[spoiler]<o1 HxP>
Piper Verona didn’t play by their rules.
They, being the court, knew this. Every social gathering had been a fiasco with Piper parading around in outfits too revealing, wearing smiles that hinted at private catching up after prying eyes closed for sleep; her mother didn’t approve. Still, the girl's all too powerful father seemed oblivious and in such, didn’t bother to interject on the behavior. Even if he had, there was no doubt the red haired vixen would have done what she did best and ignored the attempt. It wasn’t as though her parents really understood what peculiar feelings bubbled within that fragile being – but did anyone? Even Piper had bouts of confusion towards her actions, which lead to picking apart each encounter with a fine toothed comb. Even now as she leaned against the expanse of glass that opened the grand hall to their outside surroundings, her attention wasn’t fully on the evening festivities. It was someone’s birthday, though whose, she couldn’t say. Maybe even her mothers, though it was certain if it had been, the older woman would have kept her locked out of the main celebration.
Outside, in the endless pitch of space, countless distant stars burned through the darkness. Each one had a civilization within its orbiting bodies, clueless of the presence of Piper and her brood within the massive watch tower above Earth. All the gifted beings within the walls of this creation were powerful in ways most mortals wouldn’t understand, especially in this day and age. All that was known of the futuristic colony was its separation from the overpopulated planet below. Piper should have studied harder, because if she had, the woman would have known more involving her own lineage and why they were chosen to live with so called ‘Living Gods’. A strange idea, but one she had been living with the entirety of her existence. Like the air she breathed, the red head couldn’t see it in party guests, but it was supposed to be true; end of discussion. Azure hues scanned the party goers, noting the ones who appeared alone and ignoring the others who didn’t, but still found themselves looking her way. It was going to be quite the evening by the look of things.
As one of the many servants strolled past, she snagged a glass from the tray they carried, and took a swig of the beverage. A tad light, air-y, similar to Champagne but less enticing. It would do for show though; appeasing the eyes of her mother should they wander onto Piper. If the girl seemed to behave herself, there’d be fewer complaints after all the guests left, and the life she knew would remain an easy one. If only that were the case. Just as she had made her way from private solitude near the bay windows, another guest arrived and all at once, a feeling of dread overwhelmed Piper. Now, based on how blank her face remained as she continued from one side of the massive parlor to the other, little attention was drawn. The usual suggestive stares were lacking at the moment as all eyes turned to the newcomer, then elsewhere; back to the other guests and the appetizers and whatever else wasn’t the black sheep of upper society. Aidoneous Pitt, a man some snickered about in hushed tones, had arrived and no one seemed thrilled by his presence.
Save for Ezekiel Verona, the host, who graciously made an introduction near the stairs.
Piper rolled her eyes at the display of hospitality, half expecting her father to get on his knees and beg for money, because in her mind, she assumed that the reason for Aidoneous’ invite. Why else would he be here, at their little shindig, if not to contribute to some scheme Ezekiel had concocted? She was at a distance from the two and hadn’t a clue what they spoke of briefly, but soon her father was once more attending to other patrons and Aidoneous was alone among the elite. Piper took another sip of her drink, meandering as she did so in attempts of avoiding contact with anyone capable of blowing her cover; she often made enemies with lovers scorned, and by her count, there were at least two such individuals attending the party. They kept their distance though, probably content not to stir up trouble in public, but lingering tensions were obvious and the girl felt with each slow step, she was sinking deeper into a pit of her own making. If only she knew what was to come, she’d have taken the initiative and stepped away to retire for the evening...
Suddenly, Piper paused where she was as someone grabbed her upper arm and pulled the red head back from most of the crowd, where in hushed tones, the person whispered a quick message. “Did you see who just showed up?”
“Oh, Mother… You scared me.” Turning to face the other, it was almost like looking in to a mirror; Demeter Verona retained all the good qualities she’d had some twenty years prior, adding only a shorter hair-do and a pair of dark rimmed glasses to otherwise matching features. The two were often mistaken for sisters and if it were up to the older woman, that’s how their relationship would define them. Piper saw things very differently though and often brushed off the forced closeness with obvious disgust, preferring to keep their relationship one of simplicity. Related, but not close – This was how the two needed to remain. Still, if her mother was eager for her attention over Aidoneous, Piper would play into the questioning. After all, the girl knew little of the man she’d been weary of and considered any insight helpful in keeping him at bay. “I did. Why do you ask?”
But what she hadn’t noticed was the trailing look her mother gave as she had spoken, only catching the hint when Demeter commented, “Did someone steal the rest of your clothing?” Frowning, the younger woman looked down at her outfit and noted it was rather short, the strapless ebony dress cutting off at mid-thigh, whereas most other females present had chosen more traditional flowing gowns. Clicking her tongue as Piper once more lifted her gaze, Demeter continued, “Well, I think you should go talk to our guest. Mr. Pitt may appreciate good company and you’re some of the best I know.” But the tone used was full of venom, mercilessly pointing out the past behaviors Piper was notorious for.
Had she brushed off the suggestion, there would of course be consequences, and the girl wasn’t ready to juggle avoiding past flames and quelling the wrath of an angry Demeter. Sighing, Piper raised her free hand to push back the cascade of her red hair, tucking countless strands behind one ear so she could finish the contents of her glass. “Father needs him.” There was no question to why she was now being sent to make friends with the male, and if she hadn’t already had her suspicions, Demeter successfully shed light on whatever financial dependencies the family suffered. “What exactly do I need to do? Please, give me a guideline if I’m going to get involved.”
Smiling, Demeter quickly looked around to be sure the two weren’t overheard, then answered, “Whatever you deem fit, Piper. I’m not asking you to go overboard, but if you could coax him into making a donation, then life would be easier on all of us. Your father is working hard to keep our good name clean, and you doing this is beneficial to all of us.” Issuing a nod towards her daughter, that plastered smile didn’t wane for a second and even as Demeter began walking away, the girl knew it was an empty mask to hide her fear. If their family were to fall on hard times, even briefly, their social standing would be lost; you didn’t fall from the highest echelons just to crawl back. The sad reality was, you could climb forever towards the top, but could never recover from a misstep. This was all she could think about as she swallowed whatever hopes she had of enjoying her night, and it was all she’d think on in weeks to come.
“I guess I have no choice.” Mumbled Piper as she began moving again, and after a moment spent dodging other chattering party goers, the woman stopped at the side of the gentleman in question. Having never seen him up close, it was a pleasant surprise he wasn’t unattractive, though few individuals were in this day and age - Especially within the orbital city, where wealth and beauty were always in great supply. For a few awkward seconds, piper couldn’t bring herself to speak, but upon clearing her throat with mock cough, she started an introduction. “I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting you, though from what I hear, you’re quite a well-respected man.” Not entirely untrue, Aidoneous was respected within the inner circle, but also quite feared; Piper didn’t actually know why this so happened to be the case. Another reason to get to meet the strange male. She had questions and if they got far enough in their conversation, maybe she’d have the chance to ask a few.[/spoiler]
Piper Verona didn’t play by their rules.
They, being the court, knew this. Every social gathering had been a fiasco with Piper parading around in outfits too revealing, wearing smiles that hinted at private catching up after prying eyes closed for sleep; her mother didn’t approve. Still, the girl's all too powerful father seemed oblivious and in such, didn’t bother to interject on the behavior. Even if he had, there was no doubt the red haired vixen would have done what she did best and ignored the attempt. It wasn’t as though her parents really understood what peculiar feelings bubbled within that fragile being – but did anyone? Even Piper had bouts of confusion towards her actions, which lead to picking apart each encounter with a fine toothed comb. Even now as she leaned against the expanse of glass that opened the grand hall to their outside surroundings, her attention wasn’t fully on the evening festivities. It was someone’s birthday, though whose, she couldn’t say. Maybe even her mothers, though it was certain if it had been, the older woman would have kept her locked out of the main celebration.
Outside, in the endless pitch of space, countless distant stars burned through the darkness. Each one had a civilization within its orbiting bodies, clueless of the presence of Piper and her brood within the massive watch tower above Earth. All the gifted beings within the walls of this creation were powerful in ways most mortals wouldn’t understand, especially in this day and age. All that was known of the futuristic colony was its separation from the overpopulated planet below. Piper should have studied harder, because if she had, the woman would have known more involving her own lineage and why they were chosen to live with so called ‘Living Gods’. A strange idea, but one she had been living with the entirety of her existence. Like the air she breathed, the red head couldn’t see it in party guests, but it was supposed to be true; end of discussion. Azure hues scanned the party goers, noting the ones who appeared alone and ignoring the others who didn’t, but still found themselves looking her way. It was going to be quite the evening by the look of things.
As one of the many servants strolled past, she snagged a glass from the tray they carried, and took a swig of the beverage. A tad light, air-y, similar to Champagne but less enticing. It would do for show though; appeasing the eyes of her mother should they wander onto Piper. If the girl seemed to behave herself, there’d be fewer complaints after all the guests left, and the life she knew would remain an easy one. If only that were the case. Just as she had made her way from private solitude near the bay windows, another guest arrived and all at once, a feeling of dread overwhelmed Piper. Now, based on how blank her face remained as she continued from one side of the massive parlor to the other, little attention was drawn. The usual suggestive stares were lacking at the moment as all eyes turned to the newcomer, then elsewhere; back to the other guests and the appetizers and whatever else wasn’t the black sheep of upper society. Aidoneous Pitt, a man some snickered about in hushed tones, had arrived and no one seemed thrilled by his presence.
Save for Ezekiel Verona, the host, who graciously made an introduction near the stairs.
Piper rolled her eyes at the display of hospitality, half expecting her father to get on his knees and beg for money, because in her mind, she assumed that the reason for Aidoneous’ invite. Why else would he be here, at their little shindig, if not to contribute to some scheme Ezekiel had concocted? She was at a distance from the two and hadn’t a clue what they spoke of briefly, but soon her father was once more attending to other patrons and Aidoneous was alone among the elite. Piper took another sip of her drink, meandering as she did so in attempts of avoiding contact with anyone capable of blowing her cover; she often made enemies with lovers scorned, and by her count, there were at least two such individuals attending the party. They kept their distance though, probably content not to stir up trouble in public, but lingering tensions were obvious and the girl felt with each slow step, she was sinking deeper into a pit of her own making. If only she knew what was to come, she’d have taken the initiative and stepped away to retire for the evening...
Suddenly, Piper paused where she was as someone grabbed her upper arm and pulled the red head back from most of the crowd, where in hushed tones, the person whispered a quick message. “Did you see who just showed up?”
“Oh, Mother… You scared me.” Turning to face the other, it was almost like looking in to a mirror; Demeter Verona retained all the good qualities she’d had some twenty years prior, adding only a shorter hair-do and a pair of dark rimmed glasses to otherwise matching features. The two were often mistaken for sisters and if it were up to the older woman, that’s how their relationship would define them. Piper saw things very differently though and often brushed off the forced closeness with obvious disgust, preferring to keep their relationship one of simplicity. Related, but not close – This was how the two needed to remain. Still, if her mother was eager for her attention over Aidoneous, Piper would play into the questioning. After all, the girl knew little of the man she’d been weary of and considered any insight helpful in keeping him at bay. “I did. Why do you ask?”
But what she hadn’t noticed was the trailing look her mother gave as she had spoken, only catching the hint when Demeter commented, “Did someone steal the rest of your clothing?” Frowning, the younger woman looked down at her outfit and noted it was rather short, the strapless ebony dress cutting off at mid-thigh, whereas most other females present had chosen more traditional flowing gowns. Clicking her tongue as Piper once more lifted her gaze, Demeter continued, “Well, I think you should go talk to our guest. Mr. Pitt may appreciate good company and you’re some of the best I know.” But the tone used was full of venom, mercilessly pointing out the past behaviors Piper was notorious for.
Had she brushed off the suggestion, there would of course be consequences, and the girl wasn’t ready to juggle avoiding past flames and quelling the wrath of an angry Demeter. Sighing, Piper raised her free hand to push back the cascade of her red hair, tucking countless strands behind one ear so she could finish the contents of her glass. “Father needs him.” There was no question to why she was now being sent to make friends with the male, and if she hadn’t already had her suspicions, Demeter successfully shed light on whatever financial dependencies the family suffered. “What exactly do I need to do? Please, give me a guideline if I’m going to get involved.”
Smiling, Demeter quickly looked around to be sure the two weren’t overheard, then answered, “Whatever you deem fit, Piper. I’m not asking you to go overboard, but if you could coax him into making a donation, then life would be easier on all of us. Your father is working hard to keep our good name clean, and you doing this is beneficial to all of us.” Issuing a nod towards her daughter, that plastered smile didn’t wane for a second and even as Demeter began walking away, the girl knew it was an empty mask to hide her fear. If their family were to fall on hard times, even briefly, their social standing would be lost; you didn’t fall from the highest echelons just to crawl back. The sad reality was, you could climb forever towards the top, but could never recover from a misstep. This was all she could think about as she swallowed whatever hopes she had of enjoying her night, and it was all she’d think on in weeks to come.
“I guess I have no choice.” Mumbled Piper as she began moving again, and after a moment spent dodging other chattering party goers, the woman stopped at the side of the gentleman in question. Having never seen him up close, it was a pleasant surprise he wasn’t unattractive, though few individuals were in this day and age - Especially within the orbital city, where wealth and beauty were always in great supply. For a few awkward seconds, piper couldn’t bring herself to speak, but upon clearing her throat with mock cough, she started an introduction. “I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting you, though from what I hear, you’re quite a well-respected man.” Not entirely untrue, Aidoneous was respected within the inner circle, but also quite feared; Piper didn’t actually know why this so happened to be the case. Another reason to get to meet the strange male. She had questions and if they got far enough in their conversation, maybe she’d have the chance to ask a few.[/spoiler]
BDRP Admin. Writer. Villain. Personal Blog.
I tried running from the memory and the mourning.
I tried running from the memory and the mourning.