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 Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:06 am
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Seven. But no, not only that. Twelve.
It was difficult for Jacline to imagine. Having been raised as an only child, she was of course aware of larger families, but had no real concept of them herself. It had always been only her and Theodall with her only exposure to other children being those she encountered in church. Some families made themselves intentionally large for the extra hands, but still this seemed beyond even that.
Twelve.
Was his among those who had tried countless times to birth a child to be taken by the Sanctum, perhaps?
As he went on, though, she found her attention following along. He certainly was animated, but privately, the subject matter interested her enough to build a picture in her mind. She had always found ornate wood pieces, finer pieces of furniture and carvings, to be entrancing in their own way. If she were a selfish and indulgent girl, which she tried ever not to be, she would have liked to have such a house one day, where each portion was carved with specific intent in mind, with attention to shape and detail etched into every beam and chair and threshold. The magic of the gods could be hand built into a structure. Perhaps even without being indulgent such a thing could be accomplished under the right circumstances.
As they were lead in from the garden, Jacline’s eyes flit out in nervous search for the man she’d come with, but found him quickly enough that her anxiety ebbed. He was engaged elsewhere but also progressing in, and had instructed her to engage with those her age. So, she would. “It sounds lovely,” she said. “I think that we do the gods’ work when our craft speaks to us…and there is special beauty in wood, as there was once life in it. I think sometimes how each page we bind was once growing amongst the jungle.”
Her grey eyes considered him for a moment before losing themselves in the room they stepped into next. This house was a show of splendor. She breathed out, attempting to quell the pressing instinct that bringing so much as a spec of dirt in would be a crime against the household. Focus, she insisted to herself instead, on the conversation.
“It is like that with ink,” she said. “That there is no room for error. One blotch or stray hand ruins an entire page or more. Perfection comes with patience, attention and practice, Theodall says.” |
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:12 pm
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Stepping into the space leading into the dining room, Ko tried to keep his eyes from wandering around, distracted by all the little details. But that wasn’t polite; he was talking to someone. Mum always said: ‘Make sure you maintain eye contact with people you are talking to for at least 90% of the conversation. The last 10%, you may keep for your own indulgence~” And seeing as how his eyes had been drifting, he was surely eating into his allotted 10%, and would have to really focus now.
“Well, unfortunately, I think I don’t have at least two of those characteristics, so I guess I’ll never be able to reach perfection,” He said, shrugging his shoulders. “But you know what? I think that’s okay. Because perfection is something that doesn’t really exist; it’s just an idea, something to chase towards that pushes us to get better and better. But I don’t think any of us will ever really reach that finish line. And we shouldn’t have to.” He offered her a lopsided grin, saying with a flip of his hand, “After all, only the gods are perfect. And if they had wanted us to be perfect too, they would have designed us that way. But I’m sure they would have gotten incredibly bored if they had, so in a way, I bet they’re glad we’re all imperfect.”
He released her arm, having brought her to their intended destination, dipping into a little bow that made his curls bounce over his forehead. “Well Miss Jacline, I guess this is where I should stop hogging you all to myself. I’m sure you’re going to sit at a nice spot at the table, being such a fancy lady an’ all.” He propped his fists at his hips, rocking back on his heels while he waited to be taken away. “Heck, maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to wave at you from time to time during dinner: I bet it’ll be SO BORING sitting next to a bunch of old people the whole time!”
[9/10]
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Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 9:08 am
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Jacline watched the boy as he spoke, noting constantly how animated he was, as though there was so much energy welled up within him it would never quite all make its way out, and he had only to continue attempting to use it before he combusted. At his comments, she gave a small nod. “I believe that, though it is impossible to be so, it is our task always to strive for it,” she said. “They have not made us perfect and perhaps it is impossible to reach it…but a journey for a lifetime, a trial before each of us.”
It had certainly been easier interacting with him in this setting, while he was on what she assumed to be his best behavior, as opposed to the catastrophe of the prior circumstances they had met under. But perhaps no one was at their best then, and this had not been so bad. She made an uncertain glance towards Alexios, though, and wondered what her position would be for the remainder of the night.
She almost would have preferred to slip out as soon as opportunity permitted and take a seat by the pond to relax the evening by in peace and quiet. But that did not seem to be in the cards.
Thus, with a small sigh of resignation, she nodded to him. “Mind yourself and the gods will be good to you,” she said. “It was good to meet with you again under more pleasant circumstances.” |
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Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 6:51 pm
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Ko was about to return the kind words when he felt a large hand at his shoulder, looking up to see the face of his father. His brother was next to him as well, making small talk with an older man sporting quite the impressive mustache. He gave Ko’s shoulder a squeeze before releasing him, speaking as calm and collected as he always did, “We’re going to begin dinner now, it’s time to come into the dining room. You just need to walk with everyone else, find the place setting with your name on it, and then sit when the Hostess sits.” He turned his attention towards Jacline, bowing his head slightly at her. “I hope my son has been on his best behavior, Miss. Enjoy the rest of the party.” He then turned to follow the others into the room, Ko giving her a salute as he departed as well.
The ornate room practically sparkled as the evening sun streamed through the glass windows, catching on all the crystal atop the table and hanging from the delicate chandelier. A full formal plate setting rested before every hand-carved chair, along with a low-sitting floral arrangement and silver candelabras crowned with white tapered candles. And in a bold show departing from tradition and decorum, the large table was left uncovered by a cloth, the different wooden inlays all coming together to depict a patterned floral design. After escorting his mocha skinned wife to one end, Lord Callistan stood at the other end of the table, waiting at attention for everyone to find their spots.
Ko trickled in with everyone else, a little distraught at first to find that he was not to be seated next to his brother or father. But that was quickly swept away when he saw the two name-cards flanking him, grinning as he stood left of Corinthio. He made eye contact with Jacline as she came in, pointing excitedly down at her place setting to his left, giving her a little thumbs-up by his hip. That was tucked away quickly though as Alexio found his place, creating a hole at the table that Jacline would be filling with her presence.
[10/20]
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 5:17 am
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As an older man approached, Jacline’s eyes lifted to watch him. Privately, she wondered what qualified as best behavior on the part of Ko. Though he’d been far from a stationary and rule abiding boy, she could imagine given her range of experience with him that perhaps this was the best. As good as it got, when it came to this particular boy. He had at least mellowed down some portion and evidently attempted to be a gentleman, which she could give him credit for.
At the departure, Jacline nodded her farewell, and let herself be guided along with the swell of the crowd. Her eyes swept the room, lost for several long moments in the high ceiling, decorative hanging chandelier and interplay of the evening lights upon the display. She wasn’t surprised to be seated next to Alexios, after the introduction she’d been given to the night by Theodall. By that token, she shouldn’t have been surprised to see Ko’s name, now that she understood the connection.
But her mind had not quite brought her to that conclusion yet at the time she first saw his seating plaque, and she blinked in momentary surprise, glancing towards him.
Thumbs up at the hip.
She huffed softly, feeling a pinch of indignant heat come to her cheeks in spite of herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to sit with him, but rather that her first reaction had been relief to see his name, and that simply couldn’t be right at all. She didn’t need this little boy’s company and her focus was meant to be on the other at her opposite hand. Still, she managed a dip of the head and a flighty dusting of her hands over her skirts before moving in to sit. |
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Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2017 12:50 pm
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Once all were standing at their designated seats, the lady of the house nodded across the table at her husband, and took a seat. As all descended to their chairs, he waited a moment, then tapped the lip of his crystal goblet lightly with a silver fork. The quiet chiming was enough to draw silence from those gathered, until all eyes were on him. Placing his utensil back at its rightful place, the man spoke to the gathered crowd, “Friends and colleagues, thank you for taking the time out of your busy lives to share this lovely evening with my family and I. It brings me joy to be able to share in your company at my table: so please, relax, converse, and enjoy the meal.”
At that the silence was filled again by polite conversation as everyone settled into their new places, the first servants coming out to attend to the guests. Ko took the napkin out of its ring on his plate, glancing over at Corinthio to see how he was using it: on the lap it was. He was feeling a little giddy at the prospect of this whole affair; he’d never seen so many forks and plates on one table before! He reached over to tap Jacline’s wrist, speaking in a hushed tone, “Have your ever been to a dinner this nice before? Do you know what all these utensils are for?”
As he spoke, a woman placed a bowl of clear golden soup in front of him from off a tray, setting an identical bowl in front of Jacline. He eyed the spoons in front of him, looking back over at her with all the confusion of a magpie dropped into a new room full of shiny objects.
[11/20]
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 10:07 am
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It was perhaps everything Jacline might have dreamed of wanting in her future: to be dressed finely, sat at an elegant table, in a beautiful house, surrounded by the trappings of success and the gods’ blessings. On the one hand, it was privately thrilling to have the opportunity to experience it, and it made her heart skip to a quick beat with her nerves and awe. On the other, she wasn’t accustomed, and there was great fear of repercussions if she did not govern herself accordingly.
It seemed it must only be easier to disappoint those who were used to having near perfection all the time. But, if there was anything she was accomplished at, it was governing herself. She drew a small breath, holding her fingers folded in her lap and bidding them not to fidget as her eyes scanned the table before her-
She hopped at the tap of contact. “Ko-”
Have your ever been to a dinner this nice before? Do you know what all these utensils are for?
Oh, he was as lost as she.
She wasn’t certain this made her feel better, to be no better prepared than the boy at her side, but at least she was not alone. After a moment more to study them, she notched her chin a touch upward. Well, they are all for eating, as most utensils are. She reached, tentatively going for the smallest of the arranged spoons and underhandedly stealing a glance down the table to confirm - yes. “I believe you begin with the smallest,” she murmured. And because apparently she was feeling especially generous this evening, she admitted, “I have never.” |
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