@chaoticcravings
It didn’t matter how many times she stared into her closet, Maia still wasn’t used to how over dramatic they were. More expensive didn’t mean more luxurious. There was a part of her that all she wanted was to live in her cheap jeggings and sweater. Instead, Maia was dressed up to the tops in her runway ready designer jeans and leather jacket. It was taking a while but she was slowly learning where buildings were. One plus was that she didn’t have to cook for herself for once. Cafeteria food to her was like a five star restaurant and she was going to soak that up while she could. Making her way to the cafeteria, the young Bolivian girl saw her own reflection in one of the windows of the buildings. All she could do was secretly cringe at herself. The jacket was way too much. Peeling the fabric from her body, Maia threw it into one of the trash bins that were scattered around the estate grounds. It wasn’t like her pretend father would be broken hearted over one jacket. Besides, the jeans and silk tank top suited her better without it anyway.
Kalina was adjusting to the very new world that was Royal Pains. It was a lot to say the least. It’d been a good few years since she’d even been invited and involved in one of the royal balls or galas. Honestly, she was certain that most people hadn’t missed her. She personally never thought she’d fit in with the other royals. She never thought it was a match. But she supposed it was better than the other option, the hospital that was. And going back to school didn’t feel like a good idea either. Especially after what had happened to her. She could still feel the ache of where the bullet hit her. While surgery had been successful at closing and she’d healed mostly, there was still a lot of internal damage. The blonde was trying to get a feel for the campus, which she still had yet to fully explore when she spotted a brunette woman throw a jacket into a trash bin. “The jacket must have done something greatly offensive,” she said with a slight chuckle.
It amused herself. As a young girl when she grew up she dreamed of having this glitz and glamour life where she was an actress. Now here she was. At Royal Pains, a glorified school and wellness centre, acting as if she really was one of the royals that were enrolled there. It wasn’t a life she was used to yet. It may have been everything she might have dreamed about, but she still had moments where she had to pinch herself because she wasn’t sure whether it was real or not. Judging by the voice that drew her out of her jacket funeral, she knew she wasn’t alone any longer. Flicking her head in the direction the voice came from her dark chocolate hues focused on the blonde, a smile instantly forming on the girl’s lips. “It made fun of my haircut,” she flicked her raven curls back over her shoulder before nodding down to the trash can. “Care to say a few words before we lay it to rest?”
In a way, Kalina thought it was fair to say she didn’t know where to start. Sure she knew some of the royals faces, but honestly, she wasn’t hanging out with them in her down time. The only time she’d ever truly been around other royals was when she was attending events, and parents would sense her ‘mother’s’ disdain for her and frequently tell their children to steer clear of her. It’d made things a lot harder to make friends. The classes felt like a joke to her too honestly. After all, she would never see a throne. Alexa was older, and if her ‘mother’ was still alive she’d have a lot to say about her ever even being considered. The strangest part really was trying to pretend like she belonged here. Sure, maybe some other royals might never see the throne. But she had just never been apart of the world. There’d always been one curtain there. Approaching people in part made her slightly anxious if she was honest. But she supposed this girl wasn’t so bad, plus she was intrigued by the impromptu tossing of a jacket in the dumpster. “Well, that was inconsiderate of it. And in poor taste,” the blonde said, taking form much like she was standing in front of a casket. “I’m sure it was a lovely jacket, aside from being bitchy about haircuts.” This wasn’t so bad. Easy, light. Joking. She doubted all the royals would be like this though.
There was a part of her that was worried someone would see her acting peculiar and instantly assume she was a fraud. The more she monitored some of the other royals actions the more she realized that blowing through money or things like clothing was somewhat the norm. Even if it wasn’t she was able to excuse some of her behaviours with the fact that she didn’t grow up in the royal life and had been sheltered from it all her life. Although Vanessa was the only child it wasn’t like she had an actual chance of ever getting close to the throne. That’s why Maia wasn’t worried about coming in and then disappearing again shortly after. As long as she kept her head held high and acted like she belonged then she didn’t see any foreseeable problems arising from any of it. With her attention on the blonde, she couldn’t help the grim that formed on her lips as she played along with Maia’s ridiculous suggestion of saying a few words. Resting her hands together in front of her, the raven haired femme bowed her head to the trash can. “I’m sure by winter when it starts to get cold again that you will be missed. Until then your glorified hanger will miss you.” There were few interactions that Maia had been able to have with other royals at this estate. But if they were all like this girl, it couldn’t be so bad.
In her years, Kalina had seen royals burn thousand dollar garments simply because a stitch looked out of place. This wasn’t so unusual, watching one of them toss a jacket into the garbage bin. However, it was slightly unusual that she wasn’t immediately shunned by the girl. Most royals knew her standing with her adoptive mother, or had heard her father’s story of infidelity. Royals didn’t change, even if bastards were considered legitimate heirs now. If only they knew the truth of her father’s crimes. She didn’t recognize this girl though. Perhaps her country had been wrought with war, or she was from one of those quiet families making a desperate attempt at the throne when they hadn’t held it in years. “Rest in piece,” Kalina played right along. As long as someone was actually talking to her, she supposed she was on the right track.
“Or pieces,” she countered with a shrug. It was clothing after all. Between the weather it would withstand outside and the inevitable doom that was the dump she didn’t doubt that it would end up in pieces at one point or another. Through her days tending bar, she learnt how to deal with those she considered intolerable. Although this particular girl seemed more fun than she did dull, or painfully arrogant. Raising one arm up, she rested her elbow onto the girl’s shoulder. “So what were you doing before this impromptu funeral?” she questioned, curious to what people actually did around here for fun. She wanted a chance to just relax from the tedious classes. Her chocolate hues glanced to the blonde who played along with her act. When the prospect was brought up of Maia attending the estate, she did research on the family she was going into but she didn’t even think to do research on others. She didn’t know the first thing about those that were considered outcasts from everyone else. Then again that was essentially the role she was playing as Vanessa. A long lost princess who was assumed dead.
“Yes, I do supposed it’s quite likely this little garment will end up breaking down and part now wherever it goes,” she agreed, giving it one last nod of feigned respect, as if the jacket truly was having a funeral. A brief break from her inner monologue had been nice, though she doubted the other royals would take to her quite so easily. “Actually, I’m just trying to get a feeling for this place,” she admitted to the girl. “My name is Kalina, and I’m not exactly brand new but I’m knew enough to not know one area of the grounds from the other,” she confessed. Usually, weakness or cluelessness wasn’t something she liked to admit to but she supposed there wasn’t a whole lot of ammunition that could be given to another royal from her not knowing the grounds. Especially since this girl didn’t seem like the type to care. “I haven’t taken it upon myself to wander yet. So I’m trying to learn all the little ins and outs. Not sure if I can handle another detention for being late.”
Maia had to give props to the girl. This jacket funeral was her way of escaping what she considered wretched fabric and talking her way out of acting what could be considered out of the norm. But she really played into it. More than she would have expected. Maybe a little more research into this world was needed if she was going to stay ahead enough to keep her head above water. "If I had a match I might set the can on fire to save it from such a tagic fate. But I'm pretty sure getting done for arson on my first week here might cause more trouble than it's worth." The raven haired femme offered a shrug of her shoulders with a soft chuckle. She wasn't one to go actively seeking for trouble. But she was also at a point where she was able to do a lot without fear of repercussions. "Oh Dios mío, you're new too?" she questioned, getting rather excited to know that she wasn't the only one that barely knew her way around this utopia. Given that the blonde was probably an actual royal though she probably saw it different to how Maia did. "Pleasure, Kalini.. No sorry, Kalina." Maia giggled at her muck up. "I'm Vanessa." With a little tilt of her head, Maia let her raven locks fall over one shoulder. "Surely they have some type of hideaway from the rest of the world. Want to go on the hunt for one? They can't give you detention if they can't find you."
