Lady Like

[Leona Stevvains]

The mansion was nothing short of elegant. Perfectly sculpted, marble tiles lined the floor in a green and blue checkered pattern which brought eyes directly to the ground. The long table was covered with a spotless white cloth and on top of that crystalline wine glasses and perfectly polished silverware laid dormant. The dining room was quite large, easily big enough for the nobles to hold their banquets without concern of no sitting room. Several elves stood at the ready by each of the doors, similar dirtless cloths draped over their arms as they stood at the ready.

Leona Stevvains walked down the long table, every so often moving her hand down and shifting a slightly out of place salad fork into it's proper spot. Her gaze shifted to the door closest to her, the one that lead directly into the entrance of Valam Manor, and no doubt where most of her guests would come in through. In the time Leona spent with her lovely little Arcana, she began to realize how unreformed most of the women in the group seemed to be. Normally, such things were of minor concern to the prophet, but in the grand scheme of things, knowing how to carry one's self proper would provide more benefits in the long run to these girls as well as to the Tarot Hierarchy itself.

She picked up a glass and examined it closely, one eye squinted to make sure she would not miss a single speck. The doors behind her creaked with a wide moan as a long, crimson haired elf walked in from the library of the noble's house. He stood six feet tall, with icy blue eyes and pale, female-like features that could fool anyone as to his gender with a passing glance. Leona smiled at this elf and approached him. The taller creature wrapped his arms around the girl in an embrace and Leona melted into the gesture. His body was warm despite the cool metal of his body armor hidden underneath his green coat.

"It's good to see you again, Leona," Lord Valam spoke, his voice gentle, just deep enough to not sound like a woman, "I wish you would visit us more often. I worry you know."

"I know Daddy," Leona said as she broke their hold, "I've just been busy lately. I've been trying to find people and help them better themselves. It's all for the greater good, you know?" She smiled and kept her posture straight. Lord Siekfried Valam was an elf who valued proper etiquette above all else. That was why Leona chose him over all the other elves on the High Bard Council, he would be the one most likely to take in a young human girl in his care, so long as she carried herself like a noble lady should. His family welcomes a teenage Leona with open arms, and she made sure to repay the favor in kind by showing her respects as much as possible. "How are Gatz and Mother?"

"They are doing well," the head of the Valam House replied, "They are running some errands for a bit, but hopefully you and your friends can stay a little while after you finish your task here. I would love to meet some of the people you have assocated yourself with as of late."

Leona shifted her shoulders and pursed her lips. "My friends are...a bit eccentric, Daddy. I'm not sure if you'll like them. The primary reason we're here is so I can teach them as you guys taught me. I have a feeling it's going to be a little more difficult than I anticipate, and I can see the future."

They both laughed as she spoke, a shared expression of joy that was quickly cut off by the ring of a doorbell. Siekfried looked to his progeny who merely nodded in reply to the unasked question. "That is probably at least one of them now."

((Closed to all the ladies of the Tarot, and maybe some guys depending on how things go.))

[Taste of Treason]

I was irritated to say the least. The damned heels made my legs feel like jello and the party dress only barely covered the curves I didn't have. It took me a good five minutes of staring stupidly at the doorway to realize that there was a sign posted that clearly stated "Ring Bell." Another five passed before I realized that in absence of an actual bell, I was supposed to press my finger firmly against a strange button just below the sign.

If this was being a lady, I'd be better off a street rat for the rest of my life. The house was immense. It could easily have housed the lower half of Radasanth in a pinch, and yet from what I knew only Leona's family resided inside. The perfectly manicured lawn sprawled on for what seemed like an eternity, and certainly felt it when one walked the path in shoes that could have been torture devices.

The door opened and a large woman who smelled strongly of magnolias stood before me. She smiled politely and held out a hand to take my coat. I wasn't quite sure I wanted to get that comfortable and stood awkwardly for a moment. I finally decided a quick escape would be impossible in these shoes anyway and shrugged off the light jacket.

I followed her into a formal entryway, doing my best to keep my eyes from all the finery less she think me a thief. My footsteps echoed with each step.

"Lady Leona is waiting in the dining room." The woman spoke softly. "Can I get anything for you?"

I shook my head silently and glanced at the doorway. "Do you think there's any way I'm getting out of this?"

She smiled, genuinely this time. "I don't have to see the future to know that there's no chance of that."

And so, I put one foot in front of the other and accepted my 'fate'.

[Star Strike]

Stella braced herself behind Vincent as he "rang the bell". As it chimed she thought about the bell sounded like Vincent trying to imitate astéri, the language of the stars. Grinning the star mimics the bell's chime, much to Vincent's amusement and the maid's surprise.

"Oh! Uh..." The round woman was quite unsure of how to react to Stella. "Hello dear, sir." She greets, opening the door and extending her hand toward Vincent to take his coat.

"Are you also here to visit Lady Leona? She is waiting in the dining room." The woman states leading the way.

"Thank you." Vincent smiles.

When they arrive at the dining room Stella gracefully runs, almost float to Leona before the poor woman could ask if she could get anything for the two of them.

The star's dress isn't fancy or anything, simple but flowing. Where Stella's dress lacked in flair her hair made up for it in tenth fold. The ashe blonde hair was half pulled up in a bun with two combs and four hair pins while the other half hung loosely down her back.

"Leona, listen." Stella grins as she mimics the door chime again. "It's Vincent when he tries to talk like me."

"Stella." Vincent growled to which Stella just giggled in her whimsical tongue.