Clarisse sighed glaring at Symmone. "There is no way I am going to the Masquerade Ball! I'm not ready yet, may be I'll go to the next one! Anyway, it really isn't any of your buisness!" She then started cursing in french storming off from the palace. It wasn't really all of Symmone's fault she was angry, but lately Symmone had become less and less friendly and trustworthy, and more suspicous. Who knew what people would let slip, when gold was dangled under their nose?

She had on her normal pink satin dress, but she had refused to weir her veil today. In addition, she had on the plain gold chain necklace Beu had given her, pink slippers, and the antique fan. Light golden blonde hair, shimmered in the sunlight, flighing around recklessly in the breeze. Symmone had begged her to put it up, having your hair down was sooooo "un-ladylike". Well, Clarisse couldn't care less what was ladylike and what was not. She missed her home, she hadn't been able to see her brother, even though he lived right in town, and of corse her heart ached for Beu, though she tried to move on.

Sneakily she pulled out her diary, quill, and ink she had smuggled with her, before being taken away by a breath taking sight. A river sparkled brightly in the warm radiant rays of the sun.The animal and plant life was abundant, and she collapased passionately to the ground in awe. Quickly she uncorked her ink bottle, dipped in her quill, opened her diary, and began to scribble away furiously, entwined with a new story idea. Her secret ambition had always been to be a writer, and whether it was considered proper or not, she would make sure that dream came true.

Lucy wandered along the river, breathing in the beautiful sunshine. Truly, this was like a tiny piece of Heaven here on earth. The warmth of the sun, the slight breeze, the sparkling river, the fragrant greenery...yes, if every day could be like this, she would never want to leave.

She continued her walk, carefully holding the skirts of her red gown up so they would not trail in the grass and mud...she personally would not care so much about stains, but her maid Anne would have a fit and immediately send a letter home to Lucy's mother, who would probably come straight here and lecture her about the impropriety of her actions in front of the entire Court, including the king and princess. And that was definitely the LAST thing Lucy wanted...she wanted to make a good impression on the monarchs, and such an embarrassing display would have exactly the opposite effect. So like a dutiful daughter and proper lady, she held her skirts up as she walked. Not high enough to expose her ankles, however...that would have been an even more serious breach of etiquette than a stained skirt.

As she came around a bend in the river, she saw another young woman sitting near the bank, seemingly absorbed in a book in which she was writing almost frantically. A letter to home, perhaps, or to a lover? Or perhaps simply a journal, or some such thing, used for writing one's private thoughts. That would explain the speed and seeming carelessness of the writing; when writing only to oneself, nothing mattered except getting one's thoughts down...spelling, grammar, even penmanship were all irrelevant. Lucy made a mental note to start a diary of her own, as her thoughts were becoming tangled enough for her to wish to sort through them in whatever way she could.

Slowly, she approached nearer to the girl, not wanting to disturb her concentration, however. Instead, she intended merely to pass her and continue along the river. But as she passed, she accidentally stepped upon a small twig, which snapped with an unexpectedly loud crack.

Crack. Clarisse looked up startled, sucked out of her writing. She realized it was a lady, perhaps another courter? May be even a possible friend. Shutting the diary shut, (she could always continue her story later) Clarisse put down the quill, sealed the ink cap on firmly, and finally pushed a stray lock of light blonde hair back behind her ear.

Smiling, Clarisse stood up, brushing stray grass off her dress. She then offered her hand to the lady, "Salut, I'm Clarisse Fleuriot. Sorry about the err. . .writing there and being so secretive. My maid doesn't really approve, so I have to do it away from her watchful eye." Clarisse blushed.

Inez was fuming when she found out what one of the other ladies-in-waiting had done. She had not even been at the palace two days, and yet, the girls she was supposed to be friendly with, make idle chatter with had did the foulest thing: those little minxes took her hood! She supposed it was probably the dark haired one, who's hair was darker than poor little Inez's. From what she knew, here in the Sapphire realm, fair haired, skinned and eyed was quite in, and sought after. Not many women went to the extreme to keep or make their flaxen hair, however, when she witnessed a few other courtier women painting their skin white, and their cheeks red, Inez supposed they did their best to stay as pale, rosy and demure as possible.

On the other hand, there was a certain dark, cursing Spanish girl, storming across the grounds of the palace like a madwoman. If down and free, her light chocolate locks would naturally wave (with a few loose curls here and there) loosely around her back and waist, however, it was pinned up with the few remaining pins she could find, a few loose hairs coming down in spirals to frame her green eyes and to contrast with her olive-beige skin. Chicas estupidas, she thought wildly to herself, as her green eyes took in the view of sudden greenery. She came to a slower gait, then as her fury subsided, came to a pause, then eventually a full stop. Her equally green dress fluttered along her ankles, just as her dark lashes curved against her cheek as she squinted her eyes, trying to get a better view of where she was. Probably not far from el castillo, however, in her outrage, she had ventured from what she knew, to somewhat of place she never ventured. She was near the foul smelling river, she could tell that much, however everything else confused her.

She peered around the bend, her green-gray orbs wide with curiousity, taking place of the previous fury that was once held in her eyes. She saw two girls, both rubias, or blondes with fair skin, both conversing. She felt a bitter pang of jealousy rise in her heart, resentment for the fact that she had no one to speak to, no one to merrily chat about a days work of lively conversation, courtly love, merriment galore. It sickened her to know that was how her life was going to be from now on, however, she knew if was better than servitude, just as her mother had once been in. Well, despite the fact that her mother was only a mistress. She kept peering, more like spying on them, stepping forward a tad. Sad thing was, that her dress was quite long and with that step, she tripped over the gown, sending her tumbling onto the equally green earth. "Maldiciónes!" She hissed loudly, more to herself than anyone else, as she tried to help herself up. Embarassed and now sure she was the mockery of the day, she took a slight glance at the two other girls, wondering what they were thinking of the whole incident.

Lucy smiled back at the other girl, shaking the proffered hand tentatively although she wasn't entirely sure it was the proper response. But she could hear an accent in Lady Clarisse's voice, so perhaps it was the custom in her homeland...Amethyst, if she inferred correctly.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Clarisse," she said with a smile. "I'm Lady Lucy. And don't worry about the writing, I do not see anything unladylike about it! I am actually meaning to start writing in a diary myself."

Just then, Lucy heard a muffled curse, at least it sounded like a curse though it was in a foreign language, and she turned to see a dark-haired girl stumble towards them, falling to the ground. She leapt up and ran to her, holding out a hand to the girl. "Are you all right, my lady?" she asked with concern.

Clarisse smiled at Lucy, when she heard a curse. Another lady had come, quite beautiful too, and stumbled. Giggles erupted from a servent's mouth and Clarisse shot her a nasty look. Coldly to the servent she said, "Oh yes, a fine day to laugh at someone who is richer and more pretty then you'll ever be. You should be ashamed! And if you are so heartless to laugh then go do it somewhere else, before her majesty hears what insolent servents she has."

Quickly, the servent scurried away a deep scarlett. Looking concerned to the lady she asked, "Are you all right? J'emapelle, I mean uh. . .my name is Clarisse Fleuriot, and this is my new friend," she looked inquiring at Lucy to see if it was okay to call her that before continuing, "Lucy. I hope you are quite alright. That servent is a nasty one. I saw her pickpocketing a noblelady once in the market when I first came here."

She then extended a hand to help the woman with getting up, or just brushing up. Her maid Symmone was still searching for her, thank god. Clarisse would have died if her Symmone came in now.

Inez's usually olive face now seemed to resemble a cherry, since she had taken such a nasty tumble and all. Why did all the horrid things happen to her? First her hood and her pins, now this? She had expected the ladies to laugh at her, so she hide her eyes from theirs when she heard giggles erupting from another's mouth. This puzzled her for a moment. Ladies had the right to laugh as loud as they wanted, they were courtiers after all. She flickered her green eyes up towards one of the ladies, who had quickly rushed to her feet to help her. With an extended hand, she saw a trace of worry--like the one she saw in her mother's eyes when something bad would happen--and it slightly relieved her. She barely knew this girl, but that one glint she held in her eye told her enough about her. Inez supposed she had a gift for being able to figure people out, even if they did not speak to her.

Her eyes fluttered from the woman who stood with her graceful hand out, up towards one harshly scolding a servant. She? Pretty? Inez unconciously blushed when she heard that statement. Not alot of people called her pretty, mainly because she wasn't too fashionable and didn't paint her face white like some women (The ones who did looked like clowns to Inez). They often thought she was just a pauper in courtier clothing, which she highly disliked. For a moment, she spaced out, focusing on her own thoughts before she tuned back in with reality. In a jumpy fashion, she accepted the girl's hand and with her help, stood up. She sighed with relief to know her emerald colored dress did not get too much dust over it. She fluttered her eyes back up at the other two, hearing the one farthest away introuduce herself.

Remembering her courtly etiquette, Inez loosely held onto the ends of her skirts as she neatly plopped herself down into a strict, tight curtsy, one custom of those of the Emerald realm. "Encanta, senoras. I mean, nice to meet you too." She said smoothly through her rather thick accent, albiet the fact that her insides were jumbling at her miniscule mistake of speaking in her native toungue. "Inez Nogueira. Once again, pleased to meet you."

Lucy smiled sympathetically at the new arrival. She knew how it felt to make a fool out of herself in front of a new acquaintance, and it was definitely not among her favorite experiences.

She curtsied in return to Inez's curtsey, smoothing her red skirts as she rose. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Inez," she replied with a smile. "As Lady Clarisse has said, my name is Lady Lucy. And don't worry," she added quickly, "we've all fallen at one point or another...at least you didn't nearly fall on your face in front of the King himself!" she laughed. "May I ask where each of you are from? Your accents are simply beautiful!"

(OOC - sorry so short, the combo of lack of time and ideas :unsure: )

ooc-Sorry about not replying yesterday, I was traveling

IC-

Clarisse smiled as she answered Lady Lucy's question, "I come from the amethyst realm, and don't worry Lady Inez about speaking in an accent, ask Lady Lucy yourself, when I introduce myself to anyone, I also blurt it out, in amethyst. As for the falling thing, back in my country, people fall all the time. In fact, my Mere. . .emm Mother fell in front of my father at court, that is how they first met. Pretty romantic, crushing the person you'll marry later on to the ground."

She then realized Symmone was coming in the distance. Clarisse looked at her flustered maid who angrily scolded her, " Lady Clarisse, how dare you run off, and just to write!" she exclaimed seeing Clarisse's journal. "What am I going to do with you?"

Frowning at her maid she replied thinly, "Oh yes, may be I write, but Symmone, I require privacy, and besides, at least I don't drink at night when I think no one's looking." Her maid flustered and ran off.

Sighing Clarisse looked at the two ladies beside her, "You must think me a snob, but I'm not. Symmone and I used to be best friends, but now, I cannot trust her. One glint of gold or whiskey and she'll reveal all my secrets." She then looked sadly down at the lush grass.