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The early morning sun still hadn't risen too far into the sky just yet. Keikelius had been unable to sleep, his mind running constantly with thoughts of what work he needed to complete that day. He didn't just need to head down to the docks and make sure the ships were being loaded properly... he had other tasks on the agenda as well. Namely, the Stravos man was plotting. One could consider it treason, but he considered it to be playing the game. The game of ensuring that one of his children ended up on the throne.
While he was certain that Elias had his own plans to ensure that he was the one who would wear the crown, Keikelius had his own part to play in the matter. He and Circenia were to sew distrust and questions among their peers. Ladies and lords both needed to second guess the Senate meeting that had ended with Persephone next in line for the crown. With the queen out of the way, this was the perfect time to make his move. But he wouldn't do it on his own.
No, a man like Keikelius didn't sew unrest within a court by making himself a target. No, no. Keikelius would use others to do his dirty work. The work that he had no interest in completing himself when others could do it for him. In this instance, he was waiting on his daughter, Danae, to rise for the day. The man had had a thought of how he could ensure that the message got out, not just to the senate, but to the people of Athenia as a whole.
The Queen had bribed and lied her way onto the throne. She had broken tradition and decimated their laws just to ensure that she was left with the power in the end.
This would not do. She did not belong on the throne. At last not alone and now with some Taengean noble at her side, either. Sipping at a cup of fresh water and watching the sun rise slowly over the city, he debating the course of action he and his daughter would take in the coming hours.
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.
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The early morning sun still hadn't risen too far into the sky just yet. Keikelius had been unable to sleep, his mind running constantly with thoughts of what work he needed to complete that day. He didn't just need to head down to the docks and make sure the ships were being loaded properly... he had other tasks on the agenda as well. Namely, the Stravos man was plotting. One could consider it treason, but he considered it to be playing the game. The game of ensuring that one of his children ended up on the throne.
While he was certain that Elias had his own plans to ensure that he was the one who would wear the crown, Keikelius had his own part to play in the matter. He and Circenia were to sew distrust and questions among their peers. Ladies and lords both needed to second guess the Senate meeting that had ended with Persephone next in line for the crown. With the queen out of the way, this was the perfect time to make his move. But he wouldn't do it on his own.
No, a man like Keikelius didn't sew unrest within a court by making himself a target. No, no. Keikelius would use others to do his dirty work. The work that he had no interest in completing himself when others could do it for him. In this instance, he was waiting on his daughter, Danae, to rise for the day. The man had had a thought of how he could ensure that the message got out, not just to the senate, but to the people of Athenia as a whole.
The Queen had bribed and lied her way onto the throne. She had broken tradition and decimated their laws just to ensure that she was left with the power in the end.
This would not do. She did not belong on the throne. At last not alone and now with some Taengean noble at her side, either. Sipping at a cup of fresh water and watching the sun rise slowly over the city, he debating the course of action he and his daughter would take in the coming hours.
The early morning sun still hadn't risen too far into the sky just yet. Keikelius had been unable to sleep, his mind running constantly with thoughts of what work he needed to complete that day. He didn't just need to head down to the docks and make sure the ships were being loaded properly... he had other tasks on the agenda as well. Namely, the Stravos man was plotting. One could consider it treason, but he considered it to be playing the game. The game of ensuring that one of his children ended up on the throne.
While he was certain that Elias had his own plans to ensure that he was the one who would wear the crown, Keikelius had his own part to play in the matter. He and Circenia were to sew distrust and questions among their peers. Ladies and lords both needed to second guess the Senate meeting that had ended with Persephone next in line for the crown. With the queen out of the way, this was the perfect time to make his move. But he wouldn't do it on his own.
No, a man like Keikelius didn't sew unrest within a court by making himself a target. No, no. Keikelius would use others to do his dirty work. The work that he had no interest in completing himself when others could do it for him. In this instance, he was waiting on his daughter, Danae, to rise for the day. The man had had a thought of how he could ensure that the message got out, not just to the senate, but to the people of Athenia as a whole.
The Queen had bribed and lied her way onto the throne. She had broken tradition and decimated their laws just to ensure that she was left with the power in the end.
This would not do. She did not belong on the throne. At last not alone and now with some Taengean noble at her side, either. Sipping at a cup of fresh water and watching the sun rise slowly over the city, he debating the course of action he and his daughter would take in the coming hours.
Mornings were never easy on Danae. She just naturally was not the kind of person who could easily be parted from her bed and many days started with some poor servant trying to rouse the girl who was so desperate to cling to the last few moments of her dreams. However, nowadays, mornings were a battleground that Danae barely had the energy to deal with. After all, the night time was when her mind ran wild with possible threats of danger. A darkened corner held an assassin sent by Xanthos to finish the Stravos family once and for all. Every stick breaking was them attempting to sneak into the manor. A creak on the stairs was them making their way to her room and so on and forth. This never-ceasing anxiety coupled with the nightmares that came to her whenever she did finally manage to drift off made sleep a difficult, horrible time of fear and she suffered this in silence as she would never admit to weakness like this.
She was stronger than that.
However, this meant that whenever she could sleep peacefully, she was unwilling to give it up. That’s why she was slow to rise this morning, pushing away one of the few servants the family had left as they tried to convince her to get up. The sixteen-year-old was firmly intent on staying in bed that morning, having no reason to get up until the poor woman reminded the girl that her father was waiting for her. This was enough to pull her from her bed as she knew that the man had no meetings at this hour, so clearly he was wanting to see his daughter for whatever reason and after all, he had done for her over the years… she was not going to keep him wait.
So, pulling herself from the bed, she went about her morning routine in a daze. The older woman had disappeared, leaving Danae to do the mundane tasks that a few weeks ago she never would have dreamed of doing by herself such as styling her hair or fastening her chiton. Normally she, like all the other Stravos women, had a small army of servants and ladies-in-waiting to help ready them and truthfully, as far as she knew, Chara and Circenia still retained this part of the staff. However, Danae was more than happy to help her father extend the fortune that they had left by dismissing anyone who directly served her. If it helped them save a few coins in the wake of this uncertain future than it was more than worth it in her eyes.
Plus it also didn’t hurt she didn’t like any of them anyway. That might have also been a large factor in her decision, though she’d never admitted it.
It took her a bit longer than it used to though as she was not used to doing it herself. Her shortened hair was a bit of a disaster, having grown naturally tawny from the period of time where she refused to even leave her bed, so there were plenty of knots to work through. Soon enough though, it was smooth enough to tuck under the simple pale blue headdress her mother had ordered to hide what had happened to the girl. It was quickly paired with a matching chiton that was not as neatly pleated as it could have been but figuring that she had no plans to leave the manor that morning it would do. The servant reappeared for a moment to make a few adjustments, just in case, before sending Danae off in the direction of her father in the dining hall.
Danae hurried through the halls but slowed once she came in sight of the thrown open doors, unconsciously falling back into her recently formed habit of not being seen. Not being noticed. However, that was hard to do when she was the only other person in the room.
“Father,” She quietly greeted when he caught sight of her, still unused to using her voice again. Spying the food set out before them, bathed in the morning light from the nearby window coverings being thrown open, Danae quickly took a seat at her father’s righthand side; a spot normally reserved for Elias, but she was claiming it as her own this morning. Besides, after what her brother had done… Danae wasn’t all that concerned with following all the etiquette rules when it came to that disappointment they were forced to call the family heir.
It was such a shame truly, especially when she could definitely think of someone who was better suited for the title than he would ever be.
However, it was better to not think of such things if she wanted to avoid stoking her temper. Pushing these from her mind, Danae instead turned her attention to the meal before her, pulling fruits from the center of the table to put on her plate as she spoke again.
“You wanted to speak with me?” Danae asked hesitantly, unsure of what her father wanted to discuss. Her heart was hopeful that it had something to do with the family business, something that had been sorrowfully neglected on her part in recent days as she was only beginning to come out of her pitiful state following the Senate meeting. Plus it also didn’t hurt that not many people wanted to throw their lot in with the Stravos so meetings like the ones she was allowed to sit in on beforehand were now few and far between.
However, little did she know that what he wanted to discuss was a bit more impactful than just sitting in on the typical business deals she watched her father handle...
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.
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Mornings were never easy on Danae. She just naturally was not the kind of person who could easily be parted from her bed and many days started with some poor servant trying to rouse the girl who was so desperate to cling to the last few moments of her dreams. However, nowadays, mornings were a battleground that Danae barely had the energy to deal with. After all, the night time was when her mind ran wild with possible threats of danger. A darkened corner held an assassin sent by Xanthos to finish the Stravos family once and for all. Every stick breaking was them attempting to sneak into the manor. A creak on the stairs was them making their way to her room and so on and forth. This never-ceasing anxiety coupled with the nightmares that came to her whenever she did finally manage to drift off made sleep a difficult, horrible time of fear and she suffered this in silence as she would never admit to weakness like this.
She was stronger than that.
However, this meant that whenever she could sleep peacefully, she was unwilling to give it up. That’s why she was slow to rise this morning, pushing away one of the few servants the family had left as they tried to convince her to get up. The sixteen-year-old was firmly intent on staying in bed that morning, having no reason to get up until the poor woman reminded the girl that her father was waiting for her. This was enough to pull her from her bed as she knew that the man had no meetings at this hour, so clearly he was wanting to see his daughter for whatever reason and after all, he had done for her over the years… she was not going to keep him wait.
So, pulling herself from the bed, she went about her morning routine in a daze. The older woman had disappeared, leaving Danae to do the mundane tasks that a few weeks ago she never would have dreamed of doing by herself such as styling her hair or fastening her chiton. Normally she, like all the other Stravos women, had a small army of servants and ladies-in-waiting to help ready them and truthfully, as far as she knew, Chara and Circenia still retained this part of the staff. However, Danae was more than happy to help her father extend the fortune that they had left by dismissing anyone who directly served her. If it helped them save a few coins in the wake of this uncertain future than it was more than worth it in her eyes.
Plus it also didn’t hurt she didn’t like any of them anyway. That might have also been a large factor in her decision, though she’d never admitted it.
It took her a bit longer than it used to though as she was not used to doing it herself. Her shortened hair was a bit of a disaster, having grown naturally tawny from the period of time where she refused to even leave her bed, so there were plenty of knots to work through. Soon enough though, it was smooth enough to tuck under the simple pale blue headdress her mother had ordered to hide what had happened to the girl. It was quickly paired with a matching chiton that was not as neatly pleated as it could have been but figuring that she had no plans to leave the manor that morning it would do. The servant reappeared for a moment to make a few adjustments, just in case, before sending Danae off in the direction of her father in the dining hall.
Danae hurried through the halls but slowed once she came in sight of the thrown open doors, unconsciously falling back into her recently formed habit of not being seen. Not being noticed. However, that was hard to do when she was the only other person in the room.
“Father,” She quietly greeted when he caught sight of her, still unused to using her voice again. Spying the food set out before them, bathed in the morning light from the nearby window coverings being thrown open, Danae quickly took a seat at her father’s righthand side; a spot normally reserved for Elias, but she was claiming it as her own this morning. Besides, after what her brother had done… Danae wasn’t all that concerned with following all the etiquette rules when it came to that disappointment they were forced to call the family heir.
It was such a shame truly, especially when she could definitely think of someone who was better suited for the title than he would ever be.
However, it was better to not think of such things if she wanted to avoid stoking her temper. Pushing these from her mind, Danae instead turned her attention to the meal before her, pulling fruits from the center of the table to put on her plate as she spoke again.
“You wanted to speak with me?” Danae asked hesitantly, unsure of what her father wanted to discuss. Her heart was hopeful that it had something to do with the family business, something that had been sorrowfully neglected on her part in recent days as she was only beginning to come out of her pitiful state following the Senate meeting. Plus it also didn’t hurt that not many people wanted to throw their lot in with the Stravos so meetings like the ones she was allowed to sit in on beforehand were now few and far between.
However, little did she know that what he wanted to discuss was a bit more impactful than just sitting in on the typical business deals she watched her father handle...
Mornings were never easy on Danae. She just naturally was not the kind of person who could easily be parted from her bed and many days started with some poor servant trying to rouse the girl who was so desperate to cling to the last few moments of her dreams. However, nowadays, mornings were a battleground that Danae barely had the energy to deal with. After all, the night time was when her mind ran wild with possible threats of danger. A darkened corner held an assassin sent by Xanthos to finish the Stravos family once and for all. Every stick breaking was them attempting to sneak into the manor. A creak on the stairs was them making their way to her room and so on and forth. This never-ceasing anxiety coupled with the nightmares that came to her whenever she did finally manage to drift off made sleep a difficult, horrible time of fear and she suffered this in silence as she would never admit to weakness like this.
She was stronger than that.
However, this meant that whenever she could sleep peacefully, she was unwilling to give it up. That’s why she was slow to rise this morning, pushing away one of the few servants the family had left as they tried to convince her to get up. The sixteen-year-old was firmly intent on staying in bed that morning, having no reason to get up until the poor woman reminded the girl that her father was waiting for her. This was enough to pull her from her bed as she knew that the man had no meetings at this hour, so clearly he was wanting to see his daughter for whatever reason and after all, he had done for her over the years… she was not going to keep him wait.
So, pulling herself from the bed, she went about her morning routine in a daze. The older woman had disappeared, leaving Danae to do the mundane tasks that a few weeks ago she never would have dreamed of doing by herself such as styling her hair or fastening her chiton. Normally she, like all the other Stravos women, had a small army of servants and ladies-in-waiting to help ready them and truthfully, as far as she knew, Chara and Circenia still retained this part of the staff. However, Danae was more than happy to help her father extend the fortune that they had left by dismissing anyone who directly served her. If it helped them save a few coins in the wake of this uncertain future than it was more than worth it in her eyes.
Plus it also didn’t hurt she didn’t like any of them anyway. That might have also been a large factor in her decision, though she’d never admitted it.
It took her a bit longer than it used to though as she was not used to doing it herself. Her shortened hair was a bit of a disaster, having grown naturally tawny from the period of time where she refused to even leave her bed, so there were plenty of knots to work through. Soon enough though, it was smooth enough to tuck under the simple pale blue headdress her mother had ordered to hide what had happened to the girl. It was quickly paired with a matching chiton that was not as neatly pleated as it could have been but figuring that she had no plans to leave the manor that morning it would do. The servant reappeared for a moment to make a few adjustments, just in case, before sending Danae off in the direction of her father in the dining hall.
Danae hurried through the halls but slowed once she came in sight of the thrown open doors, unconsciously falling back into her recently formed habit of not being seen. Not being noticed. However, that was hard to do when she was the only other person in the room.
“Father,” She quietly greeted when he caught sight of her, still unused to using her voice again. Spying the food set out before them, bathed in the morning light from the nearby window coverings being thrown open, Danae quickly took a seat at her father’s righthand side; a spot normally reserved for Elias, but she was claiming it as her own this morning. Besides, after what her brother had done… Danae wasn’t all that concerned with following all the etiquette rules when it came to that disappointment they were forced to call the family heir.
It was such a shame truly, especially when she could definitely think of someone who was better suited for the title than he would ever be.
However, it was better to not think of such things if she wanted to avoid stoking her temper. Pushing these from her mind, Danae instead turned her attention to the meal before her, pulling fruits from the center of the table to put on her plate as she spoke again.
“You wanted to speak with me?” Danae asked hesitantly, unsure of what her father wanted to discuss. Her heart was hopeful that it had something to do with the family business, something that had been sorrowfully neglected on her part in recent days as she was only beginning to come out of her pitiful state following the Senate meeting. Plus it also didn’t hurt that not many people wanted to throw their lot in with the Stravos so meetings like the ones she was allowed to sit in on beforehand were now few and far between.
However, little did she know that what he wanted to discuss was a bit more impactful than just sitting in on the typical business deals she watched her father handle...
Keikelius Keikelius had taken to nibbling on a bit of the fresh bread and cheese that had been laid out for breakfast, his gaze settling on the opened windows with a thoughtful expression. There was so much that they had to tackle, to convince the other senators of if any of this was going to work. And ensuring Elias was the one that ended up on the throne was something that he planned on making a reality.
He and his wife had long been on the same wavelength about what needed to be done. It was Circenia's job to deploy gossip within the court. To bring Persephone's memory and the change in law into question. Because whatever the princess, now queen, had done to ensure that she was the one sitting on the throne... it had been wholly illegal and something that even Keikelius would not stand for. Despite his agreement with the late King in the Senate.
Not to mention the unlawful stripping of the Stravos and their titles, their lands, and everything else that had given them their immense power and sway. That had enraged Keikelius more than anything, but his voice had needed to remain impartial. As frustrated as the man was about the situation, he would not have given the Senate any reason to doubt his position as the Master of Trade.
It was only when he heard the light steps of his daughter approaching that he brushed his hands clean and turned to glance toward the door. Danae said his name and a slight smile graced his lips. "Danae," he murmured warmly, happy to see that she was just as strong-headed as ever, especially in taking Elias' seat.
He had rarely returned home as of late so Keikelius wasn't too bothered by the heir's seat being taken. Keikelius waited for her to seat herself and even take some food for herself before he decided to get down to what he had planned for the day.
"I need your help with something," Keikelius started, keeping his voice low. He was watching the window once more, silently aware of the few guards posted about the home, "My goal is to sew some unrest within the senate about the nature of the Queen's dealings learning up to the Senate meeting," he said very plainly, pulling pieces of his bread apart as he spoke. "But to do that, I need to use some small, unseen, unheard souls that are at your disposal," he continued lightly.
He then turned his gaze back to his daughter, observing her in silence. Keikelius had remained overwhelmingly protective of his daughter since the Senate meeting. Whatever had happened to her had set him down a path of deadly thinking and plotting. One day, he would get an answer from her about who had done such damage to her person. Until then, he would keep her close... ready to gut anyone who raised a hand to her.
No second thoughts and no remorse.
"If I recall," Keikelius said softly, "You have a small army of urchins at your beck and call," he murmured, "I would like to procure them for this project. You and they would be compensated."
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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Keikelius Keikelius had taken to nibbling on a bit of the fresh bread and cheese that had been laid out for breakfast, his gaze settling on the opened windows with a thoughtful expression. There was so much that they had to tackle, to convince the other senators of if any of this was going to work. And ensuring Elias was the one that ended up on the throne was something that he planned on making a reality.
He and his wife had long been on the same wavelength about what needed to be done. It was Circenia's job to deploy gossip within the court. To bring Persephone's memory and the change in law into question. Because whatever the princess, now queen, had done to ensure that she was the one sitting on the throne... it had been wholly illegal and something that even Keikelius would not stand for. Despite his agreement with the late King in the Senate.
Not to mention the unlawful stripping of the Stravos and their titles, their lands, and everything else that had given them their immense power and sway. That had enraged Keikelius more than anything, but his voice had needed to remain impartial. As frustrated as the man was about the situation, he would not have given the Senate any reason to doubt his position as the Master of Trade.
It was only when he heard the light steps of his daughter approaching that he brushed his hands clean and turned to glance toward the door. Danae said his name and a slight smile graced his lips. "Danae," he murmured warmly, happy to see that she was just as strong-headed as ever, especially in taking Elias' seat.
He had rarely returned home as of late so Keikelius wasn't too bothered by the heir's seat being taken. Keikelius waited for her to seat herself and even take some food for herself before he decided to get down to what he had planned for the day.
"I need your help with something," Keikelius started, keeping his voice low. He was watching the window once more, silently aware of the few guards posted about the home, "My goal is to sew some unrest within the senate about the nature of the Queen's dealings learning up to the Senate meeting," he said very plainly, pulling pieces of his bread apart as he spoke. "But to do that, I need to use some small, unseen, unheard souls that are at your disposal," he continued lightly.
He then turned his gaze back to his daughter, observing her in silence. Keikelius had remained overwhelmingly protective of his daughter since the Senate meeting. Whatever had happened to her had set him down a path of deadly thinking and plotting. One day, he would get an answer from her about who had done such damage to her person. Until then, he would keep her close... ready to gut anyone who raised a hand to her.
No second thoughts and no remorse.
"If I recall," Keikelius said softly, "You have a small army of urchins at your beck and call," he murmured, "I would like to procure them for this project. You and they would be compensated."
Keikelius Keikelius had taken to nibbling on a bit of the fresh bread and cheese that had been laid out for breakfast, his gaze settling on the opened windows with a thoughtful expression. There was so much that they had to tackle, to convince the other senators of if any of this was going to work. And ensuring Elias was the one that ended up on the throne was something that he planned on making a reality.
He and his wife had long been on the same wavelength about what needed to be done. It was Circenia's job to deploy gossip within the court. To bring Persephone's memory and the change in law into question. Because whatever the princess, now queen, had done to ensure that she was the one sitting on the throne... it had been wholly illegal and something that even Keikelius would not stand for. Despite his agreement with the late King in the Senate.
Not to mention the unlawful stripping of the Stravos and their titles, their lands, and everything else that had given them their immense power and sway. That had enraged Keikelius more than anything, but his voice had needed to remain impartial. As frustrated as the man was about the situation, he would not have given the Senate any reason to doubt his position as the Master of Trade.
It was only when he heard the light steps of his daughter approaching that he brushed his hands clean and turned to glance toward the door. Danae said his name and a slight smile graced his lips. "Danae," he murmured warmly, happy to see that she was just as strong-headed as ever, especially in taking Elias' seat.
He had rarely returned home as of late so Keikelius wasn't too bothered by the heir's seat being taken. Keikelius waited for her to seat herself and even take some food for herself before he decided to get down to what he had planned for the day.
"I need your help with something," Keikelius started, keeping his voice low. He was watching the window once more, silently aware of the few guards posted about the home, "My goal is to sew some unrest within the senate about the nature of the Queen's dealings learning up to the Senate meeting," he said very plainly, pulling pieces of his bread apart as he spoke. "But to do that, I need to use some small, unseen, unheard souls that are at your disposal," he continued lightly.
He then turned his gaze back to his daughter, observing her in silence. Keikelius had remained overwhelmingly protective of his daughter since the Senate meeting. Whatever had happened to her had set him down a path of deadly thinking and plotting. One day, he would get an answer from her about who had done such damage to her person. Until then, he would keep her close... ready to gut anyone who raised a hand to her.
No second thoughts and no remorse.
"If I recall," Keikelius said softly, "You have a small army of urchins at your beck and call," he murmured, "I would like to procure them for this project. You and they would be compensated."
Although several weeks had passed since the Senate meet and Danae was only just beginning to talk again, she still wasn’t all that comfortable with moving about her own home when others were home. That deeply seated sense of shame and insecurity began to bubble up within her once again when her father heard her soft footsteps enter the dining hall. She hadn’t even realized that she had been attempting to be quiet, not until she felt that all too familiar feeling of her cheeks burning when her father turned to greet her. Even now she found it difficult to look him in the eye after what she had done.
She was just as foolhardy as Eli when she tried to “fix” everything, but all she succeeded was bringing this man she admired so much needless pain as he watched his beloved daughter crumble under her own guilt.
To say she regretted what she had done was an understatement.
But she was still a Stravos and she will keep her head high as she clawed her way out of the state of depression she had allowed herself to slip into. That fire within her was made clear by her decision to sit at her father’s side, in a seat that she normally should not have taken, but she did anyway. It was her way of saying to him that she was here again and what happened to her would no longer define her. Whether the law agreed or not, she was still her father’s true heir. The child who was most like him and most readily took to the family business. Elias may have held the title of Baron of Lyncestia and the Head of their House before he lost everything, but it was Danae who would fight the hardest to restore their name. After all, she was here and lord knew where he was. Hiding away in the palace probably, enjoying the luxury of the crown without putting in any of the work for it.
That last bitter sentiment of Danae’s was basically confirmed when her father asked Danae for her help. She listened with a curious expression clear on her face as Keikelius outlined his plan to his daughter. Her expression remained neutral as she considered what he had to say. Surely, there would be no harm in allowing him access to her list of street urchins, if it meant that the family could undermine Queen Persephone. Seven hades, Danae hated the girl so much after what her family had done that she had half the mind to disguise herself and paint the messages of hatred herself. Though, she knew it was a terrible idea. Not only was it improper, but she had already brought her family enough strife with the rumors of her losing her sanity after the Senate meeting and her public scuffles with Rafail of Marikas were already reflecting poorly on her house. The last thing she needed was to shame her family further with her vengeful antics.
“There is no need to pay me. The money would be put to better use elsewhere than my coffers Father.” Danae said plainly after her father finished speaking. She knew that the urchins would have to be paid, but she personally could not accept anything from her father when she was more than aware of the financial straits that her family was in. The loss of lands had meant that the family had lost a large chunk of their income and right now they were barely managing with the fortune they had already built and the shipping business they still held by some miracle. Danae had no interest in stretching their pockets further, especially when both she and her father knew that the money would once again end up going to the family. That was what had happened thus far with the little money that Danae could still make from betting and demanding interest on her loans. She was determined to make every penny last; from donating these funds willingly to cutting her staff. She could not, in good conscience accept what her father offered.
At that moment, a guard passed by the window and Danae shoved a piece of bread into her mouth to keep her from saying anything further. Although Elias was the only Stravos who was under house arrest, it felt as if all of them had been as well in the past few weeks. Not that Danae truly noticed the guard’s presence, locked in her room all day, working through her own turmoils. As she kept herself from accidentally saying too much, she caught her father’s hardened gaze towards her. He didn’t need to say anything for Danae to know that he was thinking of what had happened to her again and how he was ready to kill the bastard who hurt her. She shrunk under his gaze, still just as unwilling to reveal what had happened as she had been the day everything happened… but a small part of her wondered that so much time had passed and Lukos had not been seen in Athenia for quite a while, would it be worth revealing to her father what had happened?
A part of her wanted to say yes. She wanted that weight lifted off of her chest and for someone else to know what happened so that she did not have to suffer in silence. She could not think of anyone better than her father to tell it to as in many ways he was her closest confidante, knowing her better than any other courtiers as he was the only one who saw past her gender to her natural innate talents. A part of her wanted to lift that worry off his heart to know that as long as Lukos feared a Stravos rising to power, his daughter would be safe.
Yet, she knew she couldn’t. Danae did not want him to know of the shame that plagued her. How she cursed herself for being so stupid to think she could force a pirate to recant a story he had told to Senators and nobles more powerful than he. She may be Danae of Stravos, the favored child of the richest man in all of Greece, but she was still one little girl. His little girl. Danae did not want to have to look her father in the eye and tell him how she almost threw everything he had ever worked for away. How she had almost gotten herself killed and dumped in the ocean like a bucket of chum, never to be seen by Keikelius again. She couldn't bring that worry and hurt to him. Not now, not ever. She regretted what she did, with every fiber of her being, but she would never admit it. She would not bring her father more pain.
No more second-guessing and no more regrets. The past would have to be put behind them in order for this family to move forward.
The guard passed by the empty window just as Danae swallowed, chasing the bread down with a large gulp of blood-red wine. Her father might not approve of her downing the intoxicating liquid so quickly and on such an empty stomach, but some fortification would be needed if she was going to discuss helping her brother with the man.
“Yes, that can all be arranged.” She said lowly in response to all of it, practically whispering so the nearby guards couldn’t hear, “How many will you need? I can summon them by this afternoon and your project will be done by evening.” She smirked at the end of this statement. There was a reason why she was so steadfast in weeding out the urchins who were not up to her standards. Every single street rat on her list was one she trusted to follow her instructions to the letter and raise neither question nor suspicion. Danae knew rich and powerful men who will kill to have a loyal army that she had at her disposal. Little did they know that all they had to do was offer steady work and handsome rewards to win all their loyalty. It was one of the things that the man who sat next to her and done well to teach her.
Money could buy anything, even a man’s dignity. Little did he know that children were far easier to tempt than a grown man would ever be.
However, a small thought crossed her mind as she considered her father’s plan, a glaring hole that could have this backfire on all of them that if it went unchecked. “You do realize though, the moment these seeds are planted, they will look at our family first, right? We have the most to gain from the princess being unseated.” Danae couldn’t even call her own cousin Queen, not while she thought so lowly of the woman, fleeing from her own country at the first sign of danger, “Whatever you do, it will have to vague and it will have to speak against us as well. If we are to avoid blame, of course.”
It seemed so counterintuitive, but this family had been through so much pain and disgrace that they could not afford for her father’s plan to go awry. That much was clear to Danae as she cautiously looked over at her father, unsure of what he would say in regards to her suggestion.
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Although several weeks had passed since the Senate meet and Danae was only just beginning to talk again, she still wasn’t all that comfortable with moving about her own home when others were home. That deeply seated sense of shame and insecurity began to bubble up within her once again when her father heard her soft footsteps enter the dining hall. She hadn’t even realized that she had been attempting to be quiet, not until she felt that all too familiar feeling of her cheeks burning when her father turned to greet her. Even now she found it difficult to look him in the eye after what she had done.
She was just as foolhardy as Eli when she tried to “fix” everything, but all she succeeded was bringing this man she admired so much needless pain as he watched his beloved daughter crumble under her own guilt.
To say she regretted what she had done was an understatement.
But she was still a Stravos and she will keep her head high as she clawed her way out of the state of depression she had allowed herself to slip into. That fire within her was made clear by her decision to sit at her father’s side, in a seat that she normally should not have taken, but she did anyway. It was her way of saying to him that she was here again and what happened to her would no longer define her. Whether the law agreed or not, she was still her father’s true heir. The child who was most like him and most readily took to the family business. Elias may have held the title of Baron of Lyncestia and the Head of their House before he lost everything, but it was Danae who would fight the hardest to restore their name. After all, she was here and lord knew where he was. Hiding away in the palace probably, enjoying the luxury of the crown without putting in any of the work for it.
That last bitter sentiment of Danae’s was basically confirmed when her father asked Danae for her help. She listened with a curious expression clear on her face as Keikelius outlined his plan to his daughter. Her expression remained neutral as she considered what he had to say. Surely, there would be no harm in allowing him access to her list of street urchins, if it meant that the family could undermine Queen Persephone. Seven hades, Danae hated the girl so much after what her family had done that she had half the mind to disguise herself and paint the messages of hatred herself. Though, she knew it was a terrible idea. Not only was it improper, but she had already brought her family enough strife with the rumors of her losing her sanity after the Senate meeting and her public scuffles with Rafail of Marikas were already reflecting poorly on her house. The last thing she needed was to shame her family further with her vengeful antics.
“There is no need to pay me. The money would be put to better use elsewhere than my coffers Father.” Danae said plainly after her father finished speaking. She knew that the urchins would have to be paid, but she personally could not accept anything from her father when she was more than aware of the financial straits that her family was in. The loss of lands had meant that the family had lost a large chunk of their income and right now they were barely managing with the fortune they had already built and the shipping business they still held by some miracle. Danae had no interest in stretching their pockets further, especially when both she and her father knew that the money would once again end up going to the family. That was what had happened thus far with the little money that Danae could still make from betting and demanding interest on her loans. She was determined to make every penny last; from donating these funds willingly to cutting her staff. She could not, in good conscience accept what her father offered.
At that moment, a guard passed by the window and Danae shoved a piece of bread into her mouth to keep her from saying anything further. Although Elias was the only Stravos who was under house arrest, it felt as if all of them had been as well in the past few weeks. Not that Danae truly noticed the guard’s presence, locked in her room all day, working through her own turmoils. As she kept herself from accidentally saying too much, she caught her father’s hardened gaze towards her. He didn’t need to say anything for Danae to know that he was thinking of what had happened to her again and how he was ready to kill the bastard who hurt her. She shrunk under his gaze, still just as unwilling to reveal what had happened as she had been the day everything happened… but a small part of her wondered that so much time had passed and Lukos had not been seen in Athenia for quite a while, would it be worth revealing to her father what had happened?
A part of her wanted to say yes. She wanted that weight lifted off of her chest and for someone else to know what happened so that she did not have to suffer in silence. She could not think of anyone better than her father to tell it to as in many ways he was her closest confidante, knowing her better than any other courtiers as he was the only one who saw past her gender to her natural innate talents. A part of her wanted to lift that worry off his heart to know that as long as Lukos feared a Stravos rising to power, his daughter would be safe.
Yet, she knew she couldn’t. Danae did not want him to know of the shame that plagued her. How she cursed herself for being so stupid to think she could force a pirate to recant a story he had told to Senators and nobles more powerful than he. She may be Danae of Stravos, the favored child of the richest man in all of Greece, but she was still one little girl. His little girl. Danae did not want to have to look her father in the eye and tell him how she almost threw everything he had ever worked for away. How she had almost gotten herself killed and dumped in the ocean like a bucket of chum, never to be seen by Keikelius again. She couldn't bring that worry and hurt to him. Not now, not ever. She regretted what she did, with every fiber of her being, but she would never admit it. She would not bring her father more pain.
No more second-guessing and no more regrets. The past would have to be put behind them in order for this family to move forward.
The guard passed by the empty window just as Danae swallowed, chasing the bread down with a large gulp of blood-red wine. Her father might not approve of her downing the intoxicating liquid so quickly and on such an empty stomach, but some fortification would be needed if she was going to discuss helping her brother with the man.
“Yes, that can all be arranged.” She said lowly in response to all of it, practically whispering so the nearby guards couldn’t hear, “How many will you need? I can summon them by this afternoon and your project will be done by evening.” She smirked at the end of this statement. There was a reason why she was so steadfast in weeding out the urchins who were not up to her standards. Every single street rat on her list was one she trusted to follow her instructions to the letter and raise neither question nor suspicion. Danae knew rich and powerful men who will kill to have a loyal army that she had at her disposal. Little did they know that all they had to do was offer steady work and handsome rewards to win all their loyalty. It was one of the things that the man who sat next to her and done well to teach her.
Money could buy anything, even a man’s dignity. Little did he know that children were far easier to tempt than a grown man would ever be.
However, a small thought crossed her mind as she considered her father’s plan, a glaring hole that could have this backfire on all of them that if it went unchecked. “You do realize though, the moment these seeds are planted, they will look at our family first, right? We have the most to gain from the princess being unseated.” Danae couldn’t even call her own cousin Queen, not while she thought so lowly of the woman, fleeing from her own country at the first sign of danger, “Whatever you do, it will have to vague and it will have to speak against us as well. If we are to avoid blame, of course.”
It seemed so counterintuitive, but this family had been through so much pain and disgrace that they could not afford for her father’s plan to go awry. That much was clear to Danae as she cautiously looked over at her father, unsure of what he would say in regards to her suggestion.
Although several weeks had passed since the Senate meet and Danae was only just beginning to talk again, she still wasn’t all that comfortable with moving about her own home when others were home. That deeply seated sense of shame and insecurity began to bubble up within her once again when her father heard her soft footsteps enter the dining hall. She hadn’t even realized that she had been attempting to be quiet, not until she felt that all too familiar feeling of her cheeks burning when her father turned to greet her. Even now she found it difficult to look him in the eye after what she had done.
She was just as foolhardy as Eli when she tried to “fix” everything, but all she succeeded was bringing this man she admired so much needless pain as he watched his beloved daughter crumble under her own guilt.
To say she regretted what she had done was an understatement.
But she was still a Stravos and she will keep her head high as she clawed her way out of the state of depression she had allowed herself to slip into. That fire within her was made clear by her decision to sit at her father’s side, in a seat that she normally should not have taken, but she did anyway. It was her way of saying to him that she was here again and what happened to her would no longer define her. Whether the law agreed or not, she was still her father’s true heir. The child who was most like him and most readily took to the family business. Elias may have held the title of Baron of Lyncestia and the Head of their House before he lost everything, but it was Danae who would fight the hardest to restore their name. After all, she was here and lord knew where he was. Hiding away in the palace probably, enjoying the luxury of the crown without putting in any of the work for it.
That last bitter sentiment of Danae’s was basically confirmed when her father asked Danae for her help. She listened with a curious expression clear on her face as Keikelius outlined his plan to his daughter. Her expression remained neutral as she considered what he had to say. Surely, there would be no harm in allowing him access to her list of street urchins, if it meant that the family could undermine Queen Persephone. Seven hades, Danae hated the girl so much after what her family had done that she had half the mind to disguise herself and paint the messages of hatred herself. Though, she knew it was a terrible idea. Not only was it improper, but she had already brought her family enough strife with the rumors of her losing her sanity after the Senate meeting and her public scuffles with Rafail of Marikas were already reflecting poorly on her house. The last thing she needed was to shame her family further with her vengeful antics.
“There is no need to pay me. The money would be put to better use elsewhere than my coffers Father.” Danae said plainly after her father finished speaking. She knew that the urchins would have to be paid, but she personally could not accept anything from her father when she was more than aware of the financial straits that her family was in. The loss of lands had meant that the family had lost a large chunk of their income and right now they were barely managing with the fortune they had already built and the shipping business they still held by some miracle. Danae had no interest in stretching their pockets further, especially when both she and her father knew that the money would once again end up going to the family. That was what had happened thus far with the little money that Danae could still make from betting and demanding interest on her loans. She was determined to make every penny last; from donating these funds willingly to cutting her staff. She could not, in good conscience accept what her father offered.
At that moment, a guard passed by the window and Danae shoved a piece of bread into her mouth to keep her from saying anything further. Although Elias was the only Stravos who was under house arrest, it felt as if all of them had been as well in the past few weeks. Not that Danae truly noticed the guard’s presence, locked in her room all day, working through her own turmoils. As she kept herself from accidentally saying too much, she caught her father’s hardened gaze towards her. He didn’t need to say anything for Danae to know that he was thinking of what had happened to her again and how he was ready to kill the bastard who hurt her. She shrunk under his gaze, still just as unwilling to reveal what had happened as she had been the day everything happened… but a small part of her wondered that so much time had passed and Lukos had not been seen in Athenia for quite a while, would it be worth revealing to her father what had happened?
A part of her wanted to say yes. She wanted that weight lifted off of her chest and for someone else to know what happened so that she did not have to suffer in silence. She could not think of anyone better than her father to tell it to as in many ways he was her closest confidante, knowing her better than any other courtiers as he was the only one who saw past her gender to her natural innate talents. A part of her wanted to lift that worry off his heart to know that as long as Lukos feared a Stravos rising to power, his daughter would be safe.
Yet, she knew she couldn’t. Danae did not want him to know of the shame that plagued her. How she cursed herself for being so stupid to think she could force a pirate to recant a story he had told to Senators and nobles more powerful than he. She may be Danae of Stravos, the favored child of the richest man in all of Greece, but she was still one little girl. His little girl. Danae did not want to have to look her father in the eye and tell him how she almost threw everything he had ever worked for away. How she had almost gotten herself killed and dumped in the ocean like a bucket of chum, never to be seen by Keikelius again. She couldn't bring that worry and hurt to him. Not now, not ever. She regretted what she did, with every fiber of her being, but she would never admit it. She would not bring her father more pain.
No more second-guessing and no more regrets. The past would have to be put behind them in order for this family to move forward.
The guard passed by the empty window just as Danae swallowed, chasing the bread down with a large gulp of blood-red wine. Her father might not approve of her downing the intoxicating liquid so quickly and on such an empty stomach, but some fortification would be needed if she was going to discuss helping her brother with the man.
“Yes, that can all be arranged.” She said lowly in response to all of it, practically whispering so the nearby guards couldn’t hear, “How many will you need? I can summon them by this afternoon and your project will be done by evening.” She smirked at the end of this statement. There was a reason why she was so steadfast in weeding out the urchins who were not up to her standards. Every single street rat on her list was one she trusted to follow her instructions to the letter and raise neither question nor suspicion. Danae knew rich and powerful men who will kill to have a loyal army that she had at her disposal. Little did they know that all they had to do was offer steady work and handsome rewards to win all their loyalty. It was one of the things that the man who sat next to her and done well to teach her.
Money could buy anything, even a man’s dignity. Little did he know that children were far easier to tempt than a grown man would ever be.
However, a small thought crossed her mind as she considered her father’s plan, a glaring hole that could have this backfire on all of them that if it went unchecked. “You do realize though, the moment these seeds are planted, they will look at our family first, right? We have the most to gain from the princess being unseated.” Danae couldn’t even call her own cousin Queen, not while she thought so lowly of the woman, fleeing from her own country at the first sign of danger, “Whatever you do, it will have to vague and it will have to speak against us as well. If we are to avoid blame, of course.”
It seemed so counterintuitive, but this family had been through so much pain and disgrace that they could not afford for her father’s plan to go awry. That much was clear to Danae as she cautiously looked over at her father, unsure of what he would say in regards to her suggestion.
Keikelius was content to dip into his breakfast while he waited for his daughter to speak. He understood that she was struggling to make her voice heard again after whatever had happened, but he needed her now. The family needed her. He wouldn’t admit how relieved he was to hear her say that he did not need to pay her. He wasn’t entirely sure what it was that they could afford after having lost so much already. He still had some parts of the business that he could operate, but without the wealth that was siphoned from their lands… it seemed paltry by comparison.
Finishing his bit of bread and cheese, the man took a deep sip of his wine and pointedly ignored the guards that seemed intent to keep walking by the open windows. They were annoying at best but he knew he could not send them away. They were there to ensure that his son remained on house arrest. Much to his dismay. Waiting patiently for them to pass so that he could speak privately with his daughter, Keikelius found himself leaning forward in order to hear her better.
Danae had agreed easily enough and that would have been it had she not brought up ensuring that they worked things in a manner that would not incriminate their house. He knew that better than anyone. It would not be wise for them to give themselves away. But there were numerous others in the senate who were not happy with the way that the meeting had ended up, and Keikelius was to use that to his advantage.
“I will need five, perhaps,” Keikelius said lightly, “Within the next few days, I hope. I wish to take my time. This can’t be sloppy,” he murmured just as quietly, taking another slow sip of his wine. He watched his daughter with a critical eye, as if he did not need the lesson in how to ensure they did not get caught. His daughter was intelligent, but so was he. He had years of experience on her and the little reminder would have irked him had she not been so meek as of late. She had, in a way, crossed a line that Keikelius would not speak of.
With his dark eyes locked to her face, he set his cup onto the table. “Of course, daughter. This is not my first experience with planting seeds of doubt,” he said easily. As if this were the end of their conversation, he lifted himself from his chair and moved around to look out the window. The guards were not passing this way just yet. “I’ll ensure your urchins are paid once we have our fortune back. Until then, speak nothing of this. I wish to have a conversation with the family before I go too much further.”
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This character is currently a work in progress.
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Keikelius was content to dip into his breakfast while he waited for his daughter to speak. He understood that she was struggling to make her voice heard again after whatever had happened, but he needed her now. The family needed her. He wouldn’t admit how relieved he was to hear her say that he did not need to pay her. He wasn’t entirely sure what it was that they could afford after having lost so much already. He still had some parts of the business that he could operate, but without the wealth that was siphoned from their lands… it seemed paltry by comparison.
Finishing his bit of bread and cheese, the man took a deep sip of his wine and pointedly ignored the guards that seemed intent to keep walking by the open windows. They were annoying at best but he knew he could not send them away. They were there to ensure that his son remained on house arrest. Much to his dismay. Waiting patiently for them to pass so that he could speak privately with his daughter, Keikelius found himself leaning forward in order to hear her better.
Danae had agreed easily enough and that would have been it had she not brought up ensuring that they worked things in a manner that would not incriminate their house. He knew that better than anyone. It would not be wise for them to give themselves away. But there were numerous others in the senate who were not happy with the way that the meeting had ended up, and Keikelius was to use that to his advantage.
“I will need five, perhaps,” Keikelius said lightly, “Within the next few days, I hope. I wish to take my time. This can’t be sloppy,” he murmured just as quietly, taking another slow sip of his wine. He watched his daughter with a critical eye, as if he did not need the lesson in how to ensure they did not get caught. His daughter was intelligent, but so was he. He had years of experience on her and the little reminder would have irked him had she not been so meek as of late. She had, in a way, crossed a line that Keikelius would not speak of.
With his dark eyes locked to her face, he set his cup onto the table. “Of course, daughter. This is not my first experience with planting seeds of doubt,” he said easily. As if this were the end of their conversation, he lifted himself from his chair and moved around to look out the window. The guards were not passing this way just yet. “I’ll ensure your urchins are paid once we have our fortune back. Until then, speak nothing of this. I wish to have a conversation with the family before I go too much further.”
Keikelius was content to dip into his breakfast while he waited for his daughter to speak. He understood that she was struggling to make her voice heard again after whatever had happened, but he needed her now. The family needed her. He wouldn’t admit how relieved he was to hear her say that he did not need to pay her. He wasn’t entirely sure what it was that they could afford after having lost so much already. He still had some parts of the business that he could operate, but without the wealth that was siphoned from their lands… it seemed paltry by comparison.
Finishing his bit of bread and cheese, the man took a deep sip of his wine and pointedly ignored the guards that seemed intent to keep walking by the open windows. They were annoying at best but he knew he could not send them away. They were there to ensure that his son remained on house arrest. Much to his dismay. Waiting patiently for them to pass so that he could speak privately with his daughter, Keikelius found himself leaning forward in order to hear her better.
Danae had agreed easily enough and that would have been it had she not brought up ensuring that they worked things in a manner that would not incriminate their house. He knew that better than anyone. It would not be wise for them to give themselves away. But there were numerous others in the senate who were not happy with the way that the meeting had ended up, and Keikelius was to use that to his advantage.
“I will need five, perhaps,” Keikelius said lightly, “Within the next few days, I hope. I wish to take my time. This can’t be sloppy,” he murmured just as quietly, taking another slow sip of his wine. He watched his daughter with a critical eye, as if he did not need the lesson in how to ensure they did not get caught. His daughter was intelligent, but so was he. He had years of experience on her and the little reminder would have irked him had she not been so meek as of late. She had, in a way, crossed a line that Keikelius would not speak of.
With his dark eyes locked to her face, he set his cup onto the table. “Of course, daughter. This is not my first experience with planting seeds of doubt,” he said easily. As if this were the end of their conversation, he lifted himself from his chair and moved around to look out the window. The guards were not passing this way just yet. “I’ll ensure your urchins are paid once we have our fortune back. Until then, speak nothing of this. I wish to have a conversation with the family before I go too much further.”