forum Hear me out, anyone up for a Selection based rp? (10/14 spots taken)

Started March 01, 2019 by @gracehustle

tune

Sonia shrugged. “No idea. Must be in the list of ‘top ten things girls can’t do.’”

Jade shuddered. "That list would be stupid."

“And I would break every single rule on there,” Sonia said with a shrug.

"I - sorry, I just hate it that there are things that girls aren't 'supposed' to do," Beatrice said, a bit louder. This had always been a sensitive subject.

“I agree completely with you, sister,” Sonia said with a laugh.

Lillian nodded her head in agreement, "I'm with you, breaking female stereotypes types sense an undisclosed date."

Talin sat silently and listened to the conversation, taking notes in his head about what each of the girls liked and so on since he couldn’t contribute to the conversation. This was where his mother was better with the girls than he was.

Zaera wanted to speak out and interject hersekf into the conversation, but remembered how the public veiwed her. If she was to speak her mind now, who knows what could happen if she got eliminated and had to return home. Instead she tried to push her opinion on the issue subtly, "Of course, though some girls can't help the role they're forced into and others choose their place. You shouldn't think ill of them for doing that."

Lillian smilled warmly, "You're absolutely right My dear absolutely correct." The girl who had spoken reminded the queen of a young girl in her own selection… She snapped back to the present, "Well Girls it's been a lovely evening, But I do believe Lonn has a meeting in 15 minutes across the castle that he has forgotten about and he's about to be late to and I need to attend to personal manners, Talin has fencing exercises he's about to miss as well and I think that's one class he would mind missing." Her eye's twinkled slightly when she added the last line, "And I believe you girls haven't properly met your maids, they'll be waiting for you in your rooms when you arrive, please they're here to help you don't hesitate to ask them any questions. As for my self I'll be spending much of my time with you girls in the parlor. you are here learning how to take over my job so might as well go help oversee that."

Beatrice flushed, though she was excited. She had heard that the palace's maids were lovely, though with her luck, her maid would think she was an idiot, just like she assumed everyone else did. "T-thank you, Your Highness," she said quietly, not even sure if the queen could hear her. Had she gotten that right? She remembered that the queen had told her what the proper titles were, she just couldn't remember which was which. But of course she couldn't, she was an idiot. She started humming, something she did when she was anxious.

Lillian smiled warmly at Beatrice and mouthed "Majesty" at her, she was trying the poor girl had made it through the entire dinner with out fainting. The queen and King rose from there seats and walked to the exit hands intertwined, Lilian leaned into his side as they walked, they parted 14 minutes later outside of the kings war counsel room. The king gave her a quick kiss, Lillian straightened his suit and the king entered the room leaving Lillian in the hall way. She turned back around and wandered her way back to her rooms where she changed into a lose fitting shirt and a pair of jeans she slipped on an elvish stile crown and quietly slipped out of the castle to the stables were her beautiful black mare was waiting all saddled up ready for a ride. Lillian hoisted herself up into the saddle abandoning the lady like side saddle sit for the usual practical way. Selected or not she was still just Lillian the stable masters daughter She could hear the girls of the court whisper in her mind, Lillian gripped the rains, "Heck ya I am." She said out loud before riding her horse Gwendolyn out of the stable and across the wide open grass field that lay between her and the maintained forest within the castles walls.

Talin sighed and glanced at the girls one last time, bowing to them before heading out the door. He promptly dropped the royal act one he was out of he dining hall and rushed to -and up- the stairs, he definitely didn’t want to miss the one lesson he actually enjoyed. Taking the stairs two at a time, he made it to his room, quickly changing into a plain shirt and black pants before making his way back down to the gardens. Talin knew they would be practicing outside, they had more space and if anyone wanted to watch it was easier.

Jade got up from her chair too. She didn't know if she was actually allowed to leave, but since all the royals were gone it couldn't really hurt if she left, could it? She nodded with a smile to some of the girls before quickly leaving the room. She headed back up to her room, changing into her usual outfit; loose military pants and a black tank top. Since she wasn't allowed to leave, she could as well look around the castle a bit.

Zaera figured it might be best to acquaint herself with the other contestants. At least those that were still in the dining hall. She gave them all a smile and wave, "Hello. I'm Zaera. It's a pleasure to meet you all."

Beatrice gave her a soft smile in return. "I'm Beatrice," she replied softly.

"Nice to meet you Beatrice," Zaera looked at the wheelchair the girl was sitting on, "Can I ask why you are sitting in a wheelchair? You don't have to answer."

Beatrice blushed, looking away in embarrassment. "I, um. I sort of… fell out of a window? I hurt my ankle, and the q - er, the medics insisted I don't try to walk on it."

"Oh dear," Zaera commented, "Those balconies are quite dangerous. I'm glad nothing's broken."

Beatrice smiled thinly. "The balconies aren't really what's dangerous. I - it's more of me who's a danger to myself," she said thoughtfully.

Sonia wasn’t sure what to do. Should she follow the maids to her room, or see if she could sneak after the Prince, and see where the training rink was. Finally, she sighed and followed the maids to her room before changing into something simple and easy to wear, and heading out to explore.

Talin arrived out in the gardens just in time, his trainer already waiting there impatiently, “Sorry I’m late, can we make this a quick lesson?”
His trainer, a wiry man who obviously knew what he was doing, answered with a sigh, “If you make it good, and beat me in a round, yes.” With that, he tossed a fencing blade towards him along with a mask to protect his face.

Sonia heard voices and moved quietly towards them. Soon, she found herself near the rink. She hid behind a doorway when she noticed that the Prince and an old man were already there. Shit. Would hey notice her? She shrunk into the shadows.

He sighed and put on the protective mask, flicking around the blade for a moment and taking a few steps away from his teacher, “Anything you want me to work on?” He asked.
“Always Prince, there’s always something you can work on.” His teacher put on his mask as well and picked up his own blade, doing a few practice swipes, “Try fixing your technique for when you’re attacking towards someone’s legs, I noticed it wasn’t the best last time.

Tilting her head, Sonia listened. She could learn from this, she realized. Maybe coming here was a good idea, because even if she didn’t get Selected, she could still fight well.

Talin nodded and got into a ready position, waiting for his teacher to make the first move. He held the blade in his right hand as they started, his teacher coming towards him with a quick leap and slashing towards his chest. With that, they were off, the prince focusing on attacking and trying to get a good hit, while his teacher shouted ways he could fix and correct everything from his balance to his attacks while still keeping Talin from getting any hits in.

Focusing too much on getting a hit, Sonia noted. He should try to go for the surprise attack, or a feint. Something the old man wouldn’t expect. Then she blushed. She shouldn’t be correcting his techniques. Maybe he was doing it that way for a reason. And left side defense is a bit weak.

They spared for a few minutes before Talin made his first actual attack. He jumped forward and feigned a swipe for his chest before flicking the blade down towards his legs to try to get a successful hit in. His teacher smiled as he easily blocked the attack to his chest, barely blocking the one to his legs before fighting back against the prince harder, not giving him much time between attacks to get his own attacks in.

Sonia blinked. It was as though he read her mind… kind of. She watched the old man with curious eyes. The way he fought… he was good. Maybe even better than Thomas, which was a strange thought.

“You’re getting better Prince, though you must have another trick up your sleeve,” His teacher said as Talin once again forced an attack though didn’t even get close to getting a hit in.
“Possibly,” He grumbled as he jumped back from his teachers blade and quickly blocked another hit.

Sonia smothered a grin. Was he seriously grumbling while fighting? The Queen has said that he hated this class, but Sonia had thought that she was joking.