Cataline + Iseut - Winter
Who: Cataline + Iseut
When: Recently!
Where: Cataline's murder house
Rating & Warnings: G!
Iseut waiting patiently in one of the resting rooms at the Sabreme estate, glad of the time to reflect before having to hold a conversation on her own. The Sabreme's decorating asked for a lot, in her honest opinion and raised on the austerity of the Aronine style, but it did not reflect any of the current misfortunes that had so recently fallen on the House.
Which was for the best.
She shifted a bit in her seat and touched the pouch she had tied to her belt. It was not much of a gift, but neither was one expected. The two, Iseut hoped, cancelled each other out enough that it would be seen as something nice, not something that begged for more thought, money, or effort.
It was nice to be getting back to some semblance of normal after everything that had happened. Cataline had been busy over the past few days, but a break to speak to one of the next generation of nobles was a welcome one. Gliding into the room with a genuine smile, she slipped into a chair opposite the young Aronine.
"Greetings, Iseut. How are you?"
"Hello, Lady Cataline." Iseut bobbed her head from her seat. If she remembered correctly, she did not have to stand on as much ceremony she did here as she did in other situations. "Things are well. How are things here?" Perhaps not the most polite question, concerning the circumstances, but it was the obvious response.
"Things here go quite well," considering her son was still at large. "I recently began sponsoring a talented artist. We'll be displaying his works soon. You should come." A servant came through, holding a tray with a teapot and several mugs. Cataline gestured to it. "Tea?"
"Yes, thank you." Iseut nodded at the servant with the tea politely and waited to be served some. "That is nice to hear. What sort of art? You will have to tell me when he will perform or display it."
"Paintings, portraits," Cataline watched as the servants poured out the amber liquid, before smiling at the maid and lifting her cup to drink. "How have you been?"
"It sounds lovely." Iseut sipped her tea, which was delicious. She was not very surprised about that, of course. "Quiet. Much of my family has left for the winter, as they usually do, but my father insisted I stay in Tyrol with my stepmother to keep her company."
Iseut was not prone to whining and was somewhat ashamed to admit that she had tried to reason with her father in such a way when rational discourse proved impossible ... but was mostly ashamed because it hadn't worked.
"I see," had her father not stayed? Cataline did not ask. It would be indelicate. "I hope you do not grow bored in the city. Life here always seems to grow tired during the winter months, when I am told life on a country estate during the winter is far more fun. I suppose, in the city there might be more to do during the celebration of the Occia's anniversary...but I cannot imagine there's much to do now, when we are between Occias."
Cataline paused in her musings for a sip of her own tea. "Are you managing to keep yourself entertained?"
Not growing bored in Tyrol was a tall order, but Iseut nodded in response as if it was a potentiality. "Have you heard anything regarding the successor?" Iseut had not, which she found highly peculiar. Her aunt had been more quiet of late regarding that and eying her daughters hair suspiciously, as if one would turn white randomly one day.
Which was not how it worked. Iseut was a devout member of the Citadel, after all. Her aunt's fanaticism was reaching a new level of delusion ... which is not something that could ever be said out-loud.
"Do you have any plans for the winter? My stepmother has been discussing a large gathering, but so far I think it is in the rough planning stages."
"I have not," truthfully, Cataline had quietly begun to cut herself off from any of the Citadel's doings. She did still love her son, no matter what he now was. "I cannot imagine they would hesitate in placing a new girl, when they find her."
Plans? None that could be said out loud. Cataline was still turning them over in her head. "No plans, I'm afraid. Perhaps one or two shows. And I commissioned a painting of Sena- that is all."
"No, me either." The question was why there was not one appearing. It was highly disconcerting on many levels. Many levels that Iseut did not have anything to do with but fret internally on what it could mean.
Was the Citadel being punished for following the Other that wore His face?
"That sounds nice. Shows are able at breaking up the tedium of winter in the city, I've noticed. They are more enjoyable than most parties I have been to."
"I find that too," Iseut did not look the sort of girl who would go to masques or balls and enjoy herself, Cataline noted. "Very calm, and always something new to look at. Still, I can't help but wonder if a nice ball would perk everyone up."
"I suppose that is what my step-mother thinks and why she is planning a gathering, at least. I would not be surprised if she decided that she would throw a ball while our estate is as empty as it is." Iseut would be required to go, of course, but she hoped she could avoid being a part of the planning of it. That was just as, if not more dull, than having to go.
"If you were to have a ball, what sort would you throw? The last I can remember Tyrol had was Lord Myron's." Which Iseut hadn't gone to, as she was in an entirely different city at the time.
"Hm," Cataline tapped her bottom lip as she thought it over. "A masque, perhaps. Those are always exciting. It gives one the chance to become someone else for a night. What would you prefer?"
It did sound nice ... but Iseut was fairly sure that would not work for her if she tried to be someone else. It was hard enough being herself.
"I do not know. A hunting party, of some sort. Something out of doors." That could be fun. The idea sounded better than any other party idea she had ever heard of or had been to.
"That does sound nice," except Cataline could not ride and had no desire to go out killing things. "Perhaps in summer, when the weather is nicer, you could organise something." She gave the girl an encouraging smile.
Yeah. Iseut nodded politely, but mentally put that in the 'Will Never Happen' pile. The mere idea was enough to lodge a stone in her stomach.
"It will be nice when it is summer again. There is always much more going on when people are more likely to leave. I've been to the market a few times and it has been dull."
"I agree," Cataline nodded. "I hear Adelle and Prince Arman will be married soon. A wedding should bring some excitement, I suppose."
Iseut blinked. She had no real opinion on either in terms of marriage, but that was a rather important piece of gossip that she had not heard from her stepmother, who specialized in gossip, or from Aunt Vida, who was not intimately involved in the royal family.
"Truly?" She blinked and shook her head again lightly, and then took another sip of her neglected tea. "That is wonderful news."
"Oh yes. It really will be an occasion." Hopefully, Adelle would be alright; she was very young indeed to have been suddenly named wife to the heir of the throne. "I was thinking of sending her a gift to celebrate. I'm still not certain what, though."
A gift for Adelle. Iseut couldn't think of anything appropriate for it. On the more positive side, Prince Arman was a nice man. An apology or sympathy gift was likely unneeded. "I'm sure she would appreciate one. Do you know when it will be announced?"
"I'm not certain," Cataline admitted. "I was informed by the king." Really, she should speak to Adelle herself, see if she was alright with everything. "Hopefully, it will be soon. I want to buy her something special."
Ah. Then this was gossip that was more likely to be truthful instead of something that sounded good.
Iseut wondered what Adelle thought about all of this. It was a powerful position and a very good marriage. It also came out of nowhere.
"That would be nice. I'm sure she would like it." What sort of gift would Adelle like? Jewelry? Clothing? A horse or a hawk? Something the more expensive the better?
"I do hope so," Cataline smiled, finishing her tea. With a nod at Iseut and a smile, she gestured at the door with her mug. "If you're finished too, we can go for a walk through the gardens. The snow has made everything look quite beautiful."
When: Recently!
Where: Cataline's murder house
Rating & Warnings: G!
Iseut waiting patiently in one of the resting rooms at the Sabreme estate, glad of the time to reflect before having to hold a conversation on her own. The Sabreme's decorating asked for a lot, in her honest opinion and raised on the austerity of the Aronine style, but it did not reflect any of the current misfortunes that had so recently fallen on the House.
Which was for the best.
She shifted a bit in her seat and touched the pouch she had tied to her belt. It was not much of a gift, but neither was one expected. The two, Iseut hoped, cancelled each other out enough that it would be seen as something nice, not something that begged for more thought, money, or effort.
It was nice to be getting back to some semblance of normal after everything that had happened. Cataline had been busy over the past few days, but a break to speak to one of the next generation of nobles was a welcome one. Gliding into the room with a genuine smile, she slipped into a chair opposite the young Aronine.
"Greetings, Iseut. How are you?"
"Hello, Lady Cataline." Iseut bobbed her head from her seat. If she remembered correctly, she did not have to stand on as much ceremony she did here as she did in other situations. "Things are well. How are things here?" Perhaps not the most polite question, concerning the circumstances, but it was the obvious response.
"Things here go quite well," considering her son was still at large. "I recently began sponsoring a talented artist. We'll be displaying his works soon. You should come." A servant came through, holding a tray with a teapot and several mugs. Cataline gestured to it. "Tea?"
"Yes, thank you." Iseut nodded at the servant with the tea politely and waited to be served some. "That is nice to hear. What sort of art? You will have to tell me when he will perform or display it."
"Paintings, portraits," Cataline watched as the servants poured out the amber liquid, before smiling at the maid and lifting her cup to drink. "How have you been?"
"It sounds lovely." Iseut sipped her tea, which was delicious. She was not very surprised about that, of course. "Quiet. Much of my family has left for the winter, as they usually do, but my father insisted I stay in Tyrol with my stepmother to keep her company."
Iseut was not prone to whining and was somewhat ashamed to admit that she had tried to reason with her father in such a way when rational discourse proved impossible ... but was mostly ashamed because it hadn't worked.
"I see," had her father not stayed? Cataline did not ask. It would be indelicate. "I hope you do not grow bored in the city. Life here always seems to grow tired during the winter months, when I am told life on a country estate during the winter is far more fun. I suppose, in the city there might be more to do during the celebration of the Occia's anniversary...but I cannot imagine there's much to do now, when we are between Occias."
Cataline paused in her musings for a sip of her own tea. "Are you managing to keep yourself entertained?"
Not growing bored in Tyrol was a tall order, but Iseut nodded in response as if it was a potentiality. "Have you heard anything regarding the successor?" Iseut had not, which she found highly peculiar. Her aunt had been more quiet of late regarding that and eying her daughters hair suspiciously, as if one would turn white randomly one day.
Which was not how it worked. Iseut was a devout member of the Citadel, after all. Her aunt's fanaticism was reaching a new level of delusion ... which is not something that could ever be said out-loud.
"Do you have any plans for the winter? My stepmother has been discussing a large gathering, but so far I think it is in the rough planning stages."
"I have not," truthfully, Cataline had quietly begun to cut herself off from any of the Citadel's doings. She did still love her son, no matter what he now was. "I cannot imagine they would hesitate in placing a new girl, when they find her."
Plans? None that could be said out loud. Cataline was still turning them over in her head. "No plans, I'm afraid. Perhaps one or two shows. And I commissioned a painting of Sena- that is all."
"No, me either." The question was why there was not one appearing. It was highly disconcerting on many levels. Many levels that Iseut did not have anything to do with but fret internally on what it could mean.
Was the Citadel being punished for following the Other that wore His face?
"That sounds nice. Shows are able at breaking up the tedium of winter in the city, I've noticed. They are more enjoyable than most parties I have been to."
"I find that too," Iseut did not look the sort of girl who would go to masques or balls and enjoy herself, Cataline noted. "Very calm, and always something new to look at. Still, I can't help but wonder if a nice ball would perk everyone up."
"I suppose that is what my step-mother thinks and why she is planning a gathering, at least. I would not be surprised if she decided that she would throw a ball while our estate is as empty as it is." Iseut would be required to go, of course, but she hoped she could avoid being a part of the planning of it. That was just as, if not more dull, than having to go.
"If you were to have a ball, what sort would you throw? The last I can remember Tyrol had was Lord Myron's." Which Iseut hadn't gone to, as she was in an entirely different city at the time.
"Hm," Cataline tapped her bottom lip as she thought it over. "A masque, perhaps. Those are always exciting. It gives one the chance to become someone else for a night. What would you prefer?"
It did sound nice ... but Iseut was fairly sure that would not work for her if she tried to be someone else. It was hard enough being herself.
"I do not know. A hunting party, of some sort. Something out of doors." That could be fun. The idea sounded better than any other party idea she had ever heard of or had been to.
"That does sound nice," except Cataline could not ride and had no desire to go out killing things. "Perhaps in summer, when the weather is nicer, you could organise something." She gave the girl an encouraging smile.
Yeah. Iseut nodded politely, but mentally put that in the 'Will Never Happen' pile. The mere idea was enough to lodge a stone in her stomach.
"It will be nice when it is summer again. There is always much more going on when people are more likely to leave. I've been to the market a few times and it has been dull."
"I agree," Cataline nodded. "I hear Adelle and Prince Arman will be married soon. A wedding should bring some excitement, I suppose."
Iseut blinked. She had no real opinion on either in terms of marriage, but that was a rather important piece of gossip that she had not heard from her stepmother, who specialized in gossip, or from Aunt Vida, who was not intimately involved in the royal family.
"Truly?" She blinked and shook her head again lightly, and then took another sip of her neglected tea. "That is wonderful news."
"Oh yes. It really will be an occasion." Hopefully, Adelle would be alright; she was very young indeed to have been suddenly named wife to the heir of the throne. "I was thinking of sending her a gift to celebrate. I'm still not certain what, though."
A gift for Adelle. Iseut couldn't think of anything appropriate for it. On the more positive side, Prince Arman was a nice man. An apology or sympathy gift was likely unneeded. "I'm sure she would appreciate one. Do you know when it will be announced?"
"I'm not certain," Cataline admitted. "I was informed by the king." Really, she should speak to Adelle herself, see if she was alright with everything. "Hopefully, it will be soon. I want to buy her something special."
Ah. Then this was gossip that was more likely to be truthful instead of something that sounded good.
Iseut wondered what Adelle thought about all of this. It was a powerful position and a very good marriage. It also came out of nowhere.
"That would be nice. I'm sure she would like it." What sort of gift would Adelle like? Jewelry? Clothing? A horse or a hawk? Something the more expensive the better?
"I do hope so," Cataline smiled, finishing her tea. With a nod at Iseut and a smile, she gestured at the door with her mug. "If you're finished too, we can go for a walk through the gardens. The snow has made everything look quite beautiful."