[Zena] Peaceful Accords | (Ygraine / Asa)

[scarlett arbuckle]

In the higher echelons of Zenan society, anybody who was anybody knew everybody, and those who didn't were dealt a consequential blow in the social sphere. Being a merchant wasn't all about numbers; about the handful of gold you could skim off the top of a good export deal, or the deals you could get by keeping your eye out.

Being a merchant was all about cultivating your brand. The trade was old, steeped in aged traditions and customs; a dying art, in the face of Zena's expansion west to Tale and Jauhar; the people here were simpler, less refined, more tribal in nature. They immediately became pawns in the game of imports and exports, tools in a massive game of strategy ; until Oba opened its borders, post war, and became a new contender.

Now was an age of rapid growth in trade borders; and in this new age, apparently Ygraine's family was as successful as it was infamous.

Xansa, Ygraine's grandmother, was already a talking point long before Ygraine, or even Nimueh, had been born. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant, well respected and adored; who rebuffed the hand of a suitor with an impeccable bloodline, and instead eloped with an Alkidike monster from the west who, shockingly, was ridiculously sharp and brutal when it came to pressing for a deal, and procuring the finest of materials. If that wasn't enough, the woman then had the gall of having b*****d daughters with her rebuked suitor, and claiming that they were from an attack on her virtue - as if any nobleman would be so crude!

Then came the accident, when one of the girls went missing, presumed dead. The second girl was known for her sleazy personality and shameless gallivanting throughout Zena - and then the hybrid boy came. Adopted, his grandfather said, though how likely was it that an ice woman and her alkidike lover would find an ice/alkidike hybrid, so suddenly? No, more likely their lovechild had been raised in secret and brought to shake things up.

As the years passed, the family took a blow in the form of the boy rebuffing his duties, leaving the family without an heir to their trade legacy.

Then the bloodline continued to dilute, further and further - until today - without any solid heirs, the aging heads of the family were well respected, but seen as a dying breed in the world of wealthy Zenan merchants.

And yet, even now, Xansa and her wife Izuzue had become a force to be reckoned with, with a unique eye in the west thanks to Izuzue's contacts, bringing in all sorts of imports from as far as Yael and Matori - and that didn't take into account the family's high quality of furs and leathers, traded in from various settlements, or even hunted in person and made with painstaking craft and detail.

How could any merchant family worth their salt not invite Xansa to meet, when working so closely on a deal?

It was unfortunate that her granddaughter didn't seem to have the propriety to stay in the inn, where she belonged - out of sight, out of mind. The tall, pale girl towered above her grandmother, whose long navy hair, streaked with gray, was pulled into a graceful knot; one arm lowered to the small of Xansa's back, supportively.

"This is where they live?" Ygraine whispered, eyes wide - not that an outsider would be able to tell.

Xansa released a breathless laugh, pinching her grand daughter's wrist. "Indeed, little one. And you felt my father's manse was something." Xansa let out a breath, then stepped forward, wishing Nimueh was by her side - or better yet, Izuzue. But - he had his own tasks to do, while she had her meeting - and loath though she was to admit it, coming with Ygraine was already a risk.

But ... the girl had been so insistant for some reason  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

As the scion to one of Zena's most affluent houses, and an eligible bachelor at that, Asa knew full well what tonight may bring. Members of the Northern elite would come to his families manse with expectations of grandeur and ethereal pleasures, all of which the house staff would provide. It was such a scripted routine, etched into his very bones, that Asa could decipher the time of day simply by what activities the servants performed. And yet, for all it's familiarity, the stakes were never so high.

Measures had been taken to ensure Asa's health was at it's peak for tonight, especially after his latest stunt. To say that his father had been furious when he found his son had snuck away from the inn to wander about Zidel would have been an understatement. The man had been absolutely livid, and thus, Asa had remained in his home ever since. He'd half expected to be left in his room tonight as well, but his father wouldn't stand for it. Sargsyan house's reputation simply couldn't afford to have it's sole heir ostracized, as he may well have been if Asa missed another event, so additional staff had been brought in to assist. Tonight the boy would be escorted by "extended family", who just so happened to be a lesser known healer in disguise. Holo was young enough to play the part of Asa's peer and while he was far more extroverted in personality, charming even, his looks were decidedly homely. It was a choice of his mother's; a decision that ultimately would only make her son look better by comparison. Holo would attract any eligible maid, and hold her attention long enough for the girl to speak to Asa. If he could manage to do that, as well as keep Asa breathing for the remainder of the night, his position within the house as permanent staff was assured.

In truth, Asa didn't mind the concept of company, but Holo's brash nature was exhausting. The young healer was very confident in himself, which was reassuring at first, but less so with each statement slipping from the braggart's mouth.

"Look, I'm just saying that if you died right here, right now, I could totally bring you back."

At the very least he was....someone to talk to that didn't mind his physical restrictions. The pair spent much of the day in the heorot, nestled into seats overlooking the main-floor from the upper landing. As far as great halls were concerned his father's wasn't nearly the largest, but Geir had spared no expense making it 'the grandest'. Tapestries lined each of the packed stone walls with thread so bright they could only have come from foreign lands. Most were, in a sense, traditionally Zenan but Asa did see a fair amount of new designs; the sunset cresting over a grand, leaping fish in the sea, and some sort of large, nightmarish creature from Oba surrounding in rich crimson.

A hand found it's way to Asa's shoulder, and that familiar grip forced him to turn away from the growing congregation to the man standing above it all.

"Will you make it through the night?" Geir's question came less from any semblance of parental concern, and more from a business standpoint. It was difficult to sell a product when one of it's primary functions routinely malfunctioned.

"Yes, father, I'm sure of it."

The elder iceling grunted, and regardless of whether he believed the words spoken by his son or not, turned to leave. He met his wife by the stairs, exchanged a few murmured words and without looking back to their son the pair descended to greet their guests.

Asa moved to follow them with a bit of stone in his chest. Wall tall, smile, but not too much, make it look as if you aren't too relieved to be going down stairs instead of up...It was all very exciting and utterly dreadful at the same time. Several merchants of note would be arriving tonight, and one in particular held Asa's interest. Or rather, someone he hoped she would bring.  

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Ygraine had never seen anything of this scale, in all her years... beyond, perhaps, the area in Oba from all those years ago where a massive tournament was held, but that had been a spectacle of its own unique measure. This was, somehow, infinitely more intimate to a terrifying degree, and despite all the coaching she'd received from her grandmothers on how to handle these sorts of galas, Ygraine felt like all of her preparations had leaked out of her ears.

Ideally at such get togethers, you aimed to arrive exactly on time; and the more influential your family was, the more you could risk coming a few minutes late (as long as you arrived before the hosts, because being that late was less impressive, and more career ending). Apparently being late meant you were important enough to gamble offending your peers, and knew it - arriving on time was a respectable, but safe bet. Xansa and Ygraine arrived slightly early; a breech of decorum as far as Xansa was concerned, but it was Ygraine's big introduction to such affairs, and arriving slightly early showed modesty, and respect to the others gathering.

The women were accepted into a respectably sized lobby of sorts, lined with numerous staff members, who busied themselves with taking coats (despite the warmth outside, foreign merchants still found it to be quite chilly, and so it was polite for foreigners and locals alike to come with some sort of overcoat). Ygraine longed to shuck herself from the stiff, expensive material, but waited until she was bid to do so, turning and angling her arms so the much smaller man could tug it off without her stooping.

If he was alarmed by her appearance, he did a good job of covering it up; it wasn't his place to gawk at his master's guest, and he was smart enough to know it. That said, his eyes still slid expectantly to Xansa, who flashed their family's crest with a 'lazy' flick of her wrist, and was ushered past.

Through an archway, they were received into... a place that was easily the size of her parents' AND grandparents' cottages put together! And yet for all the wealth of decor and fancily dressed people, there weren't enough bodies to fill it out, unless you counted the throngs of servants dashing to and fro, dressed in toned down colors that matched their surroundings, meant to help them blend in and work under the noses of the guests.

Ygraine watched them as well as she could, without tilting her head and making her snooping obvious.

The chamber echoed with the loud murmuring of the assembled merchants, as they talked amongst one another - a cacophony that somehow blended into itself, becoming a lack of distinguishable words, smells, and bright colors. Xansa gently settled her hand against Ygraine's arm, and guided her from the doorway, and out of the way of those behind them.

Of all the people here, there were... notably quite a number of debutantes, all dressed in splendorous gowns, tittering at their father's elbow, casting doeful eyes around the room. Ygraine felt herself break out into a sweat - what the--

"I thought this was a business meeting?" She hissed, scandalized, down at her grandmother.

To her credit, the older woman blinked, then shifted her amber eyes around, humming in discovery. "Kill two birds with one stone, I suppose. The boy has been of marrying age for some time yet."

... The boy-- "Who, Asa?" Ygraine blurted, only to swallow thickly and tilt her head away when Xansa gave her a sharp glance. "I knew something was going on -- Ygraine." She signed, but pat Ygraine's arm, turning to pull her further into the room, ignoring as Ygraine swept her head back and forth, searching the crowd for her friend. "I'm sorry - this might be more difficult for you than we thought. It's not too late to leave--"

"Of course not." The girl responded, quickly, tugging her arm back.

She very well understood the trap she'd made for herself. Not only was she an Alkidike mutt stepping into a snake pit of possibly elitist tradesmen, but she'd done so in her best clothes, done up at the same party where everyone else was presenting possible future brides. She was suddenly a target, more so than any other time; and the other families would think that she was seriously being presented as a candidate. They wouldn't pull any punches, in an effort to devalue her family, and put their own brides forward.

'I just wanted to make sure he was ok.' She thought, poutily, before squaring herself up and turning her head, looking up as the hosts descended the stairs -- and there. THERE, behind them--

Asa. Before she could stop it, Ygraine relaxed, pressing a hand to her chest. He was ok... Or, at least, breathing, for what that was worth. He'd looked so bad, before, that she'd been...  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

Tikaani glanced back a few times to make sure her offspring didn't lag behind, and as always, the boy aimed to please. He smiled dutifully to his mother, keeping his expression pleasant, but not too much so. There was no reason to appear dense in a room full of the brightest minds in Zena. Beneath the layers of protective cloth, however, his skin was clammy and unsure. The image he presented descending the staircase was a far cry from the anxious mess Asa hid inside. He had to focus on his breathing, make sure his chin was kept up at all times, and even his hair had been styled back away from his face to further expose him to those that wanted nothing more than to see him fail.

Asa was the weak link in the Sargsyan legacy, and anyone who was anyone knew that. They also knew that he was horribly unsocialized, likely gullible, and an easy match for whatever strumpet they could shuck into a dress. Geir had assured him that this meeting was strictly focused on trade; Tikaani, however, had other goals. His mother clearly wanted a secure line of succession, and would do anything in her power to get it, meaning Asa had to be on his best behavior at all times.

"Goddess, what's wrong with her eyes?" His mother whispered, and before he was aware of it the pair were leading him towards the early arrivals. While the pair were far from the only souls drifting through the entryway, they were still early enough to grant special attention.

All at once Asa melted and a true smile eeked it's way out through the painted mask. Of course he'd hoped she would come, especially after finding out his father had invited her grandmother, but Asa had feared Ygraine would be scared off. And, as his mother pointed out, for good reason. There would be very others at the gala tonight without blue skin and golden eyes, but even those few were the typical lot; windling mixes, the most common in Zidel.

Ygraine was anything but common.

Her height brought your eye straight to her in a crowd, and all at once his heart was a flutter.

"Xansa, welcome. I am glad you could join us this evening." Geir, while cold to his son, could be strangely pleasant in professional settings. Of course it helped that while he knew someone had brought his son back to the inn, he had no idea it had been Ygraine. Asa hadn't wanted him to hold it against her, but now...now it may have helped. He motioned to Tikaani, as if the woman needed an introduction, stuck to his arm as she was. "You remember Tikaani?"

"My my, it's like you haven't aged a day." She smiled sweetly before turning her reptilian eyes towards Ygraine, "You really do love your mutts, don't you, Xansa? Tell me, did you pick this one up in Jauhar as well?"

The snide comments drew snickers from those closest to them. Asa opened his mouth, then closed it silently and withdrew. His eyes turned down, as if the act itself could take him out of the room. Of course he'd wanted to talk to Ygraine again; there was so much about her world he was yearned to know about, but now....now he would much rather have her leave. His eyes flickered up again, trying his best to catch her eye but without really knowing if he had or not, since she lacked pupils.

Asa mouthed 'I'm sorry', before his father spoke again and ushered him to the forefront.

"Tikaani, dear, manners." The stalwart tradesman placed a hand on his son's frail shoulder and brought him up to his side with harsh pull. "Have you met our son, Asa? He will be assuming his role in the family soon enough so you may be corresponding more with him than myself in a few months."

Liar.

As if his father would ever allow him to touch so much as a ball of lint that belonged to the business.

"Greetings to you both, and welcome to our home."  

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Goddess, what's wrong with her eyes?

And, with that stage whisper, Ygraine got her first taste of Asa's lovely mother. Stunned, she blinked at the older woman, but found her focus drawn over her shoulder to Asa - most notably to the crack of a smile that lifted onto his lips, brightening his eyes beyond the dull expression of just moments ago. While Ygraine had never been a victim of a brutal attack due to her bloodline, snide comments weren't new.

At least, it had been a long time since she'd heard it - being older now, people in her home town knew her better, and at least had the good graces to talk behind her back instead of to her face.

A dumbfounded expression fluttered across her face for a brief moment, then washed away into a smile, eyes crinkling slightly as she cursteyed, appropriately, in greeting. Xansa was on her best behavior, ducking down alongside her granddaughter, ducking her head to the hosts. "Geir, thank you for the kind invitation. It's always a pleasure." Then, her eyes slid to Tikaani, her smile remaining fixed firmly in place.

Xansa hummed softly at the greeting, hearing the 'compliment' as the jab at her age that it was (actually, Tikaani was about the same age as Xansa's daughters...), but when she continued on it took more self control than Xansa thought she had. A muscle ticked in her cheek, but she responded diplomatically enough, considering the topic. "This would be Ygraine, my son's child." She said, stiffly, clearing her throat.

Ygraine felt like a stone was sinking into her belly, a chill breaking out along her back, arms prickling under the sets of eyes swinging towards her. The laughter hit into her like daggers, her lips twitching slightly - but ultimately she kept the smile in place. Before she had a chance to say anything (not that she'd have the strength, all things considered), Asa was ushered forward. It took everything in her not to lunge forward and curl an arm around him, resenting the heavy hand that was settled against his shoulder, holding him tightly against Geir's side.

She settled instead for grinding her teeth, through her smile, and instead curtseyed, low, though even while ducking down she stayed above him, height wise. "Hello. It's good to meet you. I look forward to working with you, in the future, then!" She said, brightly.

As if the statement could be misinterpreted - she was stating that she would be working with Xansa, potentially for some time to come. It wasn't strictly true, but she doubted anything in this conversation was true.  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

His mother's abject dismissal of Ygraine was disheartening. What was Asa to do now? If he openly spoke with Xansa or her granddaughter at any one point in the evening the ire of the ton would be on their shoulders. His one hope that been that maybe, just maybe his mother possessed enough civility to keep her thoughts to herself, and yet, she'd failed at that.
There was little he could do to combat that upturned nose, that sneering look, and despite the way Ygraine stood above Tikaani the matriarch was unphased. It was a look he'd come to acknowledge as 'dismissal', as body language alone was enough to tell Xansa her kin wasn't welcome.

If she meant to say more the words died on her tongue. From behind Xansa and Ygraine entered a group of Zenan women, all as decorated as Tikaani was, and the worthier prey drew her attention. With a 'polite' smile, she turned to give her husband's arm a pat and drew away from him, "Excuse me, would you? I've others to greet, but maybe we can catch up later in the evening." Her eyes lingered on Ygraine a moment longer, the act causing a protective flare to spring into Asa's heart. Even when she fluttered away he felt it, as cold and sharp as an icicle. What was she thinking? What was she plotting? Wha-?

Ygraine's bow and flurried speech caused the boy to momentarily jolt. He stood a little straighter, his heart beat a little faster and honestly he didn't know what to think. Why was she-? He'd never been treated with such...enthusiasm before that it was alarming and awkward and thankfully his father's quirk of a smile saved him.

Whether it was a bemused look or something more malicious Asa couldn't tell. His grip, however, tightened on his son's shoulder to the point the boy visibly winced. Once Geir's point was made he released his hold and bowed to the two women. "Please, make yourselves at home while I accompany Tikaani. Asa, I trust that you'll join us soon enough."

"Of course, father."

Even with his father gone Asa's shoulders stayed tense and tall. One cross look, one little moment of weakness and they would all eat him alive. At least, for the moment, he could speak freely and that in itself was a blessing.

"I am very sorry you had to see her like that. She isn't normally so....revealing. " The teenager took a deep, steadying breath (as much of one as he could manage, anyway) and took in the pair. Catching himself at the last moment caused a flush to creep up Asa's neck. Was her grandmother aware? Was anyone, outside of the pair of them?
 

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Ygraine would like to say that she was immune to this sort of conversation. She'd love to say that she was above it, or that the petty conversation was amusing to her; that she was above it all, and that her spoiled and cherished upbringing had numbed her to the sneers and holier than thou tittering of stupid, old women like Tikaani. But that was far from the truth. Sheltered though she was, it was hard for Ygraine to forget that her life had inexplicably been shaped by not only what she was, but what her parents were. As a child, the world had taught her that she would always exist on a scale between malformed repugnance and inhumanly exotic to those around her. How could she come up with any other conclusion, after learning that her parents had disappeared for a good chunk of her childhood because they'd been taken captive, due to their 'appealing' and unique appearances?

Even when helping her aunt, Buru, at the local tavern, it was hard to ignore the foreigners who drifted through, eyeing her with intrigue or distrust in equal measure? At least, before, Ygraine could say that her brother was more of a target, because of his dark coloring that stood out, and the antennae that screamed to all at a distance that he was different - at least Ygraine could be mistaken as a very tall windling, from a distance.

In comparison, Asa's quiet fascination, but unerring manners and sweetness from the first time they met was a balm she had never realized she needed. And as they were finally left alone, despite how tense he still remained, Ygraine's smile blossomed in relief, eyes shining as she turned her head to look at him once more.

Xansa let out a chuffed laugh as Asa stumbled over himself, wishing she could leave the two to speak - but doubtless that would cause only more ire, if she stopped chaperoning Ygraine during an event like this. She loosely crossed her arms, but smiled softly at the boy. "I gathered, when she insisted on coming - it's been a long time since Ygraine has gone to a social function willingly, there had to be something good here."

"Grandmother--" Ygraine flushed, elbowing the much smaller woman, who giggled shamelessly. Turning away with pink cheeks, Ygraine looked down at the boy infront of her, hands dropping to clasp infront of her, idly tracing her fingertips over the dangling glove at her wrist. "I'm just glad you're okay. ... Er- as okay as you can be, with all this going on." She murmured, tilting her temple to gesture to the room around them.  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

"...it's been a long time since Ygraine has gone to a social function willingly, there had to be something good here".

The open teasing between the two was something for Asa to marvel. It was something of a novel experience for the boy who had been raised to avoid such such garish displays. Why was she elbowing her mother? Was the purpose in such a masculine act, and why....why did it make her glow? In truth he didn't know how to respond to it; so, he chuckled a little under his breath and smiled, hoping it didn't look as awkward as he felt. The words themselves were flattering, but nothing he hadn't heard before. 'Something good' likely meant the opportunities presented at tonight's gala, and that...that was a sobering thought.

Surely this wasn't just an opportunity for a falling house to rise back into power? It seemed almost too convenient that she would have found him that day in Zidel's square, and now....

He took in the slowly filling room, and felt his shoulders soften in resignation. This was his world, and as strange as it may have seemed to her, this was where Asa was expected to shine. There was so much pressure on his thin shoulders in that moment that the heir wanted little more than to scream, but he couldn't. "You are kind to think of me, Miss Ygraine, but I assure you that I will be alright. My father has hired an...assistant to help should the worst come to pass. As for the rest...it's all a formality; one that will hopefully end after tonight." Catching himself, Asa shook his head, "Forgive me for my brusque speech".

It often caught him by surprise; that rise in ire. Asa was so rarely aggravated by his plight that it often left him at odds on how to respond to it. Perhaps it was the pressure of today's gathering getting to him, or the sudden appearance of an ethereal blossom? .....er, friend. Or perhaps that's exactly what he meant? Why shouldn't Ygraine be considered in his mother's machinations? Her grandmother was as much a pillar in the economic hierarchy as his father, and yet, the glaring truth kept pulling at Asa. The very traits that gave this extraordinary girl the freedom to choose her own destiny also prevented her from being caged by the webs of Zidel.

All at once Asa become aware of two truths.

The first being that if Ygraine had truly come here for nothing more than to play a role in his mother's game that he would have preferred her over any other woman in this room. Even if she never grew to care for him and wanted little more than his fortune, that Asa would rather spend his last years on this earth with someone who could show him how to really live.

And that secondly, he could never allow her to suffer such a life.

A warming hand at his back caused Asa to turn sharply, expecting to see his father, and instead, coming face to face with Holo. The other man had a slight glow, literally, surrounding him and Asa felt that same glow spread into his body. All at once he felt some of his energy returning to him, allowing the boy to stand a little straighter.

"Sir, may I remind you of your other guests? Some of which have been waiting for a while?" The gentle prodding made Asa aware that yes, while the room had been slowly filling with contacts, so had it be of eligible maids, some of which were trying to set Ygraine on fire with their eyes alone. "In the meantime I would be more than happy to keep this young Miss company. If you'll allow it, that is?" Removing his hand from Asa's back, Holo turned to Ygraine and smiled his best, winning look. Of course it looked as venomous as any in the room, but at the very least he wasn't showing his fangs.

"Care for a dance?"

 

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

For a moment, they seemed to be having fun again. But ... slowly it was like the weight of the room came crashing in on them again, and before she knew it Asa had withdrawn into himself, expression grave, tone overly serious and clipped. If she could only read his mind and see what had made him close himself off... but, unfortunately, she couldn't. She could only feel thankful that, whatever the reason, the young heir had still seen her worth a small token of honesty, even if he seemed utterly ashamed of himself for it only moments later.

"No - you're fine, really." She assured, instantly, raising her hand as if to wave his apology away. Still - she felt that same wave of protectiveness, the one she'd felt when escorting him home during a coughing fit. She wanted to hide him from the room, but - really, it was impossible to hide, when her very presence was an eyesore, and every moment she spent taking his attention was another iota of stress on his shoulders. If she really wanted to help, she should excuse herself and let him go on with his work...

So then why did she feel such a sense of loss when his 'helper' arrived, reminding him of the time? Ygraine had enough sense of how these things worked to know that Holo's offer to 'dance' was... more so keep her busy, so she wouldn't go sniffing around Asa, or try and monopolize his time. She felt the telltale flare of annoyance, wanted to grab Asa by the arm and spirit him off to some place where he could relax, for a moment -- but she reminded herself. Her attempts to 'help' were backfiring, and making things only harder for him.

"Oh! Right, I'm sorry -- Go on, little love bird, go dazzle some ladies." She said, instead, as playfully as she could given the heaviness she felt. She smiled broadly, then turned to Holo as gracefully as she could, looking down at the little man with a raised eyebrow and an extended hand "A dance? Sure, but do you know the lady steps? I'm afraid it's awfully difficult, dancing the lady's part with a smaller man."

Xansa snorted at Ygraine, then smiled kindly at Asa, "Thank you for your time and company, Asa." She spoke softly, then stepped back, giving him leave to continue on his hostly duties.  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

Asa visibly colored, taken off guard by the 'love bird' comment while Holo just chuckled. If it was all so playful, why wasn't his heart fluttering? Why did he feel more panicked at leaving her behind with Holo, the man designated as his resident caretaker for the evening, than he did at the prospect of finding a bride? He looked between the two, taking in the scene with concerned golden eyes before breaking out into a smile of his own.

...do you know the lady's steps?

He really shouldn't laugh, so he tried his best to keep it in, which ultimately resulted in Asa choking on his own spit. Clearly he had been worried about the wrong individual in this pair.

Thanks to the medical attention he received not even a moment ago the young heir didn't fall victim to a coughing fit, and yet, Asa's misstep had already been noticed by the ton. A pair of younger gentlemen caught the tail end of it as they passed by, peering over his way with a critical eye before meandering past.

Ygraine could handle herself; he had to have faith in that. He, however, would need all of his goddess' luck to survive the night. Asa gave a pleasant bow, and stepped away from the triad to pursue his parent's. Once the boy was out of earshot Holo's pleasant demeanor dropped and took her hand.

"You're clever; I like that. Maybe keeping you where you belong won't be as boring as I thought."  

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Ygraine turned her head to watch Asa as he left, wishing (not for the first time) that she could be subtle with her movements. But... alas. She turned her attention back to the healer, pursing her lips in distaste as he gripped her hand, lacking the grace to keep up his own charade for longer than a few moments after Asa's departure. It was difficult to resist the urge to yank her hand away, but she kept her resolve and stayed close. Her grandmother had stepped away to chat up an associate - she was, after all, here for business, even if this whole get together ended up being a matchmaking ploy by the hosts.

"Well, you and the lady of the house aren't being very subtle about it." She drawled, tossing her head to shrug back a lock of curls that had fallen into her eyes. Though - honestly, this sort of attention was making her feel nervous. It should be funny, to think that she'd somehow threatened them this much just by showing up... but she also felt a flare of indignance at the fact that they were Asa's 'family', and yet couldn't see how dedicated to his 'duty' he was. She'd barely had a few conversations with him, and yet it was clear as day that he felt some ill-conceived allegiance to them, despite the fact they were still trotting him around like a show-raptrix, bad lungs and all.

It was disgusting, how little they seemed to think of him.

With just a few steps the two had made it to where other pairs were dancing; Ygraine stepped naturally, with an energy and ease that spoke of confidence and practice; just as she'd hinted, she began in the leading role, bowing with a smile and raising a hand as they began to dance. The steps were simple, built for lazy discussions in just such a situation, and around them the other dancers had dropped into easy conversation; even if many of the ladies still tossed their eyes to seek out the man of the hour. Every now and then, as they spun, Ygraine could see him, talking with tittering ladies.

It was all so fake, so empty, and Ygraine at once remembered why she'd stopped coming to these things, even back as a kid.  

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

"Despite appearances I don't have blue blood so I can afford to be a little frank with my words." Holo's movements were confident in the way of a child; one unused to their role, in this case that of the female's part, but determined to prove themselves, never the less. He stumbled where an experienced dancer would have dipped, but his energy and sheer force of will kept the man going.

They floated on the edges of the social fringe, and even though Holo tried to guide their steps away from the groups of gathered bodies the pair inevitably came close enough to inspect it all. Asa was there, speaking with several maidens at once, and clearly out of his element. The girls were trying far too hard to be nice, and that was it; they were trying. It was horribly easy to detect their backhanded compliments and when he was called a 'fragile beauty', as if he were a prized flower instead of a budding young man, he felt the intense urge to leave.

"You know he's got just as much riding on tonight as his parent's, don't you?" Holo slid his feet into an easy glide, picking up his part one step at a time. "The Sargsyan family has one chance to continue their legacy, and it's all one him. Coming here to distract him is just cruel; don't you see how much happier he'll be spending his time with women worth his time? If Asa can catch just one tonight he'll be married before his next birthday, and hopefully before he passes he'll father an heir. If he can manage to do it before he's too far gone...well, imagine how much freedom he'll have? You're only hurting his chances of having a peaceful life by being here."

And yet, if Asa had felt that way, would he really be looking around the room for a chance to escape? Would his palms be so moist they itched? His heart was beating so fast inside of his chest that it ached, and just looking at these girls...He would have to pick one, so shouldn't he be more focused on what they were saying? His mother told him to pick the prettiest, to ensure a charming grandchild, but his father wanted the smartest and all Asa wanted was someone to talk to him instead of about him and it was all just-

The tension in his shoulders carried throughout the evening. The longer time passed the more Asa began to regret pushing himself into being the healthiest he could be because that, in itself, was a lie. He felt as if he were lying to these girls; giving them false hope of an arranged marriage with a man who could stand their equal. Instead, he was more likely to die months after their wedding and if he was lucky he would leave her with a child to raise on her own....

Holo, for the most part, grew less and less concerned with Ygraine as it became clear that Asa was taking his duties seriously. At some points he ignored her completely....  

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Maybe, in some other circumstance, Ygraine would have gotten along with Holo. He spoke intelligently, even if his words infuriated her, and he kept up with her passive aggressive, angry dancing with the gumption of someone dedicated to their task. He, at least, didn't seem intent on kicking her down for the sake of it - but because he seemed to honestly think that the machinations of bloodline-obsessed old families was something important, and that every line of shlock he dripped out, with a patronizingly sympathetic tone, was something he had, apparently, bought - hook line and sinker. As he simpered on, describing her interference as cruelty, Ygraine couldn't help but tilt her head to look at Asa as they spun past, trying not to take the words to heart.

But, as much as she wanted to laugh about how antiquated such beliefs were - the concept of legacies, to the point that they were forsaking his health for this charade of a 'ball'... was it really her place to interfere? She'd only met Asa out in the plaza for a painfully short time, and beyond the spark of intellect and sweet pining for adventure, she knew very little about him. But wasn't that what made all this so painful? That no one here seemed to know, or appreciate what she'd seen in just a few minutes - or that they had quashed that spark of individuality so thoroughly, for the sake of reminding him of his lot in life, and insisting that his pedigree came before his own hope for happiness?

So yes, Ygraine wanted to argue, and the look she shot Holo was full of venom, but she kept her mouth closed, and when the dance concluded and he made it clear that he was to chaperone her, at least until she made it clear she would stay away from Asa, she gave in and followed, instead trying to distract herself by talking up her grandmother's work. At one point, in the evening, Xansa reappeared at her side, giving Holo a long, suspicious look. The two circled the room, arm in arm, making pleasant conversation, and as more minutes ticked by without them seeking out Asa, the few in the room who had gotten worked up about their interference seemed to calm down.

What felt like hours later, as Ygraine subtly tilted her head around the room, trying to seek out Asa in the crowd, a man appeared at Xansa's side, ducking in to murmur in her ear. "Just a moment, dear - probably your grandmother, with some business updates." Xansa soothed at Ygraine's confused look, smiling and gripping her shoulder. The woman disappeared, and Ygraine sighed, grateful, at least, that after 'behaving' for a bit, Holo seemed to have dropped away, keeping in a firm orbit to keep an eye on her, but satisfied that she was on her best behavior. Her lip curled at the thought, but she smoothed out her features. When she finally spotted Asa, her heart fell - he looked utterly exhausted, and pale to boot compared to how he'd been when they last spoke.

"My dear, I'm so sorry." A simpering voice drifted into her earshot, and when Ygraine looked back down a small, doe-eyed woman, with a young girl at her side, was standing in front of her. The woman reached out, patting her arm stiffly. "All things pass, dear."

"I ... thank you?" Ygraine croaked, utterly confused as the woman gave her a look, then swept away, tittering with what looked to be her daughter. Just as soon as they left Ygraine, they seemed to swerve directly for Asa, presenting the young, pretty girl with a flourish. As the girl was introduced, the mother leaned in towards Asa's mother, speaking in a stage whisper that, while loud, blessedly didn't permeate through the room to Ygraine's ears. "The gods work in mysterious ways. Apparently, both of her parents are mutts too- and one of them got done in just days ago! The other one's apparently not long for this world either..."

"Goodness, I heard that family was cursed! Even cutting off the bloodline didn't fix it, eh? And they still had the gall to present her tonight. Shameful. Did Xansa know?"

"She just got the letter - the poor dear blurted it out right in front of us." The woman said with a disdainful sniff, turning gold eyes across the room to where Xansa stood, numbly sipping at wine. It wasn't as if they could leave the gathering - leaving before dismissed was a high insult, and even if they did it wasn't like they could go out on the road any sooner.

 

[Painted Moose]

Scarlett Arbuckle

"-of course we don't expect you to spend the entirety of your life mourning, my dear. Once the boy passes we'll make plans and-"

This tart, much like the rest his mother so 'graciously' introduced him to, was just as charming and lovely as the last. They were all so ready to smile at anything he had to say that Asa began to value the one's who openly disdained his illness as opposed to their fake compassion. Those were the type of girls his mother couldn't stand because they lacked tact and the sense of grace she felt necessary in a daughter-in-law, but at least they weren't hiding. Their initial rejection was far easier to take than whatever sort of hope bubbled up in his chest when some vixen commented about the color of his eyes, only to follow up the tender statement by discussing his inheritance.

And there were only so many times one could hear the word dead in reference to their own state of being before wishing the night was over.

Yet, when the word was next spoken, it wasn't about him, but rather, about someone entirely different.

"The gods work in mysterious ways. Apparently, both of her parents are mutts too- and one of them got done in just days ago! The other one's apparently not long for this world either..."

Asa's blood chilled.

His eyes drifted over Xansa, stiff in her cup, unable to leave, trapped in a way he could sympathize with, in search of her granddaughter. Tikaani's asinine chatter permeated his brain, spreading out through the corners of his consciousness and keeping him grounded when all he wanted to do was go to Ygraine. This was....this was her father they were talking about! And the other...the other was close to dying too? To this day Asa had difficulty imagining the sort of family dynamic she'd presented, but the love Ygraine felt for her fathers was evident. If this was true...he needed to get her out of here.

He hadn't even realized he'd taken a step forward when Tikaani snatched his wrist. "Asa-!" With a sharp jerk the young scion wrenched away from her and stole away across the dance floor, moving as fast as his legs could carry him. There was little to no thought in the act; just the all consuming need to be by her side. This wouldn't go over well; leaving a presented guest like that would be an insult their family likely would never live down, acting in haste would be a stain to his mental health, and this...this would ruin him....

By the time he made it to Ygraine's side Asa's cheeks were flushed, and his breathing was labored. "Please, follow me. If we go out the maindoor, go right; it's a servants staircase that will lead to the main floor. No one will bother us there. Once there I'll come back for your grandmother, but we have to move." The amount of sheer arrogance it took for him to go against his family like this churned in his gut like acid, and his eyes kept flicking around the room. His father was still blissfully unaware, but his mother was advancing on them with murder in her eyes.
 

[scarlett arbuckle]

Painted Moose

Despite her earlier confusion, Ygraine settled back into the evening, forcing down the feeling of unease that the strange encounter had left her. She pressed her lips together when the woman immediately presented the younger woman to Asa's family, chattering on about something that made the group react quite animatedly. Even Asa seemed to have snapped to attention - and that was all Ygraine could bear to watch.

She couldn't quite understand what she'd been hoping, coming here. That, perhaps, the two could hide off somewhere and chatter like they had by the tree, while business was discussed elsewhere, maybe. For a moment, there by that tree, she'd felt like her bloodline was something interesting, not shameful. And even if Asa felt that way... it was clear that no one else would let either of them forget it. Even if marrying him wasn't her ulterior motive here, if she'd not been... this, then she at least could have kept up the premise for his sake, and given him some time of relative peace in such a stress filled night. And, maybe just maybe, he'd have been able to have a bit of fun that his life here clearly lacked.

Turning away from the group of her betters, tired of watching from the outside fringes, Ygraine scooped up a drink, rose it cockily in a toasting motion to Holo, who was lazily watching from across the room, and shot back the drink with all the grace she could muster. It settled heavily in her belly, heating her from the inside out, and when she finished the drink left her lips tinged red. Settling the wooden goblet down, she drew her fingers over her lips, turning to once again steal a yearning glance towards the man of the evening--

Only to come face to face (or, rather, face to chest) with a red-faced, panting Asa. "We-- what?" Ygraine stammered, only to follow his panicked glance back over his shoulder, to Tikaani. Holo, too, had stirred from his position chatting up a prettily pouting maid, fighting across a group of chattering guests towards them. Realization dawned on her face, and she nodded her head sharply, reaching to settle her hand, briefly, against his shoulder blade, angling her larger body between him and his mother, and allowing him room to lead the way. The stole quickly across the room, skirting through the main door, and breaking line of sight with Asa's fuming mother. From there, the door to the servant's staircase was hidden out of view - and the two all but dove inside, snapping the door shut behind them.

"Asa - wait, Asa, hold on- what's wrong?" Ygraine finally called for a halt, grasping him by the shoulder and moving so they stood on the same flight of stairs, crowded close together by the narrow stairwell. She ducked her head to look at him, in the dim light, curls of silver falling into her eyes and tickling against his cheek. He'd already been panting just from getting to her - she didn't want to think about how affected he would be, after darting from the room and descending a narrow flight of stairs. "Did something happen? Are you okay?"