Family Reunion (Liza, Jula and Aero)

Alec was very silent as Silence defended the man she had known for a total of five minutes. Well, he supposed he couldn't blame her. She was just a woman who wanted a father who loved her. She wanted to believe it, and so she did.

Zold raised his eyebrows at Alec. "Good sir, I'm surprised at you. Have you been spreading slander? You know I would do anything for my daughter - why should this one be any different."

Alec held his tongue for his reasons for now. He gave Zold a low bow. "My... apologies. I'm sure you're -quite- sorry." Then, quickly, to Geronimo, "This way to the kitchen." He grumped through the living-room and started putting a pot on.

Zold smiled back at Silence. "I'd be an angry harpy too if I had been so quickly dismissed. Well then... You know, I'd rather not have you wait for a tailored dress." He stood and offered his hand to her. "Madam, would you like to meet your half-sister now?" He offered her a kind smile, before he began to escort her up the stairs of his grand home. They passed so many knick-knacks indeed. Treasures here and there. He seemed a bit eccentric, to be honest.

He finally came to some very grand doors, and gave a little knock, before opening them. Inside, there was the pinkest, fluffiest, most princessy room in the world. Lace and velvet trimmed everything, satin sheets lined the bed, fresh flowers decorated everything.

But there was a bit of an... unsettling feature in the room. She had very fine, expensive, fancy dolls, some of them were splayed out on the floor. Some of them had their limbs ripped off. One of them was missing its head. There were books, too, a couple here and there, discarded out of boredom, lying open on the ground with their pages bent up against the wooden floor, or some pages ripped.

The girl inside was sitting by a window on the far side of the room, in a fancy, cushy chair. Her dress resembled the good parts of the room - velvety, lacy, and pink. She had her hair up in a neat bun and a rose in her hair. She was just... staring out the window passively.

"My dearest child," Zold said. "There is somebody who I'd like for you to meet. This young lady is related to you." He glanced at Silence and nodded inwards, urging her to introduce herself.

"Hi there, Rose. I'm Revena." The state of the room was rather. . .unsettling indeed. She'd never seen a child with this much at her disposal who treated it so poorly. "Is there a particular reason her toys are in such disarray?" she whispered to Zold. She made no comment on the dress, she simply preferred to earn what she received. She was half expecting the girl not to pay her any mind at all, and the other half was expecting some sort of tantrum based on the state of the frilly and overly-girly pink room. "I'm your big sister, dearest Rose, won't you at least look at me?" That being said and having seen no reaction in a suitable period of time, she gave a glance back at her father and did a hop-skip-and-a-jump across the room to the chair.

"What is it child? Why do you treat your books and your precious dolls so poorly?" Perhaps it was for want of real friends to play with, she'd seen many kinds of children wander through the circus, whether with poor parents or exceedingly rich. She tentatively reached out to touch her sister's shoulder and smiled. "Is it because you are lonely, and have no one to play with?" All this time her tone had been soft and gentle, she didn't wish to scare her or upset her. The last thing she wanted was her sister thinking that she didn't care and was only teasing her. "I'm going to be here for at least a week, perhaps a bit longer to spend time with you and father, and to learn about the rest of my family. I'd like to be your friend, if you'll let me." Now all she could do was hope that Rose wasn't going to get angry with her for not being around.

"Oh, you know," Zold said lightly. "Children can be rough with toys. It's fine, really." Zold thought the best of his little sweetums and she could do no wrong. So to put it bluntly, if de Nile was a river that existed in this land, Zold would be swimming in it.

Rose glanced over at Silence and raised an eyebrow, before looking back out the window. She crossed her arms and rested them on the windowsill. "We got in a fight," She said, matter-of-factly. "They were misbehaving so I made them stop." Rose rolled her eyes at the insinuation of her loneliness, and decided not to acknowledge that. Whether or not she was lonely wasn't actually an answer she had since she never had a basis of comparison. But she was sure she wasan't lonely. People were stupid, and other children were stupid and she was the only one worth anything. "Why would I want to play with anybody?" She asked. "Everybody else is a monster."

At the mention of being Rose's friend, Rose glanced at her flatly again, and then turned back to the window. "You can do what you want to do," she said simply. "I'm not going to get in the way of you doing things you want to do. I don't 'let' people or not 'let' people do anything. Though I wasn't aware I had a sister." Hmm. Sister. Family. "Why does it matter what whether or not we have the same mother and father? We're separate individuals."

Oh, so she was a spoiled little brat; a society child in every way. "Do I look like some kind of monster to you?" she asked setting her hands on her hips. "Separate people or not it's human nature to want company or have someone you think of as an equal, like a friend." Man this girl was going to be in for a rude awakening in the coming days. "You get in the way of nothing I'm here about, you're part of the reason I'm here at all. Furthermore," she stated turning the chair away from the window with the slight hindrance of weight that was Rose, "I am twenty years old and in all those years I've never met a more selfish child. Your father loves you and gives you whatever you ask for and more, yet I have seen nothing but destruction and negativity from you in the short time I've known you, little sister." Of course this was going to get nowhere fast, and she knew it. Zold seemed rather content with how Rose was turning out and there wasn't anything she could do about it.

"To tell you how different we are, you and I, you grew up here with your father in a wealthy household with everything you could ever want, yes? Well, for one reason or another, I grew up isolated from the rest of the world with nothing but the clothes on my back, a place to sleep at night, and my mother's love. The sooner you recognize the value of loving your family and being thankful for what they give you, the sooner everything will stop being so boring to you and you'll come away from that window. I'd feel very lucky if I were you, Rose. He does indeed love you very much, learn to show him the same." She pulled herself away from the chair before she could do anything she'd regret and moved to the doorway. In a flash she was down the stairs and back in the living room trying to keep her temper in check. Surely after all that she'd be thrown out of the house, so she gathered her papers and properly put them away before steeling herself in case he came down raging about how she'd spoken to her sister.

Rose wasn't really shocked or aghast or anything. She just calmly turned back to the window and rolled her eyes. People were so selfish. Rose had just been minding her own business when Silence came in and started asking things, and when Rose answered honestly, Silence exploded and tried to push how OWN ideals onto her? How droll. How selfish. Kind of hypocritical. No matter. Wasn't her problem. She didn't want her as a sister anyway. All Rose had really said was that Silence was free to do what she wanted. How did that make Rose selfish? Sounded more like Revena was jealous.

Zold was aghast, unlike Rose. He closed Rose's door after Silence stormed out and moved after her, his brows narrowed. "I'd ask what that was all about, but it seems you've made your opinions quite clear. Well.... I have to say that I'm rather disappointed. Of course, it's hardly appropriate to pass the blame anywhere, but perhaps if your mother told me about you, you could have grown up with her, being a role-model." Not that she needed one. Rose was perfect. "You're still welcome to stay for a short time" he said a bit curly, less kindly than before, "but I'd rather you not speak of Rose in such a manner again. Or to her. It seems that your... personalities ... don't mesh very well. I'm willing to forgive it if you apologize for your rash outburst. It seems as though you certainly like making snap judgments, don't you? But we are all human in the end, and capable of mistakes, aren't we?"

Alec poked his head out of the kitchen as Silence came down the stairs, wondering if they needed to go.

At least he didn't throw her out, and she looked up from her seat, only to stand with a calming exhalation and a nod. "I understand, and I suppose after everything my outburst wasn't really warranted. Nor can I compare to someone you see as having few to no faults. If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go help Alec in the kitchen and at least earn my keep. It's all I know how to do." She paused for a moment and turned back to him with a brief shine to her eyes. "A-Actually...now that I think of it...that barrier you keep around this house, the one that makes everyone who crosses it calm down, it might not be reacting quite the way it was intended, in my case. I didn't mean to get so angry, I was only slightly irritated by how she spoke to me, but somehow my temper just ran away with my head and here we are. I did mention I had a little magic in my veins naturally, so maybe that's the issue." Now she'd spoken her peace, she finally noticed Alec in the doorway and shook her head.

"Somehow I think whether you realize it or not you're asking me to be more like Rose and I can't do that. I'm Revena Silence Firenza, Employment and Legal Manager and temporary Ringmaster of the Flying Circus of Dragons Cove. I have at least fifteen years of dance experience under my belt and why am I even saying any of this to you? It isn't like it bloody matters." Yet for some reason instead of going to the kitchen she went back upstairs to Rose's door and knocked on it. "Rose, it's Revena, I know after what I just said a moment ago you probably hate me, but please can we talk? I. . .I never had siblings growing up and. . .well. . .I'm sorry. Won't you please give me another chance? I know me showing up here isn't the highlight of your day, but I'd like the chance to be a proper older sister to you, if you'll let me."

Meanwhile Geronimo looked into the living room and shot Zold a mischievous smirk before walking into the room and sitting down. "We are far from friends, you and I, and I understand this is a family matter, but it will take a significantly higher amount of patience to learn about her than it does Rose. She's a very loving girl, and almost stubbornly loyal to those she cares for, give her a couple of days to settle in. This is all vastly different from anything she's ever known, but I promise she isn't as bad as she seems."

And now his newest daughter was ignoring Zold's sage advice to avoid contact with Rose and was B-lining straight for her room. Well this was going to be.... exciting. In a bad way. Suddenly it seemed like Revena was full of nothing but impulsive drama. She couldn't break habits, and she couldn't let things be, and she got upset easily. This could only end in tears - and he wasn't above denying that those tears might be his.

Aaaand now the peanuts gallery was putting their two cents in too. He raised an eyebrow at Geronimo. He still was quite not-fond of her. "Your company is despairing," he grunted, as Geronimo pointed out that they weren't good friends. "Are you implying that Miss Revena is much more complex than Rose is? Good sir, you do not have to try to defend your friend, because that also means that you're judging me to be callous. How about you just go back into the kitchen with your little boyfriend there and mind your own business? This is my family matter - if you're going to keep insulting me and my daught- my youngest daughter, you're welcome to excuse yourself and wait outside for your friend there. I have no doubt in my mind she'll need a shoulder to cry on from her dearest companions very shortly."



"You can come in if you want," Rose said from through the door. She hadn't moved from her chair. "And I don't hate you. You're welcome to flatter yourself to think you made so much of an impression, but if it makes you feel better, I wouldn't waste so much time on any feelings at all towards somebody who's so obviously immature. I'm sure it's not your fault. If you want to try to be my 'older sister', I'm certainly not going to stop you, but you might want to start acting your age instead of storming off in a huff whenever somebody else has disagreeing views. I hadn't insulted you directly once, and you have already called me spoiled. Your first impression was quite slipshod, so I'm sure that you'll do better now that I have absolutely no expectations of you whatsoever. Even 'one' is infinitely more than 'zero'."

Silence forced herself to push her temper to the furthest corner of her mind and sighed as she walked in. "Rose I assure you, I think both of our first impressions were "slipshod" as you put it. I'll sound very old by saying it this way but when I was around your age I had much the same sort of attitude that you did, mine was for different reasons but I was a lot like you nonetheless." She took a few moments to think about this girl and glanced about her room. "You're between ten and thirteen, yes? I know father gives you anything you ask him for, and I can see that means pink and frills and everything the epitome of luxury, but do you ever just get bored of being by yourself in this house with nobody to play with?" Zold was a good father, that much she could tell, but having a father and having another girl around to talk to were two different things.

"I'm really sorry about how I acted, and I don't have an excuse reason or explanation for why I got so angry. Having a big sister is likely the last thing you want to wrap your head around, but I'm willing to try if you are." She at least knew what regular children liked to do, she hadn't any idea what high-society children did with their time. "Does father ever let you out of the house...? It doesn't seem like it. If that's the case then I'd like to spend the day with you outside, maybe you can help me pick out something more suitable to wear and I can be your dress-up doll!" Hopefully not forever because she had a job to return to when the circus came around to Kaionar in the next couple of weeks, but for a little while.

"I'm doing no insulting I promise you. Rather, I think you are unintentionally insulting Revena. I don't care if you throw me out of the house for saying it as such but I was her only friend as a child, and as such I think of her as the sister I never had. I'm not about to say anything about Rose, but once this little tiff simmers down, please just 'talk it out' with her. There's likely a good explanation as to her reaction, like I said she's a real sweetheart once you get her to trust you. Shall I bring you some tea while I'm headed to the kitchen or shall I just leave now?" she asked. She'd go get the tea then mull over this whole thing with Alec. It looked an awful lot like Silence wouldn't be happy in this house for too long, if at all. The magic around here was doing something rather strange to her personality, and had the feeling Zold and Rose would like her much better once she was outside that barrier.

Rose played with her own hair idly. "I hope you will forgive me for wanting to stay guarded. I think you're trying to make me relate to you, but I'd appreciate you not doing that until you actually do get to know me a bit better. And ... I don't think buying dresses for you is a good idea. Buying dresses for real dolls is much less expensive. I understand... I do. I understand that being a poor person like yourself, you can't afford nice clothes, and so it might seem like a good idea to take advantage of our father's wallet to buy yourself new clothes before he decides to throw you out for being no more than a street urchin, and I can even understand and accept that. But using me as a way of getting yourself new clothes will not work, miss Revena. If YOU wish to buy YOURSELF clothes and if you would like me to accompany you, then please just say that instead of trying to appeal to me. But I have no desire to 'dress you up' at my father's expense. You're not a doll, and human dresses are very expensive. That's why they're only bought for the people who are worth it." She gave a sideways glance to Silence. "Are you worth it, Revena?"

Zold scoffed again. "I'll get my own tea. Whether or not you're a friend of Revena, I'm sure that somebody as foolhardy as you can't make a good cup of tea, and knowing our relationship, I wouldn't put it past you to slip some poison into my cup. So, thank you, but no thank you. You can excuse yourself now," he said curtly. "How I handle my own family affairs is my business. You're welcome to go back into the kitchen, just don't keep lingering near me."

"I should learn to word what I say better, that's not what I meant at all. You're also judging me based solely on what you've seen in the last half hour that I've been here. Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you I never borrow money from anyone, not even from my sweetheart." At questioning her worth she gave a dry laugh. "That's entirely dependent on who you ask, Rose. Ask the few people I spend time with and they'll say I'm worth a good deal, others I'm not worth a passing glance." Right at that moment she had a bit of money burning a hole in her pocket, and since this girl was so keen on making her into something she wasn't, she'd use the girl's idea. "You're right though, he shouldn't be paying for my clothes." She'd felt guilty about that anyway, about all of this. She reached back and ran her hand through her hair, bringing a lovely silk scarf with it.

After taking another look around the room she got a mischievous sparkle in her eye and looked back out the window. "I know you're too practical to have fleeting fancies at your age, but did you ever dream of being a grand ballerina? With an adoring audience and flowers in your dressing room after every performance?" She paused to stifle a laugh at how stupid she sounded before continuing. "Or perhaps you simply want to be noticed more for your talents. I wouldn't know your personal hopes and dreams, nor do I wish to pry, but I remember my own at your age. Despite being raised by a blue-collar family, I dance as well as any self-respecting princess. Maybe while we're out and about I'll find you a good pair of ballet slippers and I could teach you a little?"

"Alright, alright I get your point." she grumbled as she sat in the kitchen. She was tempted to simply wait outside till all this was over, but she didn't trust Zold with Alec alone, heaven forbid he strangle the poor man and leave Dmitri without a father.

"Well, I judge people based on what I say, not what other people tell me," Rose snipped back. "And in this last half hour, you've been quite unimpressive. If you want to impress me, be impressive." SIGH. "And I'm not asking anybody else what you're worth - I'm asking YOU what you're worth. Why would I care about anybody else's opinion - especially when the only person here is you?"

Rose was so very uninterested in whatever Revena was saying. Silence seemed to be determined to try to make her want to be a second-class performer. Rose really didn't understand it, though... Rose knew what her fate was, and she welcomed it. She never had any other ambition to be a dancer of any kind, or anything but a rich man's wife, of some fellow who she never met. "Not in particular," she answered, trying really hard to NOT be snippy, but it still came off as a little stuffy. "I've never had any desire to work for my food in any way, and I suppose that fate will be one I can happily avoid." Okay. This Revena girl was REALLY trying to be sociable, so Rose decided to throw her a bone and be slightly conversational. "Though I have been to a ballet and the dancers there are quite skilled. Those women are truly talented, and they belong on that stage. But I don't want that destiny. I'm going to be betrothed and taken care of for the rest of my life. It's really an enviable position that I have. Why would I want to be anything else? I don't quite get why you don't understand it, but I suppose it's not something that's ever been offered to you until now."


Alec glanced up at Geronimo. "You shouldn't waste your breath on that man. He's really just a shallow... monster. I don't know what he said to Silence, but she seems to be under his spell. He doesn't deserve to know such a kind person as her... I don't want him to take advantage of that innocent girl. Do you think we should try to persuade Silence to leave with us soon? "

"You could if you like, but I don't exactly know what'll happen after that. I recommend talking to her though, she wouldn't last half a day in this...this world of social etiquette and stuffed shirt diplomacy and constant scrutiny. She's a tough girl I'll admit that, but this is a different kind of politics from what she's used to and it'll unravel her like a poorly knit blanket. If she doesn't wring Rose's neck I'll be pleasantly surprised."

"I'm worth a solid silver piece or two I suppose. I can also see you're looking down your nose at me and I'm wondering why. How much money you have doesn't change who you are." Okay now the magic wasn't really working at all and she wanted to punch the window. "I'm glad I didn't grow up like you did, I'm a better person learning what hard work is and how rewarding it can be. You won't be seeing me much after today, but you'll get a letter now and then." She quickly made her way out of the room and down the stairs and into the kitchen, only to hug Alec and shake her head. "I want to strangle someone, I'm not joking I want to kill something! That girl is a prissy spoiled little brat!"

Well. . .That stressed Geronimo's point fairly easily. "Does this mean you'll be leaving with us today, or will you simply stay elsewhere in the city and continue your search for your family?" The look on the girl's face was a heart-breaker, it hurt just to look at her. "I'll only be in Kaionar one night, but no I won't stay here. Father's ashamed of me and I can't stand it. I won't stay where I'm not wanted and apparently my own father doesn't want me." To say her heart was in pieces was an understatement. On a sudden blink of an eye the girl was out of the kitchen and out the front door, flames at her heels.

Rose actually perked up as if she had taken an interest in something Silence had said. "Hey, wait-" but Silence had left before Rose could make a solid retort or answer. She let out a sigh as Silence left, and stayed seated right where she was at the window. But... it was only polite to try to help Silence out. Silence may not want to speak with her any longer, but that didn't mean she couldn't still say her piece. That woman had absolutely no etiquette - leaving without completing a proper conversation. And Rose had even TRIED. Sheesh. Well no matter. She pulled out a piece of parchment from the small desk she was sitting at, pulled out a pretty pink-and-gold ink well and fine quill, and started to write a letter to the annoying, lost woman. Because, quite frankly, if Silence didn't want to speak to her (which was made apparent), Rose wasn't going to go out of her way to follow her to finish the conversation. She can receive it impersonally, especially if Silence enjoyed leaving in a huff after getting the last word in... which she had done twice now. So this was going to be Roses' little way of getting the last word.

"Pleasantly surprised?" Alec asked Geronimo a little blandly. "If she doesn't wring Rose's neck, I'll be downright disappointed." He paused, and then his usual shy, sheepish smile creeped back onto his face. "... I'm sorry, that was really mean of me to say. I don't wish anything bad on her, but she is certainly spoiled. "

Alec looked up as Silence came back, his smile fading. "I'm so sorry... Hey..." he patted her back lightly. "It's okay. Don't take what she says personally. She takes after her father too much, I think. And she's just a kid... as you know, kids are the meanest because they don't have to take responsibility for anything." ..... "Except for my Dmitri of course. She would never be mean. u.u" Ahh the bias of a parent. "Just stay strong, you're an adult, and you're stronger than her."

Zold of course had heard Silence come back down the stairs. He had been expecting that, since it was very, very clear that Rose and Silence wouldn't mesh. He was in the Kitchen quite quickly, for the first time in maybe ever, slightly annoyed at his little Princess. He entered the Kitchen very cordially, looking solemn and gentlemanly. "Revena, are you all right?"

"She's fine," Alec said quickly. "She's not as fragile as she may seem." Just in case she was a little shaken, Alec was right there to stand up for her. "Why would you think there was anything wrong?"

By now the magic of the house had knocked her for an emotional loop and she shook her head. "I think something 'is' wrong but I don't know exactly 'why' it's wrong. I'm having rapid mood swings and I think I just about set Rose's room on fire by accident I don't know what's going on." She wanted to apologize for everything but something was making her blood boil rather insanely, or more accurately it was like her blood had turned to fire in her veins. "I need to get out of here...before I burn this place to the ground." More like before she burned HERSELF to ash, but that would come a bit later if she could manage to get outside the magic barrier.

This was strange. . .Why was this little fire bird suddenly wanting out of the house so badly? "If something isn't blatantly 'wrong' then something seems to have at least gone 'awry'." Ger chimed. "Perhaps she just needs some fresh air, no offense but the house 'is' a bit humid." It was still a bit tough to really understand what was with her at that point, thankfully the issue was about to present itself and it wasn't going to be a pretty end. The girl in question started shaking and stumbled to the doorway looking a bit panicked. "G-Geronimo's right, I think I need some air." Her skin was now starting to turn red from the heat and she tore through the front room and threw the door open as a spark ignited and within moments she was a column of fire in the doorway of the house. Somewhere underneath the roiling waves of emotion she was glad to have not been on that expensive rug Zold kept when she lit up.

The last thing the ginger had been expecting was for her friend to experience spontaneously combustion. "What the Hades are you two just standing there for!? Silence just turned into a column of fire get a blanket or a bucket of water and help me put her out!" That being said she grabbed the nearest piece of cloth she could find, which happened to be an empty potato sack, and bolted out the door.

Alec followed Geronimo with a bucket as well, to go to the nearest source of water, which would be the fountain. "This way!" he said.

Zold didn't leave Silence's side. Instead, he got out some chalk and began scribbling some runes on the ground around her feet in a hurry, then he took some salt out of his pocket and, very quickly, drew a circle connecting t he runes. As soon as the circle was sealed, there was a ... Well, it wasn't really an explosion to anybody but Zold, since Geronimo and Alec had departed. For an instant, a vacuum was created, incasing Silence. It would most assuredly knock the wind out of her for a second - but not enough to do any kind of physical harm. It might have actually felt like a sneeze without the built up anticipation. But the instant was enough to snuff the fire out. The warm air and remains of the flames burst outwards out of the vacuum, rushing out of the spell circle, knocking Zold back violently. When he instant spell was done, Zold coughed a bit and pushed himself back up.

"Silence, are you .... No, no, that's a silly question." He dusted himself off. "I think you and I should take a walk outside for a minute. I think we could both use some air." Meaning that she needed to get out of the spell runes. They were clearly working, which was good for he and Rose, but the magic seemed to be causing a negative effect to his newest daughter, and he certainly didn't want that. He offered her his arm. "How about a pleasant stroll around town? Would you like to see that tailor now, or is it not really your interest?"

She'd only been on fire about a minute, but her clothes hadn't been as fortunate as the rest of her had been. She wasn't naked, but to say she was embarrassed was an understatement; her skirt was now only long enough to cover half her thighs and her shirt was barely staying on with her standing still, if she moved it would be humiliating. She had some minor burns on her arms and mid-section, but they would heal in a week or so, nothing too terribly painful. "I-I'd rather not go out with most of my body showing. I brought a spare change of clothes with me, it's in the bag in the front room." Now she felt like a real burden, and she'd hardly been there an hour. "After I get into something decent, I should be glad to see the city with you, but no a new dress is the least of my worries."

She hesitated to venture back inside to change, but when Geronimo appeared from 'round the side of the house, the ginger immediately noticed the issue and hurried inside to get her bag. She brought out the bag and some sort of table cloth from the kitchen, hoping it wouldn't get dirty (it likely wouldn't be noticed if it did). Silence then took both the bag and the cloth and vanished bside the house for a moment or two before coming out properly dressed in a cotton blouse, slacks, and black shoes. She'd opted against wearing the cinch since she had some discomfort otherwise. "This is the best I have with me; I'm sorry but it'll have to do till I can find myself something more classy."

Zold smiled at Silence lightly. "You look lovely, madam," He said civilly. He offered his arm to her once again to escort her outside of his estate. He gave a wave to Alec and Geronimo before they departed. "Alec," He called over, "I'm sure you know the rules. Please make yourself and my guest at home." And with that, he departed with Silence. Hopefully being outside of the runes would make her feel a little more like herself. He was interested to see if her actions might differ when they weren't being influenced.

His house was in a particularly nice part of Kaionar, so they did a lot of strolling between grand, beautiful houses that looked much like his own.

"I couldn't help but to overhear what you said in the kitchen... I beg your forgiveness for eavesdropping, as it wasn't my intention. You said that Rose was a spoiled little brat...." He sighed. Instead of scolding Silence, he gave a guilty chuckle. "Perhaps so. I am terribly troubled that you two clash so intensely. I'm truly sorry for whatever it was that she stated to make you so upset. I think it may be best that you do not try to speak with her again - and actually listen to me when I tell you so this time, instead of b-lining for her room. I'm not going to make excuses for her... I am raising her to be an aristocrat, through and through. I will speak to her on her lady-like manners and how she spoke to you."

"But what caught my interest was something else you said while you were in the kitchen... you seem to think that I'm ashamed of you. I assure you, nothing could be father from the truth. May I tell you an old man's tale?

"When I was a lad, I had an upbringing not unlike Rose's. I was pampered, doted on, and I was raised for a specific purpose; to be a politician. My entire life seemed quite droll. I have not a single childhood memory involving anything 'fun' quite at all.

"But... that changed very dramatically when I met your mother. She was a passionate woman... full of life. Impulsive. Beautiful. She was the only person I had ever met who had a genuine smile... a genuine laugh. For the brief years that I knew her, I considered abandoning everything I had been taught to run away with her. Love is a funny thing that way."

He looked up at the sky looking a bit forlorn. "... I thought those days would never end. I never wished to return to the predictable, privileged lifestyle."

He looked back down and shook his head, before turning to Silence. "I had forgotten that there were such people. I know I do not know you yet, but you remind me of ... of all the things I loved about her. I wish you know you better, Silence. I'm certainly not ashamed of you."

"If she decides to speak to me I'll try to keep myself in check, but I'll not speak to her unless manners demand it." She was definitely a good deal like Aerlyne had been before her, and it was a rather shocking resemblance. "Well I found something we share in common, we love the theater. I dare even to say that we might be able to get along if I can ever learn how to fit in here." She wanted to be accepted somewhere other than her circus home so ardently that it caused her heartache to think of it. "The only real place I've ever been truly accepted is with the circus, to know I belong somewhere would make my childhood suffering worthwhile." He went on to ask her forgiveness, which made her smile, and tell of her mother, which only made her smile 'more'. "Eavesdropping isn't something I worry over with you. Besides, it isn't like what you heard will make much difference. I see many children like her pass through our gates and I call all of them by that same term. I guess that's in part due to me working and striving every day to make myself a success, and I'd like to think that I'm getting close to that goal."

"Mother taught me ballet starting when I was just a tiny little thing and barely past her knee. I've been at it over a decade now, somewhere around fifteen years, perhaps a little under that. When I got the chance to have my own sideshow act I thought I'd finally get to save up for proper ballet shoes after my curious cat chewed up my other ones, turns out we're growing rather rapidly and doing better than any of us senior performers could have ever dreamed." She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze and looked up at the bright afternoon sky filled with white cotton clouds. "You know, somewhere deep down I think little Rose might just be in shock at the idea of having a sister, much less one like myself with no formal teaching or much idea of courtly manners. She'll either get used to it or deny she's related to me, I'm betting on the latter simply for the sake of a good bit of drama." The very idea of getting to bug Rose and get away with it was enough to make her burst into laughter.

Zold gave a wry smile. "I'd like to think that I raised her to be better than that... but what I think and what she thinks might be very different."

"I have a question for you, if you don't mind my asking... What do you consider to be 'success'? At what point would you feel like you've achieved this goal that you're striving towards? While I wish to encourage you - if it is a financial goal (which is up to you), it seems that travelling with a circus can be a bit... ah... haphazard. For isntance, you might be the hardest worker there and very well may deserve your financial success, but unless the circus as a whole is doing well, you may not achieve that regardless of your own actions. Which is why I'm asking. When, in your eyes, do you feel you'll be where you'd like to be?"

He did seem to navigate his way to the tailor somehow. He raised his finger up to her. "I'd like to buy for you a present. However... this will be of my own choosing, and it will be a surprise. Would you mind waiting out here for a moment?" He asked. then he ducked inside.

If Silence looked in at all, Zold was talking very quietly to the head tailor, a wrinkled old man who had some of his wares displayed on the walls as a form of advertising, and they were all very lovely gowns. Zold scribbled something on a paper and slid it to the elderly man, who nodded knowingly. By and by, without revealing the designs of the Dress Zold had in mind for Silence, Zold beckoned her in to be measured.

When all that was done, Zold stepped back outside and brushed himself off. "Of course, it won't be ready until tomorrow... masterpieces take time, you understand. I hope, then, that you'll at least stay the night so that I can give you your gift promptly, rather than having to wait however long you choose before you stop by to visit again."

She was rather stunned at his sudden idea but followed quietly only to receive a nostalgic look from the tailor, which somehow didn't seem right. "You know you don't have to do this for me father..." she started. She was soon fidgety and twitching as she started getting measured. It wasn't too comfortable getting measured for something she had no idea about. "I suppose I could stay the night, don't think it'd do any harm." Aside from a slight twitch she tried to keep perfectly still. "Success I suppose would be not having to worry about where my next meal will come from, and with our numbers growing as well as a good wage system, I'll be setting higher goals pretty soon. I earn most of my money from my sideshow act and that doesn't get split with anyone, but I do earn a stable amount of money per city based on profits. Bills and repairs and things of the like are covered before anyone gets paid."

The looks she kept getting from the tailor were starting to make her uneasy so she looked over at him and blinked. "Why do you keep looking at me like that? I remind you someone you know?" The real reason was likely that she looked so much like her mother that she was probably going to get called Aerlyne at least once during her stay. "Guess even if I do I wouldn't know who they are, I don't know too many people here." She was all too glad that measuring was over and she could get down, it was so awkward!

Zold held his arm out for her again and began escorting her once more away from the tailor shop. "I think if you stayed the night, it would do me, for one, much good. I'll have some guest quarters arranged for you and your travelling companions - if you can vouch for that Geronimo gentleman. I trust Alec, but I hope ..." Ahhh, he had been about to say that he hoped she didn't marry that barbaric Geronimo, but he decided he didn't want to give her any reason to feel pressured by him one way or the other. "... I hope he doesn't steal anything else in the night," he grumbled. "Can I trust that Geronimo will stay away from my Rose as well? Can you give me that assurance?" He asked.

He tipped his head sadly as she described her own idea of success. It infuriated him, really. Just, very suddenly, he was quite infuriated with that half-baked Circus. Was it common for his daughter to not know where her next meal was coming from? He had half a mind to burn that unfortunate place to the ground so that Silence wouldn't have to worry about that shoddy place any longer. But... seeing as Silence apparently loved it there, he wasn't about to act on that impulse. All right. So he had to do something better. Perhaps he could help make the circus more successful? It wasn't his nature to throw money at a problem to fix it (...Well, actually, it kind of was, but not in this case! He didn't want his daughter to feel like he didn't trust her to make her own way), but maybe he could make some donations. Not directly to the circus's employees, but somehow perhaps donate to it's advertising. Somehow find a way to make it a high-class circus. Make it truly phenomenal... somehow. But... as Zold didn't know the first thing about Circuses, he really had no idea how to make that happen. He'd put that line of thought on the back-burner for now.

"So, speaking of your companions, have you been living with both of them? Where is Sir Alec Aster staying exactly?"

"Well when you're a band of misfits trying to make your way in the world sometimes people show up and sometimes they don't. That's show-business, but I have comfortable living arrangements and friends who care, and I do get steady food whether it's made by myself or by some of the other performers." She looked a bit shaken when he questioned Geronimo. "Geronimo's nothing to worry over in the least, more like my sibling and best friend than anything else. Wouldn't marry him honestly because someone else holds that title, but he's special to me and you did just say he was a gentleman so by the nature of your own statement you have nothing to fear!" Her reply was chipper and her smile bright as the morning sky, and above all it was genuine.

"Well I don't quite know where Alec is staying, but when I traveled north with the troupe his mother just went insane with joy and insisted I stop by to visit, real sweetheart she is. Geronimo apparently lives separately from his parents, as well he should he's twenty-three, but I honestly haven't any clue about Alec." She glanced at some of the standards flying high up close to the clouds and sighed. "I guess I overestimated the severity of my financial position, compared to you I'm not even worth notice, but I make enough to be comfortable and I can save up for things like welcome gifts for new members of our family or something special just for me. I put some of my own money back into the circus because I want it to be successful and for everyone to be happy working with it."

"I see all walks of life come through our gates in every city, from orphans in rags to the elite of society and I have found that the ones with the least appreciate what they have the most. Every little trinket is precious when it's all you have to your name. Being rich doesn't hold the same appeal it used to have to me, I rather enjoy cherishing what I have."

Zold sighed lightly. "My dear Revena... When I call Geronimo a gentleman, I am merely obfuscating that I think he's a wicked rapscallion, but since he's a friend of yours, I'm trying to be as soft as I can on the thieving bastard." He stifled a snerk. "Such foresight he has, to boot. He whisked Alec away to save him, but ... may I ask... What does Geronimo think he's saving Alec from?" zold asked. "Sure, I've treated him as my butler, but more than that, he's been my trusted secretary and partner. I've given him fine sleeping quarters, fine food, and fine clothes. While Alec and I may disagree on some moral points - as I will not lie - Alec is a gentler soul than I am - I by no means mistreated him. And now that he's been 'saved' from me, he has no home to go back to. Yet Geronimo seems to have convinced him that being homeless is by far the finer route."

He tightened his lips. "... I'm sorry. I'm a bit bitter on the point. I know this is an outing just between you and I, but Alec is vital to my work. We had a contract, and I'm slightly irked that your friend Geronimo came in and decided to sort things out the way he saw fit without knowing the full situation... hence why I'm none to pleased with him. But I suppose, like all good men, he was only abiding by his conscience, for which I cannot blame him. But I know Alec's character inside and out - I know that he is a good man, and a man of his word."

As she mentioned a potential husband, Zold's eyebrows perked up and Geronimo and Alec absolutely became secondary to his interests. "Oh?" He asked eagerly. "Care to tell your old man about him?" And his curious interest was fast replaced with FIERCE PROTECTIVENESS. But he tried not to let it show. "... Or will I be forced to learn about him at the wedding, if you'll allow me to come?"

"Excuse my harsh language father but the hell if I know why Geronimo does what he does. It's not my business to know unless he tells me and all I know is Alec is a trustworthy friend of his, nothing more." She turned a hard shade of Merlot red and cursed herself for not keeping that quiet. "He hasn't really said anything about a wedding, it's just what I'd like at some point with him. But he's like me: a circus performer and a bastard child. On top of that he's a rather good assassin from this very city, and an elf. Of course I'd want you at the wedding, it'd be mean of me not to invite you, but you'll have to stop insulting my childhood friend first. I usually pulverize anyone who speaks ill of my friends but since you're my father I'll let it slide 'once'. You've had your warning now the next time you two have a row you're both getting punished."

"Russell's alright in terms of personality, but I'm still trying to get him to trust me, and I guess I can understand why if he grew up in the bad end of the city. When we first met he actually tried to kill me, then when I dragged him home with me he decided otherwise and started traveling with us. It's perfectly fine for him to keep his past to himself and I'm not about to press the matter if it makes him unhappy. He's no son of a nobleman but he suits me just fine; I wouldn't change him for all the jewels from here to Christendom. Well. . .maybe I'd tone down how much he flirts with me but that's just part of his charm." She felt her face begin to cool down to a more mellow shade of pink and grinned. "I think you'd like him, except he'd be terrified of you from the minute he walked in the door."

"See," Zold pointed out, when she got all huffy, "And that's why I called him a gentleman instead. Just don't mistake my politeness towards that individual as approval. I'll not insult him further, just be aware that I don't trust him." Sigh. "Well, I hope that, if he is the person that you love, I hope that he will propose soon. I'll not have my daughter pursing a man who has no intention of making a commitment, whomever he is. I'm sure that if you and him are truly in love, then I will undoubtedly approve of him." He gave Silence a gentle smile, and put his hand on her back. "I look forward to meeting him. You're welcome to invite him over. " And by that... he meant that he had every intention to invite Russel over his own self.

He pulled a necklace off of his neck and handed it to her. "Why don't you wear this for now? We're almost home... this should cancel out the affects of the runes around the house. I certainly don't want you to have another melt-down, so this will make you immune to the runes. However, I only have so many of these.... would you be so kind as to return this when you depart?" He gently placed it around her neck. "Rose has one as well. I'm certain I can give that to Russell when he comes."

Anyhow, Dinner went uneventfully, with everybody served politely. Zold sent out the invitation that night. Hopefully Russel would get it and arrive promptly tomorrow.