the goddess among men

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Vita was an enigma. He could usually make out the package people wrapped themselves up in. Enough, at least, to be able to find an edge and TUG just hard enough to unravel them. But there was something about Vita; something about the way she spoke, even when she doused her words with a pretty flirtation, that told him if he ripped an edge it would only tear off and regrow stronger. It was unnerving, to say the least.

He looked over at her, admiring the complexion that being a blood healer brought her. She looked plastic, almost. Entirely free of flaw, not a scar or a blemish in sight. He caught himself staring, but made no move to turn his head. He was fascinated, and his finger absently tugged at his left ear, where a chunk of it was missing. His very own reminder of what purpose he’d served at the Choke. “Surely you’ve had suitors lining up just begging for a go on the ferris wheel with you all night, Lady Blonos,” he grinned back, the charm coming easy. He wanted to sigh aloud when she praised his father. He, of course, hadn’t expected anything less, but hearing people applaud his father in any form never managed to DISGUST him less than the time before. “That he has,” he agreed, trying ( and likely failing ) to mask the distaste in his voice. “The King has his reasons for everything, most of which are beyond my rumination,” he added with a chuckle as if it would lessen the truth to the words. He pursed his lips, debating on an answer. Surely there were better ways to spend his evenings than celebrating the birthday of what might as well have been a complete stranger, but it hadn’t been as UNEVENTFUL as he’d expected. “Rather well,” he decided on, unable to mask the hint of shock in his tone. After a beat, he continued the conversation, his voice becoming rather playful as he leaned closer to her, and spoke just above a whisper as if he was sharing some scandal with her. “Tell me, have you tasted this ‘cotton candy’ that I’m hearing so much about, yet?”

Vita had lived long enough that she knew when a man was looking at her. And Domitius was. She did not look back, but his gaze did not appear to be disapproving – might he be admiring her? – and she saved that piece of information to peruse at a later date. And then came the charm, a charm that she admitted she was intrigued by. Vita looked over at him this time, taking a sip of her champagne with her free hand. “I’m afraid I have not, Your Highness,” she murmured, her voice flirtatiously demure. “Shall we make a detour?” she asked him, raising her eyebrow.

So he didn’t like his father? My, that was a plan for the future. Vita inwardly smirked and she inclined her head again. “If I may,” she began, knowing that she did not want to offend him. “I would say that I think that you would waste many good moments ruminating on things that would do you little good in the long run.” She took another sip of her champagne, enjoying the feel of his breath near her ear.

“I’m afraid I have not had that in years, Your Highness,” she murmured. “Is it worth compromising my waistline?” she teased.

Sabina tensed at her description: the rabble. Though she was quite aware her views on the matter differed greatly from the Silver zeitgeist, hearing the sentiment spoken aloud was always uncomfortable. She had never felt that way and had no idea how to relate. How could someone like Emmett be bad just for the color of his blood? How could his kindness and talents be interpreted as anything lesser than? 

“I don’t know,” Sabina countered, delicately, lightly, looking away. “I think it’s been rather nice. Like the books we spoke of: seeing life from another point of view.” Her intention was innocent enough, even if her words might be leaning towards unpopularity. And they had spoken on those books, hadn’t they? Might Vita at least agree with that? “Their perspectives are certainly different, to be sure.”

Vita was not so self-absorbed that she did not notice the tenseness that Sabina displayed. But the redheaded woman was also not someone that necessarily cared about that. She could acknowledge that she needed to cater to the young woman to win her loyalty, but that did not mean completely withholding her own views. Vita took another sip of her champagne and inclined her head as she listened to Sabina talk.

It was nice to see someone have a backbone, especially when that someone knew how to approach the subject in a manner that would not offend. Yes, Vita knew she should cultivate Sabina that much more.

“Another point of view?” she asked, her voice deceptively curious. “I am certain that they could provide another point of view,” she agreed. “But I’m not sure that their point of view would be one on which I could agree.”

Sabina didn’t drink when she could help it, but had seen flutes of the bubbly stuff floating around the square. “I suspect the champagne is being chilled, so it can’t be far from the ice cream cart?” Had she stumbled across Diana or Victoria, she surely would have linked their arms and skipped merrily away, but skipping didn’t appear to be a mode of transport someone like Vita Blonos would ever consider, so Sabina clasped her hands before her and set off at an easy pace. “My colors, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the square so crowded, have you?”

Their pace was not slow, but it was not as quick as Vita usually moved either. She was not used to leisurely walking, for usually the woman walked with a purpose. “I have not,” she agreed with Sabina. “Though I think that the square is crowded mostly because they have allowed the rabble in.” Her lips pursed. “However, I suspect it’s a wonderful way to ensure loyalty.”

“If you’d like,” she continued, urged on by the sincerity she had interpreted (or fabricated), “we might find the ice cream cart and get a scoop or two in a bowl, rather than the dirt. That may be the one treat I haven’t yet tried today.”

Vita did not want ice cream – she much preferred to drink champagne – but she did not want to offend the other woman either. Normally she wouldn’t care. The redhead nodded. “I would prefer to get more champagne,” she said regally. “But I will, of course, walk with you.”  

Most of him doubted it; the Blonos siblings had always seemed to be uninterested in royalty. He remembered Aurelian commenting, or rather, joyously laughing, about the fact that Aeneas and Circe had overshot when they’d gotten pregnant, successfully leaving Vita out of the running for Queenstrial. Domitius thought, however, that if Vita wanted the crown something as silly as Queenstrial wouldn’t stop her.

His charm had preceded him, but Vita had never expected it to affect her. But she was still a woman. So she smiled at him while simultaneously reminding herself that he probably meant little to nothing that he said. “I am now,” she replied, a slight flirtation in her voice, if only to put him at ease [for, really, she had no idea how much he knew or thought he knew about her]. “It has been lovely so far. Your father has truly outdone himself. I’m not sure how I feel about interacting with the lessers, but it’s not my place to question the King.” She looked over at him. “And how are you enjoying it?”

He wondered if she knew the real reason behind the event, how intend her mind was with the surroundings and the people. “Indeed, I’m enjoying it the best I can. What about yourself? I’m sure you’ve been having your fair share of fun and plenty of company.”

“I actually haven’t had a great deal of company yet,” she murmured as she looked over at him, her voice kind and her smile gracious. “Which makes me appreciate yours all the more.” She tilted her head and pushed her hair back behind her hear. “How have you been?”

He’d kept to walking through the crowds and simply keeping an eye on everyone and everything, making sure no one would cause any trouble. The last thing anyone needed was trouble caused at the carnival. It was while walking that he’d spotted someone familiar, impossible to miss. Aetius reached out to Vita, to touch her elbow. “Miss Blonos?”

“How many times must I tell you to call me Vita?” she teased him, her voice melodic. She needed to be nice to him, would always need to treat him in such a way that he would defend her to anyone. She raised an eyebrow. She hoped he understood she was merely teasing him. “How are you doing, Lord Osanos?” she asked as she took another sip of her champagne, her lips still smiling. “Are you enjoying the carnival?”

Another smile. “I would appreciate the company.” There wasn’t much else he could say. It would be rude to back out, to say he only wanted the champagne and nothing more. Instead he kept his smile plastered to his face and refused to drop it until he was no longer in her presence. He followed her lead, shortening his strides so he didn’t get ahead of her. “Have you been enjoying the carnival?”

She was sure he would appreciate her company. Or perhaps he wouldn’t. Vita didn’t exactly care enough to think about it. She nodded at his question as he followed her. “I have been,” she responded. Lie. “But I’ve had little company so far.” She smiled. “It’s better now.”

“I hope I didn’t startle you, but you were moments away from stepping into a puddle of ice cream.” She pointed down at the melting mess just inches from Vita’s hem and brushed some hair behind her ear upon returning her attention upwards. “It’s such a lovely dress, it would be a shame to dirty it.” While Sabina didn’t mind messy, dirty, sticky, rumpled, or just about anything else, others from the palace seemed to care quite a lot and she was quite happy to help in any small way she could.

Sabina had startled her. But Vita was not going to give the other woman the satisfaction of knowing that bit of information and she merely gave Sabina a soft smile, lips curving upwards as her fingernails dug into her palms. “Thank you,” she muttered. “It is a dress that took quite a long time to perfect.” She inclined her head rather regally and looked down at the ice cream in her path. Vita picked up her skirts and walked around it. “I appreciate your help,” she said to Sabina, a slight tinge of sincerity in her voice.

To say the smell of champagne piqued his interest would be an understatement. The fact that he could smell it through all the grease said enough about how badly he wanted it. He wasn’t looking to get drunk in public, but a sip of something might settle the edge of this party. His nose led him straight to Vita Blonos, an unfortunate occurrence, but one he would deal with as he had the rest of the day. He gently touched her elbow to get her attention, placing a polite smile on his face as he bowed his head. “Lady Blonos. I was wondering if you could tell me where you got that champagne. It looks satisfying.”

“General Macanthos,” she replied, her voice soft as she smiled softly. It didn’t quite meet her eyes, but as she didn’t meet his own, she didn’t think he would notice. “We took classes together. I remember you when you were just a boy. You are perfectly free to call me by my first name.” And as to his question…

“Of course I can,” she said. “In fact, I can take you?” she asked him, not bothering to wait for an answer before she began speaking, trusting him to either keep up or go without the champagne it appeared he wanted. It was a selfish endeavor, as she finished her own drink rather quickly. 

Somehow, the curtsy that Vita dipped into seemed odd, as if it was meant to be an out of place threat. Her eyes held the mask of an apology, but there was none of the sincerity to back it. He’d always thought Minerva to be an odd one, as so many in the court did, and he wondered now how much of it was product growing up with a sister such as this.

Domitius dipped his head politely. “That’s quite alright, Lady Blonos. Perhaps..” he paused, trying to figure out where the line was between poking a snake, and willing it to attack, or simply checking to see if it was still slumbering peacefully. “Perhaps you’d like to walk with me? To find them? I’m sure they’d both be pleased to see you.” He held his arm out, expectant. Who should turn down a prince’s offer to spend time with them?

It was almost as if she could see Aeneas looking at her, a bit of pride in his eyes that she’d not seen, being unmarried at her age. Vita knew that she would have to acquiesce, would need to walk along with the young prince - and quite a pretentious one at that. She supposed, if she thought about it, that at least others would be watching her. 

Vita hadn’t expected on spending any part of this carnival near the royal family, hadn’t expected to have to hide her thoughts even more than usual behind her eyes. “Oh, you must call me Vita,” she murmured as she took his arm, red nails lightly resting near the crook of his elbow. “But I accept your gracious invitation, your highness.” She held her head high, already noting a few disappointed stares. 

“I apologize, Your Highness,” she replied, voice deferential. Her father would have her head if she spoke to the prince the way she spoke to so many others. “I’m afraid I have not seen Princess Helene for at least an hour. And when I did, she was rather surrounded by many, including my younger sister.” Her eyes were apologetic, though the sincerity was lacking. “Is there anything else I could help you with?” She took another sip of her champagne.