Keikelius had asserted that the dinner this night was required of the whole of the family. In truth, this included Elias, who, holed up in the palati, had been seen little in the Stravos family home. Since the night of the Queen's disappearance, there had been little reason to remain idle. There was much to be done and it would be the goal of the Stravos family to ensure that every piece was settled in its correct place. For they were a family of gossips, merchants, and silver-tongued lords and ladies. Little escaped the ear of his wife, nor his eldest child. Little went unnoticed by his youngest, though her mind was settled in business. As it should be.
While Keikelius had never truly been one to allow the breaking of gender norms, his children would be the only exception allowed in his mind. The farce that had been the senate vote had set Keikelius' skin crawling and his rage simmering. The forcing of his hand, of his vote onto the side of his enemy? Because of a severe misstep, severe miscalculation of his son's dealings? The act had been embarrassing.
The Stravos man took a long, deep sip of his wine, shutting out the memory of the pain he had caused his only son. For a man who had vowed to be nothing like his father to his own children, Keikelius sure hadn't fallen far from the tree. At least in that moment. Nevertheless, he had no plans of putting his hands on his son again. While he wasn't one to apologize for anything in his life, he understood that his loyalty and his affection for Elias would need to be shown in... other ways. Anything less may have been seen as an insult or yet another means of pushing his son even further from his side.
Dark eyes on the servants moving about the dining room, setting the table, the dinnerware, the food, the chalices, and the wine, Keikelius said absolutely nothing. He wore a chiton of deep crimson, the belt around his waist a cord of golden filament. It wasn't rare to see the man in more formal attire, though he certainly did not prefer it to the trousers and shirts he wore while traversing the docks of the Athenian harbor. Tonight would be a night in which the entire family would have to come together to discuss the next steps that they would take. Together. As a unit.
His mind had been running with schemes. Anything to return the Stravos to their former glory and even put Elias back in line for the throne. Stepping around the table, he moved to stand in the doorway, holding his cup loosely and glancing down the hall toward the chambers' of his daughters'. "Danae, Chara, let us not waste the evening hours," the father warned, almost half-hearted and lazy. There was truly no rush, but even a man such as Keikelius felt hunger. He only spared a glance toward his wife as she entered quietly and poured herself a cup of wine.
He smirked a little, bringing his cup to his lips and sparing a final glance toward the entrance of the home for the last of his children.
After arriving home from the event at the Naos of Athena, Danae had cast aside the gaudy red and gold peplos she had worn that day for something that was a little more akin to her preferred style of muted colors. Instead, now she was wearing a dark green chiton with clasps that weren’t as perfect and neatly aligned as they would have been a few short weeks ago. It was just a small consequence that came with downsizing the staff in order to save as much money as they could. Not that Danae minded though, she never really enjoyed having people follow her every step. It was a bit stifling to say the very least.
However, the one upside at least was now Danae had the freedom to focus on her business and recouping the losses she suffered in the wake of the Senate meeting. She had an untouched pile of missives, buried deep within her workspace within her room. They had steadily been trickling in over the past three weeks, each one containing the same message written half a dozen times across the letters, the only differences being the handwriting within each one.
We regret to inform you that given recent events we no longer wish to continue our relationship with your house.
Danae had read the first one and was so infuriated that she had immediately crumbled up the paper before tossing it into a nearby fire. These letters came from local businesses that Danae had a certain financial partnership with. These shops paid her for the right to say that they were a Stravos supported venture. It was one of the most profitable ventures she partook in as it cost her nothing and she could charge however much she liked, so whenever one of these letters came, each of these was addressed to the Stravos family itself or perhaps her father and her brother, depending on who the business owner believed he was communicating with; its loss was felt throughout the rest of her ledgers. With each merchant who backed out, that meant less money she had to invest in other ventures. The less she had to do that the smaller her profits were and thus it started a heartbreaking cycle of financial loss that Danae was not willing to face on top of everything else.
She needed to find a way to recover this quickly.
That was what she was doing when her father’s voice resounded through the halls of the Archontiko, calling both his daughters to dinner. Eager to escape the seemingly impossible task of figuring out what to do about all of this, she quickly rose from her seat and resolved that she would have to ask her father for advice at a later point. Until then there was nothing she could do, but shuffle numbers and hope against hope that something could be done.
Grabbing a small green headdress, a new staple in her wardrobe in recent days, ordered specifically to hide the shame Danae had faced in the wake from her run-in with Lukos. Wrapping it haphazardly around her head, not caring much if it was styled, just as long as the offending memories were covered, before she headed out of her room and crept towards the dining room. Without meaning to, she was already slipping back into her quiet self, someone who was temporarily fought back with her talk with Cyrene earlier at the event. The older girl had reminded her that this wasn’t her fault and she was better than those who did this to her.
But it was hard to remember that when her family was seemingly so insistent on learning what had happened to her after the Senate meeting.
She had resolved from the moment it happened that she wasn’t going to ever speak of it. It was just too shameful and this was a notion she was going to stay true from the moment she entered the room and nodded curtly to both of her parents as the best form of greeting she could muster before heading over to her typical seat at the far end of the table, next to where her sister would and across from her mother. It was her typical spot, on the edge of her family. It was sort of strangely symbolic in regards to her view of where she stood in her family. There, but not quite fully. Not quite unlike how they all stood in Athenian society.
Though, judging by her father’s expression, something she saw when she glanced up at where he sat at the head of the table, he was hellbent on having that change sooner rather than later. Knowing the man, he would stop at nothing to have things go back to normal and he was sure once her other siblings arrived, he would outline his plan to get them there.
Danae was ready for things to be normal again and was willing to do just about anything to get her family there.
The rage that had coursed through her veins had nearly taken Chara with her. In the blink of an eye, they'd nearly lost everything. Stripped of their titles and their lands ― all for what? It was unacceptable.
Simply unacceptable.
Sliding her fingers over the white fabric that covered her skin, Chara couldn't help but to purse her lips in disapproval. She did not take kindly to being placed at the bottom, after having worked so hard to get to the top. Fastening the golden belt around her waist, Chara allowed herself a quick glance about her room: Even she couldn't rid herself of the dark cloud that seemed insistent to hang above her head.
Something had to be done. Something would be done.
Hearing her father's voice call her name, drew Chara's attention away from her own reflection in the mirror. A sigh fell from her red-painted lips as she looked towards the door. For a moment ― just a brief moment ― she allowed herself to hesitate. But as soon as the hesitance had appeared, it was gone. In its stead her usual air of determined confidence rose. Sliding her hands across her dress once more, careful not to crease the fabric. She supposed she had to admit she was impressed by her brother's quick thinking. All that was left to do was reap the eventual rewards.
With her head held high, Chara joined her family. Offering both her parents a nod in greeting, the young brunette ventured towards her seat. Her gaze swept over to her sister, landing upon her headdress. Chara's eyebrow arched curiously, only to flatten a second later as she gave her father her full attention. With that, Chara interlocked her fingers and laid them on her lap, her lips pursing. The only news she would accept were good ones. There was no other acceptable alternative.
The former Lord of the Stravos, only unseated with the command of an entire Senate, set his goblet back to the table as both of his daughters entered the room. With a silent glance to his wife, the two of them shared somewhat of a meaningful look, as if they shared one mind. He reached a hand over and brushed his fingers against Circenia's knuckles in silent contemplation. She seemed to turn her hand, reaching it palm up and taking his hand in hers, threading her fingers with his.
One of the only signs of affection that Keikelius would allow in such a public forum. Even though that forum was only their children and the few servants that they had retained in the loss of their titles and wealth.
Keikelius gave calm nods to both of his daughters as they entered the room, his blue eyes searching both of their faces. Danae had been incredibly quiet since the Senate meeting when he had found her curled up and worse for wear. The memory of it set him on edge. His little girl would not tell him what had happened to her and it set him on edge. He wanted to know. Because he wanted to punish whoever had harmed her. It made his blood boil knowing that someone had put their hands on his youngest daughter.
Then his gaze flicked to Chara, his chin lifting a little while he let his calculating gaze take her in. Chara had seemed just plain upset, if not angry, over the happenings of the meet. Keikelius couldn't blame her. Keikelius himself still found the entire situation rage inducing. To have to vote in favor of Persephone just to save his own image and the image of the ladies of his family, the Master of Trade simply felt cornered.
Like he had nowhere to go.
Though, he would make a path. For all of them.
Keeping his gaze on Chara, Keikelius finally spoke, filling the quiet room, "Whether your brother shows his face or not," the man started, "We should discuss where the family will go from here," Keikelius said with dangerous calm. There was no way that the group of them would take the stripping of their titles and lands laying down. They'd fight back in any way that they could in order to claw their way back to the top of the social and political hierarchy of Athenia. "Elias' choices have put us in a compromising position," his deep voice only reached across the table, his gaze untrusting of the servants that still milled about as they brought food in for supper.
"I think our first course of action should be to discredit Persephone," was all he said then, looking between his wife and daughters for their opinions. He respected the women of his house. If he did not, he would have met with only his son and no one else. He would not have considered their thoughts and ideas. He would not have opened a forum of discussion for them to participate in.
The last few weeks had been hard on Circenia, the woman’s pride taking a harsh blow in the wake of her son’s, and subsequently her entire family’s, disgrace. Everything they’d worked for, everything they’d built… gone in an instant. She couldn’t fault her son for what he’d done; had he come to her first, she likely would have encouraged it. But to get caught and then have some foolish girl take the throne over him? Unspeakable. This could not stand.
The hem of her royal blue chiton brushed the floor as she stepped into the dining area with her husband, flicking the end of her ebony braid back over her shoulder. They needed to make plans, and they needed to make them quickly. Not a moment could be spared, not when so much hung on the line. Every second that they languished and did nothing was a second that gave their enemies the advantage. And it was an advantage they could not keep.
Circenia’s hands were careful and steady when she poured herself a glass of wine from the nearby decanter, the heady scent wafting up and filling her nose. Swirling the mauve liquid in her silver goblet, she took a deep breath before raising it to her lips. She had a feeling this dinner would require quite a few more pours before it was over.
Seating herself next to her husband, she offered him a brief smile before turning her head to watch her daughters approach. Both of their nods was returned in kind, crystalline eyes lingering on each of them in turn. Her precious girls, two of the brightest points of her life. They had to set this right. For them.
Briefly, her gaze lingered in the doorway, searching for the golden visage of her son. Of all the Stravoses, he was the one who needed to be here the most. This was his mess. He needed to be here to fix it. Picking up her glass, she took another swallow, the hint of a grimace lingering around her lips. Should he not show his face… he would be getting words from his mother, there was no doubt of that.
Setting down her wine, she took Keikelius’s proffered hand, entwining their fingers and giving it a brief squeeze. She wasn’t sure if the gesture was to bolster his confidence or her own, but either way, she was grateful for it. No matter their struggles and no matter their squabbles, they were in this together, and that wasn’t going to change any time soon. She could only be thankful she had such a strong man at her side to help guide them through it.
Listening carefully to what he said, Circenia nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.” Taking another swallow of her wine and setting it back down, she glanced between the three. “While she certainly has her supporters, not everyone is so happy to see a woman wearing that crown. Discrediting her shouldn’t be too big of a problem. The problem lies more in that we need allies.”
A long finger tapped thoughtfully on the table before she continued, “Anything negative that comes from our own lips will only be seen as spiteful and self-serving. We are the ones with the most to lose and the most to gain. Of course we would say anything we could to keep her from hanging on to that crown for too long. We need others to do the discrediting for us.”
Circenia shared another glance with her husband before looking back at her daughters. “I think that’s where we ought to focus our attention. Gathering others to our cause. We’re a force to be reckoned with, to be sure, but this isn’t something we can accomplish on our own.”
The plan had been in the works for a long while, longer than Elias cared to admit. It had only been a fantasy at first, a gentle dream which had worked its way into the front of its mind and forced him to make it a reality. That was the way all plans began, every scheme and idea. As nothing more than a seed of fancy, until one figured out exactly how to manipulate it and create something great. Then, one day, the vision had begun to transfer itself from mind to reality, until he had found himself in dealings with those individuals who seemed so close to providing him with what he deserved.
It may well have been an overeagerness which doomed him. Hubris. He should have been more careful to ensure there were no loose ends, and he had not been, and that was what had led to his demise. He should have known better than to trust so foolishly. He should not have assumed that the people would think logically and take the word of a nobleman over some worthless pirate.
House Stravos had been left without nobility - a stark contrast to the victory Elias had envisioned for them - they had been left humiliated, and he had been ordered trapped within his own home. They had stung, but they were only inconveniences, and inconveniences could always be handled. And look at him now. The people abandoned by their precious queen - a matter he more than intended to take care of when the opportunity arose - and the kingdom left in dire need of rule. The man had done what anybody with a valid claim to the throne should have, and disappeared from the home within which he had been confined to install himself within the palace walls. After all, somebody had to be a beacon of hope to the public, especially after such a horrendous attack on the palace and with the only remaining princess left unsuited for public interaction.
He was doing Athenia a favour, so far as he was concerned, even if it was one he had both planned and brought upon himself. This one would not end so disastrously.
Nonetheless, false duty he had created for the good of the nation and the good of his unquenchable desire for power aside, Father had requested his presence at a family dinner. Relations with the rest of his family had been strained in recent weeks, though he could not quite comprehend their distaste. All he had done was, ultimately, for their benefit as well as his own, and though they perhaps did not see that at present, Elias did not understand their lack of sympathy for his failed attempts to conquer the throne. They should have been thankful, and if they were not, then he saw no reason why he should not manage his ambitions on his own.
Still, the only Stravos son was not stupid. He knew full well that, for whichever absurd reason, the support of his family would only aid him in his goals, and it was for that inescapable piece of over-sweet reasoning that Elias had agreed to attend the evening meal with the rest of them.
He had arrived at his family home later than intended, after both his sisters and his mother had taken their seats alongside Father, the entrance somehow simultaneously awkward, as though he were not meant to be there, and filled with that prideful quality he had always portrayed. He had caught his father's words on entry, yet said nothing either in response to them or in generic greeting as he took his usual seat at the table. There was still a tension hanging over the air.
"Persephone should not be an issue," he commented finally, raising his gaze to meet that of his father's, unafraid to look the man so firmly in the eye despite all that had occurred. "The people already have a distaste for a ruler who abandoned them. Anything you say would be...superfluous." He mentioned nothing of his own plans, so confident that another indication of plotting would not go down well with his family, given the results of the last. "Mother is right. It is best we allow discontent to grow amongst the masses without the words being traced back to a Stravos source. We would be far more benefitted from bringing credit to our own name rather than stealing it from another." The people could forget his faults if they were reminded of the house's former glory - that same glory he more than intended to restore.