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Evan and Kit
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Kit
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Feb 02, 2015 08:21PM
Hey :D
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Thanks for making the topic :)I don't have any particular plot ideas at the moment. Do you have any plots you're interested in doing? If not, I can come up with something.
That's fine :) I'll come up with a few ideas, and post them either later or in the morning. Before I find ideas though, do you have any preference whether we do doubles, or just one character for each of us?
I like to play the girl but I can also do doubles :)
Also, do you care the general time period of the rp? Modern rps are totally fine with me, but it could be interesting to do some sort of medieval/royal rp, if you were interested
I honestly don't really mind anything, I'm open to anything
Sorry, I wasn't thinking and accidentally posted at the same time as you. Oh well.I don't have any preference for the gender of my character(s), so either way that'll work, then
Okay. I'll come up with a couple ideas for the plot, then
Hey, sorry it took so long! Anyway, I only came up with two ideas, but it's totally fine if you don't like either :)#1 (view spoiler)
#2 (view spoiler)
Great :) Aside from gender, the only real difference in characters based on their role is the one whose kingdom it'll take place in, and the one who is travelling to the other's kingdom. Do you particularly care which of those your character is?Also, do you have a preference about the gender of your character?
No I don't paticular my care if my character is the one who goes to the other kingdom or stays.I prefer being the girl but I don't mind being the guy either. What about you?
Okay, well I'll take the one who stays, since we should make a decision on that, I guess. I honestly have no preference at all, so I'm fine with playing the guy :)
Also, since they're going to be pretty different from how they were when they were younger, we should quickly discuss their personalities before we even make our characters. That'd also help us ensure that they don't exactly get along at first :) I'm thinking that my character used to be a rather mischievous, funny kid, over time has become a lot more serious and reserved, so basically just the total opposite of how he used to be.
Alrighties then! For my characters then as a child was a people pleaser and tried to be perfect. But she was easily swayed and a crybaby. Grown up she's very independent, stubborn, but is known to be a tease and manipulative to get what she wants.
Sounds great :)I don't think there's anything else we need to talk about before we make our characters? Unless there was something you wanted to discuss.
By the way, my character will probably be kind of detailed. It's totally fine if yours isn't though. I know some people don't like making detailed character profiles.
Alright! Let's make them!Okay, it depends sometimes I make a detailed one or not.
But I'm excited for this!!
"For those who value survival, sentimentality is not an option."
Full Name- Peter Harrison Callaghan
(Nickname) Officially, his name is Peter, and one day he will be known as King Peter, but everyone he knows well calls him Harrison
Age- 20
Gender- Male
Appearance-
(Hair color) Brown
(Eye color) Blue
(Height) 5'11"
Personality-
Harrison was once a bright, giggling child, with a characteristic tangled mess of brown hair and schemes that would drive the kitchen staff crazy. He was untameable energy, running through the castle halls like he owned the place--and occasionally reminding people that one day he would.
But things are different now. If he was once a star, burning bright, full of passion, light, and humor, he has since collapsed in on himself. He's lost his youthful naivete, and has replaced it with sternness. He is intensely focused and driven, doing whatever he has to in order to achieve goals. After meeting Harrison, people often privately comment that he seems almost perpetually serious and unamused, but that's not quite true. He keeps his thoughts to himself, and plays the role he has been given of a crown prince and future king. He plays the role too well to be preoccupied or distracted by other things.
(Strengths)
-Focused and driven
-Unfazeable
-Well-mannered
(Weaknesses)
-Lack of humor
-Unenthusiastic
-Seems emotionless
History-
As the child of the king and queen of Halian, Harrison was born into extreme wealth. And as the first child, he was born into a world that treated him like a future king. He was not just well cared for, but pampered, and wanted for nothing. As a young child, he took advantage of this, wreaking mayhem and mischief around the palace, because, aside from his parents, few were brave enough to do more than lightly chastise him.
His antics only grew more when _______ came to stay at the castle. When he was seven, his parents had arranged his engagement to her in the hopes of not just securing a future alliance, but future unity between their kingdoms, and to help ensure their marriage and future reign was happy and prosperous, visits were arranged between them as frequently as possible. At first he wasn't quite sure what engagement really meant, but he did know that she was fun to be around, and that hide and seek was much easier to play with two people than with only one. He enjoyed having her around, and frequently dragged her into his various schemes around the castle. Over several years, he found that he was actually rather bored when she was back in her own country, and he counted down the days until one of them would visit the other again.
When he was thirteen, tragedy struck the castle. His father, the king of Halian, died during a banquet honoring the founding of the kingdom. One of his food tasters had been bribed, and allowed for poison to be slipped into his soup. It was a shock to everyone, especially Harrison. Until then, they all seemed untouchable. They were the royal family, and no one would have dared to hurt them. Yes, they had food tasters and guards, but that was all a precaution, right? Surely, no one would actually hurt them. His father's death dispelled those thoughts for Harrison. The idea of royalty and the crown lost it's gilded shine, and he saw what it was: a struggle for power, and the constant need to hold on to it, or lose your life.
It was that struggle for power that had killed the king. It was discovered that the king's own brother had placed the poison, in an attempt to reach for the crown himself. As a result, the former king's brother was executed, and Harrison's mother assumed power. The only loose end was Harrison's cousin, Elias. Elias's father may have killed the king, but he didn't have anything to do with it, and was now an orphan, having lost his mother at an early age, and now his father. As a gesture of kindness and good-faith, Elias was allowed to live in the palace, and due to their close age and shared losses, Elias and Harrison grew to be close friends.
For Harrison, it was lucky that he grew to be friends with Elias, since he quickly lost _______. The assassination had cast a specter over the royal court, and it was deemed too dangerous to send her to Halian's court. Though the engagement was still on, he and ______ lost touch.
Over the next few years, Harrison's responsibilities grew. Even though it was his mother on the throne and not him, people looked to him as a source of authority and future power. He was involved in council meetings, expected to greet foreign dignitaries and nobles, and was taught how to one day rule. he found that power wasn't quite what he thought it would be, and both the new responsibilities and the assassination of his father changed him. He became more reserved, forced to grow up and mature very quickly. He learned how to navigate the politics of court, and figured out what was expected of him, and how to conform to the expectations.
Since the assassination, Halian has looked weak. It has faced threats from all directions, and what it desperately needs is strength and unity. What better way to do that than to unite two kingdoms under one crown? Harrison is twenty now, old enough to reign, and old enough to marry.
(Family)King Duncan Callaghan - father
Queen Claudia Callaghan - mother (view spoiler)
Princess Laurel Callaghan - younger sister - 18 (view spoiler)
Princess Cassandra Callaghan - younger sister - 15 (view spoiler)
Duke Elias Callaghan - cousin - 21 (view spoiler)
Other-
"Growing up is losing some illusions, in order to acquire others."
I hope he's alright :) I can change anything if you need me to
"Iƒ уσυ ωαηт тσ ρℓαу ωιтн тнє вιg кι∂ѕ..."
Full Name: Katherine Olivia La Blanchette
(Nickname:) As a child Katherine went by the name Kat, but now rarely anyone refers to her as so. Only her brother refers to her by the childhood nickname now. Almost as if she outgrew it. However she will soon be known as Queen Katherine.
Age: 19
Gender: Female
Appearance:
(view spoiler)
(Hair Color:) Blonde
(Eye Color:) Green
(Height:) 5'4
Personality:
As a child, Kat was known to be a people pleaser. She did her best to make people pleased with her and not be a burden. Truth to be told, she craved a bit of attention and got it by being on her best behavior. Still, she was known to be very trustful and had a quality no princess should have; weak resistance. She was easily swayed to do anything anyone wanted as long as it made them happy. It made her a sweet and helpful child, the perfect child.
As an adult, Katherine is a lot different from her child self. She's very independent, not liking to lean on anyone else and for the most part, doesn't have too. She's learned to be strong on her own, both physically and emotionally. It's no secret that she could take of herself. Which makes her stubborn on just about everything, she likes to make her own choices. There's almost something calculating in her gaze, something a bit cold. There's always a hint of mystery around her and that's because she's learned to play her cards right and above all, she knows how to manipulate someone. Katherine isn't someone you want as an enemy, she can have you singing like a canary at the snap of her fingers and you won't even know it.
Still, she isn't cold as some think, there's always a slight humor to her words. Sarcasm is her humor and it's quite evident, especially in her teasing but sometimes it leaves you unsure if she complimented you, or gave you an insult. Just another mystery to Katherine of Ilis.
(Strengths:)
- Intelligent and Calculating
- Manipulative
- Independent
(Weaknesses:)
- Stubborn
- Doesn't trust easily
- Hates not being in charge/ People who outrank her (Which is few, being royalty)
History:
Katherine is the first daughter, Crown Princess, and second child, to King Issac and Queen Isabelle. Growing up, Kat had the best things money could offer. Tutors, toys, dresses, jewels, anything she wanted. But she was lonely, not many children her age she could play with when she wasn't learning etiquette and how to behave. In some years she had her first visit to another country. All she knew was that it was because it was important to make friends with the neighboring country, as her parents put it.
In her first visit to the Kingdom of Halian, she met her fiancee, Peter. Of course back then she didn't know what they would be but she did know he was a great friend. He brought her out of her shell, and they were as close as they could be. Which was great for their future marriage that was supposed to ensure good ties between Ilis and Halian. When she wasn't in Halian, she was in her own country learning her own duties but secretly she preferred playing games with Peter.
When Katherine was twelve, she was told that she would no longer be going to Halian to visit Peter. It upset her but she knew that there was some tension now with the other country. There was suspicion among her people and rumors that maybe the poison that had been slipped into the King of Halian's food was a warning for their own princess and that didn't go to well with Ilis. You see, Ilis was known, first and foremost, as a country that's prosperous in making deals and having trade. They were a wealthy country but beneath, laid the not so secret fact that they were a country with strong military force, easily conquering any country that opposed them.
With an assassination on a royal family so close by, Katherine was moving on from being a lady and learning how to be a warrior. Ilis didn't discriminate between women and male, and had no problem being under the control of a woman, but it had to be a strong Queen. And just like that, play time was over for Kat. This was the period when she changed due to the training she went through and when she learned what it truly meant to rule. She wasn't Kat the Princess anymore, but Katherine the Warrior Princess of Ilis and soon to be Queen.
It's been years since she's seen Peter, but when the celebration for her ninteenth birthday came, she knew it wouldn't be long before the two kingdoms would become united, or else the tension would have them destroying one another. And she was fully ready to take on the court of Halian and become Queen.
(Family:)
King Issac La Blanchette - Father - (view spoiler)
Queen Isabella La Blanchette - Mother - (view spoiler)
Prince Lucian La Blanchette - Younger Brother 18 - (view spoiler)
Princess Marie La Blanchette - Younger Sister 12- (view spoiler)
Other:
A small tattoo behind her ear that reads: XI•V•LXI
Otherwise known as 11/5/61, an important date to her. What exactly does it mean? That's another secret to her many."Yσυ gσт тσ ρυт αωαу тнє тσуѕ."
I love him! Isn't he Kol, btw, from the Originals? Sorry I took so long but I hope you like mine :D
Thanks :) I think so? I haven't seen The Originals, but I think he is in that. I just know him from Teen wolf. It's totally fine. She's really great!
I was thinking we should when Katherine is just arriving in Halian. I can start, if you want.
I'm pretty sure it's him hahaThanks! Okay, can you start?
I will. Give me a couple of minutes and I'll post :)
The wind surged around the crowd assembled outside of the castle, blowing with enough force that several bannermen had to struggle to keep the flag poles they were holding aloft and stable. People throughout the crowd hugged their coats and cloaks closer to themselves to keep out the chill in the air, but it seemed as though even that didn't stave off the cold. Most of the people didn't seem to mind too much, however. Today was an exciting day. The last few years had brought threat upon threat to Halian, and in everyone's minds, today could be the beginning of change and peace. Harrison stood stiffly at the front of the crowd, with the rest of his family. The arrival of foreign royals at the castle was always a cause for celebration and an official welcome, but today even more so then normal. The arrival of the future queen meant no expenses were spared in the official welcome to the palace. The entire royal family was present, standing beside a handful of nobles, knights, and dignitaries, as well as a drove of palace staff, all waiting to see someone not seen at the royal court for years. A messenger had arrived earlier, saying that Katherine was only minutes away, and the crowd seemed to be growing more eager every minute that passed.
Elias stood next to him with a small wry smile plastered on his face as usual, and leaned over slightly. "This is supposed to be a happy day, Harrison," he muttered, just loud enough to be heard over the wind, but not overheard by others. "You would do well to at the very least look like you're excited."
Harrison's face remained impassive, but he glanced at Elias briefly, allowing himself a momentary sigh at his cousin's expression. It was truly a wonder they got along at all, sometimes. "I am excited," he responded, in a tone that almost everyone would say was as far from exited as possible. But truthfully he was, in his own way. He saw the immense advantages that could be gained from this union. Additional territory, political harmony, and above all, wealth. Harrison of all people could see that this would be a beneficial match. Besides, he was the tiniest bit curious to see Katherine again. He had grown too busy years ago to miss her anymore, but the prospect of seeing her again was still an interesting one.
((I had thought that they could have some sort of banquet/ball type thing later to celebrate her arrival and the future marriage? Unless you have some other idea.))
"We're only a few minutes away from arriving at the castle, Your Highness," Katherine heard one of the coachmen from the front say back to her. Giving no response, she continued leaning her hand on her fist, her arm raised and rested on her leg. The trees and the scenery rushing past the carriage, the castle already in sight, and getting bigger and bigger by the second. It wasn't too long before the trickle of people slowly turned into a crowd, lining on either sides of the driveway for the carriages. Just above she could see the end to the long drive but surely the start of another long journey.Leaning back into the seat, she closed the curtains, not letting anyone see her face in the crowd until she made her arrival. From the corner of her eye she saw Liliana, her lady-in-waiting, sit up straighter and start to fumble with her dresses, chatting her ear off as if she did not know the proper etiquette. "Calm down Liliana,"She told her calmly, not caring much for how the other girl was trying to straighten her dress with her hands. "From the way your acting, you would think you're the one getting married,"There was a slight smirk on her face as the other girl stuttered, assuring her she was the only teasing.
"Aren't you at least a little bit excited to see Prince Peter?" Liliana asked her, obviously excited by the way she continued poking her fingers out the curtains and peeking. "There's quite a crowd waiting for you, Princess!"
"I suppose it'll be interesting to see how Peter has grown, but it's not as if I was expecting him to be the same. He grows as all men do, after all, I don't particularly wish to marry some sort of fool."
The two rode in comfortable silence for the rest of the way, waiting for the carriage to come to a stop any second. "Ready?" Liliana asked her when they finally stopped, the crowd louder than ever. She gave a simple nod of her head, squaring her shoulders back, and straightening her back as she heard her full name being announced. It was time. The doors came open and a hand was held out to help her down. She resisted rolling her eyes, men always trying to help out when they didn't have too, but she was Katherine of Ilis, and she knew exactly what was expected of her. As she descended down, she was aware of every single pair of eyes on her, waiting, and she would deliver.
(Just what I thought too! Sorry if this post is bad, I'm a little rusty)
((Okay, cool. And no, it was great :) ))The crowd seemed to grow more enthusiastic as the carriage pulled up. Excited half-whispers and the sound of horse hooves on the cobblestone path mingled together until it sounded like the entire area was abuzz. Harrison could hear his sister Laurel talking a million miles an hour with one of her ladies in waiting, seemingly oblivious to the unhappy look their mother was giving her. Despite her age, Laurel still hadn't grasped the behavior that was expected of her, and while she was endlessly sweet, she lacked the proper manners to effectively navigate the royal court. Even Cassandra seemed polite and gracious compared to her.
When the carriage came to a stop, the crowd fell into a respectful silence. The herald standing next to the carriage cleared his throat before loudly announcing Katherine. "Her Royal Highness, Princess Katherine Olivia La Blanchette of Ilis." With that, the carriage door opened, and Katherine stepped out. To Harrison, she looked reminiscent of his childhood friend, but she had grown and changed significantly over the past years. They both had, he thought.
As soon as Katherine was out of the carriage, the Queen walked forward, a warm smile replacing the disapproving look from before. Harrison trailed behind slightly, allowing his mother to greet Katherine first. "My dear, it's so good to see you again," she said brightly. She had always been rather fond of Katherine when they were younger, treating her almost like another daughter whenever she came to visit. Out of all of them, it was probably his mother who was the happiest to have Katherine back at the castle.
Once his mother was finished speaking, Harrison smiled politely at Katherine. Everyone was watching them, after all, and happiness was what would be expected right now. "I hope your trip here was a pleasant one," he said.
(Alrighties! Let's get her started! :D)The second she stepped out, Katherine had her eyes exactly when they need be; on the Queen. Her eyes never strayed, even if it had been a long time since she last traveled to Halian, curiosity always did kill the cat. She moved with grace and elegance towards the queen, allowing a polite smile to grace her lips at the greeting. There had once been a time where she would have ran out the carriage and straight into this woman's arms, but no more. "It has been a very long time. A pleasure to see you once more,"She replied cooly. "Halian seems to have gone through some changes, as expected,"She commented. Had she been a person with less self restraint she would have glanced at the queen's side, where the king would have stood and greeted her had he still been alive.
Her eyes finally moved past the older woman and to the man that had once been her childhood friend. "Thank you for your consideration but let's move past the formalities Peter. It's been a very long time since we've seen one another and we will be marrying one another. I don't expect you to be so formal at the wedding,"A small laugh fell from her lips, perfectly hidden behind her gloved palm like a lady of the court. "In fact it's been a long time since I've seen any of you."
Laurel was only a year younger than her and Cassandra by a couple, but Katherine had known them as a young girl but they hadn't been as close as she had been to Peter. But while her words to them had been warm and comforting, they were actually just calm and polite. Her marriage to Peter would only be in name. They didn't love each other, they barley knew one another now but the kingdoms needed to be assured that they cared for each other. Or else the entire reason for their union would be for nothing.
Her eyes swept past them and towards the other male, who she had been informed to be the Duke, Elias Callaghan. The son of the man who had murdered the King. Halian was soft to let him live, but she supposed blood was thicker than water. She did not know if Ilis who have allowed him to have his life after a treachery, and especially not in the castle. "But I don't suppose we've met. Princess Katherine of Ilis, but I don't suppose that will stay that way for too long. Do you?" There was a certain glint in her eyes, undistinguishable to those besides Liliana who knew her princess well. She was amused.
Katherine had only needed the split second to have noticed the Queen being unpleased with her daughter, how polite Peter had been, how Laurel had chattered, how Elias seemed close to Peter, and how Cassandra had behaved more maturely than her sister. It was only a few seconds but that was all she needed. She had observed quietly and stored it all for a time when she might need it.
If the Queen noticed an almost distanced tone in Katherine's voice, she didn't let it show. With another smile and a quick explanation and goodbye, she walked toward a nearby attendant, discussing something that Harrison could just barely hear over the wind and the voices drifting from elsewhere in the crowd. What he did hear was about the banquet planned for tonight, and about the final details being confirmed. Everyone seemed to be in too much of a good mood to not celebrate, but it was really only going to be a small affair. The real spectacle was going to be the wedding itself, so tonight's celebration would be much more modest in comparison. Harrison could not care less about the entire gathering, but he saw the purpose in it, and certainly wasn't going to complain. Harrison had almost forgotten that she wouldn't know that he didn't go by Peter anymore. That'd happened after her last visit to Halain, so of course she wouldn't know. And despite her request to move past formalities, he didn't correct her about his name. To most people, he was Peter, and in some way he appreciated the sense of distance it put between himself and those he didn't know well. "Well alright. I'll keep that in mind," he said with as friendly of a smile as he could manage. Simply being engaged wasn't grounds enough to drop the detached politeness and pleasantries, but he'd humor her if that's what she wanted.
Elias's grin seemed to grow as soon as Katherine turned her attention to him. "I suppose not," He responded. "I'm Duke Elias Callaghan. It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness," he gave a slight respectful bow as he introduced himself. If it wasn't for the fact that Harrison was used to it, he would have had to have suppressed an eye roll. Elias had no taste for manners, expectations, or politeness. But he was charming and polite and funny when he wanted to be or it was convenient. His inability to take it seriously never failed to frustrate Harrison.
"Why don't we go inside, instead of standing out here in the cold?" Harrison suggested, waiting a moment for agreement from the others before turning and walking towards the castle gates. Elias jogged slightly to catch up with Harrison's head start.
"Well, she certainly seems lovely," Elias said as they walked, quiet enough to not be overheard, and glanced at him as though trying to gauge his reaction.
Harrison kept his face even. He frankly wasn't sure what he thought yet, and he certainly didn't need Elias trying to read more into his expression than was there. "Undoubtedly so," he responded flatly.
((I'm going to blame the low quality of this post on the fact that it's nearly 3 am and I'm tired haha. Anyway, I was thinking we should skip ahead to the banquet/ball pretty soon, since I don't think there's that much else to do right now.))
(your post was not low quality!)"The Duke sure was interesting, wasn't he?" Lilian commented to the princess, as she tightened her corset. Katherine found a sly smile lifting her lips, glancing at the taller girl from the corner of her eye.
"Why the sudden interest in Elias, was it? Don't tell me you have taken a liking to the boy,"She prompted, looking at the girl from the full length mirror in front of her as she was dressed.
"No, I wouldn't, Princess. Not only is he higher class but he's the son of the man who murdered the Halian King. Who knows what he could be up to?"She lowered her voice, good decision. Despite the riches in such a luxurious castle, Katherine knew that the royal court was no easy game. The walls had ears in every court, and with everyone trying to get ahead, she knew she had become another part of the game. But she was no mere piece, no she was a player, and one who rarely lost.
To gain the new Queen's favor would have anyone quickly climbing the ladder of importance here but she would not be easily swayed. She had no intentions of becoming anyone's fool. "Oh come now Lilian. He might not be up to anything at all, but that wasn't what I was implying. Maybe you fancy him, that's why your getting so flustered about my question. I do think he's rather handsome." The sudden tight pull of the ribbons on the back of her dress had her loose her breath for a second before her lady in waiting muttered an apology and she couldn't help but smirk. So Lilian did think he was attractive, interesting.
Katherine took a certain pleasure in knowing things, and while the information might seem small, she knew it would be unwise to undermine anything she found out here. All words had power, especially if proven true. And while she had no intention of being played instead of playing in Halian, she was also aware that she hadn't been in the kingdom in many years. It was time to start collecting her cards and her allies, as well as knowing who could be her enemies around here. "If you don't mind me asking, what do you think of the Prince, m'lady?" Lilian asked her, just about finished as she looked her over, after all she had to make not just one good first impression, but another great one at the ball tonight.
However she did consider Lilian's question. From the small amount she had been in his presence, it was obvious that Peter had certainly changed. He was no longer that boy that had dragged her around the castle hall's, eager to play pranks on the councilmen and evade his tutors. In fact there didn't seem to be a joke left in the man now but there was still a lot to him. Many people might see the perfect King in training in him, but everyone had a cracking point, it was only a matter of knowing where and how hard to push to see it. Still, there was always more than what the surface showed but she wondered briefly if she would ever see it, or if she would care too.
"It's time,"Katherine announced as Lilian finished, giving herself a look in the mirror. She wore a strapless white gown with clear lace that had black flowers on top of it. Her hair was pulled up into an elegant and complicated bun while the front had a braid around the crown of her head, exposing her small tattoo behind her ear, the only blemish on her otherwise perfect skin. And lastly, her crown of Ilis resting right in front of her braid.
"I do believe we have a ball to attend."
(view spoiler)
The musicians began the first song of the night, and Harrison watched with detached interest as they performed, the violins, flutes, harps, and other instruments all working together in pleasant harmony. It was more of a warm up song than anything else, but a few couples already dancing in the open area of the great hall. The evening's festivities weren't officially scheduled to begin for a few more minutes, but some people were already filtering in. Really, Harrison would have liked to have arrived later, but he knew better than that. This entire celebration was being held at least partly in honor of him, and it would have not only been rude, but uncharacteristic for him to have not arrived with plenty of time to spare. So he stood at the edge of the dance floor, politely greeting the nobles that came up to him.Harrison was rather startled as a giggle erupted from behind him, and turned to chide the person who bumped into him, only to see that it was Laurel. His face settled into a slight frown as she teasingly bumped into his side again. He felt his sister was embarrassingly immature at times, and far too lighthearted, but he was far more forgiving in his opinion of her than he would have been with anyone else who acted as she did. It wasn't that he was particularly close to her--far from it, frankly--but he tolerated her more than he would have if they weren't related and hadn't grown up together. Besides, he saw a little of his younger self in the way she acted, and figured that she had only become like this while imitating him.
"This is supposed to be a fun night, Harrison! Why are you just standing over here by yourself?" She said with an almost patronizing smile.
"I'm not sure what you expect me to be doing," he responded, with a growing suspicion she had some plan in mind. The plans she had were rarely things he really wanted to be a part of, but no matter how many times he said no, she always tried to rope him into them. "People are only just now getting here, after all."
Laurel's face grew into a wider grin as she grabbed his hand, as if ready to drag him off to the dance floor. "Come on, this is a ball. You should dance."
He knew she was right for once, in a way. For appearance's sake, he should dance at some point, but he could put that off at least for a little bit. "No, but you should," he said, taking back his hand and gently turning her towards the crowd of people slowly gathering in the great hall. "I'm sure there are plenty of young, rich noblemen who would love to dance with you, and they'd probably be better at it than I am. Now go." Laurel rolled her eyes but at least managed to take the hint, and with a quick goodbye, went off in pursuit of a dance partner.
Harrison scanned the group of people slowly entering the hall, looking to see if there was anyone he needed to greet or discuss anything with. He recognized most of the nobles, though there were a few he wasn't sure he met before, and he made a mental note to either speak to them, or find out later if any of them were actually people he needed to know and remember. There were so many faces that entered and left court quickly that it was impossible to know every single one, but it was essential to know the key players, and even more essential to stay in their good graces. He might be the future king, but even the royal family's power rested on the wealth and support of the nobles.
With her hands on the railing of the staircase, Katherine took her time to watch the people at the ball beforehand. Noblemen and women were the first ones to arrive, most likely the most important ones, and she took note of every single face down there. Everyone was busy mingling with each other and therefore she had not been noticed and she had not been there long enough for anyone to quickly identify her unless they saw her face so she thought nothing of anyone trying to sneak up from behind her. Besides after she had parted ways with Lilian, she had made sure not to cause such a big scene at her arrival. She had never been one for grand scenes, they were never her style, but her look look out was more of the reason to make the quiet entrance for now. She had stood thee for a couple of minutes before finally descending the stairs as she was getting a few curious glanced from afar.Before she had fully stepped down, she caught sight of Peter and who she was sure was Laurel. For a couple of seconds she watched them interact, and it wasn't too hard to notice that the two weren't close. Still something about the two made her miss Lucian even more. He was only younger than her by a year and he had become her closest companion in the castle back in Ilis. Briefly she wondered what he would be doing right now but she knew exactly what it would be. Sword training, the two used to do it all the time when they were done with their duties for the day. From everyone she had left behind, she knew she would miss her brother the most. They had grown to be very close and leaving him behind had been the hardest but she knew what her duties to her country were and as a member of the royal family, they would always come before her personal feelings.
Katherine couldn't help but compare Laurel to her own sister, Marie. Laurel acted a lot like Marie used to as a child, Marie is now twelve. Compared to Peter she looked acted like a child but she supposed that it was only natural. She faintly remembered the younger brunette following them around when they used to run around the castle. She might not remember much about the girl but she wondered if the way she acted so childishly had something to do with the death of her father and using that type of behavior in learning how to cope. In her head she could hear her father telling her she was born with knowledge in her eyes and Lucian commenting on how she analyzed and over analyzed everything.
"I hope I won't get turned away if I ask for a dance,"Her voice fluttered through the air after Laurel had left. Katherine smiled teasingly at him,"She does have a point. A ball is meant to be exciting. Besides I do fairly remember going through some dance lessons with you. So now I pose the question; if I ask you to dance, will you still be the one stepping on my toes?"
When she used to visit Halian constantly, they had done more than just mess around. They had been trained and tuned to know each other since they were children. So of course their had been dance lessons to familiarize one another with their bodies and be comfortable around each other. Obviously back then she didn't think of Peter as a man and he wouldn't think of her as a woman. They were children but now they had grown up and privately, she thought he was a rather handsome man. So while their marriage was an arranged one, she knew it could be a lot worse.
Harrison watched the growing number of people in the hall, observing their interactions with each other. There was no room for doubt that Harrison could play the political game well, but in moments like these he appreciated watching things from the edge rather than the center of events. Removed from the action, there was a noticeable difference between the genuine smiles and the polite ones, and one could almost see some people having to force themselves to pretend to be able to stand one another. He felt that the way they navigated the social landscape was amusing, in an almost cynical and disenchanting way. It was at this moment that that he spotted Lord Cohen in the crowd, and signed internally. Harrison had hoped that he wouldn't arrive at court for another day or two, at least to Harrison could have time to prepare a little bit, but luck didn't seem to favor him today. Lord Cohen was having land disputes with another noble from the western part of the kingdom, and Harrison was expected to settle the issue. It should have been a simple matter, if not for the fact that both nobles were relied upon for monetary donations to the crown, and upsetting either was not a good idea. It was just as Harrison was beginning to consider the situation more in depth that another voice pulled him from his thoughts.Shifting his attention away from the nobles, Harrison put on a polite smile when he saw who it was. "Oh, Katherine." He said as a sort of greeting, a little surprised he hadn't seen her come in. "Of course not." He held out a hand to her to lead her to the open area of the great hall where other pairs of people were already dancing. If he was going to dance at all tonight, which he was expected to, she would be the one he would have to dance with. An entire banquet and ball in honor of their engagement meant that people would expect them to dance. This celebration was an elaborate production to allow everyone to see them, so they might as well put on the performance.
"I hope not. I would certainly like to think I've gotten a little more graceful over the years." Harrison responded. And he had improved, though it certainly wasn't hard to improve over his ability at it when they were younger. As a child, he hadn't take it seriously--though what had he taken seriously at that age, really?--and had been impressively terrible at it. He still remembered the many times he had messed up on purpose, just to bother their dance instructor. Looking back on it, he was a little embarrassed by his behavior, but that feelings wasn't exclusive to his lack of seriousness at dance lessons. He usually tried to focus on the present and the future, but when he allowed himself to think back, he couldn't view his younger self's immaturity with anything but disappointment. He was, however, content with the fact that he had improved in that, and had hopefully made up for his past mistakes and lack of seriousness.
Katherine clearly saw the polite smile on Peter's face but didn't comment on it. When she had first been told it was time to return to Halian and become the new Queen, she had been admittedly a little curious onto how Peter had grown up. He had been her childhood best friend and when she was younger she often thought of him when she was told she couldn't go back. She wasn't exactly sure what she thought she would find in him when she arrived but this was certainly more of a change than she thought. The Peter she had known was always in a good mood, planning jokes, and finding anything to laugh at. Admittedly, she hadn't wanted to marry someone so childish but she had expected to find some sort of the mischievous boy she had once known. Now it was like he was a whole new person. From the short amount of time she's only seen him she could tell that he was a serious person, one who would rather work than have any kind of fun. He was polite and distant, almost cold. And while she could be distant, she always knew how to have a good time or in the very least have a good laugh. Even so, she supposed anyone could have a personality change when someone so important to them died. She remembered King Duncan well, he was a kind man, but she also remembered how much Peter had loved his father.If she ever lost her father or any other member of her family, she wondered if she would have turned out to be so cold. A lost like that could turn the sweetest and friendliest person into someone so distant and cold from everyone. Still, she smiled at him and delicately placed her hand in his as he led her to the dance floor. The second they started to walk to the floor, everyone's eyes were on them. "You know I have to say I am a little disappointed,"She commented. "If I can't even get a small compliment on how I look for the ball then I feel like I have surely failed to make an impression on no only you but the court of Halian,"There was a slight tease to her tone and a small smile, letting anyone around them who was watching think that they were as affectionate and close as ever.
Peter's hand was gentle on her hip when they started to dance, his other hand finding hers as she placed her free hand on his shoulder. She laughed softly,"I guess we'll find out, won't we?" And while she might be someone who liked to analyze everything and like to play the game of politics, she figured if she was going to marry him, she might as well enjoy the ball that was meant for them and since he probably wasn't going to enjoy it, she would have too anyways. Of course she wouldn't go as far as saying that she would be as loose as Laurel was. Despite enjoying herself it just wasn't in her personality to act that way and she still had a reputation to uphold. She would not let the name of La Blanchette be disgraced, she was a lady of the court after all. "Luckily I do have to admit you are no longer stepping on my toes," They flawlessly danced in union, not caring if everyone's eyes were on them. When weren't they?
"I apologize for disappointing you, then." Harrison replied. "You do look lovely, though." And it was true. It was surprisingly easy to get desensitized to it all, with the expensive, flowing dresses and complex hairstyles a seemingly ever-present feature of the women at court, but when he really took a look at her, it was unquestionable that she did look beautiful. Her hair framed her face well, and her dress looked very nice on her. "And there's certainly no doubt that you've already made an impression at court." The number of people turning to watch them as they made their way to the dance floor definitely made that obvious. People were not only interested in observing the future queen, but interested to see how the pair got along. The people around them were certainly curious, though Harrison couldn't quite tell from just a glance exactly what it was they were all thinking. It wasn't as if anyone made comments about them loud enough that he could hear them, either. He didn't particularly like not being able to read the reactions of the nobles, but he supposed there was nothing he could do about that this second. That would just be a task for later. Harrison's smile took on an almost proud appearance. "Well, I'm certainly glad I've improved." Dancing with Katherine was actually rather strange for him. It was familiar in a way, and he couldn't help but be reminded of their dance lessons as children. There were obvious differences of course, such as his ability to finally dance without repeatedly stepping on her toes, but it felt startlingly familiar in a way he really hadn't expected.
When he stopped to think about it, Katherine being at court again was just generally strange. He had missed her at first once her visits stopped, but over the years things had changed. He'd adjusted to her not being there, and he no longer felt like an important part of his life was missing. Having Katherine back at court, dancing with her... it was all the strangest feeling of deja vu. So much had changed, but it also felt so utterly reminiscent of the past to him. He wasn't quite sure how he felt about any of it yet, though he knew that ultimately he would adjust to it with time, just as he had adjusted before. If they were going to be married, he'd get used to having her around.
"It's been an awfully long time since we've seen each other," Harrison said, "so how have you been?" It seemed like the most painfully obvious thing to ask, but he couldn't help but be a little curious. He knew almost nothing about her life in the previous years. After she left the last time, he had other things to worry about, and had more responsibilities that occupied his thoughts until he rarely thought of her anymore. She only re-entered his life again months ago when talk began of finally fulfilling the engagement, and he had no real idea how things had been for her before then, aside from his knowledge about the political situations in Ilis. And while that might be useful for him, it was too general and vague to tell him anything about Katherine.
"Why thank you. For such an amazing compliment, I'll pretend I didn't mention it beforehand,"Katherine teased, moving flawlessly around the dance floor with him. Her training of Ilis was one that was kept under wraps, as was the training of all the soldiers, but there was always a huge misconception about warriors. People thought them to be clumsy and destroying anything in their way as they trampled, but it was actually quite the opposite. They were graceful, they learned how to move undetected, and if anyone were to pay real close attention, they would notice that her footsteps made no noise at all and as she practically glided in their dance. Grace wasn't just something a warrior needed but a royal did too, and she was both. "An impression maybe but is it good enough? Your people, our people,"She corrected,"Have been waiting my arrival for some time now. When time builds up, the higher the expectations are." Which was true, the talk of their engagement had started a little over a year ago and from all the people that had been waiting for her to carriage to pass by on their way to the kingdom had confirmed that people had been waiting. "I think curiosity is the better word for it."Ahh, so there it was. It seemed that Peter was now the one who was the perfect son instead of she, trying to be the perfect daughter as a girl. So he was prideful, she wondered if that could be his fatal flaw. The thing about fatal flaw's was that everyone had one. There was always a certain quality about a person that can cause their demise. The person might not even know it themselves but it was there. You know what they say, pride and excess bring disaster for man.
When the question was asked, certain memories flashed before her eyes but her pretty smile didn't ever falter nor did she blink an eye for a second. "I've been grand. After my trips to Halian stopped, my parents decided that maybe it was time to take responsibility of being the Crown Princess of Ilis. So in a sense I grew up. I visited my people, and learned the ways of how to be a lady. But I'm sure you don't want to hear all of that. I did visit all the lands of Ilis during my preparation for the crown, learned the way of all my people. But at the same time I saw some lovely sights, enough that traveling is now one of my favorite hobbies. But on my way here I saw some beautiful sights, Halian is more than gorgeous."
"However enough about me, I don't wish to bore you any longer than I already have,"Katherine smiled at him, she hadn't said anything that was important to know about her or be used against her. In any other news, she was curious on how he had been. "How have you been? There has seemed to be many changed since I was last here."
Harrison wasn't sure whether to take that as a joke, or some sort of insult to him for having complimented her too late. And really, he wasn't sure she joking with this entire conversation or if she was just vain, though he hoped for the former. As slightly frustrating as he found it to be, he could deal with teasing, but he wasn't in the mood for purposeless narcissism. But he didn't voice his uncertainty, of course. He simply smiled kindly as though he was in on the joke. "Curiosity is a good start." He replied. "After all, it's a little hard to make an impression if no one is playing attention." He may have brushed off her comment, but he knew that Katherine had posed an interesting question. Was the impression good enough? An impression of some kind was being made, and the watchful eyes on them as they danced were proof of that. But Harrison wasn't sure whether the impression was good enough just yet. Only time would tell. It was certainly something to keep in mind, though. The opinions of the people--particularly those of the nobles--could make or break you, and that wasn't something you ever wanted to forget, unless you wanted to lose your head. Literally.
Well, that was all lovely... and incredibly vague. Harrison couldn't help but wonder what Katherine had been doing. Surely she'd had done more things than just travel in the past seven years. If that was all she was going to say though, then so be it. His curiosity could wait. "That all sounds very nice, especially the traveling." He said. "Halian certainly is beautiful, especially in the northern countryside."
"Yes, things have changed, I suppose." Harrison said. He kept his face even, but he couldn't help but think of his father. The king's death was a specter that still haunted the Halish court. His father was rarely talked about, except on the anniversary of his death, but he was a permanent fixture in the minds of everyone at court. The king's death was a ghost that tormented them all, though everyone simply pretended the memory wasn't there. But Katherine obviously knew about his father's passing, so there wasn't any need to dig that up. The past would haunt the present no matter what he did; he might as well stay silent about it. He finally responded after a moment's pause. "But I've been good. Things tend to be very busy here, so I unfortunately haven't had much chance to travel like you have." He hadn't spent seven years cooped up in the castle, of course, but he was dedicated to his duties. He had responsibilities, and little time for much else. Really, that was how he liked it. His various duties could be tiring, and frustrating beyond belief at times, but they gave him something to do, and he was good at it.
(Sorry I haven't had time to reply, I'll try to get to it tonight )
The more time Katherine spent with Peter, the more obvious it became to her that he wasn't one for jokes or any needless teasing. He might put up with it but it didn't look like he particularly enjoyed it. It was becoming more than abundantly clear that she would be marrying someone who was the complete opposite of her. And in this case, it didn't seem to likely for the opposites to attract. After all they were both seeing this as a business deal in a sense, not a marriage that would make them both happy.Katherine had no doubt in her mind that she had made an impression that would due her good. However she knew now that while she was out of the woods, they were not. They were the future King and Queen of Halian. The people of Halian would be looking towards them for guidance and if they weren't deemed fit then it would be a problem. What most royalty failed to realize was that the common people, even more so than the nobles, were the source of power. Without them there would be no kingdom, without them there was no one to rule, and without them there would be no support to their marriage. For now the nobles got the first look to their time together as a couple, but it wouldn't be too long before they show their "love" in front of the kingdom.
Which is why she did her best to make an impression on the common folk on her way here. Being a Queen was fickly in itself, but her situation was a little more so than normal. After all she was the one coming to a country who hadn't seen her presence in years. She would be starting from the bottom and it was important to build popularity with your people because you would never know when you would need their support. A queen had power but it would be easy for a king to overturn her decisions if she was not backed up. But as she danced with Peter and tried to figure him out, she knew there was at least one thing she would not have to worry about with him. Being under a mistress. It was not rare for a King to take a mistress who would gain more power than the Queen by gaining the King's favor but from the looks of it, Peter would not be doing so. She had to resist a laugh at the thought. The thought of even having to take orders or being outplayed at court by a harlot was funny in itself. The thought becoming reality? Entirely preposterous. She already did not like the thought of having to rule equally with another person but another female who gained influence by sleeping with her husband? She would not hesitate to get the obstacle out of her way.
"A pity, but understandable. We have both known how our lives would turn out as we grew older. Both taking a crown, of course when we used to play together as children, I didn't think that funny Peter would one day be my husband,"Katherine commented. "Running a kingdom isn't something that happens with the snap of a finger, is it?" Even without an answer, they both knew the truth to the statement. "But brushing away from talk that we will surely get to at a more serious time, how is your family? It's been such a long time since I last set foot in here or shared a meal with them. I must admit, I have missed Halian." And in a way she had. Times were easier back then, she didn't have to think about- no. The past was the past and it shall stay there. It would do no one any good if she started to think about that.
Other people, if they were in his position, might've allowed themselves to reminisce at her remark about them as children, but Harrison didn't. There simply wasn't any point to it in his mind. They were both different people now, and the 'funny Peter' she mentioned certainly wasn't here anymore. However, he did allow himself to think back for a brief moment. Despite what Katherine said, he wasn't sure he really had comprehended when he was younger what his life would eventually be like. He had been too oblivious, and far too caught up in the way things were to try to understand the way things would one day be. But he understood her point regardless. This was simply how things worked. If the kingdom was to function, someone had to run it, and there was no way around that."My family has been well." He responded, before deciding to elaborate. "Mother has been good, but you already got a chance to speak with her earlier today, so I'm sure you could tell that. Other than that, Laurel and Cassandra have both been well." His sisters had grown and changed a lot since Katherine had last seen them, Cassandra most of all. She had only been about about eight when Katherine had last visited, and had definitely matured over the years into a girl surprisingly competent and astute for her age. Laurel hadn't grown up quite as much, but she was kinder and far less of a brat than she was when she was younger, which Harrison was certainly grateful for. Thinking back on it, to him it had all seemed gradual, but he knew that there were major differences compared to how things used to be.
"And of course, you met my cousin Elias earlier." He continued. "He's been living with us for several years." Harrison was sure he didn't really need to explain why. After all, the story of the traitor's son living with the royal family was infamous even outside of Halian. The decision to allow his cousin to move into the castle, let alone to live at all, had caused quite a stir originally. Those who had been loyal to the king hadn't openly objected to the decision, but very few were happy with it. Elias hasn't been involved with the murder of the king, but that wasn't obvious to many at the time. Even now people weren't happy with his presence at court. The entire situation resulted in Elias being in a bit of an odd limbo: politically protected by his family but a social outcast, distrusted and secretly disrespected by almost all at court. Harrison almost felt bad for Elias, but he knew that Elias was hardly bothered by it, or at least didn't seem to be bothered. It was impressive in some way, though. The court was a frightening place if you had few allies, and Elias's seeming lack of concern was almost admirable. "How has your family been?" He asked.
"Your mother looks exactly like how I remembered her," Katherine commented. And by that she didn't exactly mean her physical appearance. Yes, the Queen of Halian had aged nicely and was still as beautiful as the day she had met her. But she meant that she still looked happy. Even though she wouldn't admit it, she was glad. Losing someone was hard and she had seen firsthand how Claudia had loved her king. No doubt she still felt his loss to this day but to be able to smile through all showed true strength and she couldn't help but respect that. "Laurel is still so vibrant, innocent in a sense. It's refreshing to see that in someone at court." But it wasn't exactly smart in a cutthroat game. "Cassandra has changed the most, hasn't she? She looks a lot like Laurel, but they both reflect your mother and your father. They seem to be lovely girls and I look forward to getting to know them again.""Ah, yes, Elias," She nodded, remembering the face when they first met just this morning. Everyone in and outside of Halian knew who he was. The son of the man who murdered the King. Many thought it was unwise to keep him with the royal family and she couldn't help but agree. He could harbor some anger for the death of his father and who knows what else but she could understand the decision. He was family to them after all, and when that was the case, you tended to make different choices then when they were strangers. Besides Queen Claudia had always been a kind woman, one who seemed like she was destined to be a mother, and she couldn't help but think that she wouldn't have had the heart to sentence a child to death. "I'll have to have a talk with him. After all I just met him, I would like to see what kind of secrets he could give me about you,"She teased. But she had also wanted to see what kind of person he was. Besides from earlier it was obvious he was in Peter's confidence, it would be wise to see where he would be on her game of chess.
"My family has been well. Things have been relaxing back at Ilis since the conquering of Majana." Majana had been a country that grown restless for years before attacking not too long after the murder of King Duncan. They figured that with the royal family's attention on Halian, worried for their daughter, they would be unprepared. But they underestimated Ilis. The country would not be known as a War Nation for no reason. They crushed their frontal assault and had pretty much taken control of the capitol within a year but then there was flushing out the ones who had gone into hiding that much of the fuss had been. But remembering the war brought back distant memories and her tattoo seemed to burn at the thought. "Father is always glad to have the soldiers return home to their family." However Katherine also suspected that her father just was a smidgen too lazy to continue planning attacks. Her father was a joyous man, one with a skill for fighting and swordplay. "Mother is still young and vibrant, happy to be spending more time with father,"A smile curved on her lips as she remembered her parents always walking through the gardens, spending what time they could together before they were needed elsewhere. "Lucian is preparing to start courting his own princess though. I'm proud of him, he's growing up,"She laughed. "And Marie is doing just as good. She's growing up finely. Sometimes I wonder where the days have gone when I no longer see her running around with her dolls instead of refining her etiquette and poise. And with Lucian no longer falling every other step and now as graceful as a cat when he's taking care of his duties." She smiled softly, remembering how it had been. "But as you can see my family is doing well."
Refreshing was one way to put it Harrison supposed, though he would have picked a word more along the lines of dismaying. It was nearly impossible not to feel like things would one day go badly for Laurel. His only reassurance was that plenty of people had warned Laurel, and she had still chosen to act the way she did and stay on the path she was on. If things didn't end well, he at least knew that it wasn't due to his lack of warning. "Well, that's good. They're certainly excited to get to talk to you again." He responded, then continued with a slight chuckle. "For months it seems like they've been unable to talk about anything besides how excited they were that you would be at court again." In truth, that had mostly been Laurel, since it wasn't exactly difficult to get her enthusiastic about things, but he imagined that Cassandra was happy about Katherine being here as well. Sometimes it was a little hard to tell exactly what Cassandra thought about things, but he felt confident in guessing that she was excited. Harrison gave a rather tight-lipped smile, careful to not show his displeasure at that idea. He could guess from her tone that she was intending to make a joke, but even the idea of it bothered him. Elias was someone he could trust, and in a place like this, that wasn't something you took for granted. Even if Katherine was joking, the mere suggestion worried him a little. "I wish you the best of luck in finding those out, then." He said.
"Oh, Majana, right." Harrison replied, an almost admiring look crossing his face. "That was quite an impressive victory." He had been too preoccupied dealing with his father's death at the time to pay much attention to Ilis's conquering of Majana, but learning about it later, it was hard not to be at least a little impressed. Majana hadn't been an insubstantial threat, so the victory was undoubtedly a well-earned one. Harrison had little talent for war strategy, so there might've been a hint of jealousy mixed with his admiration, but he wouldn't acknowledge that. "I'm very happy everything is going well for them. I hope I'll get a chance to see them soon." He said. Just as Katherine hadn't seen his family in quite some time, he hadn't seen her's. From what he could remember of her parents and siblings from the times he had met them, he remembered liking them, and he was certainly interested to see how things had changed. "They will be here to attend the wedding, right?"
The music started to wind down, and he glanced over towards the musicians, realizing they were nearing the end of a song. They would undoubtedly start to play again in just a few moments, but as he noticed a few other couples leaving the dance floor, he took his chance. He dropped his hand from her hand and her waist, taking a short step backwards before giving a respectful slight bow. "Thank you for the dance Katherine, it was lovely." He wasn't necessarily in a hurry to leave, but he had danced with her as was expected, so he didn't feel he had to stick around on the dance floor for more than had been necessary.
In Ilis, Katherine had learned rather early on that the body spoke a lot more than words or even the preposterous saying of 'the eyes are the window to the soul.' Words could lie and be twisted and manipulated so many ways that they weren't very trustworthy. And the whole eyes thing? Some people might be relaxed, unguarded, or simply just didn't know how to hide their emotions and it was easily readable on their faces. But there was many who were very skilled in hiding everything from their faces. In fact, she found that most everyone at a royal court knew how to do just that. But what spoke volumes was body language. The body told you exactly how that person was feeling and even some insight to their thoughts. Why exactly was that? It was because not even the person themself knew what their body was doing unless trained for it. The body speaks on it's own, without needing the owner to tell them what to say. In a sense you are your own enemy if you can't control it. But the fact was that even the most skilled person would slip up, it might not be noticeable but to trained eyes like hers, it was as noticeable as if someone had pointed it out. And no matter the words that spilled from Peter's lips, she knew she had struck a nerve at the slight teasing but she made no comment on it, and decided to just move on from the subject.Katherine wasn't trying to overanalyze Peter, not right now at least, but she couldn't help it. She had plenty of self control from habits like biting her nails or giving an obvious insult, her style was more of a backhanded compliment that left someone double guessing, but taking into account everything someone did was a curse. Because although it looked like she was relaxed and fine, she was actually working overtime inside. But it was obvious to her that Peter was being polite, not friendly. She hadn't known what she would find when she came back to Halian but Peter having done a complete one eighty hadn't came to mind. Besides they were at a ball, a sort of engagement party for them, and she had nothing to do but pretend to smile and enjoy herself. She knew what laid ahead of her when she was told it would be time to head for Halian but having to navigate an entirely new court while not knowing a thing about anyone was completely boring to her.
"Thank you,"She replied, taking pride in her country's victory. War was always a tricky thing but she couldn't help but feel proud that the first war she had been apart of had been done so smoothly and nice. Besides, with Ilis being a country of war and being engaged to a prince whose country was not and had the head royal patriarch murdered, the war room turned to a mandatory place of visit for the eldest child of the royal family of Ilis. She had sat through many different war talks of strategies, and even when there was no war, the generals had often reported on how their bordering countries looked. Katherine was very proud to say she had a talent for war strategy. "Every conquering is built around an art,"Words her father always told her. "But I will pass that along to my father but maybe you'll have a chance to tell him yourself at the wedding." She confirmed the arrival of her own family. "Lucian has certainly grown up and you'll find that Marie is no longer a baby."
As the music started to near the end and slow until it stopped, they found themselves at the end of their dance at the middle of the floor, all eyes still on them. Likewise as Peter she took a step back from him and curtsied. "It was quite a dance, and I do must say you dance skills certainly improved greatly from when we were children. But if you will excuse me for a second, I'm slightly parched. Besides I wouldn't want to take all your time up,"She smiled at him, an impersonal smile, before elegantly moving towards one of the servants, taking a cup carefully and lifting it up to her lips with a sip, her eyes taking another sweep.
(Sorry I took so long, I know it's not the greatest)
((It's totally fine :)I'm not quite sure what more to do with this particular interaction? Unless you had some idea.
Also, it might be a good idea to think of a way ahead of time to get them to actually start to warm up to one another.))
(I'm not to sure either, unless you want too ff a bit? Into the ball? Or somewhere else?Right. What do you think? Any ideads?)
((Fastforwarding is fine with me. I don't have any preferences where.I'm really annoyed that I have no ideas. I really like this rp but I right now I don't know how to make them not totally cold towards one another.))
