Genevive retied her mask to her face, careful not to ruin her hair; she didn't go all-out with it, like some women had. The curly-mane thing didn't really appeal to her. No, Genevive kept it nice and simple; her wavy blonde hair was tied back into a pretty little half ponytail, but a few waves of bangs framed her face nicely. Her waist-length hair cascaded down her back, ending with gentle curves. The mask itself was- in her opinion, at least- not beautiful, exactly, but cute. It was a little cat mask, with a small pink nose and little pointy ears.


Her dress, while elegant, was also simple enough. Comprised of her two favorite colors- black and pink- the bodice was a pretty shade of a pinker lavender, with black lace outlining it. It hugged her curves, but allowed her to breathe, which she was extremely grateful for. Her top skirt was a rich black, like the starry night sky; beginning at the hips, it parted in a wide V to reveal the bottom skirt, which matched her bodice. Genevive wasn't totally bedecked with jewels, rings, necklaces, and other assorted jewelry; she kept it simple and elegant, enough but not too much.


Smiling slightly, Genevive looked around again at all the dancing couples. She was still slightly breathless from the last dance. She snagged a glass of wine from a passing servant and took a sip. Making her way to one of the walls, Genevive sat, her rich hazel eyes darting around the room as she continued to sip on her wine.

Antoinette stepped down from the carriage, her cream silk swirling around her slippers. Lightly stepping to the entrance, she shot a quick smile at the man standing there. He, in return, tipped his hat and swept a low bow. As he came up, Antoinette flipped him a coin: the glint of silver caught a wandering shaft of light from the hall. With another flickering smile, Antoinette continued on towards the door.
Entering the hall was similar to beginning a dream. In the earliest stages of drowsing, when the pictures in one's mind begin to solididize. The swirl of colors begins to sharpen: the dream takes shape. There is a marvelous feeling that anything can happen. Your heart picks up, and you feel yourself leaning forward, yearning to fall headfirst into a wondrous world of sounds and shifting light.
Antoinette drew in a sharp gasp as the beauty of the hall hit her. The blue eyes sparkled as she took in the draperies, the blinding gowns, the sparkling jewels. The feathers fixed the elaborate masks...Antoinette's mask, on the other hand, was rather simple. A line of creame tulle, fixed across those blue eyes.Her mask was not made, especially, for concealment. Antoinette had felt a certain twist of irony in her chest as she had pinned it to her curls. Who would recognize her, even without a mask? Young Antoinette, New Antoinette, stranger to a court so different, and yet so similar, to the one she called home. Why bother to conceal her face, when naught but few would recognize its shape any way?
But as she had stood, to gaze upon herself in her venetian glass, Antoinette had felt taste of determination upon her lips. Let her mask be transparent. Let them all gaze upon her face. All the better then, for they would know her a second time. They would know Lady Antoinette Rouge. They would see the red lips, the ivory skin, the cascade of golden tresses.
She would not be a non entity.
She would not be forgotton.

Her heart felt a little lighter as she surveyed it all: it was almost as though she were in Soleil once more.
Antoinette continued in, lifting her cream gown slightly. It was tightly cut, with thin quarter sleeves that hugged her arms, each ending in a spray of lacy tulle. The neckline was square, lined with the same fluttering, nearly absent tulle. The torso hugged her slender curves like another skin, accenting the gentle turn of hips, and the hinting flesh above the neckline. The skirt was all silk, going out at the waist to fall in gentle waves to the floor. The underskirt, clearly visible through the absent V in the front of the skirt, was a piercing, eye catching blue. Fixed to the neckline were three or four orchids, all in shades of pink and red. Dangling from her ears was a spray of diamonds, fixed into the silver frame of an ornate pair of earrings.
But sparkling much brighter then the gems were Antoinette's azul eyes, clear windows into the joy of her soul.
Yet tonight-that joy was tainted. It was was as though a dark shadow had been smeared across the glinting fun of the evening. For even at its brightest, this court dimmed next to the sparkling glimmer of Soleil. Perhaps it was the gowns-perhaps it was the wine. But if Antoinette had to pin it down, this ball was missing only one thing-
Lady Genevieve Velaire. Antoinette's best friend, sister, confidante, since before she had even known what the word confidante meant. Every ball, they had picked out partners, shooting smoldering glances towards the men, spinning a web of seduction that would catch any courtier-and laughing all the while. Days of scandal, nights of secrets, months of balls, years of friendship-all gone in a intanst.
Antoinette glanced around the ball. Even here, in a country so different from her own-she saw Genevieve. That blonde girl even looked like her!
Snap out of it, Antoine. Antoinette murmured in her mind. Even, so, the girl looked distinctly-was that a cat mask?
Instantly, Antoinette stepped forward. Only Genevieve would wear a mask of a feline face, surely!
"Vivi?" Antoinette called, slicing through the milling crowd. "Genevieve?"

((No, only Flamey would make her human character wear a cat mask XD))


Genevive sat complacently, humming slightly with the music. The food was there, the wine was there, the aura of a night for frolicking and romancing was there, the dancing was there, the music was there, but there was something missing. Genevive couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was just something out of place.


Perhaps it was because she wanted to dance with more men. She wasn't loose like that- but this was her first ball in this country, and she wanted to take advantage of the opportunity and meet as many people as possible. You have to kiss a few frogs before finding your Prince. With a girly laugh she brushed that thought away- how childish, really, to be unable to let go of the fantasy fairy tale ball notion.


Suddenly it occured to her- what was missing. It was her best friend, Antoinette. How could she have forgotten? She and Antoinette had always- always been together back in Soleil. And wasn't that the reason for coming back to Adesia, to find Antoinette and be with her again? Inserperable best friends, just like the old days?


Genevive almost thought she heard Antoinette calling her name, just as she would if she were here.


"Vivi? Genevive?"


Maybe it was because she had just been thinking about her long lost friend, but she could have sworn Antoinette was there. A little bit too much wine, perhaps? No, she thought, contemplating the amount of wine left in her glass. She had, after all, only taken a few sips...

Antoinette wove, carefully, through the dancing couples, her blue eyes searched behind the black tulle. They swept the room, attempting to pick out the blonde head once more...
With a sigh, Antoinette made her way back to the edge of the room. So now, on top of everything else, she was loosing her mind. Marvelous.
Antoinette leaned back against the wall, the cool stone chilling the back of her neck. She arched her back slightly: the chill was easily permeating the thin silk of her gown. Closing her eyes, Antoinette took several deep breathes. She had wanted it to be Genevieve so badly. For however wonderful this court was...however sharply it glittered, however brightly it shone, it was nothing without her sister. Her mind was whirling, spinning back to the last dance she and Vivi and attended....
Genevieve and I, twins in all but looks, were so akin in our desires to be rid of him. We had sworn we would not prank again, but Madame looked to be made of ice in her damask, her smile naught but lies. We hatched a plot over the soup, and while Monsieur dined on silver plates, we spun a plot of gold. As Roger rose to dance, with Lacey (she has been rattling about his attentions every since...sillly creature, does she not realize his attentions do not lie with us?) Viviand I swept up to the big table. Vivi, with a flawless ease, engaged those on either side in conversation. Her creamy beauty spun a web into which those poor men were quickly entangled. "Mon bracelet !" I cried, dropping to my knees. Unnoticed, I quickly crawled beneath the table, stuffing my fist in my mouth to keep from giggling. My silks rustling and bunching beneath me, I made my way to Roger's chair. As I reached the velvet seat, I paused, listening. From the sounds of it, Vivi had both men wrapped up in a conversation about where best to buy shoe ribbons. Shaking my head at the folly of lusty old men (no doubt they do not give a white about slippers, but rather, they give more then much about the girl speaking of them) I pulled the bottle of marmelade that I had in my hand out. As quickly as I could, I slicked the seat with the heady stuff, smearing the mixture all over the once rich velvet. As I hastily backed away, I could hear Vivi's chiming laugh. I popped up next to Vivi, brushing my blonde curls from my eyes. Masking my face in distress, I cried "Oh, Genevieve, je ne pourrais pas trouver mon bracelet !" As Vivi opened her mouth to reply, Monsier flicked a lazy hand at us. "D'Beutwon, D'Seerie, take these delightful little cakes out for a dance, hm? I should like to see them move." At his silky voice, I felt a shiver run down my spine. My hatred for this man runs cold in my veins, and yet....I shoot him a seductive smile, my gaze smoldering. "We should be honored to feel your Highness' gaze upon us." I murmur.
Antoinette smiled, the memory of the night lightening her mood. For it had been a night of glee, of happiness, of shimmering light and fun-all gone now.
All behind her.
Across the glittering sea...
With Genevieve.
Antoinette's gaze swept the room once more, a tiny shard of hope still pegged within her heart. When she saw it, she paused-
Was that a black and rose gown?
None but Vivi, surely, would wear..
Antoinette lept forward, cutting once more through the whirling, dancing couples. She was close-she caught a glimpse through a break in the crowd, and lunging forward, caught a wrist.
Whirling the girl to face her, Antoinette's eyes swept the stranger-or perhaps no stranger at all- incredulously.
"Vivi?"

Genevive closed her eyes, remebering all the good times with Antoinette... all the balls they attended together... all the mischief they got into... all the nights of silly girlness and giggling and fabulous dresses and sweet seduction...


With a pang of regret, she leaned her head against the cool wall and sighed. She missed Antoinette so much- she had never thought it would be so difficult to find her in her homeland. She should have found her by now... that's why she came back to Adesia. To stay with her best friend. To stay with her sister. Where was she? Surely, if she were anywhere close by, she would have attended this ball...


She sighed and got gracefully to her feet, prepared to search for a new dance partner to perhaps take her mind off of the empty Antoinette-shaped hole in her heart. Tossing her blonde curls over her shoulder, she turned and took a step away, but suddenly, something- or someone- grabbed her wrist. Her head snapped around.


"Vivi?"


Genevive froze in shock. For a few heartbeats that seemed to last years, she gazed into her best friend's open face, equally beautiful, equally shocked, equally ... equal. Scenes flashed through her mind of all the good times, all the old times, all the times that had happened and would never be again...


With a loud shriek of pure delight, she flung herself at Antoinette and wrapped her arms around her, suffocating her with sisterly love.


"Antoinette!" She stepped back, her hands on Antoinette's shoulders, and appraised her friend. "Cet a été trop longtemps puisque je dure vu vous! J'ai longed pour votre présence depuis vous êtes parti! "

Antoinette gave a little shriek of delight as she realized that is was indeed Genevieve. She too enveloped her friend in a tight embrace, throwing her arms around her friend's neck. As they stepped back, Antoinette's gaze swept her friend. Vivi's taste was impeccable-her gown was very stylish, very cutting, very-Solielian.
How very Vivi.

"Oh, Genevieve, c'était si long puisque je dure vu vous ! Je vous ai manqué. Toutes les choses que je dois vous disent. Et vous devez me dire de Soleil!" Antoinette eyes sparkled, and she threw herself once more at her friend. "Its been too long!" Around them, people were turning to stare at the two, shrieking, beautiful young ladies.
Antoinette didn't care. For she was reunited with the one person she had missed the most.
And now that she was, she was nearly bubbling over with news, and questions, and happiness in general. Her face felt as though it may split from the glee!
Antoinette grasped her friend's hand, and turned to cut a path through the coutier's surrounding them. Half dragging, half leading Genevieve, she finally managed to break out of the crowd. Spinning to face her once more, Antoinette exploded into talk.

"Pourquoi êtes-vous ici ? Comment long avez-vous été ici ?" She demanded, her blue eyes sparkling with happiness. "Vous auriez dû écrire!" She might have feigned false hurt, but in truth, nothing could touch her tonight. This was, this evening was-everything was-perfect. "Vous avez beaucoup d'histoires pour moi!" She impulsively hugged her friend once more. "Why didn't you tell me!" She cried out in English, lightly shaking Genevieve.

Genevive shrieked with laughter at Antoinette's hysterical enthusiasm. She herself was almost twitching with an intense happiness that threatened to well up in her like a giant bubble and burst. She felt extremely giddy, and had too much to say to say anything.


She burst into speech.


"Je suis si désolé que je ne vous ai pas dit plus tôt! J'ai essayé de vous trouver, mais cet a été extrêmement difficile. La vie voici si vieil et pourtant si nouveau. C'est stupéfiant. J'ai essayé de vous trouver depuis longtemps. Cela est pourquoi je suis revenu- être avec vous! Longtemps vous étaient comment ici? Avez-vous rencontré des hommes pourtant? Je suis si excité. Qu'avez-vous fait? Comment la balle a-t-il été? Qu'ai-t-je manqué? N'importe quoi est arrivé pendant que j'ai été allé? Me dire tout! Je meurs l'entendre simplement!"

Antoinette plunked down on a chair nearby, pulling Genevieve onto the one nearest. "Je ne peux pas croire que vous êtes ici. Quelle est la durée de votre visite? ---Duché qui êtes-vous? Je suis Pemberton. Ensuite, les hommes-Geneviève vous n'avez pas d'idée. Duke Edmund ... Duke Alden! Et puis, il y avait Lord Hugh et Lady-Non, excusez-moi-Marquise de Sérénité. Les gens ici sont tellement intense, Vivi. Certains sont tellement nature, certains tellement beau, et très snobby! Mais ne vous inquiétez pas vous-même et je peux les prendre en baisse d'un cran, maintenant que vous êtes ici!" She laughed, and gestured with one slender hand, taking in the entire ballroom. "It isn't Soleil, is it Vivi. But I think it will do, non?"

Antoinette turned her blue eyes back on Genevieve's hazel ones. "Allright then. Now that I have officially rambled to your satisfaction, you are to tell me what I have missed! Any flirtations in Soliel? Whatever happened with that handsome Baron? And Adesia-have you been here long enough to meet anyone of, ah...interest?"

Antoinette raised on slender brow, her eyes sparking with mischief.

Genevive's wide, glittering smile shrank slightly as she heard Antoinette's opinion about Adesia. They sounded... unreal. They were all so obsessed with only raising themselves that they create a perfect mold of what they should be and then seem to just... lose who they are. Them and their snobiness. But no matter- as Antoinette said, it would be so much easier to deal with it now that she was where she belonged- right next to her best friend.


A small, sly smile crept across her face. "J'ai rencontré Alden de Duc aussi," she said with the ghost of a giggle. Then a hint of sadness tinted her bright hazel eyes. "Mais il ne pourrait jamais aimer une telle fille simple comme moi. Il y a trop de filles autres- plus intelligent, plus joli, plus riche, plus spécial- cela attirerait l'attention. A lui, je dois être seulement une fille bête avec une bousculade," she added quietly.


She flicked her hair over her shoulder and seemed to shrug the idea off. "But no matter," she said quickly, forcing a small smile. "You're here now, and that's all I need."

Antoinette sat back slightly to look at Genevieve, her blue gaze sweeping her friend's face. Her gaze was question, worried. "Vivi. Vivi! Vivi, darling, what is this?" She took her friend's hands, held them tight. "Do you even hear yourself?" She shook her friend's hands slightly, a little laugh in her voice. "Genevieve, you know, and he knows, and every man in this room knows that you are beautiful. If you keep saying silly things like that, I'll have to slap you!" She shook her head, still looking bemused. "And Vivi, who has ever out plotted the two of us? Who has ever out schemed us? There are none cleverer when we put our minds to it. Must I remind you of all our little victories in Soleil? And as for riches..."Antoinette tossed her blonde hair over her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkling behind the mask. "This is not Soleil, dearie. They are many other things that often overcome such difficulties." She smiled a quick, mischievious smile.
Antoinette gestured again, her slender hand once more encompassing the glittering room. "C'est notre stade, Geneviève. C'est notre monde maintenant. Rien n'a changé, mais les noms. Je suis toujours Antoinette, vous êtes encore Geneviève, et nous sommes ici ensemble. Nous sommes jeunes, nous sommes belles, nous sommes la mode-" She brushed the glittering diamonds at her ears"- nous sommes tout ce qu'ils veulent."

She turned Genevieve so that they faced one of the great mirrors in the room. Reflected behind them were the twirling couples, the flickering lights, the dancing wine. Antoinette stepped forward, her face beside Genevieve. The mirror reflected two faces, two curling, riotous blonde heads, two sparkling pairs of eyes.

"Who could resist us?"

"Only the ones I'd want the most," Genevive muttered dully. "It always happens that way- you can't have what you want."


With a sigh and a sad smile, she touched one of Antoinette's golden locks. "I'm so glad you're here," she said. "I really missed you. But now I have other things to think about than back in Soliel."


She snagged a fresh glass of wine from a passing servant and raised it to her lips, sipping on the sweet cool liquid. She closed her eyes for a moment, just enjoying the scene, before adding, "Quelquefois je ne me sens pas assez bon. Je n'ai jamais pensé je dirais ceci, mais ce que si je ne trouve jamais un mari? Un bon l'un? Une valeur a? Et même si je fais, je ne peux pas l'aimer même. Je désire avoir l'amusement, Antoinette. Je veux danser, je veux chanter même si je chante horriblement, je veux flirter et jouer et la farce et est juste fille. Mais ici, je dois suis parfait. Je ne peux pas qui être je suis ou je serai rejeté. Comment que l'amusement est-il? Je veux juste quelqu'un qui m'aimera pour qui je suis. Typique, je sais."

Antoinette's blue eyes still held a hint of worry in their depths. She too beckoned a waiter close, requesting a glass of champagne-but she did not drink. She surveyed her friend over the rim, anxious, confused.
"Genevieve, is there something that has brought this on? Is there someone who has rejected you? Someone who has said something? Tell me, darling-who do I have to kill?" She smiled slightly, only half joking.
Antoinette turned to face the room, her cream silks swirling around her ankles. She took a sip of the sparkling bubbly in her hand, relishing the familiar taste of fizzling fun. She swept one hand across the room-the third time she had made the gesture in the evening. "Vivi, we can have our pick of these men. We are young, we are beautiful-we were the very best in Soleil. Do not tell me you have lost your edge." She turned back to her friend, a determined set to her mouth now. "Why do you pine for a husband so? This room, this land, is filled with handsome, eligible men-we have all the time in the world. So why must we do this now?"
Antoinette slipped an arm around her friends waist, pulling her round to face the room again. The hand holding the drink pointed each one out as she spoke of them. "Est-ce que vous voyez le bel homme là-bas? Oui à la tombée de la nuit un poil. Alden-Duc. Il est célibataire, complètement beau, et les plus déterminés flirter j'ai jamais rencontré. Je dois admettre-je tenir quelque chose d'un soft pour lui dans mon coeur. Mais, il ya de rumeurs .... mais peu importe. Et derrière la femme dans le hideux moutarde robe. C'est Hugh Seigneur. Bien au flirter ainsi pas beaucoup ici, je pense." She tapped the side of her head, giggling.
"Tell me, Vivi. What has happened? Why are you so.." She searched for the word. [B]"-amer? So douloureux?"[/B]

((I figured out how you write so well for this time period. It's because you read The Other Boelyn Girl! And now I'm reading it. >=) MWAHAHAHAHAHA))


Genevive paused, soothing herself. How silly, getting herself worked up all over nothing. Stupid really. No need to fall apart now, especially without a good cause. Staring at the floor, she allowed a few more heartbeats to pass in which she pulled herself together.


Looking back up at Antoinette, she smiled. It wasn't her old, perfect smile of joy and beauty, but rather the age-old courtier's smile after recovering from a shock. With a stab of fear she hoped no one else- other than her trusted best friend- had overheard her minor breakdown.


"You're right," Vivi said softly, staring into the icy blue depths of Antoinette's eyes. "I'm being silly. So silly. You're right," she said again, trying to convince herself more than her friend. "Everything will be fine. Everything will be... fine." She cupped a small hand around Antoinette's soft pale cheek, smiling gently. "I'm being silly," she repeated. "You're right. We're young, we're pretty..." She took a few more moments to appraise her old friend. "So pretty..."


She took it all in. The soft golden curls, the flawless pale skin, the startling blue eyes, dancing with joy, and youth, and beauty beyond measure... the curvy figure, the slim fingers and legs, the small hands and feet... she was so beautiful, so perfect. The shadow of a playful smirk still played subtly across Antoinette's face, despite the care and concern it showed now for her friend. So pretty...


Not for the first time, a stab of jealousy flashed through Genevive, lighting her veins on fire. It was anger, sharp, bitter anger... with a touch of sour sadness... and still a bitter-sweet taste of happiness for her friend. Like any girl, it pleased her that her best friend, her sister practically, was so successful, and wanted to see her rise... and the other half of her, the competitve, greedy, lusting, sinful side... wanted to see the fall of a rival. A dark shadow flickered behind the creamy golden hazel of Genevive's eyes, but only for a heartbeat.


Within the next blink of an eye she recovered, angry with herself for thinking such cruel thoughts. Antoinette was her best friend, and nothing would change that. She hoped. She should be happy that her friend was doing so well...

((Chica, you have no idea. Historical Fiction is ALL I READ. We are talking 14 or 15 Historical Fiction books JUST THIS YEAR. Lolzzzzzzzzzzzz))

Antoinette had been watching her friend, worry still flickering in her heart. This was her sister, her very dearest, most darling friend. Anything, anyone who threatened her had to be dealt with.
Immediately.
Antoinette 's mind twirled and spun, wondering what could have caused this. Had Genevieve been turned down by some man? Non, impossible. Vivi was a most stunningly beautiful lady. No man turns away when the spirit of youth comes dancing toward him with her long blonde hair, her svelte legs, her sparkling eyes.
Were there familial disputes? Antoine knew less then she should of Vivi's family. Yet surely, she would have told her already if there was something of that kind...
So Antoinette wondered. Her eyes searched the hazel gaze of her friend, anxiousness and love filling the azul orbs, the creamy face.
It was then that she saw it. It was like hitting unfamiliar notes in a lullaby your mother once sung over your bed. It was like a caress that suddenly becomes a blow. It felt as though someone had whispered something so sweetly in Antoinette's ear, yet the words were full of vile hatred.
For in Genevieve's eyes, Antoinette saw something. Something unfamiliar, something unknown, something...monstrous. For a moment, Antoinette could find no love in her gaze, no beautiful sisterly sweetness. She flinched from it-her mind whirled away from its sharp edges. She did not wish to know what it was, nor what it meant.
She had lied, when she thought in unfamiliar. She was foolish, naive, so determined for life to be perfect.
For she had seen whatever it was.
But Antoinette would seriously hurt herself before she would admit what it had been.
Antoinette had been torn away from Soleil in a matter that had left her heart open and bleeding. She had been caught in a howling darkness that had left her, naked and raw, on the shores of this new life. She was only know starting to pull herself up, to throw back her shoulders and take a step forward into her future. Her only beacon of light in that dark time had been her memories of Soleil. Each one as shining, shimmering thread, Antoinette had held them close, wrapped them around her wounded heart. They had been the stitches that had closed the wound, the shawl that she had pulled tight around her shivering body.
Seeing Vivi here was like a blinding blast of happines. A burst of light.
And so giving up her vision of a perfect Soleil, the vision that had held her together, would be beyond difficult.
So Antoinette chose denial. She would get things back to normal-no matter the price. No matter the the cost.
And yet-Antoinette had seen the flames in that gaze. She had seen the piercing shards in those hazel eyes. Antoinette drew back from her friend, Genevieve's hand falling from her face.
"I think you should tell me whats wrong." She said, her face closing, her blue eyes flickering across Genevieve's face. Those eyes-so cold. So chilly.