[past] I am so sorry
mention of violence and abuse
The faint buzz of conversation and the clink of goblets drifted through the open kitchen doors, the sounds of Tevinter opulence carrying a weight that made Calista’s shoulders ache. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she leaned against the cool stone wall just outside the kitchens, her breaths steady but shallow. The faint aroma of roasted pheasant and spiced wine couldn’t mask the sour undercurrent of anxiety twisting in her gut.

She tugged her shawl tighter around her shoulders, the fabric doing little to ward off the chill creeping from within.

Her mind itched with thoughts she couldn’t voice, a sharp contrast to the fire that normally blazed in her spirit. Calista was no stranger to biting her tongue—years under *his* thumb had taught her the art of silence well enough—but tonight felt different. Something about being paraded here, a breathing ornament for her master’s cruel pride, had carved a hollowness in her chest that she wasn’t sure she could fill.

Okay, Calista, she murmured under her breath, running her hands over her braid. The nerves made her fingers clumsy, and she winced as a strand pulled too tight. Just... keep it together. Smile, pour the wine, laugh at the jokes even when they suck. Maybe if you’re lucky, no one will notice you long enough to—

The sudden scuff of a boot against stone froze her words. Her heart leapt, and she straightened instinctively, eyes narrowing as she peered toward the source of the noise.

Who’s there? she called, her voice sharper than she’d meant it to be. The edge in her tone was a shield, one she clutched tight despite the way her pulse quickened.

@Kaczor Tilani
He had been bringing his latest conquest down to the cellar for a bit of a rough tumble, the peer male on his arm certainly enthralled with the longer hair, the more feminine soft features, Look I told you the first time, if you want to suck me off then you're going to have to be more discrete than grabbing my cock at the dinner table, what if Oryx had seen you, you know my Aunt and I are barely tolerated as is, but if you add in homosexuality to the ... Oh hello darling.. Kaczor's eyes spied the slightly older woman, there in the darkness, lovely, red headed, and..

Oh Maker, you're one of Oryx's aren't you? Armand go and get a bottle of the good wine and fill up a plate of finger foods and let slip that we caught ourselves a little serving wench that we're going to show a good time, make it convincing or I'll never put you on your knees again and then bring extra blankets, tell Oryx I'll be paying what ever price he wants, and we're just making her watch don't make it seem like we're going to be using his property, only that we want her to be eyes in the room since it's exciting to be watched. He'll be equal parts disgusted and will steer clear the rest of the evening, Kaczor pulled the man down for a salacious kiss, long nailed hand sliding down Armand's pants long enough to give the other man a good reason to eventually return.

Once the male was gone, Kaczor sighed and fluffed his hair, Men, they're so predictable, now then, it's only us girls now, what's troubling you? The idea of watching, oh Maker no, good story to tell your owner as to why we're going to have a little picnic here in .. the.. wine cellar? Kitchen? What is this place? You've no fear from me, and if Armand gets any ideas that you are on tonight's menu I'll take care of him, now then, let me shut up and you tell me what's happening, Kaczor hoisted himself up on one of the stone counters and crossed his legs, one elbow on a knee, his chin on a fist as he batted long eyelashes at Calista in hopes that she would not go running the other direction as fast as she could.

@Calista
Calista’s initial glare hardened into something sharper as the man before her revealed his plan with a flourish that could rival any bard’s embellishments. Her pulse hammered in her ears, the implications of Kaczor’s words twisting her stomach. But she didn’t shrink. Instead, she tilted her chin up, forcing her hands to remain still at her sides instead of balling into fists.

Her lips twitched into a sardonic smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes.

Well, congratulations, she said, her voice honeyed with a venomous edge. That was possibly the longest string of words I’ve ever heard from someone trying to say, ‘I’m a walking disaster, but let’s pretend it’s charming.’

Her gaze swept him over, taking in the carefully coiffed hair and self-assured posture, the kind of swagger that didn’t come without years of getting exactly what you wanted. She didn’t trust it—not for a second. But there was something almost absurdly disarming about his casual assumption that she wouldn’t bolt. Or stab him. Both were tempting.

First of all, I don’t need you to ‘take care of’ anyone, she continued, crossing her arms over her chest. And second, what’s troubling me is the prospect of being anywhere near you longer than it takes to find the nearest door. Or bottle, in case I feel like chucking it at your head.

Her voice faltered just for a second—a crack she hated herself for allowing. She covered it by stepping closer, the heels of her boots clicking against the floor. Calista had learned long ago that fear, when cloaked in audacity, could almost look like courage.

And if we’re playing the game where you pretend to care, then maybe you can start by explaining why I shouldn’t assume you’re just as much of a bastard as the one who dragged me here in the first place.

Her heart raced as she waited for Kaczor’s response, her posture rigid despite the casual defiance in her words. Somewhere deep down, she couldn’t decide whether she wanted him to respond with a challenge—or proof that maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t entirely a monster.

@Kaczor Tilani
Ooh, she has a bite, I do so like that. Kaczor finally leaned back, laughing at how right the woman was about him, both hands on the stone now as he now regarded the woman with a keener eye. She was lovely, yes, but he wasn't really in the mood to try and pursuit such hardened quarry. He liked an easy hunt, and this one would be too hard of a chase and battle to prove much fun for him in the long run. I am a bastard, I won't deny that, but as much of one as Oryx? Please, darling, don't insult me like that. I have much better fashion sense. He snorted slightly, as he let his head roll to the side, the move undeniably feminine in nature. Like I said, it's just us girls here, and if I'm truly the one bothering you, you're free to go, and I'll go back about my original intention for the evening in which was to bend Armand over a slab much like this one and fuck his brains out till he can't keep on his feet any longer. Plus he has a small bit of information I need from him, so, there's that..

He sighed, dramatically, and then pouted a little, But, my moods are mercurial, and I do so like a good bit of company that doesn't simper and whine when they figure out just who I am. I've stretched most of the peerage upstairs across bed sheets either at University, or more recently, male and female, and the offer is open if you'd like that, but you strike me as more of a good meal and some good wine and a few hours not having someone treat you like you're a person and not a thing. Her mouth curved into a knowing smile, as he arched a brow, So I'll ask again, now that you know my biggest ill-kept secret, what's bothering you this evening, and let's see if there's something I can do about it. Hells know, you're more interesting that some lay. Kaczor paused, thoughtfully, the tone in his voice becoming lighter.

And a sight more intelligent too. She finally said, relaxing more in the woman's presence.

@Calista

((OOC: Yes any pronoun shifts are intentional to show Kac's battle at this age to pin down an identity, and where Orion, her demon, might be less of a factor in her demeanor/voice))
Calista blinked, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and begrudging amusement. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected—maybe some suave attempt to smooth-talk his way past her defenses or a smug dismissal—but not... this. Not someone so unabashedly ridiculous, yet strangely self-aware.

Her lips twitched, a half-smirk breaking through her stoic facade.

You really don’t know when to stop talking, do you? she said, her tone dry but no longer razor-sharp. It’s like watching someone juggle flaming knives while blindfolded. You’re so close to setting yourself on fire, but somehow, you’re still standing.

Her arms loosened slightly, falling to her sides, though the tension in her shoulders remained. She wasn’t sure if she was disarmed by his blatant candor or the sheer audacity of his presence, but for the moment, the urge to bolt—or stab—had receded.

Look, I don’t care what you’re doing with your... she waved vaguely toward the door Armand had disappeared through, boy toy, conquest, whatever. As long as it doesn’t involve me or end with me cleaning up someone else’s mess. Her smirk faltered just a touch as she added, And for the record, I’m not here for your pity—or your wine. I’ve had enough of people offering me ‘kindness’ when it’s really just another way to tie the leash tighter.

Her fingers brushed the edge of her shawl, a gesture as absentminded as it was grounding. She stepped back, leaning against the wall again, though the fire in her gaze didn’t dim.

But you asked, so here it is: I don’t like being in places where people like me are only seen when someone else needs something. I don’t like being paraded around like furniture that breathes. And I sure as hell don’t like being talked about like I’m not even in the room. Her voice grew sharper, steel threading through each word. So no, I’m not in the mood to swap life stories or trade secrets like we’re sharing a bottle of spiced wine by the fire. I just want to get through this night without having to gut someone. Can you manage that?

Despite the bite in her words, something in her eyes softened, a flicker of tired vulnerability that she couldn’t quite hide. She straightened, brushing her braid over one shoulder as if to ward off any further cracks in her armor.

@Kaczor Tilani
Guilty! As charged, he laughed as he shrugged gently, chuckling as the woman continued to talk. It was hard not to weave in the legal joke, he had just been accepted into the law school, on top of her mage studies, a good job, her mother had said, for continuing the Tilani name appropriately. But there was much more that he wanted to do, in the long run, much more that he had planned for her future.

Gods, you do have such teeth on you, darling, to hell with Armand, let me take you out on a date instead. It was a tease, in jest, even as the woman continued to be feisty. Kaczor felt a small kinship, even as she began to kick her feet back and forth as Calista talked. You're in the room, and I can assure you, spiced wine or not, you'll make it through tonight without having to gut someone. Kaczor slid down off the table where she had been sitting and pulled her heavy over-robe off, moving towards Calista and offering her the garment. You look cold, darling, may I?

She held the robe open and made a motion for Calista to spin, so she could help her slip it on, and while doing so, she spoke, Right now Armand is talking to your owner, no doubt spinning some sordid tale about how we're going to tie you to a chair and make you watch me fuck him. Oryx will claim, after, that we sullied you too, and demand my family pay for his damaged property. He is a rat bastard, and always has been, but we can vanish before they get back, if you like. There's a secret passage in the next wine cellar over that leads to the basement of the shop next door, past that, it's three doors down to the underground vault my family owns. She chuckled softly at that, sighing a bit.

It's where I spent the bulk of my time lately, and I could use a good set of hands there. I tell you what, let me position you on the table in a risqué way, before someone else comes along, making it look like you've been sullied. Your master will want compensation and I'll just offer to buy you outright, a good lay and all you know, and then you can come and be mean to me when I don't study for my exams? I do have several coming up here soon, and I can't stand the idea of leaving you in Oryx' hands. You're too fun.

@Calista