Private Tales A Most Miserable Week

[Eris Fulton]

"I just know that we're going to be the best of friends for years to come!"
She looked at Eris, her smile dripping with malice as if to say, 'I own you, bitch.'

Those words echoed endlessly around in Eris Fulton's mind as she lugged a large woven basket full of clothes through the halls for what felt like the thousandth time that day. The people she passed gave her strange looks which she met with a scowl. What she would have given to have a personal maid! Though she counted herself lucky that one visited once a week to do her laundry, but wished she would stick around.

She wasn't sure why Lady Melina had found it necessary to force her to move into her room for the week, but Eris certainly wasn't looking forward to it. Who would want to share a room with such a snooty, stuck up bitch? she grumbled under her breath. Reaching the door with a golden placard reading "Lady Melina Calcutte", Eris shoved the door open and marched in.

The room was much nicer than her own, Eris had to admit. Everything appeared expensive and luxurious, and there was even a nice view out into the flower garden. Much nicer than her own drab room. Was this what it was like to be the daughter of a duke?

Eris pushed the thought out of her head as she dragged the basket over to the meager pile of belongings she had previously brought. She could swear she felt somebody's gaze burning into her and silently judging her. Eris tried to ignore the feeling andset about arranging her clothes in the provided wardrobe.

With the task completed, Eris sat upon the edge of her bed and folded her hands in her lap. She tried to mask her resentment of the situation with the fakest polite smile she could muster as she faced her archenemy. "So now what your Royal Highness? Shall I fetch you some tea?" The words left Eris' mouth laced with enough venom to kill Melina a hundred takes over.

"Shit!" she cursed loudly after a moment, realizing what she had just done. That was no way to speak to a woman of higher standing and Eris knew it. There would be hell to pay for herself and for her family if somebody were to find out that a lowly woman like her had disrespected a Calcutte.

She quickly cleared her throat, scrambling to remember the proper way to speak to a higher noble. "Please forgive my uncouth behavior, Lady Calcutte. I am unaccustomed to arrangements such a this but I shall do my best to handle it in a dignified way as to not cause you any further trouble." Eris bowed her head respectfully, though the thought of actually submitting to Melina greatly sickened her. "Now then!" she said raising her head with another bright, fake smile. "What are your terms for this arrangement, Lady Calcutte?"

 

[Melina Calcutte]

Those words echoed endlessly around in Eris Fulton's mind as she lugged a large woven basket full of clothes through the halls for what felt like the thousandth time that day. The people she passed gave her strange looks which she met with a scowl. What she would have given to have a personal maid! Though she counted herself lucky that one visited once a week to do her laundry but wished she would stick around.

She wasn't sure why Lady Melina had found it necessary to force her to move into her room for the week, but Eris certainly wasn't looking forward to it. Who would want to share a room with such a snooty, stuck-up bitch? she grumbled under her breath. Reaching the door with a golden placard reading "Lady Melina Calcutte", Eris shoved the door open and marched in.

The room was much nicer than her own, Eris had to admit. Everything appeared expensive and luxurious, and there was even a nice view out into the flower garden. Much nicer than her own drab room. Was this what it was like to be the daughter of a duke?

My dearest father and mother.

I've finally settled into my room and roles here at the School of Script. It is just as you described it, mother, just as beautiful and intellectually stimulating as when you attended. I am enjoying my classes and I've made many new frie​

Melina Calcutte was seated at her Armoire penning a letter to her parents when the door opened, interrupting her mid-stroke as she glanced over her shoulder to see her new "bestie" dragging her laundry in. It was clear that Melina hadn't been awake and moving nearly as early as Eris had been, still in her dressing gown while her own maids busied themselves with other tasks.
Melina blotted her letter, dried her pen and capped her inkwell before pushing out her seat and standing up to go over to her own wardrobe.

This was one of the few days of the week where the students had some little time to themselves. Many took this day to do chores, while others such as Melina who had time spent the day socializing or dealing with other matters of importance.
Melina opened her wardrobe and proceeded to casually examine the gowns and dresses. Since she had nothing pressing on her agenda, she was free to plan her day however she liked, so today she decided to plan her day based on how she dressed, she would determine how she dressed by what mood she was in, and how she dressed would determine what further plans she made.

She stood in her dressing gown deciding what to wear while Eris made her ungraceful commotion behind her.

Eris pushed the thought out of her head as she dragged the basket over to the meager pile of belongings she had previously brought. She could swear she felt somebody's gaze burning into her and silently judging her. Eris tried to ignore the feeling and set about arranging her clothes in the provided wardrobe.

While Melina certainly was not watching her, Melina wasn't ignoring her either. The duke's daughter was keenly aware of her new roommate's presence and was currently considering that she might incorporate the ungraceful lower lady into her plans... This might influence how she dressed...

With the task completed, Eris sat upon the edge of her bed and folded her hands in her lap. She tried to mask her resentment of the situation with the fakest polite smile she could muster as she faced her archenemy. "So now what your Royal Highness? Shall I fetch you some tea?" The words left Eris' mouth laced with enough venom to kill Melina a hundred times over.

Melina froze at her wardrobe, and a few of the maids who overheard the calamity class sinister tone of Eris Fulton's voice stopped their work to soundlessly gape in shock.
Melina felt the chill of resentment dripping down her spine and it froze her bones... A little fact that, once she herself realized it, infuriated her.

A... "Smile"... plastered itself across her features like the stroke of a child's paintbrush. Her neck stiffly turned like a rusted old wheel as she struggled to contain the wrath that bubbled beneath the chill of Eris's hatred.
A smile so forced, with a grace and self-control so poorly faked, she was terrifying to behold as she fought the urge to claw the insolence out of her eyes!

"... Excuse... Me...?"

"Shit!" she cursed loudly after a moment, realizing what she had just done. That was no way to speak to a woman of higher standing and Eris knew it. There would be hell to pay for herself and for her family if somebody were to find out that a lowly woman like her had disrespected a Calcutte.

She quickly cleared her throat, scrambling to remember the proper way to speak to a higher noble. "Please forgive my uncouth behavior, Lady Calcutte. I am unaccustomed to arrangements such a this, but I shall do my best to handle it in a dignified way as to not cause you any further trouble." Eris bowed her head respectfully, though the thought of actually submitting to Melina greatly sickened her.

The hasty apology saved Eris's eyes. Submitting herself quickly was enough to cool the carefully controlled temper that her disrespect had lit aflame.
The murder left Melina's eyes and her face carefully returned to normal as she recovered her dignity and ego.

"Now then!" she said raising her head with another bright, fake smile. "What are your terms for this arrangement, Lady Calcutte?"

Melina gave a more sincere smile this time as she clasped her own hands (Mostly to hide the nail marks in her palms) as she regarded the young lady seated before her.
"Ah, yes. Of course! I suppose terms ought to be in order."
She spoke brightly as she swept up the distance between them and seated herself beside the little white-haired goblin.
"First off,"
She raised her pinky finger meaningfully.
"You will no longer carry your own laundry. If your servants are unable to perform their duties, then some of mine will be more than happy to take on the job. We shall be spending much time together and I want you available should I require your time.
Second,"
She raised her ring finger.
"You are to be my Lady-in-waiting. You will be my personal companion and shall perform secretarial duties such as I see fit. In return you shall enjoy the benefits that come with such a role as my close companion and personal subject.
Thirdly and finally,"
She raised her middle finger next.
"You shall do this out of your eternal gratitude to me as your guardian and sponsor through this cutthroat political landscape. In return shall protect you from those who would take advantage of your general ineptitude, lack of social grace and crass disposition."

She was clearly referring to the incident with Eris's sister that led them to this point. How Melina came to her rescue and caused her sisters flaming barbs of insults and accusations to fall flat and fizzle out, causing the senior student no small amount of embarrassment no matter how gracefully she took it to save face.
Melina knew she put herself on the chopping block, but she also wasn't afraid. Her mother didn't raise some naive courtesan, she could handle whatever tactics others might use to get back at her.

Like a lone warrior standing atop a hill with enemies all about but knowing she could win if she could only maintain her advantageous position.
And since she acted in Eris's own interests, then Eris would repay such kindness whether she wanted to or not. Being tied to the family of a duke wasn't a bad deal, but while Eris would share in Melina's success, she would also share in her failures.

Oh yes... They were going to be close friends indeed...

 

[Eris Fulton]

Melina gave a more sincere smile this time as she clasped her own hands (Mostly to hide the nail marks in her palms) as she regarded the young lady seated before her.
"Ah, yes. Of course! I suppose terms ought to be in order."
She spoke brightly as she swept up the distance between them and seated herself beside the little white-haired goblin.

Eris flinched slightly as Melina crossed the room and gracefully sat down next to her. After seeing Melina's barely controlled rage thanks to her snide comment, Eris couldn't be sure that she had fully returned to her dignified self. But it seemed the storm had passed, causing Eris' thoughts to turn to the nature of Melina's terms. More like demands probably, Eris grumbled to herself.

She knew very little of Lady Calcutte other than shallow pleasantries exchanged in passing. And aside from a few overheard stories, the woman was a complete mystery. Would she be treated like a slave for the week? Or would Melina be reasonable and only make her carry her books or other such trivial tasks? Thoughts continued to swirl around her head as Melina spoke.

"First off,"
She raised her pinky finger meaningfully.
"You will no longer carry your own laundry. If your servants are unable to perform their duties, then some of mine will be more than happy to take on the job. We shall be spending much time together and I want you available should I require your time.

Servants. Plural. It was bold of Melina to assume that every student was like her and had an entourage of maids at their command. Little did she know that Eris only had the resources for a maid that would only visit every couple days. Her father might be a well respected Knight, but they were far from comfortably wealthy. Even so, Eris certainly wasn't going to complain about having access to somebody's else's maids for a while.

Second,"
She raised her ring finger.
"You are to be my Lady-in-waiting. You will be my personal companion and shall perform secretarial duties such as I see fit. In return you shall enjoy the benefits that come with such a role as my close companion and personal subject.

"Lady-in-waiting?" Eris' head tilted to the side as she gave Melina a confused look. "So what? I have to help you get dressed or something? Escort you around to places? Maybe wait on you?" 'Personal companion' and 'secretarial duties' were self-explanatory, but Eris had only heard of a lady-in-waiting once or twice her whole life with no explanation to what it meant. "And benefits? We're both noblewomen. Wouldn't we already have the same benefits?"

Thirdly and finally,"
She raised her middle finger next.
"You shall do this out of your eternal gratitude to me as your guardian and sponsor through this cutthroat political landscape. In return shall protect you from those who would take advantage of your general ineptitude, lack of social grace and crass disposition."

"Well isn't somebody a bit full of themselves..." Eris muttered. Eternal gratitude my ass! The only logical reason Eris could find behind Melina's actions was some form of personal gain. She loathed the idea of being used for somebody else's gain, but it was only for a week. Realistically, how far could Melina get in such a short amount of time anyway?

But Melina had come to Eris' aid when her sister was tearing her down. Never before had Eris seen somebody so completely and effortlessly shut down Elexnia. Eris supposed she did owe Melina for saving her from her worst fear. And having such a powerful ally, even for a short time, would be well worth whatever torment she had to put up with.

Eris, who had been listening quiet as a church mouse save for a question here or there as Melina spoke, couldn't prevent a snort form escaping her as Melina finished listing off her terms. "What?" she scoffed. "Is that all?!" Pushing her hair behind her ear, Eris leaned back on her elbows. "So what you're telling me, Lady Calcutte, is that all I have to do is follow you around for a week, play nice with you, and preform some 'secretarial duties'? Really?" There had to be a catch, but try as she might, Eris couldn't find it. All she could do for the time being was play along with Melina's asinine demands. "Alright Lady Calcutte, I accept your terms. BUT! I do have a couple of my own."

"First! I continue being my own woman. I will earnestly strive to curb my "crass disposition" as you so graciously put it, and try to keep your higher standing in mind, but I make no promises. I will act how I act, and you will just have to accept that. But I am a noblewoman and I know how to act like one. I don't need somebody breathing down my neck, constantly reminding me to act as my station requires."

"And second, I wish to be treated nicely and with respect. Though we've only been at this school for a short while, I've already heard stories about you, and how you treat your so called 'companions'. I am not a mere plaything to be manipulated and controlled, and I will NOT be treated as such."

Eris' gaze was hard and unwavering as she looked up at Melina. She knew that she was no position to make her own demands of the noblewoman, but just the act of voicing them should be enough to show Melina that she wasn't going to take her crap laying down. Though she was more than a bit wary of the sheer power and influence Melina, and the Calcutte family name, carried at the school. But all she could really do was hope that Lady Calcutte would see her requests as a reasonable middle ground, and not make the entire week a living hell.

 

[Melina Calcutte]

Lady-in-waiting? Eris head tilted to the side as she gave Melina a confused look. So what? I have to help you get dressed or something? Escort you around to places? Maybe wait on you? Personal companion and secretarial duties were self-explanatory, but Eris had only heard of a lady-in-waiting once or twice her whole life with no explanation to what it meant.

Melina shook her head, "No no, it's just as I explained. You are to be my companion, being my Lady-in-waiting establishes you within the social hierarchy as part of my faction, so to speak."

And benefits? Were both noblewomen. Wouldn't we already have the same benefits?

Melina maintained her polite smile, patiently meeting her ignorance with facts.
"If course we're not the same. As a noblewoman of a higher strata I of course enjoy privileges that you do not. However, the benefits I speak of might appeal to you more for the social hierarchy aspect. As a member of my faction an insult to you is an insult to me, and I will be obliged to respond, and vise versa."
Such was the world they lived in, where men were not created equal.

What? she scoffed. Is that all?! Pushing her hair behind her ear, Eris leaned back on her elbows. So what you're telling me, Lady Calcutte, is that all I have to do is follow you around for a week, play nice with you, and preform some secretarial duties? Really?

That was a rather simplistic way of putting it, and not quite right as she clarified earlier.
So she began to clarify again.
"Well..."

There had to be a catch, but try as she might, Eris couldn't find it. All she could do for the time being was play along with Melinas asinine demands. Alright Lady Calcutte, I accept your terms. BUT! I do have a couple of my own.

She closed her perfect lips and listened to her terms with only a growing sense of victory... She practically owned this bitch and she was realizing it, that's why she wanted to fight at this stage in order to keep what freedom she could.

First! I continue being my own woman. I will earnestly strive to curb my crass disposition as you so graciously put it, and try to keep your higher standing in mind, but I make no promises. I will act how I act, and you will just have to accept that. But I am a noblewoman and I know how to act like one. I don't need somebody breathing down my neck, constantly reminding me to act as my station requires.

"Done." She said simply.

And second, I wish to be treated nicely and with respect. Though we've only been at this school for a short while, I've already heard stories about you, and how you treat your so called companions. I am not a mere plaything to be manipulated and controlled, and I will NOT be treated as such.

She grinned wickedly at this point and she leaned forward until she was holding herself over the white haired girl with her arms braced on each side of her.
"Oh, but miss Fulton. As I explained, those who are my ladies-in-waiting are my close companions, hardly a mere "plaything"... However, you needn't worry, I do treat my playthings very well."

She giggled and moved away, standing up and moving to her wardrobe.
"Your terms are accepted easily. Now let's get down to business..."
She opened the wardrobe and removed a deep green riding dress and a light blue riding dress.
"Which one do you think would look best for a jaunt through the riding grounds?"

 

[Eris Fulton]

Melina maintained her polite smile, patiently meeting her ignorance with facts.
If course were not the same. As a noblewoman of a higher strata I of course enjoy privileges that you do not. However, the benefits I speak of might appeal to you more for the social hierarchy aspect. As a member of my faction an insult to you is an insult to me, and I will be obliged to respond, and vise versa.

"Hmm..." Eris mumbled thoughtfully. "An insult to me is an insult to you and vice versa?" She cast her gaze away from Melina. "Does... Does that mean you would be able to get Elexnia to leave me alone?" Her words were quiet but full of hope. "I would do anything you asked if you could promise me that... Within reason, of course." Eris' gaze returned to Melina, an uncertain, but genuinely grateful light in her eyes. A week free from her sister's harassment was more than worth whatever Melina might have in mind. Or so Eris hoped.

She grinned wickedly at this point and she leaned forward until she was holding herself over the white haired girl with her arms braced on each side of her.
Oh, but miss Fulton. As I explained, those who are my ladies-in-waiting are my close companions, hardly a mere plaything... However, you neednt worry, I do treat my playthings very well.

Eris pressed herself deeper into the bed as Melina's hair fell like a curtain around them. Melina was too close... Eris felt as if she were trapped in the claws of a predator. And the evil grin Melina's perfect face wasn't helping matters. "I suppose I can do nothing but take your word for it, Lady Calcutte..." Eris could only hope that she would be treated the same way somebody might treat a friend, but she wasn't holding her breath in hope.

She giggled and moved away, standing up and moving to her wardrobe.
Your terms are accepted easily. Now lets get down to business...

Good. So they had come to an agreement. Eris couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Melina was just humoring her and had no intention of keeping her word. But at this point, there was nothing she could do to prevent that. Melina basically owned her for the week, and she would have to just accept anything that happened.

She opened the wardrobe and removed a deep green riding dress and a light blue riding dress.
Which one do you think would look best for a jaunt through the riding grounds?

Was Melina really asking her, the woman who wore nothing but black, what color dress would look best? The green dress or the blue dress... A test of her fashion sense maybe? "I'm truly honored you would seek my input, Lady Melina. I will strive to be as helpful as I can." Eris said distractedly as she looked over the dresses.

"Umm... The.. Blue one! Maybe?" Eris said uncertainly after a quiet moment. She had picked randomly, selecting the blue one solely because she liked the color. But Eris suspected that wasn't going to be a good enough justification for Melina. "Y-Yeah! The blue one! For a jaunt around the riding grounds, y-you'll want people to notice your... uh... regal beauty. The green dress would blend in far too much with your surroundings! It would be a terrible shame if somebody were to miss you."

Eris lifted herself off her elbows with a quiet sigh, and laid back with her hands behind her head. Melina was a grown woman. Why did she need somebody else to pick what color dress she wore? But if the whole week was going to be that easy, Eris certainly wasn't going to complain. Whether Melina wore the dress she had selected or the other one didn't particularly matter to Eris. She was just glad to have that over with.

 

[Melina Calcutte]

Hmm... Eris mumbled thoughtfully. An insult to me is an insult to you and vice versa? She cast her gaze away from Melina. Does... Does that mean you would be able to get Elexnia to leave me alone? Her words were quiet but full of hope. I would do anything you asked if you could promise me that... Within reason, of course. Eris gaze returned to Melina, an uncertain, but genuinely grateful light in her eyes. A week free from her sisters harassment was more than worth whatever Melina might have in mind. Or so Eris hoped.

Melina quirked an eyebrow, as if the idea were comical, as if Eris were suggesting that there was something she couldn't do.
"I will try not get involved in family matters, in private you should learn to fight your own battles. But your public image reflects on me as mine does on you, therefore I will not suffer anyone to stain that image be it miss Elexnia Fulton or anyone else."
Melina was actually being very fair in spite of her reputation and generally predatory approach to social interactions.
Without outright saying it, she was in fact, giving Eris "friend" status without the title.

Im truly honored you would seek my input, Lady Melina. I will strive to be as helpful as I can. Eris said distractedly as she looked over the dresses.

Umm... The.. Blue one! Maybe? Eris said uncertainly after a quiet moment. She had picked randomly, selecting the blue one solely because she liked the color. But Eris suspected that wasn't going to be a good enough justification for Melina. Y-Yeah! The blue one! For a jaunt around the riding grounds, y-you'll want people to notice your... uh... regal beauty. The green dress would blend in far too much with your surroundings! It would be a terrible shame if somebody were to miss you.

Melina giggled at Eris' unsurety.
"If I wanted extra flattery, Eris, I would have hired another maid. But I agree with your selection, I like the blue one as well because I think it pairs well with the color of my hair."
She put the green one away and took the blue riding dress behind a partition.
"Will you ride with me, or are you still busy doing maids work?"

 

[Eris Fulton]

Melina quirked an eyebrow, as if the idea were comical, as if Eris were suggesting that there was something she couldnt do.
I will try not get involved in family matters, in private you should learn to fight your own battles. But your public image reflects on me as mine does on you, therefore I will not suffer anyone to stain that image be it miss Elexnia Fulton or anyone else.

"Fair enough." Eris responded dejectedly. It was a bit unreasonable to ask Melina to defend her from her sister. Though as Melina's personal companion, she was going to be spending every second around her unless they were sleeping. So if Elexnia did try something, it could be seen as a personal insult to both of them.

Melina giggled at Eris unsurety.
If I wanted extra flattery, Eris, I would have hired another maid. But I agree with your selection, I like the blue one as well because I think it pairs well with the color of my hair.
She put the green one away and took the blue riding dress behind a partition.
Will you ride with me, or are you still busy doing maids work?

"Yeah, sure. I'll ride with you Mel." Eris said pointedly. Melina's failire to use her proper title wasn't lost on her. "Wouldn't be much of a personal companion if I stayed here and lazed around while you were out there riding all alone." Eris raised her arms into the air, then allowed them to limply fall behind her. She hated riding. It always left her so sore afterwards. So of course the first thing Melina would want to do would to be go out riding.

Eris glanced down at her dress covered in dust and bits of basket as Melina went to change. Normally she couldn't be bothered to change, and would just do her best to brush it off. But now she had no choice but to put in effort as not to embarrass Melina. With another sigh, she rose from the bed and selected a new dress. Without a second thought to the people present, Eris removed her dress and pulled the charcoal grey dress over her head.

"Do you ride often?" she called to Melina as she sat in a nearby chair while her new "friend" finished getting ready.

 

[Melina Calcutte]

Fair enough. Eris responded dejectedly. It was a bit unreasonable to ask Melina to defend her from her sister. Though as Melina's personal companion, she was going to be spending every second around her unless they were sleeping. So if Elexnia did try something, it could be seen as a personal insult to both of them.

Yeah, sure. Ill ride with you Mel. Eris said pointedly. Melinas failure to use her proper title wasn't lost on her.

Melina winced but didn't correct herself or Eris, it just slipped out but if it served to garner more of Eris' trust, she would let it slide at least in private.

Wouldn't be much of a personal companion if I stayed here and lazed around while you were out there riding all alone. Eris raised her arms into the air, then allowed them to limply fall behind her. She hated riding. It always left her so sore afterwards. So of course the first thing Melina would want to do would to be go out riding.

Eris glanced down at her dress covered in dust and bits of basket as Melina went to change. Normally she couldn't be bothered to change, and would just do her best to brush it off. But now she had no choice but to put in effort as not to embarrass Melina. With another sigh, she rose from the bed and selected a new dress. Without a second thought to the people present, Eris removed her dress and pulled the charcoal grey dress over her head.

Do you ride often? she called to Melina as she sat in a nearby chair while her new friend finished getting ready.

"Yes, I love to ride!"
She called back.
"The horse I ride is a very fine steed that deserves his daily trot. He was a gift from my father, though you probably would have assumed that.
Do you have a horse? Or shall we have to procure one from the school?"

The maids helped both of the ladies to change, in spite of Eris' lack of couth. And soon both were in their riding clothes and walking to the stables.

 

[Eris Fulton]

Yes, I love to ride!
She called back.
The horse I ride is a very fine steed that deserves his daily trot. He was a gift from my father, though you probably would have assumed that.
Do you have a horse? Or shall we have to procure one from the school?

Eris rolled her eyes. Oh of course the richest girl at the school had a horse that was bought and given to her by her daddy. She probably should've seen that coming from a mile away. Didn't these overstuffed nobles know that horses were a tool for war and transportation? Not something that was used for fun. That's what her father, Sir Fulton had always told her at least.

Did Melina think eveybody had the same resources that she did? Eris' family could scarce afford to keep one horse at home, let alone stabling one at the school. Even though she was already getting fed up with Melina's pretentiousness, Eris strove to remain respectful. "No I don't." She said trying to shoo away the maids helping her dress. "We'll have to stop by the stables. That is if you don't mind of course."

Once they were both dressed, they set out. They received many strange looks, and heard many hushed whispers as they passed through the halls. What was the queen bee of the school doing walking around with a filthy delinquent?

Eris resisted the urge to storm over and slam one of the students against the wall and demand to know what their problem was. Instead, she stayed quiet, following in step with Melina. Eris felt like a dog being led around by her master, which was undoubtedly exactly what Melina had intended. There was also little question in Eris' mind that she was being paraded around as the newest symbol of Melina's schoolwide conquest, under the guise of going riding.

She breathed a sigh of relief as they exited the school and made their way to the riding grounds. Eris selected a light grey steed and patiently waited as the stablehand got it ready. Once its was saddled, she rode it out and brought it up alongside Melina. "Well? Where should we ride? Do you have somewhere in mind?"

 

[Melina Calcutte]

Eris rolled her eyes. Oh of course the richest girl at the school had a horse that was bought and given to her by her daddy. She probably should've seen that coming from a mile away. Didn't these overstuffed nobles know that horses were a tool for war and transportation? Not something that was used for fun. That's what her father, Sir Fulton had always told her at least.

Did Melina think everybody had the same resources that she did? Eris family could scarce afford to keep one horse at home, let alone stabling one at the school. Even though she was already getting fed up with Melinas pretentiousness, Eris strove to remain respectful. No, I don't. She said trying to shoo away the maids helping her dress. We'll have to stop by the stables. That is if you don't mind of course.

Melina liked to think that she was more self aware than most nobles. Nobility was an ancient vocation and literature has reflected nearly every aspect of it from fiction to history.
Melina knew that she fit a stereotype, which is why she added "Though you probably would have assumed that" in her answer to Eris' question... Sorta as a way of acknowledging her privilege and purposely not trying to lord it over her new lower status roommate... Especially when it came to horses, which she admittedly knew less about than she let on, but she liked horses regardless.

But, given the divider between them, she couldn't guage the affect of her words.
"I don't mind at all, my horse is being kept there as well so it is not the least bit of trouble."

Once they were both dressed, they set out. They received many strange looks and heard many hushed whispers as they passed through the halls. What was the queen bee of the school doing walking around with a filthy delinquent?

Eris resisted the urge to storm over and slam one of the students against the wall and demand to know what their problem was. Instead, she stayed quiet, following in step with Melina. Eris felt like a dog being led around by her master, which was undoubtedly exactly what Melina had intended. There was also little question in Eris mind that she was being paraded around as the newest symbol of Melinas school wide conquest, under the guise of going riding.

Once they were prepared, the next phase of Melina's plan was put into motion...

The so called "walk of shame", though the usage of this term would be somewhat altered in this context.

They strode down the hall in a somewhat orchestrated formation, though most of it was put into practice by social hierarchy, with Melina walking slightly in the lead and her "inferior" about half a step behind.
And as they walked through the halls of the dorm building they drew eyes and evoked whispered conversation.

Even this was part of Melina's plan, to create rumors, to spread word, to start drama...
"Eris Fulton was seen walking with Lady Calcutte?..."
"Melina is quite proactive, isn't she? The Fulton family are knights, are they not?..."
"That Eris is quite cunning, to gain the friendship of such a powerful family..."
A socialite through and through. Any rumors, save for the most unsavory kind, are good rumors. The more your name gets thrown around the more people think about you, and the more they think about you the more they become interested, for good or bad, and once you are firmly rooted in their minds like this, you have a foothold to exert your influence.

So long as Eris didn't screw up, she could have both of them and anyone else who joined them at the top of the social ladder within a month.
Melina couldn't stop to admire Eris' self-restraint, but she was glad that the girl didn't give in to the temptation to embarrass them both.

She breathed a sigh of relief as they exited the school and made their way to the riding grounds. Eris selected a slight grey steed and patiently waited as the stable hand got it ready. Once it was saddled, she rode it out and brought it up alongside Melina. Well? Where should we ride? Do you have somewhere in mind?

When they arrived at the riding grounds Melina's horse was being prepared. A sleek and well groomed white mare with a yellow mane and a black spot on its nose.
Had she been wearing a normal dress she would have been forced to ride sidesaddle, but in her riding dress she was able to mount normally, with the aid of a stablehand and a stool.

It was a good day for a ride, not too bright and not too cloudy.
One hazard that came with living in a city made of glass were the dangerous rays that were filtered through its walls and buildings. People who had business during the day wore special eye protection made of black tinted glass to keep from going blind.
Today, though, was just the right amount of light to take a leisurely ride around the forested school grounds.

When Eris joined her she considered the question for but a moment.
"I suppose we can simply range for a bit and see where our steeds take us. Perhaps if we see something interesting we can investigate."

 

[Eris Fulton]

Eris rode silently, being careful to stay a step or two behind Melina and wracking her brain in an attempt to recall her mother's lessons on being a noblewoman. If only she had listened better to her mother's words and taken them to heart! But Eris had been so dead set in her dream of becoming a Knight, that the possibility of something else happening didn't even cross her mind.

As she took in the scenery passing by, snippets of bygone conversations with her mother formed in her mind. "Sit up straight!"... "Speak up!"... "No! That's the fish fork! The one over there is the salad fork!"... "As a low ranking noble, don't speak unless spoken to at court. Especially if there is a high ranking nobleman present."... "What do you mean you bought a new axe?! How are you ever going to manage your husband's estate if you keep wasting money in such a frivolous manner!?"

Eris thought to spark some light banter with her companion, but was lost on what to even talk about. As she opened her mouth to try, they rounded a corner and were immediately greeted by the sight of two other noblewomen. One, a bit on the shorter side with blonde hair and brown eyes, sporting a bejweled brooch that identified her as a prefect for the senior class. The other, a tall slender woman with black hair and forest green eyes. Before they had time to speak, the blonde woman had ridden over and offered her hand to Melina, making a clear point of ignoring Eris.

"Ah! Lady Calcutte, how do you do?" the blonde woman asked in a chipper tone. "Oh! And I see you've brought your new pet along! I had heard rumors that you had taken in a dirty mutt in a momentary lapse of judgement, but hoped against hope that it wasnt true." She looked Eris over like she was sizing up a piece of meat at the market. "Although... She is quite pretty, isn't she? For a lowborn mongrel I mean." she added snidely. "Are you sure that you're up the the task of training her, Lady Calcutte?"

Eris glared at the noblewoman furiously as she went back to talking to Melina as if Eris wasn't there. "You could've had anybody you wanted in the entire school you know. It didn't have to be her." she said in a confidential manner, but loud enough for Eris to hear. "If you'd like, I would be more than happy to help you fix your mistake, and find somebody else more suitable for your station." She paused to brush a leaf off her dress. "I hope you know that this little... acquisition will severely effect your standing in the eyes of your peers, and of the school." After smoothing out her dress, the prefect looked back to Melina.

"Anyway... I heard your sister was shipped off to that horrid city of Alliria not long ago..." Eris tuned out their banter and turned her attention to the taller woman. She didn't have a brooch as far as Eris could tell, nor was she dressed in a fancy manner. Was she also a "personal companion"? Whatever that means, Eris thought and went back to looking at the nature that surrounded them.

 

[Melina Calcutte]

Eris rode silently, being careful to stay a step or two behind Melina and wracking her brain in an attempt to recall her mother's lessons on being a noblewoman. If only she had listened better to her mother's words and taken them to heart! But Eris had been so dead set in her dream of becoming a Knight, that the possibility of something else happening didn't even cross her mind.

As she took in the scenery passing by, snippets of bygone conversations with her mother formed in her mind. "Sit up straight!"... "Speak up!"... "No! That's the fish fork! The one over there is the salad fork!"... "As a low ranking noble, don't speak unless spoken to at court. Especially if there is a high ranking nobleman present."... "What do you mean you bought a new axe?! How are you ever going to manage your husband's estate if you keep wasting money in such a frivolous manner!?"

Eris thought to spark some light banter with her companion, but was lost on what to even talk about. As she opened her mouth to try, they rounded a corner and were immediately greeted by the sight of two other noblewomen. One, a bit on the shorter side with blonde hair and brown eyes, sporting a bejweled brooch that identified her as a prefect for the senior class. The other, a tall slender woman with black hair and forest green eyes. Before they had time to speak, the blonde woman had ridden over and offered her hand to Melina, making a clear point of ignoring Eris.

"Ah! Lady Calcutte, how do you do?" the blonde woman asked in a chipper tone.

Melina smiled in greeting and accepted the hand of the approaching lady.
"Lady Tungland! What a pleasant surprise! I am well, how are you on this fine morning?"

"Oh! And I see you've brought your new pet along! I had heard rumors that you had taken in a dirty mutt in a momentary lapse of judgement, but hoped against hope that it wasn't true." She looked Eris over like she was sizing up a piece of meat at the market. "Although... She is quite pretty, isn't she? For a lowborn mongrel I mean." she added snidely. "Are you sure that you're up to the task of training her, Lady Calcutte?"

Melina gave a clear ringing laugh at this remark... A dangerous laugh to those with a sharp enough ear to catch its warning undertone.
"My word! that is such a brutal thing to say! But yes, it is true. Dame Fulton has agreed to let me tutor her in the ways of proper nobility and she's responded surprisingly well! Coming from a knight family certainly has its perks, her family has quite a bit of renown to their name as well in the last campaign of King Kyxo the Eightieth, I dare say she was born for the role of Lady-in-Waiting!"

Eris glared at the noblewoman furiously as she went back to talking to Melina as if Eris wasn't there. "You could've had anybody you wanted in the entire school you know. It didn't have to be her." she said in a confidential manner, but loud enough for Eris to hear. "If you'd like, I would be more than happy to help you fix your mistake, and find somebody else more suitable for your station." She paused to brush a leaf off her dress. "I hope you know that this little... acquisition will severely effect your standing in the eyes of your peers, and of the school." After smoothing out her dress, the prefect looked back to Melina.

"Awww, that is so kind of you to offer, Lady Tungland! I dare say I've never had anyone look out for me the way you have since I've arrived! Why, I'm sure all of your friends are just as charming as Dame Fulton and just as talented as well!"
A word trap. Tungland couldn't contradict Melina. Her friends were either just as boorish and stubborn and incompetent as Eris, or Eris was as talented, witty and pretty as any of Lady Tungland's friends. And Melina looks and sounds like a kindhearted saint no matter how Tungland takes it, as the one talking well of others and being benevolent and charitable to those less fortunate.

The double speak of politicians was practically an elective class here in the School of Script, and Melina was already fluent still in her first year.
Her doubling down with grace and talking up Eris's progress was the equivalent of saying, "I don't care if you're a senior here. How dare a lower noble lady like yourself dare to question a noble lady of my pedigree about my choice of companion."

"Anyway... I heard your sister was shipped off to that horrid city of Alliria not long ago..." Eris tuned out their banter and turned her attention to the taller woman. She didn't have a brooch as far as Eris could tell, nor was she dressed in a fancy manner. Was she also a "personal companion"? Whatever that means, Eris thought and went back to looking at the nature that surrounded them.

Melina continued the conversation with Tungland with a smile plastered on her face... Melina hid it well from Tungland and her companion, but from Eris she would not be able to hide the whitening of her knuckles on her horses' reigns at the mention of her sister.
"Why yes! My sister has been stationed in Alliria as the personal guard of the ambassador to the Reach! I heard the orders came from her majesty, princess Kyxo herself! By the way, have you heard the rumors? It is said that Princess Kyxo used to attend the School of Script to receive lessons in magic! Perhaps you could confirm whether this is true? She is not much older than us so I imagine that she might have attended during your years here?"

The quick switch in topic could certainly not go unnoticed.