Closed Turning a new Web.

[Sinvala Chrysanthemum]

Timestamp: 12th of Summer, 513 AV

Sinvala wasn't often one to be at a loss for words, or to feel the nagging doubts of anxiety, but as she traveled that red rope road towards her destination, her skin crawled with anticipation and all the emotions and nagging thoughts that accompanied the increase of adrenalin through her thin veins.

She had waited a long time to be ready for this day, and now that she felt that she was ripe for the opportunity, she wanted nothing more than the day to be over and the knowledge of whether she had succeeded or failed to be already hers to contemplate. She was sure of herself, though, and sure of her own abilities and talents. However, she was by no means vain enough to believe she was the best and would be given positions reserved for the best of the dancers. No, she knew she would likely start at the bottommost rung in the Cobweb's heirarchy and would have to establish herself as competent over the seasons.

The entrance to the Cobweb was large and beckoning, seeming wide enough to allow for several Symenestra to enter at once, and Sinvala fancied that she could hear the sounds of rehearsals emitting from the depths of the rather beautiful building.

She entered, straightening up and squaring her slim shoulders. She looked around, for a sign of someone who looked like a dancer, or instructor, that would give her directions to where she may go and audition for a place in the Cobweb.

[Poison]

There was one person in the entrance room, a young woman. She appeared to be no older than nineteen, with large golden eyes under long dark lashes, black hair that fell over her shoulders and full lips. She was beautiful – and judging by the look on her face she knew it. Sinvala would most likely recognize her. She was Soraya Orchid, one of the two Moth Queens of 512 AV and a dancer at the Cobweb. For one year she had been one of the two most popular women in Kalinor, more popular than even the female half of the ruling couple. A lot of people still admired her despite the fact that a new Moth Queen had been chosen.

As she noticed Sinvala’s entrance, Soraya turned around and looked at her, narrowing her eyes slightly as she did so. „I don’t recognize you“, she stated as she walked towards her. „You are not one of us, a dancer I mean. Are you looking for somebody? They are just practicing at the moment. I’m here because they’ll only need me later on …“ She frowned a little as she said that. Soraya was a dancer, but there were others that were far more talented than she. Most people were blinded by her beauty, but Kanasa Curare, the owner of the Cobweb, unfortunately wasn’t among them.

„Or do you want to work here? You look as if you can move well, not as well as me of course, but still …“ She looked at Sinvala appraisingly and smiled – very lightly. Soraya didn’t like other women particularly.

[Sinvala Chrysanthemum]

.

Sinvala smiled a greeting at this other Symenestra, the familiar face a welcome, if grudgingly, sight. She remembered the spectacle of the previous year's Morning of the Moths and remembered, acutely, that Soraya wasn't the first Moth Queen chosen but had been named second because of the heart of the first Queen.

She did not say this aloud.

"I am Sinvala Chrysanthemum, and I do not believe I have ever had the pleasure of meeting you, Sibeaya Orchid," she gilded her words appropriately as she used the endearment. She had heard much of Soraya and remembered much. "You're right, I do not move as nicely as you, but I do want to work here as well and hopefully, maybe some day in the future, I can be as beautiful as you in movement." Sadly, she believed she had never seen Soraya dance. For all that she knew, Soraya was nothing short of a chorus girl or a complimentary addition to the dancers as a whole and did not merit herself a position as one of the great ones. And, even though she did not believe herself to be beguiling enough to fool Soraya into thinking she was a true admirer (Sinvala really would have only admired her for her dancing, especially now that the general excitement over the two Moth Queens had been muted by the choice of a new Queen), but she hoped to play on the other woman's pride enough.

She inclined her head, as though honoured to have been complimented by a more knowing dancer, and smiled warmly despite the coolness behind Soraya's tight-lipped smile. She firmly believed in flattering even the meanest of people to the point that they would fall into her very own webs and no longer be so mean.

[Poison]

„Oh, Chrysanthemum, I think I’ve heard that name somewhere“, Soraya said. „Your family aren’t anything special though, are they? What exactly is it that they do? My aunt is the advisor of the ruling couple of course. You can’t rise much higher than that in Kalinor unless you rule the city.“

„I doubt that“, she replied curtly as Sinvala insisted that she could be as beautiful as Soraya in her movement. „I’m good, that Kanasa Curare just hasn’t realized it yet. I think she has something against me because I’m better looking than her. You might not be an entirely hopeless case though …“

She took another close look at Sinvala, and then she shrugged her shoulders.

„Anyway, as I said they are practicing at the moment, but they should take a break in about ten chimes. I could introduce you to Kanasa then. Have you ever had any formal dancing training? And even more important, what would you do for me if I took you to Kanasa?“

„Nothing in life is free, and both Kanasa and I are rather busy. We don’t just waste our time on anybody.“

[Sinvala Chrysanthemum]

.

Her flattery had fallen short and the feeling of disappointment radiated through Sinvala like heady wine before she smiled again, pleasantly. She hadn't trusted on being able to make the woman think she was an admirer. She had never really had need to do anything like that in the first place.

"No, there's nothing at all special about my family, but to be honest having an aunt as an advisor to the ruling couple is pretty hard to top! It's too bad she isn't actually one half of the couple, though, is she? My family are weavers, really. That's about it. Nothing all that special about making the clothes we wear." She smiled rather pointedly at the haughtier woman.

The remark about her being a hopeless case was a barb that Sinvala wasn't exactly counting on receiving, and there was a moment of clarity where she enjoyed just staring at the other female, her mind blank, as her clawed fingers snapped together with a tone of finality.

"After having your acquaintance, I can't imagine how Kanasa can bear to not have you on her stage," Sinvala said silkily once she regained her tongue. She wasn't used to this pointed exchange of words. They tasted bitter on her tongue. "I've not had much in formal training, sadly, but I'm sure I can perform adequately for Kanasa. I'm sure there is something you might want from me, Sibeaya," Sinvala said slowly, the bitterness enveloping her whole mouth as the words slipped past her. "What might a humble daughter of weavers offer you that would serve as payment for your gracious hospitality?"

.

[Poison]

„The Orchid Web might still rule Kalinor one day“, Soraya replied. It was obvious that Sinvala’s comment had affected her. „Nessora Hyacinth is raplidly approaching her fiftieth birthday. She might rule for another decade or two, and then somebody younger will take her place. My aunt is one of her best friends and familiar with her work. Who would be better suited to ruling Kalinor than a member of her Web?“

„Kanasa is getting old as well“, Soraya decided as Sinvala wondered how the woman could bear to not have her on her stage. Soraya clearly wasn’t the most intelligent girl. If people didn’t agree with her and think she was the best, they were either old or unreasonable. That she might really not be such a good dancer didn’t occur to her of course.

„Anyway“, she began and glanced at the door behind which the rest of the dancers were practicing. „You mentioned that you are the daughter of weavers. They might not be that special, but they could still be of use. I want silk from you, the finest one you can find. I want to have a dress made. There is a man that I fancy, Avarys Anthurium, the owner of the Weft and Warp. You’ve probably heard of him. He’s been remarkably resistant to my charms so far. Why, he even ran away from me once!“

„I like him much better than the guy I’m engaged to. I’d rather marry him – or at least share his bed“, she informed Sinvala. Judging from the look on her face she didn’t feel bad at all about potentially cheating on her fiancee or abandoning him for Avarys Anthurium.