Nanowrimo 2011 - Day 09

Magdalena was bored and let her mind wander. She’d never been good in the large social events where she was the “display piece” on some man’s arm. That said, in this case, she knew that life and death hinged on her performance so was a touch more engaged than usual. It didnt mitigate the overall boredom of the event though. Speach making. Formal dining. Mingling with guess while the men jockey for position in conversation, handshakes exchanged and deals made. Magda was on the arm of one Lucas Wainwright, and was getting glances from any number of other women, and even a few men, jealous of her position. But she knew. They all did. Positions could be made and lost in moments. Reputation took years to build and moments to destroy. As much as Magda wanted to build reputation and be seen with the right people, she also knew she was the outsider. That both elevated her status, and also jeopardized it, as they couldnt gauge her pedigree. Still, she had won this place in the short while she had been placed here. The reports back to Purgatory’s Lament would keep the Captain off her back as she continued the process before her. Boring as the event might be, it was important to be out and seen as connected with Lucas. His station elevated hers. In turn, as she built reputation, he gained too. She was no gold-digging bimbo. She had proved herself capable and willing to fight for what she wanted. A fight to first-blood was one thing, what she really wanted was a challege from someone who would accept no quarter. She had heard the rumors. She knew there was talk of underground fights and score keeping going on. She both wanted to study the phenomenon as much as she craved the raw blood-lust the came with a to-the-death fight. Win that, and her place in the aristocracy would be cemented.