Sophie
Human
Ex-Servant Girl}}Strength{2} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{2}
Posts: 26
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Post by Sophie on Feb 14, 2013 20:24:11 GMT -5
DATE: Solace 9:39 Dragon TIME: Early Evening LOCATION: Imperial Palace: Ground Floor "Is it true? ... Is... Camon dead?" Karlotta said with a soft voice and large dark eyes. Sophie always thought the girl had the most beautiful eyes, they were wide and round like marbles. She had a thick Antivan look about her. Dark long hair, dark chocolatey brown eyes, tan skin. Her parents were from Antiva and apparently came over here for refuge, according to the young girl. They sold her into servitude in order to bring home money to support the family. Sophie remembered the first day Karlotta came to the palace, it was 3 years after she joined. They became instant close friends; shared interests in the same things, had common hobbies, and were both a lot alike. Sophie considered her more of a sister than that Vivianne. Sophie nodded her head as she turned back to the partially cleaned plate in the wash basin, "He didn't agree with Gespard's views. The Emperor has been killing everyone who even as much as disagrees with him." Her blue eyes grew weary as she set the plate at the towel on the counter, and then grabbed a dirty bowl with leftover soup. She poured the leftover soup into the scrap basin on the floor near her feet, before taking the large sponge and scrubbing the inside. Her head turned to the dark haired girl next to her, "You have to prove your loyalty, Karly," her fingers let go of the edges of the bowl and it fell with a crack at the bottom of the metallic basin. It sent a jolt through her, but her stayed fixed on Karlotta's. "He'll kill you too if you don't. Please." Her hands left the basin and fell onto the girl's shoulders. Karlotta looked down at her feet in shame, and it made Sophie confused, "I... already have, Sophie. I had no other way to convince him... He made me-"Sophie stopped the girl right there. She already knew what she was going to say. Dear Maker, what had this guy done? First, he killed the man she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with. Even if she didn't know the man well, it still showed Sophie the Emperor's true colors. She watched that young man hang from the rope as his life was snuffed out of his eyes. Then, he decides to threaten her and her family. Not directly, but others made it clear to them that it would mean their heads if they refused. Now, he thought it right to take advantage of her best friend! She was just a girl, age 19. She hadn't even kissed a boy in her life! "Oh, Karly," Sophie called her by the nickname she gave her and she lunged forward and took the young girl into her arms. She held her there in a small embrace as she felt a single tear fall upon her shoulder. "I haven't seen my parents in almost 4 years. I don't know what to do. I-I don't want to stay here, not like this." Karlotta tightened her arms around Sophie as she spoke, another tear falling from her large brown eyes. "I just want a life like all the other girls. Living in a small house out in the country somewhere with the man of my dreams. Our daughter and son tucked into bed with a pet of our own.""I know Karly. I do too. And you will, one day, when you finally get away from here.""And if that never happens?"Sophie stared at her after the comment. Her sad eyes turned blank with indifference and a hint of shock. She had never asked herself that before. What if that day never came? What if she was never able to leave this place and Karly ended up becoming a concubine to the Emperor. Or herself? She saw how it was tearing Karlotta apart, everything she ever held close to her heart was now gone. Her parents had practically given up on her on a personal level. Like she wasn't even their daughter, just a source of income. The blonde turned back to the wash basin and picked up the bowl from the bottom, wiping a dry towel across it and placing it with the rest of the clean dishes. There was only a small crack in the side, but it wasn't enough to deem it useless. It still held liquids in. "They'll get rid of us sometime. If rumors are true about the Emperor, he prefers his women young. Once we hit at least 25, he'll be bound to kick us out." And there was some truth there too. Not one of the servants were over 30. There used to be an older gal who worked as a cook, but she disappeared a couple years ago. Everyone just assumed that she left willingly. Karlotta
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Nathaniel de Beniér
Human
}}Strength{3} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{1}
I'm not paranoid. I'm just careful.
Posts: 40
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Post by Nathaniel de Beniér on Feb 15, 2013 7:24:26 GMT -5
The Picture of Nathaniel de Beniér in his youth. Original image by marinad24 on deviantart, original concept "The Picture of Dorian Gray". LinkThey were the days when Nathaniel still used to roam around the Imperial Castle, protected by his noble status. He would occasionally scoop up servants to warm his bed, albeit rarely, and only those who were in Gespard's service; he knew the price you had to pay for bedding one of the Emperor's angels. He hadn't been to war yet, and his features were yet unmarred and unblemished, his Youth naked on his face for all to see and wonder at. But inside, he had a taste for passion.
Oft times he wondered if Gespar just took his women from a local brothel, seeing them so willing; but then, there were always young serving women, eager to please the Emperor. And so, as he came upon two ripe maids, whispering something to each other, he chuckled and meant to pass them by. He kept on smiling until he saw the tears.
Tears and crying were common amongst women, true, especially among Gespard's whores: it was common knowledge that the Emperor treated his women roughly. But although he saw the tears, saw the despair on her face, he knew that he shouldn't interfere. If one of Gespard's spies saw him, it could mean the end of them both. The Emperor was paranoid, it was said.
But Nathaniel was young, comely, and retained an appetite for women. More besides, he hadn't had one since the beady-eyed brunette from last month. He remembered how good it had felt, and wanted to feel it again. So he moved closer, coughed politely and adopted a concerned face.
"Is something amiss, my ladies? I saw you crying. I couldn't just walk by without noticing that." Nathaniel said, smiling uncertainly. He trusted in his beautiful features, unblemished by war and unaffected by passion, to win his words true.
[rand=55619199572268330931157552464827500172469753111159645466172928518362]
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Sophie
Human
Ex-Servant Girl}}Strength{2} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{2}
Posts: 26
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Post by Sophie on Feb 17, 2013 17:30:20 GMT -5
"You-you think so?" The brunette's eyes grew wider on Sophie as the blonde grabbed a glass with red lipstick stains around the rim. She was worried about her friend, about her well-being. She prayed that Karly wouldn't begin roaming the palace in melancholy like she was now. She couldn't make herself suspicious, nor show her displeasure. If she made it obvious around the Emperor, it would make him displeased and who knows what he'd do in that kind of mood.
All Sophie could do was nod her head. Did she truly believe what she said? Maybe. There was some truth to it, but she didn't have all the answers. With a girl like Karly, however, Sophie felt like she was the protective older sister, even sometimes a mother; like she had to look out for her. No-one else did the job, and it was evident the young Antivan was a dependent girl.
She wanted so much to leave the place, but a part of her felt like she needed to stay for Karlotta. She feared what would happen to the girl if she was left here on her own. She'd have no-one to confide in, no-one to go to for help, no-one to listen to her or protect her. Gespard could surely break the girl of her sanity, or what was left of it.
"You have to stay strong-"
"I'm not strong like you, Sophie," Karly cut her off with another tear falling down her tan cheek. "I never will be. You've always been the one to hold me up. You always know the right things to stay. You've always been so optimistic about life, even as crappy as this one. I don't know how to be like you. I don't know how you do it."
Her worlds nearly brought another tear to Sophie's eye, but she was able to mask it when another voice came into the kitchen. Karlotta jumped in surprise before backing away from both of them suddenly. "I'm sorry," she choked out as she turned away and ran out of the kitchen quickly.
It was a man's voice, young. She didn't believe she recognized it. Sophie turned around to face while hurrying to wipe a tear from her eye before he could comment on it. The man looked familiar though, she figured she had seen him around the palace a few times. By the looks of his clothing he was definitely nobility. He had a strong face, though unblemished; the years so far had been good to him. But that's what you got with someone who had the money to take care of themselves. Sophie figured it'd be the same for her if she hadn't left her parents' estate.
He seemed kind enough too. By his words, he seemed to take some care in the feelings of others, but that remained to be seen. He could have just seen an opportunity in two weak young girls, or he was sent by the Emperor to make sure they weren't up to no good. Either way, she kept up her polite charade by giving him a curtsey, "It is nothing, Monsiour. I am almost done with the dishes, I assure you." She kept her head down to ensure her not making eye-contact with him. It was rude for a girl of her current status to do so with nobility or the Emperor. To keep your head down was a sign of submission, and made sure to let all the servants know they were mere maids. They were to respect their betters, such as this man before her.
Sophie learned her lesson. The last time she made eye-contact with a nobleman, she got a hand across her face that left a red mark on her cheek for the rest of the week.
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Nathaniel de Beniér
Human
}}Strength{3} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{1}
I'm not paranoid. I'm just careful.
Posts: 40
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Post by Nathaniel de Beniér on Feb 18, 2013 3:02:10 GMT -5
The young noble gave a start when the crying woman sobbed an apology, turned her heels and ran away, right after blabbering on about how she could never be as strong as the golden-haired one. He had half a mind to shout after her, but even as he opened his mouth, the other woman turned, perplexed.
She had a slender face, two beautiful eyes and long locks of golden hair to compliment her, and he thought her beautiful. Her hair fell fairly around her bosom, as if cradling it, and the way she looked at him made him shudder a little. When she spoke, however, he found his way back into reality. Abashed, he said:
"I would not have believed you a... washerwoman, or a servant, by merely looking at you. Believe me, I would not." It was the truth of it, he supposed. He smiled, knowing its effect; like a candle lit in the dark, he had seen his own beauty in the mirror and cherished it. But he never guessed how vain he was, and he could never see the marks it left.
"I would rather have you not look down when speaking to me. I don't require any gestures of submission or humility from your or any servant here." He tapped his lips, giving her another of his looks. A look of recognition passed over his face.
"You are not lowborn, are you?" Nathaniel said, smiling.
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Sophie
Human
Ex-Servant Girl}}Strength{2} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{2}
Posts: 26
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Post by Sophie on Feb 22, 2013 16:50:47 GMT -5
Sophie was taken aback when he said that he didn't recognize her as one of the servants. You mean she didn't look messy and worn out with bags under eyes? Her dress wasn't covered in dust and grime, and her hair wasn't falling loose in places like it hadn't been brushed? That was a switch. Normally it seemed obvious to other nobles that she was one of the homely maids to make their dinner and clean their tracks. But she guessed she did still look nice. She was a pretty girl, that was undeniable. Despite her being a servant, she still got her fair share of looks from other men. But what young thing didn't around here?
Why was this man being so nice to her? It almost felt like there was an ulterior motive. Was this an act? Maybe he really was sent by Gespard to spy on her, but for what reason? Everyone knew the Emperor had been becoming a lot more suspicious lately, even of the servants. Of course, ever since the man took the throne, he was suspicious. She couldn't understand why someone would want a job so much that would induce so much anxiety and paranoia. Though, she always saw the same factors in her father. Not so much like the Emperor, but similar. She just wasn't one who thirsted for power, so maybe it wasn't something she would ever understand.
And then he told her to look up. This man definitely was not like the others, but she followed his directions and rose her head. As her eyes met his, her cheeks blushed hues of pinks and reds. It was awkward to look up at him, she was so unused to it. A part of her refrained from flinching as half of her expected a slap in the face, despite her being told to do so.
She shook her head in response to his question, "My father is the Marquis of Val Chevin. They forced me to become a servant here at the Palace when I was seventeen. I've been here ever since." No doubt he would know who her father was. Now she just waited for his reaction. He'd either turn and walk away, or it would peek his interest even more.
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Nathaniel de Beniér
Human
}}Strength{3} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{1}
I'm not paranoid. I'm just careful.
Posts: 40
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Post by Nathaniel de Beniér on Feb 22, 2013 17:23:34 GMT -5
Nathaniel drew in the sight of her. Despite the rough treatment she'd received, the woman was still a pretty sight. He continued smiling at her, unsure of what else he could do. Uncomfortable looking up to someone - it must've been horrible, Nathaniel reflected. When she told of his father, however, Nathaniel's smile only widened. If she truly was so nobly born... well, he did not have any other option than to help her.
"So I see. The Emperor is a vain man, it seems, to want high-born ladies serving her so... literally."
His voice was but a whisper.
"I will not say 'if you need', I say 'when you need', as I know you will be in need soon enough. I can... help you. This, however, is not a good place to talk. When your duties end, I will be waiting somewhere in town. An inn, the smallest and most remote there is. From there, we will go to my house. And then we can talk."
His smile died, fell from his lips like dead leaves crumbling into ash.
"Think about it. If you have any words to say, now would be the time to say them."
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Sophie
Human
Ex-Servant Girl}}Strength{2} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{2}
Posts: 26
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Post by Sophie on Feb 22, 2013 19:32:48 GMT -5
The man had a nice smile, a warm smile. The kind of smile someone with no care in the world, would give. And why would he? He was wealthy, healthy, and had great looks. He most definitely had everything going for him and his future. But one thing didn't change, no matter who you were, you still had to worry about the Emperor. Considering he was standing here in front of her, he must have already sworn his loyalty to her, but even if you were the Emperor's wife, you'd still have to watch every move you made. One wrong move, and it could be your head.
Like Camon.
She wasn't surprised when his smile grew wider, when she told him who she was. It certainly didn't scare him away, she just wished she knew what was running through his mind at this point. Did he see this even more of an opportunity? Or did he have something in mind?
It seems he did. He continued on, telling her that he was there if she needed any "help". That they should meet that night at an inn to have a private discussion about whatever it was she needed help with. What could she possibly need help with? Her life was just fine! She was just doing very well here at the palace on her own.
Hell, who was she kidding? She was living the very life she never wanted to live! When she thought about her future as a child, this wasn't what she had in mind. Waiting on everyone, hand and foot? This wasn't who she was. She deserved more than this. She deserved a regular life with a regular family. She didn't want to be caught up in the noble life, nor serving them. They had feet! They could get their own pies. They could wash their own clothes.
She was tired of waking up every morning, living every day in fear of hoping to please the man she hated. It was like being married to your worst enemy.
This was an opportunity to finally start a new life. This man was offering to help her with this dream. Only thing was she barely knew him. He was asking her to meet in the darkest of night and taker her to his home! Of course, the place where she was most vulnerable, and where he was most comfortable. He could be planning to kill her, he could be working with Gespard, heck, by the looks in his eyes he was probably planning something even worse!
But she couldn't help but ponder his words. Normally with such a proposition, she'd have immediately said no, but this was something different. He was offering her something she had been waiting for since she entered those great doors.
"How do I know I can trust you? I don't even know your name," even amongst the internal battle commencing inside her, a worried smile appeared on her pale pink face.
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Nathaniel de Beniér
Human
}}Strength{3} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{1}
I'm not paranoid. I'm just careful.
Posts: 40
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Post by Nathaniel de Beniér on Feb 23, 2013 4:46:38 GMT -5
Nathaniel was about to turn away, when the woman said: "How do I know I can trust you? I don't even know your name."
He turned back and looked at her. Soon his mouth opened into another grin, more hearty this time.
"You're clever. I was hoping I would not have to say my name in the palace, but if my lady so insists, I have the honor to be Nathaniel de Beniér."
His father knew the Marquis rather well, though that was quite common among the nobility in Val Royeaux; what made his family important, however, was their remarkable wealth. Nathaniel had been described to 'wear his family's wealth on him', but it was an overstatement. He didn't wear clothes made of pure gold, after all.
"You may tell me your name at the inn or now, but I do want to hear it either way."
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Sophie
Human
Ex-Servant Girl}}Strength{2} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{2}
Posts: 26
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Post by Sophie on Feb 24, 2013 1:34:42 GMT -5
Nathaniel Benier. The surname definitely sounded familiar. A Benier would come around the estate often and visit her father when she was younger. By the looks of this man, Nathaniel, he could have been that man's son. He certainly had the face and expression. The look of power and wealth. Still, she didn't remember ever seeing the man's son ever come around. Though, it was possible that she wasn't even paying enough attention to notice. Sophie kept her mouth shut. Despite him giving his name, she decided it was best to give hers when they met that night... IF they met. She couldn't deny that struggle that was still churning inside her at the moment. He still didn't give her any reason to trust him. "I'll see you tonight, then," Sophie bowed her head slightly before backing away from him and turning the other direction. She honestly wanted to be far away from him as possible at the moment. The quicker she could be alone, the longer she'd have to think about this because Maker only knew she was at war. ----- The Sun was already far below the horizon. The Emperor was locked away in his sleeping quarters, and Sophie was locked away in hers. She had finished her nightly duties which meant that it was lights out for her and the rest of the maids. Unless one was woken up in the middle of the night because the Emperor wanted some late night Ale. It wouldn't be the first time that had happened. His guards would come bursting through the small wooden door waking up half the staff for one of them to pour the sleepless Gespard a chalice of alcohol... Or something else. Karlotta was already fast asleep in her small bed. The moonlight that shined through the small window, casted a soft light on the young girl's peaceful face. But Sophie was far from that. She was sitting up in her bed still dealing with the internal struggle of whether to meet that strange man or not. There wasn't an inch of her that trusted this Nathaniel, but yet, there was a part of her that was curious. Curious as to whether he could really help her or not. Whether he was actually being truthful to her. Besides, even if she chose to meet him, who says she could leave the palace successfully? This place was locked up tight, there was a guard around every corner. There was even a guard standing on the other side of the door. How was she possibly going to leave the quarters? That was when Sophie's eyes drifted back up to the window. She rose from the small bed and walked to it, resting her arms on the stone still and leaning forward. This was probably the only time that she was gazing out of the window for reasons other than star-watching. But that was when she realize another set-back: they were on the second floor. Good thing? The stone near the window had a set of vines rising from the ground. Sophie reached out, her arm swinging around the outside to grab one of the vines. She tugged on it it a bit with some force to test it's strength. She didn't want to hop on it to only fall to her impending death. It didn't break, though, and the thick vines around it helped keep it in place and the end was embedded into a small crack in the stone. She grabbed the side of her dress and kicked up her right leg, setting her foot on the sill to hoist herself up. She held onto the sides of the windows as she remained crouched in the hole of the window. "Don't look down. Don't look down," Sophie repeated to herself over and over, forcing her sight fixed on the thick vines next to her on the outside wall. "Why am I doing this again?" She asked herself as her hand slowly moved off the side of the window to the vine. If there was any time to turn back, this was the time. After this, there would be no turning back. Once she hit the ground, her main concern would be staying out of the sight of the ground guards who were on watch at this moment. At this moment, there were four out at the main gates, while two were the at the Great Doors of the palace, and two up above the wall at the entrance gates, overlooking the world beyond. Of course, this place would be heavily guarded. The fact that it was the Emperor's home coupled with the fact that the Emperor himself was more paranoid than the mages, it was to be expected. But it made it even harder to convince Sophie to continue on. Still, there was that force inside her, pushing her, as her tiny frail hand gripped the vine and the next thing she knew, she was swinging off the window and hanging on the side of the palace like a squirrel. It took most of her unused strength to prevent her from letting out a squeal or two, but she stopped to take a breather and gather her thoughts. Over and over, she was telling herself not to look down. She didn't have a fear of heights, but a situation like this definitely instilled that fear into a person. "There's only a few feet to go." Okay, a "few feet" was wishful thinking. It was more like two full stories, but she needed to do everything possible to keep herself from panicking. One wrong move and it'd mean her death, or at least getting noticed by the men below. Which was why she couldn't waste anymore time. As quickly and safely as she could, she moved down the vines until her feet hit the dewy grass. She felt like kneeling down and kissing the ground. How long had it been since she felt the grass beneath her feet? Since she felt the cool wild air brush against her face and through her blonde locks? It felt like ages. She had grown so accustomed inside the Palace walls, that she forgot what nature really felt like. The footsteps of the guards several yards away snapped her out of her trance and forced her to duck into the nearby bushes. The only thing she had going for her at this point was the fact that most of the grounds was covered in thick layers of brush. It was her only means of safety, really. And after minutes of weaving in and out of bushes and trees, staying out of sight and mind of the guards around her, she managed to reach the other side... Alive. The next obstacle was the large stone wall separating her from the outside world. Thankfully, she was far from the entrance which meant there was still a possibility of climbing over the wall without being noticed. Like the palace walls, this great wall was just as susceptible to vines, and she used them to her advantage to work her up and over. Was this it? Was she really over? A wave of emotions flowed through her as her feet glided across the grass. What was keeping her from staying? She could easily stay, escape from the servant life. She could run, and keep running until she couldn't run anymore. But then what if they found her? They'd wake up the next morning to find her gone, and then they'd probably send out a search party for her. She'd have a huge bounty on her back and surely be killed within the first few days. What kind of life would that be? She wanted to live a life of freedom, not having to look over her shoulder every minute for fear of being killed. That was the very life she was already living! She'd have to constantly be running and wouldn't be able to settle down to start a family as she wished. She'd rather live at the Palace, with some form of security and life. At least it gave her a place to stay and fill her stomach. The city was still bustling, even in the depth of night. Sure, there weren't as many out as there would have been if the sun was up, but there were still enough people on their way to their homes that she could easily blend in. Sophie tightened the shawl around her shoulders as she made it through the city streets. Just on the outskirts of the city, there was an Inn, just as a lone stranger informed her. And not wanting to be out here alone any longer, she hurried onward to the small lonely Inn, hoping to find the man there still waiting for her.
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Nathaniel de Beniér
Human
}}Strength{3} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{1}
I'm not paranoid. I'm just careful.
Posts: 40
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Post by Nathaniel de Beniér on Mar 3, 2013 16:38:33 GMT -5
Nathaniel looked through the inn's dirty window, observing the occasional passersby to kill some time before the appointment. He was ninety-five percent sure that Sophie would take up his offer. Why shouldn't she? Her life was a ruin, and the prospect of the Emperor's cock being forced upon her was a constant threat she had to deal with. Truth is, he wanted someone to rely on on the inside. It was a great game the Orlesians played. Some called it the Great Game, some the Game of Thrones, some merely politics, but Nathaniel preferred not to mention it at all. It had a tendency to drive people uncomfortable.
Nathaniel had been waiting for an hour, and his last few hours he had spent without any food or drink. He felt starved and thirsty. He could order them both some wine, the best vintage this shack had to offer. That would help somewhat, though the real nourishment would be served at his manor. When they were safely in there, he could introduce Sophie to his parents; Sophie, daughter of the Marquis of Val Royeaux; Sophie, his new friend. That would no doubt please them: another insider spying for the Beniérs, and if she ever managed to get close to the Emperor, they could hear a lot. There was no telling what you could hear during pillow talk.
A few more minutes passed. They began to add up into halves of an hour, then adding up into hours, until it had gotten almost pitch-black outside. Nathaniel began to wonder whether she was coming after all. Maybe they caught her? Could be possible. It wasn't easy escaping from the Palace. Then he saw a woman walking up the street. A relieved smile lit up Nathaniel's features. When she was about half-way to the inn, he sprung to action: he rose up from his seat and opened the door for her, peeking a head through to smile briefly at her before letting her in. When she was safely inside, he led her to his table. The bartender, a lean, dark man, brought them a bottle of red. On the label it read: "Antiva, 9:38 Dragon".
"Not the best wine, I suppose," Nathaniel said with a smile, "but at least it won't lack in taste or spiciness." He poured her first, then to himself, filling their goblets to the brim. He offered her an apologetic expression.
"I'm really sorry that you had to bother all the way. I promise that you won't leave without help. The right help. But we'll talk more of that later, yes?"
He laughed and sipped from his wine. It was so strong and spicy that it made him cough. An afterthought hit him. It was better to be truthful with this woman. She was a possible ally, after all.
"Whatever they put in this, it's made to suit Antivan tongues. I'm quite interested on how you managed to get here, though. I know I wouldn't have been able to pull it off... but to you, escaping from the Royal Palace seems to be a daily routine."
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Sophie
Human
Ex-Servant Girl}}Strength{2} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{2}
Posts: 26
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Post by Sophie on Mar 4, 2013 23:18:07 GMT -5
It was small, and it didn't look very busy either. She wondered if she even came to the right place, but this was where the stranger had led her. Surely they'd tell her if there was more than one isolated small Inn! There weren't very many of those in the Heartlands of Orlais, considering it was one of the busiest places in all of Thedas. One of the only places you could go to at night and still find people wandering out and about.
With every person that passed her, she wondered what their life was like. What is was like to live in freedom outside the Palace walls. Not having to wait on nobles hand and foot. Sure, she figured they had their own share of fears and stresses, but she wondered what they were. What trouble was like out here in the cities, rather than locked up in the Emperor's home.
As Sophie's eyes wandered across the passerbys, she saw an elderly woman sitting by the side of a far building. She looked as if she was probably in her 40's and had been rolling around in piles of dirt. She looked worse than most of the servants. What caught Sophie's attention, however, was not only her hand sticking up at every person who walked by, but at the young boy who sitting with her. They had no home, clearly, and barely had enough money to get food in their stomachs. It was sad/ that she had to see such a thing. Did the Emperor care about the poor in his city? Probably not. He probably didn't even know.
As she began to walk on though, a man dressed in elegant clothing--much like the nobles who visited the palace--passed the lady and boy. He didn't even give them a second look, he just scoffed at the two and walked on. It was clear he more money to his name than what he knew what to do with, but he couldn't share a lick of bronze for the mother. When the man looked at Sophie, he gave her a small wink, but she responded with glare that seemed to catch him off guard. He looked away as quickly as his stride and tried to act like nothing happened, but it wouldn't get passed Sophie.
She couldn't leave the two empty handed.
The blonde servant girl walked up to the mother before reaching around her neck and taking the pearl necklace from around her neck. It was a necklace her father had given her before she was handed over as servant. It was pretty, of course, but it was worth more to this woman than to herself. Sophie outstretched her hand with the pearl necklace to the woman, "Here. I want you to have this. Trust me when I say it's worth a lot of money. Sell it, and buy you and your son a hot meal." It was the least she could do.
"Madam, I-I don't know what to say. You do not have to-" the woman began. Her son's eyes grew wide as they laid upon the string of pearls. The color in his eyes nearly glowed with delight.
"Please. If not for you, for your son," the blonde began as she gave a worried look to the boy, and the mother's eyes followed. Before she could respond, Sophie turned away and there was no resist from her.
"What are those called, Momma?" The boy's small voice rung through the night air, obviously referring to the necklace.
"These are called pearls, Dear. They come from the Ocean. Aren't they beautiful?"
And with that, an accomplished smile formed on her face. It always felt wonderful to do something good for someone. To help someone in need, and knowing you possibly changed their life.
She pressed onwards, turning her direction back towards the Inn still a small ways away, but it felt like she was approaching within no time at all. And before she knew it, the front door opened with a welcoming smile from a familiar man.
She gave him a small smile, but nothing big. Her body began to lightly shake as she approached him, and her legs started to feel weak. She wasn't as leery before because she was more worried about getting caught by the guards, but now there was nothing else to worry about. Her questions about this man started to really set in, and her speculations about this meeting began to form. If there was a time she wanted to turn away, it was the very moment she walked over the threshold of the Inn, but it was also too late. There was no turning back, and she just wanted him to shut the door before she made the mistake of running out in fear.
He walked her to a table and ordered them a couple of drinks. Thankfully it was wine, the only kind of alcohol she'd drink. It was delicious and soft. It took a bit of glasses before it made her drunk. She untied the black shawl from around her shoulders and set it on her lap, the upper part of her chest exposed from the dress. It was no surprised that the Emperor picked such outfits for his maids. Elegant dresses, fitted just perfectly around their petite bodies, showing off their curves from their waist and above. It gave the appearance of elegance and nobility, while the girl's themselves weren't. It kept up appearances though. Sophie wasn't crazy about these elegant dresses. They were pretty, yes, but she didn't feel the need to be dressed up. She wore little makeup, and did very little to her long curly mane. Only tonight in the hot summer night, did she decide to keep her hair tied up.
"I've always had a tongue for wine," Sophie said softly with a smile as she lifted the cup and pressed it to her lips, while taking a small sip. That was when he began about her escape from the Palace. It was quite the endeavor, sure. She was probably one of the only servants in the castle who'd even attempt it. She was even surprised how she was sitting her right now and locked up in the dungeons waiting for her execution.
"When I was little still living at my parents' estate, many times I'd sneak out and escape to the wilds out back. I guess you could say I was born with the wild streak in my blood. I craved adventure, thirsted for a bit of freedom. I was always the rebellious one of the family, or so they called me. Only because I was able to stand up to them and refused to live like they did... I never liked that life; the life of nobility," she hesitated before she proceeded on, rethinking her next words so as to not insult him. "It takes certain people to live the life of power and wealth. I'm not one of them. Any chance I get to leave that wretched place, I take it. The only thing I'm thankful about from my childhood is the practice I got with being an 'escape artist'," she looked down at her fingers wrapped around the glass of wine, before she went in for another sip.
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Nathaniel de Beniér
Human
}}Strength{3} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{1}
I'm not paranoid. I'm just careful.
Posts: 40
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Post by Nathaniel de Beniér on Mar 10, 2013 15:04:21 GMT -5
The more she spoke, the more Nathaniel began to feel apparent anger at her choice of words; was it that she only wanted to believe that it took a special personality to be a noble, or was that what she truly believed? Either way, it was stupid. Angry as he was, he smiled.
"What makes you think that it takes a certain kind of personality to be a noble? I know good women and men that are nobles, as well as bad. Come on. It's not so bad being a noble, and it definitely doesn't take 'certain people' to live a life such as mine. I say you are a noble, heart and soul, and a good one."
He gulped down the wine in one swig.
"Remember that. Now, about that help... we can leave right now, if you want to. I've learned all that I wanted to in the first place. Or we can stay here for a while, talking. Perhaps there is something you want to know about me. Normally I wouldn't give you that courtesy, but I think that you will require more information about me and my family to truly trust me. So ask what you want."
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Sophie
Human
Ex-Servant Girl}}Strength{2} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{2}
Posts: 26
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Post by Sophie on Mar 14, 2013 16:12:02 GMT -5
It seemed her work at choosing the right set of words failed her. Maybe her dislike towards nobles was worse than she thought. She would curse every last one of them if she got away with it, but she was only a lowly servant girl. No matter how much she hated them, they still had power over her. As well as this man before her. Despite her dislike, she needed to curb her tongue around him. The fact was she needed his help, he was an asset to her. If she made him even the least bit angry, their plans would be shot, and her possibly escape from her current life would be gone.
And it made her cringe from her toes to her head when he compared her to a noble. Sure, her father was a noble, her mother was a noble, even her siblings, but she was not like them. Not one bit. Despite her family name, they abandoned her a long time ago. The second they handed her over to the Palace, they name and title was stripped from her, and all traces of her ancestry was gone. Hell, Gespard probably didn't even know who her father was! The whole country would start laughing if a servant girl was placed on the same pedestal as them.
She wasn't going to argue with him, however. The conversation with this man was fragile. If she let one wrong word slip, she'd be having a long trip back to the palace on her own.
"I guess it's the nobles that I've been raised around. That came in and out of my father's estate half of my life. They were the kind of people who'd give their children's lives to kiss the Emperor's feet. They'd sell their daughters into servitude if it meant more money for themselves. Hence, what happened to me. Maybe not all are like that, and I'm not saying you're one of them either, but I've seen too much of it that's put a bad taste in my mouth." Maybe this man was different, but it was still too early to tell. It was hard not to think that he wasn't doing this for his own personal gain, whatever he had planned to gain out of it; that was still unknown to her.
She took the last swig of her wine and put the empty glass on the table. "I have more questions, but I suggest we discuss those in private."
With that she rose from her seat and waited for him to lead the way.
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Nathaniel de Beniér
Human
}}Strength{3} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{1}
I'm not paranoid. I'm just careful.
Posts: 40
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Post by Nathaniel de Beniér on Mar 15, 2013 9:04:40 GMT -5
Nathaniel listened to her explanation solemnly, though only believing most of it. Why would the Marquis of Val Royeaux 'sell' his daughter to the Emperor? Surely he would have told the Emperor about it, then, and Sophie was known to be a noblewoman. The thoughts weighed on his mind, almost like a bag of stones, but then he pushed them aside, smiling. But then he doubted himself.
I shouldn't be doing this. Gespard'll get mad. But... just one night, maybe he won't notice. He glanced at his empty cup again, where some small drops of red wine lingered on the bottom. I've got more of that back home. Lots.
When she rose, he followed just seconds behind and smilingly led her out of the door. "Your questions will be answered." When he'd tell his father who she was, it will doubtlessly shock him. So I better wait one night before doing it. Maybe he could help her, maybe. Then, suddenly, a question formed on his lips; they were halfway to the Beniér mansion.
"Does Gespard know who you are?"
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Sophie
Human
Ex-Servant Girl}}Strength{2} Dexterity{2} Willpower{0} Magic{0} Cunning{2}
Posts: 26
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Post by Sophie on Mar 19, 2013 17:48:12 GMT -5
"I don't know. Most likely not. He probably doesn't even know I exist. The only thing the Emperor bothers to know about the servants is their bodies, nothing more," she replied with a shrug as she stepped over the threshold into the night air. Celene knew who she was, but Gespard probably didn't. The man hadn't ever acknowledged her. The servants were near invisible to him unless he needed them for something.
"So, no. You don't need to worry about him finding out I'm gone. Chances are he's either passed out in his King sized bed, or too drunk to remember his name. There's so many of us servant girls, not even the guards would look twice," she informed him as she followed him to the estate. Besides, the only one who'd notice she was gone was Karly, and at this time of night she was fast asleep.
The outside population had dwindled since she was out here before. The mother and son from before seemed to have left, hopefully to buy a good hot meal. The sun was already far below the horizon now, and black had now completely occupied the sky. She wished she could stay out here forever, to not have to go back to that palace. She could just live out here on the streets and be perfectly content. The people out here didn't know how good they had it.
Before she knew it, they were slowly approaching a large manor; a beautiful estate. It reminded her of her own, the one her family lived in. Hers was a bit larger, of course, considering her father's status and wealth, but this one looked spectacular nonetheless. "It's beautiful. Reminds me of home." Home. She hadn't called it that before. She never considered it a real home, but she guessed after being locked up in the Palace, she would have rather lived there.
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