The Wine Mistress
---------------.
"Grande De Gar Ball"
De Gar was the proud family of Belai, who's lineage of men governed the kingdom for centuries. Although the men of De Gar held most of Belai's citizen's respect, every year the new governor is as more of a sophist than the other. Nevertheless, the kingdom's citizens tend to overlook the fact that their long lineage of male governors were nothing but stupid, envious, rich boys who's family was too selfish to give up their long pastline of governing Belai.
With the facts of the family line of De Gar kept silent among its most welcomed allies and friends, the De Gar family's popularity seemed to rise more and more through the years as balls and parties were constantly being held at their wealthy palace.
The annual 'Grande De Gar Ball' was their most popular of all; invited only those of the family's closest friends and accomplices, as well as the kingdom's ruler and most of all of the wealthiest in all Belai. It was once popular only because the most wealthiest arrived and were honored guests. But what once was reason for popularity for the sake of being someone important in a social level, was now downsized and seized by competition of who your escort was, and how much did you pay to have them for the night.
Belai, of course, had two of the most sought-after escorts, and most men who received turn downs from both ends, come alone or with a replacement to see which lucky man was accepted by either. Though their face showed no hint of jealousy, remorse eats them from the inside silently, knowing that some other day they must try again, and could only hope to be picked.
The ball traditionally started from nine in the evening, until dawn the next day if possible. As carriages encircled the De Gar estate, lights around the palace's acres rose into a frenzy of spectacular show, equivalent to the bright stars in the clear night sky. Five minutes after nine, music would blare inside the palace walls as the ball officially began, and the guests walked past the palace's entry arch, where they were announced, properly listing them present.
It was a custom that if a man had with him a Courtesan or a Seductress to any ball or party, it is imperable that the man must wait at the party itself for their escort to arrive with her carriage. The importance of waiting for your escort at the ball itself, not pushing the woman in a rush of things by picking her up yourself, was a strict rule carried by all Courtesans and Seductresses.
And so, many men stood waiting out in the cold November night, including two of whom the rest heard had luckily had their requests called by the two escorts who attended the ball only on their second visit. While the morose men stood gazing at them steely, the two men who were being envied decided that they were going to have a rough night with the other men, and thought it best if the two introduced each other; hopefully then at least they would have one ally.
The tall man with a well done build, offered a hand to the other man, "Count Strife from Pomer'e," he spoke gladly yet cautiously as he eyed the other blond man in front of him, who was glaring somewhat with a stoic expression that concealed sophistication.
The man stared at the titled Count Strife and his hair that seemed to betray the laws of gravity, and thought to himself as to why a Count from Pomer'e would move to Belai. He returned the offering briefly afterwards and also introduced himself, "Lord Rufus Shinra," he replied in a short time, and quickly pulled back his hand.
"Ah, you are King Shinra's son?" the man named Rufus didn't seem amused, "Will your father attend?"
Rufus shook his head at his question; his white robes of silky cloth and marble-white fabric moved in unison to his change in stance, "No, my mother has decided that he should skip this one. Last year, she had caught him about to snog the next wench in the corner, and you see, my mother was also invited."
"I see," Cloud replied with a smile and changed the subject, "I've noticed by how the other men have been staring at you at the same way as me that you are escorting one of the best escorts there is."
"That is so; she is a Seductress, perhaps you have heard of The Venus?" Rufus asked proudly, a loftly look prominent in his eyes.
Cloud nodded to him, mirroring his look of pride, plus a haughty grin, "You've caught The Venus, while I have caught The Wine Mistress. I must ask, who is the better of the two?" it was a question of full curiousity, yet the man in front of him had taken it as a rude boasting.
Slitting his eyes, Rufus gave a brisk scoff, "The Wine Mistress, as far as I know, is overrated, as I don't understand how a snobby little wench would ever be popular for just the way she talks or looks. Afterall, this isn't just for escorting, but also for the night they spend with you," Rufus gave a sarcastic, pitious grin and crossed his arms in front of him, "I feel sorry that you must accompany a Courtesan, such as her. You know that only six men were able to spend the night with her?"
The mocking in his voice stood as a threat to him as he postured himself in his suit of smooth gray and black garments, "The fact doesn't change a thing, does it? I am accompanying her, and so, what I think of how the night should go shouldn't be ruined by any garbage you might have to say. Besides, you are escorting the woman who have slept with more men than all the fingers you can count from all of the guests here; maybe I should feel sorry for you when you find that you've been shamed with the sharing of diseases she may carry."
Their supposedly truce was broken instantly, but fortunately, before the men could deepen their rivalry among each other, two carriages who outstood in the crowd passed the gates and stopped accordingly in front of palace entrance. The two, strangely, were one in front of the other. The black in front of the red.
As if recited, both drivers of the carriages stepped down to open the doors, exposing the two women to the cool night air in unison. As the crowd moved to the sides to give the two women room, both of them glanced at the other. The woman in a white dress with red elegant stripes flowing down her front, her bare shoulders glistening with white flecks of sparkles, smiled slyly with her red lips to the other.
"And so, Tifa, another ball, another chance for me to show just how unimportant you are in this business."
The other woman stood rigidly still in her gothic dress that layed softly on the floor beneath her, its color of dark plum as the night above her, and its unique style gave off a sense of mystery on what layed beneath the unruffled cloth. Slowly she bowed to her rival named Aeris, and spoke once she met with her green eyes, gazing back unwavered by the other's threat, "Good evening to you too, Lady Aeris. Our second Grande De Gar Ball, if I recall right. Hope your night would be most well off than it was the last."
Within moments, Tifa dispersed to her company for the evening before the shocked Aeris had time to reply to the comment she found rude.
Cloud, who once again found the sight of the lovely Courtesan so breathtaking, bowed to his escort and pulled her hand for a kiss, "Lady Tifa, pleasure to see you once again. Are you ready to enjoy the ball?"
Tifa nodded and smiled politely as she placed her hands around his left elbow, "So very sorry to have seemed a little stingy when you came by. I don't usually have men visit my grounds unless permitted," she moved her eyes to her front, "Terribly sorry for my rude actions."
He smiled at her, amused with what the man in the carriage had said about her, finding it true, he gently placed a hand over hers, "No need to be, Lady Tifa. It was wrong for me to have been too excited to have you be my escort for tonight. I was acting foolishly," he enjoyed the kind smile he received.
Not far away stood the young Shinra heir, who's eyes locked at the woman in the dark plum dress. Forcefully, his chin was pulled so his sight diverted to the woman who's face moved from a scowl to an affectionate smile.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting, Rufus? Shall we go ahead inside?" Aeris spoke in a sweet-toned voice.
The young man removed the fingers from his chin roughly, making Aeris' smile turn back into a scowl, "Never steal my attention like that again, do you understand? Let me remind you that I'm leading tonight, not you."
Aeris looked over at him in disbelief, "Let me remind you that I have chosen you tonight, not the other way. You know it's not too late for me to take back my decision."
Unfrightened by the threat, Rufus smirked at his escort, "And if you happen to turn me down now, I can take you down ten times harder. Take heed of my name, Lady Aeris, I am not just any man you've chosen," he then took hold of her arm as he ravenously pulled her to his side, "And for your recent questions: You have kept me long, and please, let us go ahead inside."
Aeris moved with him, trying to cool down from the man's arrogance, unable to find it possible as they reached the arch while her rival and her customer in front of them, were introduced into the party.
--End of Chapter 3--
a/n: I wanted to tell you guys once again that couples are still unknown. I've got about... 4 possibilities as of now, and more will come as the chapters pile. Thanks to those who read and review, hope this chapter good ^_^.
---------------.
"Grande De Gar Ball"
De Gar was the proud family of Belai, who's lineage of men governed the kingdom for centuries. Although the men of De Gar held most of Belai's citizen's respect, every year the new governor is as more of a sophist than the other. Nevertheless, the kingdom's citizens tend to overlook the fact that their long lineage of male governors were nothing but stupid, envious, rich boys who's family was too selfish to give up their long pastline of governing Belai.
With the facts of the family line of De Gar kept silent among its most welcomed allies and friends, the De Gar family's popularity seemed to rise more and more through the years as balls and parties were constantly being held at their wealthy palace.
The annual 'Grande De Gar Ball' was their most popular of all; invited only those of the family's closest friends and accomplices, as well as the kingdom's ruler and most of all of the wealthiest in all Belai. It was once popular only because the most wealthiest arrived and were honored guests. But what once was reason for popularity for the sake of being someone important in a social level, was now downsized and seized by competition of who your escort was, and how much did you pay to have them for the night.
Belai, of course, had two of the most sought-after escorts, and most men who received turn downs from both ends, come alone or with a replacement to see which lucky man was accepted by either. Though their face showed no hint of jealousy, remorse eats them from the inside silently, knowing that some other day they must try again, and could only hope to be picked.
The ball traditionally started from nine in the evening, until dawn the next day if possible. As carriages encircled the De Gar estate, lights around the palace's acres rose into a frenzy of spectacular show, equivalent to the bright stars in the clear night sky. Five minutes after nine, music would blare inside the palace walls as the ball officially began, and the guests walked past the palace's entry arch, where they were announced, properly listing them present.
It was a custom that if a man had with him a Courtesan or a Seductress to any ball or party, it is imperable that the man must wait at the party itself for their escort to arrive with her carriage. The importance of waiting for your escort at the ball itself, not pushing the woman in a rush of things by picking her up yourself, was a strict rule carried by all Courtesans and Seductresses.
And so, many men stood waiting out in the cold November night, including two of whom the rest heard had luckily had their requests called by the two escorts who attended the ball only on their second visit. While the morose men stood gazing at them steely, the two men who were being envied decided that they were going to have a rough night with the other men, and thought it best if the two introduced each other; hopefully then at least they would have one ally.
The tall man with a well done build, offered a hand to the other man, "Count Strife from Pomer'e," he spoke gladly yet cautiously as he eyed the other blond man in front of him, who was glaring somewhat with a stoic expression that concealed sophistication.
The man stared at the titled Count Strife and his hair that seemed to betray the laws of gravity, and thought to himself as to why a Count from Pomer'e would move to Belai. He returned the offering briefly afterwards and also introduced himself, "Lord Rufus Shinra," he replied in a short time, and quickly pulled back his hand.
"Ah, you are King Shinra's son?" the man named Rufus didn't seem amused, "Will your father attend?"
Rufus shook his head at his question; his white robes of silky cloth and marble-white fabric moved in unison to his change in stance, "No, my mother has decided that he should skip this one. Last year, she had caught him about to snog the next wench in the corner, and you see, my mother was also invited."
"I see," Cloud replied with a smile and changed the subject, "I've noticed by how the other men have been staring at you at the same way as me that you are escorting one of the best escorts there is."
"That is so; she is a Seductress, perhaps you have heard of The Venus?" Rufus asked proudly, a loftly look prominent in his eyes.
Cloud nodded to him, mirroring his look of pride, plus a haughty grin, "You've caught The Venus, while I have caught The Wine Mistress. I must ask, who is the better of the two?" it was a question of full curiousity, yet the man in front of him had taken it as a rude boasting.
Slitting his eyes, Rufus gave a brisk scoff, "The Wine Mistress, as far as I know, is overrated, as I don't understand how a snobby little wench would ever be popular for just the way she talks or looks. Afterall, this isn't just for escorting, but also for the night they spend with you," Rufus gave a sarcastic, pitious grin and crossed his arms in front of him, "I feel sorry that you must accompany a Courtesan, such as her. You know that only six men were able to spend the night with her?"
The mocking in his voice stood as a threat to him as he postured himself in his suit of smooth gray and black garments, "The fact doesn't change a thing, does it? I am accompanying her, and so, what I think of how the night should go shouldn't be ruined by any garbage you might have to say. Besides, you are escorting the woman who have slept with more men than all the fingers you can count from all of the guests here; maybe I should feel sorry for you when you find that you've been shamed with the sharing of diseases she may carry."
Their supposedly truce was broken instantly, but fortunately, before the men could deepen their rivalry among each other, two carriages who outstood in the crowd passed the gates and stopped accordingly in front of palace entrance. The two, strangely, were one in front of the other. The black in front of the red.
As if recited, both drivers of the carriages stepped down to open the doors, exposing the two women to the cool night air in unison. As the crowd moved to the sides to give the two women room, both of them glanced at the other. The woman in a white dress with red elegant stripes flowing down her front, her bare shoulders glistening with white flecks of sparkles, smiled slyly with her red lips to the other.
"And so, Tifa, another ball, another chance for me to show just how unimportant you are in this business."
The other woman stood rigidly still in her gothic dress that layed softly on the floor beneath her, its color of dark plum as the night above her, and its unique style gave off a sense of mystery on what layed beneath the unruffled cloth. Slowly she bowed to her rival named Aeris, and spoke once she met with her green eyes, gazing back unwavered by the other's threat, "Good evening to you too, Lady Aeris. Our second Grande De Gar Ball, if I recall right. Hope your night would be most well off than it was the last."
Within moments, Tifa dispersed to her company for the evening before the shocked Aeris had time to reply to the comment she found rude.
Cloud, who once again found the sight of the lovely Courtesan so breathtaking, bowed to his escort and pulled her hand for a kiss, "Lady Tifa, pleasure to see you once again. Are you ready to enjoy the ball?"
Tifa nodded and smiled politely as she placed her hands around his left elbow, "So very sorry to have seemed a little stingy when you came by. I don't usually have men visit my grounds unless permitted," she moved her eyes to her front, "Terribly sorry for my rude actions."
He smiled at her, amused with what the man in the carriage had said about her, finding it true, he gently placed a hand over hers, "No need to be, Lady Tifa. It was wrong for me to have been too excited to have you be my escort for tonight. I was acting foolishly," he enjoyed the kind smile he received.
Not far away stood the young Shinra heir, who's eyes locked at the woman in the dark plum dress. Forcefully, his chin was pulled so his sight diverted to the woman who's face moved from a scowl to an affectionate smile.
"I hope I haven't kept you waiting, Rufus? Shall we go ahead inside?" Aeris spoke in a sweet-toned voice.
The young man removed the fingers from his chin roughly, making Aeris' smile turn back into a scowl, "Never steal my attention like that again, do you understand? Let me remind you that I'm leading tonight, not you."
Aeris looked over at him in disbelief, "Let me remind you that I have chosen you tonight, not the other way. You know it's not too late for me to take back my decision."
Unfrightened by the threat, Rufus smirked at his escort, "And if you happen to turn me down now, I can take you down ten times harder. Take heed of my name, Lady Aeris, I am not just any man you've chosen," he then took hold of her arm as he ravenously pulled her to his side, "And for your recent questions: You have kept me long, and please, let us go ahead inside."
Aeris moved with him, trying to cool down from the man's arrogance, unable to find it possible as they reached the arch while her rival and her customer in front of them, were introduced into the party.
--End of Chapter 3--
a/n: I wanted to tell you guys once again that couples are still unknown. I've got about... 4 possibilities as of now, and more will come as the chapters pile. Thanks to those who read and review, hope this chapter good ^_^.