Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Background on Chapter One
Log-In
Chapter One, simply put, is simply a start of the RP. Major characters are starting to be established. Of course, there are revolutionary thoughts going on in Russia, as the Former Prime Minister, Peter Stolypin, was assassinated at an opera house in 1911 - before the eyes of the Tsar and his two eldest daughters. The current Prime Minister, at this time, is Vladimir Kokovtsov, who is very pro-Tsar and is extremely conservative. The Duma, at this time, is currently in its Third Session. It is largely dominated by the wealthy, though there are more middle-class elements involved. The major keepers of law and order and those that manage to curb the activity of the Leftists Revolutionaries are the Okhranka - a secret police force that utilizes any means of violence necessary. In general, times are pretty good for the noble classes, though not so hot for the members of the peasantry, though a few improvements have since been made due to some of the reforms of Stolypin, which has created a slightly larger middle class. The peasants are becoming increasingly more disaffected, though they still are not entirely against the Tsar.


...::: TO THE GUEST C-BOX :::...
ID: 
Code: 
 
Add Reply
Not How Young Ladies Should Behave
Topic Started: Oct 2 2010, 06:37 PM (324 Views)
Nadya Smolenskaya
Member Avatar


When Nadya and the girl had left Peterhof Palace, they were able to flag down a cab. Nadya paid him the fare for the horseman to take them back down to the Mariinsky Theater, which would take about an hour he said. Nadya didn't mind; these balls went on for hours into the night, she had heard, and the night itself was still young. When the cab driver arrived at the theater, Nadya paid him a bit extra to stay there and wait until they came back. He seemed curious as to what their intent was with the now quiet venue, but he didn't on the basis that she was paying him extra to stay in his place.

Nadya took the girl's hand again and led her quietly to the side of the building. There was a door she and the other ballerinas used to get into the theater. Of course, it wasn't unlocked after hours.

She reached up into her hair and took out a hairpin. Then, carefully, Nadya stuck the hairpin into the door's lock. She began to jostle it around, waiting for the click that would let the door give to them.
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
Kseniya Mikhailovna
Member Avatar


Kseniya had never expected to be assisted by a dancer, or a woman of quality. However, here she was, in a cab, being taken to the Mariinsky Theater, and watching the woman pick locks with a hairpin.

Was this night not strange.

Kseniya watched as the woman jiggled the various locks, her eyes wide with wonder. On the other side of that door probably contained silks and beauty unparalleled, and Kseniya would have her part in it. Her excitement continued, though the shy young woman folded her hands in front of her.
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
Nadya Smolenskaya
Member Avatar


After the first few minutes, Nadya stopped and sighed in frustration. "Just a...minute," she said to Kseniya with a smile. She then attacked the lock head on. It finally gave way, the lock sliding out of place the sweetest sound to Nadya's ears that wasn't a Tchaikovsky piece. Nadya turned the door knob and opened the door cautiously. She stuck her head inside, to make sure there wasn't a guard on duty. If there was, she could easily explain away that she had forgotten something in the dressing room and chastise him for not locking the door.

Nadya gestured to Kseniya to follow her inside. It was dark; she felt the wall for the lights which she turned on. "Quickly now, before someone finds us." She closed the door behind them and began to walk to the costume gallery.
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
Kseniya Mikhailovna
Member Avatar


Speedily, Kseniya snuck into the room, and looked through a host of clothing. Silken dresses, chiffons and other beautiful materials. She was positive that she was in some sort of fashion heaven. Granted, she was positive that Princess Zinaida's closet would boast more resplendent clothing, this, at least, was the closest that she had come to being around such real finery. For a poor girl like her to be around things so extravagant.

Running her hands through the multitude of clothing, she noticed furs, beads, pearls and other things that she knew that she would never be able to afford. Clearly the Mariinsky had enough financial means to hire the best couturiers in St. Petersburg to work on their costumes. She always wondered if their dancers would be able to afford such beautiful things too...though remembered that they probably would, as some of the dancers practically belonged to the company.

Eventually, she decided on a soft blue dress. What brought her to the dress was the luxurious silk that composed much of the dress, as well as the delicate lace and shimmering beading that caught the light beautifully. Later, she found a small aquamarine necklace that went well with the dress.

"Miss, I've found the d-dress," Kseniya shyly indicated.
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
Nadya Smolenskaya
Member Avatar


Nadya herself was tempted to take something from the rack, but she was more interested in the jewelry. Sadly, there was nothing that could really go with her ensemble. She was about to wait by the dressing room for the girl when she spoke up. Nadya turned and looked at the dress and necklace she had picked out. "Oh that's beautiful..." She then trailed off as she realized she didn't know the girl's name.

"Nadya Pavelovna," she suddenly said, stretching out her hand for a handshake. "I just realized I never introduced myself."
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
Kseniya Mikhailovna
Member Avatar


It was one of those moments where Kseniya had dealt with someone so long, and she would have been easily able to point this lady out among a group. The fact still remained that Kseniya didn't know her name at all. The woman was so gracious and kind, and yet, Kseniya didn't even bother to ask her her name.

Nadya. It was a name that fit her quite well. It was elegant, yet it was young enough and modern enough.

"My name is Kseniya Mikhailovna," Kseniya replied. "It's an honor to know what your name is and to properly make your acquaintance."
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
Nadya Smolenskaya
Member Avatar


Nadya smiled, her hand dropping to her side again. She often forgot herself in St. Petersburg, having been from Novgorod and not having to keep up appearances. "And yours as well," she said in response. She looked down at the dress in Kseniya's hands. "But that is a beautiful dress. Let me show you to the dressing rooms." She carefully slipped her arm into the other girl's and began to lead her away from the racks.

"If you don't mind my asking, where do you live in St. Petersberg?"
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
Kseniya Mikhailovna
Member Avatar


As Nadya walked Kseniya to the dressing rooms, her question made Kseniya blush in embarrassment. She didn't have the beautiful means that proper ladies like Nadya and others had. She was just a mere witch, and she didn't quite want to be reminded that she was of a lower class.

Considerably lower than the wealth, beauty, importance and perfection of the women in the ballroom and on stage in lovely pointe shoes and costumes.

"Well, I'm not exactly well off. I live in an alright area, but my apartments are very small," Kseniya awkwardly responded.
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
Nadya Smolenskaya
Member Avatar


Nadya wasn't even the slightest perturbed by what Kseniya had said about her living situation. Then again, she didn't know the girl's true occupation, but by the time one would think she would ask her what she did, Nadya was distracted as they finally entered the dressing rooms. "Take as long as you'd like," she said, moving away to one of the many vanities. She began to look for lipsticks that had been left behind. Some of the top ballerinas had better quality make-up than Nadya did.

She found one stray tube and pulled open the cap. A sickly pink color. Nadya wrinkled her nose and put it away. "I live not too far from here, actually," she began their conversation again. "My apartments are small, too, but--" Nadya smiled gently, her back still turned to Kseniya so she could have some privacy.

"Until I become someone's lover, I won't be seeing any gold moldings or marble floors." The thought frightened her, in all honesty.
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
Kseniya Mikhailovna
Member Avatar


Kseniya revealed a shy smile to Nadya, but the idea of her having to find a paramour who was financially able was a disturbing reality. A very disturbing, sad, and very common, reality. There were many dancers and such in Russia that had to rely on attracting the attentions of a rich swain, not necessarily because of love or anything sweet and fanciful as that, but rather of practicality.

Love truly paid no bills. Especially not in a place like St. Petersburg.

Wealth bought class, and bought positions at court and beautiful roles. Women like Mme. Kschessinska was the sweetheart of even the Tsar at one point, and it paid her generously. There were even aristocrats that preferred Kschessinska to the Tsaritsa, and Princess Yusupova was one of them.

Kseniya stepped into the dress, doing her best to make sure that her figure was at least pleasing enough. While she was underdeveloped and her corsets didn't help, she at least had the litheness that was the rage right now. Stepping from behind a screen where she changed behind, she was a vision of soft blue silk and lace, already looking quite unlike herself.

"I...uh...would you please help me with the back of this?" Kseniya timidly asked.
Offline profile quote Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Mariinsky Theatre · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Affiliates

Click here to Advertise
RPG-D Forumwar Roleplay Versailles Court RPGD CATEGORY :: HUMAN redcarpet&&rebellion. Love For the Rose BTM affiliates BTQ Tides of Valhalla Blank Pages RPGfix Stars Over the Atlantic The Spirit of Russia