Choice of Romance Reboot

[InkedWolf]

Isabella heard the noise outside her chambers. She quietly peeked around the heavy wooden door leading out of her workshop. She squeaked as she realized she'd forgotten about the party. She was supposed to go, let the royalty show off their prized artist. She'd rather be in her workshop to keep painting, earn the praise the proper way.

However, was that how the dance worked? Never, there was the politics behind the scene. Even in the art world. She quickly stripped off her painting clothes, as she found a simple dress to wear in front of the royalty. She quickly walked through the halls towards the source of the gathering. As she walked, Isabella admired the paintings put up by her father. He was a true artist; the brush could tell a story worthy of the canvas. She still had a long way to go before she could match his skill.

As she arrived at the party, she heard several hushed whispers from several patrons. Some she had created works for in the past, the cardinal, several Doñas who had portraits commissioned had hushed whispers. Isabella smirked to herself as these people could rarely hide secrets from herself. She would paint only the honest truth. She took her place as always instructed, by the portrait of the Prince and await a proper introduction when the time was right...

[Padriac Muldoon]

Cardinal Padriac scowled at the courtesan's actions. "You and I are nothing alike..." but then the courtesan left. The Cardinal removed the 'pin' and placed it into his pocket.

Then he turned and saw that the royal painter, Isabella. He smiled and approached her. "Hello Madam, It brings my heart joy to see you doing well." he bowed. When he rose he smiled slightly. "Are you working on any knew pieces?"

[Major Ursa]

Cecilio passed through the throng of strangers. Strangers that he knew by face, knew by desires, but not at all by who they were…eventually stepping out back to a clearer area at the back, where he seated himself alone at a table. At a meeting or rally, people oft stood front and/or center of the area to be heard, and expecting a chance to speak with others. At a party, however…front and center was where people tested the waters, but the back was where all the deals were made. If the flirty people were serious about what they say, they’d come up and speak with him here. A slow month like this didn’t allow for older courtesan like Cecilio to get many clients, but the free time to relax and think was welcomed. The lone courtesan pulled out a pipe secured to his waist, and a pouch of tobacco, and began to smoke calmly…closing his eyes, alternating between breathing smoke and regular, diluted air.

[InkedWolf]

Isabella gave a polite bow to the Cardinal. "Thank you sir, it's always a pleasure to hear from you." She had created several works for the Cardinal in the past. He had always been a keen admirer of her work. Especially her portraiture, both self and of others. "I have three new pieces in the works right now. One is of the Prince, depicting him as a Greek God, the second is of a local Doñas, a little work for a friend."

She felt her face flush a little as she thought about the third, it was a little more uncommon though. "The last is a self-portraiture of myself. It's a little more then what I traditionally paint mind you."

[Padriac Muldoon]

"Fascinating, I'll have to look at those sometime." The Cardinal said, smiling. The painter was a delightful person, and a valued one at that. "Glad to see your business flourishing."

"Have you seen His Majesty anywhere?" he asked, looking around. "After all, it is his banquet." He frowned as he didn't see him anywhere

[julia]

Ludwig kept quiet, watching Katerina's expressions and actions through the corner of his eye. He definitely wasn't catching her eye, but perhaps he could change that. He noticed her watching a table in the back, knowing that all "business" deals were done in the rear of the rooms, shielded from the eye of those with higher moral standards. Ludwig leaned over, whispering lightly into Katerina's ear.

"What business do you have in the back of the room, madam?" he asked, keeping his charm but adding a bit of genuine intrigue to it.

[dreamingflowers]

Katerina turned away from his whispering lips catching his gaze.
"My business is no concern of yours now is it Prince Ludwig?" though she found the curiousity of the Prince amusing she really had to do her job.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Dimitri staring at them. He had been insistent that she'd work the first night. The information she picked up was extremely valuable to him. She however made little money from it. Most of it going to his pockets. He didn't strike fear in her but she hated the power he had over her. When her debt was finally paid off she would make sure they'd never see each other again.

After a descrete gesture of her hand Dimitri started to make his way over to them recognizing the sign of her placing her left right hand behind her back. He was well dressed but paled in comparision to the Prince.
"I fear I must steal Miss Petrova away from you, your highness" he placed an arm around her shoulders and guided her to the table in the back not waiting for the Prince to speak.

When she sat down Dimitri gave her that look. A customer was ready. She opened her beaded purse revealing a deck of ordinary playing cards. From beneath one of the folds of her dress she retrieved a small set of cards which seemed to match her deck. The two got shuffled together the second set dissapearing in the deck of playing cards. The first customer of the evening was an older woman, perhaps a wife wanting to know if her husband had been unfaithful?
"Put your money on the table and we will begin" While Katerina may have looked like a noble lady she did not forget she was here to pay off a debt.

[julia]

Prince Ludwig frowned as Katerina was pulled away from him. He sighed then, leaning against one of the marble pillars in the middle of the room. He lightly fidgeted with a pocket full of coins as he looked up at the stairs that led from the upper corridors to the foyer. A butler stepped forward with a pair of horn players.

The horn players sounded off, and the room went silent as the butler spoke. "Introducing, Their Majesties, the King Alquilar and the Queen Consort," he said, stiff and monotone. The royal couple then descended the stairs. "And the newly-arrived ambassadors from France, Sir Claude Francis and Lord Jacques Gagnon," the butler explained as a pair of men followed behind the royal couple. The King raised his voice to project to the entirety of the group that was gathered there.

"Welcome, everyone. I hope that you all are enjoying your evening. Please, if you will follow us, we will make our way into the banquet hall!" the king exclaimed then started down the hallway.

[Major Ursa]

Seeing the royal crier and the horn players present, Cecilio got up from his spot in the back and approached the front, stopping when the horns finally sounded off and the arrival of the most important people of the party were announced. Watching the royal couple descend the stair, Cecilio, all servants, and many others bowed down low in their presence. The courtesan also took in the sight of the two French ambassadors, already trying to figure out what their preference in prostitute maybe, just in case they may visit the courtesan’s quarters later on.
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"Welcome, everyone. I hope that you all are enjoying your evening. Please, if you will follow us, we will make our way into the banquet hall!"
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Getting up, he watched the reaction of the others present. There must be an important announcement for all the guests to be greeted and ushered into the banquet hall by the king himself, right?! If so, that meant Cecilio, one of the few courtesan present would have to act as a representative of the whole of the courtesan’s quarters.

[Blue Moon Queen]

Queen Isidora held tight to her husband's arm as they walked down the hallway. A bright smile was pasted on her face but inside she struggled with her dislike of these huge affairs. As one of the aristocracy, as the Queen, she should enjoy these events. Yet, the people always wished to talk to her and to 'butter her up.' Even the new French ambassadors had approached her with offers. Everyone thought she had her husband's ear, but she wasn't sure that she did.

~~~

On the other side of the room, Jocelyn hid in the crowd. Her subtle blue dress pales in comparison to everyone else's. No one had yet noticed her in a crowd this size, but she didn't mind. Unlike her mother, this kind of thing didn't come to her naturally. The crush of people around her did make her excited. All these aristocrats with all their money made her want to start selling wares she didn't have. Just then she caught sight of an artist standing in front of a beautiful piece of art that she would love to sell, if she could have. Jocelyn wove her way through the crowd and stopped in front of the painting, inspecting it thoroughly.