[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/PLyfcLV.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/7CEeryv.png[/img][/center]
[color=lightgray][color=E77298]Time:[/color] 6pm
[color=E77298]Location:[/color] The Castle Dining Hall
[color=E77298]Interactions:[/color] [@Potter] Kira [@Lava Alckon] Farim [@Rodiak] Nahir [@Helo] Rohit
[color=E77298]Mentions:[/color] [@Tae] Kalliope [@Apex Sunburn] Sjandehk [@Oso] Cassius/Milo [@CitrusArms] Stratya
[color=E77298]Attire:[/color][url=i.imgur.com/DpgJnCV.jpeg]Dress[/url], [url=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mHzPrAOiRuw/maxresdefault.jpg]Hair[/url]
[/color]

[hr] [color=lightgray]Anastasia’s eyes lit up as Rohit raised his glass in perfect sync with hers, a laugh bubbling up from her lips like champagne. [color=E77298]“Oh Rohit, I knew you’d get me!”[/color] she chirped, leaning in with affection dancing openly across her face. [color=E77298]“And you’re so right. I love everything about the Alidasht. Like, for one?”[/color] Her tone shifted to conspiratorial delight, [color=E77298]“Sitting here with all of you is like eating candy with my eyeballs. It’s got me feeling a certain kind of way.”[/color]

She gave an exaggerated shimmy of her shoulders as if shaking off the excitement, then giggled and dramatically downed another glass of Gods-knew-what.

As Rohit had continued, she gasped. [color=E77298]“A party for the poor!”[/color] Anastasia repeated with rising excitement, practically bouncing in her seat. [color=E77298]“That’s brilliant! You made it sound like the kind of celebration I’d sneak into even if I weren’t invited.”[/color]

[color=904342]“A party for the poor....What a… lovely idea.”[/color] 

[color=E77298]"Right, Nahir!? For real!"[/color] Reaching out with a grin, she gave Rohit’s arm a playful tap with her fingertips.[color=E77298]“You're literally the smartest person I've met today. And I am absolutely stealing that idea—and if you don’t come help me host it, I swear I’ll pee on the floor right here and now.”[/color]

She gave a tiny mock-scowl, lips twitching as she tried (and failed) to keep a straight face. However she ended up smiling again nonetheless as she added more seriously. [color=E77298]“Publicity or not, if we make even one person feel special… then we’re doing something right.”[/color]

With a soft clink of glass, she raised hers once more in his honor, her voice full of warmth.
[color=E77298]“I want it to be the most fun day they’ve ever had!”[/color]

Then, from beside her came Farim’s familiar, soothing voice. [color=D2691E]“Your generosity knows no bounds, Princess. I do agree that it sounds like an enjoyable little adventure to give back to those that give the land and country so much.”[/color]

Her gaze flitted to him with a beaming smile, cheeks flushed with excitement and just a hint of intoxication.
[color=E77298]“Right, Farim? I can’t believe no one’s done it before. We have so many parties—boring ones at that—and we never bring the party over there!”[/color]

She gave a little sigh as if the absurdity of that fact weighed on her, then reached for another sip—and paused mid-motion as Kira’s silken voice slinked into her ears: [i][color=#4DD0E1]“...Say the word and you can receive whatever performance of your wish.”[/color][/i]

Anastasia froze. Her brows rose with delicious intrigue as she slowly turned her head toward Kira, an amused and thoroughly entertained smile spreading across her lips.

[color=E77298]“Oooh, my little vixen?”[/color] she purred, her voice dipping into a sultry velvet. She leaned in closer, the candlelight catching the mischief glittering in her eyes.[color=E77298]“You should be more careful saying such tantalizing things in a princess’s ear…”[/color] She let her voice drop even lower.[color=E77298]“And worse still… keeping me curious.”[/color]

Her gaze swept over Kira, slow and languid, lips parted just slightly as she tilted her head.
[color=E77298]“So tell me, Kira…”[/color] she whispered, lashes fluttering ever so subtly, [color=E77298]“what kind of performance would you want to give me?”[/color]

And then—[color=gold]“We do not give the poor illusions of grandeur... We give them order. Stability... Fear. And in return, they serve the empire. Not dance beneath its gates as if they were kings.”[/color]

Anastasia’s expression soured instantly. The flirtation evaporated from her eyes and she grimaced, her gaze sliding to the Grand Vizier with unmasked judgment.

[color=gold]“Do not mistake charity for policy. Nor applause for loyalty... But by all means… plan your feast. Let them twirl in borrowed joy. And when the food runs out… Let us see if they still appreciate it.”[/color]

She stared at him deadpan, her eyes slowly blinking as if struggling to comprehend whether she had actually heard him correctly… or if her drink had just cursed her with hallucinations.

The corner of her mouth twitched, and then—like a wine cork popping—she let out a single, incredulous laugh.
She leaned subtly toward Farim, her tone feathery and mock-hushed.

[color=E77298]“My Gods, your father sounds dreadfully boring.”[/color]

Then she turned toward Hafiz more directly, her head tilting just so, a glint of boldness shining behind her smile. [color=E77298]“Tell me, Grand Vizier,”[/color] she began sweetly, [color=E77298]“have you ever actually been invited to a party… or do you just stand outside of them brooding about how people are enjoying themselves too much?”[/color] Perhaps lucky enough for the princess, Hafiz's attention was hyper-focused on something across the room. 

Annoyed, he hadn't heard her, she followed his gaze to find Cassius had Milo St.Claire pinned against the wall. She rose up, immediately with furrowed brows, with concern for her friend, then her gaze shifted to the sight of Kalliope on the floor on top of that guy with the boat from the tavern. Captain Sjandehk. She nodded her appreciation of the sight, impressed that Kalliope was getting it on with a Captain. And even better, Kalliope went over to help Cassius. All seemed well in the world once again.

[i][color=gold]"This is why a bastard will never rise to match one born from dignified blood.” [/color][/i]
Anastasia's expression ran cold, and a slow blink followed, her gaze flickering toward the source of the comment, but she said nothing for now. [i]Not yet.[/i]

[color=E77298]"Good prevails once again."[/color] Anastasia mused under her breath as she sat back down and looked at Kira, who had started up talking again. She immediately gave two thumbs up as she beamed at her. [color=E77298] "Yeeessss Kiki. Let's bring all the cultures, all the foods, all the languages! Let's spoil them! And I can probably get my girl Captain Stratya to bake with me again."[/color] She clasped her hands together with a smile at the thought of her beloved Stratya. And at that moment, Farim seemed to love the idea too, and she returned the knuckle squeeze, grinning excitedly at him. 

Farim’s voice danced then beside her ear like a well-aged promise:[color=D2691E]"I am even willing to part with some coin in order to get this event … how you say … on its legs? On the one condition that I get to hear more of that beautiful cello performance from you, Anastasia.” [/color]

Anastasia turned to him with a raised brow, her grin curling wickedly at the edges. [color=E77298]“Yes, sir,”[/color] she cooed, eyes gleaming. [color=E77298]“You help me get this event on its legs and I’ll throw in a private performance just for you...”[/color]

For the briefest moment, she held his gaze like it was a dare—then her cheeks puffed full with stifled laughter. Leaning in closer, she dropped her voice to a whisper, barely keeping it together:
[color=E77298]“And then you can get me off my legs, if you know what I’m saying…”[/color]
She paused just long enough for tension to hang—[color=E77298]“[i]Open ‘em for business.[/i]”[/color]

That was it. The dam burst. Anastasia erupted into a fit of loud laughter that drew eyes from those nearby, her shoulders shaking as she doubled over slightly in her seat.[/color]