[Palais d'Améthiste] Tea Time For Political Women [Alicia, Private]

[Esmé Xind'ell]

First Cycle of Imperos, Season of Autumn
Era XVI, Post Fractum

The purple-haired Trelorean had woken early that brightening, she was eager to get ready and the Palais ready for her most esteemed guest, Alicia Elsdragon. This woman was a powerful political figure through out the entire Kingdom, currently serving as Lady Vicerine, and Esmé had had the honor of working side by side with this woman to help Jaedaxia. But she was yet to connect to her on a personal level, and Esmé hoped that this brightening would rectify that.

Esmé was well into her eleventh month of pregnancy, so over half way, and as such she was starting to show. Every so often she could feel her baby kicking in her womb with his or her tiny little feet. Every kick brought a smile to her face, even the ones that caused her to wince. But as such, Esmé did not dress in her usual, slightly provocative dresses that were at the height of Jaedaxian fashion. This brightening, she was a simple but tasteful midnight blue dress decorated in silver embroidery at the hems. It was cinched at the waist with a bow, so the fabric showed off her growing pregnancy, something she wished to show all of the world now.

A room had been prepared off to the side of the Palais, a room that had large windows that let in copious amounts of the beautiful autumn sunslight. A table was set up with a white, linen table cloth, carefully woven. The room was decorated with an abundance of flowers of all colors, and the floor was made out of a beautiful cherry-colored wood and covered in thick, richly colored rugs. It was Esmé's favorite room in the Palais to sit and relax, and it was perfect for conversation.

All that the youthful Quel'anthasan could do at the moment, however, was wait for the arrival of her most esteemed guest.

[Alicia Elsdragon]

Alicia arrived, exactly on time as always. The young Syl'rosyan elf arrived at the Palais, wrapped in a warm winter cloak against the elements. When she arrived, she removed the cloak to reveal a black and deep crimson red dress, tightly belted and with a long thick skirt against the cold. Soft black boots and a red woolen shawl completed the outfit and Alicia thanked the person who took her cloak and gloves and then made her way to the room that she was shown to.

When she was shown in, Alicia stepped in and smiled a warm smile at Esme. She was pleased to see Esme, who seemed to be someone who was very loyal to Jaedaxia. That was very important to the Lady Vicereine, and she was glad to get the opportunity to spend a little time talking and chatting and generally getting to know each other. After all, she reasoned, they would be working together in the future and good relations could only be a positive thing from this point onwards.

So, Alicia smiled a warm smile as she caught sight of Esme.

"Bonjour!" she said, with a friendly expression "THank you so much for your invitation! How are you?" she asked, waiting to sit down until offered, of course, and ensuring that Esme was the one very firmly in charge. There was a pecking order to such things, and Alicia was very careful to always follow the social niceities of the situation.

[Esmé Xind'ell]

OoCSo sorry for the delays, real life has been hectic beyond belief, if you can no longer participate in this thread, please let me know and I will drop it!

Alicia was greeted by an elven maid with sleek blonde hair, charming green eyes, and a delicately carved visage. The maid was dressed beautifully in an elegantly cut black and white uniform; recognizing Alicia immediately, she curtsied and greeted the woman in Jaedaxienne, "Bonjour Lady Vicerine, Her Grace is waiting for you. May I take your coat?" After the coat was properly put away, the maid led Alicia into the room where Esmé was waiting for her!

Esmé's amethystine eyes shot up as soon as the door opened, and she stood quickly and crossed the room to her guest, a broad smile painted on her blue lips. Speaking in Common, Esmé greeted Alicia in warm tones, "Bonjour Lady Elsdragon! I am so glad zhat you could make eet! Please, please 'ave a seat!" Esmé motioned behind her to a quaint table placed by the window set with two chairs and place settings.

After Alicia was comfortably seated, Esmé sat herself and called over the maid, and asked, in rapid fire Jaedaxienne that she bring a pot of tea and some food. "Lady Elsdragon, vould you vant anyzzing in particular? Some vine, per'aps, or some coffee?" Once Alicia said what she wanted, the maid left to go gather what her mistress requested of her.

While they waited, Esmé turned her attention back to Alicia, "So, I eenvited, as I mentioned in my letter, you to come 'ave some tea avec moi because ve 'ave vorked togezzer so much yet ve know each other very little on a personal level! Our 'usbands are both getting along, so I vould really like to know you more." Esmé smiled warmly, "So, 'ow are you doing? Are you enjoying zee veather? Carmelya must be pleased vith us, finally!"

[Alicia Elsdragon]

ooc and apologies right back at you - I'm sorry for the craziness that i the delays in posting! But if you're happy to continue the thread, so am I! I'm enjoying the chance to get to know Esme!

Alicia was polite and friendly to the maid and she asked, softly, if she could have a cup of coffee when she was offered a drink. As the made left to gather together what was required, Alicia smiled at Esme. "It is most un-Elven to drink coffee, I know, but Milo has introduced me to the stuff, and I find that I really quite enjoy it. My husband despairs, but there you go, what can be done?" she smiled

Then she listened to Esme's question and she smiled a gentle and honest smile "Your Grace, I can tell you most honestly that I would be delighted to get to know you better. Politics can be a very isolating experience and there are few enough friends to be made in it - and I would welcome a friend, that much I know."

She wondered just how to respond to esme's question of how she was doing and she smiled a genuine and open smile. "I am doing well, and thank all the Gods for the warmer weather!" she said, a genuine smile lighting up her face.

"Tell me, Your Grace, how fares your pregnancy? How long have you to go?" she asked, with interest on her face.

[Esmé Xind'ell]

Coffee was brought out on a silver tray full with little pots of sugars and cream for Alicia to use at her pleasure as well as a pot holding more lest the Lady Elsdragon wished to have more coffee than one cup. Esmé smiled at the coffee, "I am not zee most elven voman, I am afraid. My step-father vas 'uman so eet goes vithout saying zhat I 'ave been fairly influenced by 'umans." Esmé smiled, to her it meant nothing and only made her more comfortable with more cultures. It was good to branch out.

"I must insist, zhough, zhat you please call me just Esmé in informal settings like zhis, I asked you 'ere on a purely social call after all." Esmé took a sip of her tea, savoring the taste. Now it was an entirely informal setting, Esmé would love to discuss Alicia's political career if the conversation went that direction. Women in politics were always inspiring for her, and there was always so much one could learn from someone with as much experience in the field as Alicia.

"Oui! I zhank Carmelya every brightening for zhis fantastic veather ve are having, and pray zhat zee coming vinter ees nozzing like zee last one." A dark cloud seemed to pass before her face as she reflected on all that Jaedaxia had lost because of the winter. Another sip of tea, the warmth melted the look of consternation from her blue-tinged face.

If anyone had ever thought they had seen Esmé smile brightly before, it would pale in comparison to the smile that crossed her face at the mention of her pregnancy. Esmé truly wanted to be a mother, and nothing could make her happier, "I am just over one era een my pregnancy, so only one more to go! I 'ave to say zhat I am fairing vell, and am quite comfortable. Of course some brightenings are more uncomfortable zhan ozzers, but I vould not trade zhis experience for anyzzing." Esmé blushed as she realized she had been gushing on about her own pregnancy with no regard for Alicia's family, "Do you and Lord Elsdragon 'ave any children?"

[Alicia Elsdragon]

ooc so so sorry for delays! Hope that it's ok to carry this on!

Alicia smiled her thanks at not only the coffee, but the thougtfullness of its presentation and preparation. Every possibility had been accounted for, and Alicia appreciated such things ~ they were important for women in their positions, there was no doubting that.

Ah, she thought to herself, the pregnancy is something that Esme is pleased with, happy about. Alicia smiled and listened to Esme with a genuine expression of pleasure. "Esme" she said, and her face was obviously honest as she spoke "I can think of no greater experience than what you are experiencing at the moment. I adored being pregnant and would love to hear all your stories! I...." on the subject of her and Keldon having children, she shook her head, slightly "THings are slightly more complicated than that" she said with a wry smile

"I have twins, one boy and one girl, from a previous relationship. Keldon and I.... well, we've just... I am ... I have just discovered that I am pregnant, also" she said, with a soft smile "But this is not something that we have shared with people yet. We.. it is very early brightenings."

She smiled "My babies are four, nearly five eras old, and I find myself with another on the way. I am happy, more happy than I can tell you and I am glad to have someone, another woman to share that with." she said, softly.

"So, one era in?" she asked, and wracked her brains thinking of how thigns were for her at that point "I remember that I had dreadfully swollen ankles, but I felt full of energy and hope and enthusiasm" she said, softly "How are you feeling?"

[Esmé Xind'ell]

OoCNo worries! Alicia is like Esmé's only friend! We can continue here or just assume we are friends and do a new thread in current time! Your choice :)

Esmé was one who was naturally inclined to smiles; she never found herself forcing her lips to spread unnaturally into a fake smile, though. They just came to her like rainbows after a rainstorm: natural and beautiful. But at Alicia's news her face erupted into a vibrant smile! Alicia was to be a mother too, again that is! "Oh, Alicia! Zhat ees the best news I 'ave 'eard! 'ow exciting! Even better, my child vill 'ave a friend..." Her lips formed a silent 'o' shape, "Assuming zhat ees okay, of course!"

Alicia's family was not as straightforward as she had imagined, but it was a family all the same. "Twins, hm? 'ow are they? Ees zhis age particularly difficult for you? I am a twin, you know, fraternal. My brozzer's name ees Etienne, but 'e just recently moved to Secyclion. 'e 'as an adventurous side, and I zhink zhat zee only grandchildren my mozzer vill be getting vill be my own." Esmé shrugged with a smile. You cannot pick your family and she loved Etienne all the same.

Esmé delicately brought the teacup to her lips and took a tiny sip before replacing it, "I cannot vait to start my family. I do not know eef ve vill 'ave more children, but I 'ope so. I so adore children, non? I am alright, zee mornings vere rough for awhile but zhat 'as calmed down a bit. Mostly, I find myself more exhausted zhan usual." Esmé smiled, that was just the way it was, "I am lucky, Riconus is patient vith me, for I imagine I 'ave been a bit trying on 'im." She laughed softly.

"But 'ow are you? 'ow do you feel?" Esmé beamed, redirecting the flow of conversation onto her guest, "And tell me, 'ave you lived een Jaedaxia your entire life? Where are you from?"