[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
Boar Pelt Mantle of Spring Hunting
[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] [@princess] Alibeth, Edin, [@Helo] Callum, [@Tae] Torvi, [@Rodiak] Zarai
[color=peru]Mentions:[/color] [@JJ Doe] Count Fritz, [@SilverPaw] Wulfric

The Captain of Sorian offered Count Hendrix a warm smile and nod before she made her march from the area around the hors d’oeuvres table.

A familiar sight caught her eye on the way. Her steward Garcian, and carried carefully with him, her mantle of furs! She had thought about wearing it, but where she had decided against it, it seemed her steward was going to insist she do so. As he would say when she came to meet him, if ever there was a time to wear it, it was an occasion like this. It could be cleaned and cared for afterward. The knight accepted the furs gratefully, gazed at them for a moment, and finally wrapped them around her shoulders. Yes, it felt distinguishing. Perhaps she should wear it more often.

Though it was made of many furs, it was far from a patchwork thing. A large boar pelt formed the centerpiece, and a carefully stitched pattern of traditions and stories created a tapestry around it, a legacy, carried on her shoulders. With her piece of home around her shoulders, she made her final approach, to stand before the Royal Family. Her posture was attentive and sharp, and thoughts of Lorenzo helped her relax; the bar he set was low enough she could [i]step[/i] over it.

She offered a bow after her feet planted themselves where they needed to be, her poise and manner suggesting loyalty and respect, but not submission. She held her drink out to her side, holding it quite still through her motion,[color=peru] “a splendid evenin’ tae t’ Royal Family. And what a wonderful nigh’ i’tis, tae ‘old such a splendid banque’.”[/color] The knight straightened up to bring her warm gaze back to the Family before her, [color=peru]“apologies for my delay, Yerr Majesties, the arromas of the Rroyal Kitchen’s fine werrk and my own ‘unger simply woul’nae ‘ave allowed me tae prroceed well wit’ou’ a’ [i]least[/i] a taste. Tha’ taste I ‘ad was deligh’ful, my complimen’s tae t’ baker.”[/color]

Her gaze swept slowly over them as she made her address, starting with The Queen, and working out, then coming back and sweeping out from The King. Wulfric seemed engaged in a conversation. When her gaze arrived at Callum, she got that strange inkling again, like something was different, and her gaze lingered. That’s when it struck her, he was wearing his crown! Something else felt off, but that was certainly one thing. Did the crown really make him seem so entirely different? Or was he just playing the part, suddenly? Perhaps he wanted something. That was something she and her brother had done as kids, before their parents caught on. Become suspiciously compliant in an effort to put Ma or Pa in a good mood, then ask for something they might normally say no to.

Stratya canted her head with a soft grin, fond but also a bit mischievous,[color=peru] “Prrince Callum, I donnae think I’ve [i]seen[/i] yerr crrown ‘til now.”[/color] Her eyes scanned the adornment as she considered the way it framed him. She added, distantly, as the grin faded,[color=peru] “looks good on you, Yerr ‘ighness.”[/color] How different he seemed from the Prince she had spoken with just the other night. It couldn’t have just been the crown, right?

Was that a crystal stein of amber waiting at her place?[color=peru] “Ah, but I am due ferr my sea’, am I no’.”[/color] Indeed, her stomach demanded she feast. She left them with a bow of her head, turning and carrying herself past the gathered Smithwood and Edwards, and Charlotte Vikena as she rode a positive vibe after what felt like a decent performance. One of the two oddities on her end of the table were present, conversing with a noblewoman across the way, and as she passed, Stratya heard,

[color=9D7A80] “Or are you only here for the food?”[/color]

A chuckle rippled from the knight as she took her seat and started piling food in reach onto her plate,[color=peru] “y’ coul’ convince [i]me[/i] tae come, jus’ ferr t’ food.”[/color] She let out a hearty couple of laughs before she went to start with the ribs. Before she got into the rack of ribs she’d retrieved, she took off the leather gloves she wore to cover the thin scars on her hands, cuts from training and work and battle. She went to pull a chunk of the ribs off, but the bone came out clean, instead. She seemed stunned, and went again, but the same thing happened. She gazed at the second bone with wonder for an instant before going for a knife and fork,[color=peru] “am I gonna ‘ave tae [i]cu’[/i] these [i]ribs[/i] because they’rre [i]so tenderr[/i]..? I.. I think so..”[/color] She was bewildered, cutting a section of the ribs from the rest so she could actually get a bone with something on it. A chunk meat disappeared into her mouth and she leaned back, pressing the back of her hand to her lips and letting out a pleased,[color=peru] “mmm~”[/color] before taking a swig of her - aaah, he brought mead. Garcian must have done something.