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.
Xene was pleased to have eased some of the tensions in the room, especially after she had spoken out against the confusing way that the bard had opted to teach them. All in all, their dance was beginning smoothly, with Xene focusing less on her own steps, already practiced and aware of how the dance went, and instead focused on the steps of the girls on either side of her. She tried to help guide and instruct quietly as they moved,
She did not miss the way that the bard called Lord Fotios 'old fella' and had to pretend to cough due to a tickle in her throat rather than choke on her utter shock that the man would even be allowed to keep his tongue after that. Honestly, she was imagining that Lord Leventi might make quick work of the man once this event was over, but it was hard to tell since the man seemed to ignore the moment of blatant disrespect.
The princess went back to focusing on their dance, ever aware of her partners and the way that they moved. Lord Alekos seemed to move the girls how he wanted, and Xene wanted to argue with a few points, but she kept her mouth shut, feeling as if she had already spoken out enough for one day. If she were not careful, she would likely give herself a reputation for being argumentative rather than just overwhelmingly curious. Though, Xene had no curiosities about Lord Alekos except for when he would take his leave from them and allow them peace.
Whoever had found this tutor, whether her mother or father, she hoped that they would hear about how odd and almost disastrous the instruction had felt, even for a girl who was already practiced and skilled in dance. The fluidity and grace that it brought about almost muted with each adjustment of even the princess's own movements.
She could have glowered at the man, but she didn't. Not until he loudly commented on Lady Imma's steps. She was so young and the instruction seemed a little much for her at the moment. But Xene did have a single moment where her temper seemed to shift just slightly when Lord Alekos announced that they would be dancing this dance at the next harvest festival. This time, instead of speaking out, she turned her head to look at Lord Fotios with a lifted eyebrow that asked him, silently, 'Are you serious?'
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
Xene was pleased to have eased some of the tensions in the room, especially after she had spoken out against the confusing way that the bard had opted to teach them. All in all, their dance was beginning smoothly, with Xene focusing less on her own steps, already practiced and aware of how the dance went, and instead focused on the steps of the girls on either side of her. She tried to help guide and instruct quietly as they moved,
She did not miss the way that the bard called Lord Fotios 'old fella' and had to pretend to cough due to a tickle in her throat rather than choke on her utter shock that the man would even be allowed to keep his tongue after that. Honestly, she was imagining that Lord Leventi might make quick work of the man once this event was over, but it was hard to tell since the man seemed to ignore the moment of blatant disrespect.
The princess went back to focusing on their dance, ever aware of her partners and the way that they moved. Lord Alekos seemed to move the girls how he wanted, and Xene wanted to argue with a few points, but she kept her mouth shut, feeling as if she had already spoken out enough for one day. If she were not careful, she would likely give herself a reputation for being argumentative rather than just overwhelmingly curious. Though, Xene had no curiosities about Lord Alekos except for when he would take his leave from them and allow them peace.
Whoever had found this tutor, whether her mother or father, she hoped that they would hear about how odd and almost disastrous the instruction had felt, even for a girl who was already practiced and skilled in dance. The fluidity and grace that it brought about almost muted with each adjustment of even the princess's own movements.
She could have glowered at the man, but she didn't. Not until he loudly commented on Lady Imma's steps. She was so young and the instruction seemed a little much for her at the moment. But Xene did have a single moment where her temper seemed to shift just slightly when Lord Alekos announced that they would be dancing this dance at the next harvest festival. This time, instead of speaking out, she turned her head to look at Lord Fotios with a lifted eyebrow that asked him, silently, 'Are you serious?'
Xene was pleased to have eased some of the tensions in the room, especially after she had spoken out against the confusing way that the bard had opted to teach them. All in all, their dance was beginning smoothly, with Xene focusing less on her own steps, already practiced and aware of how the dance went, and instead focused on the steps of the girls on either side of her. She tried to help guide and instruct quietly as they moved,
She did not miss the way that the bard called Lord Fotios 'old fella' and had to pretend to cough due to a tickle in her throat rather than choke on her utter shock that the man would even be allowed to keep his tongue after that. Honestly, she was imagining that Lord Leventi might make quick work of the man once this event was over, but it was hard to tell since the man seemed to ignore the moment of blatant disrespect.
The princess went back to focusing on their dance, ever aware of her partners and the way that they moved. Lord Alekos seemed to move the girls how he wanted, and Xene wanted to argue with a few points, but she kept her mouth shut, feeling as if she had already spoken out enough for one day. If she were not careful, she would likely give herself a reputation for being argumentative rather than just overwhelmingly curious. Though, Xene had no curiosities about Lord Alekos except for when he would take his leave from them and allow them peace.
Whoever had found this tutor, whether her mother or father, she hoped that they would hear about how odd and almost disastrous the instruction had felt, even for a girl who was already practiced and skilled in dance. The fluidity and grace that it brought about almost muted with each adjustment of even the princess's own movements.
She could have glowered at the man, but she didn't. Not until he loudly commented on Lady Imma's steps. She was so young and the instruction seemed a little much for her at the moment. But Xene did have a single moment where her temper seemed to shift just slightly when Lord Alekos announced that they would be dancing this dance at the next harvest festival. This time, instead of speaking out, she turned her head to look at Lord Fotios with a lifted eyebrow that asked him, silently, 'Are you serious?'
While Nana had initially thought this a perfect opportunity to show off her dance moves in a public setting, this seemed far more disastrous than even she could have imagined.
Though, of course, Nana would not stand for being adjusted by their fumbling instructor, the way with which he nitpicked the posture and most minuscule details of their body language through description left Nana cringing. It seemed that Lord Alekos was not at all familiar with the young ladies of Taengea's court. But, she would soldier on and stay quiet as best as she could, for Uncle Fotios was present, and his eagle-eyed gaze could strike fear into anyone, most certainly a little girl.
As the session seemed to drag on, she was treated to a pleasant surprise when Xene, with all the grace of a princess, called the instructor out on his negligence to provide context. Yet, even that proved to backfire, as he quickly passed the duties on to the bard present, who took the opportunity to make things no clearer than before, as his poem had absolutely nothing to do with the tale of the Minotaur's Labyrinth. Though Nana was quick to remember details of stories told by her nursemaids, she could not follow tales recounted in a poetic format. There were simply too many variables to account for and being the age of nine, Nana had yet to learn how to do such.
For once, she found herself thoroughly relieved at the voice of her uncle, who in a short time summed up the story of the Minotaur with more effectiveness than either Lord Alekos or the bard. At the same time, she glanced over to find Imma lying on the floor, at which point she nudged her with her foot and gave her a look, though it would take their uncle's walking over to actually get the four-year-old to rise from her reclined position on the floor.
No sooner than her uncle had finished, the bard proceeded to call him an 'old fella,' at which Nana tried very hard to not laugh, yet let out a short puff of breath through her nose. Of course, she couldn't disagree with the bard, but even she wouldn't dare to say such a thing to his face. The risk of punishment far outweighed speaking her thoughts freely.
As the music started again, Nana took Evangelina's free hand, as well as that of her little sister, and proceeded to dance on with the rest of the group, moving with ease in her refusal to worry too much about an old man's suggestions. As far as Nana was concerned, she was just as graceful as Princess Xene or Gianna in her movements.
Yet, when the girls switched movements and began going in the opposite direction, Imma quickly lost her grip and fell out of the circle, at which point Nana found herself yet again annoyed at Lord Alekos, with his flowery language. If he was wearing a dress, Nana was quite sure she'd mistake him for a woman. Under her breath, she quickly muttered "Gods, she's literally four." Imma did not exactly seem excited with this lesson, either, so Nana quite worried the man's words were lost on her younger sister. It was doubtful his swaying movements would mean anything to her.
Truly, this day was testing Nana's patience.
And yet, it seemed things would only get worse, as Alekos then proceeded to tell the girls of his idiotic plan to have the girls perform. At a festival. "Absolutely not," she muttered, quiet enough that only the girls would hear. Nana would die before she performed this atrocity in front of an audience. Looking around the circle to see the reactions of her peers to the man's news. Her eyes almost immediately stopped on Xene, who seemed to be giving her uncle a rather annoyed look.
At least someone else agreed with her.
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
While Nana had initially thought this a perfect opportunity to show off her dance moves in a public setting, this seemed far more disastrous than even she could have imagined.
Though, of course, Nana would not stand for being adjusted by their fumbling instructor, the way with which he nitpicked the posture and most minuscule details of their body language through description left Nana cringing. It seemed that Lord Alekos was not at all familiar with the young ladies of Taengea's court. But, she would soldier on and stay quiet as best as she could, for Uncle Fotios was present, and his eagle-eyed gaze could strike fear into anyone, most certainly a little girl.
As the session seemed to drag on, she was treated to a pleasant surprise when Xene, with all the grace of a princess, called the instructor out on his negligence to provide context. Yet, even that proved to backfire, as he quickly passed the duties on to the bard present, who took the opportunity to make things no clearer than before, as his poem had absolutely nothing to do with the tale of the Minotaur's Labyrinth. Though Nana was quick to remember details of stories told by her nursemaids, she could not follow tales recounted in a poetic format. There were simply too many variables to account for and being the age of nine, Nana had yet to learn how to do such.
For once, she found herself thoroughly relieved at the voice of her uncle, who in a short time summed up the story of the Minotaur with more effectiveness than either Lord Alekos or the bard. At the same time, she glanced over to find Imma lying on the floor, at which point she nudged her with her foot and gave her a look, though it would take their uncle's walking over to actually get the four-year-old to rise from her reclined position on the floor.
No sooner than her uncle had finished, the bard proceeded to call him an 'old fella,' at which Nana tried very hard to not laugh, yet let out a short puff of breath through her nose. Of course, she couldn't disagree with the bard, but even she wouldn't dare to say such a thing to his face. The risk of punishment far outweighed speaking her thoughts freely.
As the music started again, Nana took Evangelina's free hand, as well as that of her little sister, and proceeded to dance on with the rest of the group, moving with ease in her refusal to worry too much about an old man's suggestions. As far as Nana was concerned, she was just as graceful as Princess Xene or Gianna in her movements.
Yet, when the girls switched movements and began going in the opposite direction, Imma quickly lost her grip and fell out of the circle, at which point Nana found herself yet again annoyed at Lord Alekos, with his flowery language. If he was wearing a dress, Nana was quite sure she'd mistake him for a woman. Under her breath, she quickly muttered "Gods, she's literally four." Imma did not exactly seem excited with this lesson, either, so Nana quite worried the man's words were lost on her younger sister. It was doubtful his swaying movements would mean anything to her.
Truly, this day was testing Nana's patience.
And yet, it seemed things would only get worse, as Alekos then proceeded to tell the girls of his idiotic plan to have the girls perform. At a festival. "Absolutely not," she muttered, quiet enough that only the girls would hear. Nana would die before she performed this atrocity in front of an audience. Looking around the circle to see the reactions of her peers to the man's news. Her eyes almost immediately stopped on Xene, who seemed to be giving her uncle a rather annoyed look.
At least someone else agreed with her.
While Nana had initially thought this a perfect opportunity to show off her dance moves in a public setting, this seemed far more disastrous than even she could have imagined.
Though, of course, Nana would not stand for being adjusted by their fumbling instructor, the way with which he nitpicked the posture and most minuscule details of their body language through description left Nana cringing. It seemed that Lord Alekos was not at all familiar with the young ladies of Taengea's court. But, she would soldier on and stay quiet as best as she could, for Uncle Fotios was present, and his eagle-eyed gaze could strike fear into anyone, most certainly a little girl.
As the session seemed to drag on, she was treated to a pleasant surprise when Xene, with all the grace of a princess, called the instructor out on his negligence to provide context. Yet, even that proved to backfire, as he quickly passed the duties on to the bard present, who took the opportunity to make things no clearer than before, as his poem had absolutely nothing to do with the tale of the Minotaur's Labyrinth. Though Nana was quick to remember details of stories told by her nursemaids, she could not follow tales recounted in a poetic format. There were simply too many variables to account for and being the age of nine, Nana had yet to learn how to do such.
For once, she found herself thoroughly relieved at the voice of her uncle, who in a short time summed up the story of the Minotaur with more effectiveness than either Lord Alekos or the bard. At the same time, she glanced over to find Imma lying on the floor, at which point she nudged her with her foot and gave her a look, though it would take their uncle's walking over to actually get the four-year-old to rise from her reclined position on the floor.
No sooner than her uncle had finished, the bard proceeded to call him an 'old fella,' at which Nana tried very hard to not laugh, yet let out a short puff of breath through her nose. Of course, she couldn't disagree with the bard, but even she wouldn't dare to say such a thing to his face. The risk of punishment far outweighed speaking her thoughts freely.
As the music started again, Nana took Evangelina's free hand, as well as that of her little sister, and proceeded to dance on with the rest of the group, moving with ease in her refusal to worry too much about an old man's suggestions. As far as Nana was concerned, she was just as graceful as Princess Xene or Gianna in her movements.
Yet, when the girls switched movements and began going in the opposite direction, Imma quickly lost her grip and fell out of the circle, at which point Nana found herself yet again annoyed at Lord Alekos, with his flowery language. If he was wearing a dress, Nana was quite sure she'd mistake him for a woman. Under her breath, she quickly muttered "Gods, she's literally four." Imma did not exactly seem excited with this lesson, either, so Nana quite worried the man's words were lost on her younger sister. It was doubtful his swaying movements would mean anything to her.
Truly, this day was testing Nana's patience.
And yet, it seemed things would only get worse, as Alekos then proceeded to tell the girls of his idiotic plan to have the girls perform. At a festival. "Absolutely not," she muttered, quiet enough that only the girls would hear. Nana would die before she performed this atrocity in front of an audience. Looking around the circle to see the reactions of her peers to the man's news. Her eyes almost immediately stopped on Xene, who seemed to be giving her uncle a rather annoyed look.
At least someone else agreed with her.
With a new explanation in her mind and a fresh set of directions from her sister ringing in her ears, Gianna accepted both hands as they were offered to her. As Lord—was he even a Lord? she was beginning to question his status—Alekos made his way around making corrections to the girls, the princess caught Evangelina’s eye. She offered her companion an exasperated sigh in an effort to refrain from rolling her eyes when the tutor instructed her to straighten her wrists.
When he was finally satisfied with their positioning and had directed them to begin, Gianna focused less on the man dancing before them and more on her sister’s whispered guidance. With the older girl’s assistance, she felt like she had some grasp on what the tutor had asked of the group. No sooner had Gianna actually begun to enjoy herself than she tripped over Evangelina, taking the brunette with her as she collapsed into a rather unseemly pile of blonde curls and purple chiffon.
Her own discomfort was short-lived as Lord Alekos attended to Lady Imma. While the little girl was cute, Gianna could not fathom why she was in attendance. She was so young! She should be out playing in the palace gardens, not learning the rituals of court. The blonde used the momentary distraction to regain her composure, offering a hand to assist Evangelina—it was the least she could do after so rudely knocking her off her feet.
Gianna straightened her skirts and tended to her hair, only half listening to the tutor’s latest proclamation. As his words sunk in, the princess froze, her doe eyes wide as the color drained from her cheeks. “My sincerest apologies, Lord Alekos, but did you say we are to dance at the harvest festival?” His all too energetic nod of confirmation was exactly what she did not need in this moment. Her attention immediately on her sister, she sought any indication this was all some cruel joke. But from Xene’s own unamused expression, she could see her prayers would go largely unanswered.
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
With a new explanation in her mind and a fresh set of directions from her sister ringing in her ears, Gianna accepted both hands as they were offered to her. As Lord—was he even a Lord? she was beginning to question his status—Alekos made his way around making corrections to the girls, the princess caught Evangelina’s eye. She offered her companion an exasperated sigh in an effort to refrain from rolling her eyes when the tutor instructed her to straighten her wrists.
When he was finally satisfied with their positioning and had directed them to begin, Gianna focused less on the man dancing before them and more on her sister’s whispered guidance. With the older girl’s assistance, she felt like she had some grasp on what the tutor had asked of the group. No sooner had Gianna actually begun to enjoy herself than she tripped over Evangelina, taking the brunette with her as she collapsed into a rather unseemly pile of blonde curls and purple chiffon.
Her own discomfort was short-lived as Lord Alekos attended to Lady Imma. While the little girl was cute, Gianna could not fathom why she was in attendance. She was so young! She should be out playing in the palace gardens, not learning the rituals of court. The blonde used the momentary distraction to regain her composure, offering a hand to assist Evangelina—it was the least she could do after so rudely knocking her off her feet.
Gianna straightened her skirts and tended to her hair, only half listening to the tutor’s latest proclamation. As his words sunk in, the princess froze, her doe eyes wide as the color drained from her cheeks. “My sincerest apologies, Lord Alekos, but did you say we are to dance at the harvest festival?” His all too energetic nod of confirmation was exactly what she did not need in this moment. Her attention immediately on her sister, she sought any indication this was all some cruel joke. But from Xene’s own unamused expression, she could see her prayers would go largely unanswered.
With a new explanation in her mind and a fresh set of directions from her sister ringing in her ears, Gianna accepted both hands as they were offered to her. As Lord—was he even a Lord? she was beginning to question his status—Alekos made his way around making corrections to the girls, the princess caught Evangelina’s eye. She offered her companion an exasperated sigh in an effort to refrain from rolling her eyes when the tutor instructed her to straighten her wrists.
When he was finally satisfied with their positioning and had directed them to begin, Gianna focused less on the man dancing before them and more on her sister’s whispered guidance. With the older girl’s assistance, she felt like she had some grasp on what the tutor had asked of the group. No sooner had Gianna actually begun to enjoy herself than she tripped over Evangelina, taking the brunette with her as she collapsed into a rather unseemly pile of blonde curls and purple chiffon.
Her own discomfort was short-lived as Lord Alekos attended to Lady Imma. While the little girl was cute, Gianna could not fathom why she was in attendance. She was so young! She should be out playing in the palace gardens, not learning the rituals of court. The blonde used the momentary distraction to regain her composure, offering a hand to assist Evangelina—it was the least she could do after so rudely knocking her off her feet.
Gianna straightened her skirts and tended to her hair, only half listening to the tutor’s latest proclamation. As his words sunk in, the princess froze, her doe eyes wide as the color drained from her cheeks. “My sincerest apologies, Lord Alekos, but did you say we are to dance at the harvest festival?” His all too energetic nod of confirmation was exactly what she did not need in this moment. Her attention immediately on her sister, she sought any indication this was all some cruel joke. But from Xene’s own unamused expression, she could see her prayers would go largely unanswered.
Fotios was, to a certain extent, as annoyed at the girls. And this was not solely down to his not having known of such an arrangement before hand. A man who was used to knowing the ins and outs of the Taengean Court and Senate, it was an inexcuseable annoyance whenever he discovered something late or in tandem with someone else. He did not like surprises and he did not like others to witness him learning any new information the second it fell upon his ears.
But his lack of pre-knowledge was a limited frustration in comparison to the simple determination that he would not be allowing the girls of the Leventi name to embarrass themselves in any form, much less as a public spectacle that could be judged upon by all Vasiliadon residents attending such a large function. A man who thought of little more than the respect and awe that the Leventi name commanded, the cumbersome and awkward recital of dance that he had so far played witness to was not something he would permit to be shown to any outside of this room. Dafni and Imma were too young to participate for one thing - of that he would be determined - and the Lady Evangelina was too much of a wild card to be allowed to run free within a public spectacle. And Nana... Nana didn't need any more attention to go to her head.
Which, surprisingly, she seemed to agree with, if her muttered comment was anything to go by. A comment that Fotios could only hear because she happened to be on the end of the line closest to him.
If the uncultured Nana could notice that their 'skills' within this particular performance were sub-par enough to cause her to shy away from the limelight and center of attention - a place she naturally liked to be - then that was all the information anyone needed to know that Lord Alekos' suggestion was a poor one.
"Tutor Alekos..." Fotios offered, interrupting for a moment as the music dwindled under the girls' determination to dislike their instructor's latest revelation. "Might I comment that such a performance would normally require dozens of women. You'll have only a handful of such when I remove my youngest kin from your group based on their ages. You'll not have enough for an entire show..." He paused with calculation, his words turning silky. "I would not wish for diminished numbers to hinder a display of your skills as an instructor..."
This manipulation of his ego seemed to go directly over the tutor's head and Fotios felt his jaw tighten with a renewed sense of frustration over his lack of knowledge when the man replied with an easy tone and dismissive hand gesture.
"Oh, but Lord Leventi, such a concern has already been settled. It was the Queen Elise who hired me to offer these lessons and encourage a public display of them. But only once I had also instructed some of the noble ladies and more respectable merchants daughters. I have several other lessons scheduled for this week and we shall have a full plateia of ladies to perform the dance by then."
Fotios's upper lip curled in distaste as his plans to avoid such an event were dead in the water before they had started. This had to be one of the Queen's regular spurs of interest in the arts and likely came from some well-meaning place. It was not to her knowledge that such a tutor was poor and the results would be only an embarrassment over a positive motivation to the peoples of the kingdom.
"Then I shall see to it that the ladies practice, Tutor Alekos." He commented, smoothly. He did not wish to show any awkwardness over the decision or any rebellious intentions against the Queen's wishes. "But perhaps a less... experienced audience would encourage their confidence..."
The suggestion came with a sweeping hand gesture that summarily dismissed the man and whilst Alekos began with a noise of disregard and a bright smile that suggested no such thing to be a concern, Fotios' hard stare and resolute expression quickly made the penny drop and assure the man that such a comment was an order not a request.
With the bard uncertain in the corner but remaining nonetheless, and the tutor leaving the room with an uncertain look over his shoulder, Fotios was left alone with the ladies of the royal houses in a situation he could hardly call himself to be a willing part of.
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
Fotios was, to a certain extent, as annoyed at the girls. And this was not solely down to his not having known of such an arrangement before hand. A man who was used to knowing the ins and outs of the Taengean Court and Senate, it was an inexcuseable annoyance whenever he discovered something late or in tandem with someone else. He did not like surprises and he did not like others to witness him learning any new information the second it fell upon his ears.
But his lack of pre-knowledge was a limited frustration in comparison to the simple determination that he would not be allowing the girls of the Leventi name to embarrass themselves in any form, much less as a public spectacle that could be judged upon by all Vasiliadon residents attending such a large function. A man who thought of little more than the respect and awe that the Leventi name commanded, the cumbersome and awkward recital of dance that he had so far played witness to was not something he would permit to be shown to any outside of this room. Dafni and Imma were too young to participate for one thing - of that he would be determined - and the Lady Evangelina was too much of a wild card to be allowed to run free within a public spectacle. And Nana... Nana didn't need any more attention to go to her head.
Which, surprisingly, she seemed to agree with, if her muttered comment was anything to go by. A comment that Fotios could only hear because she happened to be on the end of the line closest to him.
If the uncultured Nana could notice that their 'skills' within this particular performance were sub-par enough to cause her to shy away from the limelight and center of attention - a place she naturally liked to be - then that was all the information anyone needed to know that Lord Alekos' suggestion was a poor one.
"Tutor Alekos..." Fotios offered, interrupting for a moment as the music dwindled under the girls' determination to dislike their instructor's latest revelation. "Might I comment that such a performance would normally require dozens of women. You'll have only a handful of such when I remove my youngest kin from your group based on their ages. You'll not have enough for an entire show..." He paused with calculation, his words turning silky. "I would not wish for diminished numbers to hinder a display of your skills as an instructor..."
This manipulation of his ego seemed to go directly over the tutor's head and Fotios felt his jaw tighten with a renewed sense of frustration over his lack of knowledge when the man replied with an easy tone and dismissive hand gesture.
"Oh, but Lord Leventi, such a concern has already been settled. It was the Queen Elise who hired me to offer these lessons and encourage a public display of them. But only once I had also instructed some of the noble ladies and more respectable merchants daughters. I have several other lessons scheduled for this week and we shall have a full plateia of ladies to perform the dance by then."
Fotios's upper lip curled in distaste as his plans to avoid such an event were dead in the water before they had started. This had to be one of the Queen's regular spurs of interest in the arts and likely came from some well-meaning place. It was not to her knowledge that such a tutor was poor and the results would be only an embarrassment over a positive motivation to the peoples of the kingdom.
"Then I shall see to it that the ladies practice, Tutor Alekos." He commented, smoothly. He did not wish to show any awkwardness over the decision or any rebellious intentions against the Queen's wishes. "But perhaps a less... experienced audience would encourage their confidence..."
The suggestion came with a sweeping hand gesture that summarily dismissed the man and whilst Alekos began with a noise of disregard and a bright smile that suggested no such thing to be a concern, Fotios' hard stare and resolute expression quickly made the penny drop and assure the man that such a comment was an order not a request.
With the bard uncertain in the corner but remaining nonetheless, and the tutor leaving the room with an uncertain look over his shoulder, Fotios was left alone with the ladies of the royal houses in a situation he could hardly call himself to be a willing part of.
Fotios was, to a certain extent, as annoyed at the girls. And this was not solely down to his not having known of such an arrangement before hand. A man who was used to knowing the ins and outs of the Taengean Court and Senate, it was an inexcuseable annoyance whenever he discovered something late or in tandem with someone else. He did not like surprises and he did not like others to witness him learning any new information the second it fell upon his ears.
But his lack of pre-knowledge was a limited frustration in comparison to the simple determination that he would not be allowing the girls of the Leventi name to embarrass themselves in any form, much less as a public spectacle that could be judged upon by all Vasiliadon residents attending such a large function. A man who thought of little more than the respect and awe that the Leventi name commanded, the cumbersome and awkward recital of dance that he had so far played witness to was not something he would permit to be shown to any outside of this room. Dafni and Imma were too young to participate for one thing - of that he would be determined - and the Lady Evangelina was too much of a wild card to be allowed to run free within a public spectacle. And Nana... Nana didn't need any more attention to go to her head.
Which, surprisingly, she seemed to agree with, if her muttered comment was anything to go by. A comment that Fotios could only hear because she happened to be on the end of the line closest to him.
If the uncultured Nana could notice that their 'skills' within this particular performance were sub-par enough to cause her to shy away from the limelight and center of attention - a place she naturally liked to be - then that was all the information anyone needed to know that Lord Alekos' suggestion was a poor one.
"Tutor Alekos..." Fotios offered, interrupting for a moment as the music dwindled under the girls' determination to dislike their instructor's latest revelation. "Might I comment that such a performance would normally require dozens of women. You'll have only a handful of such when I remove my youngest kin from your group based on their ages. You'll not have enough for an entire show..." He paused with calculation, his words turning silky. "I would not wish for diminished numbers to hinder a display of your skills as an instructor..."
This manipulation of his ego seemed to go directly over the tutor's head and Fotios felt his jaw tighten with a renewed sense of frustration over his lack of knowledge when the man replied with an easy tone and dismissive hand gesture.
"Oh, but Lord Leventi, such a concern has already been settled. It was the Queen Elise who hired me to offer these lessons and encourage a public display of them. But only once I had also instructed some of the noble ladies and more respectable merchants daughters. I have several other lessons scheduled for this week and we shall have a full plateia of ladies to perform the dance by then."
Fotios's upper lip curled in distaste as his plans to avoid such an event were dead in the water before they had started. This had to be one of the Queen's regular spurs of interest in the arts and likely came from some well-meaning place. It was not to her knowledge that such a tutor was poor and the results would be only an embarrassment over a positive motivation to the peoples of the kingdom.
"Then I shall see to it that the ladies practice, Tutor Alekos." He commented, smoothly. He did not wish to show any awkwardness over the decision or any rebellious intentions against the Queen's wishes. "But perhaps a less... experienced audience would encourage their confidence..."
The suggestion came with a sweeping hand gesture that summarily dismissed the man and whilst Alekos began with a noise of disregard and a bright smile that suggested no such thing to be a concern, Fotios' hard stare and resolute expression quickly made the penny drop and assure the man that such a comment was an order not a request.
With the bard uncertain in the corner but remaining nonetheless, and the tutor leaving the room with an uncertain look over his shoulder, Fotios was left alone with the ladies of the royal houses in a situation he could hardly call himself to be a willing part of.
It was Uncle Fotios who nudged Imma to her feet. That was all the incentive she needed to join the other girls, for she had always been a bit frightened of him. He was nothing like her father, who smiled a lot and swung her up in the air and brought her presents. Though she had only recently been mesmerized by the story he had told, now he seemed big and scary and disapproving. The girls were all holding hands and there was only room at the end, next to Nana. She grasped her sister’s hand and danced, having to take two steps while everyone else took only one because of her much shorter stride.
Then they all moved in the other direction, which was immensely perplexing to the four-year-old. Even more confusing was the instructor, who pranced toward her. He was even scarier than Uncle Fotios and she instinctively took several steps back, her blue eyes as wide as saucers. His words, spoken in his funny voice, made little sense to her. Were they supposed to be the maze itself? How could that be? Imma had never seen hedges dance. They always stayed in one place. If they moved, then nobody could ever find their way out. Besides, she wasn’t green and neither were the princesses, her sisters, and her cousins. Mazes were green.
She took another step backward when he swayed and waved his arms around. He was the creepiest person she had ever seen and she didn’t like him one little bit. It had seemed so exciting to finally be allowed to visit the palati but now all she wanted to do was go home, where everything and everyone was familiar and she didn’t have to pretend to be part of a maze. Unfortunately, the dancing was to continue and she took Nana’s hand again, this time letting her sister pull her in whichever direction the others were going.
Imma was beginning to tire when the weird tutor spoke again, explaining that they were going to perform this dance at the harvest festival. Her eyes widened again. They had to dance in front of lots of people? The little girl shivered. She hated being the center of attention and didn’t want to dance while everyone in the city watched. Nana liked to be admired, so maybe she would like it, but her sister said she wasn’t going to do it. The two princesses didn’t seem happy with the notion either.
She added her voice to her sister’s. “No,” she said simply her tone defiant. For extra emphasis, she plopped back down on her plump little bottom. Uncle Fotios spoke to the instructor, but she didn’t understand everything they said. He seemed to be taking the girls' side but the peculiar man said that the Queen wanted them to perform the dance at the festival. Even at four, Imma knew that you had to do what the King and Queen told you to. That was more important than obeying your parents. Still, she wasn’t going to do it, unaware that her uncle wasn’t going to let her perform because of her age. That was part of the conversation that she didn’t comprehend.
Finally, the creepy tutor left the room. “Do we really have to dance at the festival, Uncle Fotios?” she asked, forgetting for the moment that she was afraid of him. The dance instructor was much more frightening to the small girl and she was glad that he was gone. “I don’t want to. I’m not green.”
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
It was Uncle Fotios who nudged Imma to her feet. That was all the incentive she needed to join the other girls, for she had always been a bit frightened of him. He was nothing like her father, who smiled a lot and swung her up in the air and brought her presents. Though she had only recently been mesmerized by the story he had told, now he seemed big and scary and disapproving. The girls were all holding hands and there was only room at the end, next to Nana. She grasped her sister’s hand and danced, having to take two steps while everyone else took only one because of her much shorter stride.
Then they all moved in the other direction, which was immensely perplexing to the four-year-old. Even more confusing was the instructor, who pranced toward her. He was even scarier than Uncle Fotios and she instinctively took several steps back, her blue eyes as wide as saucers. His words, spoken in his funny voice, made little sense to her. Were they supposed to be the maze itself? How could that be? Imma had never seen hedges dance. They always stayed in one place. If they moved, then nobody could ever find their way out. Besides, she wasn’t green and neither were the princesses, her sisters, and her cousins. Mazes were green.
She took another step backward when he swayed and waved his arms around. He was the creepiest person she had ever seen and she didn’t like him one little bit. It had seemed so exciting to finally be allowed to visit the palati but now all she wanted to do was go home, where everything and everyone was familiar and she didn’t have to pretend to be part of a maze. Unfortunately, the dancing was to continue and she took Nana’s hand again, this time letting her sister pull her in whichever direction the others were going.
Imma was beginning to tire when the weird tutor spoke again, explaining that they were going to perform this dance at the harvest festival. Her eyes widened again. They had to dance in front of lots of people? The little girl shivered. She hated being the center of attention and didn’t want to dance while everyone in the city watched. Nana liked to be admired, so maybe she would like it, but her sister said she wasn’t going to do it. The two princesses didn’t seem happy with the notion either.
She added her voice to her sister’s. “No,” she said simply her tone defiant. For extra emphasis, she plopped back down on her plump little bottom. Uncle Fotios spoke to the instructor, but she didn’t understand everything they said. He seemed to be taking the girls' side but the peculiar man said that the Queen wanted them to perform the dance at the festival. Even at four, Imma knew that you had to do what the King and Queen told you to. That was more important than obeying your parents. Still, she wasn’t going to do it, unaware that her uncle wasn’t going to let her perform because of her age. That was part of the conversation that she didn’t comprehend.
Finally, the creepy tutor left the room. “Do we really have to dance at the festival, Uncle Fotios?” she asked, forgetting for the moment that she was afraid of him. The dance instructor was much more frightening to the small girl and she was glad that he was gone. “I don’t want to. I’m not green.”
It was Uncle Fotios who nudged Imma to her feet. That was all the incentive she needed to join the other girls, for she had always been a bit frightened of him. He was nothing like her father, who smiled a lot and swung her up in the air and brought her presents. Though she had only recently been mesmerized by the story he had told, now he seemed big and scary and disapproving. The girls were all holding hands and there was only room at the end, next to Nana. She grasped her sister’s hand and danced, having to take two steps while everyone else took only one because of her much shorter stride.
Then they all moved in the other direction, which was immensely perplexing to the four-year-old. Even more confusing was the instructor, who pranced toward her. He was even scarier than Uncle Fotios and she instinctively took several steps back, her blue eyes as wide as saucers. His words, spoken in his funny voice, made little sense to her. Were they supposed to be the maze itself? How could that be? Imma had never seen hedges dance. They always stayed in one place. If they moved, then nobody could ever find their way out. Besides, she wasn’t green and neither were the princesses, her sisters, and her cousins. Mazes were green.
She took another step backward when he swayed and waved his arms around. He was the creepiest person she had ever seen and she didn’t like him one little bit. It had seemed so exciting to finally be allowed to visit the palati but now all she wanted to do was go home, where everything and everyone was familiar and she didn’t have to pretend to be part of a maze. Unfortunately, the dancing was to continue and she took Nana’s hand again, this time letting her sister pull her in whichever direction the others were going.
Imma was beginning to tire when the weird tutor spoke again, explaining that they were going to perform this dance at the harvest festival. Her eyes widened again. They had to dance in front of lots of people? The little girl shivered. She hated being the center of attention and didn’t want to dance while everyone in the city watched. Nana liked to be admired, so maybe she would like it, but her sister said she wasn’t going to do it. The two princesses didn’t seem happy with the notion either.
She added her voice to her sister’s. “No,” she said simply her tone defiant. For extra emphasis, she plopped back down on her plump little bottom. Uncle Fotios spoke to the instructor, but she didn’t understand everything they said. He seemed to be taking the girls' side but the peculiar man said that the Queen wanted them to perform the dance at the festival. Even at four, Imma knew that you had to do what the King and Queen told you to. That was more important than obeying your parents. Still, she wasn’t going to do it, unaware that her uncle wasn’t going to let her perform because of her age. That was part of the conversation that she didn’t comprehend.
Finally, the creepy tutor left the room. “Do we really have to dance at the festival, Uncle Fotios?” she asked, forgetting for the moment that she was afraid of him. The dance instructor was much more frightening to the small girl and she was glad that he was gone. “I don’t want to. I’m not green.”
Why was learning to dance so difficult? This wasn’t her first time to dance but it felt like she was improving at the same rate as the other ladies. Where was the balance between standing up straight and not being stiff in her movements? Add in making sure she was always stepping in the right direction. The Lord Alekos came over several times to readjust her posture, the last time she caught Princess Gianna’s roll of her eyes and she caught herself in a midlaugh that she turned to an attempt to clear her throat but not before the tutor turned to the princess and started adjusting the princess’ wrists.
It’d have been a lie if Evangelina had said she didn’t envy her youngest cousin flopping down onto the floor and staring at the ceiling, but one glance at the annoyance radiating from her uncle decided it was the best day to join in such a little stunt. Their dance line seemed to be progressing and for the briefest of moments she looked away to glance at Imma only to find herself colliding with Princess Gianna. The pint-sized little Leventi might have been small but she packed a wallop when she was stumbled into. "Umph..." She grunted.
As the Princess bounced off of her, she reached up to grab at her to keep her standing upright but caught nothing but air. The gamble of trying to reach out for the princess though caused her own legs to entangle and send her crashing down also. Wide eyed brown eyes blinked as she lay there a moment trying to wrap her head around what had just happened. For a moment they were a tangle of limbs, thankfully the Princess was able to disentangle herself and give Evangelina the opportunity to straighten herself up. A flash of a hand in front of her face and Evangelina blinked then grasped it with a grin and jumped to her feet with the help of Princess Gianna.
“I apologize, your highness, I looked away for just a moment at…” Her gaze shifted to her cousin and cleared her throat softly offering Gianna a conspiratorial smile and shrug of her shoulders, it really didn't matter what she'd looked away at did it. Ignoring the fact that her uncle had told her to stop fidgeting with her dress earlier, the little chestnut haired girl gave a couple of less than discreet tugs on her dress and frowned, she wished she’d been in her own dress.
‘My sincerest apologies, Lord Alekos, but did you say we are to dance at the harvest festival?’ Evangelina froze, her gaze looked to the Princess who was obviously paying more attention than she was. Was that what they were talking about? Dancing. Publicly. That explained why the other girl had paled and the other girl’s looks on their faces as she glanced around them. Blinking, panic started rising up as her hair curled up out of fright. This fool couldn’t be serious!
Sending a panicked look to her uncle, he was already questioning it so her gaze darted back and forth between the dance instructor and her uncle. Butterflies started to flutter in her stomach.
‘Then I shall see to it that the ladies practice, Tutor Alekos.’ Evangelina’s spine straightened and felt her mouth open to argue about this. ‘But perhaps a less... experienced audience would encourage their confidence…’
He’d barely said the words before Imma, who had the right idea to plop down on the floor again, spoke out. ‘No.’ She wasn’t feeling very well now… This wasn’t fun at all. ‘Do we really have to dance at the festival, Uncle Fotios? I don’t want to. I’m not green.’ Evangelina bit her lip and looked at her feet, her toe was digging into the polished floor. She didn’t know what being green had to do with it but if it’d get Imma out of it then she wouldn't be green either if it got her out of it.
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
Why was learning to dance so difficult? This wasn’t her first time to dance but it felt like she was improving at the same rate as the other ladies. Where was the balance between standing up straight and not being stiff in her movements? Add in making sure she was always stepping in the right direction. The Lord Alekos came over several times to readjust her posture, the last time she caught Princess Gianna’s roll of her eyes and she caught herself in a midlaugh that she turned to an attempt to clear her throat but not before the tutor turned to the princess and started adjusting the princess’ wrists.
It’d have been a lie if Evangelina had said she didn’t envy her youngest cousin flopping down onto the floor and staring at the ceiling, but one glance at the annoyance radiating from her uncle decided it was the best day to join in such a little stunt. Their dance line seemed to be progressing and for the briefest of moments she looked away to glance at Imma only to find herself colliding with Princess Gianna. The pint-sized little Leventi might have been small but she packed a wallop when she was stumbled into. "Umph..." She grunted.
As the Princess bounced off of her, she reached up to grab at her to keep her standing upright but caught nothing but air. The gamble of trying to reach out for the princess though caused her own legs to entangle and send her crashing down also. Wide eyed brown eyes blinked as she lay there a moment trying to wrap her head around what had just happened. For a moment they were a tangle of limbs, thankfully the Princess was able to disentangle herself and give Evangelina the opportunity to straighten herself up. A flash of a hand in front of her face and Evangelina blinked then grasped it with a grin and jumped to her feet with the help of Princess Gianna.
“I apologize, your highness, I looked away for just a moment at…” Her gaze shifted to her cousin and cleared her throat softly offering Gianna a conspiratorial smile and shrug of her shoulders, it really didn't matter what she'd looked away at did it. Ignoring the fact that her uncle had told her to stop fidgeting with her dress earlier, the little chestnut haired girl gave a couple of less than discreet tugs on her dress and frowned, she wished she’d been in her own dress.
‘My sincerest apologies, Lord Alekos, but did you say we are to dance at the harvest festival?’ Evangelina froze, her gaze looked to the Princess who was obviously paying more attention than she was. Was that what they were talking about? Dancing. Publicly. That explained why the other girl had paled and the other girl’s looks on their faces as she glanced around them. Blinking, panic started rising up as her hair curled up out of fright. This fool couldn’t be serious!
Sending a panicked look to her uncle, he was already questioning it so her gaze darted back and forth between the dance instructor and her uncle. Butterflies started to flutter in her stomach.
‘Then I shall see to it that the ladies practice, Tutor Alekos.’ Evangelina’s spine straightened and felt her mouth open to argue about this. ‘But perhaps a less... experienced audience would encourage their confidence…’
He’d barely said the words before Imma, who had the right idea to plop down on the floor again, spoke out. ‘No.’ She wasn’t feeling very well now… This wasn’t fun at all. ‘Do we really have to dance at the festival, Uncle Fotios? I don’t want to. I’m not green.’ Evangelina bit her lip and looked at her feet, her toe was digging into the polished floor. She didn’t know what being green had to do with it but if it’d get Imma out of it then she wouldn't be green either if it got her out of it.
Why was learning to dance so difficult? This wasn’t her first time to dance but it felt like she was improving at the same rate as the other ladies. Where was the balance between standing up straight and not being stiff in her movements? Add in making sure she was always stepping in the right direction. The Lord Alekos came over several times to readjust her posture, the last time she caught Princess Gianna’s roll of her eyes and she caught herself in a midlaugh that she turned to an attempt to clear her throat but not before the tutor turned to the princess and started adjusting the princess’ wrists.
It’d have been a lie if Evangelina had said she didn’t envy her youngest cousin flopping down onto the floor and staring at the ceiling, but one glance at the annoyance radiating from her uncle decided it was the best day to join in such a little stunt. Their dance line seemed to be progressing and for the briefest of moments she looked away to glance at Imma only to find herself colliding with Princess Gianna. The pint-sized little Leventi might have been small but she packed a wallop when she was stumbled into. "Umph..." She grunted.
As the Princess bounced off of her, she reached up to grab at her to keep her standing upright but caught nothing but air. The gamble of trying to reach out for the princess though caused her own legs to entangle and send her crashing down also. Wide eyed brown eyes blinked as she lay there a moment trying to wrap her head around what had just happened. For a moment they were a tangle of limbs, thankfully the Princess was able to disentangle herself and give Evangelina the opportunity to straighten herself up. A flash of a hand in front of her face and Evangelina blinked then grasped it with a grin and jumped to her feet with the help of Princess Gianna.
“I apologize, your highness, I looked away for just a moment at…” Her gaze shifted to her cousin and cleared her throat softly offering Gianna a conspiratorial smile and shrug of her shoulders, it really didn't matter what she'd looked away at did it. Ignoring the fact that her uncle had told her to stop fidgeting with her dress earlier, the little chestnut haired girl gave a couple of less than discreet tugs on her dress and frowned, she wished she’d been in her own dress.
‘My sincerest apologies, Lord Alekos, but did you say we are to dance at the harvest festival?’ Evangelina froze, her gaze looked to the Princess who was obviously paying more attention than she was. Was that what they were talking about? Dancing. Publicly. That explained why the other girl had paled and the other girl’s looks on their faces as she glanced around them. Blinking, panic started rising up as her hair curled up out of fright. This fool couldn’t be serious!
Sending a panicked look to her uncle, he was already questioning it so her gaze darted back and forth between the dance instructor and her uncle. Butterflies started to flutter in her stomach.
‘Then I shall see to it that the ladies practice, Tutor Alekos.’ Evangelina’s spine straightened and felt her mouth open to argue about this. ‘But perhaps a less... experienced audience would encourage their confidence…’
He’d barely said the words before Imma, who had the right idea to plop down on the floor again, spoke out. ‘No.’ She wasn’t feeling very well now… This wasn’t fun at all. ‘Do we really have to dance at the festival, Uncle Fotios? I don’t want to. I’m not green.’ Evangelina bit her lip and looked at her feet, her toe was digging into the polished floor. She didn’t know what being green had to do with it but if it’d get Imma out of it then she wouldn't be green either if it got her out of it.
Xene herself was not pleased with the news that had landed itself in her lap. Queen Elise had never once expressed that this lesson would go further than this, and this was frustrating, to say the very least. But if this was what her mother wanted, then this was what her mother would get. Would the performance be anything close to good? No, it would probably appear as if it were supposed to belong to a circus act, but if the queen wanted to push a gaggle of young ladies into one of the most embarrassing moments of their lives, then who was the princess to reject the idea?
She simply did not like that she had not been warned. Finding out things such as this secondhand was not something that ever pleased the princess, and Gianna's and Evangelina's clashing of bodies did not immediately register as she stared hard at the tutor and then at Lord Fotios. Ever the stoic lady, she did show her displeasure, but she still would not voice it and her gaze then flickered toward her dancing partners, wondering how far they could be pushed before they would dig their heels in about the dance. Not everyone was cut out to perform in front of an audience, and Xene did not have high hopes for whatever performance the queen was expecting from a group of young girls.
The young Lady Imma seemed keen to express her displeasure over having to dance in front of others and Xene found herself biting her tongue inside of her mouth so that she didn't add to the mounting feeling of discomfort and frustration in the room. Wanting to soothe the ladies rather than add to their panic, the princess glanced about. "Admittedly, if we all practice," the princess said slowly, "Together and often, it will not be a poor performance, no matter the audience," the princess encouraged calmly. "But that means we have to run through this dance again while our lovely mentor still stands in this room," she said lightly, her gaze now darting to Tutor Alekos in an effort to encourage him to move the group along into another dance set before the lesson seemed to devolve even further into complaints and anxiety from the younger girls.
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
Xene herself was not pleased with the news that had landed itself in her lap. Queen Elise had never once expressed that this lesson would go further than this, and this was frustrating, to say the very least. But if this was what her mother wanted, then this was what her mother would get. Would the performance be anything close to good? No, it would probably appear as if it were supposed to belong to a circus act, but if the queen wanted to push a gaggle of young ladies into one of the most embarrassing moments of their lives, then who was the princess to reject the idea?
She simply did not like that she had not been warned. Finding out things such as this secondhand was not something that ever pleased the princess, and Gianna's and Evangelina's clashing of bodies did not immediately register as she stared hard at the tutor and then at Lord Fotios. Ever the stoic lady, she did show her displeasure, but she still would not voice it and her gaze then flickered toward her dancing partners, wondering how far they could be pushed before they would dig their heels in about the dance. Not everyone was cut out to perform in front of an audience, and Xene did not have high hopes for whatever performance the queen was expecting from a group of young girls.
The young Lady Imma seemed keen to express her displeasure over having to dance in front of others and Xene found herself biting her tongue inside of her mouth so that she didn't add to the mounting feeling of discomfort and frustration in the room. Wanting to soothe the ladies rather than add to their panic, the princess glanced about. "Admittedly, if we all practice," the princess said slowly, "Together and often, it will not be a poor performance, no matter the audience," the princess encouraged calmly. "But that means we have to run through this dance again while our lovely mentor still stands in this room," she said lightly, her gaze now darting to Tutor Alekos in an effort to encourage him to move the group along into another dance set before the lesson seemed to devolve even further into complaints and anxiety from the younger girls.
Xene herself was not pleased with the news that had landed itself in her lap. Queen Elise had never once expressed that this lesson would go further than this, and this was frustrating, to say the very least. But if this was what her mother wanted, then this was what her mother would get. Would the performance be anything close to good? No, it would probably appear as if it were supposed to belong to a circus act, but if the queen wanted to push a gaggle of young ladies into one of the most embarrassing moments of their lives, then who was the princess to reject the idea?
She simply did not like that she had not been warned. Finding out things such as this secondhand was not something that ever pleased the princess, and Gianna's and Evangelina's clashing of bodies did not immediately register as she stared hard at the tutor and then at Lord Fotios. Ever the stoic lady, she did show her displeasure, but she still would not voice it and her gaze then flickered toward her dancing partners, wondering how far they could be pushed before they would dig their heels in about the dance. Not everyone was cut out to perform in front of an audience, and Xene did not have high hopes for whatever performance the queen was expecting from a group of young girls.
The young Lady Imma seemed keen to express her displeasure over having to dance in front of others and Xene found herself biting her tongue inside of her mouth so that she didn't add to the mounting feeling of discomfort and frustration in the room. Wanting to soothe the ladies rather than add to their panic, the princess glanced about. "Admittedly, if we all practice," the princess said slowly, "Together and often, it will not be a poor performance, no matter the audience," the princess encouraged calmly. "But that means we have to run through this dance again while our lovely mentor still stands in this room," she said lightly, her gaze now darting to Tutor Alekos in an effort to encourage him to move the group along into another dance set before the lesson seemed to devolve even further into complaints and anxiety from the younger girls.
It was one of those rare occasions when Fotios hadn't thought everything through to its complete conclusion. Usually, human beings were fairly predictable. They worked in a simple manner, driven by power, money or sex. They operated on a system of validity. The more someone flattered and made them feel significant or important, the more confident they became. With confidence came the discarding of the shackles of fear, which meant that they often failed to think through their choices completely. Which allowed a smooth talker or a skilled manipulator to adjust their perspectives and give them just the lightest of nudges in the direction they wished. If they were confident enough, they jumped fine all by themselves.
These were the rules that Fotios knew and followed in most of his dealings with other people. He could map, in his mind, the spiderweb of choices that each person involved in a situation might take, following one of their guttural instincts. He could estimate the chances of each course or pattern, adapt his delivery to increase the ratios in his favour and then be assured that regardless of which path was taken by which social pawn, the end result was to his benefit.
Yet, this time, through his annoyance with the melodramatic piece of fluff that was the dance instructor, Fotios had fallen for his own natural ego and ended up becoming the hero of the situation in the eyes of some of the girls. This was generally the opposite of the aim of manipulations; the confidence should have been in themselves than in him.
‘Do we really have to dance at the festival, Uncle Fotios?’
“If the king has said so.” Fotios answered, having every intention of ensuring that Imma was released from the obligation – she was too young – but not willing to pass up the opportunity for a life lesson in doing as you were told.
As if to prove the futility of speaking before you think, Fotios was suddenly amongst a gaggle of little ladies who were fearful of performing in front of a crowd and now demanding that Fotios be their mentor amongst the group.
He had promised to do one thing. One thing. Deliver Dafni and Evangelina to the dance practice at the palati. It was all he had oathed to do and all that he had vowed his time to. Now, of course, he was stuck. Because he couldn't turn down the princess of the kingdom in her request that they all remain in order to dance and practice under his shrewd watch, so that they might improve enough for the festival. A festival that Fotios thought was stupid all round.
This is what you get when you do favours for other people... Fotios thought to himself as he waved the girls to continue and allowed them to use him as a mythology expert for the rest of the damn day.
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
It was one of those rare occasions when Fotios hadn't thought everything through to its complete conclusion. Usually, human beings were fairly predictable. They worked in a simple manner, driven by power, money or sex. They operated on a system of validity. The more someone flattered and made them feel significant or important, the more confident they became. With confidence came the discarding of the shackles of fear, which meant that they often failed to think through their choices completely. Which allowed a smooth talker or a skilled manipulator to adjust their perspectives and give them just the lightest of nudges in the direction they wished. If they were confident enough, they jumped fine all by themselves.
These were the rules that Fotios knew and followed in most of his dealings with other people. He could map, in his mind, the spiderweb of choices that each person involved in a situation might take, following one of their guttural instincts. He could estimate the chances of each course or pattern, adapt his delivery to increase the ratios in his favour and then be assured that regardless of which path was taken by which social pawn, the end result was to his benefit.
Yet, this time, through his annoyance with the melodramatic piece of fluff that was the dance instructor, Fotios had fallen for his own natural ego and ended up becoming the hero of the situation in the eyes of some of the girls. This was generally the opposite of the aim of manipulations; the confidence should have been in themselves than in him.
‘Do we really have to dance at the festival, Uncle Fotios?’
“If the king has said so.” Fotios answered, having every intention of ensuring that Imma was released from the obligation – she was too young – but not willing to pass up the opportunity for a life lesson in doing as you were told.
As if to prove the futility of speaking before you think, Fotios was suddenly amongst a gaggle of little ladies who were fearful of performing in front of a crowd and now demanding that Fotios be their mentor amongst the group.
He had promised to do one thing. One thing. Deliver Dafni and Evangelina to the dance practice at the palati. It was all he had oathed to do and all that he had vowed his time to. Now, of course, he was stuck. Because he couldn't turn down the princess of the kingdom in her request that they all remain in order to dance and practice under his shrewd watch, so that they might improve enough for the festival. A festival that Fotios thought was stupid all round.
This is what you get when you do favours for other people... Fotios thought to himself as he waved the girls to continue and allowed them to use him as a mythology expert for the rest of the damn day.
It was one of those rare occasions when Fotios hadn't thought everything through to its complete conclusion. Usually, human beings were fairly predictable. They worked in a simple manner, driven by power, money or sex. They operated on a system of validity. The more someone flattered and made them feel significant or important, the more confident they became. With confidence came the discarding of the shackles of fear, which meant that they often failed to think through their choices completely. Which allowed a smooth talker or a skilled manipulator to adjust their perspectives and give them just the lightest of nudges in the direction they wished. If they were confident enough, they jumped fine all by themselves.
These were the rules that Fotios knew and followed in most of his dealings with other people. He could map, in his mind, the spiderweb of choices that each person involved in a situation might take, following one of their guttural instincts. He could estimate the chances of each course or pattern, adapt his delivery to increase the ratios in his favour and then be assured that regardless of which path was taken by which social pawn, the end result was to his benefit.
Yet, this time, through his annoyance with the melodramatic piece of fluff that was the dance instructor, Fotios had fallen for his own natural ego and ended up becoming the hero of the situation in the eyes of some of the girls. This was generally the opposite of the aim of manipulations; the confidence should have been in themselves than in him.
‘Do we really have to dance at the festival, Uncle Fotios?’
“If the king has said so.” Fotios answered, having every intention of ensuring that Imma was released from the obligation – she was too young – but not willing to pass up the opportunity for a life lesson in doing as you were told.
As if to prove the futility of speaking before you think, Fotios was suddenly amongst a gaggle of little ladies who were fearful of performing in front of a crowd and now demanding that Fotios be their mentor amongst the group.
He had promised to do one thing. One thing. Deliver Dafni and Evangelina to the dance practice at the palati. It was all he had oathed to do and all that he had vowed his time to. Now, of course, he was stuck. Because he couldn't turn down the princess of the kingdom in her request that they all remain in order to dance and practice under his shrewd watch, so that they might improve enough for the festival. A festival that Fotios thought was stupid all round.
This is what you get when you do favours for other people... Fotios thought to himself as he waved the girls to continue and allowed them to use him as a mythology expert for the rest of the damn day.