<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/2/2f/AviciaB_zpscg0eysap.jpg)</div><br/><br/><strong>Name:  Avicia (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=266077.msg13173582#msg13173582)</strong><br/><br/><strong>CLIENT</strong><br/><br/><strong>Situation:</strong>Just arrived<br/><br/><br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Celeste, Andrea, OPEN<br/><br/><strong>Content Warning:</strong><em>None</em><br/><br/><br/><hr/><hr/><br/>For a few moments, Avicia stood motionless, taking the measure of the beautiful, imposing woman across the room.  This, clearly, was Madame Celeste: serene, confident, a self-assured queen surveying her domain.  She did not appear to have noticed Avicia, but there was no doubt in the older woman’s mind that Celeste was keenly aware of every person in the room.  For a moment, the tall Madame's eyes fixed on something that Avicia could not see.  Whatever it was that Celeste observed, she did not seem displeased; though it crossed Avicia’s mind that it was unlikely that queenly face ever showed any such irritation in public. She was dressed in the most elegant of gowns, a creation that displayed her statuesque curves so perfectly that it had surely been tailored to her body inch by inch.  Avicia’s hands dropped to her own gown, her palms stroking the heavy satin folds nervously.  For more than a decade, she had been praised as one of the most beautifully clothed ladies at the Emperor’s court; tonight, looking at Madame Celeste, she suddenly felt overdressed and provincial.<br/><br/>But truly, what did that matter?  Avicia let her fingers play over the smooth, cool grey satin of her skirts, enjoying the familiar, luxurious feel.  This gown was a favorite, and she looked well in it.  If it was overly modest, what of it?  She was a modest woman.  The One-Night Bride might change her, Tiye had warned; and Avicia hoped that it would be true.  But it had not done so yet.  Her gown suited her well; or at least, it did tonight.<br/><br/>Avicia took a few more steps into the room, admiring the many, varied beauties, male and female, human and otherwise.  She turned to make her way towards Celeste, but caught sight of a young man approaching her.  His form and his face were so beautiful that Avicia might have taken him for a male courtesan, were it not for the livery he wore so well.  His smile was both inviting and respectful, and she stopped, turning towards the young man curiously.<br/><br/><strong>“Dear Lady, would you desire something to drink, and of what vintage, strength and complexity would fill your desires and yet make you wish ever for more?”</strong>As he spoke, he inclined his head ever so slightly to his left.  Avicia’s gaze turned in that direction. To her astonishment, a lovely woman, exquisitely tall, lifted her glass.  Avicia gave her a smile of delight in return, both flattered and startled that in this great throng of beauty, anyone would have noticed her at all. And even in this arena, where each person was more glorious than the next, the woman with the glass in her hand stood out.  She was quite simply stunning.  Hair as white and shimmery as new wheat, eyes lively and bright, and even at a distance her complexion was as luminous as the pearls that decorated Avicia's bodice and hair.  Whatever could such a beauty want with a middle-aged widow from nowhere?<br/><br/><strong>“Mistress Andrea asks that your every thought and whim in the form of a drink be fulfilled posthaste, Milady.”</strong>The smooth, soothing voice brought Avicia's thoughts back to the young man before her, and she hesitated only a moment before tearing her eyes away from the woman and her gentle greeting, turning her attention to the question he’d put to her.  She found herself, suddenly, longing to accept the woman's kind offer; and yet....<br/><br/><strong>“If I accept,”</strong>she asked, her eyes turning back to meet the young man’s respectful gaze,<strong>“will it be a signal to her that I....”</strong>Her cheeks had flushed hot and her voice, while surprisingly steady, was low.  It was embarrassing, not to know such things.  And more embarrassing not to even know how to phrase the question.<br/><br/><strong>“Not in the least, Milady,”</strong>the young man assured her courteously, with a gravity that made it quite clear that he took her and her question seriously.<strong>“Mistress Andrea wishes to make you welcome, and to help you feel at your ease.  She but offers you hospitality, I assure you.”</strong>Mistress Andrea had not suggested to Travers in any way that she desired him to approach the newcomer on any other subject; and unless Mistress Andrea chose to involve Travers directly, whatever other interests she might have were none of his professional concern.<br/><br/>Avicia felt an immediate sense of relief, and realized the same instant how ridiculous that was.  As if there could be any embarrassment or awkwardness in being approached by anyone, in such a place as this!  Why else, after all, were any of them here?  With a merry smile at her own silliness, she turned towards Mistress Andrea, catching the woman’s eye.  With one hand on her chest, Avicia bowed her head to her benefactor in thanks.<br/><br/><strong>“Thank you --”</strong>she paused, glancing at the beautiful young man curiously.<strong> “Travers, Milady,”</strong>he supplied, with a slight bow.<br/><br/><strong>“Travers,”</strong>Avicia repeated, fixing his name in his memory, along with his eyes, the sweep of his strong law, the wave of his hair, and his lithe, supple body.  She wanted to remember every detail; every smile, every cushion and art piece and flash of color.<strong>“Travers, you may tell Mistress Andrea that my name is Avicia.  Please give her my most sincere thanks, and tell her that I would be most honored by the pleasure of her company once I’ve paid proper respects to my hostess.  And please bring me --”</strong><br/><br/>She hesitated, then, with a quick glance at Mistress Andrea, her eyes merry, Alicia gave Travers a  conspiratorial smile.<strong>“Surprise me,”</strong>she said.  A little frisson of excitement shivered up her back; she couldn’t even imagine what delights a place like this must be able to offer.<strong>“Something cold, not too sweet, if you please.  Nor too strong.”</strong>She was unused to strong drink, and she had no desire for her memories or her experiences to be clouded.<br/><br/>Travers returned the smile.<strong>“It shall be just as you wish, dear Lady,”</strong>he said.<strong>“I have exactly what you desire in mind.” </strong><br/><br/>And with that, he was gone; and before Avicia had even considered any gratuity!  She felt the heat of embarrassment rising to her cheeks once more, and promised herself that there would be another opportunity.  A little anxious, she turned towards the room once more, seeking the glamorous figure of her hostess.  It would not do at all to embarrass herself again.  She had already made a very large payment towards this night's expense, with Tiye acting as intermediary; but there would be other personal payments as well.  Taking in the opulence and the grandeur that surrounded her, Avicia was doubly glad that she had come well prepared this evening!<br/><br/>