feat: drafted thirteen
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title: WIP
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title: Casual Talk
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summary: >
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After a month of social events, Glorias was more comfortable with the politics and dangers of being a debutante. Her life was becoming comfortable and she loved every moment of it.
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> The offer is a noble affair between two men of means. Rarely are women involved with the negotiations as it is their hand that is being exchanged. --- Elias da Wilim ho Martin, *Brides of Tradition*
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After a month of going to balls and sporting events, Glorias didn't need the country niece story anymore. Her forays into the light had gradually be getting bolder and she was comfortable chatting with the other debutantes and bedames.
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It was exhausting. With her wider acceptance, more invitations came. Tonight was one night where she saw in her nightgown at her father's work table, sorting through piles of perfumed letters and wax seals.
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She caught one and sniffed it, smiling at the apple flower scent. It must be from one of her new-found friends, another country bedame from the opposite side of Tarsan from where Glorias was supposed to be from.
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Across the table, her father worked on his diagrams. They were convoluted and confusing, a mess of circles and lines that were somehow a magical spell he was responsible for. She didn't understand exactly what he did, her own talent was more than enough for her happiness.
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He suddenly stopped and peered over at the pile of letters. "Choosing one for tomorrow night?"
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Glorias put down the letter. "I was thinking about going down to the river with Bedames Tiril and Natas."
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Storan frowned for a moment, his eyes flickering back and forth. "Tiril is the one that had the dark flecks?"
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"Freckles," supplied Maran. Glorias's mother was sitting near the fire with a book in one hand and a nearly empty glass in the other.
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"Right, freckles. Rare to see on debutantes, though. Don't they usually cover them. You can usually see the paint or...."
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Glorias thought about the men who flocked around Tiril when she was riding one of the new steam-powered carriages and it upended. "I think they're cute."
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"Speaking of which, did I tell you about my lunch today?" Storan asked.
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The book slipped from Maran's hand as she turned around to stare at her husband in confusion. The book bounced off her lap before smacking into the ground.
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Glorias's mouth opened as she stared at her father. He rarely talked about his work and she couldn't think of a single time he talked about a meal.
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Storan cleared his throat. "It was a good day."
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"Storan? Are you okay? You didn't lose your job, did you?"
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He started to say something but then closed his mouth. It was obvious he wanted to say something but his attempts at a segue were confusing.
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"Go on, Father," encouraged Glorias.
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"I had a visitor for lunch."
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"And...?" both Glorias and Maran.
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"A young man by the name of Benard kia Kasin, that was that naval hero everyone---"
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Glorias didn't hear the rest of the sentence. The blood rushed to her ears as she pressed a hand against her check. Benard? He was looking for her father?
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Maran scrambled to her feet. She rushed over to the table, hitting it hard enough the stack of envelopes dropped over. "What did he want!?"
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Storan blinked at her. "I was trying to ease into it," he said in his deadpanned voice.
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"Did he make an offer!?" Maran was sweating, her fingers clutching the table as she peered at him with what looked like hope and excitement. From Glorias's vantage, she could see her mother up on her toes.
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Glorias could barely concentrate herself. Images of Benard flashed through her head. They had danced more than once in the last few weeks. Each time was close and intimate. She enjoyed his company as much as they had something in common.
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"Storan!? Answer me! Did he make an offer!?"
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Storan shrugged. "He did. It was a rather sizable one including taking her to his ocean-front estate that he just---"
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If he tried to say anything else, it was lost in the scream of joy that ripped out Maran. She turned on her toes and grabbed Glorias, pulling her out of the chair and swinging her around.
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Glorias gasped as she felt an indescribable joy rising inside her. Benard wanted her, he wanted to spend his life with her.
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"He made an offer!" Her mother was screaming in joy, bouncing around with tears of happiness sparkling in the air.
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"---of course, it would be rude to accept it immediately," finished Storan.
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Both of them stopped instantly.
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Glorias let out a soft whimper.
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"He was about to ship out for a month-long tour. When he got back, the Social Season would be over so he wouldn't have the opportunity in case anyone else made an offer." Her father looked at them impassively, his face blank.
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"You didn't accept the offer, Storan? You know that Glorias likes Benard! She really likes him! Why didn't you accept the offer!?" Maran's voice scraped against Glorias's ears, high-pitched and frantic.
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He blinked again. The corner of his lips curled up into a smile. "After we shared a lager, then I accepted the offer. I know enough not to be rude---"
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Maran silenced him with a tight hug and kisses.
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Glorias sank down in her chair. Benard knew exactly who she was and he wanted her for that. There wouldn't be any secret between them. She didn't have to give up her dreams.
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Sniffing, she realized she couldn't stop smiling or crying.
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@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
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---
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title: Months Later
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title: End of the Tour
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summary: >
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summary: >
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Months later, still in the Social Season, but Glorias was done. Her hand had been offered and accepted. Now, she was heading somewhere where her secret didn't have to be a secret anymore.
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A little over a month later, Glorias was done with the city's Social Season. She only one thing left as she sat on the stairs of her parents house, waiting to be picked up by her husband-to-be.
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> There is something about the country, where a distance from judging eyes and gossip fades into obscurity. It was the only way I could survive and still be myself. --- Glorias dea Kasin
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> There is something about the country, where a distance from judging eyes and gossip fades into obscurity. It was the only way I could survive and still be myself. --- Glorias dea Kasin
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Glorias sat on the steps inside her parent's house and stared at the door. Her heart pounded as she silently willed it to open.
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Glorias sat on the steps inside her parent's house and stared at the door. Her heart pounded as she silently willed it to open.
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Despite the weeks of happiness that had followed her first ball, there was still that doubt. Would Benard realize he had made a mistake and void the offer? Would her father have to give back the sizable dowry that had been offered?
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Despite the weeks of happiness that had followed the news, there was still that doubt. Would Benard realize he had made a mistake and void the offer? Would her father have to give back the sizable dowry that had been offered?
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She tugged on the bottom of her dress. It felt more comfortable than ever before. It felt right, as if she had been born to wear it ever since the beginning. The corset was a bit tight. She had started getting used to the pressure when they decided to make it a little tighter for the last view the city would have of her before she headed out of town.
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She tugged on the bottom of her dress. It felt more comfortable than ever before. It felt right, as if she had been born to wear it ever since the beginning. The corset was a bit tight. She had started getting used to the pressure when they decided to make it a little tighter for the last view the city would have of her before she headed out of town.
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@ -16,11 +16,11 @@ She tugged on the bottom of her dress. It felt more comfortable than ever before
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"W-What if he doesn't?"
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"W-What if he doesn't?"
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"There are no secrets between you two."
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"He isn't a fool."
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"He's handsome and High Society. I... I'm...." Glorias opened her mouth to finish but the words wouldn't come out. She sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes. "What if he doesn't come?"
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"He's handsome and High Society. I... I'm...." Glorias opened her mouth to finish but the words wouldn't come out. She sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes. "What if he changes his mind? He can do that, I've heard the stories."
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Mindil came strolling in behind Glorias's mother. She beamed as she leaned against the door frame near the stairs. "Trust me, he's going to come."
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Mindil came strolling in behind Glorias's mother. She beamed as she leaned against the door frame near the stairs. "Trust me, he's going to come. Navy boys always do."
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Glorias looked at her. "It's easy for you to say, you're beautiful. You have a husband who obviously adores you."
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Glorias looked at her. "It's easy for you to say, you're beautiful. You have a husband who obviously adores you."
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@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ She lowered her glass and stretched out. Her belly strained her dress and the ge
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Relaxing, she continued, "He's into beautiful girls like you. Slender, brown hair, and sweet."
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Relaxing, she continued, "He's into beautiful girls like you. Slender, brown hair, and sweet."
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Glorias sighed. "With boy parts?"
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Glorias ran her fingers through her still-blond hair. She wouldn't have Lily's magic in the country, so it would turn brown later but she planned on keeping it long. "With boy parts?"
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Maran made a disapproving noise.
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Maran made a disapproving noise.
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Mindil laughed. "Oh yeah, he likes the boy parts. And the girl parts. And the girl heart and love and joy and everything else. Trust me, he's going to be here. The world may ignite on fire and he will be knocking on that door before the sky burns away."
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Mindil laughed. "Oh yeah, he likes the boy parts. And the girl parts. And the girl heart and love and joy and everything else. Trust me, he's going to be here. The world may ignite on fire and he will be knocking on that door before the sky burns away."
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"Excuse me," said Glorias's father as he walked down the hall toward the door.
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"Excuse me," said Storan as he walked down the hall toward the door. He was just working at his table.
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"Where are you going, Storan?" asked Maran.
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"Where are you going, Storan?" asked Maran.
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@ -44,13 +44,13 @@ Storan turned around and shrugged. "The man marrying my daughter is about to pul
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Glorias's heart skipped a beat.
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Glorias's heart skipped a beat.
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He continued, "Tradition dictates that we speak outside the door and make a show of how a rich and powerful hero of this city is interested in my daughter before asking her to join me. Then you will come out, say some things, cry a lot, and then we are going to see our daughter leave."
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He continued, "Tradition dictates that we speak outside the door and make a show of how a rich and powerful hero of this city is interested in my niece before asking her to join me. Then you will come out, say some things, cry a lot, and then we are going to see our daughter leave."
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His measured voice took longer to register than normal.
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His measured voice took longer to register than normal.
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He stepped over to Glorias and knelt down. Taking her hands, he smiled. "You will always be my child. I love you very much."
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He stepped over to Glorias and knelt down. Taking her hands, he smiled. "You will always be my child. I love you very much. I always hoped you would find your place, I think you did."
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"Oh, papa." Glorias hugged him tightly.
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"I love you." Glorias hugged him tightly.
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"Your mother will be coming up in the beginning of fall to help with the ceremony and I will be up two weeks later. I promise."
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"Your mother will be coming up in the beginning of fall to help with the ceremony and I will be up two weeks later. I promise."
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"Missun",
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"Missun",
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"Missun's",
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"Missun's",
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"Moonfire",
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"Moonfire",
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"Natas",
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"Pavin",
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"Pavin",
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"Penelop",
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"Penelop",
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"Potsur",
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"Potsur",
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"Tarsan",
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"Tarsan",
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"Tasire",
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"Tasire",
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"Tifin",
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"Tifin",
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"Tiril",
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"bedame",
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"bedame",
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"bedames",
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"bedames",
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"besire",
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"besire",
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