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Post by ADMIN-CHAN! on Mar 12, 2011 22:18:40 GMT -5
Spring was here! Around the time of this particular royals birth. The date had just recently passed; less than a week ago actually. He was now sixteen years old, and surprisingly -because his mother just didn't seem to age anymore- one of his family's youngest children. And just as children do; the young prince had crept away from his duties the day after the boring celebration. It seemed that his family had a knack for meeting their special 'someone' around his age. So the young prince with hay colored hair and eyes as bright as the sky had to sit through a small dance and a dinner party. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't in his honor. As much pride as he held in his position -and the satisfaction he received by making those poor twittering commoner girls swoon- it was droll and entertained him none. The creatures in the stables would have offered him more entertainment.
Not that he was your average princess, smelly animals were smelly animals.
Here though? Cornelius Theodore Vaminere was anything but bored. Applefield was known for it's festivals, and that was exactly what he was here to attend. The Apple Blossoms were in full bloom and the people were happy, chatting about nothing and wandering around. The streets were bustling with life, and other than the spontaneous occurring of a child running into him every now and then, the prince loved it. No, he was far too pampered to live this way for long, it would be no more than a week or so before he missed the silk and wine lifestyle he had been raised in. But for a single afternoon, with the sun high in the sky and the air crisp but pleasant, Cornelius couldn't help but smile.
It was a good thing, to get away from home sometimes. This? Was definitely one of those times. The prince tossed an apple toward the sky before catching it again, sticking it in a pocket of his hooded half-jacket. The hood was down, but he doubted people would take the time to recognize him while they were trying to enjoy themselves. He'd probably be annoyed if someone treated him like they would at home right about now anyways.
Eventually the blonde stopped, distracted by the performance going on at the heart of the town's square. Dancers were performing their act, alongside an animal that looked a bit too small to be a wolf, and what seemed to be a cheetah. They were talented, he could see that. Ice blue eyes would focus on them for a few minutes at most, but that was a lot considering people didn't often strike Cornelius as entertaining for long when they were trying to do so.
He should really work on being so forsaken fickle. But it came with the vanity and arrogance, that seeped into his family and even their name. It was the same force that made his fingers reach up and sweep the hair out of his face and tuck it neatly behind the ear that wasn't adorned with earrings and a peculiar piercing that connected to his lip. The same feeling stemmed the impulse to blink into reflecting objects and windows, just for a moment of course, to see how he looked.
It was a wonder that his siblings hadn't pointed it out to him more often, but really. His family was as vain as he was.
Perhaps that was why he was attracted to common festivals and people every once in a while. People here were so much different than he was. Their worries were perpendicular to his own, their responsibilities were different, not heavier nor lighter simply... different. The prince was naturally attracted to things that he couldn't understand. Who isn't? That's why his eyes left the dancers around two minutes into their performance...
And settled on the forest in the horizon... and on Drakon. The people there were considerable darker, their royal family rivaling their own. They were enemies of Alevale, even if they weren't openly called as such. The tension between the kingdoms was enough to assume that though. The young Vanimere prince knew little to nothing about the looks or personal matters of the leading family, but he disliked them, simply because that was how he had been raised.
[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote] (This is for Jewel! I want Cornelius to invite Melly to the dance :D Someone else who would like to be invited may join a little later. )
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Jewel
New Member
While I breathe, I hope.
Posts: 17
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Post by Jewel on Mar 13, 2011 0:32:16 GMT -5
 ROLLED UP IN COLOURFUL CARPETS[/size][/b][/color] YOUR BLOOD IS RUSHING, GIRL LOOK ALL AROUND YOU.[/size][/center]
Festivals and other such celebrations had never been popular in Drakon and were an especially rare occurrence now. Truth be told, there was really nothing to rejoice when one lived within a Kingdom ruled by self-indulgent, neglectful Kings whose only concern was for the vastness of their wealth and the preservation of their youth and power. The mood was consistently sombre, and although it appeared the common folk were content in living their lives as best as they could under such harsh circumstances, there lingered a foreboding undertone that hinted at future rebellion. Tensions were high and patience was wearing thin. How long would the mistreatment of Drakon’s people continue before they decided enough was enough? The newly established King had no idea the magnitude of destruction that could be wrought by those he simply assumed to be incapable and weak.
This was exactly why she had crossed Alevale borders. It was a huge risk trespassing onto neighbouring soil when such a thing was clearly unwelcome, but if she dealt with the situation as diplomatically as possible and didn’t step on anyone’s toes, it could also prove to be extremely beneficial. The truce Alevale and Drakon had reluctantly agreed to was the furthest thing from assured and small disputes had recently broken out over various resources the two Kingdoms shared. Not only was her homeland suffering an internal turmoil, it was – rather unsuccessfully - fighting to keep its only political ally appeased. And if no one else was going to take the first step in repairing things, she would do it on her own. Not for her brothers or the memory of her late father, but for herself and the future generations of Drakon's less fortunate.
Still, being on a mission didn’t mean she couldn’t pause to enjoy herself for a single afternoon did it? If she made her appearance too early it would surely end in disaster. She had to be very careful about the way she handled things now that she was on unfamiliar ground.
Deciding to see how things were faring in Applefield had been a wonderful idea as it turned out. Melisande had been curious as to the health and happiness of Alevale’s commoners and was pleasantly surprised to see them all having gathered together to celebrate something as minute as the blooming cherry-blossom trees. A simple – albeit beautiful – product of nature would have been something overlooked in Drakon. Power and influence were the only things worth praising there. But this was different, and very humbling. The warm and inviting atmosphere was infectious, and the Princess found herself unable to keep from smiling; stopping by several vendors simply to chat and ask about the history of their wares. What surprised her even more was the fact that no one seemed hesitant to make conversation and were happy to chatter idly about nothing in particular to a complete stranger.
She’d spent a long time deciding on an appropriate outfit – something that wouldn’t cause her to stand out or draw unwanted attention. So she’d settled on a simple white cotton dress and thick yellow shawl with coloured beads sewn artfully along the edges, jangling together merrily whenever she moved. Her long, bright hair had been braided with small white flowers by some of the children who had been fascinated by its colour. Having said her thanks, she waved goodbye and pressed on through the thick crowd of people … catching sight of a very unusual spectacle that involved masterful dancers and some kind of exotic animal.
Interest piqued, she slipped through a gap in the throng of bystanders and watched for a period of time. She stood, mesmerized by their swift and practiced movement. Surely if they continued for awhile longer they would have been able to catch her in hypnosis, but Melisande had noticed a tall and official looking man staring at her with a strange look and she decided not to hover much longer.
Not watching where she was going, she inevitably walked into someone quite forcefully but caught herself before she fell.
The person’s back was to her so all she could see was long golden hair and a hood, but she decided to apologize anyway … not wishing to ruffle any more feathers while she was there.
“Please forgive me! I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking.”
Little did she know the importance of the person she was addressing, and how very much they actually had in common. Perhaps later she would find the coincidence amusing, but now she stood and waited anxiously for a reaction she hoped would not be an offended one.
( Yay! This should be very entertaining. (: )
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Post by ADMIN-CHAN! on Mar 16, 2011 11:48:27 GMT -5
(Adminy got distracted with school and a shiny new game)Back turned to the people crowding in to watch the performance, the Vaminere prince was starting to wonder how he was going to get out of this crowd. If there was one thing that the royal didn't like, it was being surrounded. A trait gathered from his father no doubt, because his mother just loved being crowded with people. Usually she was center stage... but Cornelius was just the opposite. Sort of. As lovely as attention was, being boxed in by bodies wasn't something that he much approved of. Not everyone smelled of the lovely apple blossom scenery; and there was always that one person that decided to ram into you. At home he would put on a sweet front and help the poor lad or lass up before grumbling and going back to what he was doing. But here? He didn't mind so much. A plus for whoever the poor soul behind him was.
Cornelius let out a small noise of surprise, before regaining his balance and turning around. Ice blue eyes then fell on the brightest head of pink hair that he had ever had the pleasure of seeing. Oh Lynette would just love her he was sure. Although by all means there wasn't a person that he had found his little sister to truly dislike just yet. So pleasant compared to the rest of her family, the older Vaminere should have been jealous. But he wasn't, because he was older than she was, and he wouldn't be jealous of a younger sibling. He had enough older siblings to fill out that position quite well.
The stranger's apology was expected, it was so very easy to get distracted by the sights and sounds here. He had done so himself; but without disrupting anyone else and loosing his footing. She hadn't been so lucky, but with the crowd here Constantine knew it would be silly to get after her. It wasn't as if he fell as well, nothing was dirtied broken or harmed. Perhaps, he wouldn't cross his arms and tell her just who she had run into -quite yet- because it would be so very boring, for her to go from speaking with a stranger to a prince. Interesting later to compare the differences, but for now? He had found his victim while here at this festival. Unfortunately for her, the hay haired prince had taken a liking to her, she reminded him of something good, and he would keep her around until his interest faded. If he played his cards right, she would have no choice in the matter. But of course, a prince always plays his cards right.
Mouth lifted into a smirk, how enchanting this girl was, for no matter how appropriately she was dressed and how perfectly she fit here within Applefield's festivities there was an air of grace to her that was almost overlooked by her previous action. The prince's actions would have been to tease her upfront, make her feel embarrassed yet forgiven all the same. But this time, whether it be the good mood or being away from the palace that had grown his patronizing personality like a weed in a garden, his reply was honestly, well, honest. "It's alright, it happens. The festival has more people here than ever this year." Smile graced the blonde's lips, and although the lip ring could be horridly distracting it was enough to keep someone's attention. Little did this stranger know that kindness, true honest to goodness kindness, was a rare feature of this semi-arrogant royal.
Sweeping a runaway bang out of his eyes and motioning toward the stranger, Cornelius's voice was amused but predominantly quizzical. "Are you alright?" Surely there were no bumps or bruises from the accident, but if she dropped something he had more than enough money to replace it. He was quite stingy with the strangest things, but when it came to money he wasn't as guarded. Of course this also meant that he could make a large purchase just as easily as a small one and feel no remorse for it if it was put in a corner and never seen again; but his family was leading in a time of great wealth. What did a young prince have to loose?
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Jewel
New Member
While I breathe, I hope.
Posts: 17
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Post by Jewel on Mar 16, 2011 15:13:01 GMT -5
ROLLED UP IN COLOURFUL CARPETS [/size][/b][/color] YOUR BLOOD IS RUSHING, GIRL LOOK ALL AROUND YOU.[/size][/center]
Melisande was filled with a rush of relief when her clumsiness was neither criticized nor condemned and upon realizing the poor soul she’d run into instead found the situation to be rather humorous; at least judging by the faint smile he’d initially met her with. In turn she found herself captivated by his eyes and stared quietly for a handful of moments, losing herself in the intensity of his gaze before realizing her impertinence and shifting her attention elsewhere.
“Yes, I seem to be fine. It was my pride alone that suffered,” she assured him at length, self-consciously smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress. “I suppose I’m just not used to crowds of such grand proportions.”
What she’d said wasn’t entirely a lie. The streets of Drakon’s capital city were often bare, with only a small cluster of vendors set up daily to offer minimal wares. It was painfully obvious their economy was suffering, and yet the King and his advisors had yet to notice or formulate a plan that might rectify it. There was only so much she could do on her own, but that hardly deterred her. In fact, witnessing the flourishing state of Alevale only served to rejuvenate her fighting spirit, much as she hoped it would. The people of Applefield – along with their infectious vigour and zest for life – proved to be the source of motivation she’d been seeking all along.
“I came to visit from a place just north of here.” She gesticulated in that general direction, smiling warmly. “And we have nothing as impressive as all of this. I suppose it was simply a bit overwhelming for me.”
She was careful to remain as vague as possible in regards to the details of where she’d hailed from and why. In the event that he made an attempt to pry further, her evasive answers would be easier to contrive and would seem convincing enough not to rouse suspicion. Or perhaps she was merely over-thinking things as she usually did?
At that moment a strong gust of wind picked up, carrying with it a cloud of cherry blossoms that settled over the congregation of people. Taking this as a sign of good luck and prosperity, the townsfolk lifted their hands in thanks and a chorus of merry laughter broke out. Melisande found herself joining in and lifted a delicate hand to pick one of the lovely, peach-coloured blossoms from where it had settled in her hair, fixing it so it sat prettily behind her right ear.
“What a beautiful spectacle,” she remarked cheerfully. “I suppose this means fortune has come to smile upon Applefield.”
Lifting her chin, the young Princess allowed herself a long and considering look at her newfound companion. A feeling of mild nostalgia washed over her then, although she found she could not place it. Had she seen him somewhere before? Or was it merely the lightness of mood this festival provoked that had her making such strange observations? Regardless, it was irrelevant and she turned to examine an assembly of vendors nearby. In an effort to draw them away from the thickest part of the crowd, she motioned to the nearest display.
“Seeing as we’ve lost our places near the stage and the performance is nearly over, would you care to take a stroll with me? I’m interested to see the sorts of things Applefield’s merchants have to boast.”
Of course she wouldn’t have been offended had he said no. After all, she likely would have felt just as uneasy had a random stranger invited her for a walk. Although her offer may have been out of the blue, she figured everyone was feeling a bit more gracious today and this young man promised interesting conversation. Perhaps he would even be able to provide her with select bits of information on the subject of the royal family? It was worth a try at least. Besides, he looked the part of someone that came from a wealthy background. The gold piercings, impractical hair and self-assured swagger told her as much.
( Ooh, what game is that? )
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Post by ADMIN-CHAN! on Mar 21, 2011 21:54:56 GMT -5
Cornelius nodded, although he himself thought that this was a rather homely event. Small, but absolutely calming and happy enough to make just anyone smile... this girl thought it to be something a bit more grande. He wouldn't look down on her for that, although he couldn't help but wonder where she had come from. If she was from up north, well there wouldn't be many festivities such as this, possibly something to celebrate the spring break through but there wasn't a place that the young prince knew of that was as dazzling as tiny little Applefield during the spring. "Ah, well I am delighted your enjoying your first time at such a celebration." He just barely chuckled at the end of his sentence, blue eyes boring down at his new pink haired acquaintance.
"They say once you attend one of Applefield's festivities you simply must come back." He said, and then closed his eyes as the breeze swept past them. People cheered as soon as the petals started scattering over the town, and opening his eyes he noticed children and even a few adults grabbing for the petals. The faint yet all too sweet scent of the apple blossoms clung to his nose and made the moment even warmer. This was as close to therapeutic as a public event could be. It was no wonder that the prince was in such talkative, and comparatively pleasant mood today compared to, well, most any other.
She spoke, and for a moment he didn't feel as if he was opening his mouth to answer a stranger, but someone that he knew already. The deja vu washed over him as soon as their eyes met; and it irked the blonde to no end. There wasn't any way that he could know this young woman, correct? Surely he would remember a face like hers, a temperament sweet enough to make him react pleasantly, but enough grace and what seemed to be pride to keep him entertained. "Applefield is one of Alevale's smaller cities, but it seems as if it was blessed again. Some say that the trees enjoy these celebrations as much as the people do; and it's why they produce so much fruit come autumn." Whether Cornelius believed the speculation was a mystery. He was often far luckier than the average man, he knew that. Luck, and magic were definitely a part in that.
Perhaps it was that same luck that brought him such interesting company?
As if whatever god spirit or deity that had given him his "lucky charm" would take the time to alter his day to day life.
"I would be honored to join you miss." He said, dipping his head in a small bow. It was then he finally introduced himself, but he hesitated a moment. This girl wasn't from around here, in fact, it seemed she lived even further from the castle; meaning that he could only wonder how she would react to him being one of Alevale's princes. Perhaps it wouldn't matter much to her; it wasn't as if he was the throne's heir after all. "I am Cornelius, Cornelius Vaminere." He reached out to kiss his new acquaintance's hand, but his eyes were on her face, watching, waiting for her reaction. And with his eyes on her visage his mind was elsewhere, a soft, feminine voice echoing in his ears. There wasn't much of a setting to the voice, but it was as if the answer to his next question wouldn't be new to him. My name? Well, I'm- "If I may have your name as well?" The voice inside of his head seemed to fade away, fade quickly, and Cornelius was left wondering if he had made it all up.
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