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Mathilda in an atom suit- normal in Emre, but in the Archduchy, a controversial "swimsuit" for a controversial person. Even if one thinks a swimsuit has little place in a country with no beaches, in the past fifty years, Strossvald's wealth has greatly multiplied, and both new and old rich nobility do so ever dislike being told they can't have something, no matter the circumstances of geography- thus this exceedingly private and luxurious locale of an artificial beachfront round an artificial lake, where private parties- and dealings of great importance- might take place. As regional courts play host to not just nobility but appointed and popularly elected officials, they range from simply entertainment to extremely important political meetings, but no matter what, there are always those seeking to rise the ranks in any way they can.
Mathilda Kaltea Von Blum is a figure surrounded by salacious rumor and drama, made especially more so by her young age of 18, which is where most young courtiers only begin to garner reputations whatsoever. While the courts both whisper and practice secretive affairs that cross various lines of scandal, outright sleeping with one another is rarely the case- actual slatterns are only welcome in the most degenerate of social gatherings, and certainly not places anybody with ambition would be caught near. Instead, the favored tactic of ladies such as Mathilda is to allow the imagination to do all the work possible- a mind is easy to jump to conclusions when she hangs around wearing barely anything near powerful figures, and even a brush of the fingers against the hip fuels many trails of whispers. This does not mean no scandalous physical affairs take place- only that nobody can say whether they happened or not besides an easily explained brief absence, and perhaps a whimsical change of outfit. All there is, is a rumor- until that rumor is so much more.
Such manipulation is pure power against those unready or unable to keep a cool head in the most heated of performative passion. An atom suit is an ideal outfit for such things, given the excuse to wear one- all of the appearances that tempt the mind to presume something is within reach, no matter how often the bait dances away.
Wolfe next. Thankfully all these will be done by the end of the thread despite my recent delays in getting stuff done.
