New to Giralda, I see. Well, it takes all sorts around here. Take that shifty-eyed weasel by the fire.
Oh, he acts looks like a simple merchant, peddling meager wares, but watch what you say around him. The Empire’s got ears everywhere...
See those two there? They seem all chummy now, but that’s only because Var is trying to convince Jarek to desert the navy in Thisbē and join
those lawless bastards who sail from the Spice Isles. I’m sure that one will kill the other before the week is out, once they’ve got what they want from each other.
Then there’s always the usual mercs; bastards who’d happily kill their own mothers for a coin. Oh, they say those twins from Brelan aren’t so bad,
but a merc is a merc, and money is all they see.
At least there're no damned elves here tonight. One got uppity last month when I insisted the
bastard slept in the stables. A damn generous offer for a half-breed, if you ask me!
Mind yourself if you head into the Wilds. It’s full of things that
would happily eat you and shit you out without a second thought. Even the people who hunt those things are more beast than civil.
Anyway stranger,
what'll it be: a room, or a drink?
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CURRENT MONTH: AUREL, 762
This month marks the transition from the scorching sun of summer to the cooling of autumn. The night skies become more magnificent as shooting stars are more frequent, and auroras dance across the horizon. Aurel is a time of harvest when the farmers gather the crops that cannot withstand the upcoming heavy rains of Nandir.
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December 2021 Soft hiatus - have a safe, warm, and minimally dysfunctional holiday season!
Kira was just about as excited as she could be. Both her brother and mother agreed to let her go to Solstice events - with very specific rules, of course - and she was finally in the midst of it all. She had read all about it the past several years, been writing with Idrial and planning to meet with her, and was truly over the moon to be in a place that was buzzing with energy.
After going over the rules with Logan for what had to be the eightieth time, he left her with an escort to go find her friend Isabelle. She would never be truly alone with her friend or by herself, but having someone linger in the background wasn’t nearly as annoying as it could be. She was familiar with all of her brother’s cronies, and this one tended to give her more leeway than others - though none would be as entertaining or as lenient as Jackson had been. Kira had inquired with her brother about him, but there were other duties bringing him to Solstice instead - or so he had claimed. If anyone would be able to find him in this mess of people, it would certainly be the princess.
Isabelle and Kira didn’t have a lot of opportunity to organize where they were going to meet other than the time of day and near the center of festivities where the largest tent had been set up. The princess took her time getting to their spot, watching and listening to everyone around her. The mix of different cultures and languages and non-human folk was riveting. She rarely had the opportunity to be around anything other than plain humans, but had read at length about elves and their festivities at Solstice, as that was its origin. Kira had an itch to speak with strangers and learn more about them, but that was rule number three on the list - no speaking to strangers unless it was an actual emergency and not one where she needed to know the most about everyone around her.
Post by Isabelle Pierre on Sept 27, 2022 20:14:58 GMT -6
It used to be easier for Isabelle to sneak out unnoticed and do what she wanted to. She had always been quiet and reserved when confined by the castle walls. For many years as she grew up, she remained isolated in her own chamber, consuming herself with books, studying, and working on various crafts to keep busy. After being consistent for years with her isolation, it eventually became the norm. Everyone expected or assumed Isabelle was in her room safely and in no need of attention unless she called for it. The check-ins became few and far between after a while.
But ever since her father fell ill and was slowly fading away on his deathbed, and with her sister away, the guards and castle staff had begun to pay closer attention to her. It made her easy escapes more difficult, and it limited her freedom.
In her newfound time of confinement, Isabelle spent it reading and writing letters back and forth with several of her friends. Kira had been one she had written with quite a lot since the last time she had seen her. So when it got closer to the Solstice, they had made plans to meet, both of them hoping they would be allowed and able to attend the events.
To Isabelle’s surprise, she hadn’t needed to put up much of a fight to be allowed to go. Her guards were actually shocked that she had taken an interest in the festivities because she never cared to go before. It was an event that all of Giralda partook in, so some of the guards were pleased they would not need to stay back to ensure the princess was safe and would be able to celebrate and join in the festivities at least a little.
With her guard trailing behind her, Isabelle made her way toward the center, searching for the largest tent, as she and Kira had agreed. It was difficult to focus her attention on one thing, though, with everything going on–and all the people! It nearly made her feel overwhelmed with anxiety because she hadn’t been around a crowd this large before.
When she reached the tent, her bright eyes darted around until they finally landed on the familiar face. Her smile grew wide and she rushed through the crowd, not bothering to wait for her guard to keep up with her.
“Kira!!!” She shouted as she got closer, attempting to get her attention through the loud crowd. Once she was close enough, Isabelle nearly threw herself at Kira, flinging her arms around her dear friend.
Kira had only been standing near the tent for a short time when she nearly toppled over from her friend's greeting. “Isabelle!” She shouted back, wrapping her arms around the woman and squeezing tightly before holding her at an arm's length. It had been months since the pair had seen one another, though it seemed like only yesterday they were searching for books and sneaking into pubs without a care in the world.
This time was different however, Kira noted as she glanced over to their respective chaperones who had introduced themselves to one another. It would still be an enjoyable afternoon, but definitely less carefree than the unsanctioned events the pair had planned in the past. “How is it that you keep getting taller and more beautiful each time I see you?” She asked, holding a lock of Isabelle’s golden hair between her fingers before bringing her into another hug.
Kira released her friend after another moment and let out a sigh. “I know we have been writing - but it’s so hard to be completely honest in letters for fear or who might read them.” She paused. “How have you been? And your family?”
Post by Isabelle Pierre on Jan 11, 2023 23:33:41 GMT -6
Despite enjoying her times of solace, the loneliness and isolation eventually got to her, making her long for companionship, whether that meant visiting a friend (or meeting a new one), or perhaps, maybe even finding someone to love. Most stories she read had some form of romantic relationship involved, and she occasionally found herself fantasizing that she was the heroine of the story. Oftentimes, she wondered if it ever would be–if she would ever be part of her own romantic story.
Her heart fluttered with excitement as Kira embraced her. Someone might have thought the princess of Triston hadn’t seen anyone in years–and gosh, did it feel that way sometimes. A genuine laugh quickly passed her lips, probably louder than it should have at Kira’s comment.
“No–no. Stop it!” She laughed again, lightly nudging Kira playfully. “It has not been that long since we last saw one another!!” She smirked at the memory of their last interaction and idly–no, cautiously glanced past Kira to see if the guard who had joined her, was the same particularly handsome guard she had with her the last time. Isabelle actually felt her shoulders start to drop in disappointment, but she caught herself and quickly stopped them, shifting her focus back to Kira.
Last time, Isabelle had managed to get out without a guard. But this time, it seemed quite obvious that the princess would not get away with being on her own this far out from Triston. The two princesses with matching guards, seemingly– and she was sure that might hinder the freedom and dictate what they could or couldn’t do that day.
Ah, well– they would have to make the best of it, regardless, Isabelle supposed.
She hugged her friend back, tightly and kissed her cheek before linking her arm with hers and nudging her along for a walk after Kira asked her question. There was a brief moment of solemnness that danced over her features and she cast her bright eyes downward at her feet. The expression did not last long before Isabelle looked back up and forced herself to smile. “Oh–I’m fine!” But that was only a half-truth. She was fine–but she could certainly be better. A long sigh escaped through parted lips and her slender shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I have not seen Josefin in some time–so I worry for her. And Manon–well, she’s Manon, I guess.” Isabelle and her younger sister did not always get along or see eye to eye on most things. They were just too different. She leaned in closer to Kira and spoke in a near-whisper, “...And my father…I fear his days are growing less and less.”
Isabelle was next in line after her older sister–and with her being away, it brought on a whole new kind of anxiety. But, she didn’t really want to talk about it, at least not out in public, like this. It would need to be another conversation in private for later. So Isabelle quickly changed the subject. “What about you, dear princess Kira? How are you What have you been up to since we last saw one another? Anything new and exciting?” She was hopeful that Kira had more to tell her than what she already had written her about.
Kira was so pleased to see her friend, mirroring the woman’s own joyful smile as they were able to catch up with one another. There was only so much one could put into writing without fear of it being read before getting to its intended party. If her mother was so bored, she just assumed her notes to her friend were being read by Idonea. It seemed something that was quite likely for her to engage in - privacy was never so well respected when it came to her mother’s whims.
The princess had sadly heard talk about Josefin and Isabelle’s father falling ill. It was an all too familiar story to Kira. A father ailing, an heir having to not so joyfully overtake ruling sooner than they may have been prepared to do so. It hurt her heart to know her friend was going through something she had recently experienced. “I’m so sorry to hear about your father.” She paused. “Though I have no doubt that Josefin will rise to the occasion if she must.” Kira could only dream of being as self assured and confident as Isabelle’s older sister.
Her face softened at her friend's question about her own happenings recently. “I have been doing well.” She paused, explaining a bit about her brother’s relationship with Idrial and how the pair had formed a friendship after the split. “I would have liked having her as a sister, I think.” She lamented as the pair began to walk. It was a beautiful day and Kira was more than looking forward to the events in the evening. “You know, I also was writing to a man for a short while.” Kira offered, giving her friend a sidelong glance.
Post by Isabelle Pierre on Mar 11, 2023 23:33:06 GMT -6
Being a princess meant many people were fake, insincere, and dissimulating around Isabelle, simply to try and impress her or hope to gain something by being on good terms with royalty. It also made her feel like she couldn’t be herself around anyone either. If anyone could understand this, she was certain it would be Kira. Isabelle knew she could be herself with the other princess, and in turn, she knew she was a genuine friend to her.
That was evident in the way Kira looked at her and offered up her condolences and understanding regarding her father’s fading health and the worry she had for her older sister. She hadn’t truly expressed her feelings to anyone regarding her concerns, amongst many others.
Isabelle smiled softly, squeezing Kira’s arm and squeezing it against her ribs in a hugging sort of fashion. “Yes– Josefin would do wonderfully.” She proudly boasted. And Isabelle wanted that so badly for her sister--No one else was more deserving of ruling Triston than she was.
Her smile grew slightly and remained planted on her lips as she listened to Kira tell her of her friendship with Idrial, and she was happy that Kira had someone else she could confide in.
Just as Isabelle was about to comment on how they really needed to find a way to get together more often, Kira was mentioning having been writing to a man. Her expression perked and she looked at her, noticing the sidelong glance. “Oh yeah?” Isabelle smirked. It wasn’t often that she got to speak girly-like things with someone else. “Who is he? What’s his name? How did you meet? Why are you writing to him? Tell me–I need to know these things!” All the questions nearly spilled from her lips in one quick breath and she giggled afterward, nudging Kira to speak up.
Kira missed having someone to confide in - in person that is - especially another woman that she could trust. She truly thought of her brother as a confidant in most things, but there were some topics that were just off limits for Logan. He would lose his mind if he knew about her correspondence with someone who was next to a stranger, and even more so if he knew it was a man. He was much too overprotective to be engaged in such a conversation, which was why she was now spilling her guts to Isabelle.
“Don’t get so excited!” Kira chided, though a smile grew on her face at her friend's excitement. She truly didn’t know what was going on with Nathaniel, and at this point was frustrated with him, but didn’t let Isabelle know that. She would allow herself to engage in such a lighthearted conversation about a man, if only for a little while. “His name is Nathaniel.” She paused, thinking of how to best tell the story of their meeting, and how much she wanted to include.
“We met when I was in Noria, during the quake.” She told her, reminiscing on the evening that seemed so long ago at this point. “He helped me out when I got lost, and I wrote him back to thank him.” She omitted a few aspects of the story she would rather forget, though thought she might be able to tell her friend in the future if she felt willing to. “We corresponded for a short time, but the next time I saw him he was less than happy to see me.” Kira arched a brow in her friend's direction as they continued along their path.
“I admit I was quite rude and showed up at his home uninvited.” She pulled a face. “But I wanted to know why he seemed to lose interest in merely having a friendship with me.” She shrugged, remembering all too well the situation that occurred at his home as he was rebuilding and the arguments that ensued. “It’s all very odd. Are all men so evasive when it comes to their feelings?” She asked Isabelle. “Honestly, I was only trying to get to know him.”
Post by Isabelle Pierre on Apr 6, 2023 22:01:54 GMT -6
It wasn’t often that Isabelle could engage in gossip or typical female-type conversation about boys and all that silly sort of thing. Perhaps she was jumping to her excitement too quickly, but she was hopeful for her friend. She let out a little laugh at Kira’s slight dismissal and then quickly faked a pout and look of sheer disappointment as if the other princess had just crushed all of her hopes and dreams.
But her expression was quickly changing again as Kira gave her this mystery man’s name. “Nathaniel…” Isabelle repeated his name quietly, as if taking a mental note of it. Her lips twitched slightly at the thought that she was calling him by his first name.
She was quiet as her friend explained how she had met Nathaniel at the quake. Isabelle had felt so sorry about the incident and wanted to go help out but was strongly advised to stay put. Still, she could only imagine how bad it must have been down in the center of the disaster. Truth be told, she was slightly surprised Kira had been allowed to be in Noria in the aftermath. A frown twitched at the corners of her mouth, but she continued to listen to what seemed like a very short summarization of her meeting with this man. Isabelle imagined more must have happened in order for Kira to want to write to him just to thank him when doing so in their departure must have been enough. No?
Her bright eyes widened with curiosity and surprise when Kira admitted to showing up at his home uninvited. Alright–well, now Isabelle was more than certain the letters were sparked by something more than just getting lost and assisted. Regardless, she respected the other princess enough not to pry, but gently squeezed her arm into a light hug. Whatever happened, she was thankful that this man had helped Kira.
“Seemed to lose interest? What do you mean?” She looked at Kira confused. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be friends with her? Isabelle pursed her lips together as she pondered curiously and tried to put the puzzle together despite having various missing pieces.
Her shoulders lifted and fell in a shrug after Kira’s question, and she huffed a small laugh out her nose. “Gosh–I haven’t the slightest clue!” Isabelle grew up with only sisters and never had much of a chance to form relationships. She wasn’t even entirely certain if anyone looked at her with any sort of interest.
“Why do you think he was being evasive? How many letters did you write back and forth? What did you write about? What made you feel like, or think he lost interest in being your friend?... But more importantly—why?” Isabelle laughed again, though mostly at herself for asking the stream of questions in nearly one breath. She shook her head as if to indicate that she didn’t have to tell her all of these things if she didn’t want to, and that she didn’t mean to pry too much. Yes–this did seem quite odd.
“I know, I know.” Kira put her hands up in defeat after speaking about showing up at Nathaniel’s home, and her friend's reaction to how she had behaved. The princess knew she had made a mistake after his reaction, but couldn’t leave well enough alone. She thought back to her letter writing and the exchange that had initially excited her about her new acquaintance. “At first I wasn’t quite sure, as I thought what we were discussing was simple and not too complex.” She paused, turning to her friend and pulling a face.
“But then” She paused. “When I went to see him and make him give me answers, he tried to tell me it was due to my…place in society.” She explained to her friend in summary what he had told her at his house - leaving out any personal details that he might be offended by if others were to know. The princess explained how he had vacillated back and forth about if they should carry on any correspondence, seemingly arguing with himself (and Kira) about the whys of the situation. She remembered promising she wouldn’t speak to anyone about his softer side. “We ended up coming to an agreement at the end of it all, but I haven’t tried speaking to him since then.” It hadn’t been too long of a time - but much more than the week and a day she had joked with him about waiting to write.
She had absently wondered if Nathaniel would be present at Solstice, as her brother was at the Valarocco tent as were many of the men he traveled with. “Enough about me!” She finally stated. “Will you be able to come to the family tent tonight? Perhaps your favorite of my brothers’ men will be there.” She smiled broadly.
Post by Isabelle Pierre on May 9, 2023 23:34:44 GMT -6
Isabelle couldn’t hide the smirk on her face as Kira showed her defeated understanding of why it was probably inappropriate to go to this man’s house unannounced. Not only that–but risky! It piqued her interest, of course, and she wanted to know more. So when Kira started to give explanations, Isabelle listened attentively.
Her lips parted to ask Kira what the simple and not too complex things they had discussed in their letters were, but she continued, turning towards her and pausing their walk. Isabelle’s expression turned curious and she studied her friend’s face as she explained what had happened.
There was a slight wince on her face when Kira admitted going to see him to make him give her answers, and she found herself wondering what she had hoped to find out.
It was difficult for people like she and Kira to meet and keep friends around, especially when they knew about their places in society. So when Kira mentioned that’s what had Nathaniel hesitant in wanting to continue writing to her, Isabelle frowned and nodded understandably. She understood both sides of the matter, though more of the side Kira stood on because of her own similar experiences. But, many who were not of royalty, were either intimidated by the status or fearful that they would be at risk of something if they made any sort of mistake.
Isabelle remained quiet as Kira told her what had happened and that they had come to an agreement. She nodded and pursed her lips together in thought. “Well–” She started, trying to gather her thoughts and form words together. “I guess I can understand his hesitations. Unfortunately,” she sighed. “But you must really like or want to keep him around if he was worth going to argue with and try convincing to continue in your correspondence, hmm?” She smirked and raised a brow as she looked at Kira questioningly, her smirk turning more into a grin.
“Why haven’t you tried speaking to him since then? Do you not want to anymore?” Isabelle thought for a moment, wondering if it would be wise for Kira to keep her distance. But, doing so would mean giving in to the way of society, and Isabelle was all for trying to break the molds.
Kira was finally deflecting the conversation away from herself and onto her, asking if she would go to the family tent. She hadn’t come with much of an agenda or plan for her evening and wondered if she would just have to return back home once she ran out of things to do, so having the invitation made her swell with excitement. “Really?? Can I?!” But when Kira teased her, suggesting that maybe one of her brother’s men who won Isabelle’s favor, might be there, she blushed slightly and looked down, trying to hide the smirk that twitched at the corners of her lips. She hadn’t seen or heard from the guard since their first encounter, and she doubted the man even thought of her after or would recall who she was. “Oh? And who might that be?” Isabelle tried to act nonchalantly, despite the expression on her face that gave away that she knew exactly who Kira was hinting at.
Kira was happy to be able to confide in someone in person and get their reactions about her experience with Nathaniel. She had told Idrial a little bit about her, but writing information in letters was different than being face to face with a friend. She had hoped for some time alone with Isabelle, and was more than happy to get it, but was looking forward to seeing who else would be attending Solstice and if any familiar faces would appear. She had meant to ask Idrial about her plans, but hadn’t had the chance with the delay in the arrival of the letters.
“I don’t know.” She paused, giving her friend a quick glance and rolling her eyes at the other woman's grin. “You know how stubborn I can be, though.” Kira had thought a lot about what to do about Nathaniel since he had last seen him, and had mostly let it lie. She could obviously see where he was coming from, but was irritated by it all the same. “Time will tell, I suppose.” She shrugged. “I haven’t attempted writing to him since then because I was trying to leave him be, but I really haven’t had a spare moment between getting ready to come to Solstice and traveling here.” She explained to her friend how she wouldn’t decline an audience with him, but would be weary about getting attached as it seemed she had before.
The princess’ smile broadened at her friend's blush and attempted to hide her reaction. Kira had seen Jackson a number of times since he met Isabelle - he worked with her brother after all - but surprisingly wasn’t one to be meddlesome in matters of the heart. Slight exceptions could be made when it came to Logan. “Of course you can come!” she nearly yelled. “I certainly am not going to go in there by myself.” Kira added, spinning around as she got ahold of her bearings. “It’s that way.” She pointed across the way and up a slight incline to the tent with the Vanyar flags.
***
It was only a quarter of an hour later that the pair made it to the tent, Kira voicing some surprise at the amount of people that were already in attendance. “Should we get a drink? Start on the dance floor? Look for Jackson?” She waggled her brows at Isabelle.