I would like to see Deiza and Ambraea have some kind of confrontation where Ambraea finds out why Deiza dislikes her so much. This arc would feel incomplete to me if we never find out why Deiza's been so rude to her.
Deiza is rude to everyone. She grew up on an isolated island to a family that rejects the social norms of the realm and holds to traditions that predate it's formation. She's acting the way she wants and doesn't really care how people feel about her.
Ambraea in specific might have been a crush of hers, and is the person most offended by behavior Deiza considers normal, causing the two too clash often. Where most of her classmates have just accepted that Deiza is just a fairly rude delinquent, Ambraea persists on not getting over her behavior, and a rivalry and grudge has built between the two. It's a case of two very different people not getting along, with misunderstanding blossom under typical teenage awkwardness. No great mystery here.
Do you think so? I was under the impression that Deiza was attracted to Keric from all the way back in year 1. Although I suppose it's not mutually exclusive either way.
Deiza is very much a dalliance girl rather than someone committed, and doesn't defend Keric at all when Ambraea compares him to Hylo, and actually laughs at the insulting comparison.
In year two she stole Ambraea book to get her attention, and was distinctly mopey when she took it back and stormed away. She commented on Ambraea avoiding her, in a way that indicated she wants to get to know Ambraea personally. It's not proof or anything, but it matches up to typical awkward crush handling their feelings by acting out toward the person they like. I think Deiza got mostly over it in the aftermath of the book incident as their relationship worsened, but their might be some lingering feelings and hurt over the blanket rejection and treatment that no one else puts up with.
Deiza is rude to everyone. She grew up on an isolated island to a family that rejects the social norms of the realm and holds to traditions that predate it's formation. She's acting the way she wants and doesn't really care how people feel about her.
Ambraea in specific might have been a crush of hers, and is the person most offended by behavior Deiza considers normal, causing the two too clash often. Where most of her classmates have just accepted that Deiza is just a fairly rude delinquent, Ambraea persists on not getting over her behavior, and a rivalry and grudge has built between the two. It's a case of two very different people not getting along, with misunderstanding blossom under typical teenage awkwardness. No great mystery here.
I think things may have started out that way, but that it's a little more complex than that. Ambraea's comment about Deiza being unwomanly seemed to genuinely hurt her and I don't think that Ambraea has fully acknowledged that. This seems to point to something more than simple rudeness. I'd like for their to be some kind of confrontation where Deiza is forced to be honest about that instead of lashing out in her typical fashion. I don't really care whether this causes them to become friends or go their separate ways, but this arc wouldn't feel complete without it to me.
I think things may have started out that way, but that it's a little more complex than that. Ambraea's comment about Deiza being unwomanly seemed to genuinely hurt her and I don't think that Ambraea has fully acknowledged that. This seems to point to something more than simple rudeness. I'd like for their to be some kind of confrontation where Deiza is forced to be honest about that instead of lashing out in her typical fashion. I don't really care whether this causes them to become friends or go their separate ways, but this arc wouldn't feel complete without it to me.
First as I was trying to point out by describing her cultural upbringing, Deiza is "Rude" by the Realms standards, but mearly "Herself/appropriately Simendor" in her manner and actions. She's mearly none conformist in a very conformist empire. this comes off as very rude from the perspective of ambraea, being a capital raised daughter of it's highest class citixen.
As a result Ambraea confronts her far more often about such things and receives push back from Deiza which has lead to tension and ill will between them as time progressed. In addition there are signs that Deiza may have had feelings of a romantic nature for Ambraea in the past which have likely only subsided in the aftermath of her return and obvious mooning over Maia. This adds a note of possible Jealousy coloring her actions.
Regardless, Gazettear may provide an inquest revelation as to Deiza's actions, either during the final chapter of the arc, or during a between the years interlude. I feel pretty comfortable in my assessment though.
Oh god. Deiza was one of those idiots doing the hair pulling bit to get her crushes attention. Ambraea took it badly and they ended up at odds but it still hurts Deiza to have her former crush imply she is undesirable. She was lashing out in wounded self worth and jealousy.
One of them is Simendor Deiza, her Aspect markings instantly identifiable. She's listening to, of all people, Mnemon Keric, who is attempting to regard her with a sort of haughty disdain. Whatever he says to her, it makes her throw back her head and laugh, much to Keric's displeasure.
[...]
At First Light's stoic insistence, Deiza casts one last smirk at Keric before she turns to face it. You're too distant to hear what she's saying, but you've seen her work sorcery before — she chants in a bastard mixture of Old Realm and archaic Flametongue, her fingers flashing through a series of mudras to sketch out a strange sign in the air.
[...]
Grinning, Deiza actually reaches out and gives Keric a pat on the cheek as she passes. He flushes bright red, looking furious.
"Is there something going on between those two?" Sola asks, more as a joke than a serious suggestion.
"Deiza and Keric?" You can't suppress a short laugh at that. Much more likely, he was present at the impromptu demonstration for a less friendly reason. Still, it was funny to imagine.
Nothing has particularly indicated that Deiza is into girls as well, is looking for more partners, or is going to be anything less than blatant when interested.
That is a pretty self-assured and forward way for Deiza to have been showing interest in Keric in the excerpt I pulled out.
Yet she doesn't defend him in the slightest from ambraea's insult. Keric is a dalliance, long drawn out, but still a dalliance reflective of her culture, one Deiza outright invites Ambraea to join her in enjoying. If I'm wrong I'll admit as much but I don't see her indications of attraction to Keric as a means disproving the possibility of past attraction to Ambraea as well. Ambraea had 3 potential romances until this year, who's to say Deiza didn't have just as many last one?
Seems pretty arrogant to settle on the explanation of "eh, she wants me" when asked why she is behaving the way she is. Feels like protag-centered harem trope assumptions.
Yet she doesn't defend him in the slightest from ambraea's insult. Keric is a dalliance, long drawn out, but still a dalliance reflective of her culture, one Deiza outright invites Ambraea to join her in enjoying. If I'm wrong I'll admit as much but I don't see her indications of attraction to Keric as a means disproving the possibility of past attraction to Ambraea as well. Ambraea had 3 potential romances until this year, who's to say Deiza didn't have just as many last one?
I think it's more likely that Deiza was hoping Ambraea had adopted some of her Prasadi father's unusual traditions and that they could bond over their shared outsider status. Both House Simendor and the Dragon Clans of Prasad have traditions that are frowned upon by the Realm and those that hold to the traditions at a realm school can expect a fair amount of disapproval. This would explain why she was so insulted by Ambrea calling her unwomanly: she had her traditions insulted by the one person she thought would understand what it's like to be different.
Seems pretty arrogant to settle on the explanation of "eh, she wants me" when asked why she is behaving the way she is. Feels like protag-centered harem trope assumptions.
I don't think she wants Ambraea now, just that it's possible she did in the past, and the rejection and hostility soured those feeling, resulting in greater animosity than Deiza has with anyone else who takes offense at her ways. This is supported by a deliberate targeting of someone Ambraea currently feels for to get back at her.
I think it's more likely that Deiza was hoping Ambraea had adopted some of her Prasadi father's unusual traditions and that they could bond over their shared outsider status. Both House Simendor and the Dragon Clans of Prasad have traditions that are frowned upon by the Realm and those that hold to the traditions at a realm school can expect a fair amount of disapproval. This would explain why she was so insulted by Ambrea calling her unwomanly: she had her traditions insulted by the one person she thought would understand what it's like to be different.
I'll give some credit for that being a possibility, but ambraea says she has laughed off worst insults, which should also be attacks on her culture. Given the rant about compliancy that follows, she isn't taking it as an attack on her gender.
Some frankly wild takes here, especially the "OMG SHE LIKES US LOL" stuff. First, we have straight-up zero indications that Deiza is bi, and fairly definite confirmation she isn't just gay. Second, we have no particular reason to think she's into Ambraea like that even if she was. Seriously, people are taking "she wanted to talk to us one time and didn't like it when we stomped off instead of engaging" and going from there almost straight to "she's down bad for Ambraea." That's, uh, not what I'd call reasonable. To say the least. That's more on the level of "guy who thinks because a woman who works with him smiles at him when they pass in the hallway she for sure wants him carnally."
Anyway, here's another theory: what if Deiza, perhaps, seems to have a problem with Ambraea because as far as she can tell Ambraea had a problem with her first? Ambraea has been looking at her judgingly literally the entire time they have both been at the Heptagram, before Deiza was making any effort to actually interact with Ambraea. It is not just plausible but entirely in-character for Ambraea to be blind to how much she was letting her judgment of Deiza become externally visible.
Let me sketch a possible throughline of Deiza's experience at the Heptagram from her perspective, focusing on how it relates to Ambraea.
-> Go to the Heptagram to learn sorcery, which is a huge deal for your family but not something they normally go abroad for; your family's matriarch only made the expenditure to send you to the Realm's foremost school of sorcery because you're her favorite niece. You are a genuine sorcerous prodigy, and proud of it and of your family.
-> Almost immediately, the self-styled "true Dynasts" here start making it a point to let you know you should know your place, and you should know it is well beneath them. Your talents don't matter because they look down on your House for being from the Threshold, and that's the only thing they care about.
-> They can go to hell, and you're not afraid to let them know so. You're proud of who you are and where you're from, and you're not going to change that for anyone.
-> This makes enemies. So be it.
-> The Empress's daughter is also here. On the one hand her mother is literally the highest figure in the entire Realm, but on the other her father is from a House from the Threshold - just like yours.
-> The people who don't want you here if you aren't going to "know your place" don't let up. They're more than happy to call attention to all the ways you fall short in their eyes; it's hard to target you on your sorcery when you're better than almost all of them, so matters of "propriety" tend to be the pretext. Why, a Simendor should hardly be called a "lady" at all, should she? Oh ho ho.
-> Apparently the "Blessed" Isle finds the culture of your House unseemly. Fuck them, and fuck their precious "propriety."
-> The Empress' daughter doesn't join in the harassment, but you can see her looking judgingly at you on a regular basis. Why is she giving you this attitude when she shares half of the same kind of background and she doesn't even know you? Is she just one more person who thinks nothing about you matters but your blood, and shuns you for not knowing your place?
-> She seems to actively avoid even speaking to you, now, but doesn't let up on the attitude at all - it's worse, if anything. You want to give her more of a chance though - you do share some background in common and unlike many people she's never said anything to you overtly - so you try to talk to her to find out what the hell her deal is. She disengages and stomps off rather than give you the time of day.
-> She still won't say anything straight out, but the attitude's only getting worse and she's escalating to sniping at you in classes you share now. Time to stop dancing around it: you're just going to confront her and directly ask why the hell she's acting like this with you. She tells you that the problem is simply the way you are. The problem is that you lack propriety, just like all the other "Dynastic elites" who hate you for not knowing your place have been tearing you down for for years now. Honestly - you should just be embarrassed.
-> You. See. Red.
Do I know for sure this is how it's gone down? No, we don't know enough about Deiza to speak with certainty. Does this align well with every piece of textual evidence we have? I would say so. Is it significantly more plausible (and less self-centered) than "lol guess she likes us and can't cope with rejection"? I'd certainly hope.
As an aside, I did go over a few past posts, and pulled this bit out as it seems particularly relevant to the "why is she like this with me when she doesn't even know me" bit from above.
-> The Empress' daughter doesn't join in the harassment, but you can see her looking judgingly at you on a regular basis. Why is she giving you this attitude when she shares half of the same kind of background and she doesn't even know you? Is she just one more person who thinks nothing about you matters but your blood, and shuns you for not knowing your place?
I don't think we should count on Ambraea having the same standards for what's a bad insult as Deiza. Clashing cultural standards is definitely part of the problem here
Could someone more familiar with the setting provide an assessment of what, exactly, "unwomanly" means in-context? I figure that it likely has alternate usages, one for more informal "virtues", and one for formal "virtues", but I am unclear of their culture's formal and informal female stereotypes...
Could someone more familiar with the setting provide an assessment of what, exactly, "unwomanly" means in-context? I figure that it likely has alternate usages, one for more informal "virtues", and one for formal "virtues", but I am unclear of their culture's formal and informal female stereotypes...
Broadly, the Realm is kind of like America from, say, the 1980s on its gender mores, but switched: men are seen as impulsive and flighty and emotional, while hard women make hard choices. This is not a perfect analogy; this is meant to give a general vibe more than be completely accurate. For example, it's a setting that has no particular problem with LGBTQ+ people; being bi is helpful, since you can work off extra energy with the same gender and not risk an unplanned pregnancy, and transgender people have religious backing that says "of course a trans woman is a woman, and of course a trans man is a man".
This, then, could be seen as something like when Marty McFly is called "chicken" in the Back to the Future movies. It's a challenge to one of those packages of your identity that you just... are handed when you're a teenager. You are x, y, and z, which means you act like a, b, and c. You absolutely do not act like m and n. Can Marty handle being called "chicken"? Can Deiza handle being called "unwomanly"? Can some other male lead from an 80s teen movie let the bully character call him "unmanly" and get away with it?
You definitely aren't supposed to take it so hard—Marty learned better as part of his arc, because he realized it was always silly to care. That's why Ambraea is surprised, and almost certainly that's something that should be seen as "something is up with Deiza that Ambraea does not know".
One-sentence tl;dr: calling a woman "unwomanly" in Exalted's Realm is like calling a man "unmanly" in an 80s movie.
For Ambraea's part, she was mostly using it in the sense of accusing Deiza of being childish, but it was essentially an insult based in a failure to perform Dynastic gender norms correctly.
Just like, you know, a very mild one Ambraea expected to be laughed off and ignored.
Explain to Maia what exactly Deiza said to make you try and hit her, and try to explain why it upset you: 21
Try to tell Maia how you felt when she smiled at you after the fight with the mercury ants: 16
Tell Maia a story about the first time you kissed a girl, and hopefully lead things around from there: 5
In a real sense, explaining yourselves is more arduous than the actual fighting had been.
The five of you — Amiti, Darting Fish, Deiza, L'nessa, and yourself — ended up having a long discussion with several staff members where you were asked, in detail, to explain and justify your actions. As with all things at the Heptagram, you're left with the strong impression that this is being used as a learning experience.
Darting Fish, having recruited a number of younger students to assist him with an experiment that had gone disastrously and nearly gotten two of them drowned or eaten, was subjected to the greatest amount of scrutiny. You'd been correct in that your scant evidence that Peleps Nalri had been directly involved had not been enough to sway the school against her, although the way Instructor Zadaki's eyes had narrowed when you brought her up leads you to believe that someone, at least, will be keeping a closer watch on her.
In the end, Darting Fish is tasked with helping to restock the cliff-face's depopulated chimerical guardians, a highly unpleasant task that will also be greatly helpful to his research, if he pursues it diligently. Out of you younger students, the only one who has been tasked with assisting him is Amiti, for the sheer excess of her methods of keeping the guardians off of you and Deiza.
You would have argued that this was unfair, if Amiti herself had seemed to have any interest whatsoever in avoiding this task. She's only barely managing to not look outright delighted at the thought of it.
"We can't let her get away with this," Maia says, later that night.
"I intend to make her regret her actions, at some point in the future," you say.
Maia sits on her bed, hunched in on herself. "You could have been killed. It should be more than just a bit of regret," she says. Despite the vulnerability in her posture, there's something very serious and harsh in her tone. The combination is... distracting.
"Maia, be careful about saying such things," L'nessa says. "She's a Peleps. Please, try to remember your family's debts."
Maia doesn't look up, instead seeming very intent on contemplating the floorboards. "I always do," she says.
L'nessa frowns, pausing where she is. She's been pacing the length of the room this whole time, fretfully shedding a few leaves as she goes. From experience, you can tell when she's on the verge of going from friendly advice to friendly lecture, which will take more time than you'd like. You interrupt:
"Maia, may I speak to you?" you ask. "Alone?"
Maia gives a slight start. "What about?" she asks.
You hesitate, ignoring L'nessa's raised eyebrows. "I will explain in private," you say.
"We're close to lights out," L'nessa says, watching Maia slide off the bed, and back into her boots. Amusement and nervous energy are clearly winning out over L'nessa's earlier concern. You're depressingly certain she has a good idea of what you want to talk to Maia about.
"We'll have time," you say, rising from your desk chair. Silent and confused, Maia follows you out of the dorm, and back into the rapidly emptying halls of the school.
You move quickly, feet almost automatically taking you to a place you know will be quiet at this time of night. Your route goes up a level, and around to the library tower. That familiar quiet atmosphere overtakes you both. You wait until you're a ways in, with no sign of anyone else, before you steel yourself, and turn around.
Alone in the stacks, with Maia staring at you uncertainly, you're uncomfortably aware that this is precisely the sort of secluded place in the library tower that Deiza and Keric had been using for their unorthodox 'language studies'. The silence stretches on for long seconds as everything that you'd prepared to say on the way here seems to evaporate out of your mind. Finally, you just say: "You asked about what Simendor said to me."
"I... did," Maia says, plainly only more confused.
"She implied that I wanted to get you into bed. And that you'd agree to it, because it would be good for your family. That's why I tried to hit her." The words are blunt, abrupt, and Maia takes a second or two to digest them. To your concern, she seems to hunch in on herself slightly, looking a little like you've just slapped her in the face.
You frown. "What's wrong?"
It takes Maia a second or two to find her voice again. When she does, it's very quiet, and very carefully measured. "Nothing. It is... unforgivably crass that Simendor Deiza would imply such a thing about you." Wait, about you? That isn't the part that had made you mad! "If you will excuse me, my lady, I have... tasks to complete." The formality cuts you like a knife, painful enough that you can't immediately respond. Maia gives you a respectful half bow, and turns stiffly on her heel, already beginning to walk away.
You know, instantly, that if you let her get out of sight, you will never find her while she doesn't want to be found. You take two long strides, catch up to her, and physically grab Maia by the wrist, pulling her back around to face you. She looks up at you with plain startlement. "I wasn't angry that she thought I was interested in you!" you say, your voice a frustrated hiss. "I was angry because she was making it sound like you wouldn't want... me, but you'd go along with it anyway!"
Maia continues to stare, genuinely shocked at your outburst. You're aware, suddenly, of how close you're both standing, of her deceptive delicacy. She doesn't pull away, and you don't let go of her arm, despite the sensation of a dagger hilt digging into your palm through her uniform sleeve. "And you think that she's right?"
"I..." frustration wells up in your chest. You're filled with the sudden, intense urge just to pull her close to you and kiss her, to make things as plain as possible as simply as possible. You do lean in closer to her — improperly close — but instead of closing those final inches between you, you whisper: "Just... tell me you want this. Or that you don't." It comes out as a lot closer to a plea than you'd intended.
Maia swallows, opens her mouth, visibly trying to find words that aren't immediately coming to her. Then she puts her free hand behind your neck, leans up, and gives you a quick, darting kiss, lips soft and awkward against your own. "Since a month after I met you," she says, almost too quietly to hear. You can feel her hand, warm and trembling, against your neck. "I hope that answers—"
The rest of her answer is cut off in a sharp gasp you pull her back in for another, far deeper, kiss, keeping your hold on her wrist even as you wrap your free arm around her back. She relaxes into your arms, and it's exactly what you've wanted for over a year.
When you finally break off for air, Maia stays in close against you, her head finding its way to your shoulder. "It was a good answer," you say, smiling with almost undignified relief.
Maia giggles, stifling the noise against your school tunic. You feel a small, metallic snake head against your throat, and realise that Verdigris has slipped out of your sleeve at some point, and is now draped across Maia's narrow shoulders.
"I had to say something, after today," you say, a little quieter.
"Because you nearly died," Maia says, voice cracking a little.
"Because I could have died," you say, the correction gentle. "I do quite well in these situations, I think. And I wasn't stuck holding up the ceiling this time." Even if you had to keep Deiza from going over the cliff instead.
"I'm... really what you thought of first, after all that?" she asks.
Almost literally. "To be fair, I think about you more than you seem to have guessed."
She nods, a shallow movement you feel more than see. Then, reluctantly, she pulls away, and you let her. "We need to get back soon," she says.
She's right, but you're not really worried — you feel better, just now, than you have in a long time. "L'nessa is going to be insufferable about this," you say, turning back the way you came.
Maia laughs again, and falls in beside you.
"What's going to be insufferable," L'nessa says, the next morning, "is sharing a room with you two for the next four and a half years. This is going to be an ongoing thing, yes?"
"It is," you say, trying not to be too annoyed as you begin to address your breakfast.
"Well, good," L'nessa says. "Maia would take that very hard. She's been nursing that infatuation with you since first year, after all."
"How did you know that and I didn't?" you ask.
"Honestly, I ask myself the same question," L'nessa says.
Your glower for her melts into a genuine smile as you see Maia approaching the table from across the room. Her own smile is a little nervous as she slides into the spot beside yours.
"Oh, good, here you are," says L'nessa, wasting no time. "Ground rules!"
"... Ground rules?" Maia asks.
"For you two, while we're all rooming together," L'nessa says, simply. As if this topic isn't even a little mortifying. "I am, of course, thrilled for you both, but I will require some basic consideration and restraint when it comes to..."
You and Maia listen as L'nessa lays out a number of very reasonable and slightly embarrassing requests for the sake of her peace of mind, phrased delicately enough that you could not possibly complain. This doesn't stop Maia's face from growing redder and redder as she goes on.
You're grateful, sometimes, that your complexion doesn't show a blush like that. Not that that would currently be a problem, of course.
As L'nessa winds down, though, you can't help but notice a strange pair of students exchanging tense looking words out in the hallway beyond the meal hall. Sola, her expression serious but calm, is seemingly talking to Simendor Deiza out of earshot of the general breakfast crowd. As you watch, Sola says something that makes Deiza nod once sharply, turn on her heel, and walk away, not even bothering to head in for breakfast.
Sola sighs, walks into the meal hall, and heads straight for your table.
"What was that about?" You ask.
Sola shrugs. "Nothing it would reflect well on me to repeat," she says, with a light sort of tone that tells you this is the most you'll get on this subject.
"Did she ask you to let her see the sword again?" Maia asks. Sola is already wearing the daiklave on her belt at this time of morning, because she always is.
"That, I think, she's given up on," Sola says. Which is almost surprising to you, given House Simendor's slightly unseemly fixation on orichalcum. "Speaking of which, you went out and fought half the cliff guardian flock, and you brought Amiti?"
"The plan involved a great deal more studious note taking and carefully controlled experimentation," you say. "And she acquitted herself quite well, honestly."
"'Oh, I have a great spell for cleaning bones!'" L'nessa's voice takes on a good enough imitation of Amiti's inappropriately cheerful tones that you can't help but smile. Maia is trying very hard not to giggle "Turns out, it cleans bones still attached to living things pretty well too. Rather revolting, if very useful under the circumstances." She's more amused than actually condemning.
"I'd promise to take you to the next disaster, but ideally that's the most excitement we'll have for a good few months," you say to Sola. Who has the gall to look faintly skeptical as she chews a mouthful of breakfast.
"Oh, was it the most excitement you've had lately?" L'nessa asks, voice innocent.
Maia starts to sink down in her seat, face slowly reddening all over again.
"You," you say, completely without heat, "are an evil woman." L'nessa laughs. Unseen beneath the table, your hand brushes against Maia's. Not enough to be unseemly in so public a place. Maia doesn't exactly stop blushing, but she seems a little reassured.
Sola glances between the three of you, eyebrows raised. "Is there something you want to tell me, or are we only communicating in cryptic hints, right now?"
Naturally, the entire school knows inside of a week.
Apart from the ongoing issue of Peleps Nalri, there is only one final incident to put a bow on the whole misadventure. At the time, you don't pay it a great deal of heed.
Days later, you come out of the lecture hall near the rear of the group, only to find Simendor Deiza loitering around the exit. She makes eye contact with you, then glances away. Wordlessly, you continue onward. While you're of course not one to entertain any childish grudges, if she wants to talk to you, she should say so.
Out of the corner of your eye, you see Mnemon Keric standing beside her, giving her an uncharacteristically forceful sort of glare. Whatever it is she sees in his eyes, Deiza sighs and moves to catch up with you.
"Do you have a moment?" Deiza asks, feigning casualness.
You give her a shallow nod, stepping to the side of the hallway with a dignified sort of air. You look at her expectantly, having no idea what is going to come of this.
Deiza takes in a breath and lets it out, as if steeling herself for something deeply unpleasant. Then she bows — it's shallow, a formal gesture among social equals, but you're too shocked by even this much from her to quibble over familial standing. "Lady Ambraea, allow me to apologise for the insult I offered you earlier this term. It was uncalled for."
You're quiet for a moment. Then, with slightly less than your usual grace, you say: "So, you can act like a Dynast when you want to."
Deiza shoots you an irritated look, immediately dropping the formal tones. "Oh, just accept it or tell me to go away." From over her shoulder, you see Keric wince in a mortified sort of way. This was no doubt his idea.
"Your apology is accepted, Lady Deiza," you tell her, relenting. "We will consider the matter behind us."
"Well, it's good we're doing that," Deiza says. You choose not to read any dryness into her tone.
"Quite," you say, and coolly walk away.
Not every schoolgirl grudge needs to be nursed until it's something worse. You'll have enough to worry about this term... And enough to look forward to, without dragging this on more than it needs to be.
Descending Wood, Realm Year 761
Two years, seven months before the disappearance of the Scarlet Empress
There are always serious considerations for the academic break. As ever, it is your opportunity to make an impression on Dynastic society in between your long months of study. You'd be lying if you said that that's the first thing on your mind now, however.
"I hope that you will call on me at your convenience, as we discussed," you say. Your tone is staid, proper. Not nearly as affectionate as you'd like.
Maia bows. "Your regard humbles me, my lady. I will be certain to do so soon." While not as expensive as what a Dynast could afford, you can't help but think that the cut of her clothes — dark blue and flowing in the Incas style — lend her a more graceful look than the Heptagram's student uniform.
You incline your head graciously. You're in public, at the docks in Chanos, having just disembarked from the ship. You sense many eyes on the two of you, whether incidental or appraising.
You wish you could touch her.
The connection you two formed has deepened over the course of the previous term. However, between your studies and the fact that you both share a room with your niece, it has been a thing of furtive glances and stolen moments, and very little of the sort of privacy you'd like.
As Maia straightens, you catch sight of Demure Peony over her shoulder, standing patiently at a respectable distance. Something about the apprehensive set of Peony's shoulders makes you take a second look, however:
A young man stands beside her, resplendent in the colours of an Imperial messenger, patiently waiting for the Dragon-Blooded to finish talking. A twist of nervousness stirs in the pit of your stomach. "Excuse me," you say to Maia, "but I think that's probably for me." She turns to follow your gaze, but you're already walking over to the messenger.
Peony bows low at your approach, but doesn't speak — the young man is already stepping forward. He bows as well, not a hair out of place or a speck of dirt on his clothing, holding out a sealed letter to you with enough reverence that it might have been made of solid jade. "For the Lady Ambraea, Beloved of Pasiap, by Imperial decree."
You accept the letter wordlessly, spending a few precious seconds to take in the seal — brilliantly red wax, shot through with precious red jade dust. Even hardened, it's warm to the touch. You break it without further hesitation, and read the contents with grave efficiency. When you finish, you go back to the beginning and read it again, frowning thoughtfully.
"I hope it isn't bad news?" Maia asks, choosing her words carefully.
"No," you say, the half-truth coming easily off your tongue. "I have been asked to attend the Imperial Presence, at the Imperial Palace, at my earliest convenience. I could never call this anything but an honour and a privilege."
You regard the messenger coolly, and say: "Thank you. As I will be traveling faster than your reply could, you have carried out your duty. My handmaiden will see your service appropriately complimented." Wearing Imperial colours or not, it's a poor Dynast who can't afford at least a coin for a messenger.
Peony seems to parse at a glance that you'd like a moment's privacy, and skillfully draws the messenger away in order to see to a suitable tip.
"You'll be leaving immediately, then?" Maia asks.
You consider this. 'At your earliest convenience', from your mother, has very little leeway, for someone with access to sorcerous means of travel. "No," you decide. "First thing tomorrow morning. I will need the rest of the day to make arrangements, and then... a good night's sleep."
The need for haste is very good at chasing away any nervousness you might have at the implication you're leaving in the air.
To your great relief, Maia allows herself a slight smile. This time, there's only the faintest trace of colour coming into her face. "I understand," she says.
It's a thought that buoys you onward for the rest of a busy day.
Article:
Ambraea has been summoned back to the Imperial City in order to speak to her mother in person, a rare enough occurrence to make this a source of both dread and excitement. It will also be an opportunity to see her father, as well as others who she hasn't seen in three years.
Mundane means would be far too slow to carry her all the way to Scarlet Prefecture and back. Fortunately, Ambraea has other means at her disposal, and is plainly being expected to make use of them. How is Ambraea traveling?
[ ] A favour from Diamond-Cut Perfection
On the metaphorical wings of a lesser elemental dragon, the distance shrinks considerably. Perfection will be available to make the trip, and will be able to get Ambraea and Peony there safely and in a timely manner. Needless to say, this will be an extremely ostentatious method of travel, and Perfection will ask for a reasonable favour in return afterward.
[ ] A favour from V'neef Darting Fish
Ordinarily, it would be slightly outrageous to ask an acquaintance to take you and your handmaiden all the way to Scarlet Prefecture on such short notice. However, Darting Fish owes Ambraea, and would not resent the request, as inconvenient as it might be. Traveling in Darting Fish's small, sorcerously-summoned ship will be far faster than any mundane means of travel and will allow you to arrive relatively quietly, although it will be considerably slower than flying, and leave you open to the vagaries of sea voyages.
[ ] A summoned lesser elemental
Ambraea can simply summon a flying elemental to carry her and Peony. This spirit will be obedient, but newly formed and not particularly intelligent. She will arrive in a timely enough manner, but the creature's unpredictable nature will cause unforeseen problems on the way, and the trip will be less comfortable than what Perfection might offer.
"We can't let her get away with this," Maia says, later that night.
"I intend to make her regret her actions, at some point in the future," you say.
Maia sits on her bed, hunched in on herself. "You could have been killed. It should be more than just a bit of regret," she says. Despite the vulnerability in her posture, there's something very serious and harsh in her tone. The combination is... distracting.
"Maia, be careful about saying such things," L'nessa says. "She's a Peleps. Please, try to remember your family's debts."
Maia doesn't look up, instead seeming very intent on contemplating the floorboards. "I always do," she says.
May as well draw attention to these lines and that last bit in particular. I'm so glad that Maia cares so much for Ambraea, but now I'm worried she's going to be combing her family records during the break. I do have to wonder though what may happen if Big Red catches wind of Ambraea's interests in Maia.
