Raphael wasn’t sure how he felt about being back in Orlais at the moment, where he had yet to decide if he would be taking over as Baron for his mother of Val Colline. However, their family, not counting his asshole step-father, were relatively close to the Beauvais family, and at the moment he was the only one in a position to attend the wedding and offer them their congratulations.
This time, returning to Orlais, had been far easier than their exodus all those months ago when they fled to Ferelden on a flock of Griffons. No, this time there was the Eluvian network and since both Val Royeaux and Amaranthine had one, well it was easy peasy.
Raphael definitely felt out of place at the ceremony. He’d opted to sit off by himself. Sure he had recognised a few faces, but it was months since he’d last seen anyone, and he wasn’t in the mood for questions about where he’d run off to.
He didn’t know Lucien and Maeve all that well, personally, only enough for the Arlange family to be invited. He’d felt silly going through the reception line, muttered something about congratulations and some small talk about the blight finally being over and then decided to find some corner of the reception where he could be alone.
He’d decided to bring Rory with him, he hadn’t had Rory long since rescuing her and didn’t want Alyvia or Ragnar to have to deal with the dog’s separation anxiety. He’d paid a servant of the Beauvais house to help look after Rory. Now that he was at the reception he decided it was time to check on Rory.
He slipped a few pieces of meat into a napkin, looking around wondering if anyone noticed, and then went to try and find the kitchens. When he’d first run into the servant, it had been at the wedding venue and he hadn’t thought about asking where the kitchens were when they said that’s where they would be during the reception.
He slipped away from the crowd and made his way towards what he assumed were the kitchens? Was he sure, no, did he want to ask someone, also no. While walking he tripped over air, because that’s just what he did sometimes, and dropped the napkin he was carrying with the scraps of food for Rory. He muttered some curses under his breath and bent down to pick everything up.
She had come, due to her aunt, though arrived disappointed that her only family in Orlais had conveniently skipped town just as Adaria entered. The Beauvais were friends of Mica’s and while Adaria wasn’t personally acquainted with them; she offered them congratulations on behalf of her, despite her aunt's message of apology. [color=#9a00b2]I had hoped to see her, but alas, my timing was off.[/color]
It was a pleasant change for her though, exchanging dirty, travel-worn garments for silk and finery. Sneaking into her aunt's estate in the city, it was easy to render the staff compliant, a simple modification of their memories that Mica had been expecting her easily planted. Even if Mica found out, there would be no scolding, only relief that she was safe and maintaining a degree of vigilance.
Still, she couldn’t hide her status completely, merely maintain the few steps lead she had against her family’s desire to rein her in. Adaria wished to usurp the notion she was some wild child of the Royal House, brash and impulsive. Spoiled. Her dress, while elegant and simple, shone brightly, yet didn’t cause a glare to the eye. It shaped her figure, and she glided easily across the floor of the reception until quickly discovering the lack of stimulating company.
Adaria retreated, carefully nudging any seeking her attention elsewhere by planting a need to relieve themselves. It was all rather childsplay, and she chuckled quietly as she pushed into the servant's passage. This rabbit warren of passages, rooms and corridors brought back memories of the Palace, how they offered moments of escape and solitude during these busy events.
She was distracted by her own thoughts when rounding the corner, gaze missing the crouched over figure entirely until the collision. She stumbled over him, dress growing taut as her shoes stepped on part of the hem, which caused her balance to tip dangerously one way. Instinctively, Adaria’s hands splayed out in reflex, magic coming to her will easily. The air grew momentarily thick, almost humid as her body froze, mid-air in mid-fall.
[color=#9a00b2]“What a foolish place to bend over!”[/color]
At first Raphael heard someone enter the corridor with him, but he didn’t really think much of it as he picked up the pieces of meat for Rory. He just assumed they would see him and walk around, but oh how wrong he was.
The collision threw him off balance, as he was leaned over and already in an awkward position. He dropped the scraps yet again, and had to use his hand to stop him from going face first into the floor. Some sort of noises escaped his lips, something along the lines of an oof perhaps.
Well, maybe if you’d been watching where you were going. He snapped, then sighed, he didn’t mean to be moody, it just came out of him sometimes. Look, I was just trying to bring my dog some table scraps and I dropped them, ok?! He hated being away from Rory, he hadn’t had the little dog long since he’d rescued her, displaced because of the Ferelden Blight.
Once he was balanced again, at least he thought he was balanced, he tried to both stand up while simultaneously reaching out to help the girl that had just crashed into him. This did not go well, because he wasn’t as balanced as he thought and his hand dipped when it should have risen.
As soon as he realised what he had done, he turned fifty shades of red and pulled his hand back like it had just been pushed into a flame. It just figured, he couldn’t have a simple social situation without saying or doing something that made him feel about two inches tall.
I did not, I mean I’m so….. He stuttered, clearly mortified.
The gentle pressure of magic cocooned her from harm, halting her body’s descent to the floor. Poised, frozen, Addy scoffed at the person's retort. The sharp blues of her eyes found the man in the midst of collecting himself.[color=#9a00b2] “Obviously your lack of self awareness needs improving. What idiot crouches on a corner?” [/color]
Her eyes rolled in irritation, her will focused on righting herself, pushing her back towards standing. Even in his rudeness, he made an attempt to seem gentlemanly, though the act quickly went awry when his hand slipped instead of lifting. Adaria’s eyes widened, indignation flooded her body and as his hand snatched back, hers swiftly swept across his. The slap echoed down the empty hall, followed by a stiff huff from the Princess. There certainly wasn't heat creeping it's way up her neck to her cheeks, and she'd deny it entirely, proclaiming it a result of shock.
[color=#9a00b2]“I should expect nothing less from an Orlesian.” [/color]
Raphael still didn’t think it was his fault that she had run into him, and his facial features and tone definitely reflected those feelings. He thought about all the things he wanted to say to her, all the sarcastic comments that came to mind.
Unfortunately things went tits over ass before he could do much. His face turning to that of horror and embarrassment. The slap came next as he mumbled something that resembled an apology, but he had literally never been anywhere near this position before, and therefore had no clue how to handle it.
A hand went to his face, being slapped stung and he was a bit surprised by this fact. He was still just sort of, staring at her, mouth slightly agape, entirely speechless. Finally he found words, though there was still a part of him that didn’t like admitting being in the wrong, even in the instance of having accidentally copped a feel.
Er, I deserved that. It wasn’t an apology though, at which point he found more words to go with those. I so did not mean to do that. Not that it’s an excuse, I just. I’m not some creeper that goes around randomly grabbing at people. She could believe him or not, though he was still stubbornly thinking about how the whole thing never would have happened if she hadn’t run into him.
[color=#9a00b2]“Yes. Yes you did. And if we were in Antiva, I’d have you flogged.”[/color] By her own hand too.
Her brow arched, almost challenging. “[color=#9a00b2]Really? I find that difficult to believe.”[/color] There was a way she could know for certain, but she had little awareness of the man before her to warrant such an invasion. He at least looked appalled by his actions, or rather reaction to their collision.
Adaria was not often caught by surprise. Agitated, arms folded over themselves. [color=#9a00b2]“This hallway seems an excellent means of doing so, unseen.”[/color] Given the environment beyond, it was more than likely the congregation of thoughts and minds were enough background interference to have clouded her focus. She should have also, perhaps, expected to meet company in the hall, just not in the position found. However, for the moment this unsettled feeling and heat in her cheeks ceased to subside.
[color=#9a00b2]"I suppose the truth will only be revealed when you yourself reveal the dog in question."[/color]
Raphael wasn’t really sure what being in Antiva had to do with anything, though he did pick up on the Antivan accent. Maybe that was just the punishment there for grabbing someone on the arse. It wasn’t like he’d ever been to Antiva, and he’d certainly never grabbed someone’s arse before, intentional or accidental. He just looked at her with the mix of apology and annoyance. Though since she didn’t know him from a hole in the way, he supposed he couldn’t be TOO annoyed that she didn’t believe him that his intentions were pure.
He looked around the hallway, he supposed she had a point about the hallway. He tried to imagine a perv just hanging around hallways just to pretend to accidentally grab someone’s arse, but it was hard, probably because he wasn’t a perv and therefore did not think like one. His face was slowly transitioning from a healthy mix of apology and annoyance, towards just plain annoyance, complete with an eyeroll.
Then she mentioned his dog and his eyes went big as he remembered. He turned around and bent down to gather up the scraps of meat and napkin that had fallen to the floor. He hadn’t even considered the fact that there might already be servants feeding Rory scraps, or that there’d probably be food in the kitchen that he hadn’t had to actually bring scraps from the reception area. He stood up and jerked his head towards the kitchens.
Well I suppose. I paid a servant to look after her in the kitchens during the event. I probably should have just left her back in Amaranthine, but I haven’t had her long and she has separation anxiety. He exclaimed and started talking, assuming that Adaria would keep up. He realised he hadn’t asked her name, but then, the moment hadn’t really presented itself yet, and to be honest, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know her name.
His face was unfamiliar to her now she’d time to look him over properly. She’d assumed Orlesian, given the hosts and families involved, yet connections ran in all directions, one couldn’t say how and who this man was connected with. Adaria had enough confidence that she wouldn’t misstep during this event. Not enough to draw eyes on her true motivations and movements around Orlais and beyond. The pieces were beginning to align and she couldn’t afford to be too careless.
The annoyance filling his face, replacing apology, greatly amused her. It was fascinating watching the switch that she couldn’t help but blink in a way that offered a curt but silent, ‘Yes? You have a question?’ That arrogance which came hand in hand with her birthright and status only cemented her position. He was entirely in the wrong and she, the right.
The fleeting look of panic however, surprised her yet again. She was used to people arguing from behind their masks, hiding their emotions despite the fact she could sense them, see them radiate it without being aware of it. The honest concern both in his tone and countenance only convinced her to follow without even second guessing it.
[color=#9a00b2]“Was this servant even trustworthy? Why not bring a member of your own staff to mind her?”[/color] Honestly, had he even kept an animal before? [color=#9a00b2]“What lord doesn’t take a butler with them?”[/color]
Raphael rolled his eyes at the question, for a number of reasons, the most prominent of which being that he never really liked having servants. At least not in the sense that he looked down on them like many Orlesian nobles. They’d had servants of course in Val Colline, but after his step father’s demise, they were paid well and treated like family.
Then of course there was the fact that this was Lucien Beauvais’s wedding, and not only did he treat his servants with as much kindness and respect that he would treat a member of his own family, they went through rather extensive background checks. After what happened to Lucien’s family because of the LaRues, he was extra cautious with anyone he didn’t know.
First of all, I haven’t had a butler since we fled Val Colline during the blight, and to be honest I’m not sure I want one. I’m not even sure I want to be baron now that my mother has decided she wants nothing to do with being the Baroness. He paused as they neared the kitchens, and then continued. Secondly, this is Lucien’s wedding. Any servant he’s handpicked must mean they’re trustworthy, as he treats all his servants with respect and gratitude.
Of course, Raphael wasn’t factoring in that other families could have spies planted among the staff. Lucien was thorough, but his system wasn’t perfect, only mostly reliable. As far as that went, well, Raphael just went with the hope that why would anyone hurt a sweet innocent little dog.
Adaria found it a perfectly reasonable question. Lucien could prepare all he liked, but a spy would find their way in somehow. While she had enjoyed all the privileges and perks of her birthright her parents and even her grandmother ensured she understood what their power was built on. Sometimes though, one had to exaggerate, dramatise an upset less the nobility think you too liberal with the lower classes.
Her closest confidant had been called a servant, but he was family. He had been family.
She brushed the thoughts of Alfred from her mind, her guilt made no difference here so, she continued to follow behind the vagrant found in the hallway. Side-eyeing him, Adaria appraised his outfit. [color=#9a00b2]“Clearly you don’t. Who matches a satin jacket with a linen undercoat?”[/color] Her eyes rolled, not particularly interested in the particulars of his family issues, she had enough of those herself. [color=#9a00b2]“So… you’ll do what instead of your duty? Knit?”[/color]
Drawing her hands behind her, Adaria mused, a brow arched. [color=#9a00b2]“On second thoughts you may be that terrible a Baron, you may actually survive the Game. Such rose-coloured spectacles you have Mr Baron of Colline.” [/color]
Raphael was annoyed, the girl was getting on his nerves and in a way he wasn’t even sure why. Only that she was, so he tossed in an eye roll or two himself as she spoke. He let the comment about his clothing go. The last thing he wanted to do was explain that most of his clothing had been left in Val Colline and that this was just what he managed to borrow from people he knew in Amaranthine. He might not be a rich snob, but he’d felt at least a little bit pathetic not even having one single nice thing he could wear to a wedding.
The comment about knitting made him chuckle. He thought about pointing out he’d rather draw or paint than knit, but what was the point. It did make him think about the conversation he’d had with Anders, the leader of the Aerial Protectorate. He’d originally thought the organisation was made up of Grey Wardens only, since the founder and leader were both Grey Wardens, but apparently anyone could join, Grey Warden or not. He shook his head slightly.
Actually I have an offer to join the Ferelden Aerial Protectorate in Amaranthine. He said, a bit of pride in his voice. His father was a part of it, and even though he was still coming to terms with Ragnar being his biological father, it wasn’t dissuading him from thinking about how exciting it might be to have a life with that group instead of leading Val Colline.
Before he could say anything else, they were at the kitchens. Rory was in a corner chewing happily on some sort of bone. Until she realised Raphael was standing in the doorway, then she dropped the bone and immediately went into butt and tail waggles. She was cream coloured with splotches of white in her fur, on her chest and neck, with a cute little tail that curled as she wagged. She yawned and made a squeaky sound. She looked from Raphael and then to the new person with him. As she walked over to the two, she sniffed cautiously at Addy’s feet.
She’s a bit shy, but she’s really sweet. Ragnar found her in a village that had been abandoned because of the darkspawn. We’re not sure how long she was alone fending for herself. He explained, his voice full of love for the little dog.
Orlesians had an interesting relationship with fashion. He seemed to be lacking this particular eye, or he was just unfortunate to be without any genuine style. Granted, there were variables unknown to her, and she’d give the ensemble another once over to pick out any clues. Last minute blunder perhaps, but then why not visit a tailor? She found herself curious, yet irritated by the feeling simultaneously.
The chuckle had her blink. Almost as if she had expected another retort than amusement. Something she was not privy to then, but was then revealed. An air of doubt filled her expression, again her brow arched, [color=#9a00b2]“I hope you’re better with Griffons than you are with fashion.”[/color] Though, despite his dress he did have a favourable physique for such an elite role. She’d almost believe him if not for the Antivan in her suspecting everything to be a lie.
They soon found themselves in the kitchens, Adaria pulled at her dress keen to keep it clear of anything able to mark the fine, golden threads. The pup though, caused a natural smile to tug at her lips, face appearing younger than her previous attitude would imply. Yes, there was an admission that the animal was adorable. The truth revealed, Adaria felt herself relax albeit only marginally.
[color=#9a00b2]“She must have been separated in the rush to leave. That’s relatable. Everyone is running from some monster, I suppose.”[/color] Crouching, Adaria peeled the lace glove from her hand then offered it for Rory to sense the mages scent. [color=#9a00b2]“Your master still should have left you with someone reliable. Not a stranger, yes?” [/color]
Even when they’d had servants Raphael had never cared about fashion. The butler had been constantly after him about getting paints and charcoal all over his sleeves and trousers. He’d always been free spirited, so when it came down to not having any servants in Amaranthine, it hadn’t really bothered him one bit.
The comparison of Griffons to fashion, had him shrugging, a bit annoyed. He just didn’t see what it mattered where fashion was concerned. It wouldn’t save his life, who cared about stuff like that, he sure as fuck didn’t.
Ya know, you’re really quite hung up on fashion. There’s a lot more important things in life than what someone wears for clothing. Cue another eye roll. Then as Addy crouched down, Rory’s tail started wagging faster. She sniffed tentatively at Addy’s hand, then looking up at Raphael, he gave her a little nod, she suddenly melted into Addy, begging for pets and loves.
I realise it was a risk, but who would want to hurt someone as cute as Rory, and she whines so when she can’t go with me places. Which considering she was abandoned, I can’t really blame her for having issues over it. He explained.
Fashion was another form of armour when it came to the social elite. An outfit could be the key to a successful opening or rescue. Then again, running around the palace like a rough-looking waif was also enjoyable. Adaria’s lips curled as her comparison of the griffons irked him more. This was entirely too easy to do adding,[color=#9a00b2] “Oh certainly. One could lurk in hallways, accosting young Princesses. Fortunately for him, one is forgiving.”[/color] A pause, and finally, [color=#9a00b2]“This time.” [/color]He still wasn’t aware of her identity and for now
Her scent accepted, Adaria stroked the pup paying special attention to her ears as the usual painted mask softened. Animals were always easily read, their emotions and feelings unbridled by convention or bias.
[color=#9a00b2]“She is adorable, I will agree. My concern wasn’t that, but more the pining of a brat, begging their parents to abscond with her.”[/color] Children, wanting what they couldn’t have. [color=#9a00b2]“Don’t worry, it’s not I. Few enjoy my company and I prefer it so.”[/color] A less chance they ended up like poor Alfred. No, better an occasional visitor than anyone’s constant companion.
The comment about lurking in hallways elicited another eyeroll from Raphael, though at the same time he had also accidentally grabbed her ass, so despite the eyeroll he face was also one of embarrassment and apology over it that wasn’t going to go away any time soon. When she added the words, this time, he shuddered slightly, in only that he really hoped there would never be a next time, because once was enough thank you very much.
It then occurred to him she had used the word princesses. Now he knew she wasn’t Orlesian, but now he was mildly curious, and by mildly he honestly meant barely. It definitely meant that him accidentally grabbing her was even more embarrassing, so perhaps it was better he didn’t know what she was a princess of. Easier to be annoyed with her that way. So he let it go, for now.
The conversation about Rory was far more interesting, it was clearly he loved talking about his dog and was a lot kinder in his tone, no sarcasm or annoyance. He sort of shrugged, he hadn’t considered the fact someone might want to steal little Rory.
True, but I mean what would they be doing in the kitchens? Still the thought of it made him worried, maybe he should leave and head back home, or maybe Lucien wouldn’t mind if he kept Rory with him at the part. Do you think anyone would notice if I kept her by my side? She’s quite obedient. Usually I don’t even have to tell her what to do. With that Rory sat down and looked up at the two, tail still waggling, almost as if she’d heard what he said about being well behaved.
