#amethyst.reception

[amethystrparchive]

𝑭𝑹𝑶𝑴 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑳𝑰𝑷𝑺 𝑶𝑭 𝑨 𝑺𝑪𝑹𝑰𝑩𝑬.

Within the Palace of Facets (which houses one of the most ancient reception halls utilized by the Grand Princes of Moscow) a Byzantine Eunuch stands to attention. In his hand, he grips a gilded staff topped with the double-headed eagle of the Roman empire, and, with obsidian eyes agleam, he pounds it against the marble floor. Once, twice, thrice, and a palpable silence descends upon the room –– jubilant voices replaced by the heavy reverberations of the eunuch’s staff.

Beneath the imposing twelve apses of the hall, a thrum of anticipation spreads across the Tsar’s Muscovite courtiers, their foreign guests, and through Alexander himself, who heads the bejeweled ceremony at his velvet-canopied dais. The eunuch makes a bold proclamation and Sophia, sister of Basileus Rhomaiôn Theodore II, appears. Silk banners fluttering along the walls of the banquet hall have seemingly foreseen this very moment –– the heraldic joining of Byzantine and Russian blood. Surrounded by the sumptuous iconography of Theotokos and St. Demetrios, the room glisters with the mightiest and purplest blood of the east and west: kings, emperors, and khans, each paying homage to the historic melding of two fearsome crowns.

For once, the prismatic eyes of Christendom have turned away from Constantinople and Moscow’s bloody past. As Sophia sweeps across the hall –– followed by a handsome dotal train of jewels, silks, servants, helots and troves of precious Bezants, laid at the Tsar’s feet –– she appears every inch the lamb to the slaughter. The eyes of the world are upon her, and upon the magnificent future encrusted in the Tsar’s crown. A glorious sunrise for both empires await –– yet this they know well: all can crumble by the close of day.

𝑰𝑵 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑨𝑪𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑫𝑬𝑻𝑨𝑰𝑳𝑺.

WHEN: the evening of july 26, 1319.

WHAT: sophia of byzantium is first presented to her bridegroom, tsar alexander. afterward, a grand reception will follow –– banqueting, dancing, and courting aplenty.

WHERE: reception hall of the palace of facets, the kremlin complex, moscow.

WHO: all guests of tsar alexander.

𝑶𝑶𝑪 𝑫𝑬𝑻𝑨𝑰𝑳𝑺. 

THE RECEPTION is a mini-event to mark the opening of AMETHYST. All muses are invited to witness Sophia of Byzantium being presented before her bridegroom, Tsar Alexander, for the first time. The aforementioned reception will be followed by a sumptuous banquet feast, dancing, and musical theatrics. The mini-event will last a week, beginning on 7.25.22 and ending on 8.01.22. All members are encouraged to participate in this trend and write event-related threads! Please tag any event-related threads, graphics, and other paraphernalia with #amethyst.reception.

The event will mark the opening of Amethyst, set to begin today @ NOON EST.

[solisoccasvm]

Open to : all Location:  The Palace of Facets

High spots of colour sit in the princess’ cheeks, the only sign of the dancing she has indulged in. Still, there is not a hair out of place, not a wrinkle in her skirt. She is at her best when surrounded by people, and she is well-practised in avoiding dishevelment. Her shoes pinch her aching feet, but she walks tall still, not a trace of a limp in her gait. 

She reaches the wall, and it is all she can do not to sink against it. Perhaps she has overexerted herself this time. 

A glass is pressed into her hand, ruby wine glistening in its depths, and she had not realised until that moment how much she needed it. A small chuckle escapes her, and she glances up at her saviour. “Thank you,” she says, in Russian, but though she has practised the language for weeks, she is by no means fluent. The words are blighted by her accent, markedly English, slipping from her mouth awkwardly, and she knows it, a wince following them with haste. 

“My apologies. My Russian isn’t my most impressive talent,” she smiles, ruefully, self-deprecating. In truth, she’s not sure she has an impressive talent. Certainly not anything that would win her any favour in a gathering of the most important people in the world. She will ponder it later, she decides. 

“I could use some air,” she confesses. “Have you noticed anywhere less…” her dark eyes sweep over the room, and she grasps for the best word to use to describe it. “...crowded.”