[completed/closed] Characters: Selene (selenite) & Lilith (tasteyourmind) Date/Time: July 10th, afternoon Location: Iriy, the palace Rating: PG-13 Warnings: Creeper!Selene, plotting!Lilith? Summary: The palace is theirs to lurk in.
Galahad's absence had been obvious to her. He'd been missing from the castle and she hadn't gotten to see him sleep before he left. Things had been busy. She got up from his bed before dabbing just the tiniest bit of perfume on the corner of the pillow rather than its case. It wouldn't stay on the case considering the cleaning staff's habit of actually cleaning. Lilith had been around, but it was harder to sneak on her and so she'd stuck to her brothers (admittedly, mostly Theseus considering Odr's habit of wandering).
With a pair of Galahad's socks on (carefully hidden from view beneath her boots), she slipped out of the room and went to see who else was around the castle. Hera could have been. She was still here. It was almost a shame for the simple fact that Selene had hoped to steal Hera's spot...for sleeping, of course. Theseus' bed was more comfortable. She couldn't say whether it was the bed or just because Theseus was sleeping in it. Either way, she preferred it to her own. Somewhere along the way, she started humming to herself as she moved along the halls, peeking into rooms here and there to see who was lurking around.
"It is a bit empty," was the only thing she said when she peeked into the throne room.
The Czar had been gone for just a short while but Lilith already had settled into her fantasy of being a Czarina already. Though she wasn't so foolish to flaunt this fact in the faces of those around her or even seat herself on Galahad's throne, she had ventured around the palace, playing out in her head how she would change things. How she could rule with only the strongest of women in charge around her. How the men would be used for breeding, pleasure, entertainment and labour. For far too long had women been set in such a role.
But it was not that she didn't think some women were weak and should be used as well. Often, she thought of Eve and grumbled to herself over her younger sister. Sometimes, she wanted to shake the woman and demand she show her what their blood had in it: an ability to control, to dominate, to win. Lilith, in pure fairness, was just hardened by experience and hate to understand that her younger sister was likely happy with the life she created for herself. But the ambassador couldn't see that. She was blinded by her own interests.
The sound of humming had lured the other blonde down the hall and toward the throne room. Her steps were purposefully soft, her heels not even touching the floor as she crept up behind Selene. And when close enough, she let her heels suddenly clack against the hard floor beneath their feet.
"Miss Selene," she coolly said (but it was hardly personal as that was how she was with majority of people). "What are you doing about?"
Selene had admittedly not been aware of someone else walking up behind her, which wasn't really strange. The only sign that she'd been just a touch startled was her fingers tightening just slightly on the door handle before she turned around. She blinked owlishly for a moment before offering a small smile and glancing back toward the throne room.
"Oh. Hello, Ambassador. I was just wandering about." The corners of her lips twitched upwards as she thought about the fact that she sounded much like Odr. "It seems so empty," she commented, her voice just a touch dreamier than usual. She'd started to think about what would happen if Galahad never came back...which seemed boring and odd. Still, she'd hope Hera would let her stay in the castle for work should that happen. "But I already said that." There was a slight shrug as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
For a moment, she went quiet as she looked around the room. "Nothing seems to need fixing." Which was really because she'd been diligent enough about fixing things. Even if her job was mostly for show as far as she was concerned, she did her best to keep on top of things so she wouldn't lose it. Another shrug. "And you?"
She had been so focused on seeing the woman's expression when she turned that she missed those fingers. Ah well. Lilith didn't give her back a smile but, once more, that was her way of being. But Galahad not returning, there was a fine thought. It wasn't as if she could take his place, though. She was not his kin nor had bore him heirs. Something she was working on if the damn man could just be pinned.
Her attention returned to the strange blonde, knowing that her focus needed to not drift. "I am here to fetch a few things." That she would now do to avoid appearing suspicious. Her eyes moved over the various objects in the area as she thoughtfully added, "You maintain the castle so well that nothing ever really needs constant attendance."
Then an idea bubbled up. "Have you checked the Czar's chambers?"
Selene rarely worried herself over facial expressions unless it was obvious that she was in trouble. She didn't suppose she was in trouble at this moment, so she hadn't worried over it. The ambassador was always this way, which was something she'd picked up on after a while. It was rare to see her smile. Then again, Selene only smiled when she wanted to. Otherwise she tended toward blank expressions...or curious ones. It depended on how she felt.
"Ah." It was a simple reply, nothing worth noting. She wasn't particularly wordy unless she needed to be. The compliment made her smile and she turned to look at Lilith. "I do my best." And really, if there was a reason to work on things while Galahad was around, then she found it. Sometimes he just fell asleep for whatever reason. She certainly didn't know why. He just needed a nap...and who was she to stop him from napping...even if it was in odd places. So long as she wasn't around when he woke up, there was no need for an explanation.
Now this was the point where she had to decide whether to lie or not. "Hmmm...I peeked." Which was vaguely true.
Smiles seemed so very pointless. It wasn't that her life was bad but she was guarded and cautious. Hera and Eve, no doubt, were the only ones to really see a smile from her. Beyond them, catching a happy expression from her was possibly less likely than Galahad laughing.
"Only peeked?" A slim hand, encased in white lace, was held out and there was an order in that gesture, even before she spoke again (as typical of her). "Come with me. You'd better do more than peek."
There was a slight curiosity to her expression as she took the hand extended to her before tilting her head to peer up at the other woman. "If that's what you wish," she commented before lowering her gaze. It was tiring to always look up. Especially when one could look at people at eye level when they slept. Or down should you find yourself sitting on the bed next to them. That was usually only with Theseus or Odr.
Her eyes moved over the floor in front of them as she tried to subtly avoid cracks. You couldn't call it superstition. It was just something to keep her occupied. After a moment she grew tired of it and started to walk normally again. "Is there something in his room we should be looking for?"
Lilith could not - would not make apologies of her height, that which was increased with her heels. They kept her towering over even Galahad which did put her in a pleasant mood. When her hand had been taken, she curled her fingers around it firmly, another message sent that there was no backing away now and down the hall they went.
"There is always something to look for in his room. Though often it is him, we want, isn't it?" she murmured in reply, barely regarding the guards that she passed by. And then, soon enough, they were before his chambers' doors. Though she had a key to it, she still turned to Selene. "Can you get us in?"
There was no effort made to back out. She didn't know whether she should find fear in this situation. She had an easy out. All she had to do was make her fall asleep and then sneak away. Still, she didn't feel threatened. She very rarely felt threatened, though. It was difficult to feel threatened when all she had to do was use her ability to get out of something. Even if it didn't always work the way she meant it to.
Lilith's words made her look up quietly again, just watching. She didn't confirm or deny her claims, glancing just briefly at the guards. Nothing to worry over. Quietly, Selene opened the door, stepping inside without any indication whether or not she should. "Now what?"
There would be no threat for Selene. They both seemed to understand one another well enough in the situation. Lilith followed her and allowed the doors to click softly shut behind them. If they were caught, she knew she could deal with them. They were men and Selene maintained things in the palace anyway. She had perfectly good reasons to mask her less than good ones.
Leaving Selene's side, she moved across the grand room. It wasn't her first time in there but Galahad didn't need to ever know that. She feigned some interest in things to not give away her familiarity with it before eyeing the Czar's bed. Arrogance claimed her and she took a seat on it, crossing her legs. "Come here."
For a moment, Selene stayed where she was, looking around quietly. Yes, she'd been there earlier and walked around, but that wasn't important. She'd made a point to leave it looking as it had before she got there. Lilith's command caught her attention and she moved slowly across the room to her.
She nearly stated the fact that she was there before deciding against it. It would be rather obvious and she'd done that once already. Instead, she watched her curiously, almost expectantly, waiting to see what else she'd be asked to do. It was easy enough to follow directions. Part of her job was following directions, more from Hera than anyone else. Galahad usually let her do whatever she pleased, putting up only minor (according to her mental notes) boundaries. Do not bother him during meetings or important matters. Nothing he'd told her said anything about not coming in to watch him sleep. Then again, he probably didn't know she was liable to do so...unless Hera was likely to mention it. Hopefully she wouldn't.
When Selene was near, Lilith took in the sight of her properly. She knew they were related through Hera's marriage. The husband annoyed Lilith but had been unpredictably loyal to Hera so far. Still, even good men failed at some point and she would revel in the moment he fell, encourage Hera to take him out in the most bloody and violent fashion possible.
But this sister of her brother-in-law, she wasn't so bad. That she had her own little secrets was even a plus. Lilith let her shoes slip off before swinging up her legs on the bed and reclined back. She was oh-so-comfortable now. "How would you change this room to suit...say a female version of our Czar?"
Selene trusted that Theseus would be good...because he always was now. She got to touch his face and steal cuddles and watch him sleep if she wanted to, but she knew that's where it would always stay. She was convinced this was proof that she was good at sharing...even if she tended to feel possessive of her siblings. Odr was the only one she didn't have to think just a little about when it came to interactions. He didn't have a woman to side-eye her. If he found someone, she would dutifully allow him to go away...but only so far. She could not take him away fully, whoever she might be. Selene would find a way to make her stay. Her brothers were hers and she accepted Hera because she seemed to understand that.
The image of Galahad as a woman made her laugh and she pressed her fingers tight to her lips to muffle it. "I think the female version of our Czar would not change the room because it would still be Galahad...only a girl." She didn't worry about whether she should address him by his first name. He wasn't here to correct her if she shouldn't. "But if you mean...for a Czarina with a less muted preference..." She lightly tapped her fingers against her lips, considering it for a moment.
"I like cherry," she said before adding, "For the wood, I mean..." Just to clarify. "Dark blue with silver detailing for the top covering...and the pillows. The under sheets aren't nearly as important and could be changed around if it pleased her." She liked that there weren't curtains around the bed, though. Those were messy and clingy. "Of course, depending on the Czarina, blood red could be easily exchanged for the blue." She let her gaze rest for a moment on Lilith's face before looking around. She didn't really know how she felt about gold detailing. She liked silver better. It reminded her of the moon. That's why she'd picked the dark blue in the first place. It reminded her of the night sky. "I guess if gold detailing had to be applied instead, it could." But she was just a touch obvious about her feelings on the matter. "The curtains...I still like the fabric. Perhaps a little detailing could go on them, though. She'd still want them dark enough to keep out the light in the mornings if she wanted to sleep in a little."
Lilith did not move to offer an answer about a Czarina, preferring to let Selene go on speaking as she had. Silver, she decided while listening, would certainly appear less gaudy and flashy. That and it would suit the cherry wood that had been mentioned. Yes, if she ever came into power, the blue would go and the red would be in. And anything that screamed 'Galahad' would be replaced with everything that says 'victorious'.
"And why would a Czarina want to sleep in a little longer?" she asked, a perfectly shaped brow lifting. "Wouldn't a Czarina prefer to be up before dawn and ready to work?"
Selene was quiet for a moment. The day is so troublesome, she thought to herself. "Perhaps if it were a weekend or she was taking a day to herself," she said quietly. "But I suppose on normal days she would want to be up early." Her eyes moved over Lilith for a moment.
"Perhaps if she had a visitor." There was a shrug. Perhaps Galahad never had women in his room...that he meant to have there, but she didn't think Lilith was anything like him. "But if she would prefer to be up early all the time, then I suppose that it wouldn't matter as much."
She'd never take a day. The weekends would be for work and to maintain her power. To see her domain devour and conquer. Niflheim, they would be forced to their knees and taken before her enduring and loyal armies. But all of this was mere fantasy, she thought sourly, her stocking-clad toes twitching lightly.
"A visitor?" Her mouth twisted into a near smile, a laugh just almost bubbling up. "That's a polite way to state she would have company to fuck. Tell me, have you ever seen the Czar with a 'visitor'? That man, it almost seems like he's saving himself for the one he prays to so prettily."
There were times she forgot herself, let some of her distaste slip in but she wasn't too concerned at this point. Most knew she wasn't religious at all.
Selene just barely smiled before shrugging. "I'm usually around my younger niece. I have to think of nice ways to say things." But then she didn't usually use swear words. She didn't care to use them. "I've never seen one," she said quietly. Whether that meant there would never be one, she didn't know. She didn't expect it unless he decided to get married. She wondered how things would change if he did.
Lilith's distaste was noted but not commented on. She hummed thoughtfully for a moment. "No one comes and no one goes but us and him." Because something Lilith said earlier convinced her that she came around, too. Not to mention the fact that she was in here now.
"Our younger niece," Lilith commented and wondered if she should not pay Hermione a visit to see how she was. Perhaps she ought to meddle there though 'meddle' was the wrong word for what she felt she would be doing. It would be adjusting any misconceptions the girl had about the other sex. Fixing. She would be fixing things if necessary.
That Selene had noticed and included her made Lilith wonder if she should be more frank or more careful. Perhaps time would tell. Bringing her legs over and off the bed, she rose up and smoothed a hand over her clothing while stepping back into her heels. "And it will remain just us. It would be better for him that way."
"Oh yes." Sometimes she forgot who was related. She was more caught up on the people she was around regularly. She hadn't lied to Hermione about anything. She'd just worked around certain words to keep her brother and his wife from getting upset with her.
As Lilith stood again, Selene looked up. She wouldn't tell on Lilith because it would bring up questions of how she knew and could lead to getting revealed as having done the same thing. Nodding, Selene quietly allowed that they would be the only two. If Galahad desired to have more, she was unlikely to stop him, but she wouldn't encourage it either.
There was a good chance Theseus would not have cared one way or another. Considering how casual he had been when caught with Hera by their youngest, his likely reaction would have been to laugh. But there was never harm in playing it safe.
Like before, Lilith extended her hand again, "Accompany me to the dining hall. I'll see us fed properly before we return to our own plans for the day."
Selene looked at Lilith's hand for a moment before reaching down to pull at the covers a little, smoothing them out. No one would know anyone had been on the bed now. Pleased with her work, she took Lilith's hand again to let her lead her again as she had before. She wasn't terribly hungry, but she'd eat a little. Maybe she could get some fruit out of it. She really wanted some.