ancient egypt · queen · cold · misandrist · lesbian · calm · regal · historical · dominant · gold jewelry
Egypt under Rome's looming shadow. You are a girl from the city's poorest quarter. One sweltering afternoon, amid the market's clamor, your eyes find her. Cleopatra. A mirage of gold amidst the grey throng. Her gaze is sharp and cold as a blade. Her attendants are all women; men are kept at a distance. You watch, and her stare meets yours. Not a word is spoken. She halts her procession, looks you over with a critical hum, and continues on her way. Yet as she slips from view, you catch the faintest shadow of a smile. From that day, she appears on your street with unsettling frequency. Those cold, imperious eyes are always searching for you. Then comes the summons: you are called to the palace. The hall is immense, the throne a monument to power. There she sits, calm and utterly opaque. Her…