Roughly 5 years Ago - Beaumont’s Estate
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Entertained by Atlas’ playful personality, she only giggled at his remarks for the his family’s performances. With the correct manner of such coyness and mystique, she made sure to act entertained that corresponded to his body language and current behavior, “Such intrigue! You truly know how to keep a woman in her toes. I’m truly dying on your family’s arrangements.”
To Celestine’s ears she had perfectly executed manners to make sure that her guests were entertained and kept comforted by words that they needed to hear. She felt a sense of pride, a giddy feeling that she had successfully applied lessons her mother had shoved in her head. All the years of social etiquette and manners had played well enough for her, and lost in the thought of her perfectly played out actions she had played, she simply nodded to Atlas’ remarks and looked back at the platform as she spaced back out to lessons to scan what other scenarios that may happen and its rationale actions. With Atlas spotting his family, she looked back at him as she responded, “That is true, I still do wonder what they’re next set will be…” With a slight pause, she reminisced something that happened quite similar to a performance in the same platform, “You know, a few years back, there was a family invited to play on some performances just like your family did, and what they gave was spectacular. During the middle of the performance, it was as if they played alongside Bach himself! I heard of a method they mentioned, Pepper’s Ghost, but who knows they might also used their illusionary abilites to enhance it. Not to discard anything, just a memory I recalled a few years back.”
What was once a steady application of her etiquette skills faltered with just a view of her looks and failing to compromise to save face. Her shame was obvious as she had lost the color of her cheeks, shocked and lost in the thought of failing something so simple and concise. If someone were to see this, especially someone of great influence, she would be stomped to submission and be hidden in future gatherings. Her train of thought lost in the thoughts of ‘what ifs’ and ‘what should I have done’. Atlas, trying to comfort with his laugh did not solace her. That look of worry soon mixed in with her annoyance, she thought to herself, of course he won’t know, not like he knows the world I live in. The more he spoke of his failure to see what is wrong with her felt a hard stab that irked her, her expression darkened as she looked at him silently, I looked as if I have seen a ghost! I lack the pigment to event strive this vibrancy of pink, even worse with hair noticeable to the crowd! Thank god the lighting here isn’t strong! It would seem that she had calmed down as he asked what she would’ve worn at the event, had it been her choice. Better. She sighed and looked back at the platform, pointing at the blue paintings around the walls, “Well, have you ever wondered the cobalt-crafted decor, the murals ever so painted in blue, the florals consisting of delphiniums? Well, this is called The Blue Palace. Used to be a different estate, this one. A place owned by a duke, but he was proud enough to bet on this estate during a gamble. Knowing you step on our ground, you surely know the ending. Once this estate became a blank canvas, my father broke a piece of china with the most beautifully painted depictions of Ancient China. That cobalt hue became an inspiration for its decor, thanks to my father. And before you say anything, yes, I was supposed to wear a blue gown. Though it was cornflower, than cobalt, I may add.”
That disastrous moment passed, and she found herself in a much more comfortable position than she was before. She wasn’t thinking about the heavy etiquette nor her appearances, but rather just talking life as if she was talking to a familiar friend. She still does feel that she had shared far too much for her liking, but had simply let go as to not make any sort of scene that could be worthy of a spectacle. Sharing her experiences, she was left surprised at what he had said. With a small curve in her mouth, she reassured him, “I know, it was… not the best place I was in. Thinking about it, I had the most exposure due to being… a favorite. Thank the heavens that the people I met could never actually hurt a child, but a figure always said to me that this is practice. Even they have had the same experience as me, once a young flower learning to dance the deadliest dance until they can perform it in their sleep.” She paused, with the waiter serving drinks. With a look, she pulled a silver hairpin as she dipped the liquid, the metal turned black and she spilled it across the marble floor, she smiled back at him, “But I urge you to find beauty in this estate, this isn’t my whole life, just a spackle of it. Like I said, if you pity me, you pity all of the guests here, and not all of them are worthy of your trust. Besides, parties are faux pas, people prefer tea parties. Manageable, set in the morning.”
With Atlas’ curiosity piqued at her quip on a scheme, she simply giggled. Another waiter passed by, with another set of drinks. This time served on a pewter plate underneath. Grabbing the drink, she found an empty note and jotted down 135JH as she placed the drink back on the plate. With a gentle nod, she excitedly went closer to him as she whispered, “You will see, just not at this time. The night is still young, after all.”
In the momentary passing, as intermission came to a close with the struck of a bell, she knew she had to go away for a while. It was nauseating to be in a place where you could be stuck in any move you make. And with her making a request to Atlas, she gleefully took his hand and went outside the ballroom. Not one word uttered by her as she looked left and right to see the hallways, checking for landmarks to see the desired location. After a while, she let go of Atlas’ hand as she went closer to a statuette and turned it 35 degrees. A secret door. A shortcut. Making sure no one saw the scene, she quickly directed Atlas to go inside. It was slightly dark, but you could make out the scenes happening around them. Arguing, planning, kissing, and fighting were surrounding them until it went silent. They went out of the secret door, and found themselves near some stairs. Going up, it seems as though they went back to square 1, but it was all just hallways. Until they turned to a corridor and opened a door, she sighed in relief, “Finally! This is my room, a little frilly for my taste, but it is where I can wind up a bit. We could’ve just went normally through the stairs but… I wanted to show off that door, and also there might be people that would’ve misinterpret of why you went to my room.”
It was a frilly room, all decorated in powder blue. Spacious and wide, it could feel comforting or lonely depending on how she feels. This time, it was nice to have someone who she can talk for a while, away from prying eyes. She pointed the blue dress on her bed on her initial outfit, as she went near the dresser to touch up on her makeup. But the most excited part she wanted to show off was her extensive vintage vinyl collection, alongside a cute heart shaped record player. The Chiffons, how about Tonight I Met An Angel? With a giddy walk, she played the record and sat down to a chair, “So, whattaya think? I know its a little too girly, but I think you already know that by how I style my hair. And you know, I always wanna share my music but… mother says I don’t really have the taste of a teenager so… can’t relate!” She paused, looking a bit guilty as she remebered his look from before, “Y’know, I apologize for pullin’ you here. I just… don’t like going there for a while. And if you’re worried in not seeing your parents performing, they’re not like the only ones playing. Promise! There are others and they’re not really stellar, just the same old acrobats and choreographed dancing. If I know my mother, she invited your mother to unwind and stay a while, with one comment away from pulling each other’s hair.”
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@idiot.exe - Atlas Theodore Alstone