princess — Roleplayer Guild

Stratya, Kalliope, Charlotte, Olivia, Kazumin, Drake,  Ariella & Roman

Part 2

Charlotte’s spine straightened. “That’s…” Her voice faltered. “That’s absolutely dreadful.”

Kazu listened on, idly sipping at his stein, mostly an excuse to keep busy as he processed what Stratya explained of the gruesome situation. He frowned, closing his eyes, sending out a silent prayer for this Daryn Fletcher. 

“Ooh, bu’ we c’n talk ‘bou’ tha’ anotherr tyme, aye?” Feeling her mood souring, the captain took another swig. The emptied pint thunked back to the table, “Y’ dinnae share ‘ow yerr da’e wen’, Lady Charrlo’e?” As she steered the conversation away, her gaze turned to the beautiful woman in her lap. Briefly, she admired her shoulder, her neck, and then gave a little, playful nip at Kalliope’s ear before pretending like she hadn’t, “I scarrecly go’ tae see ‘ow t’ rreset o’ t’ auction wen’.”

The playful nip sent a sharp flicker of heat through Kalliope that made her stomach clench–partly desire fueled by the mead, but mostly the guilt and sting of knowing her love was currently unclaimed by an entirely different and foreign Captain. Flirting was the best, safest distraction she had. She instinctively tilted her head, giving Stratya better access, and turned her face to pin the Captain with a hot, emerald gaze. "Stop that... or don't," she murmured, her voice a low, throaty purr, her breath smelling of strong ale. "I'm afraid I'm drunk enough to let you do things I can't explain to myself later. You're a hell of a tempting distraction, Captain.”

Charlotte initially had a stunned smile locked in place as color crept into her cheeks. “Oh—well. My.” she breathed under her breath, quickly averting her gaze toward her glass. “Regarding my date? Oh, well, I daresay it was…an eventful conversation.” She took a long sip to buy herself a moment to form her thoughts. “What matters most is that the charity will benefit greatly from everyone’s generosity.”

Liv gently took Lottie’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze. It went without saying that she was there for her. The intensity in her gaze confirmed it too. She let go and turned back to the group.

”Yes, the funds were generous. I’m so glad that Sorian is helping the needy. Most people aren’t aware of how much the poor are suffering.” 

Then the young Lady Vikena’s mind returned to what she’d seen transpire with Ariella moments ago; something she hadn’t quite found the chance to address. Luckily, Olivia had already been kind enough to comfort her in the meantime. Seeing an opening, Charlotte reached across the table to tap the girl’s hand gently, her voice dropping in volume. “None of us saw that,” she teased, “Here’s something you may not know about me: I become dreadfully clumsy the moment I delve too deeply into my thoughts. My mother would roll in her grave after all that finishing school if she saw the foolish things I still manage to do. Truly, it’s a miracle I haven’t worn half my drink down the front of my dress by now.” Her smile turned fond. “The only thing anyone is going to notice is how absolutely lovely you look tonight. ”

Cheeks flushed, Ari smiled as it reached her eyes  ” Thank you, Charlotte! You look stunning as you always do; it seems to come so naturally. The gods have certainly blessed you.” 

Olivia giggled at Lottie’s remarks. She had noticed a time or two the girl had been clumsy. Still, Livvy admired her sweetness toward Ariella and the joking. She looked down at her own drink and sipped it. The alcohol soothed her panic and anxiety, but she was careful not to drink too much.

The cowlicked blonde lifted his head from his stein and his musing, noticing a shift in the mood. Turning his gaze only to blink with wide eyes at seeing the soured Stratya getting tipsy and touchy with Kalliope. Hardly expecting such open affection, Kazu shifted slightly, averting his head, hearing mention of Charlotte’s charity date. 

His gaze shifted to Charlotte, unable to deny his curiosity. As he attempted to hear how this date went, he caught sight of Olivia from the corner of his eye and felt his body freeze. Unable to turn away as his face began heating up, the more he peered at Olive's face. 

Feeling the strange flush starting to overtake him, and in a burst of frenetic near panic, Kazu had jumped to his feet, hands smacking the table, causing steins to jump or justle.” We need food!” Blurted the blonde in overeager, heated fashion.” Er..yes, food! Surely we can’t drink merrily without food, now that we’re past the... talk of corpses, now’s fitting!” Nodding with his arms held out wide with a forced guffaw. As his laughter died, realizing what he had done, he sat down with a blank expression, burying his burning face in the stein, only thankful this covered his blush, murmuring his poor choice of seating with a silent curse.

Liv, quite used to Kazu’s sudden movements, laughed into her jug. She had not noticed him staring at her. Liv nudged his side playfully. ”I’m going to cut you off soon,” she teased and ruffled his hair playfully.

Kazu tried hiding his face with the stein, ruminating over the outburst, unsure of where or what it was about. Sounds of familiar snickering pulled his attention to see Olive giggling, and he had his hair ruffled at.” What? Pssshaw! It’d take 3 of those steins, Lady Ari, there is drinking to get this lad tipsy.” Pointing at his chest with newfound confidence, his off-hand used to shoo hers away with a playful light shove to the shoulder, only to remember and shift to appear as if dusting off her shoulder.” Er..saw something there..heh.” His awkward grin brightened, almost matching his red face. 

The sudden smack of Kazu’s hands against the table was deafeningly sharp to Kalliope’s hyper-vigilant mind. Her entire body locked; a flash of raw, adrenalized panic made her spine go rigid. Her hand, driven by pure instinct, shot down to the knife sheath strapped to her thigh. A fine tremor ran through her shoulder and forearm, barely visible but intensely felt. “Gods, Kazumin, was it?!” She snapped, forcing a sharp, laugh-like sound.  “You nearly made me shank the poor Captain here! Give a girl a warning next time, you bloody idiot!” She gave him a grin, trying to play it off as a joke. The sudden use of violence and the cutting joke were immediate defense mechanisms, but the adrenaline had brutally sliced through her drunken haze, leaving her suddenly cold, raw, and fiercely sobered. Her eyes, which had been sparkling emerald, went flat and distant, her gaze fixed on the crowded table but seeing none of it. The guilt of her confession and the failure of the distraction immediately flooded in. Her body was still in Stratya's lap, but her mind had retreated entirely.

Lottie’s eyes had immediately moved to the redhead with a steady glare, her brows furrowing. However, she did not yet move to speak, though a muscle in her jaw tightened.

Suddenly being snapped at had the red-faced blonde tense up with a small jerk, nearly knocking over his stein, but caught it in a scrambled haste.” A-aye, Kazumin’s the name..s-sorry about that, miss. Gu-guess some of that lovely song’s fire of yours lingered.” Rubbing at his head nervously, trying to think of proper apologies.” Didn’t mean to give anyone a..er fright there. I can be a bit too passionate about food sometimes.” Said through a winced smile, contemplating if he should add more, and opened his mouth when something grabbed his arm.

Kalliope's distant gaze finally snapped down, not meeting his eyes, but aiming just past him. Her voice was barely a whisper, flat and drained of energy, like the words were a massive physical burden. "It's... fine, just don't," she murmured, before her eyes immediately glazed over again. The brief interaction cost her a noticeable effort, and she slipped back into her mind.

The outburst and harshness of Kalliope’s reaction caused Olivia to stiffen. Her gaze narrowed and time seemed to slow. The overly startled reaction was a reminder that this woman likely had been through hell. However, any threat toward Kazumin ruffled her feathers. The way her hand had slid down to her side suggested there was either a weapon or improvised one. Olivia coldly turned to stare at Kalliope and said nothing–the look on her face was polite yet menacing. She pulled Kazumin to her side and stared her down pointedly. It was clear she was unafraid of toiling with the women.

Something about her reaction told Liv that she was not entirely sober. Still, her fists balled up under the table now and she tensed up. It was akin to a cat coiling before they struck. She cleared her throat loudly and pulled over the menus for them to look at together. 

A pulling motion to find himself pulled to Olive’s side, the initial act took him by surprise. Turning to Olivia, who was holding him to her side, on the surface, she appeared composed, but Kazu could tell she was in protective mode. He gave no resistance as he shifted himself comfortably behind the menu, thankful for its cover hiding his face, split between delighted amusement and shifty nervousness; relishing in her closeness even if it left him heated with embarrassment and something he couldn’t explain. Burning from a multitude of feelings, only food could soothe him at this time. 

Stratya had hardly the time to react to Kalliope’s initial response before a disruption shot through the evening. Herself, she was able to brush off a slam or such like that, but the one in her lap was not so inwardly calm. She felt the sudden tension within Kalliope’s body, felt and saw the motion of her arm, as though to draw. The sudden, drastic shift in her demeanor. Instinctively, subtly, the way she held Kalliope changed. From flirtation to security, she let the woman in her lap feel the strength in her body with a gentle, protective hold. A hand gently rubbed her back and shoulder.

As the Captain turned her gaze to Kazumine, to assess the source of yet another disruption to what had been looking like another promising evening, she instead found someone’s gaze attempting to challenge the poor woman who’d just had a defensive reflex. Without the luck to catch Olivia’s gaze in retort, back she came to Kalliope. The knight gently took her shoulder and leaned in, “arre you a’rrigh’?”

The touch was too much. The undeserved comfort was a lie. The sound. The sharp, explosive bang. Kalliope's mind screamed, pulling her instantly away from the tavern and back into the cold reality of her deepest trauma:

She was running, not fleeing, but running toward freedom. She was a teenager, giddy with foolish hope. The Shehezade was waiting in the small watchtower library near the barracks. They were going to slip away, finally escaping Hafiz's suffocating control and the pressure of fighting his siblings for a throne he didn't want. As her hand reached the heavy door, ready to twist the handle, the world became sound.

A deafening, catastrophic CRACK! that felt less like noise and more like a physical fist to the chest. The force threw her backward, slamming the air from her lungs. For a moment, the world was silent, ringing, and bright orange. She pulled herself up, scrambling back to the door, which now hung crookedly, smoke pouring from the splintered frame. Through the haze, the silence was broken only by the crackle of fire and the raw, visceral sound of her own scream. She pushed through the door and saw the room: ruined, burning, and Kahrem’s body–still, broken, unrecognizable in the devastation.

The memory slammed shut, leaving her heart pounding. Kalliope’s eyes, still flat and distant, swept over the table. She registered the glares instantly. Charlotte, the noblewoman, radiating moral disapproval. Olivia, the quiet strength, radiating cold challenge and protection for the boy. Kalliope saw the judgment, they saw the assassin beneath the skin, the monster who deserved no comfort.

Her jaw tightened, a muscle jumping beneath the faint trace of her scar. For a bare second, the assassin re-emerged. She turned her head just enough to catch both Olivia’s and Charlotte's eyes, fixing them with a glare that was pure, frozen malice, stripped of any drunken humor or warmth. It wasn't a challenge for a fight; it was a demand for silence, a silent threat to mind their own damn business. ”I'll be fine. I didn't realize I was going to be judged so harshly for an involuntary reaction, tho.” She finally replied to Stratya, voice bitter as she downed the rest of her drink.

The Captain nodded softly, settling now for just holding the poor thing in her lap, “aye, t’ worrld shapes us in crruel ways, doan i’.”

A passively observing Drake finally spoke up, feeling the need to add something in fear of seeming distant or uninterested. ”Food actually sounds quite wonderful…does anyone know if this place has a cook or are we going to have to make a run to that one deli place down the road?” The man grinned at the thought of someone making a "sandwich run” for the group.

”Just pass along any wishes to me and I can foot the bill for some nourishment to come our way. You need only let me know, within reason, what you wish to eat.” Drake paused, giving room for anyone to interject and request any concessions.

”I’d love anything.” Liv set her menu down, while still eyeing Kalli out of the corner of her eye. She knew the food would be good and wasn’t going to be picky–her funds weren’t entirely her own, and she wanted more food in her system to drown out the alcohol.

Again, the Captain’s gaze would be there to try catch the little upstart, a gentle but firm warning beneath her calm demeanor. Lass had nerves, glaring at dangerous people like that.

A blonde cowlick bounced above the menu before a wide-eyed Kazu’s head sprang up from behind it.” Aye, you sure? Ya already got the round..” He piped up before having the menu dropped down by Olive, showing her eagerness to eat.” Well, seeing as ya offering, but I’ll be thinkin on a way to repay ya, that’s a promise!.” Nodding as he leaned forward, tapping his finger against the menu.” This fried haddock and chips..think we can ask for a plate of chips for the table to share? And some juicy sausages with cheese can’t do ya wrong!” He exclaimed with a lifting cheer of his stein. 

The lord had taken a pause to look at his sister — there was an air of distance with her, alluding that she may be thinking about something, or someone, else. He took the briefest of pauses to wave at her and ask her a simple question, in just a small enough hush during the bustle of ordering food that it wouldn’t cause a scene. ”You doing alright Ari?”

Once the food matter had been addressed, Drake turned his attention to Charlotte and raised his brow. ”Eventful conversation? Anything you wish to enlighten us further on or was it to the caliber of mister stalker?” Drake laughed.

”Gods, that sounds so unpleasant! I’m glad you’re okay,” Olivia addressed Stratya now. ”Can the Crown do anything about him stalking you? Maybe he can visit another town and stay there permanently?” Olivia relaxed as much as she could, between the raven stalking her and the tension at the table. With a delicate sigh, she glanced at the table and smiled softly at the others.

Thoughts of food coming soon should have been a comfort, yet the talks of this stalker left him uneasy. And if what Stratya said about hanging around corpses was true, the idea sent a shiver down his spine, forcing him to recall his alleyway encounter. He frowned, shaking his head.*  Ugh..just another twisted mystery of this town. Who knows how long they've been around, too…” Turning his gaze to Olivia, his hands tensing on the table wondering if he might have been there that night too..watching Percy and Violet, the possibility put an ill pit in his stomach.

Stratya shook her head and sighed and rolled her eyes, though not with an ill temper, “ack, sto’ ‘a’. I’m a big strrong lass wit’ plen’y o’ ‘ands a’ my command. I can take carre o’ m’self. Aah, bu’ wherre were we?” Stratya turned to Charlotte, “details, swee’earr’. I tol’ you ‘bou’ my stalker, now I ge’ a juicy storry.”

A fresh pint and a basket of familiar baked goods was set at the table, and the Captain drew a pleased breath, “ooh, excellen’ tymin’! Frresh brreads ‘n owt. A trradition, in my village, f’ frresh baked goods.” There were muffins and cookies, cinnamon rolls and shortbreads. Stratya grabbed a muffin, then the stein full of more mead.

The sweet aroma of cinnamon rolls and shortbread pulled his head up, made him start reaching out, but he paused partway. His stomach roiled a mixture of hunger and dread until he caught Stratya mentioning a festival.” Ooh, a traditional festival ya, say? If one thing I’ve learn is that if you want unique food, town festivals are the place to go.” He laughed, clapping his hands.” When’s the next festival? Might give it a visit sometime... er, assuming there is an open invitation.” Nodding with a returned grin, feeling the hungry urge once more though, saw Kalliope eying the bowl and waited to let her grab her piece before swiping two, giving one to Olivia before chomping down. 

The rich, sweet scent of cinnamon was a simple, grounding comfort. Kalliope used her last reserves of will to break her physical withdrawal. She reached out, snagging a cinnamon roll with slow, steady determination and took a bite, the sugar giving her a needed jolt. "Gods, Captain, that's better than mead," she murmured, her voice deliberately lighter as she tried to re-engage, lifting her head off Stratya’s shoulder with a brittle, almost-normal smile. It was a visible attempt to return to her persona.

Charlotte’s gaze darted between Stratya and Drake, “Um, well-” She began, uncertainly. She’d been raised better than to drag another’s name through the mud—least of all the son of Count Calbert Damien.

What would they even think of her if they knew it all? Olivia patted her back comfortingly. She didn’t know the details, but offered support instead.

Before she could get her thoughts together and finish her statement, a booming voice joined the fray.

“By the gods, such a gathering of beautiful faces. Never would I have thought to see so many of my friends in such a place.” Roman laughed louder than he needed to be. Kicking over a vacant stool to an empty spot on the table between Ariella and Stratya, “room for one more?” he framed it as a question but it clearly wasn’t, joining the others at the table.

His eyes flickered over those at the table, giving each a friendly smile. “Quite the gathering, indeed,” he said, observing for a moment the atmosphere at the table. Everyone seemed to be in a good enough mood; food seemed to be on everyone's mind and something about a stalker he'd heard earlier. Tilting his head with a curious look towards Charlotte and Drake, “Surprised to see you two here. A bit out of character, don't you think?” 

Drake chuckled softly, addressing the new friend who came to greet them. ”I suppose it is rather out of character. But everyone needs a change of pace every now and then. Please excuse me for a moment.” Drake stepped away for a flash as he intended to join the drinking festivities himself. 

Olivia waved to Roman. Memories of their brunch date swirled back into her mind. She deliberately didn’t look him in the eye and refocused her attention elsewhere. 

Charlotte offered Roman a gentle smile. “Roman, it’s lovely to see you. And I assure you, even I venture into taverns when the company is worth it.”

His gaze shifted to Ariella with a quick giggle. “I'm not surprised you're here, like the rest of these beauties... I am a bit surprised Callum isn't here, but I suppose he's spreading his own kind of chaos somewhere else.” He took another swig of ale and smiled again at the other three.

Ariella smiled as she attempted another swig from the mountain-sized stein. ” Hello, Roman” Ariella's cheeks flushed bright pink, clear as day that she had been enjoying the festivities.  ”I am too…” she said softly as if shared a sad secret. ”Isn’t this ale SO GREAT! She seemed to suddenly switch, addressing the table. She leaned back in her chair, nearly tipping back as she consumed the rest of the ale. A thin line of liquid fell down the side of her mouth as she took a gasp of air, wiping it away with the back of her hand. 

*hiccup*

Olivia looked at her and stifled a giggle. ”You okay, Ariella?” 

Ari nodded with a smile as she held in her breath. 

Stratya gave a soft laugh, tasting from the fresh pint she’d been given, herself. Was that the ale or the mead she was drinking? It seemed to Stratya like a lot of people in Sorian wouldn’t know the difference until they’ve tasted it and been told. They were very similar colors, it was difficult to tell at a glance, without one there next to the other. Whatever the case, Ariella was enjoying herself. It was good to see her like this. Though there wasn’t anything definite she could stick a pin in, there had been something about the young Lady, back in Pinebrook, that had cast doubt over the Knight’s perception of her.

The booming, too-loud greeting from the newcomer immediately made Kalliope flinch, the cinnamon roll forgotten near her lips. She forced out the next sentence, gesturing loosely toward Stratya. "Mind your manners. You've just insulted the Captain, who is clearly the most beautiful face here," she managed with a small, but tired grin at Roman.
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