Lilla Rosalba

About You
Name: Mel
Age: meh. Lets say 24.
How did you find us: google
Rules Password: [Password Accepted ~Misha]

Character Basics
Name: Lilla Eugenzia Rosalba
Alias(es)/Nickname(s): Genzie (said "Henzy"), but mostly Lilla
Gender: Female
Age: 23
Race: human
Status/Title: queen's handmaid, aristocracy
Affiliation: Telmar

Character Appearance
Hair: Dark, brown and flowing, Lilla used to be fond of wearing her hair free but since several comments and gazes from the men of the court has decided her appearance is too sensual and so only wears her hair down in private except when, habitually, she forgets to pin it up or cover it with a scarf.
Eyes: almond-shaped, bright, and blue, Lilla has an exotic look for the dark Telmarines.
Overall: As a child, Lilla was thought to be exceptionally plain. Her stark features, jutting cheek bones, and angular nose made her appear harsh and severe. As she aged and her hair grew longer and more free and wild, she was seen as a dark beauty of court. As her aunt married Miraz--who then became queen--Lilla became a sought-after item at court due in large part to her looks. While generally thought more bewitching than her aunt, the two look strikingly similar when standing at each others' side.

Portrayal:

Bianca Balti

Character Personality
Likes:
-rhetoric and debate
-pretty things
-embroidery
-singing
-learning, particularly skills which might make her self-sufficient
-dancing
-archery
Dislikes:
-the thought of marriage, particularly to all the people she's met
-greed
-needless strife
-condescension
-her powerlessness and inability to navigate through society with it
-her insecurities (a good deal about her body image and how people perceive her)

Strengths:
-confidence and regal command
-beauty
-a sense of propriety
-a sense of discretion
-intellect
-common sense
-an eye for detail

Weaknesses:
-haughtiness
-beauty
-fear of death or social exile
-fear for her family
-fear of marriage and love
-a critical eye turned against herself

General Personality: Lilla comes across as a powerful and majestic presence in her realm of ladies of the court. As the queen's bosom companion, her carriage is coupled with actual political force--as much as is allowed as a woman. Nevertheless, Lilla is aware that she is most valuable as a bargaining tool meant to uphold the state apparatus. Her behaviour must always be becoming and befitting the ruling ideologies. A keen and clever woman, Lilla knows the dangers of stepping out of line or crossing King Miraz in his decrees. Because of this, Lilla is well-behaved, respectful, accomplished, and mostly demure when dealing with others of import. There is a good likelihood that even were Miraz not to be king, she would be so.

She is most herself with her aunt, who is her constant companion--though in actuality, Lilla is hers. It cannot be denied, however, that Lilla is the more commanding of the two ladies, being rather eloquent and charming when in the presence of others. The two discuss in lively manners the goings-on of court as well as politics. While Queen Prunaprismia seems more content to keep her discussion to gossip and ask few questions of politics, Lilla keeps herself fully informed on the disappearances of court (and there have been increasing numbers since this war began) as well as what might have caused them. She uses the lessons drawn from past misfortunes to be a guide for her future conduct.

Lilla does not approve of Miraz' vice-like grip on his vassals and does not think him a deserving husband for her beloved aunt, but does not question vocally. She has met few people who have voiced her opinions and so does not speak them save in very indirect observations; even in these, she is careful that things be taken the right way.

Almost obsessive about appearances--though not of the physical sort--Lilla is careful about how she broadcasts herself and constantly surveys how others think of her. For this reason, Lilla often lives for others than herself. She is not content until she is able to make others happy. As times grow more grim, people are more and more dissatisfied. In her personal relationships, Lilla cannot help but think she has somehow let her family and loved ones down as the gloom spreads . . .

Character History
Parents: Lord Amidio Rosalba, II (deceased); Lady Gertrudiz Aurelio Rosalba (deceased)
Siblings: Lord Amidio Rosalba, III, aged 29

General History: Lilla was born at the Rosalba estate, the darling of her parents and elder brother. She passed her childhood very conventionally, being educated in the womanly arts in addition to the more academic of her brothers' lessons. Lilla was not specifically instructed in these subjects of rhetoric, history, geography, mathematics, and elocution, but was allowed to sit in on discussions and keep up as best she could without hindering the tutor with the need for special attention. And ambitious child, Lilla did her best but always struggled in mathematics and geography, though she excelled at history--being fascinated with people--and elocution and rhetoric--being a rather good speaker in her own right.

Things continued in this way until her mother died of ague when she was thirteen. Amidio Rosalba, her father died the following year in a hunting accident with the king, and Lilla went to court under the watchful care of her aunt. Two years later, her aunt, Prunaprismia married Prince Miraz and it was a natural transition for Lilla to assume the role as her handmaiden. When Prunaprismia became queen, Lilla gained even more influence in court.

Recently, Lilla has kept an ear to the ground as she hears of mysterious disappearances, keeping all in a commonplace book. While most assume this book to be of interesting readings and corresponding musings--which certainly comprise her writings--Lilla chooses rather to read the people who surround her, their actions, their sayings, their doings. She is comprising an unofficial, personal history of the court and, through it, hoping to secure her future. Lilla, in many ways, is trying to stay alive in tumultuous times.

Other/Notes: Miraz hopes to negotiate with Lord Sephen, offering him Lilla's hand in marriage.

Sample
RP Sample: (see Lord Drinian's writing sample)