Fall from the Stars [1x1 G.L'S and Blackpearl]

[`sappho]

n a d e z h d a
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the commander walked down the hall, lined with her servants and guards. she looked regal in these clothes and on the outside. she seemed confident but nadezhda felt liked she was going to get sick. she stopped just at the balcony where she was address her people. she turned to the nearest guard to her, "hon in octavia(get octavia)." she took a deep breath before she walked out into the day light. she looked out at the ground and saw it covered with a sea of people. she had never been so nervous.

[G.L'S]

Octavia | The corridors | Polis
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A rap on the door sprung her into action. A warrior guard she didn't recognize waited outside for her to come out. They didn't say anything and stepped aside to let her out the door. Reluctantly, she stepped out and proceeded down the corridor with the stagnant silence in tow. Perhaps she still felt on-edge from every other attack in Polis; ghosting her hand over her dagger in order to feel more secure.
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[`sappho]

n a d e z h d a
---------------------------

"people of polis and of all twelve clans, i'd like to welcome you today with great news," nadezhda started her speech. "as of yesterday-" she pulled her blade from her sheath and thrust it into the air- "gon azplana em stedaun!"(the azegda queen is dead) she yelled. the people erupted into a crowd of cheers and shouts. "heda! heda! heda!" they all chanted. "in honor of this, i have decided to make a knew warrior of polis," she turned to the doorway, waiting for octavia to come onto the balcony.

[G.L'S]

Octavia | The balcony | Polis
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When she made it to the balcony, she waited in the wings while Nadezhda addressed the people of the twelve clans. The thunderous roar of celebration from everyone seemed so reassuring until she realized she was going to be addressed in front of literally everyone. In that moment, she realized that there was no one here to be proud of her; if the hundred were alive, perhaps they'd be down there too, but she couldn't think like that.
She turned to enter when she was called upon and held her breath in anticipation, hand still on her dagger just in case anything was to go wrong.
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[`sappho]

n a d e z h d a
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nadezhda turned from the crowd to octavia who was beside her. "kneel," she whispered so that no one else could hear. she knew she should have told her what the ceremony was going to be but she hadn't had time. she took her sword and placed it on either of octavia's shoulder. "octavia kom skaikru, i pronounce you, warrior of polis," she sheathed her sword and smiled down at her. "rise, you have been reborn by blood and now you must be bound by fire." she turned around and took a long steel stick out of a bowl of blazing coals. she took the end with a brand on it and quickly pressed it against octavia's upper arm. once it was burned it, she handed the brand back to a servant. "now, meet your people," she told her, turning back to the crowds.

[G.L'S]

Octavia | The balcony | Polis
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The whole process went by quite quickly. She didn't even realize she was branded until the searing set in after the metal prod was off her skin. She wished she'd been prepped, but likely knew it was best not to expect it. She grit her teeth in silence and turned to face the crowd.
The applause and cheers were not expected. The fact that Polis, and everywhere else, seemed pleased with the arrangement completely shocked her. She stood there and bore the brand with a much more elevated sense of pride. Once she had her moment, she stood back and allowed the rest of the ceremony to play out, still hyper aware of her dagger and their all-too-recent close calls.
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[`sappho]

n a d e z h d a
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a wide smile spread across the commander's face as her people cheered for octavia. she knew that they would see through her past and see how valuable octavia was, just as she had done herself. nadezhda walked back into the tower while the people were still cheering, the ceremony was over. she took a deep breath and smile for ear to ear. she had done it! truly. now the only thing left was to play someone she could trust on the azgeda throne. not someone who would betray her. she turned to octavia. "you did well, warrior," she grinned.

[G.L'S]

Octavia | The balcony | Polis
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The ceremony ended shortly afterwards and it finally allowed her to exhale. It seemed like they may just get their moment of peace. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she would ever be relaxed again, but soon saw Nadezhda's unabashed smile and forgot all about that. It brought one to her own and instantly, she found her own happiness reflected in her.
"I hope this string of good fortune lasts," she noted, "we could use some prosperity."
She felt a shift then between them, but decided not to act on it. They were still around numerous guards and she felt a little self-conscious. There was no shame, but maybe she wanted Nadezhda to herself for the next while.
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[`sappho]

n a d e z h d a
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the commander smiled as she walked down the long hall beside octavia. nadezhda nodded. "yes, i do hope this lasts, the more time we have in peace and time to ourselves," she told her. she looked around at all of the guards before she turned and whispered to octavia. "follow me, just act normal," she said with a sly grin. she walked down the hall with her head held high, going towards a sort of hidden door. the tall door was covered with beautiful dark red died silk, streaming down like a waterfall of blood. she pushed the silk curtains out of the way and opened the door. she lead octavia into the huge room that laid ahead of them. it was a room full of lit candles and a huge tub of steaming water. "this is our spa," she told her.

[G.L'S]

Octavia | The spa | Polis
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She wordlessly followed the commander, now pretending to be the guard she had been appointed to be: mostly just look guardly. Down the corridors and past the silks, the warmth and humidity graced her skin and made her want to groan in relaxation, but she managed to hold herself together.
"How are you not in here more often?" she asked and rubbed the condensation that began to settle on her skin. The bath seemed so enticing even though she'd already had one. Luxuries like laying in a tub were only heard of in books when she was little. Nobody was able to do anything as exquisite as this.
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