@daily-writing-challenge - May 2024 - Day 6 - Confidence
Orialeyne received an invitation to the gallery of Vixyanna Ana’diel, sometimes it was good to be the only daughter of House Daywhisper. The very, very, gracious woman reached out to her cousin, Zubrette Goldensorrow, of course that had nothing to do with the fact that Zub’s uncle Landannis was a very exclusive evening wear designer who always enjoyed dressing his niece and Ori whenever they went anywhere together.
Ebony hair trailed over Ori’s paper white shoulder as she relaxed onto a forest green velvet loveseat in her drawing room and reached out to her cousin, “Hey Zubs! I have an invitation to that gallery showing coming up, want to go with me?”
You could hear the smile on the other woman over her comm device, “I actually got one posted to the house as well, we can meet you there.”
Ori grinned and draped her feet over the end of the loveseat she was on, shifting so her head was partially hanging off the seat, “Oooh do I finally get to meet this hunka burning Dracthyr of yours Zu-brat.”
“Not if you keep talking about him like that and most definitely not if you call me that in front of him! Meet me at Uncle Landannis’ shop next week, I used that old ruby and diamond necklace set you brought me to work up a design with Uncle Dannis that you will love. I am still so amazed that you have so much jewelry from your great great aunt that you want repurposed. Guess it keeps me busy when I am not on campaign though.”
Orialeyne stretched her fingers out looking at the holographic nail polish she just had done at the salon, “How you ever got your short stack self hired on to stand behind a shield and fight whatever threat our world faces day to day is beyond me. I have seen you, you can barely see over your shield.”
“Bitch, please, you know I draw attention like no one in Azeroth except you. Now shut up and let me get back to work. Dannis has five orders for dresses for women going to this art showing and he wants jeweled collars for two of them. Some days I miss doing my twisted wire designs.” Zubrette sighed dramatically.
“They didn’t pay nearly as well as he does for you to make the bobbles he attaches to his gowns. You should just retire and stay in Silvermoon full time again.” There was a hint of pleading in Ori’s voice.
Zubrette snorted, “And be that close to mother? Nooo thank you. Can you imagine the fit she is going to have when she finds out I am dating a Dracthyr?”
“I want to be there when you tell her. It will have to be three times as entertaining as when she heard about your Illidari friend and you weren’t even banging him, which is a shame as that man was sin personified.” Ori teased.
The paladin replied almost sharply, “A fact his new Kaldorei boyfriend agrees with I am sure. Anyway, I have to work, we can’t all lay around our houses all day.”
The rich young woman sat up in the loveseat again, “Sorry sweetie, you are both happier this way. I know you two still love one another, but you can’t change what you can’t change.”
“Yep yep! See you next week.”
When they went to the boutique Landanis was an absolute joy to work with, as usual. He and Zubrette had collaborated together and mixed the tiny woman’s jewelry making skills with his design to create an exquisite gown in black. It was studded with red gems that started sparse but then covered the entirety of the bottom of the skirt. The piece Zubrette had made for her was a silver and red jeweled harness worn beneath ithe gown that accented the weight of Ori’s full breasts.A perfect pair of red shoes, a beautiful updo and Ori was ready to meet her cousin and this new man of hers at the show.
The beautiful dilettante walked through the exhibit, usually she expected attention to be focused on her when she walked through a space, but this time Ori was transfixed by the art to even notice if she turned a stranger’s, or an acquaintance's, head at all. Each and every piece was beautiful, she had purchased two of the pieces and was considering a third for the house she and her cousins lived when the other two weren’t gallivanting off to Fel knew where. Art was a good investment and she tended to replace it every year or two because she got bored of looking at the same things all the time.
A glass of rose champagne dangled between two fingers while she listened to the magical violinist play. The green eyed woman moved at her own pace, ignoring the flow of the crowd around her. While she found it nice to have people to go to these things with, Ori never really needed anyone else to feel comfortable. She was an exceptionally confident person, some might say too confident, who had been attending large social events with her family, and sometimes on her own, since she was a young child.
“Orialeyne!” A voice as warm as a single malt scotch cried out and she turned to see a white blonde in a bright pink dress waving at her from a group of about six other women. Ori stood her ground and they moved to her, all smiling and chatting amongst themselves. Sylensria Cy’alaeth dipped her head to brush Ori’s cheek with a barely there kiss that would not smudge her lipstick. “Can you believe all this? It is so dark…”
Ori looked back up at the painting she was considering adding to her collection and said, “I think they are hauntingly beautiful.”
Sylen placed a hand on the curvy woman’s shoulder, “Oh yes, of course it is beautiful, of course. I heard that Vaerenssa bought a piece from the artist, she said the showings are amazing but the after party is where it is at.”
One of the other women chuckled, “I always love attending for that alone. Well worth dropping the right word here and there to get invited. Speaking of the right people to get invited, how did your cousin manage to get in? Riding your coattails again? We saw her with this devastatingly handsome Dracthyr.”
“Her House was sent an invitation,” Ori said with a look that said she cared little about the other woman’s question. “I have not seen her here yet, but I knew she was bringing her boyfriend.”
“Oh yes,” the woman, Loraldina Hajirina-Lightfame, commented, “that is why she got invited. Her uncle never wants to attend these things and see his fashions sparkle in the light he creates them for.”
Taking a sip of her champagne with a small smirk, “Yes well, that sparkle comes from Zubrette’s shop now, she works almost exclusively making pieces for his gowns.”
Loraldina smiled haughtily, “A shop, yes, well I suppose she has to do what work she can with the disgrace and all. Last I heard they almost had to sell the estate because they were so poor. The sweet child, it must have been so tragic for her, losing her money and losing her brothers too, they were all so gorgeous, what a waste.” That smile was turned on another woman in the group, “Your aunt Eaamaie was married to the oldest brother, Estian, isn’t that right? It must have been awful having found him after the tragedy.”
“Ohhh,speaking of tragedies.” Sylen said and leaned into the group pretending to speak quietly, just a bunch of good friends gossiping as women do, “did you hear that the Emberring estate got robbed during their luncheon last week?”
Yes, that’s right make the transition right from Ori’s cousin committing suicide over losing his family’s fortune because he was trying to keep his wife ‘in a manner in which she had become accustomed to’ then the other brothers following Kael’thas to their deaths.
A towering redhead with freckles sprinkled across her nose and her chest, Ji’alothixne ‘Jinxie’, chimed in, “I bet it is that same daring thief that has been sneaking into places during parties and stealing all the jewelry. That makes six this year already, and at least twenty-five in the past two. Who knows how many before that.”
“Well, I know I am hiring extra security for my welcome to summer ball next week. Can’t take too many chances these days,” Loraldina said then looked to Ori, “Oh please tell me you’ll come.”
Ori took in the ropes of diamonds looped around the woman’s neck and smiled in a cat that swallowed the canary impersonation, “Oh I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
