traits between them as the serpents of Colchis, and while her nature was far more demure than Nethis or Mihail, she still bore fangs and was just as capable of striking as they were.
"That is not the point. I took precautions, the tonic did not work," Thea all but spat out, eyes narrowing at her sister in a moment of frustration, before taking a deep breath and sighing the tone away. Nethis had a point in it all - there was alway risk. That's where the irritation lay - she had done as expected.
As she had promised Vangelis all those years ago.
Nethis had asked about the father and Thea looked away with a roll of her eyes, keeping lashes low as she let her eyes scan the missives and work on Nethis' desk, as well as the glass jars of various shapes and sizes. Some had plants growing from them, others were simply beautiful and ornamental. Thea's own room bore similar decor.
All these years Thea had trusted Nethis. They bore more similarities than they did differences, in mannerisms if not in motivations. Nethis always strove to maneuver the family into places politically, and Thea had done her fair share of informing the eldest Thanasi. Thea was merely the vessel, moving the information from one place to another, allowing Nethis to mix and pour the information she gleaned into something else.
There was trust there, but also caution. Nethis could never know the truth behind this. If she had to, she would bear a bastard child 'by the gods' and set it upon a hilltop to be found by shepherds before she would dare let Nethis know that Vangelis of Kotas was the father. It would upend everything.
Besides, being close enough to Nethis meant that Thea knew the deepest secrets about her eldest sister. Thea knew that Nethis had a solution, one that would prevent Thea from breaking her word to her secret lover. Thea did not speak often, but when she did, she held fast to her words.
"That is not important," Thea stated curtly, not looking at Nethis and hoping to divert the conversation again. "Besides, it will not matter if you help me." Thea turned her eyes to Nethis again, an almost repentant, pleading expression.
Though Thea may have been quiet, manipulation also ran through her veins as well. Nethis held loyalty to her House and to preserving the family name. While she may not have given many cares about others, Thea knew that Nethis did occasionally have a soft spot for each of her siblings, in their own way. Yes, her form of showing her love and protection could often hurt others, but as the one closest to the eldest of their brood, Thea wanted to use it to help her now.
Thea reached her hand out and placed it on Nethis' hand as it rested on the desk, a petitioning movement - a younger sister looking up to her older sister, seeking guidance. As long as Thea had known Nethis, this rare move was effective in garnering her what she wanted from her sister, as Nethis did relish in being needed to help those.
It was also a debt to collect later, Thea knew.
"Please, sister," Thea quietly murmured, her eyes controlled in the way they softened, curling her fingers around her sister's hand, "I have no doubt that you know of a way to fix this."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Thea, while known for being one of the more steadfast and grounded of their family, was still a Thanasi. There was no denying the shared traits between them as the serpents of Colchis, and while her nature was far more demure than Nethis or Mihail, she still bore fangs and was just as capable of striking as they were.
"That is not the point. I took precautions, the tonic did not work," Thea all but spat out, eyes narrowing at her sister in a moment of frustration, before taking a deep breath and sighing the tone away. Nethis had a point in it all - there was alway risk. That's where the irritation lay - she had done as expected.
As she had promised Vangelis all those years ago.
Nethis had asked about the father and Thea looked away with a roll of her eyes, keeping lashes low as she let her eyes scan the missives and work on Nethis' desk, as well as the glass jars of various shapes and sizes. Some had plants growing from them, others were simply beautiful and ornamental. Thea's own room bore similar decor.
All these years Thea had trusted Nethis. They bore more similarities than they did differences, in mannerisms if not in motivations. Nethis always strove to maneuver the family into places politically, and Thea had done her fair share of informing the eldest Thanasi. Thea was merely the vessel, moving the information from one place to another, allowing Nethis to mix and pour the information she gleaned into something else.
There was trust there, but also caution. Nethis could never know the truth behind this. If she had to, she would bear a bastard child 'by the gods' and set it upon a hilltop to be found by shepherds before she would dare let Nethis know that Vangelis of Kotas was the father. It would upend everything.
Besides, being close enough to Nethis meant that Thea knew the deepest secrets about her eldest sister. Thea knew that Nethis had a solution, one that would prevent Thea from breaking her word to her secret lover. Thea did not speak often, but when she did, she held fast to her words.
"That is not important," Thea stated curtly, not looking at Nethis and hoping to divert the conversation again. "Besides, it will not matter if you help me." Thea turned her eyes to Nethis again, an almost repentant, pleading expression.
Though Thea may have been quiet, manipulation also ran through her veins as well. Nethis held loyalty to her House and to preserving the family name. While she may not have given many cares about others, Thea knew that Nethis did occasionally have a soft spot for each of her siblings, in their own way. Yes, her form of showing her love and protection could often hurt others, but as the one closest to the eldest of their brood, Thea wanted to use it to help her now.
Thea reached her hand out and placed it on Nethis' hand as it rested on the desk, a petitioning movement - a younger sister looking up to her older sister, seeking guidance. As long as Thea had known Nethis, this rare move was effective in garnering her what she wanted from her sister, as Nethis did relish in being needed to help those.
It was also a debt to collect later, Thea knew.
"Please, sister," Thea quietly murmured, her eyes controlled in the way they softened, curling her fingers around her sister's hand, "I have no doubt that you know of a way to fix this."
Thea, while known for being one of the more steadfast and grounded of their family, was still a Thanasi. There was no denying the shared traits between them as the serpents of Colchis, and while her nature was far more demure than Nethis or Mihail, she still bore fangs and was just as capable of striking as they were.
"That is not the point. I took precautions, the tonic did not work," Thea all but spat out, eyes narrowing at her sister in a moment of frustration, before taking a deep breath and sighing the tone away. Nethis had a point in it all - there was alway risk. That's where the irritation lay - she had done as expected.
As she had promised Vangelis all those years ago.
Nethis had asked about the father and Thea looked away with a roll of her eyes, keeping lashes low as she let her eyes scan the missives and work on Nethis' desk, as well as the glass jars of various shapes and sizes. Some had plants growing from them, others were simply beautiful and ornamental. Thea's own room bore similar decor.
All these years Thea had trusted Nethis. They bore more similarities than they did differences, in mannerisms if not in motivations. Nethis always strove to maneuver the family into places politically, and Thea had done her fair share of informing the eldest Thanasi. Thea was merely the vessel, moving the information from one place to another, allowing Nethis to mix and pour the information she gleaned into something else.
There was trust there, but also caution. Nethis could never know the truth behind this. If she had to, she would bear a bastard child 'by the gods' and set it upon a hilltop to be found by shepherds before she would dare let Nethis know that Vangelis of Kotas was the father. It would upend everything.
Besides, being close enough to Nethis meant that Thea knew the deepest secrets about her eldest sister. Thea knew that Nethis had a solution, one that would prevent Thea from breaking her word to her secret lover. Thea did not speak often, but when she did, she held fast to her words.
"That is not important," Thea stated curtly, not looking at Nethis and hoping to divert the conversation again. "Besides, it will not matter if you help me." Thea turned her eyes to Nethis again, an almost repentant, pleading expression.
Though Thea may have been quiet, manipulation also ran through her veins as well. Nethis held loyalty to her House and to preserving the family name. While she may not have given many cares about others, Thea knew that Nethis did occasionally have a soft spot for each of her siblings, in their own way. Yes, her form of showing her love and protection could often hurt others, but as the one closest to the eldest of their brood, Thea wanted to use it to help her now.
Thea reached her hand out and placed it on Nethis' hand as it rested on the desk, a petitioning movement - a younger sister looking up to her older sister, seeking guidance. As long as Thea had known Nethis, this rare move was effective in garnering her what she wanted from her sister, as Nethis did relish in being needed to help those.
It was also a debt to collect later, Thea knew.
"Please, sister," Thea quietly murmured, her eyes controlled in the way they softened, curling her fingers around her sister's hand, "I have no doubt that you know of a way to fix this."
Of course the tonic didn't work. Not when her symptoms were caused by an entirely different tonic Nethis had been instructing the servants to slip into her own sister's meals. But no one had to know that, now did they? Hiding the smile that was happening in her mind's eye, instead the eldest sister merely appeared contemplative as Thea had what was close to a meltdown in front of her, obviously panicking about the repercussions. But this wasn't the first time Thea had shared a bed with the crown prince, now had she? Nethis was no fool, so she was under no false hope that her sister's were virgins. But that was exactly what she hoped and knew was the fact.
Watching carefully as her sister tried to deflect her very innocent, very careful question, her dark, unbound curls fell to the front as she watched from under her lashes. Did she really think she didn't know? Nethis knew many people, surely Thea would know that. Her sister had so much potential, so much capability... so it was a pity that she and Evras had ended up so equally unambitious, when it was so obvious that the snakes belonged on a throne.
"It is important, if the father of the child be someone of import." she murmured slowly, picking up the chalice of half-drunk wine, Nethis took a slow sip, her dark red lip paint staining the bronze surface. Even with her sister's plea, the elder's visage did not change. With a purposefully slow movement, the woman replaced her vessel on the table's surface, before her gaze flicked to the hand curled around her wrists, and then to Thea herself, a dare in their dark irises to lie outright to her. "Someone like... Crown Prince Vangelis, perhaps?"
Nethis had raised her brows,arms crossed in front of her chest as she waited for Thea's confirmation. Oh, the woman never intended to help. Afterall, Thea's terror was baseless, considering most, if not all of her symptoms were a result of Nethis's own machinations. From feeding tonics to delay her courses and induce nausea, to getting a seamstress to tightened her chiton's. The woman knew exactly what was going on... but Thea need not know any of that.
If Evras was going to refuse to be her puppet, Nethis had other siblinsg to use. But she will get what she wanted.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Of course the tonic didn't work. Not when her symptoms were caused by an entirely different tonic Nethis had been instructing the servants to slip into her own sister's meals. But no one had to know that, now did they? Hiding the smile that was happening in her mind's eye, instead the eldest sister merely appeared contemplative as Thea had what was close to a meltdown in front of her, obviously panicking about the repercussions. But this wasn't the first time Thea had shared a bed with the crown prince, now had she? Nethis was no fool, so she was under no false hope that her sister's were virgins. But that was exactly what she hoped and knew was the fact.
Watching carefully as her sister tried to deflect her very innocent, very careful question, her dark, unbound curls fell to the front as she watched from under her lashes. Did she really think she didn't know? Nethis knew many people, surely Thea would know that. Her sister had so much potential, so much capability... so it was a pity that she and Evras had ended up so equally unambitious, when it was so obvious that the snakes belonged on a throne.
"It is important, if the father of the child be someone of import." she murmured slowly, picking up the chalice of half-drunk wine, Nethis took a slow sip, her dark red lip paint staining the bronze surface. Even with her sister's plea, the elder's visage did not change. With a purposefully slow movement, the woman replaced her vessel on the table's surface, before her gaze flicked to the hand curled around her wrists, and then to Thea herself, a dare in their dark irises to lie outright to her. "Someone like... Crown Prince Vangelis, perhaps?"
Nethis had raised her brows,arms crossed in front of her chest as she waited for Thea's confirmation. Oh, the woman never intended to help. Afterall, Thea's terror was baseless, considering most, if not all of her symptoms were a result of Nethis's own machinations. From feeding tonics to delay her courses and induce nausea, to getting a seamstress to tightened her chiton's. The woman knew exactly what was going on... but Thea need not know any of that.
If Evras was going to refuse to be her puppet, Nethis had other siblinsg to use. But she will get what she wanted.
Of course the tonic didn't work. Not when her symptoms were caused by an entirely different tonic Nethis had been instructing the servants to slip into her own sister's meals. But no one had to know that, now did they? Hiding the smile that was happening in her mind's eye, instead the eldest sister merely appeared contemplative as Thea had what was close to a meltdown in front of her, obviously panicking about the repercussions. But this wasn't the first time Thea had shared a bed with the crown prince, now had she? Nethis was no fool, so she was under no false hope that her sister's were virgins. But that was exactly what she hoped and knew was the fact.
Watching carefully as her sister tried to deflect her very innocent, very careful question, her dark, unbound curls fell to the front as she watched from under her lashes. Did she really think she didn't know? Nethis knew many people, surely Thea would know that. Her sister had so much potential, so much capability... so it was a pity that she and Evras had ended up so equally unambitious, when it was so obvious that the snakes belonged on a throne.
"It is important, if the father of the child be someone of import." she murmured slowly, picking up the chalice of half-drunk wine, Nethis took a slow sip, her dark red lip paint staining the bronze surface. Even with her sister's plea, the elder's visage did not change. With a purposefully slow movement, the woman replaced her vessel on the table's surface, before her gaze flicked to the hand curled around her wrists, and then to Thea herself, a dare in their dark irises to lie outright to her. "Someone like... Crown Prince Vangelis, perhaps?"
Nethis had raised her brows,arms crossed in front of her chest as she waited for Thea's confirmation. Oh, the woman never intended to help. Afterall, Thea's terror was baseless, considering most, if not all of her symptoms were a result of Nethis's own machinations. From feeding tonics to delay her courses and induce nausea, to getting a seamstress to tightened her chiton's. The woman knew exactly what was going on... but Thea need not know any of that.
If Evras was going to refuse to be her puppet, Nethis had other siblinsg to use. But she will get what she wanted.
Thea knew that Nethis had a solution to this and had used it in times past. It would be the simplest measure and would not affect her day-to-day life as even these early signs had started to do. All those years ago, Thea had sworn to prevent any sort of complication from arising between herself and Vangelis, and selfishly, she enjoyed the liberty that had come with it. Instead of solely relying on a circuit of men, strangers and familiars alike, for her pleasure, the steadiness and the comfort that came with having a routine lover was indulgent. No limitations, no confinement into marriage. It was ideal, and Thea had done her part in keeping it that way all these years.
Until now.
At least, until Nethis helped her. Even if she had to carry the child to term, Thea could lie her way around the parentage. Let the world think what they would wish of her at that point - an unwedded harlot witch with a bastard child. Perhaps they would even dub the child something wicked, like a son or daughter of Hades. In truth, the child that tried to grow in her womb would be better off dead than to be brought into a world already considered the bastard child of a Thanasi witch.
Thea's eyes narrowed slightly as Nethis once again settled on uncovering the father's identity, and when her sister's hand slipped from under hers and around her wrist, her eyes widened fiercely beneath settled brows, taken off guard.
Nethis' eyes preluded her question, and Thea felt as if she was going to be sick.
'Someone like... Crown Prince Vangelis, perhaps?'
Thea kept her eyes locked with Nethis', like two vipers coiled and considering. But, in a few words, Thea's world seemed to come crashing down, like books falling from a collapsing shelf within her chest. Her expression held a moment as she hissed an almost incredulous, "What?"
It was not whispered in feigned incredulity at the thought, but instead...how did she know? Thea had been so careful all these years - over a decade! This pregnancy should have never come to pass. Thea had done her part by taking the tonic, twice even, to ensure that there was no risk. All those years were laid to waste in a few bare moments.
Nethis knew. This changed everything.
Thea snatched her hand away from under her sister's grasp, watched the self-satisfied smile, and her face turned downward into a harsh scowl, eyes narrowed like a viper and her upper lip curled as if preparing to strike - a far cry for Thea's usual serene countenance.
"You do not mean to help at all," Thea snarled. It was not a denial. She turned away sharply enough for her skirts to swirl around her legs and recoil as she tried to think, her fingers rising to cover her lips as if she was going to be sick yet again, but they stilled there as the pieces began to fall into place. It felt like it had been days since she could think clearly in the first place, but this rush to the head of realizations began tumbling down the hill.
If Nethis knew of her affair with Vangelis, then there was already some form of scheme crafted in her mind. If Nethis knew, she could have tampered with Thea's tonics making them defunct. How long had she known? It must not have been long then, if this was the first missed course she had. Oh, how she burned with rage knowing the way her sister's mind would spin.
Whatever was brewing in her sister's mind was a part of some larger scheme, and with her knowledge first of her affair with Vangelis and now that Thea was with child - his child - Thea had handed herself over on a silver platter to Nethis' workings. By stepping into the room and telling her sister of her ordeal, she had set this in motion irreparably. Thea had seen this done before, but a gash of betrayal was laid deep into her as she came to terms with herself now being a pawn in her sister's scheme.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Thea knew that Nethis had a solution to this and had used it in times past. It would be the simplest measure and would not affect her day-to-day life as even these early signs had started to do. All those years ago, Thea had sworn to prevent any sort of complication from arising between herself and Vangelis, and selfishly, she enjoyed the liberty that had come with it. Instead of solely relying on a circuit of men, strangers and familiars alike, for her pleasure, the steadiness and the comfort that came with having a routine lover was indulgent. No limitations, no confinement into marriage. It was ideal, and Thea had done her part in keeping it that way all these years.
Until now.
At least, until Nethis helped her. Even if she had to carry the child to term, Thea could lie her way around the parentage. Let the world think what they would wish of her at that point - an unwedded harlot witch with a bastard child. Perhaps they would even dub the child something wicked, like a son or daughter of Hades. In truth, the child that tried to grow in her womb would be better off dead than to be brought into a world already considered the bastard child of a Thanasi witch.
Thea's eyes narrowed slightly as Nethis once again settled on uncovering the father's identity, and when her sister's hand slipped from under hers and around her wrist, her eyes widened fiercely beneath settled brows, taken off guard.
Nethis' eyes preluded her question, and Thea felt as if she was going to be sick.
'Someone like... Crown Prince Vangelis, perhaps?'
Thea kept her eyes locked with Nethis', like two vipers coiled and considering. But, in a few words, Thea's world seemed to come crashing down, like books falling from a collapsing shelf within her chest. Her expression held a moment as she hissed an almost incredulous, "What?"
It was not whispered in feigned incredulity at the thought, but instead...how did she know? Thea had been so careful all these years - over a decade! This pregnancy should have never come to pass. Thea had done her part by taking the tonic, twice even, to ensure that there was no risk. All those years were laid to waste in a few bare moments.
Nethis knew. This changed everything.
Thea snatched her hand away from under her sister's grasp, watched the self-satisfied smile, and her face turned downward into a harsh scowl, eyes narrowed like a viper and her upper lip curled as if preparing to strike - a far cry for Thea's usual serene countenance.
"You do not mean to help at all," Thea snarled. It was not a denial. She turned away sharply enough for her skirts to swirl around her legs and recoil as she tried to think, her fingers rising to cover her lips as if she was going to be sick yet again, but they stilled there as the pieces began to fall into place. It felt like it had been days since she could think clearly in the first place, but this rush to the head of realizations began tumbling down the hill.
If Nethis knew of her affair with Vangelis, then there was already some form of scheme crafted in her mind. If Nethis knew, she could have tampered with Thea's tonics making them defunct. How long had she known? It must not have been long then, if this was the first missed course she had. Oh, how she burned with rage knowing the way her sister's mind would spin.
Whatever was brewing in her sister's mind was a part of some larger scheme, and with her knowledge first of her affair with Vangelis and now that Thea was with child - his child - Thea had handed herself over on a silver platter to Nethis' workings. By stepping into the room and telling her sister of her ordeal, she had set this in motion irreparably. Thea had seen this done before, but a gash of betrayal was laid deep into her as she came to terms with herself now being a pawn in her sister's scheme.
Thea knew that Nethis had a solution to this and had used it in times past. It would be the simplest measure and would not affect her day-to-day life as even these early signs had started to do. All those years ago, Thea had sworn to prevent any sort of complication from arising between herself and Vangelis, and selfishly, she enjoyed the liberty that had come with it. Instead of solely relying on a circuit of men, strangers and familiars alike, for her pleasure, the steadiness and the comfort that came with having a routine lover was indulgent. No limitations, no confinement into marriage. It was ideal, and Thea had done her part in keeping it that way all these years.
Until now.
At least, until Nethis helped her. Even if she had to carry the child to term, Thea could lie her way around the parentage. Let the world think what they would wish of her at that point - an unwedded harlot witch with a bastard child. Perhaps they would even dub the child something wicked, like a son or daughter of Hades. In truth, the child that tried to grow in her womb would be better off dead than to be brought into a world already considered the bastard child of a Thanasi witch.
Thea's eyes narrowed slightly as Nethis once again settled on uncovering the father's identity, and when her sister's hand slipped from under hers and around her wrist, her eyes widened fiercely beneath settled brows, taken off guard.
Nethis' eyes preluded her question, and Thea felt as if she was going to be sick.
'Someone like... Crown Prince Vangelis, perhaps?'
Thea kept her eyes locked with Nethis', like two vipers coiled and considering. But, in a few words, Thea's world seemed to come crashing down, like books falling from a collapsing shelf within her chest. Her expression held a moment as she hissed an almost incredulous, "What?"
It was not whispered in feigned incredulity at the thought, but instead...how did she know? Thea had been so careful all these years - over a decade! This pregnancy should have never come to pass. Thea had done her part by taking the tonic, twice even, to ensure that there was no risk. All those years were laid to waste in a few bare moments.
Nethis knew. This changed everything.
Thea snatched her hand away from under her sister's grasp, watched the self-satisfied smile, and her face turned downward into a harsh scowl, eyes narrowed like a viper and her upper lip curled as if preparing to strike - a far cry for Thea's usual serene countenance.
"You do not mean to help at all," Thea snarled. It was not a denial. She turned away sharply enough for her skirts to swirl around her legs and recoil as she tried to think, her fingers rising to cover her lips as if she was going to be sick yet again, but they stilled there as the pieces began to fall into place. It felt like it had been days since she could think clearly in the first place, but this rush to the head of realizations began tumbling down the hill.
If Nethis knew of her affair with Vangelis, then there was already some form of scheme crafted in her mind. If Nethis knew, she could have tampered with Thea's tonics making them defunct. How long had she known? It must not have been long then, if this was the first missed course she had. Oh, how she burned with rage knowing the way her sister's mind would spin.
Whatever was brewing in her sister's mind was a part of some larger scheme, and with her knowledge first of her affair with Vangelis and now that Thea was with child - his child - Thea had handed herself over on a silver platter to Nethis' workings. By stepping into the room and telling her sister of her ordeal, she had set this in motion irreparably. Thea had seen this done before, but a gash of betrayal was laid deep into her as she came to terms with herself now being a pawn in her sister's scheme.
"I do," Nethis contradicted, the first bit of truth from her in this conversation, but the trouble was in the subtext, was it not? As with much when it came to her siblings, to the family, she was helping. It just was not necessarily in a manner that Thea would want if she knew. Of course, if she had her way, Thea would never know, and it would all end happily, but if she somehow found out, well, one day, Nethis supposed, Thea would forgive her. After all, there was only so much of this that she could take credit for; it wasn’t as if she’d manufactured the relationship between Vangelis and Thea, nor had she been the one to see to it that they were still sharing a bed.
Just poison, just herbs, just tonics, just alterations. Nothing more.
But still, if absolutely nothing else, didn’t Thea deserve to be punished for keeping this from her for so long? They each deserved secrets—no matter how close they might have been or were—but not of this kind, not of this magnitude. For Nethis, the withholding was close to unforgivable and Thea must have known she’d see it that way if she were to ever find out, but she’d chosen to do it anyway.
Romantics, both of her sisters. It was disgusting, really, to be the only one among five who truly seemed to understand ambition and was both clear-minded enough and willing to act on it.
Still, perhaps it was better to soften just a little in the face of Thea’s accusation. Better that than risk her running off to do something rash. After all, Nethis couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Thea quite so undone. That was the point, of course, but she needed it controlled.
She had engineered all of this to a specific end, would not do for them to lose their way now, not when it was so early into it.
"Thea," she murmured next, a call without answer, a seeking to no end, something that sounded damn close to a plea even as it was no such thing. Nethis begged for nothing and perhaps they both knew it, which might have made the effort wasted.
She stood then, abandoning the table and her wine to stand near Thea, hand reaching out—again—to Thea’s wrist, adding a gentle pressure.
"Thea, look at me," she said next, this time a demand, no matter how softly spoken. She would not abide Thea’s back to her much longer. In the same way it had always been since their childhood, she expected to be obeyed and would wait until she was.
She only spoke again when she had Thea’s attention as indicated by her gaze on Nethis.
"Forget Vangelis for a moment." An impossibility for her, but Thea should try. "I swear it, you do not want what you seek." After all, was that not the crux of the thing, was that not why Thea had come to her in the first place? It was not so much that Nethis was capable where Thea was not, true as that was. No, it was more that Thea did not have the strength or the stomach to fix a problem like this—not that she actually had it—by herself, but Nethis did and they both knew it.
After all, this was hardly the first time she had seen this problem.
"You still have a heart," she reminded, not bothering to mark more bluntly that this was one of the contrasts between them, that Nethis had stopped paying her own any mind years ago where Thea had not, if only because even Thea did not know the details regarding the cause and she fully intended for it to remain that way. "What you ask would break it. Surely that is not what you want."
Considering Thea’s reactions thus far, this was where she had to begin. To convince Thea that telling Vangelis and marrying him was the best course of action, she had to make a false child seem real and convince Thea to keep it long enough for the rest to fall into place. It was not exactly unexpected, but she had hoped they could skip this part.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
"I do," Nethis contradicted, the first bit of truth from her in this conversation, but the trouble was in the subtext, was it not? As with much when it came to her siblings, to the family, she was helping. It just was not necessarily in a manner that Thea would want if she knew. Of course, if she had her way, Thea would never know, and it would all end happily, but if she somehow found out, well, one day, Nethis supposed, Thea would forgive her. After all, there was only so much of this that she could take credit for; it wasn’t as if she’d manufactured the relationship between Vangelis and Thea, nor had she been the one to see to it that they were still sharing a bed.
Just poison, just herbs, just tonics, just alterations. Nothing more.
But still, if absolutely nothing else, didn’t Thea deserve to be punished for keeping this from her for so long? They each deserved secrets—no matter how close they might have been or were—but not of this kind, not of this magnitude. For Nethis, the withholding was close to unforgivable and Thea must have known she’d see it that way if she were to ever find out, but she’d chosen to do it anyway.
Romantics, both of her sisters. It was disgusting, really, to be the only one among five who truly seemed to understand ambition and was both clear-minded enough and willing to act on it.
Still, perhaps it was better to soften just a little in the face of Thea’s accusation. Better that than risk her running off to do something rash. After all, Nethis couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Thea quite so undone. That was the point, of course, but she needed it controlled.
She had engineered all of this to a specific end, would not do for them to lose their way now, not when it was so early into it.
"Thea," she murmured next, a call without answer, a seeking to no end, something that sounded damn close to a plea even as it was no such thing. Nethis begged for nothing and perhaps they both knew it, which might have made the effort wasted.
She stood then, abandoning the table and her wine to stand near Thea, hand reaching out—again—to Thea’s wrist, adding a gentle pressure.
"Thea, look at me," she said next, this time a demand, no matter how softly spoken. She would not abide Thea’s back to her much longer. In the same way it had always been since their childhood, she expected to be obeyed and would wait until she was.
She only spoke again when she had Thea’s attention as indicated by her gaze on Nethis.
"Forget Vangelis for a moment." An impossibility for her, but Thea should try. "I swear it, you do not want what you seek." After all, was that not the crux of the thing, was that not why Thea had come to her in the first place? It was not so much that Nethis was capable where Thea was not, true as that was. No, it was more that Thea did not have the strength or the stomach to fix a problem like this—not that she actually had it—by herself, but Nethis did and they both knew it.
After all, this was hardly the first time she had seen this problem.
"You still have a heart," she reminded, not bothering to mark more bluntly that this was one of the contrasts between them, that Nethis had stopped paying her own any mind years ago where Thea had not, if only because even Thea did not know the details regarding the cause and she fully intended for it to remain that way. "What you ask would break it. Surely that is not what you want."
Considering Thea’s reactions thus far, this was where she had to begin. To convince Thea that telling Vangelis and marrying him was the best course of action, she had to make a false child seem real and convince Thea to keep it long enough for the rest to fall into place. It was not exactly unexpected, but she had hoped they could skip this part.
"I do," Nethis contradicted, the first bit of truth from her in this conversation, but the trouble was in the subtext, was it not? As with much when it came to her siblings, to the family, she was helping. It just was not necessarily in a manner that Thea would want if she knew. Of course, if she had her way, Thea would never know, and it would all end happily, but if she somehow found out, well, one day, Nethis supposed, Thea would forgive her. After all, there was only so much of this that she could take credit for; it wasn’t as if she’d manufactured the relationship between Vangelis and Thea, nor had she been the one to see to it that they were still sharing a bed.
Just poison, just herbs, just tonics, just alterations. Nothing more.
But still, if absolutely nothing else, didn’t Thea deserve to be punished for keeping this from her for so long? They each deserved secrets—no matter how close they might have been or were—but not of this kind, not of this magnitude. For Nethis, the withholding was close to unforgivable and Thea must have known she’d see it that way if she were to ever find out, but she’d chosen to do it anyway.
Romantics, both of her sisters. It was disgusting, really, to be the only one among five who truly seemed to understand ambition and was both clear-minded enough and willing to act on it.
Still, perhaps it was better to soften just a little in the face of Thea’s accusation. Better that than risk her running off to do something rash. After all, Nethis couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen Thea quite so undone. That was the point, of course, but she needed it controlled.
She had engineered all of this to a specific end, would not do for them to lose their way now, not when it was so early into it.
"Thea," she murmured next, a call without answer, a seeking to no end, something that sounded damn close to a plea even as it was no such thing. Nethis begged for nothing and perhaps they both knew it, which might have made the effort wasted.
She stood then, abandoning the table and her wine to stand near Thea, hand reaching out—again—to Thea’s wrist, adding a gentle pressure.
"Thea, look at me," she said next, this time a demand, no matter how softly spoken. She would not abide Thea’s back to her much longer. In the same way it had always been since their childhood, she expected to be obeyed and would wait until she was.
She only spoke again when she had Thea’s attention as indicated by her gaze on Nethis.
"Forget Vangelis for a moment." An impossibility for her, but Thea should try. "I swear it, you do not want what you seek." After all, was that not the crux of the thing, was that not why Thea had come to her in the first place? It was not so much that Nethis was capable where Thea was not, true as that was. No, it was more that Thea did not have the strength or the stomach to fix a problem like this—not that she actually had it—by herself, but Nethis did and they both knew it.
After all, this was hardly the first time she had seen this problem.
"You still have a heart," she reminded, not bothering to mark more bluntly that this was one of the contrasts between them, that Nethis had stopped paying her own any mind years ago where Thea had not, if only because even Thea did not know the details regarding the cause and she fully intended for it to remain that way. "What you ask would break it. Surely that is not what you want."
Considering Thea’s reactions thus far, this was where she had to begin. To convince Thea that telling Vangelis and marrying him was the best course of action, she had to make a false child seem real and convince Thea to keep it long enough for the rest to fall into place. It was not exactly unexpected, but she had hoped they could skip this part.
Thea scoffed and scowled at Nethis' insistence that she was to help. The best thing she could have done in that moment was to set herself directly out the door and step out into the city to find some physician who would bother to brew her what was needed. Yet, she could not. She was rooted in place, her sandals seemingly stuck in imaginary tar on the floor of her sister's study. Despite her turning her back on her sister, a lifetime of habit had formed in her inability to leave her sister until dismissed, as much as she loathed the fact in this moment.
It was not Nethis' fault that her mind worked in such a way, finding a weakness and exploiting it. How many times had Thea been her right hand in guiding others to fall into her sister's path in the past?
It was Thea's fault, in fact, that she had slipped and fallen into this gutter, yet it was commendable that over three decades had passed before this first folly. A sorry consolation, but one worth her noting.
Half of Thea's mind whirled like a fevered dance trying to find some way out, a few loose plans set into place in an instant that had timelessly proven to rid her of this burden - without Nethis' help. A bit more painful, yes, but as having seen the fragility of early childbearing through Evras, it was clear that it could be handled now before it had gone to pass to far.
Her thoughts were broken as Nethis said her name, and instead of ignoring her as she should have, Thea's eyes cut to Nethis from the corners of her eyes, face curled into a wounded and angry scowl, creasing her otherwise smooth porcelain features. Without realizing it, her arms had defensively wound themselves around her torso. The moment she realized it, she attempted to unfurl them, but only succeeded in rotating the arm on top.
Only when she had done so did she feel Nethis' hand on her wrist again, the firmness of her tone managing to wrench her scowl away from the floorboards to face her sister. Brows and pursed lips portrayed anger while the glisten in her eyes betrayed her dread and fear.
Gods, she was feeding right into Nethis' hand...this was not like her.
Forget about Vangelis?
Thea nearly verbalized a protest at this. How could she not? Nethis would have no way of knowing that Thea did not hold a true candle for the man. Explaining the utter baseness of their connection would be nearly as hard to believe as some love-lorn tale that likely spun in Nethis' mind. Yet, there was a measure of surprise and suspicion that kept her from saying a word as Nethis spoke.
Besides, Thea knew how Nethis hated being interrupted.
"And why not?" Thea snapped in a crisp whisper, too far from the firmness that such a reply needed, "It was never my intent for this to be so why maintain it?"
Half of her expected Nethis to launch into her plan, setting out the steps as they had done before. Nethis would want her to trap Vangelis as the world has suspected Evras of doing to Zanon all those years ago. Thea did not want to play that game. Everything she had built between herself and the Crown Prince - trust through limitation, an understanding and a follow-through on all parts - would be dashed. She would be blamed, once again, due to her own name. This time with validity.
What Thea did not expect was Nethis' rationale.
Her suspicion was heightened further, causing her to take a deep breath that seemed to hit all the way through the bottom of her lungs. Her eyes wrenched away for a moment as she tried feebly to tug her hand away from her sister's grasp, failing.
There was so much truth loaded in her sister's words and Thea hated it. Caught somewhere between the full compassion of Evras and the cunning of Nethis, Thea had managed to toe the line. Her love for her family, as well as the extensions of it created by the joining of House Thanasi and House Kotas was felt but not fully partaken-in, but she could still play the same games as Nethis without ever getting her hands dirtied. Still, it was true which side of the line she was prone towards - the one with a softness that she was usually quite good at hiding.
Her mind went to Evras again, knowing how fully she loved Dion, despite his conception leading to Nethis' crowning moment of manipulation - a Thanasi amidst the monarchs, the unbridled potential of being just a few captured pieces away from the game's victory. Yet, Evras loved Dion and Zanon, and was loved by the Kotas as well, accepted into their family...
...would they consider the same of Thea?
"I do not want to play any part in this," Thea stated plainly, refusing to even mention what she knew the next steps would be - either a bastard birth or a marriage to secure legitimacy. "The Kotas would not hear of it, besides. Not given our family's state now. It's a sorry sequel to the prior production, don't you think? A tired retelling of the same story. No one wants that."
This had not gone as she intended and Thea felt exhausted from the effort of it. If Nethis would not help her, she would find some other way. Yes, her sister was right, it would break her heart in a way. Her mind slipped to the moment when she held Tisiphone in her arms on the way to the Hall of the Gods in the company of Lady Pia, Lady Selene, and Evras. It also thought back to the simple joy that she felt when caring for Dion when he was so small she could hold him easily in one arm.
No. Damn. Already, her sister's words had found their way into a crack in her mind. It was unfair.
"I beg you let me take my leave," Thea asked, her free hand moving to wrap around her sister's fingers as they remained laced around her own wrist, as if to remove her hand, "I do not feel well...I should rest."
Perhaps, leaving that slight placation would let her at least escape this room and find some way to escape this nightmare she had stepped into.
"Please."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Thea scoffed and scowled at Nethis' insistence that she was to help. The best thing she could have done in that moment was to set herself directly out the door and step out into the city to find some physician who would bother to brew her what was needed. Yet, she could not. She was rooted in place, her sandals seemingly stuck in imaginary tar on the floor of her sister's study. Despite her turning her back on her sister, a lifetime of habit had formed in her inability to leave her sister until dismissed, as much as she loathed the fact in this moment.
It was not Nethis' fault that her mind worked in such a way, finding a weakness and exploiting it. How many times had Thea been her right hand in guiding others to fall into her sister's path in the past?
It was Thea's fault, in fact, that she had slipped and fallen into this gutter, yet it was commendable that over three decades had passed before this first folly. A sorry consolation, but one worth her noting.
Half of Thea's mind whirled like a fevered dance trying to find some way out, a few loose plans set into place in an instant that had timelessly proven to rid her of this burden - without Nethis' help. A bit more painful, yes, but as having seen the fragility of early childbearing through Evras, it was clear that it could be handled now before it had gone to pass to far.
Her thoughts were broken as Nethis said her name, and instead of ignoring her as she should have, Thea's eyes cut to Nethis from the corners of her eyes, face curled into a wounded and angry scowl, creasing her otherwise smooth porcelain features. Without realizing it, her arms had defensively wound themselves around her torso. The moment she realized it, she attempted to unfurl them, but only succeeded in rotating the arm on top.
Only when she had done so did she feel Nethis' hand on her wrist again, the firmness of her tone managing to wrench her scowl away from the floorboards to face her sister. Brows and pursed lips portrayed anger while the glisten in her eyes betrayed her dread and fear.
Gods, she was feeding right into Nethis' hand...this was not like her.
Forget about Vangelis?
Thea nearly verbalized a protest at this. How could she not? Nethis would have no way of knowing that Thea did not hold a true candle for the man. Explaining the utter baseness of their connection would be nearly as hard to believe as some love-lorn tale that likely spun in Nethis' mind. Yet, there was a measure of surprise and suspicion that kept her from saying a word as Nethis spoke.
Besides, Thea knew how Nethis hated being interrupted.
"And why not?" Thea snapped in a crisp whisper, too far from the firmness that such a reply needed, "It was never my intent for this to be so why maintain it?"
Half of her expected Nethis to launch into her plan, setting out the steps as they had done before. Nethis would want her to trap Vangelis as the world has suspected Evras of doing to Zanon all those years ago. Thea did not want to play that game. Everything she had built between herself and the Crown Prince - trust through limitation, an understanding and a follow-through on all parts - would be dashed. She would be blamed, once again, due to her own name. This time with validity.
What Thea did not expect was Nethis' rationale.
Her suspicion was heightened further, causing her to take a deep breath that seemed to hit all the way through the bottom of her lungs. Her eyes wrenched away for a moment as she tried feebly to tug her hand away from her sister's grasp, failing.
There was so much truth loaded in her sister's words and Thea hated it. Caught somewhere between the full compassion of Evras and the cunning of Nethis, Thea had managed to toe the line. Her love for her family, as well as the extensions of it created by the joining of House Thanasi and House Kotas was felt but not fully partaken-in, but she could still play the same games as Nethis without ever getting her hands dirtied. Still, it was true which side of the line she was prone towards - the one with a softness that she was usually quite good at hiding.
Her mind went to Evras again, knowing how fully she loved Dion, despite his conception leading to Nethis' crowning moment of manipulation - a Thanasi amidst the monarchs, the unbridled potential of being just a few captured pieces away from the game's victory. Yet, Evras loved Dion and Zanon, and was loved by the Kotas as well, accepted into their family...
...would they consider the same of Thea?
"I do not want to play any part in this," Thea stated plainly, refusing to even mention what she knew the next steps would be - either a bastard birth or a marriage to secure legitimacy. "The Kotas would not hear of it, besides. Not given our family's state now. It's a sorry sequel to the prior production, don't you think? A tired retelling of the same story. No one wants that."
This had not gone as she intended and Thea felt exhausted from the effort of it. If Nethis would not help her, she would find some other way. Yes, her sister was right, it would break her heart in a way. Her mind slipped to the moment when she held Tisiphone in her arms on the way to the Hall of the Gods in the company of Lady Pia, Lady Selene, and Evras. It also thought back to the simple joy that she felt when caring for Dion when he was so small she could hold him easily in one arm.
No. Damn. Already, her sister's words had found their way into a crack in her mind. It was unfair.
"I beg you let me take my leave," Thea asked, her free hand moving to wrap around her sister's fingers as they remained laced around her own wrist, as if to remove her hand, "I do not feel well...I should rest."
Perhaps, leaving that slight placation would let her at least escape this room and find some way to escape this nightmare she had stepped into.
"Please."
Thea scoffed and scowled at Nethis' insistence that she was to help. The best thing she could have done in that moment was to set herself directly out the door and step out into the city to find some physician who would bother to brew her what was needed. Yet, she could not. She was rooted in place, her sandals seemingly stuck in imaginary tar on the floor of her sister's study. Despite her turning her back on her sister, a lifetime of habit had formed in her inability to leave her sister until dismissed, as much as she loathed the fact in this moment.
It was not Nethis' fault that her mind worked in such a way, finding a weakness and exploiting it. How many times had Thea been her right hand in guiding others to fall into her sister's path in the past?
It was Thea's fault, in fact, that she had slipped and fallen into this gutter, yet it was commendable that over three decades had passed before this first folly. A sorry consolation, but one worth her noting.
Half of Thea's mind whirled like a fevered dance trying to find some way out, a few loose plans set into place in an instant that had timelessly proven to rid her of this burden - without Nethis' help. A bit more painful, yes, but as having seen the fragility of early childbearing through Evras, it was clear that it could be handled now before it had gone to pass to far.
Her thoughts were broken as Nethis said her name, and instead of ignoring her as she should have, Thea's eyes cut to Nethis from the corners of her eyes, face curled into a wounded and angry scowl, creasing her otherwise smooth porcelain features. Without realizing it, her arms had defensively wound themselves around her torso. The moment she realized it, she attempted to unfurl them, but only succeeded in rotating the arm on top.
Only when she had done so did she feel Nethis' hand on her wrist again, the firmness of her tone managing to wrench her scowl away from the floorboards to face her sister. Brows and pursed lips portrayed anger while the glisten in her eyes betrayed her dread and fear.
Gods, she was feeding right into Nethis' hand...this was not like her.
Forget about Vangelis?
Thea nearly verbalized a protest at this. How could she not? Nethis would have no way of knowing that Thea did not hold a true candle for the man. Explaining the utter baseness of their connection would be nearly as hard to believe as some love-lorn tale that likely spun in Nethis' mind. Yet, there was a measure of surprise and suspicion that kept her from saying a word as Nethis spoke.
Besides, Thea knew how Nethis hated being interrupted.
"And why not?" Thea snapped in a crisp whisper, too far from the firmness that such a reply needed, "It was never my intent for this to be so why maintain it?"
Half of her expected Nethis to launch into her plan, setting out the steps as they had done before. Nethis would want her to trap Vangelis as the world has suspected Evras of doing to Zanon all those years ago. Thea did not want to play that game. Everything she had built between herself and the Crown Prince - trust through limitation, an understanding and a follow-through on all parts - would be dashed. She would be blamed, once again, due to her own name. This time with validity.
What Thea did not expect was Nethis' rationale.
Her suspicion was heightened further, causing her to take a deep breath that seemed to hit all the way through the bottom of her lungs. Her eyes wrenched away for a moment as she tried feebly to tug her hand away from her sister's grasp, failing.
There was so much truth loaded in her sister's words and Thea hated it. Caught somewhere between the full compassion of Evras and the cunning of Nethis, Thea had managed to toe the line. Her love for her family, as well as the extensions of it created by the joining of House Thanasi and House Kotas was felt but not fully partaken-in, but she could still play the same games as Nethis without ever getting her hands dirtied. Still, it was true which side of the line she was prone towards - the one with a softness that she was usually quite good at hiding.
Her mind went to Evras again, knowing how fully she loved Dion, despite his conception leading to Nethis' crowning moment of manipulation - a Thanasi amidst the monarchs, the unbridled potential of being just a few captured pieces away from the game's victory. Yet, Evras loved Dion and Zanon, and was loved by the Kotas as well, accepted into their family...
...would they consider the same of Thea?
"I do not want to play any part in this," Thea stated plainly, refusing to even mention what she knew the next steps would be - either a bastard birth or a marriage to secure legitimacy. "The Kotas would not hear of it, besides. Not given our family's state now. It's a sorry sequel to the prior production, don't you think? A tired retelling of the same story. No one wants that."
This had not gone as she intended and Thea felt exhausted from the effort of it. If Nethis would not help her, she would find some other way. Yes, her sister was right, it would break her heart in a way. Her mind slipped to the moment when she held Tisiphone in her arms on the way to the Hall of the Gods in the company of Lady Pia, Lady Selene, and Evras. It also thought back to the simple joy that she felt when caring for Dion when he was so small she could hold him easily in one arm.
No. Damn. Already, her sister's words had found their way into a crack in her mind. It was unfair.
"I beg you let me take my leave," Thea asked, her free hand moving to wrap around her sister's fingers as they remained laced around her own wrist, as if to remove her hand, "I do not feel well...I should rest."
Perhaps, leaving that slight placation would let her at least escape this room and find some way to escape this nightmare she had stepped into.
"Please."
Nethis had known manipulating Thea would be a task. Not a monumental undertaking, considering what she was capable of and what she had managed, but it was no idle working that could be done carelessly either.
Thea was too much like her, Thea knew her too well for her to think this was without ambition and it showed in what she said, in her plain refusal to play her part. The sentiment almost made Nethis smile, if only because she had no idea she already was playing, but she turned the amusement inward, waiting to see if Thea would stand by her protest or weaken.
Ultimately she weakened and Nethis wished she could be surprised, but there was a reason she had decided to weaponize the truth. There were plenty of lies involved in this situation, but she stood by what she said; Thea had a heart and Nethis had used it against her though it had failed to elicit the desired result.
Instead, it had only helped make it obvious that anything she might say, any argument she might make would fall on deaf ears until Thea no longer believed there was any possibility that she could rid herself of this problem. For a moment, Nethis wavered, as the impulse to deny her help and chide her to honesty about the situation or exhort her to find some fucking ambition predominated; her gaze narrowed and her mouth opened, meaning to say something sharp, but she thought better of it and caught herself.
Abruptly, she turned her face away, genuinely battling instincts in an attempt to still her tongue. For a brief moment, she shut her eyes and eased out a slow breath, using silent seconds to reorganize her thoughts. Let Thea think what she wanted of this moment; vaguely in the back of her mind, she could think of no reason why this reaction would hurt anything and she needed it to temper herself amidst company in which she rarely bothered to do so.
With a little bit of luck, Thea would think this was what it meant for her to lose, to do the rare thing of abandoning ambition they both knew she could hardly help and give.
"Fine," she said, the word carrying a great deal of irritable resignation, expression carefully schooled to match and now turned back on Thea. Were this real, were a child actually at risk and her plans with it, she would never give in and certainly not so easily, but it hardly mattered here. "I will abandon ambition easily found in the wake of your mistake and against my better judgement, I will help you to heartbreak."
A two-pronged false surrender, neither wholly cold nor entirely emotional, a reflection of what sort of woman Nethis understood Thea to be rather than any feelings of her own on the matter. With it, there was hardly a reason to hold her in place any longer, so she relaxed her grasp on Thea’s wrist, and finished out what needed to be said, "I will bring you what you need tomorrow. Tell everyone you are unwell in the morning." It was a useless instruction considering she hardly intended to provide Thea with the real thing, but for the sake of everything she had already done and wanted to come of this, she had no choice but to act as she normally would. "Assuming you are not too far along for it to work, it will be unpleasant."
The caution was casually mentioned, laying seeds for the result whatever falsehood she gave Thea would fail to cause. She could have left it there, perhaps should have, but there was one more thought that needed articulating in order to match the expectations she imagined Thea would hold in this circumstance.
"If it works, you will owe me a favor of my choosing, if it fails, you will do as I say." This was not so much a bargain as it was a necessary demand; she doubted Thea would believe any of this without a price. "Understood?"
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Nethis had known manipulating Thea would be a task. Not a monumental undertaking, considering what she was capable of and what she had managed, but it was no idle working that could be done carelessly either.
Thea was too much like her, Thea knew her too well for her to think this was without ambition and it showed in what she said, in her plain refusal to play her part. The sentiment almost made Nethis smile, if only because she had no idea she already was playing, but she turned the amusement inward, waiting to see if Thea would stand by her protest or weaken.
Ultimately she weakened and Nethis wished she could be surprised, but there was a reason she had decided to weaponize the truth. There were plenty of lies involved in this situation, but she stood by what she said; Thea had a heart and Nethis had used it against her though it had failed to elicit the desired result.
Instead, it had only helped make it obvious that anything she might say, any argument she might make would fall on deaf ears until Thea no longer believed there was any possibility that she could rid herself of this problem. For a moment, Nethis wavered, as the impulse to deny her help and chide her to honesty about the situation or exhort her to find some fucking ambition predominated; her gaze narrowed and her mouth opened, meaning to say something sharp, but she thought better of it and caught herself.
Abruptly, she turned her face away, genuinely battling instincts in an attempt to still her tongue. For a brief moment, she shut her eyes and eased out a slow breath, using silent seconds to reorganize her thoughts. Let Thea think what she wanted of this moment; vaguely in the back of her mind, she could think of no reason why this reaction would hurt anything and she needed it to temper herself amidst company in which she rarely bothered to do so.
With a little bit of luck, Thea would think this was what it meant for her to lose, to do the rare thing of abandoning ambition they both knew she could hardly help and give.
"Fine," she said, the word carrying a great deal of irritable resignation, expression carefully schooled to match and now turned back on Thea. Were this real, were a child actually at risk and her plans with it, she would never give in and certainly not so easily, but it hardly mattered here. "I will abandon ambition easily found in the wake of your mistake and against my better judgement, I will help you to heartbreak."
A two-pronged false surrender, neither wholly cold nor entirely emotional, a reflection of what sort of woman Nethis understood Thea to be rather than any feelings of her own on the matter. With it, there was hardly a reason to hold her in place any longer, so she relaxed her grasp on Thea’s wrist, and finished out what needed to be said, "I will bring you what you need tomorrow. Tell everyone you are unwell in the morning." It was a useless instruction considering she hardly intended to provide Thea with the real thing, but for the sake of everything she had already done and wanted to come of this, she had no choice but to act as she normally would. "Assuming you are not too far along for it to work, it will be unpleasant."
The caution was casually mentioned, laying seeds for the result whatever falsehood she gave Thea would fail to cause. She could have left it there, perhaps should have, but there was one more thought that needed articulating in order to match the expectations she imagined Thea would hold in this circumstance.
"If it works, you will owe me a favor of my choosing, if it fails, you will do as I say." This was not so much a bargain as it was a necessary demand; she doubted Thea would believe any of this without a price. "Understood?"
Nethis had known manipulating Thea would be a task. Not a monumental undertaking, considering what she was capable of and what she had managed, but it was no idle working that could be done carelessly either.
Thea was too much like her, Thea knew her too well for her to think this was without ambition and it showed in what she said, in her plain refusal to play her part. The sentiment almost made Nethis smile, if only because she had no idea she already was playing, but she turned the amusement inward, waiting to see if Thea would stand by her protest or weaken.
Ultimately she weakened and Nethis wished she could be surprised, but there was a reason she had decided to weaponize the truth. There were plenty of lies involved in this situation, but she stood by what she said; Thea had a heart and Nethis had used it against her though it had failed to elicit the desired result.
Instead, it had only helped make it obvious that anything she might say, any argument she might make would fall on deaf ears until Thea no longer believed there was any possibility that she could rid herself of this problem. For a moment, Nethis wavered, as the impulse to deny her help and chide her to honesty about the situation or exhort her to find some fucking ambition predominated; her gaze narrowed and her mouth opened, meaning to say something sharp, but she thought better of it and caught herself.
Abruptly, she turned her face away, genuinely battling instincts in an attempt to still her tongue. For a brief moment, she shut her eyes and eased out a slow breath, using silent seconds to reorganize her thoughts. Let Thea think what she wanted of this moment; vaguely in the back of her mind, she could think of no reason why this reaction would hurt anything and she needed it to temper herself amidst company in which she rarely bothered to do so.
With a little bit of luck, Thea would think this was what it meant for her to lose, to do the rare thing of abandoning ambition they both knew she could hardly help and give.
"Fine," she said, the word carrying a great deal of irritable resignation, expression carefully schooled to match and now turned back on Thea. Were this real, were a child actually at risk and her plans with it, she would never give in and certainly not so easily, but it hardly mattered here. "I will abandon ambition easily found in the wake of your mistake and against my better judgement, I will help you to heartbreak."
A two-pronged false surrender, neither wholly cold nor entirely emotional, a reflection of what sort of woman Nethis understood Thea to be rather than any feelings of her own on the matter. With it, there was hardly a reason to hold her in place any longer, so she relaxed her grasp on Thea’s wrist, and finished out what needed to be said, "I will bring you what you need tomorrow. Tell everyone you are unwell in the morning." It was a useless instruction considering she hardly intended to provide Thea with the real thing, but for the sake of everything she had already done and wanted to come of this, she had no choice but to act as she normally would. "Assuming you are not too far along for it to work, it will be unpleasant."
The caution was casually mentioned, laying seeds for the result whatever falsehood she gave Thea would fail to cause. She could have left it there, perhaps should have, but there was one more thought that needed articulating in order to match the expectations she imagined Thea would hold in this circumstance.
"If it works, you will owe me a favor of my choosing, if it fails, you will do as I say." This was not so much a bargain as it was a necessary demand; she doubted Thea would believe any of this without a price. "Understood?"
To say Thea was immediately skeptical and suspicious of Nethis' would have been a drastic understatement of her current sentiments even at the best of times. Her eyes narrowed slightly as Nethis seemed to stop herself from speaking and took a stilling breath.
Was she relenting?
Ultimately, it was what Thea wanted but now that it was in hand, or soon would be, she was hesitant. Nethis had in her hand almost a near literal crown jewel of a scheme. Yet, she stilled her tongue as if to consider helping Thea.
To the world, Thea's expression remained the same. To Nethis, who knew her too well, there was a distinct shift in her eyes and the slight tilt of her head in interest as to what Nethis would say next. It was much the same as a child being told no only to have a parent relent.
'Fine.'
Thea blinked distinctly, follow by a soft swallow as she took in her sister's words. Of all their siblings, Nethis had been prone to relent to Thea on certain things, usually because they were often working in cohesion on some plot or another, creating their tight circle of two, leaving the others on the outside looking in.
Nethis had always been the mind, Thea the hands.
Here, though, in this moment, Thea was stunned beyond all reason that Nethis had managed to still her tongue against this discovery and this scheme. Here, Thea had been caught all but red-handed in the sheets with the Crown Prince of Colchis, with the more-and-more certain evidence of it. Thanks be to the gods if Nethis only thought it a brief tryst as opposed to the truth of the years-long affair. That was likely the only thing that allowed Thea's plea to hold any sort of water.
Still, the suspicion tickled the back of her neck as Nethis cooly sniped back the missed opportunity that this placed. Yes, whatever mistake or error that had allowed this to happen, with the mixing or the tonic or gods-given interference, that would have been on Thea. Had she thought more clearly, it would have doubled her suspicion in Nethis, but the promise of a solution seemed to drain her mind of most of it's usual links.
Her word would have hurt more if Thea had not been more bound and determined to eliminate the problem and hold up the end of the over-decade-long, unspoken agreement she had held with Vangelis - unbridled pleasure in one another without the risk of commitment or emotions involved. Thea wanted to hold to that, one of the few things that she had kept to be just hers, more than trying to fall into a grand Thanasi ploy as a child-bearing pawn. While it held nothing as far as any 'deep' connection or loyalty to Vangelis so much as it was a selfish desire to keep herself unattached, it did smack of being disloyal to machinations to help House Thanasi.
Nevermind that, Nethis had promised a solution.
Those words stuck.
"I will," Thea agreed, instantly, arms still crossed over her torso as she nodded once, still watching Nethis with a slightly sidelong glance. After all, once this worked, this moment would be over.
Vaneglis could marry Selene or whoever he cared to marry for love or legacy or whatever damn reason he chose. Just...not Thea.
Nethis offered her words of caution but Thea simply nodded in agreement, knowing it would work. The feast had only been six weeks past and Thea knew how delicate pregnancy could be. Whatever Nethis procured for her in the morning would do just fine in erasing this blemish from her history and leaving her future to her own bidding once more.
"Thank you," Thea replied, with a deep exhale and a bob of her head. She was just shy of turning to take her leave of the room when Nethis spoke again.
Ah, there it was.
Thea expected this but, from prior experience, knew that if she slipped away quick enough, she could feint her way out of most of these bargains. Not this time. This was too big and she knew it.
The thought of owing Nethis an unclaimed favor was...scary, to say the least. Yet, the cost of this instance felt worth the price. Whatever Nethis could ask in the future could not compare to this, shy of killing a Kotas - and their Father had already attempted that once this year. Two attempts would be comical.
If it failed? Well, Thea had other thoughts in her mind to handle it if this solution did not come to pass. Having seen the loss of a child close and personally through Evras, there were ways beyond tonics and brews, she knew. None of those would go untested should this not work.
"I do," Thea said, her soft smile faintly masking the assuredness that one way or another, there would be no child that shared blood with Vangelis. As if to seal such a bargain, Thea took two graceful steps closer to Nethis and reached out to gently clasp Nethis' hands in hers. Their matching rings - writhing silver snakes with garnet eyes - clinked soundlessly as she gave a soft squeeze to her sister's hand. "Thank you."
With a dip and a bob of her head again, Thea was dismissed and fully exhaled the breath she seemed to have held the entire time in Nethis' presence as soon as she two three steps into the corridor.
The next day, this ordeal would be over and she was glad.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
To say Thea was immediately skeptical and suspicious of Nethis' would have been a drastic understatement of her current sentiments even at the best of times. Her eyes narrowed slightly as Nethis seemed to stop herself from speaking and took a stilling breath.
Was she relenting?
Ultimately, it was what Thea wanted but now that it was in hand, or soon would be, she was hesitant. Nethis had in her hand almost a near literal crown jewel of a scheme. Yet, she stilled her tongue as if to consider helping Thea.
To the world, Thea's expression remained the same. To Nethis, who knew her too well, there was a distinct shift in her eyes and the slight tilt of her head in interest as to what Nethis would say next. It was much the same as a child being told no only to have a parent relent.
'Fine.'
Thea blinked distinctly, follow by a soft swallow as she took in her sister's words. Of all their siblings, Nethis had been prone to relent to Thea on certain things, usually because they were often working in cohesion on some plot or another, creating their tight circle of two, leaving the others on the outside looking in.
Nethis had always been the mind, Thea the hands.
Here, though, in this moment, Thea was stunned beyond all reason that Nethis had managed to still her tongue against this discovery and this scheme. Here, Thea had been caught all but red-handed in the sheets with the Crown Prince of Colchis, with the more-and-more certain evidence of it. Thanks be to the gods if Nethis only thought it a brief tryst as opposed to the truth of the years-long affair. That was likely the only thing that allowed Thea's plea to hold any sort of water.
Still, the suspicion tickled the back of her neck as Nethis cooly sniped back the missed opportunity that this placed. Yes, whatever mistake or error that had allowed this to happen, with the mixing or the tonic or gods-given interference, that would have been on Thea. Had she thought more clearly, it would have doubled her suspicion in Nethis, but the promise of a solution seemed to drain her mind of most of it's usual links.
Her word would have hurt more if Thea had not been more bound and determined to eliminate the problem and hold up the end of the over-decade-long, unspoken agreement she had held with Vangelis - unbridled pleasure in one another without the risk of commitment or emotions involved. Thea wanted to hold to that, one of the few things that she had kept to be just hers, more than trying to fall into a grand Thanasi ploy as a child-bearing pawn. While it held nothing as far as any 'deep' connection or loyalty to Vangelis so much as it was a selfish desire to keep herself unattached, it did smack of being disloyal to machinations to help House Thanasi.
Nevermind that, Nethis had promised a solution.
Those words stuck.
"I will," Thea agreed, instantly, arms still crossed over her torso as she nodded once, still watching Nethis with a slightly sidelong glance. After all, once this worked, this moment would be over.
Vaneglis could marry Selene or whoever he cared to marry for love or legacy or whatever damn reason he chose. Just...not Thea.
Nethis offered her words of caution but Thea simply nodded in agreement, knowing it would work. The feast had only been six weeks past and Thea knew how delicate pregnancy could be. Whatever Nethis procured for her in the morning would do just fine in erasing this blemish from her history and leaving her future to her own bidding once more.
"Thank you," Thea replied, with a deep exhale and a bob of her head. She was just shy of turning to take her leave of the room when Nethis spoke again.
Ah, there it was.
Thea expected this but, from prior experience, knew that if she slipped away quick enough, she could feint her way out of most of these bargains. Not this time. This was too big and she knew it.
The thought of owing Nethis an unclaimed favor was...scary, to say the least. Yet, the cost of this instance felt worth the price. Whatever Nethis could ask in the future could not compare to this, shy of killing a Kotas - and their Father had already attempted that once this year. Two attempts would be comical.
If it failed? Well, Thea had other thoughts in her mind to handle it if this solution did not come to pass. Having seen the loss of a child close and personally through Evras, there were ways beyond tonics and brews, she knew. None of those would go untested should this not work.
"I do," Thea said, her soft smile faintly masking the assuredness that one way or another, there would be no child that shared blood with Vangelis. As if to seal such a bargain, Thea took two graceful steps closer to Nethis and reached out to gently clasp Nethis' hands in hers. Their matching rings - writhing silver snakes with garnet eyes - clinked soundlessly as she gave a soft squeeze to her sister's hand. "Thank you."
With a dip and a bob of her head again, Thea was dismissed and fully exhaled the breath she seemed to have held the entire time in Nethis' presence as soon as she two three steps into the corridor.
The next day, this ordeal would be over and she was glad.
To say Thea was immediately skeptical and suspicious of Nethis' would have been a drastic understatement of her current sentiments even at the best of times. Her eyes narrowed slightly as Nethis seemed to stop herself from speaking and took a stilling breath.
Was she relenting?
Ultimately, it was what Thea wanted but now that it was in hand, or soon would be, she was hesitant. Nethis had in her hand almost a near literal crown jewel of a scheme. Yet, she stilled her tongue as if to consider helping Thea.
To the world, Thea's expression remained the same. To Nethis, who knew her too well, there was a distinct shift in her eyes and the slight tilt of her head in interest as to what Nethis would say next. It was much the same as a child being told no only to have a parent relent.
'Fine.'
Thea blinked distinctly, follow by a soft swallow as she took in her sister's words. Of all their siblings, Nethis had been prone to relent to Thea on certain things, usually because they were often working in cohesion on some plot or another, creating their tight circle of two, leaving the others on the outside looking in.
Nethis had always been the mind, Thea the hands.
Here, though, in this moment, Thea was stunned beyond all reason that Nethis had managed to still her tongue against this discovery and this scheme. Here, Thea had been caught all but red-handed in the sheets with the Crown Prince of Colchis, with the more-and-more certain evidence of it. Thanks be to the gods if Nethis only thought it a brief tryst as opposed to the truth of the years-long affair. That was likely the only thing that allowed Thea's plea to hold any sort of water.
Still, the suspicion tickled the back of her neck as Nethis cooly sniped back the missed opportunity that this placed. Yes, whatever mistake or error that had allowed this to happen, with the mixing or the tonic or gods-given interference, that would have been on Thea. Had she thought more clearly, it would have doubled her suspicion in Nethis, but the promise of a solution seemed to drain her mind of most of it's usual links.
Her word would have hurt more if Thea had not been more bound and determined to eliminate the problem and hold up the end of the over-decade-long, unspoken agreement she had held with Vangelis - unbridled pleasure in one another without the risk of commitment or emotions involved. Thea wanted to hold to that, one of the few things that she had kept to be just hers, more than trying to fall into a grand Thanasi ploy as a child-bearing pawn. While it held nothing as far as any 'deep' connection or loyalty to Vangelis so much as it was a selfish desire to keep herself unattached, it did smack of being disloyal to machinations to help House Thanasi.
Nevermind that, Nethis had promised a solution.
Those words stuck.
"I will," Thea agreed, instantly, arms still crossed over her torso as she nodded once, still watching Nethis with a slightly sidelong glance. After all, once this worked, this moment would be over.
Vaneglis could marry Selene or whoever he cared to marry for love or legacy or whatever damn reason he chose. Just...not Thea.
Nethis offered her words of caution but Thea simply nodded in agreement, knowing it would work. The feast had only been six weeks past and Thea knew how delicate pregnancy could be. Whatever Nethis procured for her in the morning would do just fine in erasing this blemish from her history and leaving her future to her own bidding once more.
"Thank you," Thea replied, with a deep exhale and a bob of her head. She was just shy of turning to take her leave of the room when Nethis spoke again.
Ah, there it was.
Thea expected this but, from prior experience, knew that if she slipped away quick enough, she could feint her way out of most of these bargains. Not this time. This was too big and she knew it.
The thought of owing Nethis an unclaimed favor was...scary, to say the least. Yet, the cost of this instance felt worth the price. Whatever Nethis could ask in the future could not compare to this, shy of killing a Kotas - and their Father had already attempted that once this year. Two attempts would be comical.
If it failed? Well, Thea had other thoughts in her mind to handle it if this solution did not come to pass. Having seen the loss of a child close and personally through Evras, there were ways beyond tonics and brews, she knew. None of those would go untested should this not work.
"I do," Thea said, her soft smile faintly masking the assuredness that one way or another, there would be no child that shared blood with Vangelis. As if to seal such a bargain, Thea took two graceful steps closer to Nethis and reached out to gently clasp Nethis' hands in hers. Their matching rings - writhing silver snakes with garnet eyes - clinked soundlessly as she gave a soft squeeze to her sister's hand. "Thank you."
With a dip and a bob of her head again, Thea was dismissed and fully exhaled the breath she seemed to have held the entire time in Nethis' presence as soon as she two three steps into the corridor.
The next day, this ordeal would be over and she was glad.