Great!!! I'll do Tarava's next part, then :)

^Tarava^

Once they were back inside, Tarava glanced at Rulkan again. What had he meant by that question, she wondered. Did he, perhaps, suspect that she was supporting the Resistance? The very thought made her feel cold.

"Oh, there's - !" she exclaimed suddenly, glancing at random at someone in the room. "I haven't seen her in ages! Rulkan - you will excuse me? I'm so sorry, but - "

"Don't let me detain you," Rulkan said with a charming smile - so charming that Tarava had to wonder how she could really suspect him of suspecting her. "Thank you for this walk."

She returned his smile (how could she have done anything else?) and slipped away. She went over to the center of the room. Of course, she hadn't seen anyone particular she knew - she had only wanted to get away from Rulkan. Glancing swiftly over her shoulder, she saw that he was already talking with someone on the other side of the room; once she had taken a few steps more he had completely vanished from sight among the throngs of Nobyls.

Tarava went over to where a slender, pretty girl looking like a high-ranking Nobyl was standing, talking to a person Tarava vaguely recognized as - someone from the pur Derefoni family? She wasn't quite sure, and she certainly didn't recognize the girl. Surely she had never seen her in the balls and parties she tended to frequent. But the girl looked interesting, and also Tarava sensed rather than saw a flicker of infinite boredom in her dark eyes.

Tarava came over to join them. "Greetings," she said with a quick, friendly smile to both of them. "I don't believe I know you?"

-Arietis-

A tall, brown-haired girl a little older than Arietis approached them. She looked interesting — far more interesting than Blayr, at any rate, and Arietis vaguely recognized the girl as a member of the pur Lamour family — a family in favor of Catastrophe. As long as she doesn't suspect Arietis of being against Catastrophe, she'd be a valuable asset, Arietis reasoned.

"Greetings," she said, smiling. "I don't believe I know you?" Her dark blue eyes glimmered in a way that didn't seem unkind, exactly, but that gave Arietis the impression she was hiding something. 

"Greetings," replied Blayr. "I'm Blayr pur Derefoni. It's a pleasure to meet you." Some distance away, another Nobyl waved for Blayr to join their discussion. "Oh, will you excuse me?" Arietis and the pur Lamour girl gestured that it was fine for Blayr to join the other Nobyls. Arietis was relieved; Blayr was, admittedly, quite boring, and besides — the pur Lamour family would be much more important to have on the side of the Resistance.

Arietis turned to the girl. "I'm Arietis pur Venori. And I'm sorry, but I never got your name?"

^Tarava^

Arietis pur Venori. Tarava remembered well the stories of the pur Venori who had sympathized with the Resistance... but the girl was asking what her name was. "Oh, of course," she said gaily, masking her feelings as she so often did. "I'm Tarava pur Lamour. I - don't believe I've seen you often? Your dress is exquisite, by the way," she added so as not to seem too inquiring, "who's your dressmaker?"

Something warned her Don't do this, Tarava. And she knew very well why she shouldn't: if Rulkan - if anybody, for that matter - saw her talking with the daughter of a Nobyl not exactly in the best of Catastrophe's books, the consequences just might be dangerous, because of the truth behind her conversation with Arietis. She wanted to know if this girl was following in her father's footsteps, or if she was just another of these gay, silly Nobyls. Somehow, looking at her, Tarava was quite sure she wasn't.

And she needed to know more about the pur Venori with the shadowy past before she could cut the conversation short.

-Arietis-

Arietis wasn't used to doubting herself. Not even when her father was captured at the Winter Masquerade, all those years ago, and her world turned upside-down. Not even when a maid working at the pur Venori Estate had killed Evin, and she lost her mentor, her friend. Not even when her father died and she was left to manage the Estate and his large fortune alone. But now, she was completely unsure of herself. Every word she said felt risky — one wrong move, and everyone would know she was working against Catastrophe. 

"I - don't believe I've seen you often?" said Tarava (because that, Arietis had learned, was her name). "Your dress is exquisite, by the way. Who's your dressmaker?" 

Again, Arietis felt that overwhelming sensation of self-doubt, of uncertainty. She hoped it didn't show on her face. What was safe to say?

Arietis did her best to push her worries to the back of her mind as she smiled softly. "Oh, I haven't really attended any parties since my father passed away. I've been busy managing the Estate and everything..." Arietis flapped a hand dismissively, waving off that fact. She didn't want Tarava feeling sorry for her. "Why thank you! Your dress is beautiful as well. My dressmaker is—" Arietis stopped abruptly; her dressmaker, Ola Astaret, was a member of the Resistance. But perhaps...perhaps Tarava wouldn't recognize that name. After all, Ms. Astaret rarely went on missions anymore. Tarava was looking at Arietis quizzically, and Arietis knew she had to say something to avoid suspicion. "Ah, pardon me," she said, smiling brightly. "My dressmaker is Ola Astaret, I meant to say...."

She trailed off, immediately regretting her response. But there was no taking her words back.

^Tarava^

Tarava noticed a flicker - just a flicker - of unease in Arietis' eyes. Unease at a party... that was something Tarava was used to, but that most Nobyls surely never had. A party was somewhere to talk and laugh and have fun, and gossip and stand about in groups, and sample the food that was always absolutely perfect.

Of course, it could be just that Arietis didn't like parties or didn't feel completely at home among the elite circles, she reminded herself as the girl spoke of her father and the way she had been looking after her estate. It must have been hard for her, after all - her father passing away, and she left to manage a home that had belonged before to a Nobyl who most Nobyls frowned upon. Yet Arietis seemed calm and full of the lightness common to these occassions, and she seemed too to be poised and sure of herself.

"Why, thank you!" she said in response to Tarava's remark about her dress. "Your dress is beautiful as well. My dressmaker is - "

She paused suddenly. Tarava, glancing at her, saw that she was staring fixedly into the distance, as if she were thinking furiously and didn't want anyone to know that she was. Tarava waited. She was sure now that there was something to do with Arietis that Arietis didn't want commonly known. Something - oddly enough - to do with dressmakers. If it was something to do with the Resistance--

Arietis looked back at her, smiling hastily. "Ah, pardon me," she said. "My dressmaker is Ola Astaret, I meant to say."

Tarava's first reaction was, For all you love, Arietis, don't say that here. Anyone could hear. Her second reaction, quite calm, was the thought, Then she is connected to the Resistance. She knew of Ms. Astaret; Kalam had told her about the dignified, old woman who had done so much for Kyngdom, and once she had seen her, though not to speak to. She recalled the image of the little, white-haired woman, who somehow had the air of a great lady; her gaze had been quiet and dignified and full of power. "Oh, Ms. Astaret!" she exclaimed lightly to Arietis, but softly so that no one would hear. "Her dresses - are exceptional." Her first impulse was to invite Arietis to somewhere more private, where they could talk far more easily; but Arietis might suspect her of a trap, and besides there might be spies anywhere in Lord Helion's palace - put there, of course, by Lord Helion himself. Perhaps they were actually safer here. But somehow she had to convey to Arietis, and to no one else, that she herself was part of the Resistance. "This dress was made by her," she added quietly.

ack, sorry for the late response! ://

-Arietis-

When Arietis mentioned the dressmaker's name, a complicated emotion flickered across Tarava's face. Arietis tried to figure out what it meant - and what that meant for Arietis - but then Tarava spoke, with all the ease and gaiety of a Nobyl accustomed to parties like this. But there was a note of caution in her tone and in her body language that Arietis just barely picked up on - the slight drop in her volume, the darting of her eyes she made sure no one was within earshot. It was so expertly done, however, that her behavior was hardly recognizable as anything out of the ordinary - her lowered voice could be attributed to a piece of gossip she wanted to keep just between the two of them, and her darting eyes could be because she was trying to catch someone's gaze from across the room. Arietis figured she only noticed the behavior because she knew to look for it, because she was so on edge that she was analyzing the behavior of others so that she could tell who was an ally and who was an enemy.

"Oh, Ms. Astaret! Her dresses - are exceptional." 

Tarava paused for a moment, but in those few seconds, Arietis's mind raced - could she trust Tarava? Was Tarava a spy for the Resistance, and could she help Arietis? Or had Arietis just revealed herself to one of Catastrophe's followers?

But then, Tarava said, her quiet voice barely audible over the chatter and clinking of glasses that surrounded them, "This dress was made by her."

So she was a Resistance spy, then! Arietis tried not to be too pleased with herself, but then again, she had managed to locate another spy, and that was quite a feat. Not that it was anything too difficult for Arietis to handle, of course...

But there was a little nagging voice at the back of her mind; what if Tarava's lying? What if she actually is working for Catastrophe, and you're falling right into her trap? Arietis twisted her ring back and forth on her finger; a nervous habit. She needed more information before she could fully trust Tarava.

"Oh, yes, I certainly recognize her craftsmanship now," Arietis exclaimed, doing her best to mirror Tarava's low tone and cautious behavior. "Tell me, how - how long have you been purchasing dresses from her?" Hopefully Tarava would understand the question Arietis was really asking, How long have you been a part of the Resistance? Arietis really wasn't sure how else to ask it if she didn't want to be too obvious. 

Arietis was beginning to think that perhaps she was not as good at all this spy stuff as she had originally thought.

Hi! I wonder if someone could explain to me how they would percieve a certain Blue-Banded Fox wriggling their way in to this story, or if they have any suggestions for a new RP thread based upon a woodland story I have in mind? If it doesn't seem like a fox could be part of this area of story, does anyone know where one could be? Thanks and I'm like REALLY excited to be apart of Kyngdom. ;P 

P.S. pangolin, can Janney maybe be a Nobyl, but doesn't know it? I think I'll do a charrie form in the Who's Here thread for her, and possibly Johnny, but I'll wait until I hear from you. :) Which Nobyl's do you think are the one for Janney and Johnny? (They could have different names if they don't fit... just saying)

Don't worry about taking a while! @Genivieve, I'm not sure how well a Blue-Banded Fox would fit into this story unless it was a Nobyl (though there might be a way), and a woodland story RP sounds wonderful :)

^Tarava^

There was a pause after Tarava said that. She glanced at Arietis; the girl was looking at her, then glancing out at the Nobyls, fiddling with the ring she wore on her finger. An odd-looking ring, Tarava thought, casting a look at it; just a slim circlet, but looking oddly as if it might - be hiding things. Like Arietis. She was pretty and normal, but not quite normal, not quite right. Hiding secrets.

Tarava smiled a little. It was an odd time to be thinking about rings, she admitted to herself; but there were a few things that made it really the best thing to be thinking about. First, she knew that it was usually best to be thinking about unimportant things when you were in a possibly dangerous position, just in case; and for another thing, everything about Arietis was interesting to Tarava for what it might reveal.

Why was she even trusting Arietis, Tarava wondered, because she certainly was trusting Arietis. Perhaps because of her father's position; perhaps because she just didn't look and didn't seem like a spy. All in all, there was only the slightest grounds for thinking she could be a spy.

The few seconds passed, and Arietis seemed to have come to a decision about what to say. "Oh, yes, I certainly recognize her craftsmanship by now," she exclaimed, slightly more quietly than she could have. "Tell me, how - how long have you been purchasing dresses from her?"

How long have you been purchasing dresses from her. Tarava hesitated. Such an innocent question, a bright smile going with it. But the simplest of things had hidden meanings sometimes. Tarava looked carefully at Arietis. What would Arietis be asking in this situation?

However long Tarava had been purchasing the dresses, the longer she would have known Ms. Astaret, and the longer she had known Ms. Astaret, the longer she would have been part of the Resistance. Tarava smiled. A very daintily posed question, she decided, but one that was perfectly suited for its purpose.

"For a very long time," she responded quietly. "Ever since I found out what a wonderful woman she is." What a wonderful cause she's working for. Since I found out that Catastrophe was a tyrant and nothing more...

OKAY. *heaves a big sigh* I have decided to make Aurelia and Aurelius nobyls... except Aurelia doesn't know and (since he's been working with B.I.G.) Aurelius has done some digging about his past and found out about him and Aurelia. I did a charrie sheet for both of them already, but I think it would be fitting to do a Nobyl charrie sheet here for them... and start a little story with them! :D Anyways, super excited (still) to be here and chatting with you guys!

~~~~~~~ 

Name: Aurelia

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 18 to 19 years

Appearance: Short blond hair, freckles, bright blue eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses, slender figure, pale skin; usually wear a lavender dress and grey leather boots;

Personality: Sweet, kind, thoughtful, funny, energetic, serious as needed, darring and playful;

Strengths/weaknesses: Creating cool stuff, singing, sympathizing, and encouraging others/cannot resist and animal in need, her fear of heights, always a little late, and she's short-sighted;

Home: Cottage in the Mythical Forest, Morrows;

Which Nobyl family is he/she from? You can invent your own branch of the Nobyls: pur Betei (pronounced 'Bet-tay'; it's a long lost nobyl name I made up)

Background: She and her twin brother, Aurelius, were found on a riverbank by an old woman who went by the name Ms. Whipple. She took them under her wing, nourished them, and gave them both names: Aurelia and Aurelius, which both mean golden. (Because they are both blond). When they were fourteen, Ms. Whipple told them about how she found them and told them that she was having to give them to an organization called the Brazen Inquiry Guild, and that they would be just fine. The twins were sent to the Brazen Inquiry Guild, or B.I.G., for special training, but Aurelia found a cypher and almost went back to show Aurelius, except, a small fox kit was crying out and turns out the cypher was on. Aurelia took the fox kit in and helped her get strong. Then Aurelia began to experiment. A blue bird told Aurelia that she needed to hand her the cypher or come with her to help the F.A.F.A. make things right. Aurelia realized that she was in the wrong gig. She took the fox kit, (whom she named Genivieve) and ran to F.A.F.A. and is currently an engineer.

~~~~

Name: Aurelius

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 18 to 19 years

Appearance: Blond buzz cut, grey blue eyes, freckles, lean muscular figure, pale skin; usually wears dark blue or green jacket with blue jeans, sometimes wears cowboy boots, but most times wears something like sneakers;

Personality: perverse, struggles to fit in with the other B.I.G. agents, tries to be cruel and unfeeling like them but can't help feeling like he doesn't belong;

Strengths/weaknesses: hunting, fishing, collecting stuff, spying and eavesdropping/can't say the right thing at the right time, always is losing important things, and can't sing;

Home: A house/apartment in B.I.G. area;

Which Nobyl family is he/she from? You can invent your own branch of the Nobyls: pur Betei

Background: He and his twin sister, Aurelia, were found on a river bank by an old woman who went by Ms. Whipple. She took them under her wing, nourished them, and gave them both names: Aurelius and Aurelia, which both mean golden. When they were fourteen, Ms. Whipple told them about how she found them and told them that she was having to give them to an organization called the Brazen Inquiry Guild, and that they would be just fine. The twins were sent to the Brazen Inquiry Guild, or B.I.G., for special training, and Aurelius tried hard and became the top of his class, while Aurelia was more worried about a fox kit than her grades. One day, Aurelia went missing. Not a single track or trail to lead anyone to her. Aurelius went on and didn't finish in the best of the best, (mainly because he was distracted by the mysterious disappearance of Aurelia), and went to be an scout agent with an man named Seth Bronsé. He is currently still a scout agent.

~~~~~

If, by any chance, you would like to read Genivieve's charrie sheet, it's on the Who's here thread. And, if you would like to know, the Woodland RP has been created. 

@Genivieve, I checked out Aurelia's and Aurelius's character sheets; they both sound cool! And I'll definitely check out your Woodland RP :) 

-Arietis-

Tarava was quiet for a few moments after Arietis posed her question, but those few moments were enough for Arietis to worry about whether the question was clear enough, whether Tarava understood what she was trying to ask. Once again, she felt that twinge of self-doubt, which was becoming more and more familiar (though not more welcomed). 

But then Tarava spoke, her voice quiet. "For a very long time. Ever since I found out what a wonderful woman she is."

Arietis took a couple of seconds to mull over Tarava's response. For a very long time - well, that part was fairly straight-forward. Ever since I found out what a wonderful woman she is... If Tarava thought Ms. Astaret was a wonderful woman, then she must have thought the cause Ms. Astaret was working for - that cause being, of course, the Resistance - was wonderful as well. And that would mean she was opposed to Catastrophe...

"A wonderful woman, indeed," Arietis responded softly. Then, cautiously, she added, "I haven't been purchasing from her very long myself. My - my father bought some of his garments from her, though I didn't. But after he-" Arietis caught herself. Talking about her father's death was still painful, and besides, she didn't want Tarava pitying her. "-ah, well, I thought that she could benefit from another customer. Do you know if it's true that she doesn't get as many customers as she used to?" My father worked for the Resistance, but after he died, I figured the Resistance could use another member. Is it true that there aren't as many members of the Resistance as there used to be?