Morning routine

As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the gossamer curtains of her bedchamber, Vienna woke. The sight of her maids standing at attention by her bedside was a familiar one, she imagined their care and precision must be born of fear. They must have trained for years, and yet may be dismissed for the slightest mistake. Were she to wake from gentle whispers as they move about her room. dismissed. With deft and precise movements they began to prepare her for the day ahead, stoking the fire in the hearth, drawing the bathwater, and attending to her every need with utmost exactness, but if the water doesn't match this morning's whim? Dismissed. There could be no warmth in this, only servitude. Vienna sighed as she remained silent in her musings. Rising with her servant's help, dawning a robe with their help, disrobing and entering the baths with their help, such cold, disjointed intimacy.

As Vienna immersed herself in the luxurious bath, the extravagant bubbles popped against her skin. Her maids, skilled in the art of pampering, worked tirelessly to scrub and massage her from head to toe, their gentle touch evoking a sense of serenity and calm, relishing in the sensations she closed her eyes and let down her mask. one brushed her long, chestnut hair with a silver hairbrush, pointlessly polished to a mirror shine she could not see, masterfully engraved with lilies, daisies and all sorts of flowers she should know, their meaning deep, summoning prosperity, love and luck. As if those things could be captured in metal instead of cultivated in relationship. She hated it. Vienna imagined combing her maid's hair. Could she serve another? Pamper them, love them, while fearing them? "Did your mother brush you?" Vienna asked quietly. "m'lady?" came the surprised response. Detachment, Vienna needed to treat her servants with detachment or their familiarity could harm them. as if she were watching herself from a distance, returning her mask Vienna responded "you're very skilled, be proud of your accomplishments. Please continue"

Once her hair was brushed, it was braided into an elegant crown as two maids working together-- grunting and flexing, sweating like lumberjacks-- crammed her body into shaping garments. Adding a little here, cinching a lot there, they altered her body to perfectly fill a new dress that was a work of art, crafted from the finest silk and adorned with delicate lace trimmings, her face painted, every blemish hidden, all paired with delicate slippers, she was transformed into the second child of the Honsi Family.

Vienna walks to the door part 1

Vienna stepped out of her sanctuary into the family's magnificent grounds, the morning sun casting a warm glow on her face. Her maids disappeared like smoke, being replaced by her morning entourage. Two servants to do her bidding, a historian generating white noise, babbling like a brook, and Ms. Kaelara Magnusson the judgmental. Their purpose to cram her mind and decorum into traditional forms. As they made their way through the winding paths of the estate's lush park, the grandeur of the grounds became increasingly apparent.

The park was a vast expanse of greenery, dotted with ornate fountains and vibrant flower beds. At least a dozen people could be seen going about their business, each task as important as the next. Groundskeepers tended to the immaculately manicured lawns, while messengers hurriedly yet calmly delivered important missives. As she walked the path to the gate, all others in her way paused their tasks, stepping off the path, facing her and bowing. "Give proper homage to the Honsi name. As if I'm doing something important today." Vienna sighed at the thought, noticing the tension suddenly in the passerby, Vienna quickly softened her expression, and quickly looked for something to blame her sigh on, to save that passerby the shame of slighting her family. Eureka! smiling at the sight of artists admiring the grounds. they're gathered around a beautifully blossoming tree, garbed more elegantly than she, each artist intently focused on their canvas, their teacher observing. "What I wouldn't give to join them for a day" Vienna thought wistfully Vienna spared a moment of attention to find Heromi, but he was not present. "And why not?" she mused, blazing a new path as Kaelara tries to stop her "As who would dare interrupt the second child?" she thought, not noticing Kaelara's attempts. identifying a struggling artist, she snatched their brush and unmarred easel, and composed:

Tree poem

"The gardeners tend to you with such care,

Your branches are adorned with splendor rare,

You're adored by all who pass you by,

Yet lonely you stand, against the sky.

The painters capture your beauty so fine,

Their brushes move with a rhythmic chime,

They aim to capture your essence true,

But your beauty, dear tree, is something askew.

For though you stand with such grandeur tall,

You remain alone, to no one's call,

The gardeners come and go with ease,

But you stay still, amongst the leaves.

Oh, tree so grand, with beauty so rare,

May you find solace in the crisp spring air,

And may the painters capture your essence true,

So that others may see the beauty in you."

****************************************

Walking to the door part 2, becoming Anna

Finishing with a flourish, she returned to her path. With a flex of will, she didn't look back at the artists gawking at her, burning with new muse. Leaving that behind, her group stepped aside for a tall, handsome figure striding towards them with purpose. It was her younger brother Kenji, the heir to the house, dressed impeccably in military garb with his posture ramrod straight. Kenji passed them by without a word, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Jealousy and pity filled her mind, jealousy for she knew the value he held, always busy with important matters. pity because that was simply what was expected from a member of the Honsi family. He was not a failure to the family, he was not born flawed like Heromi's mind, or flawed as she was. They could never be forgiven, Heromi was given "The great honor of being permitted to live" and "The honor of serving the family despite his failure". She was simply born a girl.

"I'm glad to have been born a girl" VIenna lied to herself "These shoulders would grow too muscular lugging around all that responsibility. Plus Kenji would look quite silly in frills, no matter how refined."

Vienna approached the massive wrought-iron gates of her family's estate, her entourage of tutors and servants following closely behind. She observed the guards, standing tall and watchful, carefully scrutinizing each person who entered or left. As she passed through the gates, she worried that they would stop her, but they simply observed her pass through as the rest.

Walking through the outer courts, she could hear the hum of activity and see the bustle of people going about their business. She followed her usual routine, she dismissed her entourage, slipped off the path and into the trees until, as she did almost every day, she arrived at an emissarium. Her heart raced with excitement as she stepped inside the dark. the damp tunnel was familiar to her, she felt a kinship with the spiders she knew were present as they scurried around, just out of sight. As she walked, she shed the heavy layers of who she was given to be, stripping off her clothes and leaving them behind, replacing them with the clothes Heromi had left for her, the exit birthed a new woman. feeling a sense of rebellion and exhilaration at the thought of living a double life, Anna emerged.

Anna's walk to work

Her heart was filled with an uncontainable joy as she breathed in the fresh morning air. she felt as though the world was a canvas of vibrant colors, each one more magnificent than the last. The city was alive with movement, and every person that crossed her path, whether beggar or noble, was a work of art.

As she walked down the street, Vienna greeted those passed by, flashing them a smile to brighten their day. "Good morning, Mr. Johnson!" said to a stout man who was sweeping the street. "Lovely day, isn't it?"

His face, which was previously scrunched up in a frown, broke into a grin as he replied, "Good morning, Miss Anna! Yes, it's a beautiful day indeed!"

A little girl selling flowers. Her face was round and rosy, and her eyes sparkled with an innocent joy. Vienna danced over to her and crouched down to her level.

"What's your name, little one?" Vienna asked, admiring the colorful blooms she had spread out before her.

"My name is Lily," she said, her voice high and sweet.

"Well, Lily, I think I would like to buy one of your beautiful flowers." She picked out a yellow daisy and gave her twice it's price.

"Thank you, Miss Anna!" she said with a smile, tucking the coin into her apron pocket.

The next an elderly woman sitting on a bench, looking tired and worn out. "Good morning, Mrs. Thompson," Vienna sung, holding out the yellow daisy. "I hope this flower will make your day a little brighter."

Her eyes crinkled with a smile as she reached out to take the flower. "Oh, Anna, you are always so kind to me. Thank you, my dear."

With each passerby, her heart swelled with happiness, The streets were lined with dilapidated buildings and rough-looking characters, each a part of the beauty. Each person had a story, a unique perspective that made them beautiful in their own way, each building alive with history.

Anna at work

Boldly entering through the front doors, Vienna moved with the grace of a seasoned dancer through tavern, deftly maneuvering around tables and patrons to collect empty plates and cups.

As she passed through the seating area, Vienna took stock of the customers, keeping an eye out for troublemakers. Noting a rough looking group of soldiers, lost in raucous conversation, she imagines what Kenji would have to say about their attire and demeanor. Don't they know that they represent the state even out of uniform?

A voice calls out to her with a cheeky grin.

"Hey there, pretty lass! How about you join us for a game of cards tonight?"

A boy pretending to be grown up, trying to impress his more mature buddies playing cards.

"Oh, I don't know about that. I'm not sure you boys could handle my winning streak!" Vienna croons at them while slipping past.

she paused at the table of a fun loving stout man she recognized, Dominique the bard, sharing a barrel together with three others she didn't. "If you keep ordering so much, you'll have to roll yourself out of here like a barrel!" Seeing chamomile and spruce tips floating on top, she squeezed into their circle, snatched his straw, and drank from the bottom of their table's communal beer. "Mulled Chamomile. honey, cinnamon, anise, plus a touch of bitter. It's creative. I like it." then more quietly "Keep an eye on those card players would you? The kid might be in over his head" bumping his shoulder with her hip, she continued on.

Reaching the back of the room, she greeted the owner of the tavern, Mrs. Goldstein, with a quick kiss on the cheek and a friendly grin.

"Good morning, Mrs. Goldstein!" she exclaimed cheerfully. "What exciting things do we have planned for today?"