[center][h1][sup]Sisters on [color=thistle]The Road[/color][/sup][/h1]
[sup][@Yankee] & [@Haruharara] Collab[/sup][/center]
[hider=Prologue][color=forestgreen]“We were supposed to have the cars packed hours ago people, let’s go - let’s go!”[/color] A black haired youth who seemed to just be reaching adulthood shouted just outside the Lapseus estate. The front of their property held a large stone fountain, healthy maintained grass and hedges, and a large driveway that led to the private road that led to the estate. There were a number of maids and servants frantically taking luggage to the three blood red cars parked on this driveway, filling the trunks and storage space to the brim with metal suitcases and large rucksacks.

[color=Thistle]“Vaatiii~ don’t stress about it so much. While I’m sure being late would create a poor impression, there’s no way that their views of me could get any worse ‘eh?”[/color] The long-haired Lapseus twin faintly smiled at the young raven-haired servant. She stood a few tens of feet away from the servant boy, her voice weakly projecting out at him - and shakily stepping out the front door and down a couple of stone steps to the ground below. 

[color=forestgreen]“Eh, alright, though I would like to leave today so it’ll be hours rather than days of tardiness.”[/color] Vati’s words seemed pleadful, his eyes peeled from the small stark haired girl and back toward the route of people packing the vehicles. These men and women’s livelihood was serving the Lapseus family after all and while their history wasn’t the best, this new generation of maids and butlers should be grateful that Melodia and Rhythmia were as kind as they were. 

[color=Thistle]“Very well, but don’t work them too hard. Or perhaps you should, I won’t be around to harass them for a few days. That reminds me~ where’s my sister?”[/color] Melodia raised a finger to tap her chin lightly, her crimson sights danced around the front property of their estate not seeing anyone that quite looked like her. She then turned herself, the small black shoes smoothly sliding on the polished stone below and clacking down as she made her way back up the steps and inside the large - white and red painted mansion. 

[color=Thistle]“Sist- uck- ugh-“[/color] Melodia coughed out as she tried to project her voice once again, damned deteriorating body and it’s weakness.

[color=ABABAE][b]“Here,”[/b][/color] a small voice replied from just inside the doorway. Soon enough the other twin Lord of House Lapseus, Rhythmia appeared. She had one duffle bag slung over her shoulder as she trotted down the steps to meet her sister. In the short-haired twin’s hand was the summons that bade them to Harrow’s Tower. She skimmed the paper the same way she’d done multiple times before since they’d received it. After a moment her eyes slid upwards, peering over the document at the assembled people running about. Without a word she handed the summons over her other shoulder to a man who’d stepped out after her, carrying a massive, sleek black case in each hand. To the man’s credit, easily caught the parchment between his teeth and managed to tuck it into his breast pocket.

[color=F0E68C]“Running behind, Vati?”[/color] the man chuckled, hefting the large luggage over to the middle car and shoving one into the trunk, threatening to squash the other items already inside. The maids nearby nearly shrieked at the action and hurried to fit it in properly.

[color=forestgreen]“Wha- Sir Huston! I should have been more on top of them, my apologies!”[/color] The young Vati quickly spat out before running into the estate to grab more luggage and sprinting even quicker out and back towards the cars.

Huston laughed and, now with a free arm, the larger man bowed with a flourish to the Lady Melodia, before taking care to tuck the other case into the floor of the backseat of the car. 

[color=F0E68C]“Good morning, Lady Melodia. I wish I could go with you both just to see the look on those mageborn’s faces when --”[/color]

He was interrupted by Rhythmia patting him on the back in thanks for carrying her luggage. He smiled at the woman and moved away so she could toss her bag into the back.

[color=ABABAE][b]“You need to take care of things here while we’re gone, Huston,”[/b][/color] she said softly, and Huston - their estate’s chief of security - nodded in understanding. 

Huston slapped Vati on the shoulder on his way back toward the home,[color=F0E68C] “Keep ‘em safe, son.”[/color] He said and went about his business.

Rhythmia raised a brow at the two guardsmen before shaking her head in quiet amusement. She waited by the door to the car, offering her flesh hand to her sister Melodia to help her in.

[color=thistle]“Thank you, Hunkston. And Rhy, are you sure you’re okay with leaving behind the Guard Captain?”[/color] Melodia quietly spoke as she reached out and clasped her sister’s hand.

[color=forestgreen]“Do you not believe I alone am capable of protecting you and your sister, Lady Melodia?”[/color] Vati huffed out as he slammed a final heavy chest into the trunk of the middle car, the silver-red crest of their lord’s house slapped right at its center.

[color=Thistle]“I mean, probably not~!”[/color] Melodia hissed out as she and Rhythmia approached their car. Wind passing out in chuckles beneath her lips as she laughed at mocked at her bodyguard’s prowess.

[color=forestgreen]“I am so offended m’lady!”[/color] Vati whined, slamming both hands into his thighs and widening his sights pathetically at the pair.

[color=Thistle]“It’s not even —— eh, though, with age comes experience. And in turn with experience, you gain wisdom. And since Hunkston is an old geezer like me and Rhy, so that wisdom will definitely be more useful in debates with the southern pigs.”[/color] Melodia’s lecture happily sung out from her lips, raising at their corners and twisting into a sinister grin. Her head canting from left to right as she tapped the tips of her toes against the ground below.  

Rhythmia huffed out an amused puff of air at the thought of Huston providing any “wisdom.” Still, she let her sister and Vati go about their banter as usual before she briefly chimed in.

[color=ABABAE][b]“Can’t take everyone,”[/b][/color] she said simply, shrugging one of her shoulders. There were things in the estate that needed to be protected, either for sentimental value or… not. So yes, she was more than happy to leave Huston, a trusted person, behind. She had faith in Vati and knew Melodia did too even if she playfully pretended not to.

After most everything was situated, Rhythmia surveyed the gathered people and vehicles yet again. She locked her eyes on the dark haired guard and eventually too on the man at the wheel.

[color=ABABAE][b]“Driver?”[/b][/color]

The man snapped to attention, the grey and red cap atop his head being adjusted by his right white-gloved hand before nodding to the two. “Ready when you are, m’ladies.” His posture fixed itself in its seat as he reached for the ignition key turning it to start the long black vehicle’s engine. Humming to life, the group would quickly make their way into the back seat.[/hider]

[color=thistle]“Always so serious Rhy, you’ll never find a proper suitor with that attitude. Not that we need one.”[/color] Melodia’s sung out to her sister, eyes squinting at her as she daringly jested.

[color=forestgreen]“Lady Rhythmia, if you wish to ignore our saintly leader - I will follow suit.”[/color] Vati chimed in. It really did seem like the boy took after the woman he guarded more than he himself would believe, almost like siblings.

Once again Rhythmia merely shrugged at them both. She met Melodia’s eyes and though her face was a blank slate, her sister would be able to read the amusement in them. Well, the one, anyway. The artificial eye was always shimmering, but never with any emotion. There were days when Rhythmia would rise to meet her sister’s provocations, but today wasn’t one of them. The short haired Lapseus wasn’t one to get nervous, but still she found herself clenching and unclenching her fists as they prepared to leave.

Rhythmia climbed into the car and settled herself in. She seemed to be in a rush but really, she was just hoping to get the whole event over with as quickly as possible. As she raised her arms to cross them over her chest, he noticed a slight tear in the stitched skin sleeve she’d chosen to wear. ‘Didn’t want to unsettle the mages,’ that was expressed to her and so she deemed it appropriate to conceal at least part of her prosthesis. She scooted closer to the others and peered at them.

[color=ABABAE][b]“Mel,”[/b][/color] she said and held her hand out with the torn “sleeve.” Should she repair it before they left, or leave it off? It wasn’t out of the question that Melodia would have some kind of kit with her, what with the mountain of things packed.

Melodia sat between Vati and Rhythmia, she enjoyed the claustrophobia, or perhaps just the warmth of being between two others. Not that the back seat was right or anything, the two small girls barely took up any room in the spacious car - plenty of leg room for Vati. She also knew that the two with her enjoyed window seats, especially her sister who was extending her sleeve out to her with that bright red doe eye.

[color=Thistle]“Can’t have that.”[/color] She uttered quietly between the two, reaching down past her skirt to her feet and into a small satchel that was placed carefully in front of her. Her medical equipment, which held sutures of many sorts - threads is surgical quality - and oh so many needles. Melodia plucked one such pre-threaded needle from the brown leather bag, pulling it out and twisting some stray fiber around her free hand while extending it towards her sister’s sleeve. 

With careful precision she danced the metallic took in and out of the fleshy fabric, cross-stitching the sleeve and mending it back together as she pulled the weave right. The artificial skin now had white exes along it’s torn side, but the glossy and rather pristine fiber could be seen as a beautiful fashion statement or something - that’s what Melodia thought to herself.

[color=Thistle]“If anyone makes a comment, we’ll string them up and bleed them dry. But I think you should be fine now.”[/color] Melodia chimed to her sister, snapping her sights shut and beaming a smile of consideration towards her.

Rhythmia nodded at the comment. She knew that Melodia was a tease and loved exaggerating, but more often than not she said exactly what she meant - and she probably would string up anyone who so much as looked at her (or any of their entourage most likely) wrong. She was a good sister, or so Rhythmia thought. She smiled back at Melodia, a small grateful curve of her mouth. 

Now that everything seemed to be ready, she leaned over and tapped on the driver’s headrest. When he looked into the rearview mirror to meet her eyes, Rhythmia made a spinning gesture with her finger to signal him to get the cars moving. If they’d forgotten anything the entire procession would stop at their command and even turn around, but she hoped that wouldn’t be the case. The driver in turn took this cue to honk his horn to signal the convoy to get a move on and head southbound down the road that the grand Lapseus Estate sat located upon. The property was a jewel amongst the rest of Gohethia: grassy green fields, hedges shaped into art, white stone carvings, as pretty as all noble estates should be - regardless of their location. Though the path out from their estate would soon transition from eden to a bright and busy city. Large industrial buildings, cityfolk passing through the foggy streets… and as the three car convoy passed some Lapsean citizens they waved happily as the car zipped on by.

[color=thistle]“Oh, how I enjoy the growing trust the people have in us. I know that the city commoners are much more appreciative than those on the outskirts of our region, but gosh, the positive attention is quite refreshing. Especially compared to the past!”[/color] Melodia’s words bubbled out happily as she glanced back to Rhythmia, the innocent smile of genuinity painted earnestly upon her face.

[color=ABABAE][b]“It’s nice,”[/b][/color] Rhythmia agreed, and she let her nodding head rest upon her chest as the convoy’s speed increased once outside of the denser city. It seemed like so long ago when some of these same citizens would crowd the walls of the estate, shouting obscenities at the family. [i]Well…[/i] she thought, letting her mind wander just a bit. It had been more than thirty years Melodia had risen to become the head of their house. People had been born and grown into full fledged adults since then, never knowing the at times brutal past of House Lapseus that ruled over them. 

The short-haired Lapseus chose not to dwell on that thought. It was always a strange feeling, thinking about how much things had changed while she and her sister had remained largely the same. Bodily improvements notwithstanding.

With her head still resting on her chest, back pressed against the leather seat of the car and arms folded, Rhythmia cracked an eye open to meet Melodia’s cheerful gaze.

[color=ABABAE][b]“D’you think,”[/b][/color] she started after a quick glance past Mel and Vati out of the car’s window, showing at the time a dismal clouded sky that the sun was desperately trying to break through, [color=ABABAE][b]“...we will have to stay long?”[/b][/color] The woman was already unhappy with the event in general, and though it was far from her first time at Harrow’s Tower, she didn’t want to spend anymore time there than needed.

Melodia hummed curiously and veered her own crimson sights along Rhythmia. A sense of confusion would very briefly overcome the long-haired sister’s expression, flashing her vision across the car and out the window herself. The sight was quite beautiful, and although the north had its issues - they were true to their country and its people. The revelation of why exactly Rhy would ask that question set itself in Melodia’s mind, and made her smile reassuringly at Rhythmia. The long-haired sister reached her small hand out and set it upon her sisters knee for a moment giving a light pat. 

[color=Thistle]“Of course we won’t be there long. We will listen to the annoying southern noble tirade, we will nod and think indecent thoughts, and then we will leave. If we’re lucky maybe one of older lords will die of a heart attack during the meeting - what was that one’s name? With the fancy mining regime in the southwest?”[/color] Melodia rambled on, allowing her views and emotions take the wheel with every articulation they crept from her child-sounding vocal chords. All the while, Vati kept his words to himself and watched out each window cautiously, that was his job.

Rhythmia’s face cracked into a smile and she closed her eyes again. If they’d been joking around in the comfort of their home, she may have even snorted a brief and rare laugh. Melodia’s brand of humor was quite something. Still, she never failed to get at Rhythmia, whether she was trying to cheer her or rile her up.

[color=ABABAE][b]”Hm… Ba-lare?”[/b][/color] she guessed. She left almost all political affairs to her sister, and although Melodia was in her light-hearted mood, the long haired sister was no fool and was only teasing. She’d know the names of all the “Southern scoundrels,” because how else would she know who to tear apart if she didn’t?

[color=ABABAE][b]“...Balaur,”[/b][/color] Rhythmia corrected herself after a moment. Yeah, that first one didn’t sound quite right. The smile was still resting on her face and she relaxed just a little, talking with Mel.

Melodia’s hands raised up quickly from her lap at the comical revelation and let out a single childish chuckle, almost mocking the name. [color=Thistle]“Most of the southern houses are so forgettable! It’s not like they’re any use anyway. Maybe that Reason boy, but he still has a lot to prove to the north anyway. And in the end, we need to focus on ourselves first and foremost - nobody will be there when we fall.”[/color] Her tone took a darker turn towards the end of her statement, looking to Rhythmia rather seriously, almost glancing right through her.

[color=forestgreen]“You may want to reign in that volatility just a bit, m’lady. You will be voting on important subjects when you do - arrive. And the flippant attitude will not sit well with the southern powers.”[/color] Vati spoke rather bluntly, looking to Melodia with a look of disapproval eyebrows furrowed and all. The nerve of the boy, not only speaking to his master this way - but someone who has done so much!

Rhythmia took to nodding again - she couldn’t find any falsehoods in her sister’s words. Despite that they had dug themselves out of the hole their ancestors had dug for them, despite that they’d found a handful of others they trusted, despite that they’d managed to carve out a place for themselves… the only ones they could rely on were themselves. Rhythmia had come to truly feel that way over the years.

She looked up at Vati and raised a brow at his words. Any other servant would turn heads by addressing their Lord like that, and even the driver started to sweat a little, but Vati had quickly become a large part in her sister’s life - and as such, in Rhythmia’s - that it wasn’t as surprising as it should be. Rhythmia sighed, a small sound, and leaned her head against the window. No doubt the two seated beside her would launch into a mock argument. She was content to listen to their banter the entire trip...

...and that trip flew by rather quickly, most of the ride Melodia had snuggled into a warm blanket she’d retrieved from her luggage, napping the ride away. Rhythmia beside her fell into a shallow sleep. She’d wake up every now and then to make sure the rest of the car’s occupants were okay, then go back to dozing against the window - a testament to her trust in her sister’s bodyguard. The driver made only a single rest stop at a town that was somewhat halfway between Gohethia and their destination. Guards were stationed at every entrance and exit during that period. The journey was quite the long one, in actuality, even for the fancy automobile of the privileged northern nobility. The Lapseus sisters just slept the time away.

Eventually the convoy reached the notorious Harrow’s Tower. Vehicles screeched as they claimed their own parking quite some ways away from the rest of the carriages and horses of the other patrons. 

Rhythmia exited the car first, her eyes scanning the entire area before she ducked back down and nodded for the others to leave as well. She wasn’t frightened or even worried about an attack - to do such a thing here, now, would be monumentally stupid - but one could never be too careful. She retrieved her small duffled and looped the strap over her shoulder before hefting the two large cases easily out of the car. Once she stretched her flesh limbs a little, Rhythmia turned her attention to Melodia. It was no secret the sisters were getting on in years, and while Rhythmia’s prosthesis and general activity kept her upright, her sister had always been on the frail side - and lately it had been getting worse.

[color=ABABAE][b]“All right?”[/b][/color] she asked the other Lapseus gently.

Melodia turned to her sister as she carefully pulled herself out of the car, dainty little fingers gripping out for safety. [color=thistle]“Fine - fine - fine, have my manslave get my chair and carry it to the tower with us. Can’t have myself looking up at the prey, I mean, pretender!”[/color] She beamed a toothy smile at her sister.

Rhythmia returned her smile very briefly before peering over the top of the car and calling out in a deadpan voice: [color=ABABAE][b]“Manslave.”[/b][/color] 

[color=forestgreen]“You really have a complex about your size.”[/color] Vati chimed out as his green eyes rolling as he grabbed a wooden construct that was seemingly folded up, tucking it beneath his right arm rather easily. [color=forestgreen]“Off to butt heads with the blue bloods then?”[/color] Vati winked to the two sisters before looking off towards their destination.

Rhythmia gave Vati a curt nod, her irritation once again becoming evident if not in her face then in the line of her shoulders. She watched servants and guardsmen spill out from the other two cars, buzzing back and forth between vehicles to collect the sisters’ luggage (and some of their own). She’d tried to convince Hunkston - [i]Mel is really getting to me… [b]Huston[/b][/i] - that they’d be fine with the minimal amount, yet here they were. Though the other cars were for protection more than anything else, they still carried a great deal of suitcases, bags, and other such things.

Melodia smiled off once again to her sister while answering back to Vati. [color=Thistle]“Onward, to go rustle some feathers, maybe Reina and I will have a nice talk in private as well.”[/color] And with that, she started to trail off leading the way towards the entrance of the Keep. What would await them inside, they couldn’t yet say.