Chapter Text
She was beautiful.
Alice couldn’t see her too well, considering she was on the other side of a substantially big room, but she was beautiful.
She tried to make her way through the crowd. Khaenri’ah’s famed masquerade balls were the perfect opportunity for Alice to slip in and see how the godless nation worked- Most of the academics and knights that attended would be very, very happy to talk about their craft.
But her previous ambition was all but lost as she made a beeline through the crowd for her beautiful mystery woman.
She’d thought they were a man at first- steel capped boots, thick coat, and short-cut no-nonsense hair, plus their back turned to her, had accidentally gotten Alice to think she was something other than her true identity. But as Alice approached, she realised that they simply disregarded commonly more “feminine” appearances.
“Hello,” Alice began, sliding up next to her new friend. “Who might you be, hmmm?”
She had to stop herself from blushing too hard. Alice had always loved when marks of someone’s life were left behind, and the marks peppered around the woman’s hands, arms and occasionally cheeks were driving her heart nuts. If love at first sight existed, that was what Alice felt.
The woman raised her eyebrows sceptically.
“Rhinedottir, Blood Alchemist. Who’re you? If you were really in the King’s Court, you’d know me already.” She narrowed her sea-blue eyes. Alice giggled.
“Guilty as charged, but don’t tell anyone, okay? Alice the Adventurer. I’m a mage, though I occasionally dabble in alchemy.” she said, extending a gloved hand. Hesitantly, Rhinedottir shook it.
“A mage? Don’t introduce yourself like that. Most people here consider mages to be servants of the gods. You’re going to make everyone distrust you,” she said in a flat tone. Alice brought a hand to her mouth. She’d forgotten most people thought of magehood as an Archon thing and not something that predated them.
“Whoops,” She whispered. “Don’t tell anyone. To be honest, I don’t really see why people think it’s a god thing. It’s been around for aaaaaages, long before the Archon War.” Surprisingly, Rhindeottir nodded.
“Most educated people should know that magehood and alchemy come from a similar origin, before the gods. Unfortunately, that’s not included in basic education.” She frowned. “Considering what children are being taught today, I’m concerned for the minds of the Education Department of the Court.”
Alice laughed, then looked for a way to change the subject. Luckily, she just needed to look at Rhinedottir to find something to talk about.
“I love your hair! I like women who don’t try to look pretty and just get on with things. Still, it looks amazing on you,” Alice said. Maybe she sounded shallow, but she did love Rhinedottir’s hair. In return the alchemist rolled her eyes.
“There's no point having long hair, it’s a waste of hair ties and stress.” As aloof as she seemed, Rhinedottir looked pleased.
“You have long hair, though.” Alice chuckled.
“I do, I'll admit I'm a bit of a hypocrite. I like it when others have short hair, but I enjoyed playing with mine a little too much to cut it short.” She smiled. “I love it when others disregard normal stereotypes, but I never do it myself.”
“Well, to each their own,” Rhinedottir mused. “Personally, it's quite refreshing to not have to deal with clothing longer than a lab coat, although my family insists I should be more feminine. Hah, they wish.” her eyes darkened, clearly she had no respect for her family members.
Preferring a lighter topic, Alice smoothly changed the subject, inquiring about Rhinedottir’s alchemy. The Khaenri'ahn quickly brightened up, going on a long-winded explanation about the intricacies of creating different types of life with the same base formula. Alice was happy to listen- she was a mage, not an alchemist, so meeting someone with such a wealth of knowledge was a blessing. She could learn so much, and Alice loved learning.
They stayed together till the end of the night, when Alice had to slip away to avoid being caught as an outsider and Rhinedottir- nicknamed Rhine at some point during the night- was dragged off for something official. They exchanged a way to send letters, though- lucky Alice had figured out how magic letters worked a long time ago- and the mage was determined to keep in contact. Rhinedottir was great.
Late in the afternoon the next day, Alice was browsing a Khaenri'ahn market, she offhandedly heard Rhinedottir's name mentioned. She turned to find a nobleman, talking to a fellow while he looked over the citizens of the city.
“What's this about Rhinedottir, hmmmmm?” Alice asked, slipping into the conversion the way she always did when she heard gossip. She was a story-loving lady, who could blame her?
The nobleman looked over her with the strained curiosity those types always did.
“What is it to you?” Alice sighed.
“Oh, I'm just curious. Such a high-ranking alchemist, you know, interesting stories are always in demand about folks so high on the chain!” She said, giggling. It was so easy to act like a noble lady, gossiping all the time and generally being boring. Child’s play, really. But it worked.
“It is nothing,” the nobleman said, “if you are looking for a story. It is simply…” he wrinkled his nose. “She is too boyish. No woman should be attempting the sciences, let alone going so far as to stray into men's fashioning.” Alice sighed. This argument? Really? She looks quite nice with short hair. I like her. Still, getting into an argument with a nobleman was a surefire way to get her banned from Khaenri'ah.
“Oh,” she replied coolly. “Well, I suppose it's certainly in character. I've never heard tale of Rhinedottir being one to obey the rules in favour of alchemy.” She sighed, sparing a glance at the market. “It would be in the nature of such a dedicated alchemist to do such a thing, no?” She purposefully left out the fact that she thought Rhinedottir showing up to a ball in a lab coat was at more than a little hot.
“Perhaps you are right,” the nobleman's friend said. “Nature cannot easily be changed. But an upstanding citizen should follow the rules and set example.”
Gods above, Alice wanted so badly to scoff. This reminded her of the Lawrence Clan back when they were in power- insufferable and sexist. No wonder Rhinedottir spent all her time in a lab. She strolled off before she seriously considered hiding a little bit of explosive fun in one of their shoes. Or both.
Personally, she didn't mind Rhinedottir's refusal to follow rules. It was great. And such a conversation made Alice adamant that she would make sure Rhine never, ever fell to the pressure of the nobility.
She's my friend now. Oooh, could I just waltz in and tell her that? I’d like to.
She locked eyes on the centre of the city, where the affluent people of Khaenri'ah- Rhinedottir included- lived and worked.
Soon, very soon, Alice would become a well-known figure there, dragging the alchemist out of her lab and into the sun to find inspiration for experiments if nothing else.
But this afternoon, Alice's only concern was reminding the alchemist she was free to be whatever she pleased.