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Post by Evangeline Constantinides on May 15, 2010 3:58:35 GMT
The hallway was dainty, and polished. It's elegance far surpassed the corridors at Eva's home palace. She decided that the pristine, and feminine look was not her style. Eva preferred the rugged, classical styles of her beloved Athens. She sighed with a sort of homesickness. It was difficult being away from the place you grew up in. She loved her home so much and being away was often terrifying. Here it wasn't so bad, she was still in the company of most her family. Eva knew that sooner or later she would need to face the outside world. She traveled a bit over the winter, but planned on spending the summer home. This Russian get-together was something that seemed to take up so much time and accomplish nothing.
The hallway's candles flickered in their crystalline chandelier holders. Eva's thin lips curved upwards at the corners and she neared a window. The window was like that of a chapel, high and rounded at the top. Thick stones curved around the window and the sill was large enough to sit upon. Eva slowly moved towards the window sill, and looked out upon the Russian landscape. The castle grounds were breathtaking and she could see many people milling around. She had never seen so much royalty in one place! She chuckled softly as a dog nipped at the heels of a very snobbish-looking lady.
The scenery was perfect. Eva relaxed and took out her sewing. She focused on moving the thread, and the sun's rays reflected beauty off of her face and her work. Eva was able to enjoy these simplistic moments, but she also secretly longed for adventure. She wondered when her prince would come and what it would be like. She also wanted to know what it was like to visit all ends of the earth. One step at a time, she told herself.
Eva started humming a classical piece that was played earlier that day and she became lost in the moment...
Status: Complete
Notes: Sorry it's so short. I will write more next post. 
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Post by Niklaus Constantinides on May 15, 2010 21:39:44 GMT
The bath water had grown cold leaving the Greek prince shivering slightly beneath the water. He stared at the large stained glass window, listening silently to the commotion coming from outside. He heard a few voices and laughter which made him wonder who was just outside the bathroom window and what exactly they were doing. Most of the voices were soft and sweet, indicating that the group just on the other side of the glass was a group of women. It surprised him that he was even able to hear the now faint voices seeing that the bathroom was located on the second floor of the palace but soon his entertainment disappeared as the sounds of the soft voices faded. This was his cue to get up and get out. He now felt as if he’d been abandoned and left out despite the fact he had no idea who had been on the other side of the wall.
Wordlessly he pushed himself out of the deep Victorian tub and crossed the bathroom and into his room, bare and dripping wet. Ignoring the trail of water he’d left behind him from the tub to the end of his bed, he dressed himself swiftly into a pair of comfortable dark slacks, boots, and a loose, white Greek top. His clothing stuck to his skin slightly, the cottons absorbing the water that dampened his body. Turning on his heel, he skipped looking himself over in one of the large vanity mirrors and exited his room into the brightly lit corridor, squinting softly. He stalked over to the large window just across his bedroom door and looked up towards the sky.
The sun was set high, warming Niklaus’s face through the glass. He assumed it was just after noon which to him was still early. Typically he was still in bed at this time but throughout the night he hadn’t been able to sleep due to reoccurring nightmares. The cause of the unpleasant dreams was unknown but the prince was thankful the night had been over and he was able to wander the corridors freely without the worry of waking someone. Most of the night he had kept himself in his room, simply lying in bed and staring about the darkness. He would have gone and stalked the hallways to get his mind off of things but it was terribly late at the time.
Shoving his thoughts aside, he locked his hands behind his back and began making his way down the hall with no particular destination in mind. This became routine for him and it never failed that entertainment seemed to find him. It was never long before he ran into someone he knew which was generally a woman. The conversation wouldn’t get too far before he and his acquaintance made their way to either of their rooms to crash their hips against one another. Nik knew this game he played would eventually turn around and get him into some sort of trouble but at the mean time, he didn’t care. To him, he was simply just trying to have fun.
Smiling thoughtfully to himself, he continued down the hall until a woman came into view. He could only see her back, her beautiful blonde hair flowing past her shoulders. The Greek prince made an attempt to guess who the young girl was but it could have been anyone. There have been plenty of beautiful blondes he had bedded and there was no point to silently play the guessing game with himself. Instead, he approached the woman curiously, moving past her inconspicuously and taking a glance over his shoulder. Yes, the face was familiar but it wasn’t one he’d been expecting to see especially here in the Peterhof Palace. He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned to face his sister, the smile that had been adorning his face now twisting into a slight scowl.
“Sister…” he muttered with his voice laced with slight disgust. “I didn’t expect to see you here.
[/color]” He carefully looked over her face then looked down at the needle and fabric clasped in her dainty hands. “ I’m assuming father and mother forced you here against your will like the rest of us?[/color]” Well, it didn’t take much to convince the oldest of the Constantinides children to come to Russia for a large gathering. All Niklaus’s mother had to tell him was there were to be “plenty of possible matches for him to chose from” for the prince to make up his mind and decide to go.[/blockquote][/blockquote] EVANGELINE | COMPLETE [/b] [/size][/font][/color] |
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Post by Evangeline Constantinides on May 16, 2010 15:19:27 GMT
Eva continued her leisurely sewing, the sun getting warmer by the minute. She was ready to get up and move when a shuffle behind her caused Eva to jump about two feet out of the padded window sill seat. The needle pierced through the fabric and into Eva’s hand. She winced but took the needle out slowly. The presence behind her did not speak, but casually sauntered on. Eva knew that not all of the people roaming these grounds were particularly safe. Eva’s mother had warned her to keep a bodyguard around but she brushed that thought away.
The person walked forward and Eva could tell it was a man. The husky smell of a male but also had a tinge of something very familiar. She swore she had smelled that scent before. Out of her peripheral vision, Eva saw the man’s good posture and lush dark hair. He walked with dignity, but you could easily notice his fatigue. The stranger seemed to make no notice of her. Eva looked down at her bleeding finger for a moment and then looked back up, suddenly recognizing that gait…and that smell. It was of Cyprus and saffron. These scents lingered in her nose as she reminisced on the memories of home. The man was obviously from Greece, and when he turned his head to look at her, Eva let out a small breath.
It was her brother, Niklaus. Dear Nik, she had not seen him for a couple years now. The pain of losing a brother was always near to her, and she wished to settle their differences one day. Now that he was here, Eva did not quite know what to say. Why hadn’t her parents told her of Niklaus’s presence among this Palace? Maybe, it was their doing to get the siblings back together. Eva froze and watched as Nik’s face changed from curious and inviting, to cold and hateful. Eva leaned back a bit and froze when he spoke. “Sister, I didn’t expect to see you here.” Same here, Eva thought and her bleeding finger shook a little. She hated confrontations, and really wanted this issue to be resolved. Niklaus seemed so foreboding sometimes, however, and she could not speak yet.
“I’m assuming father and mother forced you here against your will like the rest of us?” His words sounded a little forced to her, and she could tell this was hard for him. All he ever wanted was the trust and support of his family. Eva did not agree with his standard of living. How he would jump into bed with any broad, oblivious to the consequences. He formed warped fantasies about women and Eva did not like this side of her brother. She only wished for the younger days when they would play hide-and-seek in the gardens. Nik would always look out for her when one of her other brothers felt the need to tease or push. He was her protector and she loved him. Now the tables had turned, and she felt like a dirty rag. Eva wishes she could just accept the fact that Niklaus is the way he is, but she cannot.
Carefully, Eva picked her words and spoke softly, “Hello brother. Father and Mother sent me here, yes. It was not against my will however.” She spoke calmly and did not wish to stoop to his level. She was the younger sister and he still acted like a child, scorning Mother and Father as well. Eva was growing to the fact of being here in Russia and did not blame her parents. They were only looking out for her. Maybe they too hoped for reconciliations among Eva and Niklaus. Eva knew in her heart that this place was a sea of fishes for Niklaus. He could have the pick of anything or anyone he wanted. Like a shark, residing at the top of the food chain. Even if he had known of Eva’s presence in the building, the thought was not nearly disgusting enough to stay away from the beauties the palace beholds. Eva shook her head from side to side. “Where are you staying, Brother?” She wished to know for protection only. Never would she cross by his room for sisterly advice, or mere conversation. The thought of finding a girl in his bed was sickening and Eva’s good morals led her away from those forbidden areas. Her eyes were downcast and the cut on her finger did not hurt so much anymore.
Status: Complete
Words: 751
Notes: How do I make the posts more centered like yours?  [/size][/color][/center] |
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Post by Niklaus Constantinides on May 16, 2010 19:47:01 GMT
By the look on her face, he could tell that Eva wasn’t exactly thrilled to see him just as much as he was to see her. His eyes moved from her delicate face down to her hands, looking over the fabric she held so gently. He spotted the needle as it glistened beneath the light of the sun that peeked brightly through the window and immediately noticed the red tint at the tip of it. His sister had accidently pricked herself which was no surprise. Even when she was a child, she always seemed to be so clumsy and a bit careless. Had she not learned to stay away from things that could hurt her? Especially sharp objects. A smile itched at the corner of his lips but he fought against it. He was amused by the thought of his little sister being so uncoordinated but he didn’t wish to show it.
Awaiting her response, he stood there silently allowing his eyes to wander from their original focus which was her face, down to her bleeding finger then over to the window. He was never one that enjoyed to keep still but his own fidgety habit annoyed him at times so he tried his best to fend it off. Awkwardly, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his hands still locked behind his back. It was something he generally did when speaking to someone just out of general politeness.
As his sister finally spoke, the oldest Constantinides prince frowned softly to himself. She had sounded much more different than the last time she spoke. In fact, Niklaus couldn’t remember when that was. It had been years since the siblings had seen or spoken to one another and regardless of the fact that they had grown up together, it felt as if Eva was a stranger. If Niklaus could have had it his way, they would have been close like they were when they were children. He hated the fact that they at times couldn’t bare to look at one another. Yes, he understood why his sister had animosity towards him. She and the rest of the family didn’t agree to his little lifestyle but at times he just wished they would accept it and accept the way he was. It seemed he was never going to change and even he knew that. It wasn’t that easy to simply give up something he enjoyed. Old habits die hard.
“Well, that’s a surprise.” he said in response to her willingness to come to Russia, though it truly wasn’t unexpected. Unlike himself, Evangeline was always obedient and did as their mother and father asked without question. Being as stubborn as he was, he was the exact opposite. He always had been even when he was younger. His hardheadedness only worsened with his age. “I on the other hand was not forced as well.
[/color]” he began, smirking slightly. “ What man in their right mind would dismiss an opportunity like this? I’m surrounded by beautiful princesses and duchesses almost every day.[/color]” He was certain Eva wouldn’t be amused by his little joke but despite this, he snickered to himself. Her question confounded him, causing him to arch a brow, the amusement washing off his face completely. Where did he stay? What did it matter? Did he disgust her that much for her to want to know where he slept so that she could avoid him at all costs? The idea angered him but he kept his composure. His hands tightened around one another behind his back, some of his knuckles cracking softly beneath the pressure. He took a moment to deliberate on the best answer to give her. At first, he thought it better to leave the matter alone completely but knowing his sister, she would press the matter until she got her answer. With a roll of his eyes and merely nodded towards the direction he came from. “ Just down the corridor a bit.[/color]” He narrowed his eyes towards the window then looked back to Eva. “ However,[/color]” he began with a smug grin. “ I reside in various rooms. Sometimes more than one a night. Simply depends how lucky I am.[/color]” The statement was both a joke but terribly true. It wasn’t unusual to find the Greek prince sneaking out of one princess’s or duchesses’ room to lurk into another. Rarely ever did he bring a woman back to his own chambers as he preferred to leave shortly after they had finished. He was well known for his crude antics, yet women continued to fall to his feet like slaves. Though it was shameful and his reputation wasn’t the best, he was still proud of himself regardless.[/blockquote][/blockquote] EVANGELINE | COMPLETE [/b] [/size][/font][/color] |
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Post by Evangeline Constantinides on May 19, 2010 0:39:55 GMT
Eva’s hands shook as her anger came to the surface. She frowned and her face became as red as a tomato. On these rare occasions when she displayed anger, it usually had been towards Niklaus. Her bottom lip quivered slightly with frustration. His sarcastic and rude remarks made Eva cringe and she wondered how so much scorn and hate could come between them. His comment about loving Russia for the ladies made her stomach turn but she kept a cool head. He snickered in satisfaction like a schoolyard bully who just threw a kick in the direction of a younger child. Nik’s antics made Eva think of him more as a child than a man. Her disgust grew with each passing moment.
Eva noticed his restraint too when she had asked but the simplest of questions. He seemed to be just as uncomfortable as her, maybe even more. Sure she had been making small talk and did not particularly care one way or the other where the stallion stayed, as long as she kept to her corridors on the other side of the palace. Eva snapped her head up after hearing his smug answer, and glared her icy blue eyes in his direction. Lucky? Lucky was not the word Eva would have used. She felt embarrassed by her brother’s actions and hoped he would never rule because of it. She would never tell him this, however, for it might just put him over the edge. Her eyes often showed her vulnerability but Niklaus had seen them blazing and angered many times before. She did not care if she was supposed to act like a proper princess. Her upbringing had taught her to forgive and be compassionate, but it all seemed to go down the drain at this moment. She wanted nothing more than this conversation to be over with and her brother out of her life. Or did she? Deep down in the crevices of her heart she knew that she loved Niklaus and wanted him back in her life. The fear and anger overruled those small responses, though and today she would stand up to her big brother.
Eva’s embroidery fell to the floor and she got up from the window seat, not caring about the minor slit on her finger. The sun beat through the window intensely and really set the mood. Its rays burned into Eva’s face and lit up her expression. She waltzed right up to Niklaus and looked him straight in the eyes. He was quite a bit taller than her, but she did not feel intimidated at this moment. She stood her petite body up on tiptoes and maintained scorching eye contact. Her lips quivered fully now, an involuntary thing that happened whenever her emotions flared. “Well, Niklaus. We’ll see how lucky you are when you find yourself fathering more children than you can handle!” She turned to walk away, realizing her stupid comment would not even dent him. He did not care whether he ended up fathering children or not. Her cheeks flushed red and her eyes flooded with tears. She chastised herself silently for the humiliation and indignation, and then she started walking back the way she came. Realizing she forgot her embroidery and hoping Nik had left too, she hurried back down and picked up her tattered fabric.
Staus: Complete (finally)
Notes: Sorry it took so long!
Words: 557
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