#dunamis.starter

[zhuxinyve]

location: ponte dei sospiri, sunset. open to everyone.

she'd seen the bridge on her way to the palace, at the time peeking through the curtains of the carriage she was riding in with her family. the sight had been too captivating, so she memorized the way they took to from it to the palace they were going to call residence for the foreseeable future. who knew how long the talks would go for. knowing the human nature, it could drone on for weeks. xinyue had never travelled very far from home, so soaking in of the azure skies and the equally azure sea had been a priority. she wasn't sure she was invited to the political talks, anyway. if her sister asks her to attend, naturally she will do so, but...

she had hoped to explore the city, instead.

standing on the bridge of sighs ( of all things. ), the princess looked out into the sliver of sea she could see, and the pale white buildings drunkenly leaning on each other for support. was everything so tall and crammed in the rest of city, or just this particular area, she thought. she may have to take in a guide, though she did read a bit about venice on her long way to it. still, the sights were impressive and the sunset only accentuated the marvel of the white, pointy architecture -- the gothic truly was the most astonishing, with it's sharp curves and edges, solemnly and a bit ominously towering over the canal.

the approaching footsteps that echoed on the polished stone of the bridge alerted her to an incoming company, and xinyue turned around to greet them with a beaming smile. "you're right on time to see the sunset. it's exquisite, is it not? the color of the dying sun painting the canal in pink and orange. it mixes so well with the azure of the sea."

[caterinastrozzi]

location: la sala del mare velato ; evening. open to everyone.

one of the less entertaining things about the sudden deluge of foreign dignitaries and their entourage, was definitely the fact they were now, quite literally, everywhere. like the grains of blasted sand they seeped into the every pore, crack and crevice of palazzo strozzi. she did not exaggerate. they truly were everywhere. she had hoped she would find some respite in the veiled sea, but imagine her distaste when she'd found it already occupied. it had still been early in evening and she was not going to allow the guests to imprison her to her chambers in her own blasted castle! instead, she fashioned her expression into something less outwardly menacing and more... welcoming.

though it had been a herculanean feat.

while she was, technically, the hostess, it did not mean she had to make small talk if she did not deem it necessary. those who ventured to mare velato usually sought out tranquility and solitude. contemplation. the plinking-plonking of the water droplets paired up with the soothing tone of the violins and harps. sometimes, she liked to believe the musicians were commissioned to play to the waters, rather than the people flocking in and out of the chambers. it wouldn't surprise her -- it could have been something far worse, anyway.

still, the tranquility did not last long as the silence that stretched between her and the unwanted companion took an uncomfortable turn, further accentuated by the lull of the music. as the hostess, she had her duties -- unfortunately.

"I trust you are settling in nicely. are you in want of something? perhaps refreshments?" caterina asked, just now turning to look at the occupant of mare velato.