Private Tales The Party Never Stops

[Everleigh Ebersol]

It wasn’t often that Everleigh felt bashful. But as Liliana listed liquors that she had never even heard before— and the comment that one cost ten thousand(!!!)— had the purple haired initiate blanching. That was insane. A bottle that cost ten thousand crowns? What was it made from? Liquid gold? No, it had to be liquid diamonds at that point. Her dark brows drew together, curious about how Liliana even seemed to know about such things.

Of course, that moment of hesitation was wiped clean when they entered the underground grotto. Everleigh breathed in that humid air, excitement growing with each and every step. It wasn’t known but Everleigh was very big on cleanliness. She had to be. She used her sweat, blood, and tears to make poison. Or her saliva. And other excrements. She bathed daily because of that. She had to, there was nothing worse than climbing into bed filthy.

And often, getting hot water at the academy? A luxury that was hard to get. Luke-warm water if you were lucky. Often, Everleigh made due with frigid cold water. So the hot springs were about to be the absolute best experience of Everleigh’s life.

She was quiet, the steam hitting her face, the smell of mint and lavender and eucalyptus sweetening the air with a relaxing scent. Everleigh looked around, and spied the changing rooms. She lightly tapped on Liliana’s shoulder and pointed at the spot that could only be the changing rooms. She carefully stepped over to what looked like the mouth of a cave, although it was anything dark and dank.

It was brightly lit up with candles that smelled of the salt sea or tropical fruits or rosemary and basil. The two scents seemed conflicting but actually complimented one another really well. It was more cool here as well despite the soft glow from the arcane lamps that lit this area is a hazy, soft orange and pink glow. There were wooden stalls made from balsa wood, where Everleigh suspected they were supposed to change. A large shelf was near there, each rack holding large, white fluffy towels and robes.

Then it hit Everleigh.

“Do we only go into the pools with a towel?” There was a hint of mortification in her voice. She hadn’t really thought it through. She wasn’t sure what she had thought, thinking back on it, she didn’t have a clear image of hot springs, just thought of hot pools of water and nothing more.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana tilted her head slightly, as if she didn't quite understand the question. It took her a moment to process, then she answered with a smile. "No no, Evie. You leave the towel at the side of the baths."

They weren't supposed to wear them in the water, what was the point of that?

She smiled for a brief moment and began to walk towards one of the balsa wood shacks. As she wandered over Liliana began to strip the dress from her skin. Thin straps were pulled free from her shoulders, silk beginning to fall as she spoke.

"Don't worry." She told her friend. "This place is ours for the night."

Evie would catch a glimpse of Liliana as she stripped the rest of the dress from her body, letting it cascade to the floor as though it were less than a rag. "If the servants let anyone down here I'll have their hide."

She would be rolling in her grave before she let anyone she didn't trust join her in a spa.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh looked down, blushing. There was just something Different when it came to being naked in battle versus for leisure. There had been times when Everleigh did indeed strip everything off, harrowing situations that required her to be fully exposed. But Everleigh had been so gung-ho about winning and surviving that the shame never reached her. It still didn’t, Even when she thought back on it now. She’d do anything to win.

But there was nothing to “win” in this.

“Oh, yes, of course.” Evie murmured and before going into the stall she grabbed a towel first. While she was in the stall removing her shoes and her dress, she made sure to undo her hair completely as well. Thank goodness it was so long, the strands tickling around her ankles. She could use it to cover herself. Because really if random people that she would never see again saw her, she didn’t care. Evie was only worried what Liliana would think.

When she stepped out of the stall, the towel was firmly wrapped around her. She had the dress and shoes in her hand, looking around. A cubby for shoes, a concealed rack for clothes. She picked Liliana’s dress and shoes as well and went over to place their items away.

“Oh, do you think the message from Vel Anir was important?” A change of subject, a moment to catch her composure as they walked over to the large steamy pool in the center of the carven.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana stepped out from the stall almost entirely unadorned save for the robe that loosely clung to her form.

The small wrap of cloth around her belly might as well have not been there at all as she swayed out of the closet. No attention was paid as Evie diligently plucked her clothes from the floor, storing them comfortably in the cubby before turning her attention to Liliana.

"Oh who cares." She said with a roll of her eyes.

In truth she had absolutely no idea if Cousin Elise had sent her here for Vel Anir or just for House Virak alone. The Baroness had not shared the information with her, and that was a fact she would never admit to Evie.

"We're not here to talk business, Evie." Liliana said as she strode towards the pool, tugging at the loose belt at her waist. "We're here to enjoy ourselves."

The robe slipped off her shoulders. "So I'll hear no more talk of Vel Anir, The Academy, or anything related. Yes?"

She said, turning towards the other Initiate, robe gathered at her feet.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh frowned, just ever so slightly. But what if it was important? Or maybe it wasn’t. If it was very impertinent wouldn’t the porter have tried harder? Although Everleigh supposed when Liliana gave that look, it was hard to try and continue. So she shrugged, her hands gripping the top of the towel around her and fell into step behind Liliana. And then they were at the pool. While Everleigh began positioning her hair over her shoulders, Liliana’s robe fell to the ground. And Everleigh looked up.

Everleigh stared. Really. She did. For a second or two. It wasn’t a lascivious one as much as it was uncouth curiousity. Of course her violet gaze bounced right back up and stared hard at Liliana’s face. Only at her face! She wouldn’t glance down below her neck again!

If anything, seeing Liliana’s body only caused Everleigh to feel more insecure. And how had she learned to cope with her insecurity at the academy? Pretend it was a game. A game of nervous, yes, she had played that plenty of times before and had always won. She wouldn’t be nervous, if she lost, she’d cut all her hair right off.

Settled on that, she slowly undid her towel, although she did turn her back slightly to Liliana and folded the towel up, neatly placing it on the side of the pool. With a deep breath, a resolute stare, and not staring at Liliana, the purple haired initiate stepped onto the first stone step of the hot spring.

Warmth. The waters were hot, and yet the only thing Everleigh knew was that she couldn’t wait to immerse her entire body to this heavenly pleasure. She quickly moved in, her arms and hands positioned just right to cover herself before she immediately seated herself down.

The heat startled her a bit when the parts of her body that was pierced hit the water, a slight surprise that soon turned welcoming. Evie submerged everything from her chin down underneath the steamy waters.

She took a deep, slow breath, closing her eyes. When Everleigh exhaled, just as slow as she had breathed in the humid air, her violet eyes opened in a half-lidded fashion, watching the steam float about her.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana wasted no time at all submerging herself in the scorching waters.

Her steps were careful, almost trepidatious, but slowly she waded further and further into the hot spring itself. The water soaked around her, and as her shoulders submerged she gently swam over towards one of the carved benches.

An audible sigh escaped her as she settled into place, her head tilting back against the ledge of stone as she let the waters wash all around her. "Lovely."

She said quietly.

There were few instances that Initiates were allowed to relax. Even Liliana didn't often get to simply leave the tortures of the Academy. She had been through the same rigors that the others had gone through. This? This was truly a treat.

"What do you think, Evie?" She mused quietly. "Was it worth the wait?"

They hadn't even gotten to the best part yet.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

“Absolutely,” Everleigh said in a hushed tone, leaning her head back ever so slightly for a moment. “I don’t know if I ever felt this…” what was the word? Good? No, didn’t do this experience justice. Excited? Well, that had a bit of a weird connotation to it in this sense, did it now? Elated? Technically nothing got her going more than gambling, danger or anything else that got her adrenaline going. No this was more… “relaxed. I feel calm.”

It was a statement far bigger than good, excited or elated. Those were things she felt on the daily at the academy. But this was completely different. Because really how many initiates can say they have felt truly at peace within the confinement of the academy? Even Everleigh herself despite having such a big reputation that often kept others away couldn’t really have felt calm.

She always had her guard up. But now she didn’t. Not at all.

“Thank you.” The initiate couldn’t imagine anything better. “I never thought I could experience this.” Truly she didn’t. Everleigh had to be one step ahead of everyone, of people she didn’t even know. She didn’t truly know a day of rest. Even her muscles were naturally starting to relax, the rare bashful side of Everleigh was dissipating. She looked over at Liliana.

“Who knew hot water was far more magical than us.” Everleigh teased lightly.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana let the smile slowly draw over her lips. "It is rather..."

She trailed off, not knowing how to quantify the experience.

It was rare that any student in the Academy received such a treat. Even she was often denied these things. Her noble lineage mattered little within the reaches of the Proctors. In fact, many of them had used it as a way to target her. To ensure the misery of her life was only enhanced.

"Nice." She said finally, sinking further into the water until only the top half of her face remained above the water.

Liliana wasn't sure if there was really any other way to describe it.

"It will be an utterly magical night." She told her companion."As soon as the servants arrive."

Her features broke from the water. "We'll taste the world, and then..."

A shrug rolled over her shoulder. Who knew what would come next.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh tilted her head. She couldn’t imagine things getting much better than this. Not that she didn’t trust Liliana’s words. She was sure that whatever Liliana was thinking of doing with the alcohol, which Everleigh was a bit on the fence with considering her first taste of wine hadn’t been that appetizing, would be nice.

“I’m not sure anything could be better than hot water.” The initiate paused. “I’m going to figure out a way to get Zael to heat up water for me.” She said, partially thinking out loud. It was possible, right? It should be possible at least. The hardest part would be figuring out how to convince the pyro-lover to do such a thing.

She looked into Liliana’s eyes, and for some reason, thought of her and her gang. Trix, Jaxan, Delaney, Iggy, Charon, Kalix… She wasn’t part of their gang. She couldn’t be. Other than finding Trix, Jaxan and Kalix to be insufferable people, there was also no need for her. Trix had the poison covered, Jaxan had the acid covered, Iggy had the eating and regurgitating thing covered. Sure, all of those things were wrapped up in one nice and pretty package known as Everleigh Ebersol, but those three also had other things. They could, technically, do more. Their personal magic far more versatile and they didn’t need to work for that.

“You’ve done this before, right? Being in a hot spring… it’s not the first time for you?” Everleigh had never minded silence. Rather, she enjoyed silence, she was more of the silent type anyways. In her mind, silence resonated power, it was the loud ones that had something to hide, something to prove. But she didn’t want to think. Her mind, it wasn’t stilling, even if her body was slowly relaxing. But the one thing that always did manage to still her mind was listening to Liliana speak. Whether it was something unimportant or something one very much needed to know, Liliana did have that way with words that caused everyone to listen.

 

[Liliana]

She let out a small laugh. "Zael?"

Her head shook from side to side as she thought about the pryomantic fool. Over the years she had of course studied all of her classmates, assessing and watching each one in turn to see if they would somehow be useful to House Lorel.

"That's an easy one." She told Evie. "Simply convince him that it cannot be done, and he'll fall over himself just to prove it can."

For a moment Liliana considered, then added. "You could also just seduce him. He would probably fall over at the flash of an ankle and give you plenty of heat."

A shrug rolled over her shoulders, though her face told that such a thing was an option she herself would never choose. There were few Apprentices at the Academy that she would ever allow near her in such capacity. In fact she could count their number on one hand.

"I have." She confirmed with a nod. "A few times actually."

Liliana went through the same things as everyone else at the Academy, but when on missions she had far more privilege than most. "My family still ensures I am well looked after, when they can anyway."

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Evie tilted her head a bit Liliana’s words. The first thing she said, well, that was a good idea. The second idea?

“He’s spent a lot of time at brothels. I don’t think ankles get him going anymore.” She said plainly. Besides, if she could, she’d want to make it so Zael would be indebted enough to do it until she graduated, not just once.

“Do you…” obvious apprehension in the initiate’s tone and expression. “Do you ever see your family?” Everleigh was curious about this, she hadn’t seen her mother or father in fourteen years. She wasn’t sure if she would even see them ever again, or if she’d want to. There was a fear, a more intimate fear that Everleigh could never admit to and was unable to feel a flush of excitement from, and that fear was to see her parents and be completely unrecognizable to them.

She was sure many other initiates felt the same way. But Liliana was different. Once she graduated she’d go back home, wouldn’t she? Her hard years at the academy would be long behind her and she could experience luxury every day of the week. Right?

 

[Liliana]

Liliana chuckled. "Oh, that's just because he hasn't seen the right ankles Evie."

She smiled a wide, devious smile, but didn't elaborate.

Seduction had been one of the first things she'd learned with her magic. With men it was always easier than women. The weave she used was simple, hardly anything more than stoking a flame that was already there. Liliana knew she was attractive, and that combined with her magic made things rather easy.

Everleigh had seen it for herself more than once, though only when she had taken it to the extremes. There were far more subtle touches she could use, though they were often...boring. Most men were easy to break in her experience.

"Of course." She said, seemingly oblivious to Everleigh's plight about her own parents. "I saw mother just two weeks ago. Father a little more rarely, but he has been busy with all the...changes."

Her tongue clicked. "Uncle Isbrand used to come to the Academy, but..."

She shrugged.

Archon Isbrand had been killed during the Revolution, brought down by some errant First Level and some men at her beck and call. Liliana had mourned her Uncle, though not too openly. He had been a great teacher, often giving her advice on how to survive the Academy.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

The right ankles. Everleigh blinked. She had never thought about her ankles before. And… were ankles even appealing? Her brows dipped down together and then rather childishly she leaned back, bringing up a foot out of the water. Well, there was her ankle. A prominent malleolous poked out on either side it and she rolled her ankle about, tendons popping up before going lax. She then looked at Liliana, holding back the urge to ask to see her ankle.

Everleigh’s foot went back under the water. She wasn’t sure if her ankle was sexy or not, but she liked it enough. Hardly ever rolled out from under her no matter how fast she ran.

“Does your mother look like you?” Everleigh asked. It may have been a strange question, but Everleigh was quite curious. She looked like her mother a lot, the only thing she had really gained from her father was the color of his irises. But then, that question seemed to paltry compared to when Liliana mentioned her uncle.

“Your uncle was an Archon.” Everleigh breathed, her dull violet eyes widening at that piece of information. Despite Everleigh always having such mixed feelings about the academy there had always been a part of her that wanted to receive such a title, not just because she enjoyed reaching nearly impossible goals but also to spite everyone who saw her and thought less of her. But then, Everleigh came back from her fantastical reverie. “I’m sorry what happened to him.” This was true. She wasn’t nearly sorry that he was dead— she hadn’t done anything to kill him, but this is what people did to comfort someone else, to apologize for how they felt, perhaps? Apologizing was still a tricky thing that the purple haired initiate was learning.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana couldn't help the amusement that played over her features as she watched Everleigh let her ankles glide over the waters surface. Her head shook for a brief moment as she watched her companion, the smile drawing over her lips.

There was a temptation to say something, but instead she simply answered her question. "Yes."

Liliana explained. "She is of Virak line."

"Father was the one who married into the family." House Lorel was a branch house of Virak. Her mother had been cousin to Elise's father. There was an entire family tree back in the Virak Manor which explained it all, and Liliana wasn't entirely sure she could do so without it's assistance.

A small almost rueful smile appeared on Liliana's as the topic turned to her Uncle. "He was."

It was an odd sort of expression that ran over her features. The first time that Everleigh would see Liliana genuinely struggle to hide an emotion.

"He chose his path." Liliana said quietly, shrugging. "And it was the wrong one."

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh nodded her head along to when Liliana answered her question. She almost wanted to prod more, to ask her what features she had of her mother and what she had from her mother but figured that may have been a bit strange. She wondered if she had tried to ask such a thing if Liliana would think she was trying to do something horrid to the woman who had birthed Liliana.

But that moment soon passed and Everleigh saw how perhaps the subject of Liliana’s uncle wasn’t the best one. Or maybe, it was the best one. She had never seen such vulnerability on Liliana before and it was strange how even in the face of death, vulnerability didn’t appear on a dreadlord-to-be’s face. But speaking of familial ties, or rather the loss of them, caused many to realize that perhaps their walls weren’t as high as they once thought.

And the purple initiate had to admit: the last statement was so interesting. Everleigh was hooked.

“So do you believe in destiny then?” She was prone to asking the fate question, and nearly every answer had been the same. Go through the storm. Go through the storm. Always going throw that damn fucking storm. And whenever she had tried to explain the difference between fate and destiny, people seemed to regard her as strange. But as someone who had been in limbo so many times, who had experienced that inbetween of life and death, never fully dying, but always feeling so hungry when living, these philosophical ideals had become a guilty pleasure.

Others probably called it a crutch.

“Although, wrong path is an interesting way to put it.” Everleigh said, looking up at the ceiling, watching the flicker of the arcane light. “If he fully believed in his cause wasn’t it the right path for him? Dreadlords are not created to live long, if anything, it’s expected that they’ll die in battle. I’ve always wondered what’s better, living a fuller life or a longer life.” Liliana must know which route Everleigh was currently on, but Everleigh couldn’t say for certain what path Liliana was on.

Liliana

 

[Liliana]

Liliana considered the words for a brief moment, lips thinning as she wondered about Everleigh's suggestion.

Fate was not something she had ever really concerned herself with, neither was destiny. Not because of a lack of superstition, not because of any sense that it was wrong or somehow...different, but because there was something else entirely in control of her life. Something that was far more corporeal than destiny.

"I don't know." She answered plainly, and that was the only answer that she could give Everleigh.

Perhaps in time she could think on it, but even now the problem hardly seemed an important one. Liliana knew what controlled her, what tugged on her own little puppet strings. There was never a doubt about it, she'd known since she had been four years old.

For a moment she stayed quiet, then spoke again. "He chose the wrong path to be in my life."

The words hung in the air as she clarified, as if they held some hidden meaning. "For everything else? Maybe it was the choice he needed to make. Maybe that was his destiny."

A shrug rolled over her shoulders.

"Sometimes." She began. "We ar-"

Before she could finish her sentence the door to the spa creaked open. Her head immediately turned, and she spotted three servants pushing through into the Spa. Each of them had a cart practically filled to the brim with bottles, glasses, and buckets of ice. "Ah! Perfect."

She exclaimed with a happy clap.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh watched Liliana speak, a cool expression on her face. She was interested of course in this small tidbit Liliana was willing to share, but it was so hard to be vulnerable, especially at the academy. Evie feared that if she was too interested it could be seen as something with ulterior motives, but if she wasn’t interested enough then perhaps it seemed like She didn’t care.

The more Liliana spoke, despite it being so brief, Everleigh leaned in further and further, bit by bit. She wanted to catch everything, understand the blonde noble woman more.

Of course life had always enjoyed teasing Evie. She couldn’t ever have nice things.

She shrunk deeper into the water, arms and hands moving just so to further cover up her body, wet violent hair clinging to her neck. She glanced over at Liliana who seemed overjoyed to see them. The poison eater herself was still a bit apprehensive about all these bottles before them, curious about how each would taste and also a bit curious about alcohol in general.

She always heard of people getting drunk and all the shenanigans that would follow after. Everleigh saw that as a lack of control, a lack of control she didn’t want to experience. But that was probably from the academy’s teachings.

 

[Liliana]

"Ma'am. We brought as you said. An assortment from every corner of Arethil that we could find. We Ha-"

Before the servant could speak much more Liliana waved them away. "Yes yes, good."

She was still floating within the pool, but ushered the servants out of the room. When Liliana had said that she and Everleigh would be alone she had entirely meant it. These servants would not be allowed to remain. Even if they could make better drinks than she.

"See yourselves out, and add a generous tip from me." She gave a small smile, and the servants quickly ushered a thank you before turning on their heels and rushing out the door once more.

Liliana waiting a moment, then turned back to her friend.

"What do you want to try first?" The Noble asked, pushing herself up and out over the edge of the spa. She did not seem to care a bit for modesty, flaunting herself as she slowly padded over the warm rocks and moved over towards the bar. "Ouzo? Rum?"

She perused the bottles, then stopped and glanced back towards Evie. "No...wait."

The Noble mused.

"What is your favorite taste in the world, Evie?" Liliana had never been so animated, so alive. It was as though she had been let off some rope, unleashed and allowed to step free.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh didn’t pop up from the water until everyone had left the room. She looked back over at Liliana only to be met with the sight of her pulling herself out of the water. Everleigh turned red, her fair skin no longer just flushed from the heat of the water. She couldn’t imagine just walking around with nothing to cover herself with! The purple initiate had to force herself to look away, a swirl of strange emotions coursing through her.

Why was she so embarrassed? She had thought she had lost her ability to feel guilt or shame long ago, and here she was acting like some… some… some what? The only thing Everleigh understood was that she shouldn’t feel such shame. After all, Liliana didn’t. There was only one thing to do.

Copy the blonde.

Everleigh hoisted herself out of the water, looking at Liliana as she spoke. She did her best to keep her violet gaze at Liliana’s head. Stepping towards Liliana, Everleigh was faced with a peculiar question. Her favorite taste in the world?

Everleigh thought of that oily feeling she sometimes felt around poison, especially around a toxin she had yet to ingest. It was a hunger like no other, a hunger so deep that she couldn’t even eat. But that wasn’t about taste and really, what was she supposed to tell Liliana? That she liked the taste of cyanide?

“Dick.” Everleigh looked right into Liliana’s eyes, her face completely unshakeable, eyes steeled and serious. And then there was a slight crack in her facade, a smile beginning to bloom and brighten up Everleigh’s previous brooding look. “Actually, I have a bit of a penchant for things that are sweet, spicy or better yet, sweet and spicy.” Everleigh said honestly this time.

 

[Liliana]

It seemed to take a second for Liliana to register Everleigh’s response. Her face was a stone mask for a few seconds, and then it suddenly shattered as she let out an uproarious laugh.

The mirthful song of joy danced from her lips Evie’s jest settled on her mind, Liliana nearly doubling over as tears welled in her eyes. Her head shook, and she covered her mouth as though she were hiding some sort of impropriety. ”Oh…”

Liliana said, still chuckling.

”Oh dear.” The Noble said as she giggled still, hand playing with her pony tail. ”I didn’t know you had such…distinct tastes, Evie.”

Her head shook, but there was not an ounce of judgment in her tone. ”But…I don’t think that there’s a liquor here with quite that flavor.”

She mused for a moment. ”Though Iguess we could always find some young noble to hex.”

Liliana threw out her own little jest for a brief moment, smiling as she turned back towards the bar and perused what was there. After a few moments, and listening to Everleigh’s actual request she plucked out a bottle of dark purple, almost black, liquid.

”Ah. Black Bay Rum. Spicy and sweet.” She mused, glancing at Evie. ”Just like you.”

From another of the carts she plucked two glasses, pulling away the wax on the bottle of rum and quickly pouring each of them a small taste of the blackish purple liquid.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh had always had a rather… unexpected sort of humor. It was crass in some ways, and shocking to many. At the same time, to speak such a way, well, Everleigh expected that Liliana would have rolled her eyes, maybe chided her on not being funny. She didn’t expect Liliana to laugh as deeply as she did and it only made Everleigh want to make her laugh again.

She smiled, genuinely, her eyes twinkling not from mischief but from simple delight. The smile was closed-lip, small yet sweet at the same time, her lips gently tugging up in a soft tilt. It was at that point that Everleigh decided she would go out of her way to make Liliana laugh, truly laugh in such a weightless way.

After all, what were friends for?

“Oh my, shall we terrorize more handsome men?” Everleigh followed along, her smile now a grin that everyone should be used to seeing at the academy. “You really are a man eater aren’t you?” Everleigh almost felt a twinge of relief at being female.

“Very much like me,” Everleigh said, tilting her head at the liquid in the crystal clear glass. She held it up to her wet hair and nodded her head, the color was practically identical. “At least on the outside.” She said and then with Liliana, took a single sip. There was a heat from the alcohol as it slid down her delicate throat, but this time she didn’t sputter.

A slight wince from the liquor but nothing extreme. And really, it tasted delicious. The sweetness, that after taste of warming spice— Everleigh smiled again, looking down at her glass. It was a disservice to the liquor to say that she was just like it, could she ever have such a profound and unique flavor like this?

“I really like this one.” Evie said, and then glanced down again, although this time her gimlet gaze was focused on the variety of metal bars, studs, and rings on her body. Maybe she was really sweet and spicy? She took another sip, welcoming the heat this time. Almost like a inside spa for her chest and stomach.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana let her teeth sink into her lower lip for a brief moment. "Perhaps when we've sampled more of the delights already in front of us."

The Noble mused, drawing her finger over the rim of her glass. Glancing up at Everleigh.

"I eat whatever I please, Evie." She said with a smile, bringing the small glass to her lips and taking a sip of the rum.

It was true, men tended to be easier for her, but that was only because her magic relied on manipulating emotions. Until recently anyway.

She had found that it was usually simpler to make a man fall in love with her than a woman, likely because of their...tastes. Once or twice she had found a woman who fell the same way, and it had been simpler then too. Yet there was always a way to get what she wanted. Like there had been with Edwin.

Perhaps in time she would learn a softer touch even with those who did not already adore her. "We'll call that the Gold Standard then."

Liliana mused, plucking the bottle from the bar and setting it aside. "What next?"

The Noble said, perusing the bar.

"Why don't you pick one." She told Everleigh, taking another sip.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh nodded her head. In truth, the purple initiate didn’t much care if they would go out and flirt with noblemen. It wasn’t something Everleigh was accustomed to, and more importantly, not something she cared for. In the back of her mind were all her multitude of insecurities that she kept hidden, and physical appearance was a major feature.

Her violet hair. Her violet eyes. Her piercings. The fact she often was assumed to be elf or half elf. The fact that she was poison. All of those mixed together and culminated into a huge wall that she would never break down.

It was why those like Liliana or Tinker who didn’t seem to fear her abilities tended to be the only ones who could slip inside.

“Okay, let’s see,” Everleigh said, looking over at the array of bottles. She liked the one she was currently sipping on, but she was curious if there was something better. Which, there could be. Did she go with another dark liquor? Or mix it up? She paused, glancing over at Liliana. “Maybe something… like you, then?” She said softly, her tone sheepish.

But what would match Liliana? Everleigh had no prior knowledge with any of the bottles before her. Although it hardly meant she couldn’t try at least. When it came to the most dazzling bottles there were three that Everleigh found to be beautiful.

Slim, crystal bottles that had an interesting design around them. But there was one bottle that ultimately made Everleigh reach out for it: a design of lilies with a liquid that was a pale amber— much like Liliana’s hair.

“Genever?” Everleigh said, tilting her head. She prepared the two glasses, ice in each. With this cart there were orange peels and twisted and so she added them to the glass. She handed it to Liliana once she was done and briefly took a sniff of the alcohol. It didn’t smell as sweet as the rum, the hint of citrus and juniper cutting through that, but it didn’t necessarily smelled bitter either.

Liliana

 

[Liliana]

Liliana placed the glass gently at her nose, taking a small sniff of the liquid. A smile touched her lips as she took a small taste, the hint of citrus sweeping over her tongue. "Delicious."

For a moment she looked at all the different bottles then glanced at the hot spring. Her tongue clicked, and she shook her head.

"Perhaps we should have kept one of the servants here after all." She mused, feeling a soft buzz within her mind beginning to form.

Briefly she tipped the glass forward once more, urging Everleigh to pour a bit more of the Genever into her glass. Then she swept and turned on her heel. With sauntering steps she made her way back towards the Hot Spring. There was always time to taste more drinks later.

A rippling sense of ecstasy rolled over Liliana as she once again slipped into the waters, keeping the glass in her hand just above the steamy natural bath .

"Evie." She pondered quietly. "Do you know what it is you'll do after we graduate?"

Initiates were now given the choice after all.

Join the guard, join the reserve, or go into exile.

Liliana already had her choice made, but there had never been much of an option for her. It was the same for many of those who stayed in her company. Jaxan, Ignatius, and the others. Even after the Revolution, their choice had already been made.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh was more than happy to pour another glass for Liliana. So she had picked out something she liked then? Everleigh couldn’t help but to express a small smile of delight, a happy warmth coursing through her as she placed the genever back into it’s bucket of ice. She heard Liliana head back into the pool and while the genever was light and refreshing, really, she preferred the rum. And that was what she brought with her when she went to settle back into the hot water.

She sighed, content once again. Everleigh did have a strong liver, thank you poison eating, and more immunity to toxins than the average person. Of course, her immunity was only built up over a course of actually consuming things. So at this moment, she had no immunity to alcohol. Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

It felt nice to be this light, to feel a sense of languidness when she moved, to not feel how tight and sore and tense her body constantly was. The warm water helped her relax. The alcohol helped her relax. But a part of her still needed to be in control.

“After… I graduate?” Everleigh echoed, looking down into the purple liquid in the crystal glass. The heat from the hot waters was causing the cool glass to condensate, a film of steam quickly forming. “My only choice is the join the guard. All the proctors tell me I’ll be a great tactician, yanno, because of my mind.” With her free hand she tapped her head, and at the same time, rolled her eyes. She heard the whispers, how blessed she was with her eidetic memory, her hyperthymesia. Why the hell not put her on the battlefield then? “It’s not like… I mean, if I was in the reserves, what could I possibly do? Could never see my parents, if they’re alive, and I really dislike… being… lazy, I guess. So yes, the guard is the best decision.” Exile was not an option for her.

“Although I’m certain they’d rather not have me on the field so they can have their steady supply of poison.” Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe something else but she blurted out a harsh, bitter laugh. “Such a waste of my talents. I’d love to stick it to them, Proctor Palahniuk, Proctor Novgorodoff, all those… you know, that sort, and become a proctor myself in the future. I’d love to see their faces. I’d love to come in more powerful than them.” Everleigh grinned, and then stopped. Looking at Liliana she raised a brow.

“You’ll go back home, right? I mean, I can’t picture you in the guard. And your magic… it’s much better suited for… noble politics.”