Elle Joyner
Fracturer of Fairytales
The Beginning
Gallace Academy
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Those Born Chivalrous
- Thread starter Elle Joyner
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khuyen
poot poot
Gallace Academy
Winter, year 1004 AH
To Become Knights
It was a special day today, and the students at Gallace Academy could certainly tell. Usually the air would be filled with the sound of swords clanging against each other, but today was a bit different. "No, no, no, the banner goes over there, I tell you, over there! I swear all you servants are daft!" The class watched as a small, bald man ordered servants around. He wasn't even a teacher at Gallace Academy, no, he was more of a... party planner. And everyone knew, he had waited all year for this day - the day of the annual Masquerade Ball. It was always held two moons before christmas during christmas break where the city had plenty of visitors. Maybe they came for the party, maybe they had business here, but one thing was for certain: The party was quite the spectacle and deserving of the buzzing and fuzzing.
"Ahem." A stoic-looking, middle-aged man cleared his throat. Immediately the class focused on their instructor. Sir Joseph Halley gave them all a stern look. "Enough watching the monkeys flying around. Get with your partners and practice what I taught you yesterday. You'll go over defense exercises over and over again till it's ingrained into your tiny skulls, understand?" A collective 'yes sir' roared through the air, as the class divided into practiced pairs of two.
Winter, year 1004 AH
To Become Knights
Weather forecast: Snow flurry. The fluffy snowflakes fell slowly from the skies, taking their good time dancing around in the air before disappearing on the ground. It wasn't cold enough for the snow to accumulate, but it made for a pretty sight. If it wasn't 7 in the morning. Out on the training grounds, a young class of soon-to-be-knights stood in a row, prim and proper. They awaited their battling instructor with much patience. Some more than others. "Why..." a yawn escaped the lips of a small, blonde girl, and she automatically held her hand to her mouth. "... do we have to get here so early, when the instructor isn't even on time? It's so cold!" Katrin complained, rubbing her hands together to keep them warm. Isabelle stood next to her, but said nothing. They weren't exactly friends, but more... acquaintances. Isabelle figured, she wasn't talking to her anyway, so replying would be unnecessary.
It was a special day today, and the students at Gallace Academy could certainly tell. Usually the air would be filled with the sound of swords clanging against each other, but today was a bit different. "No, no, no, the banner goes over there, I tell you, over there! I swear all you servants are daft!" The class watched as a small, bald man ordered servants around. He wasn't even a teacher at Gallace Academy, no, he was more of a... party planner. And everyone knew, he had waited all year for this day - the day of the annual Masquerade Ball. It was always held two moons before christmas during christmas break where the city had plenty of visitors. Maybe they came for the party, maybe they had business here, but one thing was for certain: The party was quite the spectacle and deserving of the buzzing and fuzzing.
"Ahem." A stoic-looking, middle-aged man cleared his throat. Immediately the class focused on their instructor. Sir Joseph Halley gave them all a stern look. "Enough watching the monkeys flying around. Get with your partners and practice what I taught you yesterday. You'll go over defense exercises over and over again till it's ingrained into your tiny skulls, understand?" A collective 'yes sir' roared through the air, as the class divided into practiced pairs of two.
Elle Joyner
Fracturer of Fairytales
It wasn't like Brien... to be excited for anything so uncharacteristically frivolous. It was just another ball. She'd been to so many by now it felt as common as cleaning her sword at the end of the evening. Yet for some reason - perhaps because this had been a particularly harsh training period, perhaps because winter was sweeping in and brought with it a certain monotony... perhaps simply because she had spent so much time engaging in her Squirely duties it might actually be a welcome change, wearing a dress.
Regardless, it was on her mind, the Masque... and with her thoughts bisected it was all she could do to pay any attention during their morning studies. Graciously, the instructors seemed to have anticipated a lack of focus and the vast majority of their lessons were somewhat watered down versions of the usual thing. Sparring was a little something of a joke - Even Brien, who was top of her class had difficulty keeping her head and by the afternoon, Joseph was so immensely frustrated that he opted to end their exercises early and sent them all away.
After she'd helped to put away the equipment, Brien left the field and quickened her pace, catching up to Katrin, catching the blonde by the wrist.
"I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I'm quite glad for the respite. It's a terrible distraction, it is... this ball. Have you got your dress finished? I can't believe I just asked you that. This is mortifying. If I weren't aware it's ridiculous, I'd suspect I were under a spell..."
Regardless, it was on her mind, the Masque... and with her thoughts bisected it was all she could do to pay any attention during their morning studies. Graciously, the instructors seemed to have anticipated a lack of focus and the vast majority of their lessons were somewhat watered down versions of the usual thing. Sparring was a little something of a joke - Even Brien, who was top of her class had difficulty keeping her head and by the afternoon, Joseph was so immensely frustrated that he opted to end their exercises early and sent them all away.
After she'd helped to put away the equipment, Brien left the field and quickened her pace, catching up to Katrin, catching the blonde by the wrist.
"I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I'm quite glad for the respite. It's a terrible distraction, it is... this ball. Have you got your dress finished? I can't believe I just asked you that. This is mortifying. If I weren't aware it's ridiculous, I'd suspect I were under a spell..."
khuyen
poot poot
The class had ended, and Isabelle put away the wooden-swords, they were currently practicing with. Two girls from her class walked besides her, making small-talk. The topic was of course the evening ball, and Isabelle was sick of hearing about it. All they talked about was what jewelry to wear, which nobles to dance with, it was all so... expensive. Though when they asked her about her dress, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement. Her family couldn't afford the luxuries many of the kids at Gallace had, but the dress she was going to wear tonight was something entirely else.
"Ladies! Pardon our intrusion, we've come to whisk away the fair maiden." Two males, both with blonde curls and a cheeky smile, positioned themselves on each of Isabelle's sides. Nathaniel gave the girls a wink, sending them off giggling and swaying their hips dramatically with the hopes of catching the eyes of a certain charmeur. Isabelle rolled her eyes. "Have you not classes to attend, or did you miss me that bad?" She grinned at her two friends, letting her eyes rest on Kaspar. Of course, he didn't. Her eyes scanned his frame, noting the package in his hands. The sister. "She's over there, I think." She waved in a direction, but before she knew it, they had both grabbed her arms, dragging her towards the blonde female, who resembled them oh so much.
On the other side of the courtyard, Katrin had finished cleaning up her gear. She wiped off the small beads of sweat on her forehead. Her legs were sore, having been continously jabbed by her training partner. She hadn't blocked the attacks well enough. I can do better. "...terrible distraction, it is..." Katrin spun around at the sound of her best friend, and she hugged the slightly taller girl and made a whining noise. "Why are you not my sparring partner, Bri-bear! It's not fair, I'm stuck with Martha, she's over 6" tall!" She hushed her voice and pulled away to look around for Martha. The girl was nice, but huge. and strong. Suddenly a hand placed itself on her shoulder, and she screamed, jumping back. "S-sorry, Martha, I didn't mean an-.. Oh, it's just you."
Kaspar grinned, pulling his little sister into a bones-crushing hug. "Martha? Is that my new identity?" He laughed, and let Katrin go, before turning to Brien with a huge grin. "Hey, Bri."
"Ladies! Pardon our intrusion, we've come to whisk away the fair maiden." Two males, both with blonde curls and a cheeky smile, positioned themselves on each of Isabelle's sides. Nathaniel gave the girls a wink, sending them off giggling and swaying their hips dramatically with the hopes of catching the eyes of a certain charmeur. Isabelle rolled her eyes. "Have you not classes to attend, or did you miss me that bad?" She grinned at her two friends, letting her eyes rest on Kaspar. Of course, he didn't. Her eyes scanned his frame, noting the package in his hands. The sister. "She's over there, I think." She waved in a direction, but before she knew it, they had both grabbed her arms, dragging her towards the blonde female, who resembled them oh so much.
On the other side of the courtyard, Katrin had finished cleaning up her gear. She wiped off the small beads of sweat on her forehead. Her legs were sore, having been continously jabbed by her training partner. She hadn't blocked the attacks well enough. I can do better. "...terrible distraction, it is..." Katrin spun around at the sound of her best friend, and she hugged the slightly taller girl and made a whining noise. "Why are you not my sparring partner, Bri-bear! It's not fair, I'm stuck with Martha, she's over 6" tall!" She hushed her voice and pulled away to look around for Martha. The girl was nice, but huge. and strong. Suddenly a hand placed itself on her shoulder, and she screamed, jumping back. "S-sorry, Martha, I didn't mean an-.. Oh, it's just you."
Kaspar grinned, pulling his little sister into a bones-crushing hug. "Martha? Is that my new identity?" He laughed, and let Katrin go, before turning to Brien with a huge grin. "Hey, Bri."
Elle Joyner
Fracturer of Fairytales
Making a face at the abhorrent nickname, Brien shook her head, "What makes you think I'd go any easier on you, Kitty. Just be glad you're not paired up against Ginnifer. If she had any less grace, she'd be in the stables. Besides, you won't learn anything sparring against someone you could beat. Out there in the real world, in a real war... you'll find far tougher opponents that Martha. But if you want me to give you some pointers, we could always work together in the practice fields during our spare time. Not today, of course... I imagine today will be largely spent on getting ready for the Masque."
As the footsteps approach, Brien turned round, chuckling at the site of the blonde duo, so close in appearance they could have been twins. "Oh gracious, Kaspar. I'm not sure you could quite measure up to Martha's level of intimidation. Though if I'm not mistaken, you've gotten taller. By this rate, you'll tower over all of us by the end of the year. And hello." She smiled, "Kitty and I were just discussing our last training class. Miserable, if you ask me. Everyone is so preoccupied with this ball tonight. Ginnifer hit me three times in the knee, and nearly clipped my ear off. And we weren't practicing strikes. I'd be lying, if I said I wasn't excited, myself... but I'll be glad when it's over."
Looking to the brothers, she smiled, "What about you? You'll be there, right?"
As the footsteps approach, Brien turned round, chuckling at the site of the blonde duo, so close in appearance they could have been twins. "Oh gracious, Kaspar. I'm not sure you could quite measure up to Martha's level of intimidation. Though if I'm not mistaken, you've gotten taller. By this rate, you'll tower over all of us by the end of the year. And hello." She smiled, "Kitty and I were just discussing our last training class. Miserable, if you ask me. Everyone is so preoccupied with this ball tonight. Ginnifer hit me three times in the knee, and nearly clipped my ear off. And we weren't practicing strikes. I'd be lying, if I said I wasn't excited, myself... but I'll be glad when it's over."
Looking to the brothers, she smiled, "What about you? You'll be there, right?"
khuyen
poot poot
The group of five formed a small conversational circle almost naturally. Nathaniel eyed his sister, smirking at her and nodded his head towards their brother. Katrin caught the look and glanced towards Kaspar, as he smiled at their childhood friend. He never noticed it himself, but whenever Brien was around, he would always stand next to her. It was unconscious, almost like a moth drawn towards a light, and in his eyes, a light she was. "Taller? Perhaps that is so! I do believe, you are not as intimidating to me as when we were little" Kaspar laughed, patting Brien's head lightly, referring back to the time when she was indeed taller than him. He was quite the scrawny, little kid.
Katrin stood with a smirk gracing her lips, watching the two interact. Or really, she was watching her beloved brother make a fool out of himself. She wasn't the only one watching them. "Did you not have a package to deliver, Kaspar?" Isabelle spoke up, barely able to keep quiet anymore. It was hard. Watching him be like so... foolish for a girl who barely acknowledged him as a man. Not like she did.
"Oh-, yes, it slipped my mind! The Masque, currently on everyone's lips." Before Kaspar could finish speaking, Katrin snatched the parcel he held, shaking it, feeling it, guessing its contents. "Is this from mama? It is, isn't it! Splendid. Now my crisis for the day is averted, thank you! Oh, I must try this on right now..." She embraced both her brothers and gave them a peck on the cheek, before quickly excusing herself and running off with her parcel.
"Of course, we'll be there! Who would want to miss out on all these beautiful maidens dressed to the nines, and ready to sink their claws into an unsuspecting noble man? It sounds utterly amusing, and we are not ones to decline such an opportunity." Nathaniel gave Kaspar a mischievous look, which the blond easily returned. "Plus, I'm dying to see you in your dress as well, Bri..."
Katrin stood with a smirk gracing her lips, watching the two interact. Or really, she was watching her beloved brother make a fool out of himself. She wasn't the only one watching them. "Did you not have a package to deliver, Kaspar?" Isabelle spoke up, barely able to keep quiet anymore. It was hard. Watching him be like so... foolish for a girl who barely acknowledged him as a man. Not like she did.
"Oh-, yes, it slipped my mind! The Masque, currently on everyone's lips." Before Kaspar could finish speaking, Katrin snatched the parcel he held, shaking it, feeling it, guessing its contents. "Is this from mama? It is, isn't it! Splendid. Now my crisis for the day is averted, thank you! Oh, I must try this on right now..." She embraced both her brothers and gave them a peck on the cheek, before quickly excusing herself and running off with her parcel.
"Of course, we'll be there! Who would want to miss out on all these beautiful maidens dressed to the nines, and ready to sink their claws into an unsuspecting noble man? It sounds utterly amusing, and we are not ones to decline such an opportunity." Nathaniel gave Kaspar a mischievous look, which the blond easily returned. "Plus, I'm dying to see you in your dress as well, Bri..."
Elle Joyner
Fracturer of Fairytales
Brien chuckled as well, shaking her head, "So long as I'm always just a bit intimidating, I suppose we're alright." She made a face as he patted her head, swatting his hand away, "I won't exactly be much of an impressive knight, if I'm not intimidating, at all."
As Isabelle interrupted, Brien looked up to see Kaspar handing the package to his sister and she smiled, recalling her own that had arrived earlier in the week. Her mother had sent it, sparing no expense to ensure Brien looked as stunning as was humanly possible. Her mother was determined as always to keep Brien at least somewhat delicate and ladylike.
Watching Katrin go, Brien looked back to the brothers and grinned, "Unsuspecting noble men, you say?... Have they invited another Academy to come to the Masque, then? I see only silly boys eager for skirt chasing." Prodding Nathaniel's arm she gestured in the direction Katrin had disappeared, "...But if it's a dress you want, I'd better go prepare. I'll see you gentlemen tonight."
Nodding, she gave a wave before, with hurried steps, following after the blonde.
As Isabelle interrupted, Brien looked up to see Kaspar handing the package to his sister and she smiled, recalling her own that had arrived earlier in the week. Her mother had sent it, sparing no expense to ensure Brien looked as stunning as was humanly possible. Her mother was determined as always to keep Brien at least somewhat delicate and ladylike.
Watching Katrin go, Brien looked back to the brothers and grinned, "Unsuspecting noble men, you say?... Have they invited another Academy to come to the Masque, then? I see only silly boys eager for skirt chasing." Prodding Nathaniel's arm she gestured in the direction Katrin had disappeared, "...But if it's a dress you want, I'd better go prepare. I'll see you gentlemen tonight."
Nodding, she gave a wave before, with hurried steps, following after the blonde.
khuyen
poot poot
The group of 5 had slowly turned to a trio, and Nathaniel, Kaspar and Isabelle watched Katrin scurry along, quickly followed by Brien. Kaspar had desperately wanted to continue chit-chatting, after all, they had not met for a day or two. But, alas, he had found himself at a loss of words, leaving it to his brother to fill his silence. A wistful sigh escaped his lips. "I did it again, didn't I... How is it, I can speak to you with ease, but with her, my tongue is tied and fumbly and..." He turned to Isabelle with words that meant no harm. Harm they did though. Isabelle clenched her fists at her side, contemplating whether or not a punch would be justified. Instead she decided to turn on her heels and storm off, leaving a sympathetic Nathaniel and a confused Kaspar. "... Was it something I said?"
Pre-Masque
Day of the Masque, late afternoon.
"This is too much hassle for a single night, I tell you..." Katrin stood in front of the mirror, putting on a pair of earrings. She turned her head to the left and to the right, before giving herself a smile. Quickly that smile turned upside down, as she took off the earrings in exchange for yet another pair. "I'm famished! But eating is out of the question, it took me far too long to fit into this ridiculous dress." Her hands smoothed down her waist-line, her fingers trailing the corset underneath the fabric. It was painful, but she nodded to herself in the mirror, deciding it could be no other way.
Giving the accessories a break, she sat on her bunk-bed in their cot. They shared housings with several others, but luckily, they were all out getting ready elsewhere. "I do hope there are thousands of handsome men joining the festivities tonight!" She flopped down on the bed with a wistful sigh.
Pre-Masque
Day of the Masque, late afternoon.
"This is too much hassle for a single night, I tell you..." Katrin stood in front of the mirror, putting on a pair of earrings. She turned her head to the left and to the right, before giving herself a smile. Quickly that smile turned upside down, as she took off the earrings in exchange for yet another pair. "I'm famished! But eating is out of the question, it took me far too long to fit into this ridiculous dress." Her hands smoothed down her waist-line, her fingers trailing the corset underneath the fabric. It was painful, but she nodded to herself in the mirror, deciding it could be no other way.
Giving the accessories a break, she sat on her bunk-bed in their cot. They shared housings with several others, but luckily, they were all out getting ready elsewhere. "I do hope there are thousands of handsome men joining the festivities tonight!" She flopped down on the bed with a wistful sigh.
Elle Joyner
Fracturer of Fairytales
The dress was white, full skirts pouring out from a corset slung tight on her narrow waist, a low cut neckline swinging out into sleeves which draped down off her shoulders, leaving them bare. The details were intricately set in lace and pearls, which mirrored the mask she would eventually tie on with a satin ribbon. She'd left her hair down, long tendrils curling to the base of her spine and one her feet were soft satin slippers, her hands, lace gloves.
Looking to Katrin, Brien shook her head, "...I'm sure there will be plenty of men there, Kitty... but do be careful in remembering whatever frivolity tonight holds, these are fellow squires. You'll want to avoid anything too potentially awkward..."
