[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/c2Golyt.png[/img][/center]

[color=peru][center][h2]Stratya Durmand[/h2][/center]
Time:[/color] 28th Sola, Evening
[color=peru]Location:[/color] Castle Dining Hall
[color=peru]Attire:[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/FOg6BjE.jpeg]Military Formal[/url], in Caesonian colors
[url=https://i.imgur.com/PEMSUSV.jpeg]Family Dirk[/url] + [url=https://i.imgur.com/sS8bDBR.jpeg]Crest[/url], worn on the right
[url=https://i.imgur.com/8bpbDCb.jpeg]Swordbreaker[/url], also worn on the right
[color=peru]Interactions:[/color] [@JJ Doe] Count Fritz
[color=peru]Mentions:[/color] [@FunnyGuy] Lorenzo, [@Oso] Milo

[color=peru] “Aah, I dinae see those. Look at tha’ crraftsmanship, I ‘ave tae admire t’ royal baker. I suppose ya donnae get tae such a post wit’ou’ bein’ good, ey. Migh’ I?”[/color] She grinned at the count, only slightly bashful for her appetite, as she waited for him to allow her indulgence, before she’d reach for one of the goodies from the plate he’d displaye.[color=peru] “I’ll ‘ave tae trea’ ye tae some o’ my baekin’, sometyme,”[/color] she chuckled,[color=peru] “fer once I've brough' nowt.”[/color]
 
She took a bite of the pastry treat, giving a soft hum of approval with the following mastication. She didn’t spend too long on it before swallowing,[color=peru] “ooh, wha’ a delica’e balance. Filo dough is such a payn, too, a work o’ ar’, this is. [i]Almost[/i] a shame tae eat i’.”[/color] She giggled and took another small bite, as Fritz turned to the hall around them.

[color=9354FF]“Quite the gathering tonight—many fresh faces.”[/color]

She nodded with the comment,[color=peru] “mmm,”[/color] swallowed,[color=peru] “aye, therre arre, arren’ therrre?”[/color] Her eyes landed on the Princess and the gaggle of girls growing around her. And Prince August, and the-

[Color=salmon]“Ohhh! Grand Vizier! You've made it, my friend! I see you're in the correct chair this evening. Salami-aleekum and enjoy your meal Grand Vizier!”[/color]

Stratya took a slow breath and popped the rest of her, ah, morsel, in her mouth. She couldn’t remember the fancy name for this one. Whatever it was, chewing it bought her a moment to come up with something to say that wouldn’t be - what was it? Ah - [i]uncouth[/i], while she rubbed her hand back along her face, just a little exasperated. It transitioned smoothly into her cradling her face while she enjoyed that final bite before swallowing,[color=peru] “I mus’ say, Duke Lorrenzo surre knows how tae make a simple lass feel a’ ease.”[/color] ‘At ease’ was one way of putting it. As long as she wasn’t more embarrassing than Lorenzo, she’d be fine.

She let her attention draw back to the man mentioned.[color=peru] “I doan think I’ve laid eyes on t’ Gran’ Vizier ‘til now, either. [sub]In t’ middle of a sea o’ youth’, ‘is Majesty.[/sub]”[/color] Her tone had a critical edge to it. He stuck out like a sore thumb among those young faces. At Fritz’s prompting, she willingly turned her attention to their own table, not wanting to be caught staring and have to fend off a social check. On the way, her eyes caught the champagne glass in Fritz’s hand and she caught a nearby servant,[color=peru] “would you ge’ me.. somethin’ lemony. Alcoholic, please.”[/color] As the servant went to get her a drink, she dug out a couple silver and held them hidden against her palm.

[color=peru] “There are abou’... six names a’ our table I’ve no’ acquainted with. Didn’ I see Sir Matthias at-”[/color]

[color=gold][b]“Now presenting… the esteemed guest of the royal court—renowned artist, Master Milo St. Claire!”[/b][/color]

[color=peru] “Ooh, I [i]’ave[/i] ‘eard o’ him. Tha’s reyt.”[/color] The servant came back with her requested drink she slipped the two silver into the servant’s hand as she accepted it,[color=peru] “thank you.”[/color] Her attention came back to Fritz, giving the theatrics of one Milo St. Clair a glance from the side,[color=peru] “the King was qui’e upse’ abou’ t’ vandalism of ‘is image, [sub]by Lady Ariella,[/sub] an’ they’re sea’ed jus’ nextae each other. T’ whole evenin’ seems a tad.. confrrontational, ferr a banque’.”[/color]

A sip of her drink seemed to much please her and she followed it with another,[color=peru] “ooh, tha’s good.”[/color]

Her run-in with Roman had been rather eye-opening. The man had magical means in spades, it seemed. Made her a little jealous. She looked at the differences in her drink to Fritz’s, then found herself looking at the King and Queen. The Queen was looking particularly disgusted with the King at that moment, whatever he was saying. She took a breath and turned to the Count next to her with a question her tongue, but hesitated, and said instead[color=peru] “maybe when I trrea’ ye tae baked goods, I c’n pick yer noggin a bi’? I’ve naer been abrroad, y’see. I’d like tae trravel, but ‘fore I go anywhere, I’d like to learn a bi’ abou’ t’ places I migh’ go.”[/color] Actually, she’d probably find it more fun to just go, but depending on the place, it might be best to learn first.[color=peru] “T’ cultures, any hoops I’d have to jump through. Any laws or 'azards tha’ migh’ be.. differren’ or unexpected.”[/color]

Caesonian magic laws were strict but also, seemingly, insidiously hidden, and taboo to even discuss. Were they meant to not be noticed? Why? If no one saw the tiny script she’d seen on the document, and discussing magic was so forsaken, only the tiny writing on that page indicated magic was considered extant and illegal, and precious few would know that. Yes, this would be a good conversation to have. She needed perspective. Was it like this everywhere? Or would there be other countries that might be evidence to support her hope that the Queen was wrong?

More entrants, more greetings to the royal fa..mi..ly. Hmm. She should probably do that, too, huh? She sipped the last of her first drink and the same servant appeared with another, at the ready. She gasped softly as she looked at him with a big smile,[color=peru] "oh, you swee'earr'. C'mon by my kitchen in t' morrnin', aye?"[/color] She exchanged glasses and slipped the man another silver,[color=peru] "an' if ye still wantae wai' on me, I'll take an ale or mead next, a' my sea', please."[/color]

She waited for Fritz to finish whatever thought he'd been in the middle of, before,[color=peru] "I.. believe I'm due tae grreet t' Rroyal Family."[/color] She chuckled with a bit of tension,[color=peru] "perr'aps tha' was due when I arrived?"[/color]