Girls' Day Out

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Princess Anastasia Fyodorov, Princess Katya Fyodorov


The agreement was made to meet up with the intentions of getting to know each other and to spend the day in each other's company. Emma suggested that the trio take in the marketplace, the better to facilitate those opportunities and find common ground. A carriage awaited them, uncertain whether the Sarkozsy princesses preferred to ride, yet equally sure that their purchases would be more easily returned to the castle that way. Emma on a shopping spree could stack up quite a few purchases, and she was a woman on a mission right now.

Waiting for their arrival, she had a hat on to shade her eyes from the summer sun and protect her fair skin from burning. A simple linen dress of light green trimmed in darker green was her concession to the warmth of the day while attempting to appear well-put-together, her dark hair braided and left down her back. In a way, Emma suspected it made her look younger, but it was cooler and tidy, keeping her hair from frizzing out.

A pair of knights was chosen to accompany the ladies, though Emma was fairly confident Sergei would join them as well. She hadn't missed that he was no longer in Nikolai's exclusive company, raising a question she hoped Anya or Katya could answer without taking offense. That was just one of many she hoped to pose to the sisters, the better to gain more of an understanding before she launched her plan into action to settle matters between Nikolai and herself.

Humming to herself, she bent to pluck one of the daisies growing nearby, fingers brushing dreamily over the white petals before each one was set free to flutter on the wind. It was a silly and amusing way to pass the time, a game her mother once taught her...

[Princess Anastasia Fyodorov]

Anya was in a rather chipper mood today. The princess accepted her invitation to spend the day together with herself and her sister, granting Anya and Katya their first real opportunity to assess the damage done from Emmaline's perspective and to begin healing the wounds brought on by circumstance. Aware more than ever that this marriage needed to work for the good of Sarkozsy, the elder of the two was determined to approach this with grace, cheer and gentle good humor.

"Katya, hurry up! We are keeping Princess Emmaline waiting!" Called to her sister in an effort to inject a little haste into her preparations - just what was Katya doing, anyways? - Anya held a hat in hand, her dark hair coiled at her nape with a few wisping tendrils curling about her face. Dressed in pale blue, the better to set off her eyes, she was strongly considering either heading down to meet Emma herself and leaving Katya to find her own way or going into the other room and physically pushing her sister out before her.

Amused, she went to peek out the window, seeing Emma in the courtyard below. Poor girl, left to wait. "Sergei! Why don't you go let Princess Emma know that we're running a little late and we'll be right there, please? Since you are no doubt going to insist on accompanying us," she added with a teasing grin at the knight remanded to her keeping. "I'll go light a fire under Catling."


Princess Katya Fyodorov, @sergei

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

If Emma was to spend a day in the company of the Sarkozsy women, then Natalie was going to do the same. After all, it would only behoove to do so. After all, Emma was, theoretically, going to be marrying the Prince of the nation and moving to the country. The better Natalie got to know the lead women of the Court, the better. It would be good for her to make a positive first impression upon them, especially she had ever visited the fascinating country across the sea.

Thus, it was not just a pair of knights that arrived to escort Emma, but Natalie herself. While she wanted to wear one of her fashion statements, she knew the heat of the day would not work in her favor. A woman who was sweating and flushed was not presentable at all! She would never let herself live it down should such a thing ever happen to her. Thus, like her lady, Natalie was also bedecked in a linen dress, but this one was stained in deep red. The color matched the stain of her lips and complimented the pale skin and dark hair. Like Emma, her pale skin was further protected by a hat.

"As lovely as they are," Natalie quipped as she made her approach of Emma, "For some reason, I never have been a fan of daisies. The sad things, I truly cannot explain why. Just something in the back of my mind that tickles and bothers me."

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Looking up, she saw Natalie and welcomed her with a warm smile. It never failed to amaze and amuse Emma how two such utterly opposite people managed to become nigh inseparable friends, yet the truth was inescapable. She didn't know what she'd do without Natalie and hoped she never found out. A laugh rang out at the words spoken on approach, the denuded golden head of the daisy tossed aside. "Probably because it is a simple flower and there is nothing simple about you, my friend. You are, without doubt, the most complex woman I've ever had the privilege to meet."

It was true, but Emma saw nothing wrong with it. Natalie had the easy confidence that came with beauty, the assurance in knowing she was beautiful, and the native charm that made her a favorite of the court. In so many ways, the Princess wondered if they hadn't been switched at birth or some such despite the difference in their ages. "You look lovely. A new gown?"

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya, usually one not to take much heed in her looks was doing so now. She had no idea why was ... primping, she was spending time with his sister, not the the boy himself. Still, she wanted to look nice if she happened to run across him during their excursion. She was sure he must head to the marketplace sometimes and she wanted to be prepared if he did. Catching herself with those thoughts in her mind, Katya groaned to herself before hearing her name being called. Dressing herself in a dress that matched the shade of her eyes, Katya left her hair as it usually was. Hearing her sisters last sentence, she gave a light laugh. "No need for fire, I am here," she said with a fond smile towards both Sergei and Anya before making her way to where they needed to be. Time with Princess Emma would be most interesting considering the only member of the Royal family that she had been spending any time with was Prince Tristan.

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

The explanation amused her, causing her to laugh. "You know, you are probably correct. I tend to enjoy the more unusual and complicated flowers. Orchids, I think, are my favorite, but it's a pity that they are not very common." A thought hit her, "Then again, I suppose that's the point. Do you really think the Court could handle more than one flower like myself?" A dark, finely trimmed eyebrow arched upward. "I don't think even I could handle me."

She glanced down at her dress and smiled with a certain girlish glee. "Why, yes. Yes, it is. Thank you for noticing. Your dress looks lovely, too. It's very becoming of your figure and complexion."

[Princess Anastasia Fyodorov]

"Good. I don't think you want to be scorched." Anya smiled at her sister, a little surprised at Katya's fuss over her appearance but put it down to a touch of nerves or simply wanting to look her best. Good impressions were always preferred. Reaching for her sister's arm with one hand, Sergei's with the other, she started the trio for the door. "Now then, since we're all so terribly good looking, where shall we begin with Princess Emma? There's so much to tell her of, so much I imagine we all want to know, but I think," she lowered her tone with a guilty look, "that we'd best leave the topic of Nik alone for a little while."

Through the door and down the hall they went, presumably arm in arm with an amused grin on Anya's face. The poor Demerian princess was about to get a triple dose of Sarkozsy. Hopefully it didn't overwhelm or frighten her... but Anya was a woman on a mission, determined to make the day a pleasant, enjoyable and educational one.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

Of one thing, Emma was certain - the Court could barely handle one Natalie. Any more and they'd never recover, though she did not see Natalie in any manner of negative light. There was only so much room for a woman of Natalie's personality, vivacity and sensuality. "I don't think so. Besides, why would you want to be just one more ordinary flower in a garden? You were born to stand out, Natalie, not blend in. I can barely handle you, and I know you fairly well!" She smiled as she said it, the better to take any sort of sting from her words; Emma did genuinely adore her lady in waiting. "And thank you as well for noticing. I'm quite fond of the color." A hand smoothed the skirt flaring out from her waist with feminine satisfaction.

"Oh," she added as an after-thought, trusting the Sarkozsy ladies were on their way, not that Emma objected to waiting. She'd kept plenty of people waiting on her in the past; this was only just recompense. "I invited my sister along as well, though I don't know if she'll join us. I believe she is curious to meet the Princesses."

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

The comment made her laugh, and then she laughed a bit harder upon remembering how they first met. "I remember our first meeting all too well. I will admit that I came on far too strong, but I'm glad we stuck through it. Sometimes opposites do naturally attract." The expression drew more serious, but not somber, "You've been a good influence on me, however. You've kept me from going, shall we say, too wild?" Reaching out, she placed a stray hair back in place and then smiled more warmly.

"Oh, good. I've not had the opportunity to interact with her as much as I would like." She leaned in teasingly, "And her husband is easy on the eyes." She went out of the way to mention her eyes, which did not equate with her hands. She was well aware Hadrian was off limits, but that didn't mean Natalie could appreciate how handsome he was!

[Lady Mariana Jardinier]

Invited by her sister to join her and the Sarkoszy’s ladies in a day spent outside the castle walls made Mariana pause slightly before deciding on it. Picking a day dress that would suit whichever activities her sister had planned, the woman wandered toward the meeting point, taking her time to study the surroundings with interest renewed after a long absence. As such, she arrived at the meeting spot to see Emma and one of her ladies-in-waiting having a lively discussion that wasn’t necessarily the problems of Demeria, for a change.

Amused by it, she listened before coming closer, her natural ability to blend into her surroundings as she moved a boon for her to arrive practically unnoticed by either Lady as the Lady Kendall was finishing her sentence. “I’m glad to hear you think so, Lady Kendall, Hadrian has yet to disappoint me with his looks,” she said in gentle, amused tone of voice, having recognized the woman as her sister’s almost constant companion for whenever she was around lately. Of course Mariana made an effort to learn all the ladies’ names, just in case it was ever needed. Turning to her sister, she greeted Emma with a brief, warm hug and a slight smile. “Thank you for inviting me along, Emma. It’s a needed venture, I think.” For it was as much reacquainting herself with the city as the city would be with her and her presence back in the castle, of which she doubted many knew. Still, today was, hopefully, going to prove an answer to the puzzle that was the Sarkoszy contingent, or at least, their Princesses. Whether the man himself would join them or they would meet him later remained to be seen.

[Princess Katya Fyodorov]

Katya had to think a bit, there were so many possible places of conversation to start off with. "Perhaps start with fashion? From there, we can subtly segue into corresponding topics," she suggested. "I agree, we want her to enjoy her day with us, not feel even more pressured than she likely already is," she stated.

Arm in arm with her sister, it was probably slightly obvious that her eyes held a hopeful, seeking look as they walked. Approaching the meeting place, Katya smiled in greeting at the people gathered. "Your Highness, my Ladies," she said with a slight, respectful bow of the head.

[Lady Natalie Kendall]

Of course that would happen. The woman in question would arrive at just the right moment to hear what she had to say. To her credit, she did not flush with chagrin or look particularly ashamed of what she had said. It was commonly known that Natalie did not possess an ounce of shame to begin with. Clearing her throat, she promptly turned and offered a well executed and graceful curtsy, "Your Grace. It is a pleasure to meet you once again. I do apologize for my forward words." The apology, fortunately, was genuine.

Straightening once more, she turned at the sound of the other royals. Was she the only non-royal in the party? How delightfully amusing. Once again, she dropped into a curtsy in deference to their superior ranks. "Your Graces." And then she said nothing more for the time being.

[Princess Anastasia Fyodorov]

Katya raised an excellent point - poor Emma was probably feeling incredibly pressured. They needed today to be light, fun and relaxing. Anya felt almost guilty for how poorly things were going, sobering for a moment to think how to ensure that friendships, genuine friendships emerged from the day. As they approached, she reformed her smile, guided along by her effusive younger sister. The Catling could be a ray of sunshine indeed.

Reaching the ladies, Anya recognized Emma and Natalie, but the blonde lady was not fully known to her. A graceful dip of her head greeted each in turn before she turned to Mariana. "Good day, my lady. I don't believe we have been introduced. I am Anastasia Fyodorov, and this is my sister, Katya."

[Deleted]

Sergei followed the princesses and let the women have their privacy, though he kept an ear out in case there was anything they needed. He prided himself on being prepared and it was also a good excuse to sneak a glance or two at Anya.

As the princess of Demeria and her ladies neared, Sergei was not surprised to see Natalie there. Anastasia greeted the others and Sergei bowed deeply to all of them. He did not dare to speak until someone spoke to him, because it was not his place.

[Princess Emmaline Carlisle]

She leaned over to press her cheek to her sister's in a gesture of affection, secretly grateful for Mariana's presence. Emma was fairly nervous about spending the day in the company of the Fyodorov ladies in light of all that had gone so poorly between Nikolai and herself. Still, she strove to exude quiet confidence and appropriate behavior as the ladies approached. A small smile greeted the two before she hastened to effect an introduction. "Princess Anastasia, Princess Katya, allow me to present my older sister and Princess Royal, the Lady Mariana Jardinier." It was somewhat formal, but Mariana deserved no less than full respect. "With them is Sir Sergei."