[X] 'Tis Time for Tea {to every eligible young lady}

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Character of the Month
Prince Caspian

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Played by Cara

"Cara has managed to...create a character that is both mythical and life-like. Impulsive, moody, and yet kind and good-hearted, Caspian is just beginning to show the makings of a true leader."
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[Shayla Deverell]

A custom had slowly developed among all the prominent young ladies in the Castle and surrounding town. It started out as a simple gathering, but slowly lead into tradition. This tradition continued to be practiced time and time again, and would likely be continued for years to come. It was a simple tradition really, but it slowly became a prominent spot in most of the young Telmarine ladies lives. It was tea time.

Every week these young women would gather and have their tea together. It was, of course, a time of gossip and useless bickering, but also a time for friendship and fun. It was a wonderful way for these ladies to get to know one another, and a great social activity to advance them in society. The activities adjusted from time to time. The girls would discuss books, music, and any sort of recent news they could get their hands on. While the mothers encouraged them to make this a cultured, proper slot in their weekly schedule, the girls didn't always picture it the same.

These so called meetings were open to every girl of the slightest importance in the court, and whomever they should choose to invite. In general, all the eligible young ladies were in attendance nearly every week, and (because the whole event was sponsored by Queen Prunaprismia and held in the castle) everyone's mothers were kept quite happy.

Today was this famed tea day, and so all the young women of the Telmarine court, and all daughters of nearby lords, and any visitor of good connections were joined together in a beautiful room in the castle meant specifically for friendly gatherings. There were couches set about where the women sat, as the tea was not yet served. Chatter swept through the room as everyone waited for any attendees who might still appear.

Shayla Deverell sat towards the edge of the room, though still surrounded by other young women. She said little, but simply watched the conversation about her flow freely. She would have much rather been on her own in the out of doors, reading a lovely story or doing something much more productive than this. For Shayla, these events were nothing more than a bother as she really did not feel close to any of the girls, nor did she care much for their gossip and silly stories.

[Lord Drinian]

The youngest son of Lord Aveleon, Count of Tampas, was not popular with the ladies.

But it was not from a lack of trying. In fact, it was from trying. Jare of Tampas was, without a doubt the most determined flirt at court at present (as most were sent off to war). His determination, if set towards a proper object, might have earned him fame or esteem--had he had the requisite tact to accompany it. But he settled his gaze and ambition upon women. Any woman so long as they were pretty and didn't talk much. He was incorrigible.

It was for this reason that when Miss Lorentine, the daughter of the count of Arven, who had formerly been crossing the room to speak to Miss Deverell, saw Jare peek his head in, she halted her progress and walked in the other direction, engaging in conversation with some of the older ladies and looked back from time to time to see, with no little heartfelt sympathy, that the man had engaged her in conversation.

Did he not know he oughtn't to be here?! The old women began to whisper and Miss Lorentine blushed for Miss Deverell.

~~~~~~

Jare had nothing to do on this particular day. It was so blasted boring, this castle. No men--not that he minded that so much--but not much to do either. Except chase the women around. At times, he almost wished his father had not gotten him a reprieve from the war. Except that Jare had no real interest for fighting or encampment. Both ruined one's clothing.

Not that he particularly dressed well, but, well, the ladies seemed to like it. He was relatively certain that they wouldn't like him coming back bloodied or muddied, despite what they may say to him in a heat of passion. Women were funny like that, exchanging insults like pretty little complements. Fortunately he knew how to read women.

With women on the mind, it was no wonder that when Jare heard women's voices coursing through the halls, he as not a little intrigued and followed the sound. He peered into an open room and his eyes widened. A bizarre--though not unwelcome sight. It seemed all the ladies had congregated for something. He couldn't imagine what it would be, except, perhaps, some particular conversation on knitting. Or whatever they did.

He was of a mind to ask someone, and as a young, pretty lady skirted about to the corner of the room, he saw his opportunity. Only, as he advanced, he saw Miss Lorentine--his quarry of last month--approach. A superb creature in build and title. He hesitated a moment, but Miss Lorentine, in her typical fashion, seemed overcome at the thought of speaking to him and so retreated. Well, this left him with the other one. He'd talk to her for a while, at least. She looked agreeable enough--a little thin--and he didn't know her. Which made him think she must be of the downstairs variation. Oh, yes. He had seen her. Carrying about the young prince. Well, that made things quite clear. He'd be quick about this. Didn't want to be caught speaking with servants for long.

"I beg your pardon, Miss," he intoned smoothly, trying to catch her attention, though he had her quite cornered in such a way that she could not help but look anywhere else.

[Natissa Tescar]

Lady Natissa Tescar was not particularly fond of these weekly teas.  While she enjoyed the presence of young people in general, these crowded functions tended to attract gossip and rivalries among the young ladies of the court. She much preferred the more intimate gatherings hosted in either her room or that of one of her friends.  However, while these teas were targeted towards any eligible young lady -- which Natissa was most certainly not -- they were hosted by the queen herself, and as a lady-in-waiting to her majesty, Natissa had no choice but to attend.  So, attend she did.

She often enjoyed the functions despite herself, as she made the most of the situation by sitting off to the side and chatting with her few friends, or by seeking out any young lady who seemed uncomfortable and alone. Natissa well remembered what it was like to be a young lady, unused to court, knowing no one.  While her introduction and recommendation of such young ladies to others meant little these days, she could at least keep them company for the length of the tea.

At the tea, Natissa began by talking to a few of her friends, but when they started a game of cards, she excused herself, as she wasn’t in the mood for a game right now.  Instead, she wandered around the room, observing the clusters of young ladies, wondering how they could all be so happy and carefree when there was a war going on. Though, to be fair, it was likely that a good number were simply pretending to be lighthearted, for many of them had brothers and fathers off fighting.

Having made her way to the end of the room, Natissa noticed something – or rather, someone – rather unusual for one of these teas: a young lord.  His actions were confident, as though he had no clue that he shouldn’t be here.  When she saw who the young man was, however, her surprise disappeared.  It was Jare of Tampas, whose reputation was known to her even if he personally was not.  Seeing further that the woman he was accosting now was Shayla, one of the queen’s newer and younger ladies, and that Shayla looked quite uncomfortable, Natissa took it on herself to intervene.

“May I help you, Lord Jare?” she asked, as though he had addressed her instead. 

((OOC: Heh, I went to change this to take out where I RPed a bit for Shayla, and found that Melissa had beaten me to it!  I did go ahead and take out a bit more of my post, though, so that it can be set earlier (I had it set no more than a week before our current time, I think).))

[Lord Drinian]

OOC: As we have some more Telmarine ladies -- or at least Shayla back -- I think I'll continue this thread! It's about three weeks before what is currently being played out at the How. . . kind of when people were moving to the Telmarine front. I hope to have Drinian enter in a moment? We need to have Shayla and Drinian at least talk at some point.

IC:
Jare turned around in surprise at the mellifluous, feminine voice addressing him. He was not usually called upon by women, but it was not altogether unpleasant, he decided.

Until he saw that it was a matron. No doubt ruining his game of hunting.

Jare thought for several long moments about what might be said to the woman. "I don't need help," he replied somewhat testily. "I only wondered what all this," here, he vaguely motioned about the room in irritation, "was all about and thought she," he tilted his head towards Miss Deverell, "would be most able to give an explanation without bothering the ladies." After all, it was a servant's place to know these sorts of things.

[Shayla Deverell]

Beginning to feel as though she would be left mostly to herself, Shayla was ready to sigh in relief. There were a few women who came and went, asking her how she was, if she would not join them in a game of cards, etc., but the young lady always politely declined and stayed in her safe little corner. Having spent the majority of her life - fifteen of the seventeen years, more or less - in this very town with these very people, Shayla should have probably had more close friends among the other young women. But it was not so, and would not likely ever be so. Somehow, the Calormene didn't mind. After all, many of these women were far too consumed in their own little matters for her liking. And so few shared her interests, let alone were trustworthy.

It was quite an upheaval to her contended feeling of solitude then, when a figure began to make its way toward her. A very masculine figure, no less. Shayla glanced nervously from side to side, thinking that surely the gentleman must have been meaning to go to someone else, to speak with another woman. What would he ever have to say to her? And why was he even in this meeting of ladies at all?

Before the girl was given any more time to think, she found herself trapped by that figure. When he spoke, the urge to not just take one more peek behind her was quite intense, but Shayla knew that there was no one behind her. And that man was staring directly at her, and he was beginning to speak with her. Shayla's mouth tried to open, but she could not form a response - how terribly bold of the man! And unthoughtful, too! They had never been introduced, though she thought the face looked familiar...

Just as her eyes were cast downwards in embarrassment caused both by the man and her own lack of words, Shayla's eyes were brought back up at the sound of Lady Natissa's voice. What a welcome sound at this moment! But her embarrassment only grew deeper when she heard the words "Lord Jare" for his reputation was no secret among the castle young ladies. While Shayla was not much for gossiping herself, her usually quiet tongue brought much information to her ears, and, though she had never associated his face with the name, Lord Jare's reputation was well understood with her.

Shayla colored again when the Lord Jare spoke. This time the embarrassment was not centered around her own lack of responding to an unknown man's attentions. No, it was the way Lord Jare had spoken - did he think she was a servant? Shayla's head rose upwards, her dark complexion tinted with a rosy glow to look at this Lord Jare. Still helpless to use her mouth, she only looked at Lady Natissa in a dismayed, unspoken request.

[Natissa Tescar]

At the young man's response, Natissa frowned.  She might lack influence in the court these days, but her age certainly demanded more respect than he had given her. She knew Dalred would have severely reprimanded her son Adimon if he’d ever addressed an elder – particularly a woman – in such a way.  Had Jare of Tampas been taught any manners? Perhaps it should not be surprising if he had not.  No one seemed to know what the word “chivalry” meant anymore.  Her irritation increased as the young lord implied that Shayla was not a lady. 

Natissa glanced at the younger woman to see how she would respond, but the girl merely looked up mutely and rather desperately.  So masking her annoyance, Natissa responded, “If you did not want to ‘bother the ladies’, I’m not sure why you didn’t simply ask a servant.” Natissa waved an arm to indicate the maids who had just entered with the tea.  Her voice had conveyed puzzlement and not condemnation, but she hoped her pointed words would make her real meaning quite clear.  Although if Jare of Tampas was as dense as the ladies’ gossip portrayed, her hint would likely pass by him unnoticed.

After a moment, she added, “However, to answer your question, this a tea hosted by Her Majesty for the ladies.” Natissa gave the last word a faint emphasis, but did not pause before continuing on to ask, “Anything else you care to know?”  Her voice and manner were gracious, but she hoped that his answer would be negative, and that he would leave the same way he had come. Personally, she would not mind if any young men still in the castle wanted to join the ladies for tea, so long as they were courteous and respectful. Lord Jare, however, had not yet proven to be either.