food for thought /* [open to whomever]

[breezy]

The diet of a lady, as Ariannas mother would always say, should never leave you feeling full or bloated, there should always be the feeling of hunger still lingering once a meal is finished. So meal after meal, the woman had forced herself to stop herself from completing the course. Far be it from rude to clear the plate. Arianna thus walked around the castle feeling the pain of hunger eating at her. Literally. Her already tiny frame would be eating away at her body by the time dinner rolled around in the evening.

The long, curly hair was pulled back today, placed into a fishtail style plait travelling down her back and reaching the top of her hips there the plait ended there as a ringlet of the remainder of her hair, often there because of Ariannas' habit to twirl her hair when nervous. Being new to the court, her stress levels were at a high. She was so naive to what was happening.

The dining hall was quite large, many other people were sitting and eating as well, however Arianna was not very social right now, she was just trying to adjust to her new surroundings and just slowly work her way into having friends and the like, and as her mother kept reminding her. Find a husband. Hard job? Possibly. One small morsel of food found its way down her throat and into her stomach. She placed the fork down and let it sit for a moment. Was she going to be full if over the next bite? Maybe, but she also didn't want to go through the night without anything sustaining her stomach.

Was she a novelty at the current time? Or was she jusst one of the newcommers to court, just lower on the circus rating with the influx of royalty that she just managed to blend in with the rest with just a whisper of her arrival here and there? Or was she just full of herself and thought she was more noticed than she in reality was? Another mouthful of food as well as a healthy dose of reality.

Maybe she should start interacting, people generally had their own circles of friends, and were not generally accepting of opening up their circle to another person where the secrets would be given to a stranger. Arianna thought that her current plan of action was more appropriate. Just settle and go with the flow. She had a lifetime here to get used to it all. Nobility was sure to have a starting conversation in with her somewhere, where she came from could be another topic starter. Being so young meant that everyone else would see her as a pawn, that was what she was to her family after all... Just a pawn to take the Towers higher.

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for those who wish to reply to this, I apologise for the shortness, this i swear is one of the least amounts I ever write xD thank you. -grumbles about unneccesary work meetings-

[Mimi]

Darin ran a hand through his hair as he walked down the relatively bustling halls -- maids and servants and cooks running this way and that, preparing chambers and tables, baths and dinners for the successive times different castes of nobles and royals dined. Incidentally, as surprised as he was, Darin was to dine with an upper echelon for the night. He'd insisted there was no need -- that he would dine with the Reginien servants at the end -- but apparently, due to his mid-way status between knight and squire and Regina's general hospitality to its foreigners, he'd be taking his wine and pheasant alongside ladies and lords. He wasn't intimidated in the least, but he dreaded the tedium of it.

A few candles mounted on the wall flickered as he walked by, and Darin sniffed as the smell of burnt wicker and lard tickled his nose. His left hand worked slowly to fasten the last clasp on his left sleeve, and the movement threw a lanky, jerking shadow unto the walls. His muffled steps slowed as he frowned and thought over what he'd say if anyone talked to him, though he hoped none would. In his experiences, the rich had little to talk about but themselves. Perhaps he could play along then, make up some elaborate story of his being some Duke or other in Silus, and a small smirk turned up the corners of his mouth as the idea flitted across his mind before being quickly discarded. He wouldn't be able to pull it off; though, thank god he'd taken a set of clothing aside from the worn breeches and tunic that instantly set him apart as one of the lower-class. The doublet he wore wasn't of the finest material, but the rich and deep verdant of it pleased him. Being so downtrodden and worn constantly, Darin almost enjoyed the chance to be something he wasn't. Almost.

By the time he happened upon the dining area, the capacious and florid space was already brimming with the peerage. The chatter of a couple dozen wealthy souls twisted together and seemed to hang from the chandeliers in visible webs that threatened to close around anyone that ventured farther than the threshold. Darin hesitated, as if he could see those webs, though he could definitely hear them. He hated being thrust into higher company.

Despite the initial reservation, once he regained his bearings, Darin swiftly stole in and navigated the girth of the table to find an empty seat. He ran another hand through his hair, this time with a sigh. Damn, officious Reginiens.

His foot caught on the leg of the last chair, and for a moment, Darin thought he'd offended some seated Baron or Viscount and would have to apologize before realizing that the seat in question had been empty. Ah, how convenient. Casually slipping down, he blinked a bit curiously at the personages seated around him. To his left, a young, thin girl sat picking at her food and not seeming very enthusiastic about it. Darin was the slightest bit intrigued; he couldn't help it. Attractive women caught his eye though he seldom acted on it unless it was, say, a whore on the streets he could have his way with without any consequences or future entanglements.

Clearing his throat, Darin looked up and to the right where two older gentlemen locked him in, both conversing with ladies to their rights which Darin could only assume were their wives. His gaze lingered over their faces, then the many plates of food set in a curving line down the table before settling on his own empty plate and the multitude of knives, forks, and spoons arranged prettily on either side.

Darin blinked a second time, tentatively picked up a three-pronged fork, and stabbed cautiously at a mushroom stalk before pausing and sneaking a look to his right at the blonde-haired girl and what utensil she was using. It didn't seem to be the three-pronged fork. It seemed to be the four-pronged one, and as inconspicuously as he could manage, Darin set down the three-pronged and picked up the four-pronged. Using it, he stabbed into a chicken leg and brought it to his plate only to receive curious glances from the gentleman to his right.

With a sigh, Darin gave up.

"Excuse me, Miss?" he asked, with a smile, "Would you mind instructing a foreigner on which thingamajig goes to which foodstuff?"

He laughed a bit at himself and the absurdity of his own question. "Pardon the abruptness; my name is Darin Gaviston."

Pulling the high collar of his tunic just slightly lower, he showed the royal Silian crest branded into the base of his neck when he was but a boy and as black now as it was then. "Silian, pleased to make your acquaintance."

He released the hold on his collar and inclined his head respectfully. The girl had a pleasing figure, and his eyes lingered for a moment before focusing ahead once more. Didn't want to reinforce the impression that all Silian men were savages now, did he?

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[breezy]

Arianna had registered the stranger who had been seated beside her, and to add on to that she felt his eyes on her. Why did she always feel that everyone was looking at her at some point in time. Perhaps it was just the teenage mind to which she was actually accustomed to. However she just kept moving the food around on her plate, maybe she could make it look like she had actually eaten more than she had if she constructed the food art carefully.

The Lady never paid much attention to those who surrounded her, especially at dinner, many of the eligibales were either not around or just not available for one person. Generally someone had a claim on them that was unspoken. She didn't recognise the person next to her so she couldnt actually decide whether or not he was claimed. Then again, she didnt know the names of most people. Many of the men around her were what she could claim as middle aged in comparison to her own age. With them were their wives. Not that she would even want someone so old. Oh how vain Arianna.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the new gentleman. Arianna's face held an obvious look of surprise on her face as he spoke to her.

"Excuse me, Miss?" he spoke. There was a smile on his face which took the Lady back further, she returned her own smile and heard his introduction, for a moment she stared at the brand, the thought of having that done to her made her flinch slightly.
"Lady Arianna Towers. Somewhat of a local." Anna laughed lightly as she brought her smile back as the brand was put away, tucked neatly under his tunic once more. It was funny, Darin really didn't look all that different than the men seated opposite her or down the table or even the servants in the kitchen. He could be one of them, yet Darin was someone entirely different... an outsider. Quite like her.

She reached to his place settings and picked out the one used for the chicken and held it up between them almost dramatically.
"This. Is the one you ought to use for now. It'll become second nature after a few meals." Arianna beamed. "Whats Silus like? What better way to find out than to ask a Silian himself?" She said, cocking her head to the side and the plait fell with it onto her shoulder. "I myself haven't actually been here that long myself, fresh from the country side. Though if you have been here long enough you might have met my brother, Rendan." she said, giving her abridged history in under a sentence.
Arianna had to admit that the man had some very good features about him. Well built was how she would describe him had she needed to.

"Are you enjoying yourself here in our country might I ask Darin?" she continued with her questions. There was a long list of questions in her head she wanted to ask people after feeling isolated from people for so long, even if it was self-initiated isolation.

[/JUSTIFY]

[Mimi]

"Arianna Towers," Darin repeated, letting the name roll off his tongue, followed by a quick nod of acknowledgement and a reassuring smile. The lady'd flinched when he'd shown his mark -- curious, he wondered why. Did the royalty in Regina not brand their squires? Darin scoffed under his breath, 'course not because they were "refined" peoples, and to his country, he was just cattle.

Darin blinked as Arianna reached over, the mild scent of flowers coming from her perfumed hair and tickling his senses. Sweet, unlike his superior, he'd always had a liking for roses, lilacs, carnations, and it was such a shame that the Reginien Queen was allergic. They'd look dashing on a girl such as Arianna. She picked up a utensil from the myriad before him and held it betwixt them in a way that made Darin chuckle quietly. So that was the meat fork was it? Ha, only three prongs? Funny-looking thing.

"Much obliged," Darin replied, taking the instrument and focusing his attention back on the feast at hand. He could still feel the stares of the other men perhaps thinking him a dunce, but at least now he knew, and they could all go to hell. Whatever happened to hospitality, hm?

Arianna's voice continued, however, near his ear and yet somehow in the background of the general bavardage. Someone to his right was discussing the Silian Prince's arrival, another excitedly about the upcoming ball at week's end. A high-pitched voice, presumably a lady's, went on and on about her husband's less-than-attractive nightly rituals. Then, amidst all the talk, rose Arianna's question like a ghost in the ruins.

"What's Silus like? What better way to find out than to ask a Silian himself?"

Darin let the question and his response simmer in his mind as he reached over and speared a meat of sorts, bringing chunks of it to his plate. Countryside, eh? Darin hadn't gone to the countryside much himself unless for political purposes and even then, his visits were always short. The Prince didn't like being without his squire for long. Nevertheless, Darin knew the countryside was quite a bit... quieter, relaxed. The transition must have given the lady quite a shock.

"Well," Darin started, after seeing that Arianna had finished asking questions and was now expecting answers, "Silus is... there's really no way to express it in a single word. As you probably know, Silus is really a collection of other countries, so it's different to say the least. Bigger, more polluted, more people. Women may wear trousers, ride astride a horse if they so desire, and often hunt with their husbands. Men are gruff -- barbarians."

Darin chuckled quietly and took a piece of the mystery meat into his mouth. He chewed slowly, a bit put off by the flavor but showing none of his dissatisfaction.

"Your country is quite refreshing; it's good to see something other than its border and battlefield."

Darin smiled wryly. "Gives a man a pretty limited perspective," he added before clearing his throat and quickly changing the topic.

"'fraid I haven't had the pleasure of meeting your brother as of yet. If he's any as pleasant as you, I'm sure I'll look forward to it."

Another smile before Darin took another bite and swallowed after a few seconds with some effort. "So," he began, carefully unfolding the carefully folded napkin and wiping his jowl, "are you engaged to be married?"

The question dropped without even the bat of an eyelash as if he always asked it on first meetings. It was partly because he was curious, partly because he felt obliged to asked something when she had shown such an interest in himself whether or not that something was entirely appropriate.

"If you don't mind my asking."

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