[Closed] Warm Hearths and Winter Plans

[Muse]

22nd of Achtus, 2716
SIORDANTI HOME, outside of VIENDA | EVENING

The winter's first snows had already dusted Anaxas with a pale blanket, and Vienda was no exception. The country roads were, of course, kept as carefully clear as possible so that important galdori who chose to live just outside of the beautiful capitol's walls could still make it into the fair city for important business. The Siordanti Estate was said to be well over two centuries old, purposefully moved out of the city walls to enjoy the verdant landscape and give the pedigreed family more room to enjoy the leisure they deserved. Hadrian hadn't appreciated the wild, rolling land his great, great, great grandfather had chosen when he was a child, for he'd always found the city a fascinating place. The woods that his own children had grown up laughing and playing in hadn't interested him, but he'd come to begrudgingly enjoy it all anyway, as one did with age and time.

"You promise me this Mister Ainu is not arriving as a suitor, Iralia, that our daughter is bringing him into our home for."

"Hadrian, darling, surely you would know. You do remember the young man, don't you?"

"Do you know how many eager youths I meet in a season? Norellie will certainly eventually attract such attention."

"Now, that's enough. Too many." She teased, reaching slim fingers to arrange the man's cravat into a much more pleasing arrangement, "All wanting you to pass on your experience and wisdom. Surely, you have some to spare?"

"Naturally." The Incumbent frowned at his wife but there was humor in the edge of his deep baritone, at the way the lithe Bastian smiled at him before she disappeared toward the dining room to check on how everything was being arranged for the small but intimate dinner she was obviously more excited about than her husband. She missed having her family in the house, it was true, for as their children grew, they became less and less interested in returning to their home over their various breaks from Brunnhold (and, well, at least one of them hadn't been welcome at home for years, though whether or not Iralia entirely agreed with such a decision had never been heard out loud).

It was easy enough to arrive at the sprawling, old-style estate house, stretched wide and two stories tall. Servants would be waiting for their guests to usher them in from the winter cold and take their coats, and while the Siordantis had invited a few of their close friends for a little winter gathering, it was obvious Hadrian was more anxious about his own family than his other guests.

Not an imposing man so much as a broad-shouldered one, Hadrian's dark tailored suit was a bold statement, contrasting rich jewel tones with his pale, freckled skin and sharp, light eyes. He settled comfortably into his study, close as it was to the foyer and convenient to greeting his guests. Glancing back down at his notes, spread as they were on his desk, the Incumbent reminded himself of his guests—Magister Castor Devlin and his lovely wife, Elena; his daughter, of course; this young Palis; and their neighbors, Durham and Thalia Greensbough. A pleasant enough winter meal, to be sure.

Hopefully not too lively, but, then again, Hadrian never knew what to expect from the Magister, especially.

[Norellie Siordanti]

🙞 Siordanti Estate / outside of Vienda

on the 22nd of achtus, 2716, during the evening.

Norellie sat at the vanity in her dorm room at Brunnhold. The scent of fragrant firewood, filled the walls of her room as she burned a fire to keep the cold, winter air at bay. She brushed her long, orange curls as she looked out the frosted window at the light falling snowflakes coming from the gray sky.

It was winter break, but she had decided to stay on the campus for a few extra days until tonight. Tonight was the night her parents were hosting a dinner party. It would be small - only a few family friends, but a party nonetheless, and Norellie was excited for it. It was a chance for her to dress up and show off her outfit to other people.

The fashion-forward young woman stood up from her seat and placed her ornate hair brush gently down on the vanity before slipping on her heels and heading outside. Outside, a servant stood by a carriage, waiting to escort the Siordanti daughter to the family estate in Vienda. He took her hand as she stepped up into the carriage and took a seat. “Thank you,” she would say to the driver and be returned with a nod.

The carriage ride to her home was never too long, especially after taking it many times. For Norellie, it had become quite relaxing. She enjoyed the scenery as they made their way through the streets of Brunnhold and exiting the city walls of Vienda to the surrounding woods. It wouldn’t be long until they would see the grand estate that housed her parents and the memories of her own childhood.

The carriage would stop in front of the stairs up to the large double doors. A servant would once again help the young galdori step out of the carriage, holding her hand gently. Norellie smiled as she walked up the steps and through the door, stopping a moment to allow the servants in assisting her in taking off her winter coat.

“I’m home!” she would yell throughout the house, her voice echoing off the walls. As she stepped further into the foyer, she would spot her father standing with a smile on his face and his arms open to her. Her smile widened in return as she quickly walked over to him and hugged him. “Father, I missed you!”

“As I have missed you, my little Ellie.”

Norellie’s smile stayed on her face as she stepped back to speak to her father. “Where is Mother?”

“I believe your mother is checking on dinner in the dining room.”

Norellie would nod and begin to head into the dining room.

🙝

[Palis Ainu]

The Siordanti Estate, Vienda | 22 Achtus, 2716

---

Palis felt small in the carriage his father had rented for him. The inside of the carriage was dark and tight and drafty, letting bits of snow board the carriage through the gap under the ill-fitting door and step on his black winter boots. Yet, he barely noticed the cold that nuzzled under his gloves and pinched his cheeks into spotty red hue. He clasped and unclasped hands, nervous as he tried to keep himself from sliding around on the bouncing wood carriage seat. He was in his own head, running through every possible conversation he could have tonight.

The truth was, as much as Palis wished to be, he had not been invited by Hadrian Siordanti, his political hero. This disheartened him, sure, but he had told his father that he had indeed gotten a direct invitation from the man to plan future political dealings so that his father would not make him pay for the carriage out of his own meager pocket. His father had seemed- well, Palis was not quite sure. Perhaps it was a pride that had lit into the elder Ainu's eyes, opening his mouth in a slightly idiotic way and raising his eyebrows amusedly and whispering questions that weren't laced with rolling eyes, but, whatever it was, he knew he would have to report back to Kilapu with some success on the night for it to continue.

He had been invited by Norellie, the youngest Siordanti just a few years his junior, though, it was certainly more his own begging for an invitation than her choice. He did not know her well, but needed a way to speak with Hadrian again, so, the younger red-headed girl seemed the best way in- and, as Palis had explained the political value, he was impressed with her impressive prowess for the world of politics and gain despite her young age. He hoped she would prove to be an ally and maybe a friend should the night go well.

The carriage stopped quite abruptly, and Palis was nearly thrown into the center of the black box. Yet, with many a rented carriage ride under his belt, he had braced himself for the impact, but he had forgotten to prepare himself for the way the start would set his simmering nerves to a boil in his stomach. He wiped the fog from his window and his mind, peering outside at the estate. A few others he did not know were entering, and Palis felt some relief- he would not be central to this night, but a mere friend. Straightening his grey coat, Palis got out, ensured that the driver would return for him later in the evening with an extra coin, and strode to the door of the large estate, blonde head craned back to view the many windows that looked back. He nodded to the servant at the door, introducing himself and shedding his coat, before entering the wonderfully snowless corridor in an amethyst blue vest and smart charcoal trousers.

Palis nodded and smiled at every servant he passed, attempting to identify the other galdori who had entered the house before him. One of them he recognized, though only as a Magister- yet, only as a Magister only made Palis feel much more nervous. He tried to smile, to relax, but it only made him look more nervous- the boy's rosacea had spread into a hot flush of his entire face, and, as he looked around, he wondered if it would be rude to go melt in an empty sitting room before introducing himself.

Yet, Palis had already been spotted by Siordanti who lingered in the Foyer, chatting with the Magister and a lovely woman Palis assumed to be his wife. Hadrian smiled politely, and Palis stiffly walked forward, bowing slightly.

"Incumbent Siordanti- I- you may not remember me, but it is good to see you again," Palis greeted the man, adding, "Thank you for inviting me into your home." He straightened up, searching the man's face for any sign of how Palis was doing.

"I will admit that you are but a familiar face, Mr. Ainu, but I hope tonight we can leave knowing each other better," the man answered with nod. Palis nodded back with a slight smile, though, he was foolishly wounded by the statement. Of course Hadrian had so many others to meet, of course he would not just remember Palis from one moment of meeting but, still, Palis was disheartened. He let the smallest disappointed sigh leave his lips then replaced it with a curious smile, letting himself be ushered with the others into the dining room. He hoped Norellie would show herself soon because, though she was little more than a stranger to him, he would at least not have to feel alone as a foolish schoolboy among important professionals.