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 Posted: Fri May 09, 2014 5:03 pm
Far from it - apparently many a noble had thought that going to the war front was simply a 'droll' idea, incredibly amusing. Shalvesta herself had been afforded a small tent near the center of camp, well protected but devoid of amenities other than a raised palette that had been carried in and set in a corner. Even this was a luxury, she realized.
She had only been in the camp a few days before another noble, some older woman that Shalvesta vaguely recognized but couldn't place, since her mother wasn't here to helpfully whisper the family name in her ear, had invited her to some get together. Surely she was expected to wear her finest, yet Shalvesta had been surprised by the presence of nobility, and had only packed travel clothes.
Looking down at herself, Shalvesta realized that this would just give the higher blooded there another reason to laugh at her, but hopefully she could plead pity, all things considered. So come evening, as the soldiers began to settle around fires and laugh over their dinners, Shalvesta stepped from her tent and found the large, ornate tent that her hostess and her husband occupied. The inside was large, much larger than Shalvesta's, and it must have been one that was normally used for council meetings of generals. Today the floor was covered in highly polished wooden platforms, to save the slippered feet of the nobility from getting dirty, and the inside had been transformed from a simple tent into a small ballroom, with expensive tables covered with platters of decadent food.
Disgusted though she was with the display, Shalvesta was admittedly hungry, and after living off jerky for the past few days she wasn't against spoiling herself. First though, she tore her longing eyes away from the food and decided to seek out her host, to give the right compliments. So she stepped uncertainly around the tent, bowing her head and giving nervous smiles to those she brushed past.
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 10:00 am
So, Ichil was left with half of the story. She had never traveled outside of Oba, but was aware that a great many different people lived out there. It was much to her displeasure that her father should call for his family from the foreign festival grounds. He always had to make an appearance, didn't he? Ichil was in no mood for a party, let alone the masculine bravado of a successful squadron. She might have run off to explore were she not so precisely corralled into the celebration tent. Shouldn't the soldiers be the ones partaking of feat and festival? They had won this battle, after all. Few nobles would get their hands so dirty, although she had to admit that she was proud of her father for being one of them. Curtsies and bows were given with duty, forced small talk graced her lips, and then the adults began a deeper conversation that allowed Ichil to wander of and people-watch. She knew most faces here; noblemen and their wives and their dutiful daughters. Generally speaking, the dutiful sons avoided her. She could live with that for now.
The prentice sipped from a dainty glass and noted the reactions of the crowd when a certain young woman entered. She was not dressed appropriately for the occasion, and Ichil had to wonder why she had even bothered showing up in an outfit like that. Common clothes were just fine, of course, but certainly it was better to avoid the scornful glances and whispering she was receiving right now. Ichil wasn't even sure who she was, come to think of it. Hers was not a face Ichil recognized, and she could not put a first nor last name to her face.
Ichil watched her travel toward the hostess, wondering if she was of nobility at all. If so, that was the kind of interesting company Ichil would enjoy...
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 9:42 pm
Appearing at the party dressed the way she was, to Shalvesta, was really the lesser of two evils. If she neglected to appear at a party held by someone so much her better then she would be remembered as the uppity commoner wife who presumed she was too good to appear at such a banquet. Especially since it was in honor of the soldiers, as they claimed - it would be damning her twice.
However if she appeared at this party with her travel clothes, she would be laughed at, looked down on, sure, but at least they'd see her more as the bumbling commoner. She was less of a threat, even if she made herself more of a target. Sure they looked scornful, she could feel the burning gazes on her as she passed, but to her face they were all simpering and fake gasps of anguish for her 'loss.' One lesser noblewoman, equal to her in rank but older, touched her elbow as she passed, patting 'tears' from her eyes with an expensive embroidered silk and gold handkerchief and expressing her sympathies.
Shalvesta forced a smile, but kept her eyes ducked, bowing her head and making the motion of a curtsey, though she had no skirt to lift given her traveling pants. She felt naked without the heavy sword tied to her back, but she knew that as little as her clothing was tolerated, bringing the sword here when she was no warrior would be a further insult. Finally Shalvesta made it to the side of the hostess, who had dolled herself up spectacularly.
The young prentice found herself equal parts shamefaced and somewhat, rebelliously, amused by the scandalized expression that stole across the face of her hostess, the woman's husband looking her over with obvious disinterest and a wrinkled nose. The woman recovered far before her husband, leaning into her husband's ear and whispering something to him. Instantly his features changed, and the previous disdain was shuttered behind a fake expression of sympathy and welcoming.
No doubt her title had been dropped in his ear. It was true that, as a lesser noblewoman, Shalvesta might have been shrugged off in some circumstances, but apparently her husband's name still held some clout. It had only been a few weeks, after all. "I'm sorry, my lady, for clothing - I'm afraid I..." Shalvesta said, smoothing her hands over her purple pants, ducking her eyes in embarassment.
"Oh -- oh no, dear, it's quite understandable, I simply can't imagine!" The noblewoman infront of her said, loudly, making a face despite her words. But her face had that horrible expression of pity and sympathy - it had been what Shal hoped for, and yet she was already so tired of being looked at that way, no matter how much she was banking on this reaction. The woman chattered at her a few moments longer, but finally lost interest and Shalvesta, her duty to thank her hostess for her invitation sated, stole away as soon as she could, raising a hand to her chest with a wince.
She'd never get over how exhausting these functions could be - and she'd only just gotten here!
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 8:45 am
Ichil had been born into this life. These functions had been a staple of her existence from before she could even walk. She was used to the polite yammering about nothing at all, the gossip about people standing not six feet away. That didn't mean she liked it, of course. Once, when pretty dresses and presents were the highlight of any gala, she hadn't minded. Now that she had reached the age of reason, hah! She felt terribly out of place amongst the dutiful wives and daughters.
She watched this new woman approach the hostess and share brief words with her husband... was that expressed condolences? She took another sip from her glass and stood, taking up a place directly in front of the girl in her common clothes. Ichil smiled, hoping to look as little like a burden as she could.
"Hello," was all she offered, with a little nod.
"Maybe you'd like to come sit with me? Away from... them." She looked generally into the room. Them. All of them.
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 1:11 pm
Keeping her eyes turned down, Shalvesta tried to calm her heart, which skittered rebelliously despite how calmly she was trying to play what felt like a deception. In looking down, though, she didn't notice the presence of the other young prentice until she'd almost walked right into her - though it was a close thing, and she stumbled backwards, her bright eyes snapping up almost in alarm.
Even if Ichil didn't recognize Shalvesta, Shalvesta definitely recognized her. This woman was a lesser noblewoman, sure, but of a well known name afforded much more respect than Shalvesta's in-laws. At a few parties Shalvesta could remember her mother-in-law talking loudly about the prestige of this woman's family. She remembered it even being suggested that she try and get into her favor, being a like age as they were. In the end Shalvesta's husband had snorted at the idea, and responded that the only goal of being friends with such a woman would be to find favor in a brother or young man who flocked around such a woman, and Shalvesta surely had no need of that.
At the time Shalvesta had been glad to be rid of the pressure of making friends, because she had still felt so out of her league around so many of the nobility. Now, she still felt intimidated, and despite the kind words and lack of threat in the way Ichil held herself, deep down Shalvesta still felt suspicious of her intentions. But she had to admit she liked the idea of stealing away with someone. She was just nervous about how Ichil had come to gain an interest in her.
And to be honest, the use of 'them' intrigued her. She blinked, tilting her head slightly in curiosity, but nodded, ducking her eyes again almost demurely. "I think I would like that very much, my lady." She responded with a small, almost hopeful smile.
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 1:27 pm
Ichil was suddenly struck with worry. The woman had called her 'my lady,' which bespoke of some member of the common class. Had she accidentally approached an actual servant? No, it couldn't have been, from the way the others reacted to her. Why had she offered such a formal greeting, then?
"Ichil. I'm just Ichil." Of course, most nobles might have thrown the l-word at each other, but it just wasn't this noble's style. She did not believe in levels of nobility, and beyond that certainly didn't believe in the class system. Some of the best people she had met were plain folk. Daddy didn't like it, of course, but that wasn't any of her concern.
With a soft smile and a wave, Ichil led the girl toward a table of drinks and poured one herself. She offered the glass to her new companion and nodded to where she had been sitting previously.
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 3:02 pm
For a moment the woman infront of her looked confused, but to her credit she recovered quickly enough. Shalvesta's eyebrows furrowed at the look, but she smoothed her features when given the woman's name. She'd recognized her face, but the name had eluded her, so she was pleased that Ichil hadn't just assumed she knew it. "Alright - Ichil. My name is Shalvesta." She introduced, returning the gesture.
Together the two stepped to a table of drinks, and Shal blinked but accepted the offered glass with a quiet word of thanks. Did Ichil not want one? She would just assume this wasn't some 'I pour you a glass, you pour me one' motion - and would simply assume it was Ichil's way of assuring her she saw her as an equal. After all most noble's would scoff at serving drink or food to someone they saw as their lesser. And the motion touched Shalvesta - even if there was still a shard of suspicion settled in her mind.
Lifting the glass in thanks, the young woman followed her new companion back to where she had been sitting, thankfully away from her family, and chose an empty chair to sit at, taking a sip of the mystery drink in order to busy herself somehow. Once she'd swallowed it, Shalvesta gripped the glass in both hands and looked over it to Ichil as she lowered herself to sit as well. "I hadn't realized so many of the nobility had left the capital to visit our soldiers." She began, her tone somewhat quiet and uncertain as if still not used to starting a conversation in the first place. But she'd rather speak than sit, awkward and quiet.
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 4:25 pm
Ichil easily sat beside her new companion and appraised the room. Nobody seemed to have noticed her taking the young woman with her, or else nobody really cared. Either one worked. Otherwise they might have had to leave the tent to talk. With talk of a winning war, though, everyone was quite occupied.
"Well, I'm not sure how many are here to visit the soldiers and how many are showing their faces to save their reputations," she said, gesturing out with her drink in hand. She smiled at Shalvesta and shrugged. "My father is a soldier. He called for us shortly after the battle was won. I'm proud of him for that, but I don't much like these gatherings. All gold and wine, and no common soldiers to be seen." They would all be outside drinking, shouting, singing; anywhere but here among the stuffy upper-crust, probably with a pretty lady or two. She smiled despite herself and took a sip.
"I'm afraid to say I don't think we've met before, Shalvesta. I... don't even think I've heard your name. Who is your family?" There was no malice in her tone. She really and truly regretted not having met the girl before. Shalvesta seemed like a person she could make a friend of, the way she moved through the crowds. Maybe they could avoid all of the grand balls together.
Scarlett Arbuckle Yaaay, that makes me happy. 8D Shalvesta is so friggin' cute!
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Posted: Sun May 11, 2014 5:54 pm
Shalvesta couldn't help but to gasp, very quietly, at Ichil's frank words, but the expression that stole over her face after her brief surprise was one of admiration. "They seem to be celebrating in their own way, outside their tents - I saw as I came here. I don't think they are missing out." Shalvesta responded with a soft smile. She wanted to think the best of the nobility, ideally, but she had lived among them long enough to know that the troubles of those beneath them simply wasn't a concern.
When Ichil divulged that her father was a soldier, Shalvesta nodded, taking in the information. Many of the nobility were soldiers, but in name only - serving in their youth and then controlling the pieces from afar, in Oba, beside the king. That he had been here on the field meant he was a man of some great respect, although it didn't give a clue as to his actual rank. And if he was here it was made it likely that he had rubbed elbows with Shalvesta's husband - and that intrigued her.
Seeing that Ichil had given Shalvesta this clue, the fellow prentice was far from offended when the gentle question was posed. Ichil didn't ask it snoodily like so many others would have - she seemed legitimately curious, and that made the more commonly dressed girl smile, setting her glass down on the table. "No, we haven't met - though we've been to some parties in common I believe, where I've seen you. My husband is -- ...was Lord Mash'al." Normally, at the reference of her husband, she would have ducked her eyes and seemed saddened. But Ichil had been so forthright with her that it felt wrong to deceive her. So instead she said this and then took a sip from her drink, her hand fiddling uncomfortably with the rope tied around her middle.
The name would no doubt be recognized, since many of the older families knew one another, and his engagement to a commoner had been quite the gossip among the nobility when it happened almost 8 years ago. As a man he had been a soldier - not a footsoldier but not a leader either, well known for his dedication to the Gods and training as a priest. He had both been simultaneously respected and invited to many a party to make prayers to the gods for his hosts, and laughed at for his almost overwhelming devotion to them.grasshopper pie Gosh they're hitting it off as friends already! XD
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 11:19 am
Ichil sighed in a remotely put-off way.
"Just once I'd like to be a part of a real, proper party. Not all of this finery. Real music and dancing, and no worries about familial relations." Her mouth was crushed to one side, and she shook her head. "Of course, if I were to be found doing that I may just be disowned, so..."
With a little shrug, she listened to the rest of what Shalvesta had to say. It was odd to her that they hadn't ever spoken if they had attended the same parties. She never forgot a face. The explanation came in the form of a marriage, and suddenly it all made sense. Shalvesta had been a commoner not all that long ago, and the poor thing had been put under the care of Lord Mash'al. Distaste crossed Ichil's expression. He had been a well-respected man, certainly, even if his manner was something of a joke amongst the other nobles. Her curious observations had let her to an entirely different conclusion. His love for the gods seemed to have supplanted his love for others, and she had seen him once treating a servant in a wholly inappropriate manner. She had not been fond of the man, and neither had her father who worked with him on the battlefield. Still, she also knew that Lord Mash'al had died or else been taken prisoner during the battle, and that was no time to let personal dissatisfaction override propriety. For all she knew, the lord may have been a wonderful husband.
"I'm very sorry for your loss," was all she gave, taking a bit of an awkward sip of her drink. She hoped the conversation wouldn't end with him.
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Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 1:43 pm
For a brief moment, as Ichil talked longingly of joining a real party, Shalvesta thought mutinously of the soldiers around their fires, the singing and clapping and joviality that came with drink and the flush of success. It did truly seem like it would be fun to join in. But if a noblewoman approached, how long before the mood was killed and the soldiers quieted in shame, feeling their fun was improper infront of a lady? The further risk was that in the glow of post-battle, approaching the soldiers dressed like a commoner held the risk of becoming a part of the festivities.
While it was nice to enjoy the sounds of their fun, Shalvesta, unlike Ichil, was intimidated by the idea of joining in. So she looked at Ichil uncertainly, but eventually gave her shoulders a shrug, before continuing on to answer about her title.
The effect was a surprise, but despite the fact Ichil gave her condolences Shalvesta noticed the grimace that passed over her face and felt a wash of relief. This wasn't someone who had bought into his holiness - at the very least the grimace could mean she, like many a noble, had often rolled her eyes at her husband's antics, and felt sorry for anyone forced to marry him. But Shalvesta didn't think that was the case - a bit of a secret laughingstock or not, her husband had been reasonably good looking, and marrying him had raised her to a new class. In the future, she would have the luck of possibly remarrying a noble - and her future children would be nobles. She should by all accounts be lucky.
At least that's how everyone saw it. To Shalvesta, if she didn't find him out here in Tendaji, then one day he would no doubt come crawling back to society, seen as a martyr, and she'd be stuck with him forever. Better to find him out here in the wilderness, where he was wounded and hiding, or a prisoner, and convince the barbarians out here to end her suffering for good.
"...Thank you. ... I'm sure he's happy enough, he is with the Gods now." The words themselves were usual, and would be seen as normal enough if she'd said them with a mourning or quietly optimistic air. But instead Shalvesta sounded disinterested, and her slight exaggeration of the word 'gods' showed a certain distaste for the topic. As if realizing her frank tone, Shalvesta flushed and took another sip of her drink, ducking her head and looking away from the woman across from her.
"M-maybe during the day, while the soldiers have their breaks, the ladies could offer morale and visit the soldiers?"
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Posted: Tue May 13, 2014 9:15 am
There was something odd in the way that Shalvesta accepted her condolences. She was being proper by all accounts, but something in her tone bespoke some other meaning. Perhaps a marriage into nobility was not all it was cracked up to be. Maybe Lord Mash'al had been as unsavory a character as Ichil had decided, no matter how unfair her observations might have been. People were rarely what they seemed to be, especially when it came to the upper class.
With the gods indeed. If it was true that her husband was dead then he was certainly happy. He must be, finally at the feet of those he fawned over. If the gods existed at all, of course. It was Shalvesta's comment upon the "ladies" that caused Ichil a moment of pause.
"You mean... us?" she asked cautiously, then gestured between the two of them, "You and I?"
She might have voiced her suspicions about common-class celebrations, but she had certainly never expected anything to come of it. There wasn't a noblewoman in this room who would join in such a charade. Then again, Shalvesta had not been born a noblewoman.
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 1:49 am
As forward as her words on her husband had been, Shalvesta was still incredibly relieved that Ichil went along with the change of subject. The young woman didn't want to spend more time talking about her late husband than she had to, especially when she was trying to strike up a friendship with Ichil. However, Shalvesta blinked and seemed confused at Ichil's apparent horror at the idea, tilting her head in confusion. "And the other ladies, perhaps. If... it is a matter of safety I'm sure a lord could escort us."
Was it a strange suggestion? After a moment, when Shalvesta seemed to realize she had said something out of turn, she ducked her head, actually bowing to Ichil, her trembling hands knotting into the cloth of her tunic, closing her eyes tightly. "F-forgive me, my-- I-Ichil, I believe I've misunderstood." She must have insulted the young woman - gotten too comfortable and embarrassed herself further. She'd thought life free from her mother and in-laws would mean she could finally say what she wanted, but maybe being quiet and letting them talk was really the best option, if she bungled basic conversation so badly.
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 12:21 pm
Ichil's brow furrowed and her head tilted far right. Well, now she was just confused.
"Wh... what? You didn't say... I mean, anything that wasn't..." This Shalvesta was an interesting girl. Either she had been involved with nobility too long already or not long enough. She seemed skittish in speaking amongst them, even to Ichil herself, the girl known for spouting her opinions on a whim. "What I mean to say is, I was merely surprised. I don't think anyone else would have offered."
Looking around the room, it would be hard to imagine any of these ladies traveling further into the fairgrounds, getting their pretty slippers wet and muddy for the sake of their soldiers. Sure, these men had advanced the war upon Tendaji, but they were still commoners. Certainly nobody believed that they should actually have to deal with them personally.
"I don't imagine anyone will want to come with us, either. We can ask, of course, but it may just garner some stern looks." Ichil shook her head and smiled. "As for you and I, however, I see no problem with it. A handful of proper ladies may ruin our fun, after all." It took her a moment to realize how inappropriate that had sounded. "The dancing, I mean. Chatting. Good clean fun, I'm not... I'm not like that." No matter who tried to say she was.
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 1:11 pm
Shalvesta kept her eyes focused on her lap as Ichil spoke, feeling horribly ashamed. Eventually though, as Ichil assured her she hadn't spoken out of turn, the woman peeked back up at her, biting her lip uncertainly, but nodding quietly at Ichil's observations about the other ladies.
Ichil was right - Shalvesta should know by now that despite being married to high ranking soldiers, the actual footmen were of little consequence. Numbers to be tallied, little more. She felt foolish for forgetting. Taking a deep breath, she sat upright again and forced herself to focus her eyes back on the other lady, trying to get over her lingering embarrassment. "I'd be glad to avoid more stern looks." She joked with a small, hopeful smile.
As Ichil continued, Shalvesta blinked. So Ichil really would come too? The idea of visiting the soldiers at night terrified her, but ... surely they'd remember their honor during the day, and two women walking together would be 'safe', right? Especially if she brought her sword with her. She may not know how to use it, but the soldiers wouldn't know that, right?
When Ichil spoke of fun, Shalvesta blinked again and gazed at her curiously, then broke into a surprised smile when she hurried to elaborate on her words. "O-oh, of course - I didn't think..." She cleared her throat and laughed softly, shaking her head. Ichil may be rebellious in some ways, but joining a soldier in his tent would truly be a scandal. Not that Shalvesta would judge Ichil for it, but the risk far exceeded the rewards in her opinion.
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