The chatbox has been hidden for this page. It will reopen upon refresh. To hide the CBox permanently, select "Permanently Toggle Cbox" in your profile User Settings.
This chatbox is hidden. To reopen, edit your User Settings.
After yesterday's events, and even as Achilleas' words rang through her head, it's too soon to speculate, Theodora hadn't been able to quell her urge to see her sister. To make sure that she was alright with everything that was going on. She wanted to know that she, her baby and her husband were all fine. She wanted to hear her sister's side of the story. Pia wouldn't lie to her, surely, and perhaps there was something ― anything ― that Theodora could do to help.
That wasn't the only reason, although it was the biggest part. Theodora hadn't been offered much time to clear her mind after yesterday, and what better way was there to distract herself than to focus on something else entirely? It was partly selfish, her decision to go see her sister, but it was also genuine and was birthed from care rather than a selfish need to get some space.
Her sister and her husband had been confined to Stephanos' chambers ― as if being under house arrest would help anyone at all. It seemed wrong in so many ways, especially now with the baby's arrival growing so near. Theodora couldn't even imagine what kind of emotions ― what kind of fears ― might be haunting her sister's, and her small family's mind. It was a terrible thing that had befallen them and Theodora (though it might have been wishful thinking) couldn't imagine the rumors to be true.
Because if they were... What would that mean for Stephanos? Her sister? The baby?
Walking down the hallway with one guard on each side of her, Theodora couldn't help the nervousness that threatened to climb its way to the surface. She had no reason to be, of course, but it felt strange still. It felt wrong. Looking up at them, they kept their gazes neutral and straight ahead, barely offering her as much as the occasional glance. It all felt very... Clinical.
Thankful the walk hadn't lasted too long, Theodora was eventually lead into the chambers where her sister would be waiting. Had they even announced Theodora's arrival? Was her sister cut entirely off, or did they still offer her the respect she deserved ― not just as a Queen, but also as a Lady of house Leventi?
The guards announced her presence then, and Theodora shot them a quick look of annoyance. This was silly. Stupid even. Holding back on the snark that laced her tongue, Theodora's attentions returned to the room, her brown eyes immediately finding the shape of her sister. "Olympia." She breathed, her gaze falling down to the very noticeable bump weighing on her sister's waist.
She truly was ready to burst.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
After yesterday's events, and even as Achilleas' words rang through her head, it's too soon to speculate, Theodora hadn't been able to quell her urge to see her sister. To make sure that she was alright with everything that was going on. She wanted to know that she, her baby and her husband were all fine. She wanted to hear her sister's side of the story. Pia wouldn't lie to her, surely, and perhaps there was something ― anything ― that Theodora could do to help.
That wasn't the only reason, although it was the biggest part. Theodora hadn't been offered much time to clear her mind after yesterday, and what better way was there to distract herself than to focus on something else entirely? It was partly selfish, her decision to go see her sister, but it was also genuine and was birthed from care rather than a selfish need to get some space.
Her sister and her husband had been confined to Stephanos' chambers ― as if being under house arrest would help anyone at all. It seemed wrong in so many ways, especially now with the baby's arrival growing so near. Theodora couldn't even imagine what kind of emotions ― what kind of fears ― might be haunting her sister's, and her small family's mind. It was a terrible thing that had befallen them and Theodora (though it might have been wishful thinking) couldn't imagine the rumors to be true.
Because if they were... What would that mean for Stephanos? Her sister? The baby?
Walking down the hallway with one guard on each side of her, Theodora couldn't help the nervousness that threatened to climb its way to the surface. She had no reason to be, of course, but it felt strange still. It felt wrong. Looking up at them, they kept their gazes neutral and straight ahead, barely offering her as much as the occasional glance. It all felt very... Clinical.
Thankful the walk hadn't lasted too long, Theodora was eventually lead into the chambers where her sister would be waiting. Had they even announced Theodora's arrival? Was her sister cut entirely off, or did they still offer her the respect she deserved ― not just as a Queen, but also as a Lady of house Leventi?
The guards announced her presence then, and Theodora shot them a quick look of annoyance. This was silly. Stupid even. Holding back on the snark that laced her tongue, Theodora's attentions returned to the room, her brown eyes immediately finding the shape of her sister. "Olympia." She breathed, her gaze falling down to the very noticeable bump weighing on her sister's waist.
She truly was ready to burst.
After yesterday's events, and even as Achilleas' words rang through her head, it's too soon to speculate, Theodora hadn't been able to quell her urge to see her sister. To make sure that she was alright with everything that was going on. She wanted to know that she, her baby and her husband were all fine. She wanted to hear her sister's side of the story. Pia wouldn't lie to her, surely, and perhaps there was something ― anything ― that Theodora could do to help.
That wasn't the only reason, although it was the biggest part. Theodora hadn't been offered much time to clear her mind after yesterday, and what better way was there to distract herself than to focus on something else entirely? It was partly selfish, her decision to go see her sister, but it was also genuine and was birthed from care rather than a selfish need to get some space.
Her sister and her husband had been confined to Stephanos' chambers ― as if being under house arrest would help anyone at all. It seemed wrong in so many ways, especially now with the baby's arrival growing so near. Theodora couldn't even imagine what kind of emotions ― what kind of fears ― might be haunting her sister's, and her small family's mind. It was a terrible thing that had befallen them and Theodora (though it might have been wishful thinking) couldn't imagine the rumors to be true.
Because if they were... What would that mean for Stephanos? Her sister? The baby?
Walking down the hallway with one guard on each side of her, Theodora couldn't help the nervousness that threatened to climb its way to the surface. She had no reason to be, of course, but it felt strange still. It felt wrong. Looking up at them, they kept their gazes neutral and straight ahead, barely offering her as much as the occasional glance. It all felt very... Clinical.
Thankful the walk hadn't lasted too long, Theodora was eventually lead into the chambers where her sister would be waiting. Had they even announced Theodora's arrival? Was her sister cut entirely off, or did they still offer her the respect she deserved ― not just as a Queen, but also as a Lady of house Leventi?
The guards announced her presence then, and Theodora shot them a quick look of annoyance. This was silly. Stupid even. Holding back on the snark that laced her tongue, Theodora's attentions returned to the room, her brown eyes immediately finding the shape of her sister. "Olympia." She breathed, her gaze falling down to the very noticeable bump weighing on her sister's waist.
She truly was ready to burst.
The past day had been a nightmare come to life, and after speaking with Stephanos, she found herself pacing more than was likely recommended by her midwives who had all been kept for her save for Desma. She had been afraid to eat or drink anything that had been brought for them except the watered down wine that her old nursemaid had smuggled in lest Irakles try to poison them, and every time the door opened her heart lept in fear that it was an assassin or guards sent to bring her to execution. It was no different when the door opened this time, and Pia clutched at her stomach protectively until the sight of her sister registered.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she moved to embrace her older sister as tightly as she could with the burden of the child between them. Selene had managed a visit and was now trying to find something that could be eaten without fear, and Stephanos had vanished into one of the other chambers with his own thoughts. The state of the room would answer most of Theodora's questions, the abandoned food and drink untouched and the shattered pottery still on the floor from where her husband had thrown it out of anger and fear, the state she was in with uncombed hair and the same chiton she'd worn since they had dragged her from her chambers.
"Theo, have you spoken to our parents? I sent a message to mother and heard nothing. No one will tell me anything."
Olympia released her sister as the door opened again, jolting back in panic until she saw it was another maid setting down food that she would refuse to touch. Shaking still as she brought her focus back to the older Leventi, the queen resumed her pacing, hands wrapped around herself once again as tears spilled down her cheeks. She would go absolutely mad if they were kept locked away like this. Perhaps that was Irakles plan after all, kill them of starvation and paranoia. Poison the food if they were foolish enough to eat.
"He's going to kill us, Theo, my baby and my husband and me. Our family has to free us, please say you'll ask them to help."
A horrible thought crossed her mind that had her freezing in place, staring over at Theo with suspicion now in her gaze. She was betrothed to Achilleas. She now stood to gain from Pia's own downfall. For if Irakles killed her, Theodora would one day be queen in her place. Setting her lips in a firm line, she moved to the other side of the bed to put space between them, looking for all the world like a frightened animal.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
The past day had been a nightmare come to life, and after speaking with Stephanos, she found herself pacing more than was likely recommended by her midwives who had all been kept for her save for Desma. She had been afraid to eat or drink anything that had been brought for them except the watered down wine that her old nursemaid had smuggled in lest Irakles try to poison them, and every time the door opened her heart lept in fear that it was an assassin or guards sent to bring her to execution. It was no different when the door opened this time, and Pia clutched at her stomach protectively until the sight of her sister registered.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she moved to embrace her older sister as tightly as she could with the burden of the child between them. Selene had managed a visit and was now trying to find something that could be eaten without fear, and Stephanos had vanished into one of the other chambers with his own thoughts. The state of the room would answer most of Theodora's questions, the abandoned food and drink untouched and the shattered pottery still on the floor from where her husband had thrown it out of anger and fear, the state she was in with uncombed hair and the same chiton she'd worn since they had dragged her from her chambers.
"Theo, have you spoken to our parents? I sent a message to mother and heard nothing. No one will tell me anything."
Olympia released her sister as the door opened again, jolting back in panic until she saw it was another maid setting down food that she would refuse to touch. Shaking still as she brought her focus back to the older Leventi, the queen resumed her pacing, hands wrapped around herself once again as tears spilled down her cheeks. She would go absolutely mad if they were kept locked away like this. Perhaps that was Irakles plan after all, kill them of starvation and paranoia. Poison the food if they were foolish enough to eat.
"He's going to kill us, Theo, my baby and my husband and me. Our family has to free us, please say you'll ask them to help."
A horrible thought crossed her mind that had her freezing in place, staring over at Theo with suspicion now in her gaze. She was betrothed to Achilleas. She now stood to gain from Pia's own downfall. For if Irakles killed her, Theodora would one day be queen in her place. Setting her lips in a firm line, she moved to the other side of the bed to put space between them, looking for all the world like a frightened animal.
The past day had been a nightmare come to life, and after speaking with Stephanos, she found herself pacing more than was likely recommended by her midwives who had all been kept for her save for Desma. She had been afraid to eat or drink anything that had been brought for them except the watered down wine that her old nursemaid had smuggled in lest Irakles try to poison them, and every time the door opened her heart lept in fear that it was an assassin or guards sent to bring her to execution. It was no different when the door opened this time, and Pia clutched at her stomach protectively until the sight of her sister registered.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she moved to embrace her older sister as tightly as she could with the burden of the child between them. Selene had managed a visit and was now trying to find something that could be eaten without fear, and Stephanos had vanished into one of the other chambers with his own thoughts. The state of the room would answer most of Theodora's questions, the abandoned food and drink untouched and the shattered pottery still on the floor from where her husband had thrown it out of anger and fear, the state she was in with uncombed hair and the same chiton she'd worn since they had dragged her from her chambers.
"Theo, have you spoken to our parents? I sent a message to mother and heard nothing. No one will tell me anything."
Olympia released her sister as the door opened again, jolting back in panic until she saw it was another maid setting down food that she would refuse to touch. Shaking still as she brought her focus back to the older Leventi, the queen resumed her pacing, hands wrapped around herself once again as tears spilled down her cheeks. She would go absolutely mad if they were kept locked away like this. Perhaps that was Irakles plan after all, kill them of starvation and paranoia. Poison the food if they were foolish enough to eat.
"He's going to kill us, Theo, my baby and my husband and me. Our family has to free us, please say you'll ask them to help."
A horrible thought crossed her mind that had her freezing in place, staring over at Theo with suspicion now in her gaze. She was betrothed to Achilleas. She now stood to gain from Pia's own downfall. For if Irakles killed her, Theodora would one day be queen in her place. Setting her lips in a firm line, she moved to the other side of the bed to put space between them, looking for all the world like a frightened animal.
Though her attention had laid on her sister at first and remained there until she felt her younger sister's arms around her, Theodora's eyes quickly swept across the room. It made her heart heavy to see it in such a state and it was a lot worse than she had dared imagine. She had hoped things would have been slightly less... Extreme, though it seemed the Gods had not heard her silent prayers.
A lump formed in her throat and it made speaking a difficult thing to accomplish. Still, Theodora did her best to push her own feelings and worries aside and sighed. "I fear I know as little as you do." Their parents had been... Busy, it seemed and Theodora hadn't seen much of them. Which was partly her own fault, of course, for having spent so little time at home between hearing about what had happened and coming here. "Though, Achilleas did tell me it's too soon to make any speculations." It was all she could offer in terms of comfort.
And it was nothing at all.
Theodora's eyes darted towards the door as it opened again, though could almost taste the tension that radiated from her sister. Another sweep over the room ― over the untouched plates of food spoke volumes. They were afraid of eating any food brought to them. Parting her lips to object to it, Theodora quickly found her voice silenced: Her sister had started pacing as tears spilled down her cheeks.
It was such a heart-wrenching sight.
At the words offered, Theodora was ready to jump in in agreement, promising she would do anything in her might to help, only to find herself falling silent as her sister drew away. As if fleeing. She supposed she couldn't blame her, given the state of things, but knowing that Olympia could even think such things of her made her sick to her stomach. Still, Theodora didn't move.
"Pia." She spoke calmly. "I will do everything in my power to help you." Whatever the cost. "And I'll ask the same of our parents, and even Achilleas if I have to." While being queen had always been something all of the Leventi daughters had sought out after at some points, Theodora wasn't prepared to walk over the corpse of her dead sister to get it. Nor would she ever be. The thought was nothing but appalling.
"Tell me what to do and it will be done." There was no time for comfort, though she desperately wanted to give it. No, right now Pia needed someone she could trust. Someone she could lean on, and that was exactly what Theo would give her. "I won't let them touch a hair on your head. I won't."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Though her attention had laid on her sister at first and remained there until she felt her younger sister's arms around her, Theodora's eyes quickly swept across the room. It made her heart heavy to see it in such a state and it was a lot worse than she had dared imagine. She had hoped things would have been slightly less... Extreme, though it seemed the Gods had not heard her silent prayers.
A lump formed in her throat and it made speaking a difficult thing to accomplish. Still, Theodora did her best to push her own feelings and worries aside and sighed. "I fear I know as little as you do." Their parents had been... Busy, it seemed and Theodora hadn't seen much of them. Which was partly her own fault, of course, for having spent so little time at home between hearing about what had happened and coming here. "Though, Achilleas did tell me it's too soon to make any speculations." It was all she could offer in terms of comfort.
And it was nothing at all.
Theodora's eyes darted towards the door as it opened again, though could almost taste the tension that radiated from her sister. Another sweep over the room ― over the untouched plates of food spoke volumes. They were afraid of eating any food brought to them. Parting her lips to object to it, Theodora quickly found her voice silenced: Her sister had started pacing as tears spilled down her cheeks.
It was such a heart-wrenching sight.
At the words offered, Theodora was ready to jump in in agreement, promising she would do anything in her might to help, only to find herself falling silent as her sister drew away. As if fleeing. She supposed she couldn't blame her, given the state of things, but knowing that Olympia could even think such things of her made her sick to her stomach. Still, Theodora didn't move.
"Pia." She spoke calmly. "I will do everything in my power to help you." Whatever the cost. "And I'll ask the same of our parents, and even Achilleas if I have to." While being queen had always been something all of the Leventi daughters had sought out after at some points, Theodora wasn't prepared to walk over the corpse of her dead sister to get it. Nor would she ever be. The thought was nothing but appalling.
"Tell me what to do and it will be done." There was no time for comfort, though she desperately wanted to give it. No, right now Pia needed someone she could trust. Someone she could lean on, and that was exactly what Theo would give her. "I won't let them touch a hair on your head. I won't."
Though her attention had laid on her sister at first and remained there until she felt her younger sister's arms around her, Theodora's eyes quickly swept across the room. It made her heart heavy to see it in such a state and it was a lot worse than she had dared imagine. She had hoped things would have been slightly less... Extreme, though it seemed the Gods had not heard her silent prayers.
A lump formed in her throat and it made speaking a difficult thing to accomplish. Still, Theodora did her best to push her own feelings and worries aside and sighed. "I fear I know as little as you do." Their parents had been... Busy, it seemed and Theodora hadn't seen much of them. Which was partly her own fault, of course, for having spent so little time at home between hearing about what had happened and coming here. "Though, Achilleas did tell me it's too soon to make any speculations." It was all she could offer in terms of comfort.
And it was nothing at all.
Theodora's eyes darted towards the door as it opened again, though could almost taste the tension that radiated from her sister. Another sweep over the room ― over the untouched plates of food spoke volumes. They were afraid of eating any food brought to them. Parting her lips to object to it, Theodora quickly found her voice silenced: Her sister had started pacing as tears spilled down her cheeks.
It was such a heart-wrenching sight.
At the words offered, Theodora was ready to jump in in agreement, promising she would do anything in her might to help, only to find herself falling silent as her sister drew away. As if fleeing. She supposed she couldn't blame her, given the state of things, but knowing that Olympia could even think such things of her made her sick to her stomach. Still, Theodora didn't move.
"Pia." She spoke calmly. "I will do everything in my power to help you." Whatever the cost. "And I'll ask the same of our parents, and even Achilleas if I have to." While being queen had always been something all of the Leventi daughters had sought out after at some points, Theodora wasn't prepared to walk over the corpse of her dead sister to get it. Nor would she ever be. The thought was nothing but appalling.
"Tell me what to do and it will be done." There was no time for comfort, though she desperately wanted to give it. No, right now Pia needed someone she could trust. Someone she could lean on, and that was exactly what Theo would give her. "I won't let them touch a hair on your head. I won't."
Olympia offered a hollow laugh that held no humor as her sister commented that it was too soon to speculate. They had both been at the party in their family home the night before the Circus event, and while Theo might not have been paying much attention, Pia had been burning with jealousy as she watched Stephanos and Emilios wooing two of the dancers, both in such a drunken state that there was little chance her now husband would have been able to rise early in the state he was in, much less carry out the activities he was accused of. And if he had killed his father and brother, why would he risk dying himself by turning his chariot aside and causing a horrible crash when the cultist had dragged her onto the track? Would he have reacted so viscerally by getting sick then and there if he had killed his own blood?
Staying on the far side of the bed, she leaned heavily against it as her son seemed to kick out at every angle in protest. She couldn’t tell if she was sick from hunger or worry, or perhaps some combination of both. Her sister on the other hand looked the picture of health, clearly enjoying her lot in life about to be married to the son of her sister's greatest enemy. Achilleas had been so kind to her in the garden, helping her walk and distracting her from her own anxieties, yet how could she trust him now when his father was trying to kill her.
”If Achilleas is loyal to his father then there is nothing he can do. It’s Irakles who wants us dead.” She spat out his name as if that itself was a poison, looking back to her sister with a bitter smile. ”But then you would become a princess. And take my place. How lucky for you.”
She exhaled a sharp breath, slowly lowering herself to the bed as a cramping pain moved through her abdomen. Practice, Desma has told her over and over again that these little pains meant nothing yet, it was just her body’s way of preparing. They were no less disconcerting though as she sunk to a seat, incapable of hiding any pain or feelings in the moment.
”If you truly want to help me, Stephanos’ innocence must be proven. Whatever the cost. He didn’t do this, Theo. The cult leader told him they were going to extinguish Zenon’s line. Him, and our child. Don’t believe Irakles lies.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Olympia offered a hollow laugh that held no humor as her sister commented that it was too soon to speculate. They had both been at the party in their family home the night before the Circus event, and while Theo might not have been paying much attention, Pia had been burning with jealousy as she watched Stephanos and Emilios wooing two of the dancers, both in such a drunken state that there was little chance her now husband would have been able to rise early in the state he was in, much less carry out the activities he was accused of. And if he had killed his father and brother, why would he risk dying himself by turning his chariot aside and causing a horrible crash when the cultist had dragged her onto the track? Would he have reacted so viscerally by getting sick then and there if he had killed his own blood?
Staying on the far side of the bed, she leaned heavily against it as her son seemed to kick out at every angle in protest. She couldn’t tell if she was sick from hunger or worry, or perhaps some combination of both. Her sister on the other hand looked the picture of health, clearly enjoying her lot in life about to be married to the son of her sister's greatest enemy. Achilleas had been so kind to her in the garden, helping her walk and distracting her from her own anxieties, yet how could she trust him now when his father was trying to kill her.
”If Achilleas is loyal to his father then there is nothing he can do. It’s Irakles who wants us dead.” She spat out his name as if that itself was a poison, looking back to her sister with a bitter smile. ”But then you would become a princess. And take my place. How lucky for you.”
She exhaled a sharp breath, slowly lowering herself to the bed as a cramping pain moved through her abdomen. Practice, Desma has told her over and over again that these little pains meant nothing yet, it was just her body’s way of preparing. They were no less disconcerting though as she sunk to a seat, incapable of hiding any pain or feelings in the moment.
”If you truly want to help me, Stephanos’ innocence must be proven. Whatever the cost. He didn’t do this, Theo. The cult leader told him they were going to extinguish Zenon’s line. Him, and our child. Don’t believe Irakles lies.”
Olympia offered a hollow laugh that held no humor as her sister commented that it was too soon to speculate. They had both been at the party in their family home the night before the Circus event, and while Theo might not have been paying much attention, Pia had been burning with jealousy as she watched Stephanos and Emilios wooing two of the dancers, both in such a drunken state that there was little chance her now husband would have been able to rise early in the state he was in, much less carry out the activities he was accused of. And if he had killed his father and brother, why would he risk dying himself by turning his chariot aside and causing a horrible crash when the cultist had dragged her onto the track? Would he have reacted so viscerally by getting sick then and there if he had killed his own blood?
Staying on the far side of the bed, she leaned heavily against it as her son seemed to kick out at every angle in protest. She couldn’t tell if she was sick from hunger or worry, or perhaps some combination of both. Her sister on the other hand looked the picture of health, clearly enjoying her lot in life about to be married to the son of her sister's greatest enemy. Achilleas had been so kind to her in the garden, helping her walk and distracting her from her own anxieties, yet how could she trust him now when his father was trying to kill her.
”If Achilleas is loyal to his father then there is nothing he can do. It’s Irakles who wants us dead.” She spat out his name as if that itself was a poison, looking back to her sister with a bitter smile. ”But then you would become a princess. And take my place. How lucky for you.”
She exhaled a sharp breath, slowly lowering herself to the bed as a cramping pain moved through her abdomen. Practice, Desma has told her over and over again that these little pains meant nothing yet, it was just her body’s way of preparing. They were no less disconcerting though as she sunk to a seat, incapable of hiding any pain or feelings in the moment.
”If you truly want to help me, Stephanos’ innocence must be proven. Whatever the cost. He didn’t do this, Theo. The cult leader told him they were going to extinguish Zenon’s line. Him, and our child. Don’t believe Irakles lies.”
Theodora had to admit, she hadn't considered where Achilleas loyalty would lie in all of this. She only knew where her loyalty stood, and where it would always remain. But if Stephanos was innocent, and Irakles had somehow schemed all of this up, surely, Achilleas could not stand by and simply watch? The thought made her sick, just the way her sister's smile did. Pressing her lips into a hard line, Theodora narrowed her eyes.
"If I thought you for a fool, Olympia, I might have been offended you think so little of me." She shook her head at the accusation laced between her sister's words. "At some point, ambition is simply not worth it, and I draw that line at family."
It was only when Olympia seemed to lower her guard enough to lower herself upon the bed that Theodora dared draw closer. She still kept a safe distance, mostly to quell whatever suspicion her sister seemed to carry. All she really wanted was to climb on top of that bed and comfort her.
Olympia's belief in her own husband was all Theodora needed. Olympia truly believed that Stephanos was innocent, and she spoke with such confidence. Olympia had a good head on her shoulders, and Theodora liked to believe that if anyone knew him, it would be Olympia. They were married, and seemed to be truly happy together. She trusted him, and Theodora trusted Olympia.
"I'll talk to mom and dad. I'll talk to Achilleas. I'll do―find out whatever I can." She stepped closer then, kneeling down by the edge of the bed and placing her hands against the bed, palms down. "But you need to tell me everything you know. Anything that could help." It felt more like trying grab at air. She had nothing to go on, other than the why. She needed to know the how, too.
"You need to eat something." She said with a sigh, her head lowering towards the bed. Had she known, she would have brought something with her, though, chances were, Olympia wouldn't have eaten that either.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Theodora had to admit, she hadn't considered where Achilleas loyalty would lie in all of this. She only knew where her loyalty stood, and where it would always remain. But if Stephanos was innocent, and Irakles had somehow schemed all of this up, surely, Achilleas could not stand by and simply watch? The thought made her sick, just the way her sister's smile did. Pressing her lips into a hard line, Theodora narrowed her eyes.
"If I thought you for a fool, Olympia, I might have been offended you think so little of me." She shook her head at the accusation laced between her sister's words. "At some point, ambition is simply not worth it, and I draw that line at family."
It was only when Olympia seemed to lower her guard enough to lower herself upon the bed that Theodora dared draw closer. She still kept a safe distance, mostly to quell whatever suspicion her sister seemed to carry. All she really wanted was to climb on top of that bed and comfort her.
Olympia's belief in her own husband was all Theodora needed. Olympia truly believed that Stephanos was innocent, and she spoke with such confidence. Olympia had a good head on her shoulders, and Theodora liked to believe that if anyone knew him, it would be Olympia. They were married, and seemed to be truly happy together. She trusted him, and Theodora trusted Olympia.
"I'll talk to mom and dad. I'll talk to Achilleas. I'll do―find out whatever I can." She stepped closer then, kneeling down by the edge of the bed and placing her hands against the bed, palms down. "But you need to tell me everything you know. Anything that could help." It felt more like trying grab at air. She had nothing to go on, other than the why. She needed to know the how, too.
"You need to eat something." She said with a sigh, her head lowering towards the bed. Had she known, she would have brought something with her, though, chances were, Olympia wouldn't have eaten that either.
Theodora had to admit, she hadn't considered where Achilleas loyalty would lie in all of this. She only knew where her loyalty stood, and where it would always remain. But if Stephanos was innocent, and Irakles had somehow schemed all of this up, surely, Achilleas could not stand by and simply watch? The thought made her sick, just the way her sister's smile did. Pressing her lips into a hard line, Theodora narrowed her eyes.
"If I thought you for a fool, Olympia, I might have been offended you think so little of me." She shook her head at the accusation laced between her sister's words. "At some point, ambition is simply not worth it, and I draw that line at family."
It was only when Olympia seemed to lower her guard enough to lower herself upon the bed that Theodora dared draw closer. She still kept a safe distance, mostly to quell whatever suspicion her sister seemed to carry. All she really wanted was to climb on top of that bed and comfort her.
Olympia's belief in her own husband was all Theodora needed. Olympia truly believed that Stephanos was innocent, and she spoke with such confidence. Olympia had a good head on her shoulders, and Theodora liked to believe that if anyone knew him, it would be Olympia. They were married, and seemed to be truly happy together. She trusted him, and Theodora trusted Olympia.
"I'll talk to mom and dad. I'll talk to Achilleas. I'll do―find out whatever I can." She stepped closer then, kneeling down by the edge of the bed and placing her hands against the bed, palms down. "But you need to tell me everything you know. Anything that could help." It felt more like trying grab at air. She had nothing to go on, other than the why. She needed to know the how, too.
"You need to eat something." She said with a sigh, her head lowering towards the bed. Had she known, she would have brought something with her, though, chances were, Olympia wouldn't have eaten that either.
In the adjacent room, he lay stretched out on a daybed, hands under his head, staring at the ceiling. He’d kicked off his sandals sometime yesterday. A slave had come in and picked up most of the devastation he’d managed to do to his rooms. Decorative vases and sculptures were missing now. Like Pia, he hadn’t touched food or drink since yesterday.
He had slept last night, though. Peacefully, even, which was a shock. That tended to happen, though, when he knew the outcome of something. Since Prince Irakles had won, since there was no one powerful enough to spring them from their prison, he felt little to no need to fight at all anymore.
Excepting his uncle’s presence this morning, which had put him back into full on rage, he’d lapsed back into this eerily calm state since. When Theodora came in, he showed no interest. As soon as he heard her voice, he sighed and continued staring off into space. She couldn’t help them.
He smiled while they discussed what their parents might be able to do, shaking his head to himself. It was endearing, the way his wife kept up hope. This was one of the qualities he loved about her. He just didn’t share the same optimism.
At his own name, however, he finally sat up and leaned over the daybed enough to catch sight of Pia on the other side of the room. She was on their bed, looking to be in slight pain - a common enough occurrence so close to term. It was Theodora’s insistence that she would do something, anything to help them, that finally drew him into the room.
He stood in the doorway, hands on either side of the doorframe, looking directly at his sister in law. Like Pia, he would have mistrusted her intentions intensely if he’d still cared enough about such things. His languid, almost lazy demeanor was one he couldn’t seem to shake. When she said that they needed to eat something, Stephanos smiled. How sweet.
“What are your parents going to do, Theodora?” he asked, keeping his voice friendly, his easy smile in place, like he used to do.
He moved further into the room, stopping at the bed with the two of them for a second before moving over to Pia and working his fingers against his wife’s shoulders. His eyes were on Theodora. The easy smile was there but there was a flat, lifelessness to his gaze. Very foreign for Stephanos.
“Achilleas won’t cross his father,” he said, cutting off that avenue. “He didn’t vote in the senate. He abstained. That means he’s not sure who to trust. Which means, he won’t risk you and everything else to help me.” The more he spoke, the more he wanted to drive home to both women that their predicament was permanent and hopeless. Usually the king was not mean in this way but he was growing suddenly tired of false hopes and false promises.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
In the adjacent room, he lay stretched out on a daybed, hands under his head, staring at the ceiling. He’d kicked off his sandals sometime yesterday. A slave had come in and picked up most of the devastation he’d managed to do to his rooms. Decorative vases and sculptures were missing now. Like Pia, he hadn’t touched food or drink since yesterday.
He had slept last night, though. Peacefully, even, which was a shock. That tended to happen, though, when he knew the outcome of something. Since Prince Irakles had won, since there was no one powerful enough to spring them from their prison, he felt little to no need to fight at all anymore.
Excepting his uncle’s presence this morning, which had put him back into full on rage, he’d lapsed back into this eerily calm state since. When Theodora came in, he showed no interest. As soon as he heard her voice, he sighed and continued staring off into space. She couldn’t help them.
He smiled while they discussed what their parents might be able to do, shaking his head to himself. It was endearing, the way his wife kept up hope. This was one of the qualities he loved about her. He just didn’t share the same optimism.
At his own name, however, he finally sat up and leaned over the daybed enough to catch sight of Pia on the other side of the room. She was on their bed, looking to be in slight pain - a common enough occurrence so close to term. It was Theodora’s insistence that she would do something, anything to help them, that finally drew him into the room.
He stood in the doorway, hands on either side of the doorframe, looking directly at his sister in law. Like Pia, he would have mistrusted her intentions intensely if he’d still cared enough about such things. His languid, almost lazy demeanor was one he couldn’t seem to shake. When she said that they needed to eat something, Stephanos smiled. How sweet.
“What are your parents going to do, Theodora?” he asked, keeping his voice friendly, his easy smile in place, like he used to do.
He moved further into the room, stopping at the bed with the two of them for a second before moving over to Pia and working his fingers against his wife’s shoulders. His eyes were on Theodora. The easy smile was there but there was a flat, lifelessness to his gaze. Very foreign for Stephanos.
“Achilleas won’t cross his father,” he said, cutting off that avenue. “He didn’t vote in the senate. He abstained. That means he’s not sure who to trust. Which means, he won’t risk you and everything else to help me.” The more he spoke, the more he wanted to drive home to both women that their predicament was permanent and hopeless. Usually the king was not mean in this way but he was growing suddenly tired of false hopes and false promises.
In the adjacent room, he lay stretched out on a daybed, hands under his head, staring at the ceiling. He’d kicked off his sandals sometime yesterday. A slave had come in and picked up most of the devastation he’d managed to do to his rooms. Decorative vases and sculptures were missing now. Like Pia, he hadn’t touched food or drink since yesterday.
He had slept last night, though. Peacefully, even, which was a shock. That tended to happen, though, when he knew the outcome of something. Since Prince Irakles had won, since there was no one powerful enough to spring them from their prison, he felt little to no need to fight at all anymore.
Excepting his uncle’s presence this morning, which had put him back into full on rage, he’d lapsed back into this eerily calm state since. When Theodora came in, he showed no interest. As soon as he heard her voice, he sighed and continued staring off into space. She couldn’t help them.
He smiled while they discussed what their parents might be able to do, shaking his head to himself. It was endearing, the way his wife kept up hope. This was one of the qualities he loved about her. He just didn’t share the same optimism.
At his own name, however, he finally sat up and leaned over the daybed enough to catch sight of Pia on the other side of the room. She was on their bed, looking to be in slight pain - a common enough occurrence so close to term. It was Theodora’s insistence that she would do something, anything to help them, that finally drew him into the room.
He stood in the doorway, hands on either side of the doorframe, looking directly at his sister in law. Like Pia, he would have mistrusted her intentions intensely if he’d still cared enough about such things. His languid, almost lazy demeanor was one he couldn’t seem to shake. When she said that they needed to eat something, Stephanos smiled. How sweet.
“What are your parents going to do, Theodora?” he asked, keeping his voice friendly, his easy smile in place, like he used to do.
He moved further into the room, stopping at the bed with the two of them for a second before moving over to Pia and working his fingers against his wife’s shoulders. His eyes were on Theodora. The easy smile was there but there was a flat, lifelessness to his gaze. Very foreign for Stephanos.
“Achilleas won’t cross his father,” he said, cutting off that avenue. “He didn’t vote in the senate. He abstained. That means he’s not sure who to trust. Which means, he won’t risk you and everything else to help me.” The more he spoke, the more he wanted to drive home to both women that their predicament was permanent and hopeless. Usually the king was not mean in this way but he was growing suddenly tired of false hopes and false promises.
Her sisters’ tone was meant to sting, but she scoffed as Theo asserted that family was not worth the price of ambition. If only her father-in-law felt the same, then Zenon would be alive, Zacharias would be the next king, and she could live in her blissful bubble with Stephanos. It was all she had wanted, to be his wife, the mother of his children. Princess of Taengea the highest rank she could have desired. Had it not been for the events of the Circus, she may not have achieved that dream, but now she had more than she’d wanted. Including a target on her back.
”Your new family seeks to destroy mine. So which will you choose? Why would it not be the side that looks to win.”
It bothered her, the insistence that she should eat something. Did her sister know the food was poisoned? Was she trying to encourage a swifter end that might be more merciful than starving to death?
The sound of her husband stirring caught her attention, and Pia turned to him as he lingered in the doorway, taking her eyes from her sister for a moment. He was doing about as well as she was, though it was clear they handled this stress differently. Stephanos was upsettingly calm, as if he had already peacefully come to terms with the idea of dying and crossing the river. For a moment she allowed herself to lean into his touch, closing her eyes until he gave yet another speech of hopelessness.
A flash of energy flew through her, and she reached for one of the dull knives that had been brought on the tray of food, before most of the other things had been swept away she’d secreted it beneath a pillow. Turning to face him, she tried to press the knife into his hands, eyes wild now as she turned the point to her chest, leaning into the pressure of the blade.
”Then kill me, Stephanos. If there is no point and we are simply waiting to die, how could you be so cruel to keep me like this? You made me promise not to use the poison. All for what? So we could linger in misery until Irakles decides it’s time for us to die?”
She wasn’t strong enough to force his hand, but her dark hazel eyes trapped his own as she leaned more heavily against it, the sting of the blade breaking skin barely caused her to flinch. If there was no hope, she would rather die on her own terms than live any extra time in fear.
”Do it. If you believe there is no hope. Kill me.”
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
Her sisters’ tone was meant to sting, but she scoffed as Theo asserted that family was not worth the price of ambition. If only her father-in-law felt the same, then Zenon would be alive, Zacharias would be the next king, and she could live in her blissful bubble with Stephanos. It was all she had wanted, to be his wife, the mother of his children. Princess of Taengea the highest rank she could have desired. Had it not been for the events of the Circus, she may not have achieved that dream, but now she had more than she’d wanted. Including a target on her back.
”Your new family seeks to destroy mine. So which will you choose? Why would it not be the side that looks to win.”
It bothered her, the insistence that she should eat something. Did her sister know the food was poisoned? Was she trying to encourage a swifter end that might be more merciful than starving to death?
The sound of her husband stirring caught her attention, and Pia turned to him as he lingered in the doorway, taking her eyes from her sister for a moment. He was doing about as well as she was, though it was clear they handled this stress differently. Stephanos was upsettingly calm, as if he had already peacefully come to terms with the idea of dying and crossing the river. For a moment she allowed herself to lean into his touch, closing her eyes until he gave yet another speech of hopelessness.
A flash of energy flew through her, and she reached for one of the dull knives that had been brought on the tray of food, before most of the other things had been swept away she’d secreted it beneath a pillow. Turning to face him, she tried to press the knife into his hands, eyes wild now as she turned the point to her chest, leaning into the pressure of the blade.
”Then kill me, Stephanos. If there is no point and we are simply waiting to die, how could you be so cruel to keep me like this? You made me promise not to use the poison. All for what? So we could linger in misery until Irakles decides it’s time for us to die?”
She wasn’t strong enough to force his hand, but her dark hazel eyes trapped his own as she leaned more heavily against it, the sting of the blade breaking skin barely caused her to flinch. If there was no hope, she would rather die on her own terms than live any extra time in fear.
”Do it. If you believe there is no hope. Kill me.”
Her sisters’ tone was meant to sting, but she scoffed as Theo asserted that family was not worth the price of ambition. If only her father-in-law felt the same, then Zenon would be alive, Zacharias would be the next king, and she could live in her blissful bubble with Stephanos. It was all she had wanted, to be his wife, the mother of his children. Princess of Taengea the highest rank she could have desired. Had it not been for the events of the Circus, she may not have achieved that dream, but now she had more than she’d wanted. Including a target on her back.
”Your new family seeks to destroy mine. So which will you choose? Why would it not be the side that looks to win.”
It bothered her, the insistence that she should eat something. Did her sister know the food was poisoned? Was she trying to encourage a swifter end that might be more merciful than starving to death?
The sound of her husband stirring caught her attention, and Pia turned to him as he lingered in the doorway, taking her eyes from her sister for a moment. He was doing about as well as she was, though it was clear they handled this stress differently. Stephanos was upsettingly calm, as if he had already peacefully come to terms with the idea of dying and crossing the river. For a moment she allowed herself to lean into his touch, closing her eyes until he gave yet another speech of hopelessness.
A flash of energy flew through her, and she reached for one of the dull knives that had been brought on the tray of food, before most of the other things had been swept away she’d secreted it beneath a pillow. Turning to face him, she tried to press the knife into his hands, eyes wild now as she turned the point to her chest, leaning into the pressure of the blade.
”Then kill me, Stephanos. If there is no point and we are simply waiting to die, how could you be so cruel to keep me like this? You made me promise not to use the poison. All for what? So we could linger in misery until Irakles decides it’s time for us to die?”
She wasn’t strong enough to force his hand, but her dark hazel eyes trapped his own as she leaned more heavily against it, the sting of the blade breaking skin barely caused her to flinch. If there was no hope, she would rather die on her own terms than live any extra time in fear.
”Do it. If you believe there is no hope. Kill me.”
"They're not my family." She argued. "You are." In this case, it could easily be argued that blood was thicker than water, and whose blood was thicker than her own sister's?
Theodora hadn't heard the King approach until his voice sounded from across the room. Turning to look at him over her shoulder, the older Leventi woman found herself at a loss of words. She knew there was little her parents could do to question the Senate, or even Irakles, but there had to be something else, right?
There had to be.
Lowering her gaze without a reply, Theodora looked at her sister once more. She couldn't bare to see her in such a state. And to see Stephanos having seemingly given up so completely...
Stephanos knew Achilleas better than she did. She knew that, and yet, whether it was stubbornness or naivety, Theodora refused to give up so easily. Though, before she could voice that, her sister grabbed for a knife and pressed it against her husband's hands. Instinctively, Theodora rose to her feet and lifted her hands. Her palms pressed outward, keeping herself from making any sudden movements. "Olympia!"
But then, one of the words Olympia had used seemed to resonate within Theodora's mind. Poison. He'd made her promise not to use it.
She wanted nothing more than to step between them and pull her sister away. She wanted nothing more than to hold her and promise her everything would eventually turn out just fine. But it was easy to understand, even through the fear she was feeling for her sister that this wasn't her place. No. This was an act of desperation and proving a point. It was not for Theodora to comfort her. It was for her husband. Suddenly, Theodora felt as if this was not something for her to see. An intimate moment she wasn't supposed to witness. It felt incredibly personal, almost to the point of making her uncomfortable. Still, she couldn't move. All she could do was stare at her sister then, eyes wide and pleading.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
"They're not my family." She argued. "You are." In this case, it could easily be argued that blood was thicker than water, and whose blood was thicker than her own sister's?
Theodora hadn't heard the King approach until his voice sounded from across the room. Turning to look at him over her shoulder, the older Leventi woman found herself at a loss of words. She knew there was little her parents could do to question the Senate, or even Irakles, but there had to be something else, right?
There had to be.
Lowering her gaze without a reply, Theodora looked at her sister once more. She couldn't bare to see her in such a state. And to see Stephanos having seemingly given up so completely...
Stephanos knew Achilleas better than she did. She knew that, and yet, whether it was stubbornness or naivety, Theodora refused to give up so easily. Though, before she could voice that, her sister grabbed for a knife and pressed it against her husband's hands. Instinctively, Theodora rose to her feet and lifted her hands. Her palms pressed outward, keeping herself from making any sudden movements. "Olympia!"
But then, one of the words Olympia had used seemed to resonate within Theodora's mind. Poison. He'd made her promise not to use it.
She wanted nothing more than to step between them and pull her sister away. She wanted nothing more than to hold her and promise her everything would eventually turn out just fine. But it was easy to understand, even through the fear she was feeling for her sister that this wasn't her place. No. This was an act of desperation and proving a point. It was not for Theodora to comfort her. It was for her husband. Suddenly, Theodora felt as if this was not something for her to see. An intimate moment she wasn't supposed to witness. It felt incredibly personal, almost to the point of making her uncomfortable. Still, she couldn't move. All she could do was stare at her sister then, eyes wide and pleading.
"They're not my family." She argued. "You are." In this case, it could easily be argued that blood was thicker than water, and whose blood was thicker than her own sister's?
Theodora hadn't heard the King approach until his voice sounded from across the room. Turning to look at him over her shoulder, the older Leventi woman found herself at a loss of words. She knew there was little her parents could do to question the Senate, or even Irakles, but there had to be something else, right?
There had to be.
Lowering her gaze without a reply, Theodora looked at her sister once more. She couldn't bare to see her in such a state. And to see Stephanos having seemingly given up so completely...
Stephanos knew Achilleas better than she did. She knew that, and yet, whether it was stubbornness or naivety, Theodora refused to give up so easily. Though, before she could voice that, her sister grabbed for a knife and pressed it against her husband's hands. Instinctively, Theodora rose to her feet and lifted her hands. Her palms pressed outward, keeping herself from making any sudden movements. "Olympia!"
But then, one of the words Olympia had used seemed to resonate within Theodora's mind. Poison. He'd made her promise not to use it.
She wanted nothing more than to step between them and pull her sister away. She wanted nothing more than to hold her and promise her everything would eventually turn out just fine. But it was easy to understand, even through the fear she was feeling for her sister that this wasn't her place. No. This was an act of desperation and proving a point. It was not for Theodora to comfort her. It was for her husband. Suddenly, Theodora felt as if this was not something for her to see. An intimate moment she wasn't supposed to witness. It felt incredibly personal, almost to the point of making her uncomfortable. Still, she couldn't move. All she could do was stare at her sister then, eyes wide and pleading.
His attention was on Theodora and the stubborn glint to her gaze. He was about to argue still further, to try and get them both to understand where he was coming from, and that going into this with their eyes wide open was probably for the best, when his wife moved. In an impressive display of what seemed like prior planning, coupled with admirable speed, she spirited a knife seemingly from nowhere and held it to her breast.
Her words and actions caused an immediate spike in his heartbeat and another spike in his temper. Did he believe she had the strength and the discipline to shove that knife through her chest and into her heart? No. It would hurt far, far too much to bother completing the task once she started. He had a fairly good hunch that she’d never been stabbed or seriously injured in her life - which was a good thing. It wasn’t as if he or any soldier that went off to war had the intention of being wounded, but what it did mean was that he had an intimate knowledge of what she was feeling, at least physically, at this very second and he didn’t believe she’d go through with it.
Still. She might get far enough to cut herself fairly deep and get a lot of blood everywhere. Not to mention ruin a perfectly lovely chest that he was particularly fond of.
When she snatched his hands and fumbled with them so that he was the one holding the blade, he gave her an uncharacteristically patient look. “Olympia…” He put one knee on the bed beside her and gently but firmly took the knife from her and tossed it away. It clattered to the floor and skidded a bit, coming to rest against the far wall. One arm came around her, holding her on the bed so that she wouldn’t be able to leap after the knife and try for a round two.
“My love, only cowards take the easy way out.” He pulled at the pins in her hair, letting it fall and then worked his fingers through it, sitting down behind her and hauling her backwards, half into his lap. Only once he had her securely there did he look to Theodora again. It had just occurred to him what Pia had said yesterday that he’d dismissed out of hand.
“If you want to be of use, sister, then send a message for us...and you must not tell anyone. Not Achilleas. Not Emilios, not your family. Only you.”
He then asked if she remembered seeing the crown prince of Colchis, Vangelis, and told her that Vangelis was staying somewhere in the city. “The Order house, I think.” After the fires, the Order House had been one of the first things rebuilt. The Order of Vasiliadon had seen to its own self first, needing a base of operations in order to help the rest of the city both grieve and rebuild. What it also was sometimes used for was a neutral place for foreign dignitaries to stay, if they wished to avoid royal activities. He suspected that Vangelis was staying there for that reason, since he certainly wasn’t staying in the palati.
“I’m sure he already knows that we’re under house arrest,” Stephanos said patiently, “But tell him I won’t make it to trial. Tell him where we are. When you leave, note the number of guards used to guard us…” He didn’t think Vangelis had ever been to his rooms before, since they hadn’t really been friends of any sort before his brother’s death. Whenever Vangelis had been here when King Zenon was reigning, he’d had his own apartments and mostly kept to himself. And he didn’t seem like the kind of person to go wandering about for no reason, though, these were only Stephanos’s assumptions.
“There,” he kissed into Pia’s hair. “Don’t threaten me again, my love.” If she threatened herself, he considered it an assault on his person as well.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
His attention was on Theodora and the stubborn glint to her gaze. He was about to argue still further, to try and get them both to understand where he was coming from, and that going into this with their eyes wide open was probably for the best, when his wife moved. In an impressive display of what seemed like prior planning, coupled with admirable speed, she spirited a knife seemingly from nowhere and held it to her breast.
Her words and actions caused an immediate spike in his heartbeat and another spike in his temper. Did he believe she had the strength and the discipline to shove that knife through her chest and into her heart? No. It would hurt far, far too much to bother completing the task once she started. He had a fairly good hunch that she’d never been stabbed or seriously injured in her life - which was a good thing. It wasn’t as if he or any soldier that went off to war had the intention of being wounded, but what it did mean was that he had an intimate knowledge of what she was feeling, at least physically, at this very second and he didn’t believe she’d go through with it.
Still. She might get far enough to cut herself fairly deep and get a lot of blood everywhere. Not to mention ruin a perfectly lovely chest that he was particularly fond of.
When she snatched his hands and fumbled with them so that he was the one holding the blade, he gave her an uncharacteristically patient look. “Olympia…” He put one knee on the bed beside her and gently but firmly took the knife from her and tossed it away. It clattered to the floor and skidded a bit, coming to rest against the far wall. One arm came around her, holding her on the bed so that she wouldn’t be able to leap after the knife and try for a round two.
“My love, only cowards take the easy way out.” He pulled at the pins in her hair, letting it fall and then worked his fingers through it, sitting down behind her and hauling her backwards, half into his lap. Only once he had her securely there did he look to Theodora again. It had just occurred to him what Pia had said yesterday that he’d dismissed out of hand.
“If you want to be of use, sister, then send a message for us...and you must not tell anyone. Not Achilleas. Not Emilios, not your family. Only you.”
He then asked if she remembered seeing the crown prince of Colchis, Vangelis, and told her that Vangelis was staying somewhere in the city. “The Order house, I think.” After the fires, the Order House had been one of the first things rebuilt. The Order of Vasiliadon had seen to its own self first, needing a base of operations in order to help the rest of the city both grieve and rebuild. What it also was sometimes used for was a neutral place for foreign dignitaries to stay, if they wished to avoid royal activities. He suspected that Vangelis was staying there for that reason, since he certainly wasn’t staying in the palati.
“I’m sure he already knows that we’re under house arrest,” Stephanos said patiently, “But tell him I won’t make it to trial. Tell him where we are. When you leave, note the number of guards used to guard us…” He didn’t think Vangelis had ever been to his rooms before, since they hadn’t really been friends of any sort before his brother’s death. Whenever Vangelis had been here when King Zenon was reigning, he’d had his own apartments and mostly kept to himself. And he didn’t seem like the kind of person to go wandering about for no reason, though, these were only Stephanos’s assumptions.
“There,” he kissed into Pia’s hair. “Don’t threaten me again, my love.” If she threatened herself, he considered it an assault on his person as well.
His attention was on Theodora and the stubborn glint to her gaze. He was about to argue still further, to try and get them both to understand where he was coming from, and that going into this with their eyes wide open was probably for the best, when his wife moved. In an impressive display of what seemed like prior planning, coupled with admirable speed, she spirited a knife seemingly from nowhere and held it to her breast.
Her words and actions caused an immediate spike in his heartbeat and another spike in his temper. Did he believe she had the strength and the discipline to shove that knife through her chest and into her heart? No. It would hurt far, far too much to bother completing the task once she started. He had a fairly good hunch that she’d never been stabbed or seriously injured in her life - which was a good thing. It wasn’t as if he or any soldier that went off to war had the intention of being wounded, but what it did mean was that he had an intimate knowledge of what she was feeling, at least physically, at this very second and he didn’t believe she’d go through with it.
Still. She might get far enough to cut herself fairly deep and get a lot of blood everywhere. Not to mention ruin a perfectly lovely chest that he was particularly fond of.
When she snatched his hands and fumbled with them so that he was the one holding the blade, he gave her an uncharacteristically patient look. “Olympia…” He put one knee on the bed beside her and gently but firmly took the knife from her and tossed it away. It clattered to the floor and skidded a bit, coming to rest against the far wall. One arm came around her, holding her on the bed so that she wouldn’t be able to leap after the knife and try for a round two.
“My love, only cowards take the easy way out.” He pulled at the pins in her hair, letting it fall and then worked his fingers through it, sitting down behind her and hauling her backwards, half into his lap. Only once he had her securely there did he look to Theodora again. It had just occurred to him what Pia had said yesterday that he’d dismissed out of hand.
“If you want to be of use, sister, then send a message for us...and you must not tell anyone. Not Achilleas. Not Emilios, not your family. Only you.”
He then asked if she remembered seeing the crown prince of Colchis, Vangelis, and told her that Vangelis was staying somewhere in the city. “The Order house, I think.” After the fires, the Order House had been one of the first things rebuilt. The Order of Vasiliadon had seen to its own self first, needing a base of operations in order to help the rest of the city both grieve and rebuild. What it also was sometimes used for was a neutral place for foreign dignitaries to stay, if they wished to avoid royal activities. He suspected that Vangelis was staying there for that reason, since he certainly wasn’t staying in the palati.
“I’m sure he already knows that we’re under house arrest,” Stephanos said patiently, “But tell him I won’t make it to trial. Tell him where we are. When you leave, note the number of guards used to guard us…” He didn’t think Vangelis had ever been to his rooms before, since they hadn’t really been friends of any sort before his brother’s death. Whenever Vangelis had been here when King Zenon was reigning, he’d had his own apartments and mostly kept to himself. And he didn’t seem like the kind of person to go wandering about for no reason, though, these were only Stephanos’s assumptions.
“There,” he kissed into Pia’s hair. “Don’t threaten me again, my love.” If she threatened herself, he considered it an assault on his person as well.
The panicked sound of her sister's voice was almost enough to draw Pia's attention away from her husband, but she kept her hazel eyes firmly on Stephanos' blue, daring him to make the move and end her life if he truly believed there was no hope of rescue or escape to be had. Tears that she had thought she'd run out of were pooling at the corners of her vision as he took the knife from her and promptly threw it away. She had to hold onto the thought that this meant he could see some way out of this, not that h wanted her and their child to suffer in agony of fear before their ultimate doom.
Letting him pull her back against him, shaking in his grip as the tears came out as wrenching sobs that had her doubling over as much as she could with the babe in her belly, Olympia laid her head against his shoulder and clung to his arms. Her black curls fell from the haphazard manner it had been pinned back in as he tugged them free, and she allowed her hair to fall as if a shield between herself and the world as she unleashed the fear and anxiety and worry, staining the material of her husband's tunic with her tears and clutching at him as if he was her only lifeline.
She managed to catch on to the instruction Stephanos was giving Theo, a surge of relief rolling through her as he told her where to find the crown prince of Colchis and what to tell him. It was clear that even if he didn't believe they could get help, that at least someone could try, or know the truth of the story that Irakles would no doubt try to spin. As Stephanos had said yesterday, she would no doubt appear to have died in childbirth and her husband would appear to take his own life in grief and guilt. Many would believe it, and there was no one to guarantee that even if she was entirely safe away from the palace that that same fate would not befall her, but at least it would be by the will of the gods, not the hand of a greedy prince.
"Theo, please."
Olympia's voice was small, watery still from the tears that continued to fall down her cheeks though with less alarming cries to accompany them now. Lifting her head slightly to peer from behind her curtain of hair, her expression was as close as she had ever gotten to begging. The kiss to the top of her head brought her to curl even more tightly into Stephanos' chest.
"For the baby, even in exile, at least he will have a chance to live."
She looked up at the man who held her, who had been in the past few weeks nothing but a good and caring husband, and even before that a friend and lover in spite of their fights. "I promise, my love."
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
The panicked sound of her sister's voice was almost enough to draw Pia's attention away from her husband, but she kept her hazel eyes firmly on Stephanos' blue, daring him to make the move and end her life if he truly believed there was no hope of rescue or escape to be had. Tears that she had thought she'd run out of were pooling at the corners of her vision as he took the knife from her and promptly threw it away. She had to hold onto the thought that this meant he could see some way out of this, not that h wanted her and their child to suffer in agony of fear before their ultimate doom.
Letting him pull her back against him, shaking in his grip as the tears came out as wrenching sobs that had her doubling over as much as she could with the babe in her belly, Olympia laid her head against his shoulder and clung to his arms. Her black curls fell from the haphazard manner it had been pinned back in as he tugged them free, and she allowed her hair to fall as if a shield between herself and the world as she unleashed the fear and anxiety and worry, staining the material of her husband's tunic with her tears and clutching at him as if he was her only lifeline.
She managed to catch on to the instruction Stephanos was giving Theo, a surge of relief rolling through her as he told her where to find the crown prince of Colchis and what to tell him. It was clear that even if he didn't believe they could get help, that at least someone could try, or know the truth of the story that Irakles would no doubt try to spin. As Stephanos had said yesterday, she would no doubt appear to have died in childbirth and her husband would appear to take his own life in grief and guilt. Many would believe it, and there was no one to guarantee that even if she was entirely safe away from the palace that that same fate would not befall her, but at least it would be by the will of the gods, not the hand of a greedy prince.
"Theo, please."
Olympia's voice was small, watery still from the tears that continued to fall down her cheeks though with less alarming cries to accompany them now. Lifting her head slightly to peer from behind her curtain of hair, her expression was as close as she had ever gotten to begging. The kiss to the top of her head brought her to curl even more tightly into Stephanos' chest.
"For the baby, even in exile, at least he will have a chance to live."
She looked up at the man who held her, who had been in the past few weeks nothing but a good and caring husband, and even before that a friend and lover in spite of their fights. "I promise, my love."
The panicked sound of her sister's voice was almost enough to draw Pia's attention away from her husband, but she kept her hazel eyes firmly on Stephanos' blue, daring him to make the move and end her life if he truly believed there was no hope of rescue or escape to be had. Tears that she had thought she'd run out of were pooling at the corners of her vision as he took the knife from her and promptly threw it away. She had to hold onto the thought that this meant he could see some way out of this, not that h wanted her and their child to suffer in agony of fear before their ultimate doom.
Letting him pull her back against him, shaking in his grip as the tears came out as wrenching sobs that had her doubling over as much as she could with the babe in her belly, Olympia laid her head against his shoulder and clung to his arms. Her black curls fell from the haphazard manner it had been pinned back in as he tugged them free, and she allowed her hair to fall as if a shield between herself and the world as she unleashed the fear and anxiety and worry, staining the material of her husband's tunic with her tears and clutching at him as if he was her only lifeline.
She managed to catch on to the instruction Stephanos was giving Theo, a surge of relief rolling through her as he told her where to find the crown prince of Colchis and what to tell him. It was clear that even if he didn't believe they could get help, that at least someone could try, or know the truth of the story that Irakles would no doubt try to spin. As Stephanos had said yesterday, she would no doubt appear to have died in childbirth and her husband would appear to take his own life in grief and guilt. Many would believe it, and there was no one to guarantee that even if she was entirely safe away from the palace that that same fate would not befall her, but at least it would be by the will of the gods, not the hand of a greedy prince.
"Theo, please."
Olympia's voice was small, watery still from the tears that continued to fall down her cheeks though with less alarming cries to accompany them now. Lifting her head slightly to peer from behind her curtain of hair, her expression was as close as she had ever gotten to begging. The kiss to the top of her head brought her to curl even more tightly into Stephanos' chest.
"For the baby, even in exile, at least he will have a chance to live."
She looked up at the man who held her, who had been in the past few weeks nothing but a good and caring husband, and even before that a friend and lover in spite of their fights. "I promise, my love."
The relief that washed over the brunette's features was rather obvious when Stephanos took the knife and threw it far out of her sister's reach. While she didn't think of him as the type who'd kill her sister in such a fashion, she couldn't help but to worry about their states of minds. It was obvious enough that they hadn't eaten, and her sister seemed to be in such a dark, deep pit of despair it was simply heart breaking to watch.
And to see Stephanos in such an eerily calm state of mind...
She didn't know what to expect from either of them at this point.
Then Stephanos words brought her back to the reason she had come here in the first place. Theodora's brows furrowed, before she nodded. "Only me." She repeated: It was an easy thing to agree to, after all. She wanted to help. This was how.
Vangalis ― the Crown Prince of Colchis. While Theodora had never spoken to the man, she had seen him before. He'd been by the Leventi estate a few times, if she remember correctly and though she had never taken a proper look at him, he would be easy enough to recognize.
What was asked of her was not a simple thing. It was dangerous and would have to be handled with some delicacy, though the older Leventi sister would stop at nothing to ensure that the message was delivered, and once it had been, Theodora would do everything else she possibly could to help the situation.
Theo's eyes flickered to her sister's when she spoke up. The desperation was clear, as was the begging. She did not need to beg. All she had to do was ask, and it would be done. "I promise."
"Be safe." Was all Theodora offered before she took a step back and turned around to face the doors. "All three of you." And with that, Theodora left the room, leaving the couple so clearly in love with each other to comfort the other.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
This character is currently a work in progress.
Check out their information page here.
Badges
Deleted
Deleted
The relief that washed over the brunette's features was rather obvious when Stephanos took the knife and threw it far out of her sister's reach. While she didn't think of him as the type who'd kill her sister in such a fashion, she couldn't help but to worry about their states of minds. It was obvious enough that they hadn't eaten, and her sister seemed to be in such a dark, deep pit of despair it was simply heart breaking to watch.
And to see Stephanos in such an eerily calm state of mind...
She didn't know what to expect from either of them at this point.
Then Stephanos words brought her back to the reason she had come here in the first place. Theodora's brows furrowed, before she nodded. "Only me." She repeated: It was an easy thing to agree to, after all. She wanted to help. This was how.
Vangalis ― the Crown Prince of Colchis. While Theodora had never spoken to the man, she had seen him before. He'd been by the Leventi estate a few times, if she remember correctly and though she had never taken a proper look at him, he would be easy enough to recognize.
What was asked of her was not a simple thing. It was dangerous and would have to be handled with some delicacy, though the older Leventi sister would stop at nothing to ensure that the message was delivered, and once it had been, Theodora would do everything else she possibly could to help the situation.
Theo's eyes flickered to her sister's when she spoke up. The desperation was clear, as was the begging. She did not need to beg. All she had to do was ask, and it would be done. "I promise."
"Be safe." Was all Theodora offered before she took a step back and turned around to face the doors. "All three of you." And with that, Theodora left the room, leaving the couple so clearly in love with each other to comfort the other.
The relief that washed over the brunette's features was rather obvious when Stephanos took the knife and threw it far out of her sister's reach. While she didn't think of him as the type who'd kill her sister in such a fashion, she couldn't help but to worry about their states of minds. It was obvious enough that they hadn't eaten, and her sister seemed to be in such a dark, deep pit of despair it was simply heart breaking to watch.
And to see Stephanos in such an eerily calm state of mind...
She didn't know what to expect from either of them at this point.
Then Stephanos words brought her back to the reason she had come here in the first place. Theodora's brows furrowed, before she nodded. "Only me." She repeated: It was an easy thing to agree to, after all. She wanted to help. This was how.
Vangalis ― the Crown Prince of Colchis. While Theodora had never spoken to the man, she had seen him before. He'd been by the Leventi estate a few times, if she remember correctly and though she had never taken a proper look at him, he would be easy enough to recognize.
What was asked of her was not a simple thing. It was dangerous and would have to be handled with some delicacy, though the older Leventi sister would stop at nothing to ensure that the message was delivered, and once it had been, Theodora would do everything else she possibly could to help the situation.
Theo's eyes flickered to her sister's when she spoke up. The desperation was clear, as was the begging. She did not need to beg. All she had to do was ask, and it would be done. "I promise."
"Be safe." Was all Theodora offered before she took a step back and turned around to face the doors. "All three of you." And with that, Theodora left the room, leaving the couple so clearly in love with each other to comfort the other.