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Post by Elvander on Aug 22, 2019 17:27:12 GMT
Ari was off duty for the moment, and was enjoying a quiet moment in the courtyard. Destrian was busy, and so, Ari wandered around with Luna, her pet wolf. The young soldier wore well-worn leggings beneath a tan tunic with the Raevaryn symbol embroidered on the left breast pocket. Her long brown hair was swept back in a ponytail. Her large, dark brown eyes scoured the courtyard for anything of interest. Even when she was off duty, she was never really 'off duty'. She only wished another assignment would come her way. Granted, it would take her away from Destrian, but a break every now and then was a good thing, at least in her mind. She knew Destrian probably felt differently.
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Post by Val on Aug 22, 2019 17:50:42 GMT
Nadia had begun to grow restless following her admission of adultery to Yasmin. Of course, she hadn't ended things with Alister. In fact, they both had no intentions of stopping despite the guilt and frustration she dealt with every second of every day, because she truly believed that she loved him. She had nothing of note to occupy her mind each day, especially since the cold distance that had grown between her and the Queen. Yasmin had always been her purpose and now Nadia felt more empty than ever.
She paced the far end of the courtyard, every once in a while looking around in hopes that the King or even Talion, the one other person she considered a friend, might appear. But when she looked this time, her vibrant green eyes landed upon a woman about her age. A look that could only be described as disappointment crossed her face as she turned away and gazed up at the top of the wall that surrounded the courtyard longingly.
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Post by Elvander on Aug 22, 2019 18:05:45 GMT
Ari noticed the young girl and was hesitant to make contact. Ari had rarely gotten along with other girls, for whatever reason. But she was bored, and Luna took a sharp turn toward Nadia, clearly wanting some ear scratches. For all Luna's intimidating appearance, she could be quite friendly. As she got closer to the girl, following Luna, she recognized her as the queen's handmaiden. Rumors had been flying about her and the king. Ari wondered if they were true. "Good day," she greeted as she neared, wondering if she would be well received by the foreigner.
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Post by Val on Aug 22, 2019 19:09:08 GMT
Nadia turned only when she was spoken to and jumped in surprise when she came face to face with the wolf. She folded her arms in front of herself defensively and gazed back and forth between the Ari and Luna, contemplating pretending she couldn't understand the other girl. She'd gotten away with it before, but she had a feeling people knew enough about her now to call her bluff, "Hello," she replied rather apprehensively, reaching up to adjust the scarf that covered her dark hair.
"Is the beast friendly?" she questioned, though her attention seemed to be more trained on Ari herself. In reality, she had not interacted with many women in Raevaryn at all, intimidated by the cultural difference and what they would think of her.
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Post by Elvander on Aug 22, 2019 20:06:11 GMT
To be honest, Ari didn't think anything at all about Nadia's different culture. If anything, she was intrigued by it. Having been raised by gypsies, she was quite open to new ways of thinking. "She seems to like you," Ari confirmed, as Luna wagged her tail ever so slightly, looking up at Nadia hopefully. "You can pet her, I promise she won't harm you." Ari didn't want Nadia to think this was some sort of cruel trick. Ari might be an assassin, but she wasn't unhinged or unkind. "How are you enjoying the palace?" She inquired, wondering if the girl had adjusted yet, and if she happened to be lost right now. Shouldn't she be with the queen?
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Post by Val on Aug 23, 2019 19:37:32 GMT
Nadia reached out to stroke a delicate hand over the wolf's head, giving her ear a gentle scratch. She wondered briefly what it felt like to have another creature do your bidding. It felt uncomfortably familiar to her position as a handmaiden. At the mention of the palace, she looked up toward the imposing structure and gazed upon it with careful indifference. She could remember how excited she was the first time she'd laid eyes on it; but now, after spending day after day within those walls, she just wanted to get away, "It's beautiful," she replied rather vaguely, "Do you live here?" she asked, wondering how exactly this woman served the kingdom.
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Post by Elvander on Aug 24, 2019 20:58:48 GMT
"In the barracks. I'm a soldier," Ari supplied, wondering if Nadia had female fighters in her homeland. Luna gently licked Nadia's hand, giving her a stamp of approval, which was rare. Ari took it as a sign she should try to make friends. She loved Destrian, but he'd been the only person she'd talked to in weeks following the gypsy party gone wrong. And Ari wasn't necessarily the best at navigating emotions, but something felt off with Nadia. She could empathize just a little with how lost she must feel. After all, Ari was often traveling for work. "The barracks are a little quieter, if you can put up with the arrogant and lewd men." She chuckled, unable to picture Nadia in such a scenario. "How are you settling in?" she inquired, prying for some information, wondering if the handmaiden would open up.
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Post by Val on Sept 5, 2019 20:39:11 GMT
Nadia studied Ari with an almost jarring intensity, as though deciding how to act toward this new acquaintance. The handmaiden had unwittingly become good at deception. Really, it was just a survival tactic she'd picked up on over time that had gained some serious honing here in Raevaryn. She could act the dutiful slave and turn around in the next second to slap the king across his handsome face.
"Well enough. It isn't easy, as I'm sure you can imagine," she pointed out, seeming to relax as her arms fell to her sides. Female soldiers were, in fact, quite rare in her homeland. She didn't long to fight, but she did wonder what it felt like to be able to physically defend yourself. To have power, "And you put up with them? The arrogant and lewd men?" she questioned, her accent becoming heavier over the rather unfamiliar words.
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Post by Elvander on Sept 6, 2019 4:18:25 GMT
Ari listened for an opening in Nadia's response, an indication of anything that might be amiss. "I can imagine, actually. My position as a soldier holds a rather unique skill set. I am often sent away to attend to some of the king's more... unsavory business. You may know him well enough by now to imagine what that might mean," she mused, tilting her head to watch Nadia curiously, looking for a reaction that might indicate whether the rumors were true...
"And I don't put up with the men. I put them in their places." Ari grinned, scratching Luna behind her ears. "And even if I slipped up and got myself in a bad situation, my..." Ari struggled to find the right word for Destrian. Boyfriend sounded stupid, partner was not romantic enough, and suitor was far too fancy. "My lover would crush their skulls in his hands. He's a soldier too." Her green eyes gleamed in an almost dreamy way as she spoke of him. The image of him crushing someone's skull for her was actually quite romantic.
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Post by Val on Dec 29, 2019 20:32:44 GMT
Nadia pursed her lips together to stifle a smile at the mention of the king and his business. She did know him well enough- far too well, in fact. Her vibrant green eyes studied the way that Ari's face lit up as she spoke of her man. It made her heart swell longingly in her chest, for she wished she could speak of the man she loved in the same way. Distracted, her smile finally broke through, followed by a blush as she pulled her scarf across the lower half of her face, "I guess even the strongest of women like to feel protected," she mused, "I believe the king would crush skulls for his queen as well," she added, gaze trailing toward the castle.
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Post by Elvander on Dec 29, 2019 20:39:01 GMT
"Are they well?" Ari wondered, unsure if Nadia would reveal anything to a woman she had just met. She liked to think that she and this girl were getting along, much better than Ari got along with most people, but that didn't mean much in a world like this one. "The king and queen, I mean." Ari let her gaze drift towards the castle, "Is she finding it difficult to adjust to life here?"
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Post by Val on Dec 29, 2019 20:58:58 GMT
Nadia kept the scarf pulled across her face in an attempt to conceal the suspicion that crossed her face. Did Ari know more than she was letting on? "It's a bit difficult for her, as expected. But Yasmin is very strong. I think that the king and queen will be just fine," she added, though she herself was unconvinced of the statement, "I look forward to their wedding. Will you be in attendance?" she managed, attempting to feign excitement over the idea.
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Post by Elvander on Dec 29, 2019 21:33:49 GMT
Ari could sense Nadia was getting suspicious, and she decided it was best to be up front. “I will be in attendance, but in an official capacity rather than a personal one. This union has rocked the kingdom, and many are displeased. There will undoubtedly be some level of unrest the day of their wedding.” Ari explained, the thought thrilling. She’d love nothing more than to squash a small protest. “I’ll be honest with you, Nadia. I fear honesty will be lacking for you when you speak to others. Some people have been spreading rumours about you and the king. I don’t need to know if it’s true, I just want you to know. I’ve also heard rumours about you and Talion.” She archer an eyebrow, “It’s nothing to be ashamed of. But here, there are eyes and ears everywhere and even without proof or knowledge, people will talk and speculate.”
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Post by Val on Dec 29, 2019 22:05:08 GMT
Nadia froze for a long moment as she listened to what Ari had to say. Her first instinct was to beg for silence on the subject and to flee the situation, but there was a more malevolent side of Nadia beginning to churn beneath the surface. Her fear turned to indignation as she dropped the scarf from her face along with the illusion that was the timid handmaiden, "I will not confirm nor deny such allegations, out of respect for Alister," she boldly stated his name, perhaps confirming her suspicions, "People may say what they want, but the King and Queen shall be married and I shall remain the point of gossip. That's just the way the world works." As she spoke, she found that the shame she once felt in droves was beginning to wear off. She wasn't ashamed of who she was; she felt empowered.
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Post by Elvander on Dec 29, 2019 22:24:29 GMT
Ari smiled as Nadia dropped her sweet and shy act. She knew there was a reason she liked this girl, and here it was. “You’re right, it is how the world works. And it serves you to hold your head up, just like you are now. I don’t care who you’re sleeping with. I hope you will think of me as an ally going forward. I like you, handmaiden.”
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